Turnover w/ MSPAINT & Drook
18+ Event standing room only The title track of the band’s new album, Myself in the Way, speaks to this mindset. “I can’t put myself in the way of love again,” sings Getz, “I promise I’m going to go all the way with you,” is specifically about Getz getting engaged to his longtime partner, but applies to the general outlook he had toward life in lockdown. “I was living in Sebastopol, California at the time and felt like I truly lived there for the first time since I wasn’t leaving for tour. I was able to go meditate at the Zen Buddhist dojo down the road, run and bike around the hills in Sonoma county, learn about plants and gardening, take some Spanish and arboriculture classes, and get involved with the volunteer fire department. Just do a bunch of new things to challenge and inspire me in a natural way.” Turnover’s other members also used the time to deepen interests they hadn’t been able to fully explore before covid. Bass player Dan Dempsey was in New York City and responded to lockdown by spending more time practicing his visual art in drawing and painting. He painted the album’s cover during this period and developed a style that has become a central theme for the band in its current iteration. Drummer Casey Getz found work at a Virginia Beach state park as touring continued to be postponed. He was in search of and inspired by having a work-life balance different than he’d experienced since he was younger. Through this, he was able to nurture current relationships more and find new ones, something touring made much more difficult. This led to Casey playing drums with a group of longtime friends in Virginia Beach and further developing his drumming style – adding a new prowess for fluidity and improvisation through lengthy jam sessions with the group. Guitarist Nick Rayfield was focused on sharpening his guitar and piano playing and was able to devote energy to skateboarding and his retail business more than he had been able to for the last few years. This was also the band’s first album with Rayfield making songwriting contributions after touring with them for years as a live member, adding a new creative element to the songs. Over 18 months Turnover weaved these individual experiences into a collective work, recording the LP over two sessions with longtime collaborator Will Yip at Studio 4. Austin is credited, for the first time, as co-producer. The band has always been DIY, but post pandemic they have taken that to a different level. They appreciate more than ever how lucky they are to get to be together and have fun creating things with their friends. They have found that they are usually best suited for executing their own vision, not only musically, but with all its accompaniments as well. For this album they made all their own videos in collaboration with friends and using Dempsey’s drawings and paintings.
Brooklyn Charmers a Steely Dan Tribute
This is a 18+ event with standing room only Brooklyn Charmers is a Steely Dan tribute band comprised of some of Chicago’s top players. With masterful precision and obsessive dedication to the music, Brooklyn Charmers injects a new energy into the beloved catalogue; bridging the gap between new and lifelong fans alike. ​ Steely Dan’s blend of rock and jazz, along with their infectious hooks and poignant lyrics, put them in another league in the eyes of critics and fans. Their prolific and consistent output throughout the 1970’s cements them as classic rock royalty. Brooklyn Charmers are excited to carry the torch into the new generation. ​
Electric Six w/ Supersuckers and Volk
This is a 18+ event with standing room only Electric Six. The band that put out an album a year for what seemed like 666 years. The most reliable act in show business, there was simply no question that each year would bring another E6 record on Metropolis Records. Mayans based their calendar on Electric Six. Flocks of migrating birds used the new Electric Six record as a homing device. Small time criminals were sentenced to four to seven E6 albums with time off for wonderful behavior. In a business so fickle, so unreliable, so difficult to navigate…the only constant was Electric Six. There was always an album a year…….until there wasn’t.Five years has gone by since the last Electric Six offering and we’ve heard the chatter. “Electric Six just doesn’t have it anymore.” “Electric Six has really let me down.” “Gotye will have an album before Electric Six does.”As we all know…talk is cheap. And bullshit walks. And now there’s a new goddamn Electric Six record ready to go and it’s good, Jack. Real good.Behold Turquoise is here, the long awaited studio album return of Electric Six!!! Perhaps the catchiest, brightest album in their catalog, Electric Six reminds you how profoundly fun they can be, hitting you over the head with fourteen pop explosions guaranteed to burrow their way into your dance hole.The recording of Turquoise began in January of 2020, but you know, something distracted us for a couple of years shortly after starting the record. The pandemic tacked a bit of time onto the schedule of this project and Electric Six certainly felt the need to tap into the collective feelings of the time in tracks like “Panic! Panic!” and the title track “Turquoise”.The overall vibe of Turquoise ranges from the infectious pop of “Take Me To The Sugar” and “Staten Island Ass Squad”, to the heavy rock of “Child Of Hunger” and “Skywriting”, to the Springsteeny goodness of “Units of Time”. Electric Six is a band for all tastes, all times and all sizes.The pandemic slowed us all down and ripped time into shreds. It forced Electric Six to take a little time to look at itself in the mirror. And who did Electric Six see staring back? The answer? It saw Electric Six. It saw Turquoise. When a band finally makes an album this exciting, it doesn’t need to do anything else anymore anytime soon ever again.But it will…..Electric Six can never die. And we are still the band that does one album a year….if you re-define “year”. Which we do.Turquoise is Electric Six’s long awaited 15th studio album and it is available on Metropolis Records on September 8, 2023.
