Tag: Grand Rapids

The Pursuit of Happiness — King Ink Starts New Chapter and Finds New Sound on “Good News” Single

King Ink’s Sean DeWard, JD Waldvogel, Becca Coberly, and Evan Coberly. Photo – Live Aperture Concert Photography

King Ink is ready for a new start.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan band celebrates meeting the right person and planning for the future on its latest Heartland-rock single, “Good News.”

“Lyrically, it’s a mix of finding the right person and feeling secure in that,” said JD Waldvogel, the band’s lead vocalist and guitarist.

“The big thing I want people to take away from listening to us or seeing us live is joy and happiness. We played a show recently where they asked for our bio, and it said, ‘We play bright alternative rock.’ And then on the pamphlet, they said, ‘King Ink—bright rock,’ as our descriptor. I said, ‘I’ve never heard of that genre, but I think we’re starting a new one.’”

Waldvogel captures that positive attitude and upbeat sound with bandmates Becca Coberly (guitar, bass), Evan Coberly (guitar, bass, saxophone), and Sean DeWard (drums) on “Good News.”

He sings, “Cut to you, cut to me / Living in harmony / Not gonna waste my chance / Let’s rewrite history / Hope you’re fine with hyperbole / And maybe in your eyes / Maybe you can see through my disguise / The whole damn world is our stage / Let’s start a new page.”

“I really wanted to feel that from a song, which is just like a sense of joy and a sense of things are good, and that is OK,” Waldvogel said. “I also wanted there to be a sing-along part in there. That song has been a benchmark, or a signpost, saying, ‘Where do we want to go from here?’”

To learn more, I spoke with Waldvogel, Becca Coberly, and Evan Coberly about the band’s background and latest single.

Continue reading “The Pursuit of Happiness — King Ink Starts New Chapter and Finds New Sound on “Good News” Single” →

Hitting the Road — The Soods Embark on Midwest Fall Tour This Week

Jason Roy of The Soods. Photo – Matt Ten Clay

The Soods are ready to hit the road.

The indie-rock collective is embarking on a short Midwest tour, which runs October 11 to 16.

The tour includes shows in Grand Rapids and Lansing, Michigan, as well as Chicago; Davenport, Iowa; and Fort Wayne, Indiana. It will also celebrate a milestone for one of The Soods’ side projects—Elroy Meltzer.

“This one will just be Steven [Meltzer] and me,” said Jason Roy, frontman and co-producer for The Soods, who’s based in Grand Rapids.

“It actually marks 10 years this year since we started Elroy Meltzer together, so we actually will be doing some songs off those first two albums. Steven still actively writes, records, and performs as Elroy Meltzer and has an album coming out on October 10 called 9 Out of 10 Ain’t Bad that people should check out as well.”

For its tour, The Soods have prepared an extensive setlist filled with new songs, old favorites, and covers.

“I think we have rehearsed about 25 or 26 songs, five covers ranging from Bruce Springsteen to Gorillaz, and then a pretty even split of Soods songs and the aforementioned Elroy stuff,” Roy said. “We’re pretty excited to play five unreleased ones as it’ll be the first time we played a few of them.”

I recently spoke with Roy about the collective’s tour and recent releases.

Continue reading “Hitting the Road — The Soods Embark on Midwest Fall Tour This Week” →

Higher Love — Low Phase Explores the Evolution of a Relationship on “So Pretty It’s Perfect” EP

Low Phase’s Miles Ferguson, John Bomer, and Caleb Waldvogel. Courtesy photo

Low Phase understands the evolution of a relationship.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan band chronicles a budding romance and its growth over time on So Pretty It’s Perfect.

“I’m getting married in September,” said Caleb Waldvogel, the band’s lead vocalist-guitarist. “The whole EP is covering the beginning parts of our relationship and then falling into that decision. It’s been really inspirational. When you plan a wedding, you go through a lot of the relationship and a lot of the timeline.”

That timeline stretches across the EP’s six tracks, which include vulnerable lyrics, heartfelt vocals, and hopeful instrumentation. Waldvogel and his bandmates, drummer Miles Ferguson and bassist John Bomer, soar thematically and sonically on their indie-rock release.

“The three of us have been best friends for over a decade, and we’ve been playing music together for that long,” Bomer said. “We’ve known [Caleb’s fiancé] Jenna for as long as they’ve been together, so seeing that relationship come to a full bloom has been inspiring. We wrote a lot of these songs on the EP in the winter, but I think they’re turning out to be summer jams.”

As newly minted summer jams, the songs on So Pretty It’s Perfect will stand the test of time.

