Summertime, and Mid-Lifing is easy... - The Whitecaps are putting on a special Mid-Life Crisis Night to celebrate mid-season at 5/3 Ballpark. Everyone welcome! MLC will headline the Walkerfest for the first time for this annual celebration of summer. Lots of private parties and weddings in the works, and a return to the Reed's Lake Concert Series in the Park. More details to come along with some fun secrets to be revealed.
Spring Is In The Air 2008 - MLC is back to the One Trick for an encore "Unplugged" performance. The first one was a big hit, and with a full house, there has been lots of inquiries for MLC to do it again. Then out to the lakeshore for a first ever event for the Muskegon Symphony. MLC will kick off the Fifth Third River Bank Run with a "Fire-Up" Rally, then head back to Harryfest to finish up the Spring. Recording of the new CD has started with new inspirations from all of our midlife happenings. Looking forward to summer with some big MLC surprises on the horizon......stay tuned!
Happy New Year 2008! - The year starts with the great news that MLC has been awarded "Best Band in Grand Rapids" for the unprecedented fourth year in a row by Grand Rapids Magazine in their Annual Reader's Poll. The Standing Together Project for GRPS continues with a very special Unplugged and up close show with Phil Biggs at the One Trick Pony. MLC will welcome it's newest member, Tara and returning member, Steve W (welcome back!). at this show. Also coming up is the Annual Soup's On For All, where MLC will Headline for the fifth year in a row - always one of our favorite benefits. Then on to a busy winter season. The band is also working on it's sophomore album of original music, and hope to be in the studio soon. Look for more photos and upcoming events on the "Playdates" and "Photos" page.
Fall 2007 - MLC Style! Kicks off with the dogs at the big Humane Society Bash, then Pulaski Days and the big WLAV Halloween Party at The B.O.B. November brings the world premier release of the Phil and Friends CD Release Party with WLAV at The Intersection, featuring MLC, Trout and many others who contributed to the latest installment to the Standing Together Project for GRPS. Then, it's on to the many holiday parties, finishing up with the big New Year's Eve Bash at West Catholic - open to the public. Also, this Fall, MLC is hard at work writing tunes for their sophomore album. Lot's cooking - come out and rock! F
llFRock Into Summer 2007 - Summer is off and running... THE BIG NEWS: MLC was just awarded a Golden Townie award from "On The Town" Magazine for "Best Band" in Grand Rapids. MLC is back in the studio with Michael Crittenden and Phil Biggs for 2 cuts on the upcoming compilation album, and starting to lay early tracks for the second originals follow-up album to "It's All Good." MLC then starts with headlining the Tulip Time Bier & Muziek Festival, then Sink-A-Palooza with The Honeytones. Down the road, in Otsego, MLC will headline HarryFest with The Big E, followed by a feature on WZZM TV Live at 5 . July 4th rocks at Cascade and then the Lowell Showboat. MLC rejoins the Grand Rapids Symphony Picnic Pops with fireworks, and returns to the Rally For Hope and Hunger to open up for Pure Prairie League at the Deltaplex. Following that is the Rogue River "After-The-Blues" Concert Series, Opening up for Mitch Ryder at the Blueberry Fest, jammin' the UICA with friends Domestic Problems, and Headlining the Cattle Baron's Ball. Lot's of private events and parties also....stay tuned. rrS
Spring 2007 - MLC kicks off spring with an on-ice performance before 11,000 hockey fans at the Griffins game St. Patrick's weekend. In addition to a number of private parties, MLC returns to the Whitecaps for a Spring "Play Hookey" game featuring a post-game party on the deck. Then it is on to MLC Headlining this year's Tulip Time Bier & Muziek Fest and the infamous HarryFest. Summer is coming fast - look for lots of fun MLC shows in the works.
2007
Arrives and MLC Named #1 Band - Mid-Life Crisis
is named "Best Band In Grand Rapids" for the third year
in a row
in the annual Grand Rapids Magazine Readers Poll. The annual
January issue also has a feature story on the band and
the new album "It's All Good." The new album is also nominated for the 8th Annual WYCE Jammies Award for "Best Rock Album," "Best New Artist" and "Album Of The Year." 2007 starts out with an
MLC tradition: the annual Soup's On For All event at The
B.O.B. Look for a number of unique and fun events this
winter in the works, including another "unplugged" appearance
by popular demand and other rocking parties in the works.
