Michigan Music Blog

I don’t even consider this a relevant venue for real music anymore, really I just threw it in there more for a laugh than anything else. While the arena itself looks nice after the renovations, the acoustic and sounds are the worst around – ask anybody who’s ever attended a show there. They’ve had some good names over the years, there’s no doubt, but I honestly can’t remember the last time I wanted to go there and see a band. It’s not located in the best of areas, either, though it’s certainly not the worst. Overall, if they ever get any good band to play here in the future – skip it. They’re gonna sound like crap and it will ruin the show for you. I promise – so I’m not even gonna provide their contact info here.

–ᵯᵯᶀ

I can’t believe local residents in Michigan complain about music festivals that take place near them! They get to enjoy a free show (many times those exceptionally close to these festivals are given free tickets) but if not, they can hear it from there house no problem, and sometimes see it, too. I guess this is the problem for some, but I don’t know – I’d be thrilled to have a music festival next to my house. Well, maybe not if its country music, but anything else would be just fine! Again, I kid – country music has its place…but I guess I would be one of the complainers if that place happened to be next to mine.

–ᵯᵯᶀ

The Orbit Room is a great venue in the city of Grand Rapids, and very easy to find as it is in a strip mall right off from Lake Eastbrook Boulevard. All of the other buildings are closed in the strip mall by the time any shows here start, so there is plenty of parking. There is a balcony inside, but its usually not opened up to the public unless its neccessary - and there is 2 full bars, as well. Across the lot from the venue is Showgirls Lounge – a great place to relax before or after any concert you are going to at The Orbit Room. Sometime, you may even run into the musicians themselves after playing a show at The Orbit Room, as well.

2525 Lake Eastbrook BLVD SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
616-942-1328
http://www.orbitroom.com

–ᵯᵯᶀ

Here are some shows coming up in the Detroit area for you to ponder over. There’s a couple good ones!

Saturday, August 30 The Music of Led Zeppelin: A Rock Symphony

Tickets at $32.50 pavilion and $10 lawn are on sale now.

Monday, September 29, 2008 Weezer The Palace of Auburn Hills

Tickets at $45, $39.50, and $25 are on sale now.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008 The Who The Palace of Auburn Hills

Tickets at $79.50, $59.50 and $39.50 are on sale now.

Monday, November 03, 2008 Coldplay The Palace of Auburn Hills

Tickets at $97.50, $77.50 and $49.50 are on sale now.

Neil Young The Palace of Auburn HillsTickets go on sale September 12

–ᵯᵯᶀ

Harpo’s Concert Theatre (http://www.harposconcerttheatre.com)

Located At I-94 and Chalmers at EXIT 222A

14238 Harper Ave

Detroit, MI

Visit Harpo’s every Friday night for Maximum Overload Night! 18+, Doors open at 8 pm and tickets are $15

8/12 Frankie Bones with guest Kero

8/19 Rabbit in the Moon with guest CFX

8/26 Mark Farina with guest Jeremy Nida

Saturday, October 11 Misfits

All ages. Tickets are $20.00.

Saturday, October 25 Gwar

Erectile Dysfunction Tour 2008 Featuring the return of Sleazy P Martini! With guests Kingdom of Sorrow and more.

All ages. Tickets are $20.00.

That last one is gonna be off the hook – finally, the return of Sleazy P. Martini! I won’t be missing that show for the world.

–ᵯᵯᶀ

Wow, ya know…I never quite realized how big of a heavy metal scene Muskegon has – I mean, I certainly knew there was a scene, but I thought it mostly revolved around one or two bands – If He Dies He Dies, Orange October, and a few others…but as I was browsing local bands on a very popular social networking site the other day, it soon came to my attention that there are dozens of new heavy metal bands popping up in Muskegon! And judging from what I’ve heard just by listening to one or two songs from each, they’re good too! I’m gonna have to keep an eye on you Muskegon!

–ᵯᵯᶀ

The Cheech & Chong Light Up America Reunion Tour is coming to The Filmore in Detroit (formerly the State Theatre)…How in the world did I not hear of this reunion tour AT ALL until today? And they are coming to Detroit – to play 2 Saturday shows no less! In less than a month even!! I can’t believe it. It sponsored by LiveNation, and while I can’t stand LiveNation, it’s kind of hard not to go to a show that isn’t sponsored by them in one way or another. Tickets range in price from $29.50, $39.50 or $59.50. I know this isn’t necessarily music, I’m excited for it anyway – and I’m sure they’ll play a couple of their hit songs, as well.

