The beloved Phish frontman delivered nearly 2 hours of jam-band-informed, solo acoustic rock to adoring fans. The review, with photos from that show + an image gallery from Big Head Todd in Grand Haven.
Phish and More: Trey Anastasio on stage Monday. (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTO GALLERIES, VIDEO FROM MEIJER GARDENS & GH WATERFRONT STADIUM
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Whenever my friend and I attend a concert or show together, there’s a fun little exercise we like to perform. Most every band/act/performer has their people; those super-fans for whom this particular band/act/performer is “the one.”
We like to ID these super-fans; “This is their band!”
Finding these folks is usually pretty easy, whether it’s a smattering of two to three diehards, or a sea of swooning stans, you can just tell that this experience is special for them, a core memory.
I love sussing out these true fans at every show simply because, in an often-difficult world, it’s nice to see people genuinely enjoy things. (For the record, my “one” is the British trio Foals.)
There was no doubt who ranked as the “one” for many in Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park Monday evening when Trey Anastasio made his tour stop at the Grand Rapids amphitheater.
The affable singer-guitarist and long-time Phish frontman delivered just shy of two hours of cheerful, acoustic solo numbers to a crowd that likely counts his storied rock band at the top of its collective list. (Anastasio also plays Interlochen Center for the Arts tonight, June 21.)
On the Waterfront; In Grand Haven, with 10,000 Maniacs on stage. (Photo/Bryan Bolea)
Anastasio’s performance on Monday was NOT a Phish show, but rather, Phish-adjacent, as I was reminded several times. Regardless, the sentiment remains and the audience showed up for their artist. Meijer Gardens, while a gorgeous venue with good sound, can mean a mixed bag of half-listening picnickers and attentive fans. Anastasio’s warm reception left zero doubt as to whether the music was the focus for the evening.
Relaxed in center stage with minimal set and simple lighting, Anastasio offered a crowd-pleasing set of roughly two dozen songs, primarily Phish tracks (“Wilson,” “Twist,” “Limb By Limb,” “Waste,” “Blaze On,” to name a few), plus some solo work (“Snowflakes in the Sand”).
And while Anastasio had no trouble commanding his fans’ attention, he received the strongest support when he passed the mike to a young fan, whose handmade sign imploring the singer to let her sing “Bug” with him caught his eye. Welcoming the fan to the stage, Anastasio let the kid sing the entire song. She was great and the crowd (perhaps more aptly thought of as a community) erupted. (Scroll down to watch the video below.)
It was another moment of intentional, audience-focused interaction, a vibe that Anastasio fostered throughout the night — reflective, no doubt, of the special relationship he enjoys with a fanbase noted for its loyalty and devotion.
Next up at Meijer Gardens: Tuesday Evening Music Club concert at 7 p.m. Tuesday with Molly. The next Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts show is a sold-out concert with Old Crow Medicine Show at 7 p.m. Thursday.
PHOTO GALLERY: Trey Anastasio at Meijer Gardens
Photos by Derek Ketchum
Click Here: https://youtube.com/shorts/YusovLPg0Qg?feature=share
BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS, 10,000 MANIACS AT LYNNE SHERWOOD STADIUM
Monday also boasted the first 2022 concert in the Courtyard Concerts Summer Sessions series at Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium in Grand Haven.
Big Head Todd and the Monsters, 10,000 Maniacs and Greensky Bluegrass’ Michael Arlen Bont with northern Michigan’s Joshua Davis performed along the river channel in downtown Grand Haven.
Next Up: Phil Vassar and Jamie O’Neal on July 7. Get tickets, $60, online here.
PHOTO GALLERY: Big Head Todd, 10,000 Maniacs, Michael Bont w/ Joshua Davis
Lynne Sherwood Waterfront Stadium in Grand Haven
Photos by Bryan Bolea
