May Erlewine, on heels of new music release, plans local holiday party gigs with The Motivations

An earlier, slightly smaller version of May Erlewine and The Motivations. (Supplied)

By K.D. Norris
ken@wktv.org

West Michigan singer/songwriter May Erlwine will take a break from her national tour promoting her recent and splendid alt-Americana release, Second Sight, to offer up some local holiday dance party gigs fronting The Motivations.

Part of a hectic two weeks of Michigan concerts includes a stop at Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids, on Friday, Dec. 13.

The Motivations is a now-9-piece band that offers up boogie jams and classic soul cuts. According to supplied material, The Motivations holiday party project was born in the winter of 2016 when Erlewine set out to make music and create a positive space “meant to get people moving, to feel connected, and to help everyone celebrate the moment — and each other” amid the holiday season rush/crush.

“It’s not an easy time for everyone,” Erlewine said in supplied material. “We invite you to shake out your holiday stressors and come on out to dance with us!”

The Motivations feature Phil Barry on guitar and vocals; Joe Hettinga on synth, keys and vocals; Eric Kuhn on guitar and vocals; Max Lockwood on bass and vocals; Mike Lynch on organ and keys; Terrence Massey on trumpet and vocals; Brandon Proch on saxophone, vocals and percussion; and Michael Shimmin on drums, percussion and vocals.

Despite the changes in band and musical genre, Elrewine will likely play a few songs from her latest alt-Americana release. (We can only hope!)

May Erlewine (Supplied/Michael Poehlman)

On her latest full-length studio album release, Second Sight, which hit the streets Nov. 1, she delivers her constantly beautiful-voiced singer/songwriter vocals with a powerful push into the realm of socio-political commentary — the first single released from Second Sight, she states, was “Written as a testimony for Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. And for all of the women who have been ‘unheard’ in their truth.”

“We are living in a time where we are inundated with media, consumerism and distractions from being connected to our deeper visions,” she told WKTV in a previous interview. “The songs are a journey to reconnecting with our home, ourselves and each other while grieving the incredible trauma of our history.”

For the story on Erlewine’s Second Sight, see a WKTV story here.

In addition to this week’s gig at Pyramid Scheme, the band will play Thursday, Dec. 12, at Beards Brewery in Petoskey; Saturday, Dec. 14, at The Old Art Building in Leland; Thursday, Dec. 19, at Otus Supply in Ferndale; Friday, Dec. 20, at The Livery in Benton Harbor; Saturday, Dec. 21, at Seven Steps Up in Spring Lake; and Sunday, Dec. 22, at Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo.

For more information on May Erlewine, her music and tickets to announced local dates, visit mayerlewine.com.