“The EP’s title is supposed to reflect the end of our story,” said Waldvogel, who met his fiancé in high school. “Everything you’ve been through, everything you’ve said, everything you’ve done has all been perfect. You created it with this other person and it’s all been worth it. Take a second to look at that timeline—it’s so pretty and it’s so perfect.”

To learn more, I spoke with the band about the EP ahead of a July 12 show at The Pyramid Scheme.

Continue reading “Higher Love — Low Phase Explores the Evolution of a Relationship on “So Pretty It’s Perfect” EP” →

“Easy” Does It — Kyle Joe Explores the Light and Dark on New Album With Chris DuPont

Kyle Joe rediscovers himself and his sense of purpose on Take It Easy. Photo – Drew VanderVeen.

Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on the Ann Arbor District Library’s Pulp blog.

After a tumultuous period, Kyle Rasche prefers to pause and reflect.

The singer-songwriter and guitarist ponders heartbreak and growth after experiencing many life changes on Take It Easy.

“These songs were born in a period,” said Rasche, who performs as Kyle Joe, about his latest indie-folk album.

“There was a lot of heartbreak, and there was a lot of really beautiful love, too. And then as the writing went on, I started leaning into more of the lessons I was learning along the way and trying to make the music represent those moments instead of just the heartbreak.”

In those vulnerable moments, Rasche rediscovers himself and his sense of purpose across seven tracks. Collectively, they demonstrate the resiliency that comes from weathering a divorce, loving yourself, and finding kindred spirits.

“I hope more than anything that people hear the hope,” said Rasche, who hails from Alto, a small town about 20 miles southeast of Grand Rapids. “It can get pretty dark … but there’s some light in there.”

On Take It Easy, Rasche explores those light and dark elements through honest lyrics, soft vocals, and emotive folk instrumentation.

“I think, that our job as songwriters, is to put something out that other people can grasp,” he said. “It’s not [just] about my story, but it might be about our [collective] experiences and set of circumstances.”

Continue reading ““Easy” Does It — Kyle Joe Explores the Light and Dark on New Album With Chris DuPont” →

Restless Souls — Harry Dean and The Dusty Boys Channels Adventure and Growth on “Feel Alive” EP

Lee Vanderkolk, Tyler Mazurek, and Harry Dean perform at Butcher Block Social in 2024. Courtesy photo

Harry Dean understands the impulsive urge to hit the road.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan singer-songwriter explores the desire for wanderlust and adventure on “Feel Alive,” the title track from his debut EP with The Dusty Boys.

“There were these two open mic-ers I had gotten to know in town, and they really did that,” said Dean, the vocalist-guitarist for the country-rock trio, which includes lead guitarist Lee Vanderkolk and drummer Tyler Mazurek.

“They packed up everything and sold a bunch of their stuff, and they hit the road for four or five months. They went and did some busking, played open mics, and tried to pick up gigs. I thought, ‘If I were in that situation, I’d be so scared.’”

Dean channels that fear and courage alongside hopeful acoustic guitar and wistful electric guitar on “Feel Alive.” He sings, “The road’s callin’ and / We’re running steady / Dressed in all black / Jumpin’ in the back / Of that ’84 ole rusted Jimmy / Headed out west / Land we know the best.”

“I have never ditched everything and hit the road. I’ve been with my wife for 12 years now and I’ve lived in Michigan for my whole life,” Dean said.

“It gave me a sense when I put myself there, too, that it would be such a ‘Feel Alive’ moment. I pull things from my life and how I would feel in other people’s lives.”

“Feel Alive” also serves as the energetic opener from Harry Dean and The Dusty Boys’ EP, which features storied lyrics, fiery electric guitar, and driving country-rock instrumentation.

I recently spoke to Dean about Feel Alive ahead of a March 28 show at Turnstiles.

Continue reading “Restless Souls — Harry Dean and The Dusty Boys Channels Adventure and Growth on “Feel Alive” EP” →

Beyond the Sea — Desmond Jones Shares Sci-Fi Tale of Alien Mollusks on “Squids” Album

From left: Isaac Berkowitz, Chris Bota, George Falk, John Nowak, and Taylor Watson of Desmond Jones.

Ten years ago, Isaac Berkowitz and George Falk developed a fascination with squids.

The Desmond Jones bandmates sought inspiration from the mollusks after Berkowitz watched a documentary on them.

“When we lived in East Lansing, Isaac watched a six-hour-long Nova special on squids and called me to start writing something on that subject,” said Falk, who performs with Berkowitz in the Grand Rapids, Michigan jam band.

