In the words of Dante Hicks, tortured convenience store jockey called into work on his day off, “I’m not even supposed to be here today!” 

In fact, the last time this writer booked multiple shows for a touring musician was probably over three years ago. The last time I wrote for an entertainment publication was 2007. But here we are — for one very important, very inimitable and very legendary reason: Victor Villarreal.

I have briefly come out of my retirement from booking shows (and writing about them, apparently) to set up dates with Villarreal at Camp H Skate Park on March 25 with Charles Rogers and Momentai and on March 26 in Hamtramck, with Bars of Gold and Mountain Club.

Way before the massive, multiplatinum success of the megahit single “Sail,” AWOLNATION mastermind Aaron Bruno could feel like a king for a day in only one place: Grand Rapids.

The reason: Our fair city actually heard his previous band, Under The Influence of Giants, on the radio when almost no one else in the country had.

Although he’s now revered as the enigmaticfrontman for multi-platinum prog-metal juggernauts Tool and A Perfect Circle, Maynard James Keenan has a long history here in West Michigan.

This month, his current project — the performance-art meets alt-rock outfit Puscifer — plays somewhat of a homecoming show at DeVos Performance Hall.

Here’s what he had to say about Puscifer’s decade-long development and the band’s new Money Shot LP.

This year's Music Issue profiles of some of our favorite bands on the come up in West Michigan, from lesbian indie rockers to an ever-shifting urban collective of skilled rappers, singers and instrumentalists. Also: Our guide to scores of festivals to check out this summer.

If you’ve been behind on hitting up live music venues, there’s no better way to catch up with the local music scene than the Jammies awards. The concert/ceremony, now in its 17th year, is WYCE’s local and regional music awards showcase. Note: Attendees are encouraged to come in their favorite pajamas.

While the complete lineup will not be announced until mid-April, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park revealed four dates of its Fifth Third Bank Summer Concerts. Here’s the first taste of what’s to come this summer.

This special Cheap Issue-themed playlist is a collaboration between WYCE, AMI Jukeboxes and Revue West Michigan. You can hear this mix as a playlist on AMI Jukeboxes and stream it on wyce.org — from Grand Rapids to the world!

Two great awards ceremonies happen every February, the Grammys, and WYCE’s 17-year-old ceremony for Michigan, the Jammies. Here are some of WYCE’s favorite Grammy winners and nominees, with a few of our local winners that stack up quite nicely. 

On the weekend, he’s Paul Bauer, animalistic drummer for Kalamazoo-based funk/soul outfit The Mainstays. To a whole different throng of fans, he goes by the name Mr. Paul. Mr. Paul is the brains behind Small Sounds, a program that encourages musical exploration amongst young children but also an entity that has expanded into a one-man band of sorts to record and perform kid-friendly tunes.

• Paul Bauer
• small sounds
• good morning, sun!
• radisson plaza
• kzoo baby & family expo

“Grand Rapids is the only place in America that celebrates VD,” blares Monoxide Child, one half of Detroit-based rap duo Twiztid. The rap/rock ensemble is playing the Intersection on Valentine’s Day and he’s using the occasion to play with words, which is his stock-in-trade.

• twiztid
• insane clown posse
• monoxide child
• jamie madrox
• majik ninja entertainment