Grand Rapids is hopping today. Michigan's second-largest city is hosting its local art fair, Art Prize. Throughout the city, venues are open to the public with various forms of art on display. Tonight, the city has also closed Monroe Street for an artist market. Outside the BOB, a local hot spot across from the Van Andel Arena, a sea of cowboy hats and high boots abounds—something is up. Lainey Wilson is in town.
I’m on my way to The Intersection, where three concerts are planned tonight. Downstairs, an EMO night is in full swing; upstairs at the Stache, Austin Snell is performing; and on the main floor, Tropidelic headlines a stacked bill with four amazing acts on one ticket.
Highdeas kicks off the night. Kalamazoo locals Ethan MacDonald (lead vocals, lead guitar), Ben Dorsey (drums), Nate “Tusky” Smith (bass), and Nick Ploof (keyboards, guitar, vocals) bring their groovy, trippy wisdom with “Hello,” “I Don’t Want to Go to Work,” and “Burnt Out.” A sea of tie-dyed fans revels in the band’s good vibes. The band sounds extra tight, and Ethan's voice is so clear it’s easy to see why they’re on their way up. They give the crowd “Feels Good” and “Streetlight Riders” before signing off with “Bongs and Songs.” I can’t wait for the next release.
Next up is Grieves, the Chicago-born hip-hop artist who never seems to stand still. Perpetual motion—and a little help from Danny Torgersen of Badfish—sets this old-school talent apart from the mainstream. His approach is high-energy without a break; every word and action propels the next song. When not handling the mix and keys, Danny is out front on trumpet—and man, can he play. Despite a bad cut on his left hand, he plays one-handed and still kills it. High-energy hip-hop, words of encouragement, and a one-handed phenomenon backing him up—how can you not be impressed?
Artikal Sound System, Florida-based and fan-beloved, takes the stage as the crowd nearly doubles in size. Chris Montague (guitar), Fabian Acuña (bass), Christopher “Chris” Cope (keys), Adam Kampf (drums), and vocalist Logan Rex don’t seem to realize how popular they’ve become. This is the band’s first Grand Rapids appearance, but when pressed by Logan, most of the crowd admits they’ve already seen them live.
The set kicks off with “Night Rider,” “Spiritual Broadcaster,” and “Get Me Out” without a break. Logan speaks directly to the audience, drawing us into her thoughts on each song. Her incredible voice soars on “Right Now,” “Changes,” and “MizBiz.” She keeps the devotees engaged with constant interaction, leading into the fan favorite “Asshole,” a relationship song we all need to hear.
Montague and Cope play with such finesse and dexterity it’s hard to single out one track—they’re golden throughout. “Stayed,” “Vertigo,” and “Noncommittal Bullshit” showcase the band’s ability to span sweet ballads to fun-loving dystopia. Fabian and Adam shine on “Pull Me Close” and “Batshit” before the band closes with another fan favorite, “Self-Sabotage.” If you’re not a fan yet, get to a streaming service, find this band, and then get out to a show.
My first memory of Tropidelic is seeing them at Summer Camp on a very wet Campfire stage. The band trudged through mud to deliver a killer set, and I’ve been a fan ever since. Tonight, Matthew Roads (guitar/vocals) and James Begin (vocals/trombone) are out front, right in the fans' faces, with favorites “Underdog,” “Alcoholic/Neighborhood,” and “Hold Me Back.”
The ever-reserved bassist David "Pags" Paglisotti and hard-hitting drummer Rex Larkman keep the band driving forward on “Ride/Ease Up,” “Floating,” “New World,” and “Sunny Days,” much to the delight of the crowd. Robert Schafer, stepping into trumpet/keyboard/vocal duties after Derek McBryde’s departure, is doing a stellar job. Tunes like “Holiday,” “Changes/Out There,” “Need a Sail,” and “Hey Now” feel fresh and understated as the band keeps churning out hits.
At the band’s quintessential celebration “Everwild,” longtime guitarist Bobby Chronic announced he was seeking a new direction and left the band. His successor, guitar phenom Pat Shine, has stepped in and exceeded all expectations. Songs like “Falling Down,” “Free Your Mind,” and “Drumline” sparkle with familiar brilliance and just a twist of something new.
The addition of backup singers adds even more dimension, giving longtime fans fresh reasons to love “Waterfalls,” “Same Heat,” and “Pressure.” Tonight, the band brought the heat, and with three other acts, the crowd boogied until they couldn’t boogie anymore. Tropidelic sent them off with “Humble” and the archetypal “Police State.” At the opening strains, fans sang along word for word as the band leaned in to send them home with fond memories and dreams of future shows.
The current tour is rolling strong. Following the Midwest leg, Grieves and Artikal Sound System will continue on with Tropidelic. Get out and catch this powerhouse lineup when they bring the love to a town near you.
