the crane wives.

the crane wives. credit Grand Rapids Social Diary

So this is the first post I am doing about local music in the West Michigan area. To kick it off I thought I would start with a band that everyone in GR is talking about, The Crane Wives.

I have been a fan of this band for a few months now, since I saw them play at The Twisted Rooster in Grand Rapids. They have a style that is quite fantastic, which I have described as what would happen if Florence + the machine and Mumford and Sons were to have a baby. The harmonies in this band are insane, and are enough to get you to stop doing what you are doing and perk your ears up like an excited dog. Kate, Dan and Emilee have such wonderful voices seperately but the way they play off of each other is magical and is unlike anything I have heard in a band this style.

They recently released their debut album, entitled Safe Ship, Harbored and it has made quite a bit of buzz around the GR area as well as beyond, reaching #2 on the Contemporary Folk charts on Amazon.com. The CD is good front to back, with not a single track that seemed like a throw away. Each song has lyrics that make you think, and you can tell the time that went into them all. From songs like “New Colors” and “Counting Sheep” that make you tap your feet and want to dance to “Caleb Trask” where Emilee and Kate’s voices cause tears to well up. Then you have “I Ain’t Done” and the title track “Safe Ship, Harbored” that make you want to roll down your windows and drive the coast of Lake Michigan.

The thing about this band that seperates them from most others is that they are as good live as they are on the album, maybe even better.On stage when Emilee and Kate play and sing, you can look behind and see Dan, Tom and Ben having a great time, singing along and dancing with the crowd. They love the music, love playing the music and have so much fun doing both you wish they were your friends. Not to mention the unreleased, new music they have written is amazing as well. Seriously, you will clap the drum part to “Once and For All” for weeks. Go and see a live show, you will not be disappointed.

I have had the pleasure of befriending them over the past few months and it has done nothing but add to the level of my enjoyment with them as a band. They are down-to-earth, fun-loving people who truly love the music, Grand Rapids and the people that come to their shows. I wish nothing but success to them and I hope the world has the opportunity to hear the music they make together, because we have something great in our hands with them.