Electric violinist Mia Asano spotlighted Kentwood’s ABC Orchestra in a week that also featured West Michigan tour stops by an eclectic mix of national and regional artists. Photos.
String Star: Mia Asano on stage at The Stache with students from ABC Orchestra cheering her on. (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
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When electric violinist and noted metal rocker Mia Asano played Grand Rapids last week, it became far more than just another tour stop in anticipation of her upcoming solo record, “Lore.”
The musician and her team not only visited East Kentwood High School during the day to chat about music and perform for students, but she later gave those young musicians in the ABC Orchestra (Anything But Classical) the opportunity to open for her evening show at The Intersection’s Stache on Wednesday.
Unable to fit on The Stache’s tiny stage with 30 students in the ensemble, the ABC Orchestra had to perform on the venue floor, with parents, relatives and friends pressed to the stanchions, phones out and recording — and proud as they could be. For a moment, that cozy room felt very big for those kids who performed pop hits by Bruno Mars, Paramore, Chappell Roan, Justin Bieber and others.
Dovydas, a Lithuanian electronic multi-instrumentalist and comedic artist, followed with an energy-inciting set before Asano launched into her performance with young fans — most of whom had performed earlier — pressed to the front of the stage.
Winners: The Rupple Brothers at The Stray (Courtesy Photo)
“This has been the most fun night of the tour,” Asano declared, admitting that she cried during the ABC Orchestra set. “I used to be one of you, and now, I’m up here.” (She also vowed to return to Grand Rapids on a bigger stage to accommodate the youth orchestra led by Ryan Wallace.)
Backed by a full band, Asano treated the audience to eight new unreleased songs from the upcoming concept album revolving around mystical creatures and cryptids, as well as the Power Rangers theme and “Devil Went Down to Georgia.” The audience, not surprisingly, was thrilled and enthusiastic, ensuring that the small room had a big impact. (Read more about the ABC Orchestra in this Local Spins Artist Spotlight.)
The atypical Wednesday show by the Denver violinist served as a warm-up for a weekend of eclectic concerts in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Holland:
• On Friday, Mustard Plug headlined a wild, skank-sparking affair at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo, with Boy Detective and Killer Diller adding to the frenzied evening of ska and punk;
Secondhand Serenade: Getting some young vocal assistance. (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
• That same night, Kentucky keyboardist and producer Jason Leech revved up a crowd of electronic music fans at Holland’s Park Theatre with a boost from Grand Rapids’ eRoy;
• Saturday’s lineup included Chicago funk, soul and rock outfit Hot Like Mars returning to Bell’s, with Aaron Stinson’s All American Super Jam performing as well;
• Also on Saturday, The Rupple Brothers won the next round in The Stray’s month-long Battle of the Bands;
• The weekend closed on Sunday with the iconic John Jorgenson Bluegrass Band making a tour stop at Park Theatre while acoustic rock and emo’s Secondhand Serenade (with Jon Hayes and Tom Ritchie opening) playing in front of what frontman John Vesely called “the best crowd of the tour” at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids with fans singing along and his son helping out on “Baby Shark.”
Scroll down to view photos from all of these shows. And check out full coverage, with photos, of the weekend’s Kalamazoo Fretboard Festival at Local Spins here.
PHOTO GALLERY: Mia Asano, Dovydas, ABC Orchestra at The Stache
Photos by Chelsea Whitaker
PHOTO GALLERY: Mustard Plug, Boy Detective, Killer Diller at Bell’s
Photos by Derek Ketchum
PHOTO GALLERY: Jason Leech, eRoy at Park Theatre
Photos by Eric Stoike
