Article Contributed by Dan Ward
Published on October 27, 2025
Chaparelle | Grand Rapids, MI | October 18th, 2025 – photos by Dan Ward
Fall is in full swing in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The leaves are turning, and night arrives a little earlier each day. As the temperatures drop and the weather turns wet, people are flocking to nightspots in search of music and merriment. Tonight, Austin sensation Chaparelle hits the stage at The Intersection with supporting artist Esther Rose—and fans can hardly wait.
Esther Rose is a Michigan native hailing from Detroit, and she receives a hometown-favorite welcome from the crowd. Her voice is clear and sweet as she opens with “Always Changing” and “Handyman,” before offering a perfectly seasonal treat in “Spider.” Imaginative and engaging, she keeps the room captivated with “Messenger,” “Had To,” “Ketamine,” and “Chet Baker”—all songs she penned herself.
She speaks to the fans like they’re family, creating a familiar and heartfelt atmosphere. The audience warms to her instantly—her lovely voice and genuine delivery winning them over. When she sings “New Bad” and mentions the shores of Lake Michigan, the room erupts in cheers. She then slows the pace with the beautiful ballad “The Clown.”
Although touring as a solo act with Chaparelle, Esther brings a few friends to the stage tonight: Beau Bedford, Aaron Goodrich, and Geofrey Muller join her for “Jump Down Baby” and “Wanton Way,” further showcasing her talent. Her time is almost up, but she offers one final song while the band prepares—“Want,” the title track of her new album. A perfect ending to a wonderful opening set. Thank you, Esther.
Chaparelle is moments away from taking the stage, making it a perfect time to reflect on their path here. Zella Day and Jesse Woods wrote their first release in a single, inspired sprint—proof of their creative depth and imagination. With musician/producer Beau Bedford joining, the trio quickly became a force to be reckoned with. Then they did something rare: they set out on a tour of far-flung places—small towns off the beaten path rather than major cities—slowly cultivating a fiercely loyal fan base. Tonight, that journey brings them to Grand Rapids.
The band enters with electric energy and launches into “Devil’s Music.” The crowd is ecstatic—singing along and making noise. Beau Bedford displays guitar prowess while Geofrey Muller locks in on bass. Aaron Goodrich keeps time with style and finesse, proving himself one of the finest drummers in modern country. Zella eases into the slow-burning ballad “All Things Considered,” a song that feels plucked from country music’s classic era. Jesse fires back with “Sandy Band-Aids,” a dreamy, nostalgic tune that would have felt right at home at Woodstock.
This is the band’s forte—they play what they love, and the fans embrace the diversity. “Bad Loving,” another heartfelt ballad, leads into “Why,” which builds the room toward “Baby Jesus,” a fan favorite that’s both driving and irresistibly cool.
Jesse introduces “When It Snows in Texas,” co-written with Sierra Ferrell and arriving on streaming platforms October 24, 2025. It’s a beautiful piece filled with warmth and musical magic—instantly adored by the crowd.
The mood shifts as Zella unleashes “Girls,” getting the room jumping, before settling back into “Heartbroke.” Next comes their trademark re-imagining of Whitney Houston’s “I Want to Dance with Somebody”—a completely different, yet heartfelt, homage to the icon. They keep the energy high with their own hit “Playing Diamonds, Cashing Checks,” a tune you’ll be humming for weeks.
Beau swaps his Strat for a bass, giving Geofrey the spotlight on banjo. This group is stacked with talent—vocally and instrumentally. They glide through the emotional “Bleeding Hearts,” followed by the ultra-modern “Love is Hot.” “Hats” keeps things moving before the band launches into another favorite, “Inside the Lines,” a fun, upbeat tune with a message rooted in kindness.
The night outside is cold and rainy—no better reason to be inside with great music and the wonderful crew at The Intersection. But all good things must end. The band kicks into “Sex and Rage,” then announces they’ve reached the final song of the evening. They close with “Shaking All Over” and say goodnight—before stepping offstage to meet and mingle with fans. As stardom looms, these moments will surely become rarer.
Western Pleasure, their newest release, is available on all streaming platforms and packed with delights for the ears. Chaparelle continues to grow their audience one show at a time—so get to a concert now, while you can still get close. This band is poised to break out any moment.
