-Thursday: Rapper JYoung The General is an alum of Michigan State University and a regular on the Detroit hip-hop scene. He releases his new EP, "Jahshua 1:6," on Thursday at The Loft in Lansing (poster right). JYouth's last EP, "Black History Year," was produced by G-Unit's Nick Speed. Find the new EP on iTunes and here. Crank it up!
-Friday: Detroit-based prog-rock group Bump stops at The Loft (above Harem Urban Lounge) on Friday. The four-piece makes layered art rock, and they've played over 700 shows in 35 states.
-Saturday: Celebrate the first day of M
ichigan bars, clubs, restaurants and venues being smoke-free with shows at Mac's and The Loft. At Mac's, it's the fourth annual Ogrefest: an all-day, all-night metal fest featuring over a dozen bands from Michigan and five other states. Read more here. At The Loft: Pink Floyd tribute band Echoes of Pink Floyd plays all the classics and, of course, brings a killer laser show.
-Tuesday: Haley Williams, lead singer of the pop-punk band Paramore, has colorful short, choppy hair and the spunk and gutsy vocals to pull it off. In just a few years, the Franklin, Tenn. group has all but come to rule the alternative charts with hits, "Misery Business," "Crushcrushcrush," "Ignorance" and "Decode," the latter off the first Twilight soundtrack. Williams and the guys headline the Deltaplex in Grand Rapids on Tuesday. Christian alternative rock group Relient K opens.
