2008 Music Preview

Dec. 30, 2007

We just came off one of the best concert years ever in Northern Michigan. The combination of national and international touring acts, along with our local musicians provided for a great year of live music in 2007.
So the question is, what is in store for 2008? There are certainly challenges, from the popular Cherry Festival Open Space concert series being challenged by politics and funding issues, to the several Express readers who have contacted me saying they won’t return to Interlochen for outdoor concerts because of the poor sound at Kresge. In the middle of the summer, local musician Don Swan caused somewhat of an uproar in the local music scene with a letter to the editor over his concern of “politics” and “favoritism” that he believes exists on the local scene.
Let’s start by clearing the air over some of these “negative” concerns. First the National Cherry Festival after 80 years of being an important icon from an image and economic standpoint to Traverse City and Northern Michigan is faced with transition issues and some political wrangling by some who oppose the Festival’s very existence. At stake is the Festival’s ability to market $5.00 pins that allows for admittance to the beverage pavilion and the entertainment area.
Looking at this from a music lover’s perspective. The Festival has brought some pretty amazing acts to the Open Space for $3, and now $5 for the whole week. I have always considered it the best music deal in Northern Michigan - to be able to enjoy eight nights of great musical acts for just five bucks.
They have always had a knack for landing country bands before the bands hit it big; a few years ago they had Trick Pony, and by the time the band hit Traverse City, they were the number one country band in the country. Plus add in all the great classic rockers like Gregg Rolie (the original voice of Santana and Journey), Grand Funk, and annual favorite 1964 Tribute.
I don’t know the answers to all of the issues and I am not a city resident, so I am not sure what all of the frustrations are. What I do know is I and thousands of others have appreciated affordable and often family friendly bands at the open space each year during the Cherry Festival. I hope the leaders in Traverse City and those running the Festival are able to find a solution to this. I know it is supposed be “open space,” but a few concerts (for many it is the only time they ever use the space) aren’t really intruding on anyone’s ability to use the space.
We are so lucky to have Interlochen in Northern Michigan. They have year round entertainment offerings that bring the best international performers in several different live performance fields, whether it be classical, rock, dance or a guest author. Then there are the numerous performances by the students, who in their own right are world class.
The summer concert series from this past summer was unbelievable. Peter Frampton wowed the crowed with his guitar playing; the same could be said of both John Hiatt and Shawn Colvin. If you attended the Moody Blues concert, you probably were at the best live concert anywhere this year in Northern Michigan.
But Interlochen has had a challenge for years. Sound quality for amplified concerts at Kresge Auditorium has been inconsistent at best. Gary Worden, who is well known in musical circles, wrote a great Op-Ed piece for the Traverse City Record Eagle near the end of the summer. Worden explained why he doesn’t go to concerts at Interlochen and refuses to do so until Interlochen corrects the sound at Kresge.
It is Worden’s opinion that Kresge was built for acoustic and orchestra presentations, not amplified ones. He suggests that Interlochen needs to take on a large renovation effort to bring Kresge up to the standard of being a state of the art concert facility that will handle both amplified and acoustic performances.
Worden is right; anyone who has attended concerts at Interlochen has experienced that sound issue from time to time. It is weird because sometimes it sounds perfect, and at other times it sound worse than my singing, and I am in the monotone brothers group. The competition has grown with the casinos in the region, building state of the art intimate concert venues. if you attended that Brian Setzer Orchestra Christmas Show at Odawa in Petoskey last month (another nominee for best concert of the year), you know exactly what the casinos have to offer.
Now word has come that the organizers of the Dunegrass Festival are looking to procure their own grounds and build a facility to have additional outdoor shows throughout the summer. So Interlochen must look to renovate Kresge soon if it wants to be competitive.
As for the local scene, I believe it is what it is. The frustrations for some come from their expectations. First, we are fortunate that there are several clubs, bars, restaurants and venues that are committed to live music. The expectations for musicians in this area vary differently, primarily by age and occupation.
Most of the musicians I know are very talented and have no dreams of major record deals and world tours. They do their thing locally. Some make their living at it, and for others it is a little extra income to supplement their day job.
Several local club owners have told me off the record that they are frustrated with bands who want the clubs to do all the work; provide the venue, the sound, the sound guy, the marketing, free meals and drinks, and then 500 to 800 bucks a night on top of it, and the bands are unwilling to share in any of the risk.
Some larger market bands have to pay to play, and at some clubs, bands can make their money back, depending on how many people they draw. For the most part local musicians and clubs have reached a happy medium because so many bands and solo performers have been playing the circuit around here for years.
I think from a consumer standpoint there is not an issue with the local music scene. We are very fortunate to have so many talented musicians in Northern Michigan in all genres of music. There isn’t a night that doesn’t go by that there are not at least five live local bands or musicians performing somewhere up here.
As for the politics of the local music scene, that will probably never change. Someone once said ‘life isn’t fair.” I guess there are politics in all professions. We have them in the media, and I hear my teacher friends talk about them in their world as well.
So where do we go from here? At the Express we are committed to seeking out these local artists. Look for us to profile more of them in 2008. Look to see us out on the town more, checking out the venues, clubs and bars that are offering live music.
In June we will have a full look at the summer music and festival scene for Northern Michigan. My predication is that it is going to be another great year. Big shows at all levels are already planned for this year. In a couple of weeks Vance Gilbert makes his return, as do The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Joan Jett and Shemekia Copeland. LeAnn Rimes and Seether are also on tap for January as well.
Later this winter look for Little Feat at the Traverse City Opera House, Tom Rush at the InsideOut Gallery and Leon Redbone makes a return to the Milliken Auditorium. Gordon Light returns to the area with a show this March at the new concert venue at the Little River Casino in Manistee (I saw Kenny Rogers at the grand opening last September, and this is a great venue. Kenny and his band told me after the show, it was one of the best stages they performed on all year).
Also in March and April the Odawa in Petoskey is hosting legends Robert Cray, Creedence Clearwater Revisited and the master of The Twist Chubby Checker.
Interlochen has already booked Don “American Pie” McLean for July, and Turtle Creek is kicking off their new facility with the Georgia Satellites in July as well. Down the road in Farwell, both the Mountain Country Music Festival (June) and the Mountain Rock Music Festival return. Organizers have Trace Adkins and Jack Ingram announced for their country weekend, and for the rockers, look for ZZ Top, Starship, The Yardbirds and Foghat, with several more to be announced for both weekends.
In Mt. Pleas ant at the Soaring Eagle Casino, LL Cool J, Kenny Rogers, BB King, the unbelievable Jack Jones, and Bill Cosby are all on tap in the coming months.
Already booked for next November is the Saffire Uppity Blues Women at Milliken Auditorium.
We haven’t even scratched the
surface. Plus, the rumors - love those rumors. Here they are: Alice Cooper, KISS, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Van Morrison and Elvis Costello are all being tossed around by local promoters and venues.
2008 looks very promising. Sure there are some challenges, but overall the live music scene in Northern Michigan is “alive” and “healthy.”