The country star revved up Grand Rapids’ Acrisure Amphitheater on Saturday. We also sport photos from shows by Dan Rickabus, The Mekons, Kalamazoo Pride Festival and more.
Saturday Scene: Parker McCollum and band on stage at Acrisure Amphitheater. (Photo/Joshua Tufts)
SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO GALLERIES FROM SEVERAL CONCERTS
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
The Acrisure Amphitheater was packed Saturday with “Fresh Western” fans ready for a good time with ACM Country Music Awards album of the year winner Parker McCollum.
“This is the best time of the year,” the 33-year-old Texan said from the stage. He seemed delighted to spend the night early in his summer tour with “y’all in Grand Rapids, Michigan.”
Sporting a red hat that said “Fresh Western” on it, starched jeans, a black tee and shiny gold chains around his neck, McCollum instantly got the crowd revved up with his hit, “What Kinda Man,” followed by the much-loved “Young Man’s Blues,” which seemed to touch the souls of the many young men in the audience, who knew every word.
Highlights included the fiddle-rich foot stomper “New Orleans,” McCollum’s smash hit “Burn it Down,” a breakup scorched earth song that builds from a slow simmer to a fiery emotional climax, and “Big ‘Ol Fancy House” about an empty house and endless regrets.
The new father of little Major McCollum showed off some impressive whistling skills in “My Worst Enemy,” and a deeply introspective side to “Hell of a Year,” which softly meandered in a river of reflections.
His lyrics are heartfelt and story-driven, and many of them deal with breakups despite the fact that McCollum is happily married. “Pretty Heart,” his number one hit, bemoaned the way the songwriter’s actions ended things badly with a woman who didn’t deserve it, and “Why Indiana” told a tale of a phone breakup on the road while touring in the state to our South.
A throwback to the Red Dirt country pioneers he listened to on his grandfather’s cattle ranch, McCollum blends country, Americana, and rock for a sound that continues to generate hits with his passionate fan base. With his first ACM album of the year under his belt just two weeks ago, Parker McCollum is just getting started.
Max McNown warmed up the crowd, proving that he made the right call dropping out of “American Idol” this past February after getting a golden ticket to Hollywood. Instead, he leaned into the upward momentum of his music and scored a number one platinum hit with “A Lot More Free,” a breakup tune that had fans at the amphitheater singing the lyrics “a little bit hurt but a lot more free” with relish.
The 24-year-old former busker from Bend, Ore., was all sweetness, no swagger, as he earnestly sang “World Change Me,” a song about standing one’s ground against temptation, and “Something to Someone,” a tender anthem about the yearning to matter to someone, released just a few days ago and sure to be another hit. “This is just the third time we’ve played this (live),” he said proudly. It definitely won’t be the last time. The audience loved it, and the singer. Based on this warm, engaging performance and stellar songs, McNown is an artist to keep a close eye on.
California, Mo., native Kassi Ashton brought a definite Gretchen Wilson vibe to her opening set, with her sultry, gritty, rock-infused country stylings.
“Some matriarchs pass down jewelry, how to get the stain out, or a pie recipe,” she said. “For me and maybe you, we got something else (passed down).” This was her way of introducing her hit tune “Bitches.” Along the same lines, Ashton threw herself into belting out “Bang, Bang (My Baby Shot Me Dead),” her take-no-prisoners cover of the Cher/Nancy Sinatra song.
“Any ‘Landman’ fans out here?” she asked, referring to the Billy Bob Thornton series streaming on Paramount. She confessed she had a crush on Billy Bob as a girl, so it was pretty cool that her song “Rain in Texas” was featured on the show. – By Lorilee Craker
PHOTO GALLERY: Parker McCollum, Max McNown, Kassi Ashton
Photos by Joshua Tufts
Elsewhere, Kalamazoo’s Pride Festival took place at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place with sets by Jonah Why, Crystal Trench, DJ Tribewalker, Denitia, Tony & The Kiki, Infinite Coles and Lady Ace Boogie & Friends. It was all part of the city’s “June Jubilee” on Saturday, a celebration that also included an art show featuring performances by Dylan Tolbert, Payton & Annabelle and others.
Back in Grand Rapids, Dan Rickabus of The Crane Wives hosted an album-release show for his new solo LP, “Ache in the Blooming,” at The Pyramid Scheme on Friday.
Earlier in the week, England’s The Mekons brought their cowpunk vibe to Bell’s Beer Garden in Kalamazoo, powering through everything from “Machine” to “Memphis, Egypt.” View the set list here.
BONUS COVERAGE: Check out a review and photos from Meijer Gardens’ first Tuesday Evening Music Club show of the summer here – Tuesday Evening Music Club embraces Motown classics on opening night at Meijer Gardens.
PHOTO GALLERY: Kalamazoo Pride/June Jubilee
Photos by Derek Ketchum
PHOTO GALLERY: Dan Rickabus, Jordan Hamilton Trio, Saltbreaker at The Pyramid Scheme
Photos by Adam Briggs