Don't forget to pick up the album - it is nearly sold out
of it's first pressing, and you can pick up your MLC T-shirts
and can coolies at any gig.
2006
Fall Is Here! - The big news; MLC's first album, "It's
All
Good" was released on September 22!~ Fifth
Third Bank, Meijer and DoranDerwent Joined media sponsor
WLAV
and the Intersection in putting on the big MLC Benefit
Concert for the Grand Rapids Public Schools Student
Advancement
Foundation. This party rocked with over 800 people
raising nearly $18,000 for GRPS. Pick up your copy
in the stores or on-line. Now, the fall kicks in with
a number of private and public parties as MLC heads
into the holiday season.
Summer
MLC Style -MLC
kicked off the 2006 summer with a huge concert under
the Mackinaw
Bridge
at the Hospice Of Mackinaw Bike Rally. On deck is a full
summer highlighted by a first-time show at the Muskegon
Summer Celebration before the Steve Miller Concert, a
return to the Whitecaps Fireworks Night, and headlining
the Cattle Baron's Ball. The biggest summer news is the
release of MLC's first ever all-originals album It's
All Good. Watch the web site for details on a CD release
party and where the album can be purchased. Should be
a fun summer - hold on tight!
MLC
Welcomes 2006 - Thanks to everyone
voting MLC "The Best Band In Grand Rapids 2006" for
a second year in a row in the Grand Rapids Magazine Annual
Readers Poll! MLC was voted number 1 from 35,000 votes
this year - total votes were up 30% over last year. MLC
rocked a sold-out show for New Year's Eve at The Top
Of The B.O.B. at the biggest party in town. The holiday
season was packed with fantastic private parties and
we enjoyed getting to know many new FOB's. The big news
for winter is that MLC is finalizing their first all-originals
classic rock CD with Michael Crittendon engineering.
This CD (we still call it an "album," don't
you mid-lifers?) is full of songs truly about our mid-life
crises. We touch on everything from aging, to our kids,
to our parents and our worries. A very unique collaboration
with song writer Phil Biggs is available at local record
stores named Shop Floor. It is a haunting song about
the struggles of our manufacturing community. We hear
your complaints about lack of public or open gigs to
come hear MLC. We will try to squeeze a bar gig or public
venue in during the winter, and don't forget the annual
Soup's On where MLC again will headline at The B.O.B.
It is an event open to the public and very worthy. Hope
to see everyone there.
Time
to Fall into Fall! - Great summer of outdoor
events for MLC, finishing up with a big opening for the
Marshall Tucker Band at the Cattle Baron Ball. Now, it
is on to the Fall schedule, starting out with a big show
where MLC will open for Eddie Money at the Celebration
On The Grand. Don't forget the big Halloween party at
The B.O.B. A number of great events are planned for the
rest of the year where you can catch MLC live. Look at
the "Playdates" page for more info. MLC continues
with work on original music and will be in the studio
this fall and winter. Stay tuned.
Bring
On The Summer! - MLC shared the stage with local legends
Troll For Trout and Phil Biggs at the Forest Hills Fine
Arts Center Concert For Literacy. It was a great event,
and raised money for the GRPS literacy programs. Then,
MLC headlined the next night at the first ever WOODen shoeSTOCK
at the Dutch Village. Now it is time to move into the summer
schedule, and hope for sunny skies for all the outdoor
events. See everyone there.
Is
It Spring Yet - 2005? - Welcome to all of the new
FOB's. Spring for MLC is turning out great. We kicked it
off with a huge show at the Orbit Room for our great friends
Tony Gates and Uncle Buck from LAV to celebrate their 10th
anniversary together. MLC got to open up in front of 2,000
people for The Tubes! What a great party! The summer is
filling up with a number of private shows and squeezing
in a few public events to catch MLC. Don't forget the third
annual Cattle Baron's Ball where MLC will perform with
The Marshall Tucker Band. Stay tuned as it looks like a
rocking summer.
Welcome
2005 -We finished up a very fun and busy year with
a country club tour including Cascade, Kent, Penn and Blythfield
Country Clubs. Hello to all the new FOB's, and thanks to
everyone for such a great year. We start 2005 with some
very exciting news - MLC being named "Best Band" in
Grand Rapids" by over 25,000 voters in the Annual
2005 Grand Rapids Magazine Readers Poll. We are kicking
off the winter with two great fundraisers for the GR Public
Schools and God's Kitchen. Also in the works is the upcoming
Mid-Life Crisis album of original songs. We are in the
process of recording it at Meat Locker Studios and are
hoping for a Spring release.
