Live Music Log, March 2019
3 1 19 Carrie McFerrin #24/Kaitlin Rose #10/Emilee Petersmark #6 Webster's Prime, Kalamazoo For most of the diners in the high end hotel steakhouse, pleasant background noise for their moneyed lives. For me, a thrilling summit meeting between three of my favorite songwriters/people. It was so much fun to finally see Carrie Energy mingling with Emilee Energy, and then there's Kaitlin Energy, which could power a small Scandinavian nation. Emilee's solo stuff has even more vulnerability than her Crane Wives songs, which complements nicely Carrie's bleeding country heart and Kaitlin's homebound drifter eyes. My God, as a band they could conquer the world. New song highlights: Carrie's Ghost, Emilee's Destroy Everything, and Kaitlin's Love To Last. It's time to get real quiet and listen to what the women have to say.
3 2 19 KALAMAZOO FRETBOARD FESTIVAL: MARK SAHLGREN & THE FRAGILE EGOS/Gifts Or Creatures #3/Public Access (Lite Lite) #8/Red Tail Ring #2 Kalamazoo Valley Museum, Kalamazoo Lollapalooza for old folkies, this is a big fat free event put on at the museum every year to the delight of many, a celebration of all instruments stringed. Many more acts than I could see performed, along with vendor booths, workshops, and impromptu jams. (I missed Beaver Xing playing a Dooley number, with Dooley joining in.) Mark Sahlgren, father to Darcy Wilkin, is a friendly curmudgeon of the highest order, and his band of ringers opened my day with a mix of humor and heart, with tunes about cell phone addiction and anal retentiveness. Darcy sang one I loved called Cold Hard Truth, writer unknown to me. Gifts or Creatures, a husband and wife duo supplemented today by a Rickabus, play hushed history lessons with panache...so hushed I could hear Brandon Foote's knees pop as he bent to futz with his frighteningly huge pedal board. He plays electric with style and taste, but I can smell enough technique that he could light your hair on fire if he so chose. I went to a workshop featuring Mr. Foote and Steve Leaf, but I was so hot and tired I can't even remember what it was about. There was a popup set in a library with Leaf and Rickabus as the tiniest possible iteration of Public Access: good, but like listening to a Mahler symphony through a speaker you bought at Five Below. Red Tail Ring had the closing set in the big exhibit space, and they sounded majestic: sober minded Americana filtered through a bit of Yooper smartassery. Highlight: new Michael Beauchamp song called Kids Had A Show, a tribute to the power of entertaining yourselves.
3 2 19 Jack And The Bear #5 The Livery, Benton Harbor It feels like I have seen this band way more times, but the Olivia/Libby Creative Axis makes numbers semi-irrelevant. No Christina, and therefore no trumpet, but Evan (bass) made the trip over for the Dark Disney stylings of the brothers Schreiber. New song highlights: Don't, a thrillingly straightforward melody that might show the way forward, and Speaking Loud, a pretty direct and enjoyable piece of trash talking. Adam is a percussion wizard, and Brandon's guitar tone is clean yet lascivious. When they come to your town WATCH THEM.
3 6 19 SHEILAPALOOZA: Dan Rickabus #8/Brian Koenigsknecht #16/Emilee Petersmark #7 EcoPrint GR, Grand Rapids The most amazing night, one that this whole blog has been leading up to, a twin life peak along with Redemption Night (10/21/17). I have a dog named Sheila. I never wanted a dog, I was a cat person, but my ex wife insisted. She got to pick the place, I got to pick the puppy. In late winter 2008, we drove way out past Edmore into the sticks to a place with crossbred Rottweilers and Great Danes. I saw one puppy that was clearly tinier than the others and shouted "THAT one!" She has been a faithful and often bewildered companion these last 11 years; I am eternally grateful to the ex wife for letting me bring her back to Michigan with me though she loves her equally. After a vet visit with frequent urination concerns, they found a huge mass in her abdomen, pressing against her bladder, that turned out to be a runaway adrenal gland. When I heard the price, I thought I would have to say goodbye to my truest friend. But I was encouraged to try a GoFundMe, and it succeeded beyond my wildest dreams, raising two thirds of the surgery cost, and I never could have done that without all the connections I have made while going out to see music. (Not to discount at all the generosity of family, and older friends.) As a supplement, the idea for this show was hatched and carried out by Kay, Emilee, and Roo: a benefit for a doggo. Bill Chesney generously allowed the use of his print shop for this crazy idea. Em designed a poster. I brought a fuckton of pizza. Only a few people I didn't know turned up, and they all left after the first set, which was disappointing, since I hoped these fine musicians would get a spotlight as much or more than me and my dog. But that was hardly enough to dampen my spirits, especially since that same morning Sheila had come out of surgery doing well, with no major complications. Dan opened with his charming ukulele renditions of his solo epics, then Brian (who I had not seen in WAY too long) played a bunch of my favorites (with a bit of Em's harmonies): The Wildest Things Of All is an elegy to a lifestyle I never lived till I was too old to live it....but I'm doing it anyway: going from venue to venue in search of the lost chord. Then Emilee: her solo sets are always incredible, with nothing but unreleased songs and left field covers, in this case Britney's Toxic and Lauryn Hill's Doo Wop (That Thing). I hugged a lot of people. I got my mom to come. It was a hell of a night. Thank you to all who came, and to all who contributed. Thank you for saving my dog.
