Thursday night brought three national tours to Grand Rapids at three different venues — pumping up fans with far different live music experiences. Browse the photo galleries.
Jon Pardi: Turning Van Andel Arena into a honky-tonk on Thursday. (Photo/Joshua Tufts)
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It was a captivating evening at the cavernous Fountain Street Church for Young the Giant’s “In the Open” tour stop in Grand Rapids on Thursday.
From the opening reverberations of “Islands,” Sameer Gadhia’s ethereal voice rang out across a crowded sanctuary. With a mostly acoustic five-piece set-up, the California-based indie-rockers leaned into ambience, creating a sonic atmosphere of lush guitars, robust drums and occasional keys.
Fan favorites “Cough Syrup” and “Apartment” found the audience on their feet and chanting along to each nostalgic line from the band’s first record. The lively, at times even rowdy, crowd could be heard cheering between songs.
Captivating Evening and Setting: Young the Giant at Fountain Street Church. (Photo/Katy Batdorff)
Other highlights included the moments where Gadhia sat behind the piano and another when he picked up the ukulele. The band was gracious toward the audience, mentioning their long touring history with Grand Rapids shows and ties to Michigan.
Meanwhile, just down the street the same night, country star Jon Pardi brought his award-winning songs and the tour behind his latest album, “Honkytonk Hollywood,” to Van Andel Arena, regaling a packed house along the way.
Enthusiastic fans — amid a sea of cowboy boots and hats — stood and sang along to their favorites, after sets by openers Jake Worthington and Colby Acuff.
And around the corner, The Intersection hosted indie-rock/punk’s The Front Bottoms in celebration of the New Jersey band’s 10th anniversary tour behind the 2015 album, “Back on Top” — performing all of the tracks from that recording, “Motorcyle” to “Plastic Flowers,”
Browse photos from all three concerts below.
PHOTO GALLERY: Young the Giant at Fountain Street Church
Photos by Katy Batdorff
PHOTO GALLERY: Jon Pardi, Jake Worthington, Colby Acuff at Van Andel Arena
Photos by Joshua Tufts
PHOTO GALLERY: The Front Bottoms, Sincere Engineer at The Intersection
Photos by Veronica Ann Dearborn
