Two much-admired, inventive rock bands brought their respective, polished spectacles to West Michigan on Wednesday night. And Local Spins was there to document the impressive performances for packed houses. Read the reviews and scan the photo galleries from these mid-week concert gems.
Inspired by last week’s extraordinary Detroit-area performance by former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, a Local Spins columnist finds enlightenment and virtuosity in not standing still — and sees some shining examples right here in West Michigan.
Friday night delivered two Grand Rapids concerts that couldn’t have been more different, but were every bit as satisfying for their respective throngs of fans. Check out the review and photo gallery from shows featuring Pop Evil and Vince Gill.
Concert reviews · Photos · Summer Concerts
Sunday showcased a rare alignment of planets: One of Meijer Gardens’ best shows yet with one of Umphrey’s McGee’s best Grand Rapids shows ever, dazzling even newbies with mind-blowing chops and groovy lighting. Read the review and check out the photo gallery from a concert that drew perhaps the wildest crowd in the amphitheater’s history.
The iconic Boston rock band brought 45 years of stage savvy and classic hits to Van Andel Arena with Living Colour. Local Spins reviewer Troy Reimink waxes poetic — in[…]
The celebrated jazz singer and pianist led a razor-tight band through everything from Irving Berlin to Bob Dylan to Tom Waits at a sold-out, sun-drenched Meijer Gardens amphitheater on Monday. Read Local Spins guest reviewer Lazaro Vega’s take on the show and check out the photo gallery by Tori Thomas.
Playing for a sold-out amphitheater, the singer-songwriter and opener Anderson East charmed fans with their own compelling original material and some delectable covers. Read the review and view the photo gallery.
A sun-splashed capacity crowd of devoted West Michigan fans cheered the stars of the “Girls Night Out, Boys Can Come Too Tour” all night long. Read the review and check out the photos by Local Spins’ Taylor Mansen.
Commentary · Concert reviews · Videos
The band’s first-ever Grand Rapids appearance on Friday night was a show unlike anything this reviewer has ever experienced. Check out the Local Spins review and video snippets from the show.
Entertaining in a less disturbing sort of way that might frighten only grandmothers and politicians, the 46-year-old shock rocker brought his Hell Not Hallelujah tour to Grand Rapids on Wednesday night. But he and his fans still make a colorful spectacle. Check out the photos by Anthony Norkus and review by Brian J. Bowe.
The duo brought a boatload of catchy ’70s and ’80s pop hits to stoke the embers of a Saturday night dance party for an audience of about 7,500 at Van Andel Arena. Read Local Spins review by Tricia Woolfenden and view the photo gallery by Anthony Norkus.
Heart and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts made their final 2015 tour stop together a mostly memorable one, cranking out driving rock hits for a gleefully nostalgic crowd at Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena. Read the review and check out the photo gallery.
Lambert proved to be the “Fastest Girl in Town” on Sunday night, delivering hits and more with Justin Moore, Sunny Sweeney and Jukebox Mafia also revving up the Van Andel Arena crowd. View the photo gallery and read the review.
Playing in front of a capacity crowd at The Pyramid Scheme, New York’s legendary post-punkers led by Michael Gira delivered intense, lengthy and improvisational musical pieces. Read the review by Brian J. Bowe, with photos by Anthony Norkus.
The CMA Entertainer of the Year ignited a sold-out Van Andel Arena from his fiery opening salvo to the final note of his encore, with help from fellow country singers Randy Houser and Dustin Lynch. (Review, photo gallery)
The first installation of a new occasional series at Local Spins takes a look at a landmark 1970s appearance in West Michigan by the late, great Lou Reed, who startled some fans with his graphic depiction of drug use.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Starting with Joan Osborne at Wealthy Theatre, the weekend also boasted Gringo Star and Heaters heating up a record label launch at The Pyramid Scheme, with a legend playing the Civic Theatre.
The Brooklyn indie-rockers delivered their raucous, bar-band magic in a career-spanning Pyramid Scheme show on Wednesday; Malian guitarist and singer Toure fired up a small crowd at Wealthy Theatre on Monday.
Playing to a packed house at The Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids Monday night, X (the band) plowed through a 24-song set drawn almost entirely from the group’s first three nearly flawless LPs — 1980’s “Los Angeles,” 1981’s “Wild Gift” and 1982’s “Under the Big Black Sun.”
The Eagles reminisce, croon, rock and ban cellphones during Monday’s enjoyable ‘History’ tour stop at Van Andel Arena, and credit a West Michigan DJ for helping put them on the road to stardom.
Crow’s return to the outdoor amphitheater for the second year in a row impresses a sold-out crowd and proves she’s now a darling of the popular, record-setting series.
Fresh off a tour with Arcade Fire, the violinist and singer-songwriter’s solo jaunt behind his “In Conflict” album made a stop Wednesday in the recital hall of Calvin College’s Covenant Fine Arts Center.