3 7 19 GR Live at the BOB: Dan Rickabus #9/Patty PerShayla #2/McWEAKERTON Home At The BOB, Grand Rapids Another Dan sighting the very next day, at WYCE's hourlong lunchtime broadcast. I think he was promoting a Wednesday SpeakEZ Lounge show, I can never attend those. Patty strummed and yowled and was generally adorable. McWeakerton: the square root of Weezer times Modest Mouse, fun lil monkeys I will watch out for.
3 15 19 Carrie McFerrin #25 Hilliards Corner Lounge, Hilliards Sometimes it's awkward when you're the only person in a room who is expressly there to see that performer perform. But sometimes it's an act of support that means a lot to them, and I think that was the case here. As it turns out, Dan came out to give support as well. Hilliards is getting used to Carrie, and vice versa: I am glad the weird little country bar is so aggressively continuing to book in quality live music when so many other places are packing it in. (Hardly knew ye, Chau Haus South.) With three hours to fill, I heard all my favorites and more. I love her Neutral Milk Hotel cover. I love her brand new songs, tinged with adult melancholy beneath the big blonde voice. I have faith in her ability to grow and change, and that more and more people will notice.
3 16 19 The Right Now #2 Founders, Grand Rapids Second time seeing this powerhouse soul band out of Chicago, but they opened oddly: a po faced cover of For What It's Worth, way too on the nose for the moment. But from there, everything was blazing: tight ensemble, perfectly calibrated harmonies, as funky as seven white people can possibly be. Singer Stefanie is a magnetic presence, the guitarist is a tasteful zen master, the drummer's O face was in full effect, and Harry Potter played the trumpet. They were playing a lot of the new stuff they had just recorded the week before, and it was smokin'. Highlights: Ask That Woman, and Postcard, a slab of light sweet R&B. Some asshole in the crowd shouted out a request for Rainbow In The Dark. I have no doubt they could have taken that Dio tune and James Browned the hell out of it if they so chose. Highly recommended live band.
3 20 19 Kate & Emilee of the Crane Wives (duo) #65 Grand Armory Brewing, Grand Haven On brief furlough from work for Stolen Musical Friendship Time. It's been too long between the show and this writing (5/30), but I'm sure a bunch of my other friends were there too. This is as close as I get to church: the fellowship, the sacraments (pulled pork and root beer), the singing of the sacred hymns. I love this body of work above all others save the Beatles. Surprises: couple of new ones, couple of solo ones. Loss of rhythm section leads to no loss in power, it only halves the force of personality.
3 22 19 Matt Gabriel #4 New Holland Brewing, Holland Matt and his trio came back to Holland to be ignored by tourists and delighted in by me and a few other discerning ears. Ridin' that VH1 groove, like if Genesis played Dire Straits covers, this is superior yacht rock. Second City was a strong breezy opener, melodic seaswept guitar. Amazing new title: Questions Comments Concerns, kinda early John Mayerish. Pile driving cover of Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer. Mostly new songs, not even on the disc he had to sell, but there was an excellent rendition of Heart Of Gold, my fave from his first EP. He may have been in my big show back in October '17 out of obligation, but I'm so glad he was.
3 23 19 THE MAINSTAYS/Nashon Holloway Band #3 Bell's, Kalamazoo I have seen Nashon with two different drummers: a young fella and an older fella. I thought one had replaced the other, but it turns out it's based on availability, and at this show she had both and it was EPIC. Her vocals were liquid fire, Bryan Blowers' guitar lines were molten, and those drummers were having the time of their lives stirring up the big cauldron of neo-soul. The Mainstays are another soul band, led by the very thin and very white Andrew Schrock, whom I had seen play pleasant folk country with his brother and dad in the Schrock Brothers. I was not expecting much...and then the music just kept getting more awesome. Terence Massey, also of May's Motivations, on the horn helped that along considerably, as did Nashon's frequent guest presence. The Mainstays deserve a place on your Goin' Out List.
