Led by frontman Kurt Neumann, the roots-rock band’s Wealthy Theatre debut made for a triumphant series-opening show. (Review, photos)
Roots-Rock Revelry: The BoDeans at Wealthy Theatre (Photo/Dave Odette)
Take your pick of lines from BoDeans’ songs to describe the band’s first-ever appearance at Grand Rapids’ Wealthy Theatre in the first-ever show in WYCE-FM’s Wealthy Concert Series on Wednesday night.
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“Paradise, it ain’t far away.”
“Ain’t this what dreams are made of?”
“I can see good things for you and I.”
Schmaltzy perhaps, but it’s hard to imagine a better debut for the community radio station’s “occasional” series than the show put on by guitarist/lead singer Kurt Neumann and his five talented bandmates in The BoDeans, who represent perhaps the perfect definition of a roots-rock outfit, right down to its fiddle and accordion players.
The BoDeans at Wealthy Theatre. (Photo/Local Spins)
From the opening strains of “Stay On,” Neumann and his crew were lively and engaged, and the same could be said for the near sellout crowd of about 400, which hooted and hollered from the get-go – even for station manager Kevin Murphy who introduced the band.
Neumann – who seemed to really be enjoying the Wealthy Theatre experience – mixed it up brilliantly, tossing in vintage classics such as “Angels,” “Dreams” and “Paradise” from deep within the catalog of the band formed in Wisconsin way back in 1983, as well as songs from more recent albums, including 2012’s “American Made” and 2010’s “Mr. Sad Clown.”
And with any luck, The BoDeans will be adding to that repertoire soon: Neumann told me during a chat at WYCE earlier in the day that he and the band are winnowing down a batch of 30 songs for their next album.
While the presence of former BoDean Sam Llanas (who left the band a few years ago) may have been missed by diehard fans early on, that was mostly forgotten in short order due to Neumann’s upbeat demeanor and the fine musicianship of his cohorts. (The vocals did seem to drop out in the mix at times, particularly during the first part of “Good Work.”)
Because WYCE was simulcasting part of the concert on the air at 88.1 FM, I skipped out at one point to give a listen to the performance on my car stereo and, for the most part, it sounded smashingly good.
For many fans, it all came across as just a good old-fashioned, “American Made” rock ‘n’ roll show in a gorgeous, cozy and historic setting.
Check out the Local Spins photos by Dave Odette.
The BoDeans (Photos/Dave Odette)
Email John Sinkevics at jsinkevics@gmail.com.
Copyright 2013, Spins on Music
