Sublime with Rome, Melophobix, Walk the Moon and more are part of another photo and video recap of several concerts across West Michigan, from pop to electronic music and more.
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It was yet another robust week of live music across West Michigan, including the return of guitarist Eric Johnson to The Intersection, Jesse McCartney playing 20 Monroe Live to enthused pop fans, Bass Country pumping up electronic wonders through all of The Intersection’s venues (the same night that “Synth Night” celebrated live instrumentation-driven electronic music at The Pyramid Scheme), L.A.’s FINKEL revving up a homecoming show at Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo (along with How to Live Together and Basic Comfort), with Capt. Cat and Northland playing Old Dog Tavern.
Not only that, but check out separate reviews and photo galleries of Saturday’s Perrin Brewing Ice Jam in Comstock Park and Gregory Alan Isakov’s sold-out concert at Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids.
JESSE MCCARTNEY OOZES NOSTALGIA, FRESH POP AT 20 MONROE LIVE (SATURDAY)
Jesse McCartney made some dreams come true at 20 Monroe Live on Saturday night for girls who grew up with his posters on their walls and his music blasting in their CD players.
Now 31, McCartney, opened his “Resolution” tour stop with two of his most popular songs — “How Do You Sleep” and “Leavin” — as the capacity crowd erupted in screams, claps and dancing.
The stage included an elevated surface for the electric guitarist and drummer, surrounded by a collage of LED screens that featured a different light show for every song.
And McCartney’s high energy and smooth dancing throughout the concert kept eyes fixated on his every move.
During the show, McCartney expressed his appreciation for fans following successful release of his comeback single “Better With You” last year — conceding he was apprehensive about getting back into the studio after taking a break following his 2014 album release.
The pop singer also went the extra mile for fans, inviting a girl onto the stage for a serenade of “Told You So” from his 2008 album, “Departure”.
“He sounds just as good as when I used to watch his performances on Disney Channel,” gushed fan Aubrey Shaw, a 24-year-old employee at 20 Monroe Live. “I thought his new songs were so good, too, and I can’t wait until they’re released.”
Although the former boy-band member feeds the nostalgia of ’90s babies, McCartney also demonstrated there may still be a place for him in the pop music realm of 2019 with his booming, lively and vibrant songs.
LaGuardia High School student Whitney Woerz, 17, opened up the night, showcasing her fresh, energetic music while also proving herself as a soulful storyteller. – Liv Conaty
PHOTO GALLERY: Jesse McCartney, Whitney Woerz at 20 Monroe Live
Photos by Jamie Geysbeek
SYNTH NIGHT SHOWCASES PINK SKY, BRONZE WOLF & MORE AT THE PYRAMID SCHEME
It’s safe to say that the first ever “Synth Night” was a success.
Four local electronic artists unfurled nearly three hours of performances that spanned many diverse areas of electronic music at The Pyramid Scheme on Saturday night, hosted by Grand Rapids’ Pink Sky, who wanted to celebrate local musicians using synthesizers in a unique fashion.
The electronic duo of Ryan and Angelica Hay took things to another level, effortlessly communicating between each other with an energy bolstered by a frantic visual background. Ryan Hay also announced that Pink Sky soon would be releasing new material exclusively to those on their mailing list, and invited people to be part of a music video the duo will be shooting in coming weeks.
Opening act Bronze Wolf took the stage to a nearly empty room, but that didn’t stop the experimental dark-electronic artist from pulling out all the stops on stage. The crowd slowly trickled in throughout his set, and by the time it was done, he was met with enthusiastic cheers and applause from a much bigger audience. It was the perfect opener, a performance that caught the attention of those who might’ve still been lingering in the front room enjoying a drink as if to say, “Hey. You’re going to want to see this.”
Darkly followed with dark, ambient soundscapes that eventually turned into dreamy beats floating over the room and mesmerizing the audience.
Jes Kramer – who will be playing at the WYCE Jammie Awards at The Intersection on Feb. 8 along with Pink Sky – quickly won the crowd over with her personality. Always humble but never timid, she put on an impressive display of looping multiple synthesizers, drum machines, and occasionally, an electric guitar, all while delivering her heartfelt lyrics and layering her own voice into an impressive three-part harmony. The performance felt personal, and her lyrics clearly resonated with the audience.
“I never know how to respond to ‘Thanks for making me cry,’” she said, addressing an audience member’s comment. “I’m sorry and you’re welcome.”
The night was enough of a hit for Pink Sky to allude to a “Synth Night Vol. 2” sometime in the future.
“It was awesome,” said concertgoer Grant Floering. “I hope to be a part of it myself soon here; I’ve been working on a techno record for the past three years, and this has been very inspiring to finally see that there’s a vibe in GR to make dance music and synth music.” – Devin Dely
VIDEO: Synth Night at The Pyramid Scheme
Video by Devin Dely
PHOTO GALLERY: Bass Country at The Intersection (Saturday)
Photos by Eric Stoike
PHOTO GALLERY: FINKEL, How to Live Together, Basic Comfort at Bell’s Brewery (Saturday)
Photos by Derek Ketchum