Internationally acclaimed singer/songwriter Andrew Bird has made a career out of crafting a masterful mixture of music. Raised on the violin from age four, he earned a performance degree on the instrument from Northwestern University, before exploring the swing-jazz revival of the mid-’90s with Squirrel Nut Zippers and his own project Bowl of Fire. By 2003, he had branched out solo, experimenting with looping pedals and pioneering the live multitrack experience. 

Chris Conley never intended to write a theme song for his band. But when the muse came to visit the Saves The Day frontman as he worked on the band’s latest LP, 9, it just came pouring out of him like it’s always been there.

Last night at Van Andel Arena, New Kids on the Block merged nostalgia with innovation. The set list was filled with ’80s and ’90s superstars, namely NKOTB, Salt-N-Pepa, Debbie Gibson, Naughty By Nature, and Tiffany, and yet the show felt entirely new and unconventional.

In the digital age, every diehard music fan has attended at least one concert where the whole vibe got ruined by one person. Whether it’s a fan holding up an iPad to record the entire show or a drunk who won’t shut up once the music starts, crowds can completely remove you from that magical moment where artist and listener become one.