The multi-platinum-selling West Michigan alt-rock band returned to Meijer Gardens on Monday this time with a symphonic twist. The review and photos at Local Spins.
‘Bucket List’ Performance: The Verve Pipe with Grand Rapids Symphony on Monday at Meijer Gardens. (Photo/Veronica Ann Dearborn)
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“It’s good to be home,” said The Verve Pipe frontman and West Michigan’s own Brian Vander Ark as he gazed out at the sold-out crowd at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park on Monday night.
And to make this grand homecoming event even more special, The Verve Pipe teamed up with the Grand Rapids Symphony to put a unique and unexpected twist on the alternative rock sound their audience has come to know and love.
The core group — Brian Vander Ark, Brad Vander Ark, Channing Lee and Lou Musa — struck the perfect balance between letting their own riffs and solos shine and stepping back when it was time to give the symphony its moment in the spotlight.
It was clear that there were many long-time, dedicated fans present in the crowd based on some fans’ reactions after just a single note of a song was played. Even before the first note of the evening, shouts of “We love you!” could be heard throughout the venue.
“I am on the verge of tears with every single song,” Vander Ark said, expressing his love for his home state while reminiscing on the places he used to play when he was just starting out as an artist.
“This is a bucket list item,” he said of sharing the stage with the Grand Rapids Symphony.
Classsics and the New, Too: Brian Vander Ark (Photo/Veronica Ann Dearborn)
Vander Ark also pointed out the contrast between how precisely the symphony plays compared to the band’s on-the-fly decisions on stage. He admitted that the initial rehearsals with the symphony intimidated him due to the musicians’ extraordinary talents.
“They should be in the front,” he joked.
Songs such as “Villains” and “Never Let You Down” retained their guitar-driven alt-rock sound while others took on a new life with the addition of the symphony. Dramatic crescendos and sweeping intros heightened the emotional content of several songs.
The 2025 track, “Hollow Bones,” as well as “Colorful” – a track most known for its appearance in the 2001 film “Rock Star” – lent themselves particularly well to the symphony’s contribution.
But perhaps the most striking track in combination with the symphony was none other than The Verve Pipe’s 1996 hit, “The Freshman.” Whether it was the nostalgic feeling the song evokes, the emotional storytelling, or the song’s slow build, the cinematic swells from the Grand Rapids Symphony paired perfectly with the closing song of the main set.
The band returned for an encore which featured “Dust,” a track from the band’s upcoming album “Reconciled,” set to be released on July 25, before ending the show with a cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “The Chain.”
Next Up at Meijer Gardens: Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, JJ Grey & Mofro, Dumpstaphunk perform at 6 p.m. Sunday (July 13). The concert is sold out.
PHOTO GALLERY: The Verve Pipe & Grand Rapids Symphony at Meijer Gardens
Photos by Veronica Dearborn