3 28 19 C2 AND THE BROTHERS REED/Libby DeCamp #8 Founders, Grand Rapids Hadn't seen Libby in a long time, and her languid tales of venal men were welcomed back into my ears. Rather more guitar than banjo these days, as she was preparing to ship down to Nashville to shop her new album around. Asked For Water is an angry new highlight. Then C2 and the Brothers Reed got Black Crowes cooties all over me. Bassist had an amusing Kmart hat. Like Kings of Leon with fewer songs about penises. In my notes: "Scraggle Rock." Fun, but I was not in the mood for beardy male shenanigans, so I turned in early.
3 30 19 Jack And The Bear #6/THE SMOKING DANDIES Founders, Grand Rapids Lotsa horns, lotsa old timey sounds combined in new ways, lotsa young men wearing hats. The Dandies is a pair of gents from the Aston Neighborhood Pleasure Club doing their thing, like Adam and Brandon are doing with the Frenchtown Playboys. It's a whole movement. Slightly sinister, slightly sweet, the Squirrel Nut Zippers aesthetic is making a comeback. Christina DID come to town for this one, so we had trumpet, sequins, and big grins.
3 2 19 KALAMAZOO FRETBOARD FESTIVAL: MARK SAHLGREN & THE FRAGILE EGOS/Gifts Or Creatures #3/Public Access (Lite Lite) #8/Red Tail Ring #2 Kalamazoo Valley Museum, Kalamazoo Lollapalooza for old folkies, this is a big fat free event put on at the museum every year to the delight of many, a celebration of all instruments stringed. Many more acts than I could see performed, along with vendor booths, workshops, and impromptu jams. (I missed Beaver Xing playing a Dooley number, with Dooley joining in.) Mark Sahlgren, father to Darcy Wilkin, is a friendly curmudgeon of the highest order, and his band of ringers opened my day with a mix of humor and heart, with tunes about cell phone addiction and anal retentiveness. Darcy sang one I loved called Cold Hard Truth, writer unknown to me. Gifts or Creatures, a husband and wife duo supplemented today by a Rickabus, play hushed history lessons with panache...so hushed I could hear Brandon Foote's knees pop as he bent to futz with his frighteningly huge pedal board. He plays electric with style and taste, but I can smell enough technique that he could light your hair on fire if he so chose. I went to a workshop featuring Mr. Foote and Steve Leaf, but I was so hot and tired I can't even remember what it was about. There was a popup set in a library with Leaf and Rickabus as the tiniest possible iteration of Public Access: good, but like listening to a Mahler symphony through a speaker you bought at Five Below. Red Tail Ring had the closing set in the big exhibit space, and they sounded majestic: sober minded Americana filtered through a bit of Yooper smartassery. Highlight: new Michael Beauchamp song called Kids Had A Show, a tribute to the power of entertaining yourselves.
3 2 19 Jack And The Bear #5 The Livery, Benton Harbor It feels like I have seen this band way more times, but the Olivia/Libby Creative Axis makes numbers semi-irrelevant. No Christina, and therefore no trumpet, but Evan (bass) made the trip over for the Dark Disney stylings of the brothers Schreiber. New song highlights: Don't, a thrillingly straightforward melody that might show the way forward, and Speaking Loud, a pretty direct and enjoyable piece of trash talking. Adam is a percussion wizard, and Brandon's guitar tone is clean yet lascivious. When they come to your town WATCH THEM.
