The Record Company topped shows energizing venues from Grand Rapids to Kalamazoo, with Headband Henny, Hazy Past, Level Up, Kyle Jennings & a band contest in the mix. The images at Local Spins.
Givin’ It Back: The Record Company on Thursday. (Photo/Eric Stoike)
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The Record Company’s latest single, “Stay Up High,” from the Los Angeles group’s recent deluxe edition release of “Give It Back To You” could well have described the milieu surrounding the band’s Grand Rapids tour stop Thursday. It took place at The Intersection’s appropriately named Elevation in Grand Rapids, with fans celebrating the 10th anniversary of that 2016 album.
Indeed, there were high moments at shows across West Michigan this past week:
• Kandace Lavender, Lady Ace Boogie, Jess Ivey, Yolonda Lavender and other hip-hop artists collaborated with the Kalamazoo Symphony for the uplifting “Symphonic Beats: Celebrating Women of Hip Hop” at Kalamazoo Central High School on Friday night.
Headband Henny: On stage at Old Dog Tavern (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
• Hazy Past — with a special eight-member, all-star band on stage — had a jam-packed Tip Top Deluxe Bar & Grill in Grand Rapids on its feet and dancing throughout the night on Friday for its soaring tribute to The Talking Heads’ “Stop Making Sense” (and other hits).
• Kalamazoo native and country singer Kyle Jennings headlined a Friday night show at Bell’s Brewery Eccentric Cafe that also featured an opening set from Calvin Hinds, whose wife and Americana singer-songwriter Lexi Adams currently is in early treatment for breast cancer. (The Dorr Moose Lodge will host a “Love for Lexi” fundraiser for Adams on March 28, featuring Jennings, Calvin Hinds Band, Kody Bryant and Just 4 Kicks. Donate to a GoFundMe campaign online here.)
• Nashville country, rock and Americana artist Stephen Wilson Jr. brought his “Gary the Torch” tour to Grand Rapids for a Saturday concert at GLC Live at 20 Monroe. He plays The Fillmore Detroit on Wednesday (March 11).
The Stray Round 1 Winner: Marcus AK (Photo/Josh Dominowski)
• L.A.’s Level Up (aka, Sonya Broner) fired up heavy beats in The Intersection’s main showroom on Saturday, with Zingara also on the bill.
• The Intersection’s Elevation hosted Round 2 of the WGRD Heavyweights competition, with performances by He Who Dwells, Izzy Reign, Mouthful of Locusts, Some People’s Kids and The Bloody Pickups. Some People’s Kids emerged the winner of Round 2.
• Meanwhile, the Marcus AK trio won Round 1 of The Stray’s March Battle of the Bands on Saturday, an evening that also featured sets by Iridescence, Wilson Ave., The Westside and Smile, Darling. (Judge Karisa Wilson described Marcus AK as Fleetwood Mac crossed with Third Eye Blind.)
• Hip-hop and soul act Headband Henny of Kalamazoo led performances by a dozen hip-hop artists at Old Dog Tavern on Saturday night, with a full house enjoying the like of Daniel Brock, Vinny Branch, T-Money, Chinma, Micah Daily White and more.
THURSDAY
PHOTO GALLERY: The Record Company at Elevation
Photos by Eric Stoike
FRIDAY
PHOTO GALLERY: Symphonic Beats: Women of Hip Hop at Kalamazoo Central High School
Photos by Derek Ketchum
PHOTO GALLERY: Kyle Jennings, Calvin Hinds at Bell’s
Photos by Derek Ketchum
