TRAVERSE CITY — When Max Lockwood plays Traverse City’s “The Alluvion” on June 9, listeners will hear the Michigan singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist’s new record by a talented band of musicians. You can expect to be able to listen to the whole story in the performance.
Beyond that, an evening in the clean new listening room space will be about connection.
Lockwood, who released his new studio album, Diamonds, in May, said, “I just want people to feel loved, feel connected, and have a good night.”
“I want people to feel a sense of camaraderie on stage, and I want them to find inspiration to face themselves more.”
Alvion’s director of operations, Matt McCalpin, believes the 170-person space on the second floor of the Common Ground Cooperative Building in the Novo neighborhood at 414 East Eighth Street is perfect for that kind of interaction. .
He said fans who come to see storytelling artists like Lockwood will “energize the performance above all else” at Alvion, which is hosting the show in “preview mode” this spring before it’s completed and officially opened. I can concentrate,” he said. .
“We are embracing the listening room cultural experience and hope that when you come here for the show, it will be clear that music, art and community are the main focus,” he said. I was.
From playing in Traverse City diva May Erlewine’s band to fronting his Tom Petty tribute band The Insiders, Lockwood is a go-to multi-instrumentalist. He has long distinguished himself as a player and singer.
But he’s also a solo artist, and Diamonds will be his third full-length studio album since 2014’s Outrider. The majority of the album was recorded in Grand Rapids with engineer/producer Joe Hettinga.
“I’ve changed a lot in some ways. I think I’ve pretty much come full circle in that period as far as my solo album is concerned. I think it came together,” he said.
“So I feel like this is a more holistic representation of how I feel about my songwriting and creativity. I was amazed at how much I was able to express myself with my voice and I just learned a lot.
“And I’ve worked with so many different musicians in that time and collaborated on so many different records and live performances. I feel stronger and more solid, and I think I can have more fun doing it because of it.”
Band member and longtime musical companion Eric O’Daily said Lockwood “has a vision that they want to bring to life”. …we are all part of all the cogs that revolve to bring the song to life. And it’s a really great role. It’s all about the song itself. Individual creative visions don’t have to compete. We all offer this song. ”
Lockwood joked that he “really can’t do anything” other than keep making these songs and playing music.
“I tried to live my life in other ways, but in the end I decided that this was the path for me and I gave it my all. I realized at some point that being true to what I really feel in my heart about my life and my work meant that it meant going all out and making this my north star. he said.
“It’s also nice to work with people you love so often. The energy of connection in the world of music is as amazing as anything I’ve ever experienced in my life.”
Future Alvion shows include Viridian Strings, Opera MODO and Opera Grand Rapids ‘D’ on Saturday (June 10) at 7pm.[x]Pasquale: An LGBTQ+ Approach to Classical Opera will take place on June 21st and the Greg Vadney Quartet on June 22nd. See the full schedule online at thealluvion.org.