“We started with the title, mashed District 9 together with The Abyss, mixed in all the PBS [shows] that I watched as a child, and started writing guitar parts.”

Not long after that, Falk (saxophone, vocals) and Berkowitz (guitar, drums, vocals) penned several squid-themed songs with Desmond Jones’ Christ Bota (guitar, vocals). The trio then shared the songs with bassist Taylor Watson and drummer-vocalist-guitarist John Nowak.

“Once we started writing and playing the first song, we started adding to it pretty quickly,” Falk said. “We have a strong tendency to link our songs together anyhow … and we enjoy the idea of a concept album—the sillier, the better.”

What resulted is a fun, quirky concept album called Squids, which features a sci-fi storyline about alien squids wanting to leave Earth and return home to space.

The otherworldly creatures spend eons living in the oceans and question their purpose while adapting to life on Earth. Over time, the alien squids become weary of terrestrial life and prefer a more peaceful existence in the stars.

“Seeing super-sophisticated behavior out of something that bears so little resemblance to ourselves is fun to think about, especially with some of the bigger octopus species,” Falk said. “They’re up there with the most intelligent species on the planet, but their bodies and lives are very strange to our eyes.”

The album’s five tracks explore the alien squids’ journey through storied lyrics and spirited instrumentation. Infectious elements of prog rock, experimental pop, ambient music, and jazz sonically shift listeners from one track to the next.

To learn more, I spoke with Falk and Nowak about Squids ahead of a February 7 show at The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Continue reading “Beyond the Sea — Desmond Jones Shares Sci-Fi Tale of Alien Mollusks on “Squids” Album” →

Sounds Like Michigan — Michigan Music Alliance Celebrates Relaunch With November 23 Fundraiser Show at Grand Rapids’ Wealthy Theatre

Editor’s note as of November 23, 2024: Frontier Ruckus is unable to perform at tonight’s Sounds Like Michigan show due to COVID.

The Michigan Music Alliance is ready to take center stage and shine a spotlight on the state’s music community.

The statewide nonprofit is marking its official relaunch with Sounds Like Michigan, a live music fundraiser taking place November 23 at the Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“We’ve spent the last year working behind the scenes to set the organization up for long-term success, especially when it comes to the educational programming we provide to Michigan musicians,” said Nicholas James Thomasma, interim executive director of the Michigan Music Alliance. “Now, it’s time to celebrate, and Sounds Like Michigan is a celebration of Michigan music.”

Detroit-Ypsilanti indie-folk-rock trio Frontier Ruckus is headlining the event, which also includes Detroit R&B artist ARI B, Grand Rapids alt-Latin band Cabildo, and Grand Rapids indie-rock band The American Hotel System.

“It’s an eclectic bill with a mix of well-known and up-and-coming artists from both sides of the state,” Thomasma said. “It’s bridging the gap between the two communities and showcasing the collaborative spirit of the Michigan music scene.”

During the show, the Michigan Music Alliance will unveil its programming for 2025 and acknowledge grants awarded for more than $23,000 from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the Great Lakes Energy People Fund.

It also will feature a Sounds of the Zoo-hosted silent auction for attendees to bid on exclusive items, including:

In addition, attendees can purchase 50/50 raffle tickets and limited-edition merchandise. Meanwhile, VIP ticket holders will receive a private performance and meet-and-greet with Frontier Ruckus before doors open. All proceeds from the show will go to the Michigan Music Alliance.

Local Spins editor and publisher John Sinkevics will emcee Sounds Like Michigan, which features the West Michigan music website as an event partner along with WYCE (88.1-FM) and Triumph Music Academy. Event sponsors include Our Family, Founders Brewing Co., Studio C, and Tee See Tee.

Tickets for Sounds Like Michigan are on sale now via the Grand Rapids Community Media website. VIP tickets are $100 and general admission tickets are $35.

The Michigan Music Alliance’s Sounds Like Michigan fundraiser show is November 23 at the Wealthy Theatre, 1130 Wealthy St. SE in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Doors are at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m. For details, visit the Michigan Music Alliance’s website.

Getting Personal — Elroy Meltzer Examines Death and Grief on “And The Elderly Midnight” Album

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Elroy Meltzer’s Matt Noordhoff, Steven Meltzer, Pat Kargl, and Drake Fierge. Photo courtesy of Elroy Meltzer

Steven Meltzer takes a more personalized approach to songwriting on And The Elderly Midnight.

The Elroy Meltzer frontman examines internal struggles with death and grief on the indie-rock collective’s latest album via Midwest Gold Records.

