Grand Rapids rocked into June with a downtown street bash, a season-opening music fest at Jam ‘N’ Bean, rock from Guster, Jukebox the Ghost, Brian Vander Ark, Stephen Kellogg, Seth Bernard and more. (Photos, videos)
Ghostly Guster Opener: Jukebox the Ghost impressed fans at The Intersection on Friday. (Photo/Anthony Norkus Photography)
Ghosts have become a hot commodity in rock ‘n’ roll. There’s Ghost Town, The Ghost Inside, Holy Ghost, Warm Ghost, Ghostface Killah, Resurrecting the Ghost, Ghost Trains, Earthbound Ghost, Ghost Outfit, Rearview Ghost and just plain Ghost — even Grand Rapids’ Ghostheart, a highly touted outfit with a unique experimental vibe.
And then there’s Jukebox the Ghost, a Brooklyn-based rock trio that tore it up at The Intersection on Friday, opening for Guster (with Grand Rapids’ own The Crane Wives also on the bill). In addition to their own material, the pop-laced indie-rockers happen to knock out a pretty amazing cover of Queen’s “Somebody to Love,” led by singer and pianist Ben Thornewill.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
But there was more to this Grand Rapids-area weekend in live music: Seth Bernard, Dan Rickabus and Bruce Ling performing at Rockford Brewing; the Local First Street Party which attracted a hefty and happy crowd with a host of diverse West Michigan acts, including groups such as Cabildo, The Concussions with MissAudacious, Bernard and May Erlewine, Ralston Bowles and The Crane Wives (though the rain came in as The Concussions wrapped up and eventually forced The Crane Wives off the stage and into the beer tent for an impromptu performance). As drummer Dan Rickabus put it: “Epic. A huge crowd stayed and just rocked out with us like warriors, we played for an hour in the downpour. Tom and the ladies were soaked to the bone, instruments and all. We cranked some serious pumped up energy into our set and it was one of the funnest nights ever. When they shut us down, I hopped onto the monitors and shouted, ‘Beer tent!’ We played four tunes in there surrounded by sopping wet fans all hollering lyrics at the top of their lungs. Definitely one of the most memorable, meaningful shows we’ve played.”
Official Sponsor of the Local Spins Weekend Photo Gallery
Then there was the Jam ‘N’ Bean Coffee House’s season-opening day-long lineup on its outdoor deck with Phil Biggs & the Beyond Belief Quartet and a host of other acts; Brian Vander Ark and a top-notch band at Wealthy Theatre; and Stephen Kellogg (of The Sixers’ fame) and Milow in a sold-out show at Spring Lake’s Seven Steps Up. Meanwhile, the WGVU Real Oldies concert at Fifth Third Ballpark — featuring The Grass Roots, The Eschelons and The West Side Soul Surfers — got folks waxing nostalgic on Saturday.
And finally: Sunday night boasted the most jam-packed show ever at the Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill on Grand Rapids’ West Side when Marshall Crenshaw and The Bottle Rockets descended upon the club for a monstrous display of toneful retro-rock, from Crenshaw’s infectious pop hits (“Cynical Girl,” “Someday Someway”) to the Bottle Rockets’ own Cracker-like zeal. A fine way to finish out the weekend, indeed (as the video evidence below proves).
You can also check out video snippets of frolicking at the Local First Street Party below, along with Seth Bernard’s performance at Rockford Brewing (featuring a dancer who’s really into the music).
Remember: If you’re reveling in live music next weekend, send photos by Sunday morning to jsinkevics@gmail.com for inclusion in the Weekend Photo Gallery and your name will be tossed into the hat to win a gift certificate to a local watering hole. What a deal. Just make sure you list the band name, venue and photographer.
THE LOCAL SPINS WEEKEND PHOTO GALLERY (JUNE 2)
Local First Street Party highlights
Seth Bernard, Dan Rickabus, Bruce Ling (and dancer) at Rockford Brewing
Marshall Crenshaw and The Bottle Rockets at the Tip Top Deluxe
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
