The Traverse City-bred alt-folk trio brought the Michigan tour behind its new Christmas album to Grand Rapids’ Big Room Friday, impressing fans with help from an ensemble of young musicians. Review, photos.
Silvery Christmas Charm: The Accidentals and Kaboom Studio Orchestra on stage Friday evening. (Photo/Chelsea Whitaker)
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For The Accidentals, coming home at Christmastime certainly never sounded — or felt — better than this.
With the biggest crowd yet to ever grace Grand Rapids’ Big Room on hand, The Accidentals brought their version of Christmas cheer to the sprawling new venue on Friday, accompanied by the youthful Kaboom Studio Orchestra from Ohio — delivering inspiring takes of holiday classics and more, many of them reflected in the collaborative new album, “Sonus Borealis – A Holiday Winter Collection.”
When the group took the stage along with the 32-piece orchestra in their reflective silver outfits, the room was immediately transported to a sparkling holiday wonderland. And although each song carried a wintry theme, The Accidentals had plenty of warm sentiments to go around for their beloved Michigan community.
Following packed houses for shows in Traverse City and Cleveland, the ever-gracious Accidentals reveled gleefully in their return to Grand Rapids (the band played an epic, 3-1/2-hour show at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park in August), thanking their supporters and everyone involved with the elaborate production that involved dozens of young orchestra musicians, a clever stage set-up and lighting appropriate for the holiday vibe.
They acknowledged their dedicated Michigan fans for backing them throughout all of the hardships of being a small, independent band and helping them build a career that allows them to take on projects they are passionate about and curate shows and experiences that they truly believe in.
Intimate Moments: The trio gathered around a single microphone. (Photo/Local Spins)
While the majority of the set featured vibrant and poppy renditions of Christmas favorites like “All I Want For Christmas” and “Wonderful Christmastime,” the multi-instrumental trio — Sav Madigan, Katie Larson and Katelyn Corll — gathered around a single microphone at the front of the stage during part of the show to perform stunning, intimate renditions of “Silent Night” and Joni Mitchell’s “River.” The evening even included a nod of sorts to the holiday bombast of Trans-Siberian Orchestra with a rousing, crowd-revving rendition of “Christmas Eve Sarajevo.”
Madigan also took a moment to acknowledge that the holidays can be a difficult time for some and encouraged the crowd to lean into their community during this time and reach out to people who might be struggling.
In the same way that the trio took turns showing off their talents — Corll’s soaring vocals on “All I Want for Christmas” was a highlight that drew a standing ovation — various soloists from the Kaboom Studio Orchestra were also given the spotlight throughout the night. The orchestra’s contributions made the entire show feel all the more festive and theatrical with sweeping string arrangements and lively brass segments.
Kaboom Studio Orchestra conductor Liza Grossman described the collaborative nature of working alongside The Accidentals to curate the list of songs for “Sonus Borealis” and spoke about how collaborative passion projects like this one fulfill the orchestra’s mission.
“We think it’s important that live, human musicians are the ones providing the soundtrack to our lives,” said Grossman.
The Accidentals, of course, closed out the show with the familiar Great Lakes State anthem, “Michigan and Again,” accompanied by a sea of phone flashlights swaying in the crowd.
“I don’t think we’re allowed to leave the building until we play this song,” Madigan joked.
The Accidentals wrap up their holiday tour with two shows today (Dec. 20) at Castle Farms in Charlevoix. Tickets, details online here.
PHOTO GALLERY: The Accidentals, Kaboom Studio Orchestra at The Big Room
Photos by Chelsea Whitaker, John Sinkevics
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