Really. West Michigan’s unique and ‘intense’ listening room celebrates a major milestone with Thursday’s performance by East Coast singer-songwriter Pat McGee.
Milestone Concert: Michelle and Gary Hanks will host their 100th concert this week at Seven Steps Up. (Photo/Kevin Reedy Photography)
Michelle and Gary Hanks readily admit they never saw this coming.
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On Thursday, the owners of Seven Steps Up, the vibrant listening room housed in a stylishly renovated Masonic Temple in downtown Spring Lake, will celebrate the 100th concert held at the unique venue since Chicago singer-songwriter Alice Peacock played the first show in March 2011.
“We never envisioned what has happened. It still really hasn’t even truly sunk in,” Michelle said of Seven Steps Up’s growing reputation as a premiere listening room which draws national acts for acoustic performances several times a month.
“The people who attend our concerts regularly – which is a growing number of people – don’t even want to see concerts anywhere else. It’s such an intense way to listen to music and the artists are just that good. It’s just such a unique experience because it’s all about the music.”
Pat McGee and Patrick McAloon return to Seven Steps Up on Thursday. (Photo/Kevin Reedy)
The star of the upcoming Thursday show, singer-songwriter Pat McGee, can vouch for that: The Virginia native and Rhode Island-based artist played the second show ever staged as part of Seven Steps Up’s Pin Drop Concerts series.
“Michelle and Gary truly believe in how live original music can change people’s lives, even if for just one night. They have created an extremely unique venue,” he told Local Spins.
“I don’t know of a single artist that has played there and not begged to return. The sound is fantastic, the town is beautiful and the fans are so respectful of the performance. At the end of the day, the feeling that you have as an artist playing in someone’s home … with unwavering support only brings out the best performances.”
WORD HAS SPREAD ABOUT THE HOMEY, PIN DROP CONCERTS VIBE
Moving to West Michigan from Texas, the Hanks purchased the old Masonic Temple in 2001, converting the upstairs into living quarters and renovating the main floor into an event and banquet center.
Eventually, the music devotees (Michelle is a singer and performer herself) decided to host occasional live performances by some of their favorite national acts in the intimate, acoustically pleasing setting, which accommodates 112 people.
As word spread among touring performers who reveled in the unique vibe – wholly different than the milieu of a noisy bar – the Hanks began booking shows more regularly, with artists often lodged in their “home” and Michelle cooking them meals during their stay.
Audiences revel in the atmosphere of Pin Drop Concerts such as this recent show featuring Liz Longley. (Photo/Kevin Reedy)
The Pin Drop Concerts are so titled because audience members are cautioned to keep their mouths shut during shows and focus on the music, creating an unparalleled atmosphere for concertgoers who travel to the venue from as far away as Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Indiana. It’s also resulted in frequent sellouts of the ticketed concerts.
“There’s nothing else going on but the music,” Michelle said, noting Seven Steps Up is usually the smallest venue by far that these touring performers play. “The artist is giving us energy and the audience is giving us energy … and at some point, all the energy in the room is all about the music.”
MCGEE: ‘TRULY HONORED’ TO HEADLINE THE 100th CONCERT
At 8 p.m. Thursday, McGee will perform at Seven Steps Up along with guitarist and singer Patrick McAloon, who performs in McGee’s band. Tickets are $30. To help commemorate the special show, Seven Steps Up will conduct random drawings for five $100 concert gift certificates.
“I am truly honored to be the artist that they chose to celebrate their 100th show,” McGee said. “I already know Seven Steps Up is going to be the best show of any tour I’m on.”
The success of the Seven Steps Up concerts has led the couple to make some improvements for 2014.
They’ll launch a new website for the venue over Memorial Day weekend and will alter the room set-up to expand capacity to 120. They also plan to host their first-ever New Year’s Eve show and dinner.
Call 231-557-7687 for more information about Thursday’s concert or visit the official website at pindropconcerts.com.
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2014, Spins on Music
