Killswitch Engage, Lauren Daigle: Week-in-Review Photos

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A coronavirus-shortened week of live shows still gave West Michigan fans a mix of music: blues, metalcore, neo-psychedelia, Celtic music, contemporary Christian pop, country and South African vocal glory.

Before the Fall: Killswitch Engage was forced to cancel the rest of its U.S. tour after playing Grand Rapids on Wednesday. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)

Sadly, this could be the last robust batch of concerts — especially those taking place at larger venues — that West Michigan will see for awhile.

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The coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic and a government edict banning gatherings of 250 or more people began to severely curtail concerts by Friday, with many weekend concerts canceled across the state.

Still, Local Spins was on hand to capture some musical highlights from the week that was, including national tour stops by Of Montreal, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, Killswitch Engage, Lauren Daigle and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, as well as a mid-week kickoff to St. Patrick’s Day revelry with West Michigan’s own An Dro and a special “We Miss Conrad” show at Twisted Bull Saloon featuring regional country acts (Union Guns, Bronk Bros., Brian Randall Band) paying tribute to radio personality Dave Conrad.

Scroll down for the images, along with a recap of Ingram’s Tuesday tour stop with The Blue Pines at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids and photos from Megan Dooley’s Facebook Live performance from her own home after her Friday library gig in Kalamazoo was canceled.

MONDAY

PHOTO GALLERY: Of Montreal at The Pyramid Scheme
Photos by Katy Batdorff

TUESDAY

PHOTO GALLERY: Christone “Kingfish” Ingram at The Pyramid Scheme
Photos by Katy Batdorff

“You could have been anywhere else, like in your warm beds,” Mississippi blues guitarist Christone “Kingfish” Ingram remarked on Tuesday from The Pyramid Scheme stage. “But you’re out here in the cold, so we appreciate you.”

And fans certainly appreciated this up-and-coming star’s blues-rock prowess: After a lively set by Grand Rapids’ own The Blue Pines, Kingfish did not disappoint.

Flowing between chart-topping hits from his Grammy-nominated debut album, “Kingfish,” Ingram did it all.

From shredding on stage, to turning the spotlight over to other band members for their moments to shine, to sneaking in through a side door and into the middle of the crowd in the middle of a fantastic solo, Kingfish delivered the blues powerhouse show fans had been craving. – Matt Marn