Reverend Horton Heat at The Intersection 12/7

The Intersection in Grand Rapids on Sunday wrapped up a full weekend of quality roots music with a performance by the Reverend Horton Heat. Again wielding his trademark hollow-body Gretsch guitar, the good Reverend proceeded to enthrall the faithful with his own fire-brand gospel psycho-billy. After a seemingly slow start, the Rev. (Jim Heath) got things going with the title track from "It's Martini Time." It wasn't long before the Rev. was dispensing the Christmas cheer with "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" and other seasonal gems. There was even a punk rendition of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" which only served as more fuel for the semi-crazed dancers (read moshers) down front. Speaking of down front, there was this guy who kept doing the lateral drill yelling for his favorite song, "Mar-i-juana!" until he finally got his wish about half way through. Other seasonal tidbits were in store, like "she took my sh*t in the divorce" marital bliss fodder, and "where in the hell did you go with my toothbrush" lament. The tune "Wigglestick" showed off Heat's guitar techniques, playing both lead and rhythm at the same time. With the Donna the Buffalo show on Friday at The Intersection, this weekend turned out like an early Christmas present for local roots music lovers.

Organissimo at Founders Brewery 11/13

Organissimo is a local/regional jazzy jam-flavored trio that has sparked excitement with audiences since day one. Thursday night proved no exception as Organissmo's players enticed dancers of all stripes to take to the floor at the downtown Grand Rapids brewery. Playing selections from their catalog of three CDs, Organissimo performed straight ahead organ trio jazz material interspersed with their own extended play jams, much to the delight of the faithful in attendance. Organissimo's newest CD, Groovadelphia (pictured) was most recently in the Top 30 spins at listener-supported WNMC radio in Traverse City MI. Based on the work already produced, a well-spring of talent and ideas, I suggest that we may have only begun to scratch the surface of what these players have in store.

Hank Mowery at Billy's Oct. 25

Whenever you attend a Hank "The Hawk" Mowery & the Hawktones show there is a solid chance that you'll be entertained by some of the best jump blues musicians in the Midwest. This was the case last Saturday night at Billy's Lounge located in (Eastown) Grand Rapids, MI. Backing up vocalist/harmonica player Mowery this evening was Detroit's premier jump blues outfit, Doug Deming and the Jewel Tones. Deming and company are an in-demand back up band for today's best blues players (primarily harp) including Kim Wilson (Fabulous Thunderbirds), Dennis Gruenling, Greg "Fingers" Taylor, A.C. Reed, and a European tour with the late Gary Primich. They were the perfect compliment for Hank's Slim Harpo-inspired harp licks. A sure standout for the Jewel Tones this night was Julian Van Slyke on drums. Julian's easy-does-it, economical style proved once again that 'less is more.' Way more.