[tuebor]

I guess my question could be interpreted in various ways. It could mean, (1) "What kind of music do Michiganders like?", (2) "What kind of music originates from Michigan?", or (3) "What kind of music expresses the character of Michigan?"

(1) seems easy to answer. I grew up in Ann Arbor, and I heard mostly rock & roll when I was growing up. I've been told that Iggy Pop and Bob Seeger went to my high school. The commercial live music venues in Ann Arbor almost all played rock, blues, or jazz, with the exception of the Ark, a venerable folk music club. Hardly anyone I knew listened to country. So I would have agreed that Michigan is basically a rock & roll state if you'd asked me this question when I was 18.

But I've found that outside of SE Michigan, musical tastes vary. There are a LOT of country music fans in this state once you get out of the SE. At this year's Muskegon Summer Festival, the night when they had the nationally-known country music acts (whom I had never heard of) was the night with the longest lines.

The answer to (2) also seems obvious: Motown and techno are the only subgenres that have originated from Michigan. I guess the reason I initially resisted this answer was because I was really interested in (3), and I still don't think Motown or techno fill the bill here. I'm not sure Motown even expresses the character of Detroit any more, let alone Michigan, if it ever did.

I agree that Michigan is musically eclectic, and this shows up in what Michigan musicians do. Steppin' in it blends rock, blues, bluegrass, reggae, Cajun, western swing, etc. in their songs. Greensky Bluegrass does a hilarious bluegrass version of Prince's "When Doves Cry"--I can't imagine bluegrassers from KY doing that. I think it's great that Michigan's musicians are so open-minded, but I wonder whether they will go beyond eclecticism. Will these musical currents gel into something uniquely Michiganian, or will our musicians be content with an entertaining grab-bag of styles from elsewhere?

[tuebor]

Congratulations to Joshua Davis of Steppin' In It for taking 3rd place on The Voice!

[topher5150]

Jason Newsted was from the west side of Michigan

[westboundrambler]

The Michigan music scene is very eclectic. There's not really separate scenes for genres (except like metal and punk) The Folk, rock, bluegrass, blues, jazz, funk, and world musicians kind of all work together.

[michigan83]

I have found that many people in Michigan (at least the western and central parts) are big country music fans. Finding Michiganders who can MAKE good country music is much more difficult, though. We have some country cover bands here who can seriously butcher a country song.

[westboundrambler]

Originally Posted by michigan83

I have found that many people in Michigan (at least the western and central parts) are big country music fans. Finding Michiganders who can MAKE good country music is much more difficult, though. We have some country cover bands here who can seriously butcher a country song.

Plenty of good bands in Grand Rapids that utilize old tyme country and alt. country in their stylings.

[swampbuck]

when I lived in TC many many years ago it was Ted Nugent, Gordon Lightfoot and Bob Seger.

[westboundrambler]

Originally Posted by swampbuck

when I lived in TC many many years ago it was Ted Nugent, Gordon Lightfoot and Bob Seger.

Huh, I mean I love Gordon Lightfoot, I like Bob Seger, and the Nuge, though I don't agree with most of the things he says, is a solid guitarist, but 2 of those people are from the detroit area, and one is from canada. If that's the criteria being used than you could mention Neil Young or Glen Frey. But nowadays traverse City has a pretty vibrant seen. You have Joshua Davis who's a great songwriter and just got to the final round of that tv show the voice, you have the accidentals, you have the brilliant bluegrass stylings of Billy Strings & Don Julin.

[tuebor]

When I started this thread, I was unaware that there was a category called Americana. I think a lot of West Michigan acts fit in this category.

[westboundrambler]

Originally Posted by tuebor

When I started this thread, I was unaware that there was a category called Americana. I think a lot of West Michigan acts fit in this category.

Indeed they do, Americana to me is kind of like a modern mix and interpretation of American roots music, and that definitely fits a lot of bands in Michigan.