'Music or Death' is more than a title to Jeff Lionheart

Review by Rebecca Lee

The classical violins and flutes of the orchestra don’t often mingle with their undersophisticated relatives—the electric guitar and drums—but Jeff Lionheart’s new album Music or Death joins them together in an unconventional musical mixer.

Released on Jan. 12 by 615 Records, Music or Death not only boasts upbeat, classic rock style tunes but rock ballads, sentimental ballads, and cheery melodies. Beneath the blaring electric guitar, pulsating drumbeats, and pointed resonance of Lionheart’s voice, Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra’s violins and flutes add depth and dimension to the sound.

The song “Inside of Me,” featured in the film Being John Malkovich, highlights the orchestra’s contribution. Other songs on the album, “Don’t Bring It On Again” and “Rain,” downplay the orchestra and instead display Lionheart’s grit—parading his rockin’ four-octave vocal range.

Since the age of four, Lionheart has been a music enthusiast—inspired by British bands like the Beatles and Radiohead. Though unable to read or write music, he composed and arranged the 40-part orchestration for his latest album. According to former drummer Greg Jackson, Lionheart’s passion will push him to make it in the music industry or die trying—which inspired the album's title. Lionheart dedicated the album to Jackson, who passed away this last year.

Currently receiving radio airplay in ten states—from Oregon to Virginia—Lionheart has stretched beyond the boarders of his home state, Michigan. With his unconventional musical combos, classic rock vocals, and fervent passion for music, he will either go far, or die trying.

Nonpoint and Cold Rock The Orbit Room

Photo and review by Elena Nieman

If you weren’t lucky enough to make it to the Orbit Room Saturday for Nonpoint and Cold, you missed out. Nonpoint gave a stellar performance, and its cover of Phil Collins “In the Air Tonight” definitely had a hard rock spin to it.

After the band got off stage the lead singer of Nonpoint, Elias Soriano, was up by the merchandise signing things and taking pictures with his fans. It’s refreshing to meet a national touring band and not feel intimidated. Elias radiated kindness to the fans.

Cold then took the stage to close the night and what a night it was. Cold's trademark psychedelic spider whirled onstage and the drummer’s face was painted with black light reflective paint. Additionally, the black lights hanging from the drum set it certainly set the mood for something spectacular, and it was.

Brewery Vivant to Bring New Life to Dead Spot on Cherry St.

This image represents Locus Development's planned renovation of the former funeral home chapel and Spectrum Health childcare center at 925 Cherry Street, as seen from Lake Drive.

In French vivant means "alive" or "lively," which is perfectly appropriate considering New Holland Brewing Co. co-founder Jason Spaulding plans to resurrect a dead spot on the otherwise flourishing Cherry Street.

Spaulding, in conjunction with Locus Development, has a $3 million plan underway to remodel the former funeral home chapel at 925 Cherry St. into a 140-seat taproom and to renovate the former Spectrum Health childcare center next door into a micro-brewery. Spaulding expects the micro-brewery to turn out 5,000 barrels of beer a year, of the French- and Belgian-tradition, meaning specialty strains of yeast combined with hops, grains, spices, and fruits. That European beer tradition will be further enhanced by the outdoor beer garden and piazza which will face the "cobblestones" of Cherry St.

In both his beer and food menu, Spaulding hopes to use as many local ingredients as possible, in order support the local economy. Also, he plans to hire up to 50 employees in the first season of business, which shouldn't hurt.

Spaulding should have plenty of the necessary experience to pull off the venture. After co-founding New Holland Brewery Co. in 1996 with Brett VanderKamp, he spent over a decade honing his beercrafting skills at that stalwart of the Michigan beer scene. Then two years ago Spaulding split ways to further hone his craft at a brewing school in Munich, Germany. Don't be surprised to find Spaulding with some innovative brews up his sleeve when Brewery Vivant opens this fall. If all goes to plan, construction should begin this spring.