Sugarland is back, pumping up Grand Rapids fans with help from Michigan’s Frankie Ballard. But there was plenty more on the musical docket and in Local Spins images, plus video of That Beatles Thing.
One of the biggest names of the week in music may have been multi-platinum-selling, chart-topping country act Sugarland, which has returned to the road, bringing its “Still The Same” tour to Grand Rapids’ Van Andel Arena, with Michigan-bred Frankie Ballard also revving up fans along with Lindsay Ell.
Sugarland — Jennifer Nettles and Kristian Bush — is promoting its latest album, “Bigger,” which peaked at No. 2 on the Top Country Albums chart.
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Sugarland Set List (setlist.fm): Bigger, All I Want To Do, Stuck Like Glue, Want To, Already Gone, Lean It On Back, Little Miss, Tony, Trailer Hitch, Unlove You, Incredible Machine, Let Me Remind You, Settlin’, Medley w/ On a Roll, We Want the Funk, Billie Jean, Express Yourself, Bird in a Cage, Babe, It Happens, Stay, Baby Girl, Something More. Encore: Not the Only, Let’s Go Crazy
But there was plenty more to absorb, including a riveting “1978 Tribute” at The Pyramid Scheme the same night, with 17 local musicians from several different bands unleashing four classic albums from 1978 – “This Year’s Model,” by Elvis Costello, “Outlandos d’Amour,” by The Police, “s/t,” by Van Halen, and “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” by Bruce Springsteen.
Then there was Pack Sounds playing an album-release show at Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, the Sparta Celtic Festival in downtown Sparta and That Beatles Thing once again lighting up Local Spins Wednesdays at SpeakEZ Lounge.
Of course, Local Spins also was there for several other shows this week, from Slayer’s farewell tour to David Byrne’s magical night at DeVos Performance Hall. Find the links to reviews and photos below.
PHOTO GALLERY: Sugarland, Frankie Ballard, Lindsay Ell at Van Andel Arena
Photos by Eric Stoike (On the Run Photography)
PHOTO GALLERY: 1978 Tribute at The Pyramid Scheme
Photos by Katy Batdorf
PHOTO GALLERY: Pack Sounds, Harvey Pekar at Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo
Photos by Derek Ketchum