FIVE FAVES ENCORE
Five Faves
Local music acts that are must-see by
ENCORE STAFF
A h, summer. Its happy arrival brings outdoor music venues, concerts in the park, music festivals and lots of opportunities to see great local bands on stage. Well, at least it did before before COVID-19 so rudely interrupted all of our fun. However, we’re optimistic that live music will emerge again this summer and have recommendations of local music acts you need to see (before they become all internationally popular like Greensky Bluegrass).
Katy Needs A Life
Guitar UP!
Billing its music as "sad pop," Katy Needs A Life is a musical
project conceived by Katy May in 2007 and has, as its Facebook page proudly proclaims, been "bringing down the moods of parties in Kalamazoo" for more than a decade. “KNAL specializes in what’s known in the biz as the ‘blunt’ and ‘harsh’ style,” says the band’s Facebook page. “… Truthfully, you never know what you’ll get when you see KNAL on a bill. It could be the full band playing the songs loudly and heavily. It could be a three-piece with backing tracks. It could be Katy standing alone on stage, sheepishly making weird jokes between songs, also with backing tracks.” What you will get, however, is a chance to hear a unique local act that might make you “dance a little while you cry.” Members: Katy May — Vocals, keyboards Benji Wearwulf — Guitar, vocals Rick Matheny — Bass, vocals Jake Simmons — Drums 10 | ENCORE JULY 2020
Check them out here: • katyneedsalife.bandcamp.com • facebook.com/pg/ KatyNeedsALifeBand
"Guitar UP!” was yelled repeatedly by rock guitar pioneer Link
Wray at his sound guy throughout a concert at Kalamazoo’s Club Soda in the 1990s. Local guitarists Shawn and Jay Gavan were at that show and decided, as an homage to Wray and that notorious concert, to make that phrase the name of their new band. “Heavily influenced by the early ’60s era of guitar rock and instrumental surf music, Guitar UP! plays covers of classic guitar instrumentals from artists like the Shadows, Ventures, Wray and others,” says the band's Facebook page. “They also have written their own guitar instrumentals with echoes (actually lots of reverb) of spy, surf, spaghetti western and movie soundtrack styles.” Members: Brian Heaney — Drums Shawn Gavan — Guitar Jay Gavan — Guitar Mark Duval — Bass
Check them out here: • guitarupsurfband.com • facebook.com/pg/guitarupband