3 6 19 SHEILAPALOOZA: Dan Rickabus #8/Brian Koenigsknecht #16/Emilee Petersmark #7 EcoPrint GR, Grand Rapids The most amazing night, one that this whole blog has been leading up to, a twin life peak along with Redemption Night (10/21/17). I have a dog named Sheila. I never wanted a dog, I was a cat person, but my ex wife insisted. She got to pick the place, I got to pick the puppy. In late winter 2008, we drove way out past Edmore into the sticks to a place with crossbred Rottweilers and Great Danes. I saw one puppy that was clearly tinier than the others and shouted "THAT one!" She has been a faithful and often bewildered companion these last 11 years; I am eternally grateful to the ex wife for letting me bring her back to Michigan with me though she loves her equally. After a vet visit with frequent urination concerns, they found a huge mass in her abdomen, pressing against her bladder, that turned out to be a runaway adrenal gland. When I heard the price, I thought I would have to say goodbye to my truest friend. But I was encouraged to try a GoFundMe, and it succeeded beyond my wildest dreams, raising two thirds of the surgery cost, and I never could have done that without all the connections I have made while going out to see music. (Not to discount at all the generosity of family, and older friends.) As a supplement, the idea for this show was hatched and carried out by Kay, Emilee, and Roo: a benefit for a doggo. Bill Chesney generously allowed the use of his print shop for this crazy idea. Em designed a poster. I brought a fuckton of pizza. Only a few people I didn't know turned up, and they all left after the first set, which was disappointing, since I hoped these fine musicians would get a spotlight as much or more than me and my dog. But that was hardly enough to dampen my spirits, especially since that same morning Sheila had come out of surgery doing well, with no major complications. Dan opened with his charming ukulele renditions of his solo epics, then Brian (who I had not seen in WAY too long) played a bunch of my favorites (with a bit of Em's harmonies): The Wildest Things Of All is an elegy to a lifestyle I never lived till I was too old to live it....but I'm doing it anyway: going from venue to venue in search of the lost chord. Then Emilee: her solo sets are always incredible, with nothing but unreleased songs and left field covers, in this case Britney's Toxic and Lauryn Hill's Doo Wop (That Thing). I hugged a lot of people. I got my mom to come. It was a hell of a night. Thank you to all who came, and to all who contributed. Thank you for saving my dog.
3 7 19 GR Live at the BOB: Dan Rickabus #9/Patty PerShayla #2/McWEAKERTON Home At The BOB, Grand Rapids Another Dan sighting the very next day, at WYCE's hourlong lunchtime broadcast. I think he was promoting a Wednesday SpeakEZ Lounge show, I can never attend those. Patty strummed and yowled and was generally adorable. McWeakerton: the square root of Weezer times Modest Mouse, fun lil monkeys I will watch out for.
3 15 19 Carrie McFerrin #25 Hilliards Corner Lounge, Hilliards Sometimes it's awkward when you're the only person in a room who is expressly there to see that performer perform. But sometimes it's an act of support that means a lot to them, and I think that was the case here. As it turns out, Dan came out to give support as well. Hilliards is getting used to Carrie, and vice versa: I am glad the weird little country bar is so aggressively continuing to book in quality live music when so many other places are packing it in. (Hardly knew ye, Chau Haus South.) With three hours to fill, I heard all my favorites and more. I love her Neutral Milk Hotel cover. I love her brand new songs, tinged with adult melancholy beneath the big blonde voice. I have faith in her ability to grow and change, and that more and more people will notice.
3 20 19 Kate & Emilee of the Crane Wives (duo) #65 Grand Armory Brewing, Grand Haven On brief furlough from work for Stolen Musical Friendship Time. It's been too long between the show and this writing (5/30), but I'm sure a bunch of my other friends were there too. This is as close as I get to church: the fellowship, the sacraments (pulled pork and root beer), the singing of the sacred hymns. I love this body of work above all others save the Beatles. Surprises: couple of new ones, couple of solo ones. Loss of rhythm section leads to no loss in power, it only halves the force of personality.
3 23 19 THE MAINSTAYS/Nashon Holloway Band #3 Bell's, Kalamazoo I have seen Nashon with two different drummers: a young fella and an older fella. I thought one had replaced the other, but it turns out it's based on availability, and at this show she had both and it was EPIC. Her vocals were liquid fire, Bryan Blowers' guitar lines were molten, and those drummers were having the time of their lives stirring up the big cauldron of neo-soul. The Mainstays are another soul band, led by the very thin and very white Andrew Schrock, whom I had seen play pleasant folk country with his brother and dad in the Schrock Brothers. I was not expecting much...and then the music just kept getting more awesome. Terence Massey, also of May's Motivations, on the horn helped that along considerably, as did Nashon's frequent guest presence. The Mainstays deserve a place on your Goin' Out List.
3 28 19 C2 AND THE BROTHERS REED/Libby DeCamp #8 Founders, Grand Rapids Hadn't seen Libby in a long time, and her languid tales of venal men were welcomed back into my ears. Rather more guitar than banjo these days, as she was preparing to ship down to Nashville to shop her new album around. Asked For Water is an angry new highlight. Then C2 and the Brothers Reed got Black Crowes cooties all over me. Bassist had an amusing Kmart hat. Like Kings of Leon with fewer songs about penises. In my notes: "Scraggle Rock." Fun, but I was not in the mood for beardy male shenanigans, so I turned in early.
posted by Chad Wedeven | Thursday, May 30, 2019
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