Unlike the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night, these bands plus the Plain White T’s know how to clear the bases and leave fans happy. (Review, photo gallery)
The acoustic guitar duo’s debut at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park was nothing short of masterful, electrifying new and old fans with rhythmic, Latin-hued and rock fervor.
Whilst short of a sellout, Thursday night’s Meijer Gardens concert boasted an enthusiastic young crowd, passionate performances and double-duty for Dawes as opening act and backing band.
Commentary · Concert reviews · Guest Column
Local Spins contributor Brian J. Bowe was startled to read how some critics and bloggers misinterpreted a triumphant Detroit homecoming show by Jack White earlier this week. Here’s his Musicians’ Soundboard take.
The fun-loving Canadian goofballs inspired sing-alongs, bra-tossing and an upbeat attitude in Sunday’s sold-out show, their first appearance at the outdoor amphitheater. (Review, photos)
Concert reviews · Features · Upcoming shows
Hometown boys Jack White and bandmate Dominic John Davis return to Detroit for two sold-out shows next week after setting Chicago ablaze with buzzed-about concerts. (Review, photos)
HOT-FM’s Party in the Park on Wednesday drew thousands of teens and 20-somethings (and a passel of parents) to Fifth Third Ballpark for Hot Chelle Rae, Kongos, My Crazy Girlfriend, Outasight and GR’s own The Outer Vibe.
With fellow alt-rock/pop outfit Toad the Wet Sprocket opening the show, the California band played a host of its hits, some of them with an endearing twist.
Beck, with Sean Lennon’s Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger in tow, made a West Michigan tour stop on Saturday, giving Grand Rapids a long-awaited dose of his boundary-pushing alt- and indie-rock.
Ignoring a few sprinkles, the singer-songwriters and their talented bands combined for three hours of top-notch, rootsy alt-country.
The sold-out crowd of 1,900 arrived early, jostled for prime seats and boogied to “Oye Como Va” and “Smooth” as the guitarist and his top-notch 10-piece band launched the summer series.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
With a mid-week show, The Soil & The Sun’s Grand Rapids homecoming launched several days of live gems that included singular sets by Jimmie Stagger, The Outer Vibe, Chance Jones, Junior Valentine and Alice Peacock.
Intimate vocals and moving songwriting marked the band’s concert Tuesday night at the Calvin College Covenant Fine Arts Center in a show rescheduled from January.
St. Cecilia Music Center’s singer-songwriter night also spotlighted the music of Josh Rose, Hannah Rose Graves and Mark Sala.
Concert reviews · Weekend Photo Gallery
Ah, that magical time between Christmas and New Year’s was filled with, well, rock ‘n’ roll, captured in images at Local Spins.
This Local Spins column originally ran on Labor Day and generated more comments than any other story in 2013. So, do you know how little your favorite local musician or band is probably being paid?
The Brooklyn-based R&B singer delivered a heartfelt performance on Sunday with The Extraordinaires, igniting a sold-out Grand Rapids crowd.
Frustrating sound glitches aside, the opening night of St. Cecilia Music Center’s Fresh Folk series turned the tables on folk-rock and put a Nashville couple in the spotlight.
The seasoned, award-winning troubadours’ duo tour made a Grand Rapids tour stop on Wednesday, filling the evening with anecdotes and acoustic artistry. (Photo gallery, review) One dynamic roots duo[…]
Banjo virtuoso Bela Fleck’s first-ever appearance at the historic event was just the icing on the cake for the 40th Wheatland fest, drawing 10,000-plus people to rural Mecosta County for[…]
Thursday night’s season-ending concert brought Georgia’s Indigo Girls back to one of their favorite Grand Rapids haunts, with devotees helping pack the sold-out amphitheater. In the annals of Frederik[…]
The little ol’ band from Texas, joined by Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Grand Rapids’ own Junior Valentine, closed out the three-day festival at Fifth Third Ballpark with a truckload of[…]
Touring behind a new EP, the synthpop outfit led by Minnesota singer-songwriter Adam Young attracted a large, young and exuberant crowd in its Meijer Gardens debut. (Review, photo gallery) […]
The temperature wasn’t exactly California hot, but the sun was out and Mike Love yet again led this New Millennium version of The Beach Boys through a passel of surfin’[…]
The singer and multi-instrumentalist’s second show at the outdoor amphitheater proved to be as triumphant as her first appearance there in 2012. (Review, photo gallery) I’ve often endeavored to[…]
For the second year in a row, the Warren Haynes-led Mule fired up devotees with blues-infused favorites and singular covers. (Photo gallery, video) Pandora’s online version of “Gov’t Mule[…]
With West Michigan’s own Vincent Hayes Project getting the party started, the iconic bluesman launched the 2013 concert series amid sunny skies with a veteran band and plenty of audience[…]
Breaking music news · Features
Michigan music news this week ranges from a feature on Traverse City’s Peter, Paul & Mary Remembered to an interview with The Breeders to a limp Limp Bizkit, performing in[…]
