Eric Mitts

Contributor

I am a Kalamazoo native who has written about the local music scene for over 20 years. My passion for music has led me to cover everything from DIY basement shows to chart-topping Grammy Award winners. I was the former entertainment editor for Grand Rapids' cutting-edge alternative/satire magazine Recoil, and now regularly contribute to REVUE West Michigan, where I write about music, comedy, culture and more.

What's a particular story you're really proud of/were excited to write for Revue?

Interviewing the late, great Chris Cornell meant the world to me. I am honored and humbled to have seen him perform with a reunited Soundgarden, the rock super-group Audioslave, and stunningly solo acoustic.

As music writer, what’s one of the most memorable concerts you’ve experienced in West Michigan?

Hearing Bright Eyes perform “First Day of My Life” as an unexpected encore in the rain at Frederik Meijer Gardens led my wife and I to pick the song as our first dance at our wedding 11 years ago. The song still chokes me up to this day.

If we took a peek into your weekend, where would we find you?

When I’m not out discovering new music, I am often fending off middle age by exercising on a daily basis, mixing push/pull lifting workouts with high intensity interval training (HIIT).

What's a piece of media that really shaped you?

While a cinephile at heart, with a true love for the art form, the movie I have seen the most times is Jack Frost – the ‘90s cult classic. I first bought the DVD as a teen, then it became a horrible holiday tradition.