–ᵯᵯᶀ

Kalamazoo State Theatre
404 South Burdick
Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Thurday, October 2 Umphrey’s McGee
General Admission. $22.50 in advance, $24.50 day of show. 7:30 pm

Saturday, January 31 Bob Marley Birthday Bash Tour 2009
8:00 pm

From site:
“Ambassador David’s Productions is proud to announce the return of the “Bob Marley Birthday Bash Tour 2009 - A Tribute to Bob Marley” to the State Theatre. This will be an evening of music and dance paying tribute to the king of Reggae music, on his 64th Birthday. Don’t miss the Caribbean food and craft vendors! More information to come as it becomes available…”

–ᵯᵯᶀ

The Orbit Room (www.orbitroom.com)
2525 Lake Eastbrook SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Here are some cool Saturday shows coming up at The Orbit Room in the months of September and October.

Saturday, September 13 Motorhead
16+ welcome. Tickets are $27.50 Advance $32 Day of show. Performances by Misfits, Airbourne and more.

Saturday, October 4 Five Finger Death Punch
All ages. Tickets are $17 in Advance $20 Day of Show - More information on it’s way! Performances by In This Moment, Bury Your Dead and more.

Saturday, October 11 All That Remains
All ages. Tickets are $17.50 in advance, $20 day of show. Performances by Trivium and 36 Crazyfists.

–ᵯᵯᶀ

The Intersection (http://www.sectionlive.com)
133 Grandville Ave. SW
Grand Rapids. MI 49503 

Tuesday, August 26 Nonpoint
16+ welcome. 6:30pm doors. 7pm show. $8 advance. $10 advance. Performance by A New Revolution

Wednesday, September 3 Tortoise
16+ Welcome. Tickets $17 and $20. Doors 7pm. Show at 7:30pm. Performances by Paucity  

Wednesday, September 10 THEORY OF A DEADMAN
Doors at 7pm. Show at 7:30pm. Ages 16+ welcome. $18 advance. $20 day of. Performances by Black Stone Cherry and Parlor Mob  

Friday, September 12 Greensky bluegrass
18+ welcome. Doors at 7pm. Show at 8pm. $10 advance. $12 day of Performances by Sweet Japonic + Fonn Mor  

Sunday, September 28 BADFISH - A TRIBUTE TO SUBLIME
All ages welcome. $15. 6:30pm doors. 7pm show. Special guest Scotty Don’t + Selectively Anti Social  

Wednesday, October 1 Bassnectar
18+ welcome. Doors at 8pm. Show at 9pm. $10 advance. $12 day of.

Monday, October 20 Dimmu Borgir
16+ welcome. Doors at 6pm. Show 7pm. $20 advance. $23 day of show. Support by Moonspell, Winds of Plague, Skeleton Witch  

Friday, October 24 Gwar
17+ welcome. $20 advance. $23 day of show. Doos 7pm. 8pm show Support by Kingdom of Sorrow, Toxic Holocaust  

Sunday, October 26 Lotus
17+ welcome. Doors at 7pm. Show at 8pm. $10 advance. $13 day of.

Tuesday, October 28 Atmosphere
All ages welcome. $18 advance. $20 day of show. Doors 6:30 pm. Show at 7pm 

Sunday, November 9 Senses Fail
All ages welcome. 5:30 doors. 6:30 show. $14 advance. $17 day of  With Dance Gavin Dance, Sky Eats Airplane, Foxy Shazam   

Sunday, December 7 The Reverend Horton Heat
18+ welcome. $22 advance. $25 day of. 7pm doors. 7:30pm show.  Special guest Nashville Pussy and Backyard Tire Fire. 

–ᵯᵯᶀ

Welcome one and all to the Michigan Music Blog. I’ll be your host, MMB, and the goal of this blog is to provide you with all of the latest news, events and information in the world of Michigan music. We have quite a musical scene here all over the state – from jam bands and reggae music in Ann Arbor – techno, house beats and freestyle rapping in Detroit – to heavy metal and rock scenes in towns and cities like Kalamazoo, Flint, Grand Rapids and even Muskegon – to bluegrass and jazz festivals all around the state, Michigan really does have something for everyone when it comes to music.

–ᵯᵯᶀ