The Grammy-winning outfit gave fans at State Theatre a visually enhanced dose of boundary-pushing charm, plus photo recaps of weekend shows from heavy metal to EDM to post-punk and more.
Sunday Soiree: Snarky Puppy on stage at Kalamazoo State Theatre. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
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Marked by creative and production touches in support of the band’s latest album, “Empire Central,” Snarky Puppy made its first West Michigan tour stop since 2018 a memorable one Sunday night at State Theatre in Kalamazoo.
The multi-Grammy Award-winning ensemble’s incredible performance focused mostly on tracks from the new album, with the 12-piece ensemble creating a spectacle not only with its musical prowess, but leaning on its stage production to help dial in the live presentation.
Every note played could be heard, from the many keyboards and percussion sounds to instruments that are easy to bury in a mix, such as violin or flute.
The LED visual aesthetics enhanced the music beautifully with colorful-yet-polished backdrops of neon cityscapes that would also feature soloists on live camera feeds artfully inserted into the background. The lighting was moody and dynamic to complement the range of genres and artistic influences among the band’s tastes and compositions.
Back in West Michigan: Michael League and Snarky Puppy. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
The night kicked off with a performance from C4 Trio, an impressive group of Venezuelan musicians signed to Snarky Puppy’s label, Ground Up Music! These virtuosos of the “cuatro” instrument were fantastic, a beautiful mix of solid musicianship and endearing spirits on stage.
Other standout moments included violinist Zach Brock’s stellar violin work, Shaun Martin’s infectious personality interacting with the crowd as much as he slayed on keys with his cohort Justin Stanton, and hearing so many great new tunes such as “Belmont” and “Trinity,” along with a nod to the band’s most recognized album at the end of the night: “Sleeper” from “We Like It Here.”
With thousands of eager and respectful listeners on hand, many of them West Michigan music industry participants, it proved to be a beautiful night of artistry celebrated by dedicated musicians and live music fans alike.
Snarky Puppy’s show capped a weekend of musical action from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, including tour stops by heavy metal’s Queensrÿche, EDM’s Dr. Fresch, Mexico’s legendary Los Elegantes De Jerez, soul/folk/hip hop’s Satsang and post-punk’s Protomartyr, a Detroit-bred band releasing a new album on June 2. View the photos below.
(Check out a separate Local Spins review and photo gallery of the Brass Transit and Grand Rapids Symphony tribute to Chicago.)
PHOTO GALLERY: Snarky Puppy, C4 Trio at Kalamazoo State Theatre
Photos by Derek Ketchum
PHOTO GALLERY: Los Elegantes De Jerez at The Intersection
Photos by Eric Stoike
PHOTO GALLERY: Dr. Fresch at Elevation inside The Intersection
Photos by Eric SToike