Craft Music: Great American Songbook
21+ and over seated performanceTickets sold here Matthew Aubin, Conductor Craft Music is locally sourced, from the bar to the stage. Featuring entertaining, casual, and truly eccentric flavor profiles, Craft Music is an experience you’ll want to sample. Grab a ticket, raise a glass, and join us for the final Craft Music of the season featuring favorites from the Great American Songbook!
Craft Music: Folk Songs
21+ and over seated performanceTickets sold hereBruce Uchimura, Conductor Craft Music is locally sourced, from the bar to the stage. Featuring entertaining, casual, and truly eccentric flavor profiles, Craft Music is an experience you’ll want to sample. Where there are beer halls and taverns, vibrant music is usually not far away! This eccentric musical experience celebrates the folk tunes, folk tales, and historical moments that inspired some of classical music’s most incredible works. Grab a ticket, raise a glass, and join us for Craft Music: Folk Music!
HairMania wsg VANGOGO
This is a 18+ event with standing room only Up from the ashes and into the light is the best way to describe HairMania. With shredding guitars, thundering drums, huge hooks, and wildly popular sing-along songs, HairMania’s brand of GLAM is just what the doctor ordered. ~ and along the way, start a serious party! Culminating in a high energy, and highly entertaining stage show, HairMania is here to prove that the 80’s hard rock lives on. With true talent and raw power, HairMania delivers the 80’s hard rock classics the way they should be heard, loud, proud, and very, very, HAIRY! The Glam Slam 80’s Jam rocks you……like a hurricane! WE ARE……HAIRMANIA!VAN GO GO is Nathan Mackinder (vocals/guitar), Jason Schaller (lead guitar/vocals) Paxton Olney (bass/vocals) and Jonah Brockman (drums/vocals). Their name is as unique as these veteran rockers and it actually wasn’t difficult to decide on a moniker for the band. Near the end of a night on the town, they stumbled on a Van Gogh print at the top of a stairway. Schaller looked at the group and suggested, “How about Van Go Go?”
Mungion w/ Pajamas
This is a 18+ event with standing room only Mungion is Justin Reckamp (Guitar/Vocals), Joe Re (Keys/Vocals), Grant Martin (Bass/Vocals) and Jonny Gifford (Drums). Drawing inspiration from a wide array of musical styles, they create a raucous, yet jubilant sound all of their own. Since their inception in Spring of 2015, Mungion is quickly becoming known for their undeniably explosive and charismatic live shows. The Chicago-based four-piece is rooted in their ambitious compositions and improvisational ability.Known for their whimsical songs and goofy stage antics, Mungion’s joyous presence is a natural extension of its members, making for live performances that are infectiously lighthearted and deeply sincere. Mungion is guaranteed to have you smiling ear to ear and leaving wanting more.
Knee Deep Shag w/ Domestic Problems
This is a 18 and over event.Standing Room Only Though their live shows have been further between for the past decade, Knee Deep Shag still remains an influential force in the Michigan music scene. The boys have been busy working on an array of other independent and nationally recognized musical endeavors, but every so often the itch to return to the stage as a group, and reconnect with the fans and the music just can’t be ignored. Their evolving and original live set ranges from high-energy rock and soulful ballads, to deep dance grooves and a “super rock cover” or two – sure to satisfy your mind and your behind. Heavyweight players and songwriters at every position: Phil Barry on guitar, Matt Gross on vocals, Rob Cookman on keyboards, Jeff Moehle on drums and Mike Fuerst on bass. See you at the show!
Album Release: Celestial w/ Basic Comfort, Blood at Ease
18+ Event Standing room only Celestial is a Kalamazoo-based alternative ambient rock combo. It consists of founder Brian Ritzer on bass guitar and lead vocals, Colin McKernan on drums, David Balanda on guitar, and Amanda Savitski on keyboards. They are releasing their first full-length album, with the title track “Velvet Moon”, on January 26th, 2024. Velvet Moon was tracked and mixed by Chris Frankhausen of Raygun Studios in Kalamazoo, MI. Mastering was done by Garrett Gagnon in Long Beach, California. The album features Gabrielle Balanda on backup vocals and co-founder Jeremy Cronk on guitar. Jeremy will be joining Celestial for their release show at Bells Eccentric Café. The show will also feature backing vocals by Gabrielle Balanda, Melissa Gast, Melissa Zavala, and Emily Oppenhuizen. Chris will also be joining for a couple of tunes to commemorate the completion of the album.
Starfarm
This is a 18 and over event with standing room only Do you want your MTV of old? Are you spending your Saturday nights watching VH1 count down your favorite ‘80s videos??? Then Starfarm is what you need! Starfarm brings the most “Totally Awesome!” collection of ’80s songs that you can dream of. Every song played instantly captures that nostalgic feeling, sending you back to the decade of pegged pants, mullets and Aqua Net. From the very first chord of the night you will be dancing and pumping your fist in the air, singing along to the much-loved songs of yesterday. Always ready to break a sweat, Starfarm comes complete with cardboard, old-skool adidas track suits, legwarmers and aviator sunglasses, plus a state-of-the-art sound system and light show.