Fall
Fun - K-Wing-A-Palooza kicks off the fall featuring
MLC in a season opening concert. Cascade Country Club "Breaks
All the Rules" and lets its members wear jeans, use
cell phones and drink (gasp!) keg beer in the Clubhouse!
MLC has certainly been a bad influence on that club. Then
it's on to some wonderful holiday parties and a great fund
raiser for St. John's Home. More information to follow.
MLC is also trying to squeeze in a public party during
this time. Stay tuned for details.
2004 Cattle Baron Ball - MLC played for a packed house at the Alticor
Airplane Hanger to benefit the American Cancer Society. Headlining the night
was recording star Sammy Kershaw, who performed all his greatest hits. The
band pulled together all it's best country-sounding music including a few new
ones from the Allman Brothers and Mary Chapin Carpenter, but also couldn't
help but crank out some classic MLC rock from Chicago and Elton John. A fun
night in a neat setting for a great cause - could not have been better.
MLC
Performs A Musical Double Header - MLC had a marathon
music day on a beautiful summer day on July 24. It started
with the Rally For Hunger party, where the band partied
with hundreds of bikers with a pig roast, biker games and
Harley raffle at Bertha Brock Park with WLAV, Wild Boar
Harley, Rockford Construction and the VanAndel Institute.
The band then packed up the whole party and tour bus and
moved up the road to Marne where they headlined for the
final night of the Berlin Fair under a gorgeous summer
night sky. Quite a day for a bunch of middle-age folks,
but a great time for all.
Grand
Rapids Downtown Fourth Of July Fireworks Celebration -
Thanks to Tony Gates and WLAV Radio and Grand Entertainment
for rescuing the July 4th celebration, and asking MLC to
perform along with Brian VanderArk, Freekbass, Jimmy Stagger
and others. We dodged another weather bullett that night,
and were able to pull off a great show for the city crowd
at Ah-Nabe-Wan Park in front of the Ford Museum. Great
fireworks and great crowd! We rolled out new songs and
featured the 10 piece version with full horns and Bill
and Terry joining on guitars. A fun night for everyone.
Ball
Game Fun - Thanks to everyone for coming out to another
beautiful night under the stars at 5/3's ballpark on June
19. Unfortunately, our West Michigan Whitecaps lost, but
MLC had a great time playing for 10,076 fans under the
fireworks. We even got a chance to jam with Whitecaps Manager
Matt Walbeck on guitar after the game. Again, many thanks
to Micky Graham and his wonderful staff for such a great
job. We also had fun at the ballpark later that week playing
for the Catholoc Social Services Celebrity Softball match
which came off despite a 6th inning rainstorm. Thanks to
everyone for their hospitality.
Rampage
Football Game - Sorry to everyone who showed up for
the rained out pre-game party before the Rampage game.
The street party was cancelled, but MLC got moved into
the arena and we got to play an hour long pre-game show
inside Van Andel Arena. Unfortunately, 6500 fans watched
the Rampage lose to the Detroit Fury. Better luck next
year!
Summer
News - Lots of fun MLC events this summer! We will
be back for an encore performance at a White Caps game
in June - Details are being worked out for a 4th of July
show - stay tuned. July also links us up again with WLAV
for the annual Road Rally Party. August brings the big
Cattle Baron's Ball at Cannonsburg. We look forward to
seeing the Friends Of The Band (FOB's) at all the great
private parties, weddings and events also scheduled throughout
the summer. Watch the website for specific details on each
upcoming event.
Wealthy
Theater Mid-Life Crisis Party Is A Huge Success - WOW!
What a great party, thanks to all of our friends. MLC has
some of the best friends around, and we really appreciate
how much fun you make these parties. MLC played to a sell-out
crowd (over 700 ticket requests had to be turned down)
in the beautifully restored, historic Wealthy Theater.
It was a great night to welcome our newest member, Walt
Gutowski, and rock the house in MLC style. Big thanks to
theater manager Andy Sheneman and his wonderful staff.
They did a wonderful job of putting on the show, lighting
and security. For those of you who have not visited the
Wealthy Theater, you should do so - it really is beautiful.
