Radio Active Girl
Remember live music INDOORS? The excitement of picking out your seats… the noisy caravan with friends to the venue… the thrill you felt when the house lights dimmed. With all the lock downs and reopening stipulations, it seemed like it might never happen again. But here we were, lined up at the historic Kalamazoo State Theater on Friday, August 27th to celebrate The State’s first indoor live show in 17 months. “You have no idea how excited I was to see touring cases being loaded through the stage door,” the State’s Director of Marketing and Development, Harry Phillips shared. I could only imagine from the staff’s perspective what this night really meant. For all of us, though, personnel and patrons alike, the long wait was over. In moments, the Fleetwood Mac tribute band, TUSK, would take the stage and entertain a lot of music-starved people.
Radio Active Girl
Touting their show as “No fancy tricks, no gimmicks, just five musicians recreating the music of Fleetwood Mac to perfection with note for note renditions,” TUSK did not disappoint. They effortlessly put themselves in every song without taking away from the album versions we’ve memorized and sung along to over so many years. Peppering in a bit of Fleetwood Mac history throughout the show, TUSK tip-toed along the band’s timeline in front of a giant LED backdrop. From The Chain to Dreams to Sara, it was one sing-along after another.
Radio Active Girl
The crowd did NOT hold back their enthusiasm. People were dancing in their seats, in the aisles – anywhere the beat would take their feet. Cheers, hugs, laughter. It was as though everyone in the room suddenly remembered the feeling of enjoying music with strangers, and even the shyest of wallflowers tapped in to their extroversion and swayed along.
Radio Active Girl
Radio Active Girl
Radio Active Girl
Radio Active Girl
Of course, one of the highlights of the evening was Michigan’s own guitar prodigy, Jake Kershaw, opening for TUSK. For those of you who have followed his career, the now 20-year-old shared how he spent his time during COVID; writing and recording songs in Nashville… and signing his own deal. The crowd went wild at the news, and Kershaw’s face lit up like a candle. Very excited to see what the future has in store for this incredibly talented, whip-smart, kind young man.
Radio Active Girl
It certainly was incredible to see this iconic marquee illuminated once again. Thanks for a great night, State Theatre, and welcome back!
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