As any musician will tell you, buying an instrument is definitely something to be done in person, because you have to hear and feel the damn thing. So whether you’re a seasoned vet, a rookie or even just looking to get started, pay a visit to one of these local musical instrument shops and let their expertise guide your important investment.
There’s no doubt that West Michigan is home to a rich music scene. Yet even with no shortage of traditional venues hosting some of the best in local and touring talent, sometimes it’s the places that may be off the radar, or perhaps boast another claim to fame, that are offering up some of the best shows this side of The Mitten. Here’s a list of some true West Michigan standouts.
At 24 years old, The Autumnatic’s Nick Arthur might seem young to some, but he’s an old-soul veteran when it comes to the local music scene.
The founder, lead vocalist and rhythm/lead guitarist for one of Grand Rapids’ newest and most exciting bands, Arthur grew up on the tried and true grit of Muddy Waters, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Neil Young. Taking a cue from such self-made legends, the Cascade native started writing his own songs at a young age and by 16 got his first break when he performed on television.
Before starting the genre-defying Last Gasp Collective, guitarist/vocalist Justin Jay Jackson had an epiphany.
He had just read an article that challenged his reality by posing one important question about his very existence: What would you do if you only had your last gasp left?
For him the answer was simple: Make music.
If there’s one thing that would make Karli Morehouse’s whole summer, it would be getting the opportunity to open for Tegan & Sara at Frederik Meijer Gardens this August.
“I get mocked for it all the time, but I love Tegan & Sara,” the 22-year-old lead vocalist/guitarist for Lipstick Jodi told Revue.
Since its inception, Vox Vidorra has set out to engage audiences’ minds, bodies and souls.
On the indie-soul group’s debut LP, 2015’s Promise Land, Vox Vidorra got into important issues like racial inequality, religious intolerance and more, while keeping its feet firmly planted in the harmonic beauty of the bygone days of Motown.
Jessica Hernandez & The Deltas, a dark, soul-filled pop outfit out of Detroit, looks to combat cultural divisiveness directly with its upcoming dual bilingual albums, Telephone and Telefono. And while the initial intent had nothing to do with the current state of political discourse, the band feels its releases couldn’t be more timely.
These days, Mike Posner might be one of the most soft-spoken superstars on the pop charts.
Mark Lavengood has come a long way. The multi-instrumentalist/singer/songwriter/bandleader first rose to fame playing resonator guitar for the award-winning, Michigan-based Americana outfit Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys.
Now something of an ambassador for GR’s roots music scene, Lavengood will return this month with his third LP, We’ve Come Along.
At just 25 years of age, country music star Hunter Hayes is already reinventing himself. Following the release of his major-label debut album in 2011, which has since gone Double-Platinum and boasts three No. 1 singles, Hayes has attained a dizzying array of accolades. Despite his success, Hayes discovered that he was not immune to yearning for the one thing all young adults do: change.
While the duo no longer needs any introduction in the Grand Rapids hip-hop scene, ConvoTronics wants its new album, IllKillSchematics, to serve as something of a reintroduction. The group has reduced in size from when MC Cory Harris started the crew nearly a decade ago, but that doesn’t mean its retro-futuristic sound has stopped expanding.
In the mystical, musical universe of Joe Hertler & the Rainbow Seekers, everyone is invited to the interplanetary dance party.
Funk has been making a significant comeback thanks to modern bands that are helping to propel its popularity. One such group, Turkuaz, has been a major player in the genre’s resurgence. This nine-piece ensemble out of Brooklyn enjoys a dedicated national following with its relentless touring schedule and aggressive, yet accessible songs.
In the fleeting world of music, Dawes believes there’s only one guarantee: We’re all gonna die.
That might sound awfully dark or even outright bleak, especially for a chilled-out folk-rock record released in these trying times. But for Los Angeles band Dawes, it’s a beautifully communal statement, capable of reassuring us that we’re all the same. That’s why the band titled its latest LP, We’re All Gonna Die.