MLC hopes to perform there again.
Is It Spring
Yet? - Thanks
to everyone who showed up to the WLAV Valentines Party.
Over 300 people were turned away, as Cannonsburg was
full by 8 pm. Sorry to everyone who was turned away.
The Fire Marshal made a surprise appearance. Many thanks
to Tony Gates and Kathy of WLAV Radio for keeping the
crowd under control. We said goodbye to our retiring
friend Steve on guitar, and welcomed our new musician,
Walt. MLC is looking forward to seeing everyone on March
27 at the Wealthy Theatre - this will be a big one, so
get your tickets now!
Winter Rocking
- MLC
is still playing holiday parties through January and
February, but we just booked an exciting "return
engagement" at Cannonsburg for Valentines Day on
Saturday February 14, 2004. Mark your calendars and come
out for a casual night of fun. Also come out to the Soup's
On charity on January 26 at the BOB, where we will be
featured from 6:30 to 10:30.
Fall Fun -
The Fall and holiday season are off and running for MLC.
What a great time we had at the various parties, hoping
we helped everyone face their own mid-life crises! Thanks
to the Association For The Blind - what a great cause and
event. Cascade Country Club may never be the same after
their "Break All The Rules" Party. MLC is looking
forward to seeing everyone for the holiday parties. We
are trying to squeeze in a bar gig also, so stay tuned.
Celebration
On The Grand - Thanks to everyone who showed up
for an incredible night of rock and roll featuring Dave
Mason from the band Traffic. MLC had a great time warming
up for him and his fantastic band on a beautiful downtown
night. Many thanks to our good friends Tony Gates and
WLAV radio for their hospitality. We had a great time
hanging out backstage to watch the fantastic fireworks.
Tina even talked Dave Mason into serving her lasagna
when she got impatient with the caterer - she's such
a rock star!
Grand Rapids
Symphony Picnic Pops - WOW! MLC dodged a weather
bullet both nights of our performance with the GR Symphony
and the band America. Thursday was beautiful, but the
weathermen were threatening rain at any time - it didn't
happen. Friday, as we were setting up to perform, a huge
rain storm came along with hail. To make matters worse,
Cannonsburg then lost all power about an hour before
we were supposed to play. The crowd never knew how close
it came to cancelling the concert. Just as the clouds
broke up, we got power. MLC ("the little band that
could") jumped into our set and kept the crowd going
as they got the rest of the power and equipment restored
to get America on stage on time. We had a great time
after our set, enjoying the rest of the concert and listening
to Ventura Highway, Horse With No Name, and
many other classics.
Taste of Grand
Rapids - Thanks to 101.3 and B93 for sponsoring
a 2 hour concert at the first annual Taste of Grand Rapids
held at the 5/3 ball park. It was another beautiful summer
night and the first chance for the newest addition to
the band, Tim Sobie, to join us on sax.
Take me out
to the Ball Game! What a great night at the White
Caps baseball game on Saturday, July 12, 2003. MLC played
to a crowd of 10,000 in a pre-game concert, between innings,
and during fireworks after the game. After the fireworks,
a mini-concert continued well after most people had left.
We want to thank Lew Chamberlain and the wonderful Whitecaps
staff for their hospitality, excitement and help to pull
off this experimental event. Special thanks to events
coordinator, Micky, who organized and ran the event.
Without him, it would not have worked.
Do you need
a band tonight? We were as disappointed as the FOB's
at Egypt Valley Country Club were about the rain cancelled
party on June 26th. But in true rock-n-roll fashion,
we pulled off a coup that will go down in MLC history
as a classic rock story. With the band loaded up and
no place to play, we went down to Founder's Brewery on
Monroe for a beer to drown our sorrows. After looking
around the room, we asked the manager if he had a band
tonight, he said, "No". We said, "Do you
want one?" The rest is history. We set up and played
to a surprised Saturday night crowd and had a great time
meeting a bunch of new FOB's. - And in true rock-n-roll
fashion, we played for beer. Thanks to the owner, Kevin,
and Founder's Brewery. It went great and we look forward
to returning for an "official" gig.
Still
several public places to see the band this summer click
here to
go to the "Play
Dates" page.
Though
many of our bookings are private parties, we are trying to
make an effort to book occasional public appearances for
our fans to come see us. Watch our website for upcoming gigs,
or email us to hire us for your party.
Take
it easy!