“I wanted to go down that [path] and be more relatable. Not to say I’m a dark person by any means, but sadness and death are something that everyone has experienced and dealt with,” said Meltzer, the vocalist-guitarist of the Grand Rapids, Michigan collective.

“In our music scene, we’ve lost great people due to suicide or drug use. I’ve also had friends who have recently lost parents to cancer or are dealing with that currently. It’s heartbreaking, and it’s hard to maneuver through, but it’s happening.”

The album’s seven tracks uncover the emotional toll those experiences take on Meltzer, the people he knows, and the world around him. His perceptive lyrics and the collective’s earnest instrumentation invite listeners to explore their challenges alongside them.

“It’s the feeling of getting older and the idea that I’m getting close to death even though I’m not. It’s also that feeling of thinking, ‘Am I at a point where it’s too late? Have I missed any opportunities? Am I too old now?’” said Meltzer, who founded the collective in 2010 and performs with The Soods.

“It seems like everyone is married, everyone has kids, and everyone is happy. I’m wondering if I’m missing out on those things. It’s also the helpful acceptance of making this life work because you only get one.”

To learn more, I spoke with Meltzer about the inspiration behind And The Elderly Midnight.

Continue reading “Getting Personal — Elroy Meltzer Examines Death and Grief on “And The Elderly Midnight” Album” →

Look and Learn — The Soods Search for Clarity and Purpose on Self-Titled EP

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Jason Roy of The Soods plays piano at Amber Lit Audio in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Photo – Matt Ten Clay

In a post-pandemic and pre-election era, The Soods search for clarity and purpose.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan collective explores those aspirations while having an existential crisis on its latest self-titled EP.

“I think we’re all at a point in our lives where we came out of this situation and we’re all trying to put the pieces back together,” said Jason Roy, frontman and co-producer for The Soods. “But at the same time, we’re trying to hang on to the big pieces that we had before.”

As part of that exploration, the collective of multi-instrumentalists Matt Ten Clay, Shane Tripp, Chris Coble, Patrick Wieland, Steven Meltzer, and Roy addresses the disappointment, longing, and regret that comes with the passage of time.

“We’re all on the same page, the same wavelength, and the same vibe. I attribute that to the idea that we’re all going through stuff on earth all the time,” said Roy about The Soods’ bedroom-pop EP, which features vivid instrumentation and contemplative lyrics.

“We hit a nice rhythm where everybody had the same premonitions or existential questions. It’s like, ‘How did I end up here?’”

Continue reading “Look and Learn — The Soods Search for Clarity and Purpose on Self-Titled EP” →

After the “Fallout” — Major Murphy Processes Past Struggles on New Indie-Rock Album

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Major Murphy’s Chad Houseman, Jacob Bullard, and Jacki Warren. Photo – Brett Carlson

For Major Murphy, the best life lessons come in retrospect.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan trio of Jacob Bullard (vocals, guitar), Jacki Warren (bass, vocals), and Chad Houseman (guitar, keys, drums, percussion) learns from past struggles and finds a way forward on Fallout.

“I think that was a conscious goal or intention of mine to create something realistic but wasn’t wallowing in despair,” said Bullard about the band’s new indie-rock album released via Winspear.

“There’s a quote in ‘The Water’ from the Tao Te Ching, and it says, ‘Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water. Yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible, nothing can surpass it.’ I read that when I couldn’t see a way out, and it was a difficult time and I didn’t know what to do.”

As part of that introspection, Major Murphy discovers a renewed sense of purpose and seeks clarity for the future.

“Thinking about that softness also being something that could dissolve rock was an idea for me that I found incredibly empowering in the sense that you don’t always need to meet resistance with more resistance,” Bullard said. “Sometimes you have to soften and flow.”

On Fallout, Bullard and his bandmates process change, uncertainty, and growth across eight reflective tracks. The album’s philosophical lyrics, soaring harmonies, and emotive instrumentation provide a cathartic and impactful listening experience.

“The album came together organically from a writing perspective, but at a certain point, those themes became evident to me as well. There are more songs than what ended up on this album, and I curated the selection to be super cohesive,” Bullard said.

“It’s a bit more stylized from a lyrical perspective, and it’s less prose and more poetry from my vantage point. I thought of the music, too, as being more contemporary compared to stuff we’ve done in the past. I wanted the lyrics to be more minimal.”

To learn more about Fallout, I spoke to Bullard about the album’s thematic elements and creative process.

Continue reading “After the “Fallout” — Major Murphy Processes Past Struggles on New Indie-Rock Album” →