The California alt-rockers revved up fans in a heartfelt display at Meijer Gardens. The same night, Bilmuri turned up the volume at GLC Live at 20 Monroe and Pokey LaFarge played Bell’s in Kalamazoo. Recaps, photos.
Switchfoot’s Jon Foreman: He called Meijer Gardens the ‘best-smelling venue’ on tour. (Photo/Jamie Geysbeek)
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People have all kinds of reasons to like their favorite bands, so if Switchfoot is indeed one of the more likable bands you’ll see, it stands to reason that it’s not just their collection of catchy songs that makes them a favorite among fans.
Witness Jon Foreman – lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter behind the San Diego, Calif., alt-rock band that played before a sold-out Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park amphitheater on Wednesday night.
“I’m still that kid where music moves me more than almost anything in my life,” Foreman explained. “We poured everything into our latest album, Forever Now, because I’m still that kid who loves records. I know singles do exist; I get it. But I love albums, to feel like I can immerse myself. Sometimes I get carried away.”
Dressed in a blue blazer, Foreman brought the crowd to its feet with the rocking opening number, “Wake Up, Mr. Crow,” the lead single from Forever Now, the band’s 14th studio album. The record is a concept album revolving around the emotional events of a person’s final day on Earth.
Full House: The next-to-last Meijer Gardens show of the summer. (Photo/Jamie Geysbeek)
Like many entries in the band’s extensive catalog, the song was buoyed by an enthusiastic, playful nature that belies its serious subject matter. Second number, “Oh! Gravity,” seemed equally joyful, especially with its interlude of “Rock and Roll” by Led Zeppelin.
“We’re trying to make sure we’re providing a set list that moves you through the night,” he continued. “Thank you for listening to the old songs and new songs. Thank you for supporting live music.”
Foreman, who co-founded the group with his brother Tim (bass and backing vocals) and Chad Butler (drums, percussion), came across as exceedingly likable, whether he was encouraging the crowd to dance to the live debut of “YFWYA (You Forgot Who You Are) or slowing the pace for the hopeful message of “The Shadow Proves the Sunshine.”
During the latter, Foreman shed the jacket to put on a Memento Mori T-shirt in deference to the themes of human mortality that underscore the latest material, including “Beautiful Life,” “Natural Causes,” and “Absolution.”
Foreman then brought a young couple on stage, noting that “both having requested the same song for the same reason” — which turned out to be their upcoming wedding. Jack Welch and Claire Schellenberg, he learned, have known each other since kindergarten. They planned to make “This Is Home” their first dance together as a married couple.
“Can we play it for you now?” Foreman asked. “Maybe you can practice.” Clare removed her shoes, and the couple twirled gracefully as the group obliged with an acoustic version of the song, their performance delighting Foreman and the audience. “I didn’t know we were going to have ‘Dancing with the Stars’ here.”
Moments like that — and when Foreman learned the crowd included guests from as far as Peru and Austria — increased the band’s likability quotient. “This place is almost too beautiful for rock ‘n’ roll,” Foreman said, gesturing toward the venue in front of him. “I’d like to thank the establishment for letting a bunch of Californians in here, if you know what I mean. I think this is the best-smelling venue of the entire tour.”
As the opening night of the band’s Forever Now tour, Foreman proclaimed the evening a big success before closing Switchfoot’s 100-minute set with “Stars” and “Meant to Live.”
“To our Michigan family – so much love,” he said, with his hand on his heart. “I didn’t know what to expect from Night 1, but this was incredible. God bless you.”
Opening the show was Anberlin, whose nine-song, 35-minute set was an exercise in excessive exuberance. Whatever the material lacked in sonic sophistication was compensated by a sinewy showing of intense energy.
Fronted by singer Matty Mullins, who took over lead vocal duties after the departure of Stephen Christian, Anberlin breezed through a blistering set that ranged from tried-and-true tunes like “Paperthin Hymn, Never Take Friendship Personal,” and “The Feel Good Drag” to a pair of new numbers from the band’s upcoming album.
Anberlin’s performance of “HIGHSTAKES” and NEVERAFTER” from the new record, CURRENCY, proved the band has not pivoted from its pop-punk direction. Judging by the all-caps titles, Anberlin is a band determined to keep shouting.
NEXT UP AT MEIJER GARDENS: The season’s final concert takes place at 7 p.m. Friday when Shakey Graves and Texino perform at Meijer Gardens. Tickets, $57-$62, available online here.
PHOTO GALLERY: Switchfoot, Anberlin at Meijer Gardens
Photos by Jamie Geysbeek
BILMURI PUMPS UP GLC LIVE; POKEY PLAYS KALAMAZOO
Crowd-Pleasing: Bilmuri (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
Rock of a different stripe energized fans about six miles away from Meijer Gardens on Wednesday.
Bilmuri — with Grand Rapids drummer Zach Dubay — unleashed the band’s crowd-sparking, genre-melding fusillade at GLC Live at 20 Monroe as part of the tour behind the “Kinda Hard” album.
The set was full of bangers from their latest record, along with a variety of hits from their discography. Dubay was the local hero of the night, with frontman Johnny Franck reminding the crowd that Zach was in his hometown. Full of friends and family, the crowd went wild with every drum flair and solo.
Hometown Love: Dubay (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
Saxophonist Gabi Rose entered a heavily fogged stage for a rendition of the “Halo Theme” to open the set, and once joined by the rest of the band, the energy never stopped. They were “all gas, no brakes” to quote one of the songs from “American Motor Sports.”
Opening the night, Novelists had some technical difficulties that led to a cover of Whitney Houston’s “I Have Nothing” as they sorted it out. This French band went hard, with vocalist Camille Contreras moving effortlessly from screams to clean vocals. Knuckle Puck followed with set that ignited crowd surfing — a trend that continued throughout the night.
After Bilmuri’s set, a sweaty Dubay walked onto the floor to be greeted with cheers and celebration from friends and family. – By Chelsea Whitaker
Meanwhile, in Kalamazoo on Wednesday, roots/blues/folk/jazz favorite Pokey LaFarge brought the U.S. tour behind his new album, “Rent Money,” to Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe. Browse photos from the concerts below.
PHOTO GALLERY: Bilmuri, Knuckle Park, Novelists at GLC Live at 20 Monroe
Photos by Chelsea Whitaker
PHOTO GALLERY: Pokey LaFarge, Cicada Rhythm at Bell’s
Photos by Derek Ketchum
