Railroad Earth, Ryan Adams, Ally Venable: Recaps

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It was another action-packed weekend of live music, the mid-June array of shows and festival romps recapped in words and photos at Local Spins.

Another Weekend of Music to Remember: Railroad Earth, Ally Venable, Ryan Adams, Buttermilk Jamboree. (Photos/Cassandra Kipp/Benjamin Howell/Anthony Norkus/Holly Holtzclaw)

SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO GALLERIES, BUTTERMILK JAMBOREE VIDEO

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A rainy night at Bell’s Beer Garden in Kalamazoo on Friday couldn’t mask Railroad Earth’s fan-pleasing virtuosity.

Todd Sheaffer’s guitar peals were like unfolding beams into Matt Slocum’s dazey, bending piano solo. Banjo, guitar, and pedal steel player Mike Robinson and frenetic mandolinist John Skehan moved with Sheaffer around the radiant piano blossoms.

Upright bassist Dave Speranza and drummer Carey Harmon were locked in place, but focused on their strong rhythm. The electric but twangy keyboard swells would break finally into a rapid, spiraling mandolin riff.

Clearly, watching and hearing Railroad Earth live highlights their strongest features.

The band’s seven albums are cozy and familiar, but rambling and adventuresome at the same time. On their CDs or online, the listener takes in a glow of optimistic community. Live, these patterns are stronger. The band jams in an ever-evolving swirl, looking between and supporting one another. Bell’s Beer Garden’s microphones let details and strums twinkle with clarity.

Despite the rain, the attentive crowd cheered, danced and waited happily between the band’s two sets. The unlucky rain couldn’t keep down the mood, much like the hopeful, always subtly changing music before the Oberon sun in lieu of the real thing. – By Cassandra Kipp

Friday also brought North Carolina rock/country artist Ryan Adams to GLC Live at 20 Monroe in Grand Rapids, with blues rocker Ally Venable unleashing songs from her latest album, “Money & Power,” at The Intersection’s Stache in Grand Rapids, with Lansing-area rock artist Sean Anthony Sullivan and band getting the night started.

PHOTO GALLERY: Railroad Earth at Bell’s Beer Garden
Photos by Cassandra Kipp

PHOTO GALLERY: Ryan Adams at GLC Live at 20 Monroe
Photos by Anthony Norkus

PHOTO GALLERY: Ally Venable, Sean Anthony Sullivan at The Intersection’s Stache
Photos by Benjamin Howell

BUTTERMILK JAMBOREE SHINES ON DAY 2

After chasing away Friday’s rain, the best-attended Buttermilk Jamboree in memory continued under sunny skies Saturday with a plethora of extraordinary sets by Michigan-bred artists — a tasty gumbo of diversity, from the soulful funk of The Mainstays to the retro-flavored folk and swing of Megan Dooley to the harmony-laden, indie-Americana gems of The Mickeys and more.

The wooded festival site was filled with high-spirited children, happy families and music devotees who strolled between four main stages to catch everything from The Go Rounds and Native American “Eagle Medicine” dances to energizing late-night sets from Laura Rain & The Caesars, Y-Not and Space Bar.

Fennville musician Mark Schrock proclaimed there are two festivals he never misses each summer — September’s Wheatland Music Festival and June’s Buttermilk Jamboree, the latter because of its spotlight on uber-talented Michigan musicians and family-hued vibe.

Here are a few Saturday highlights, courtesy of Local Spins writer Holly Holtzclaw:

• Payton and Annabelle – The Kalamazoo singer-songwriter duo Payton and Annabelle made their Buttermilk Jamboree debut by introducing the audience at the Apple Chapel stage to an assortment of tracks off their debut album, “For the Willows.” The duo’s genuine friendship was represented in the smiles they shared on,stage and in the vulnerable, candid lyrics they’ve entrusted one another with. Payton and Annabelle also showcased their striking harmonies and vocal talents with covers of Joni Mitchell’s “California” and “Marcie.”

• The Rebel Eves – Throughout their set on the Sugar Bush Stage, Americana trio The Rebel Eves highlighted the social justice element of Buttermilk Jamboree’s mission. The group gave a shoutout to those participating in Saturday’s “No Kings” protest before launching into their song “American Dream.” The trio also celebrated pride with a cover of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” and discussed their goal of creating a safe space at their shows. Unwavering vocal harmonies and the addition of brass instruments during parts of the set made these messages stand out loud and clear.

• Chirp – From funky, to jazzy, to bluesy, Detroit-based rock band Chirp had a little bit of everything to share with their audience at the Sugar Bush stage. The band’s jam sessions and rapidly changing tempos kept the dance floor packed for the duration of the fast-paced set. Between Chirp’s fun, upbeat energy and the colorful light show that accompanied their performance, it was enough to pump up the crowd for the long night of performances still ahead.

PHOTO GALLERY: Buttermilk Jamboree – Day 2
Photos by Holly Holtzclaw, John Sinkevics and Derek Ketchum