I was looking forward to seeing Segment 6 at Pub One Eleven. I had heard good things about them and the videos on their Facebook page totally held up. Segment 6
I arrived at Pub One Eleven at 7pm to find the place overwhelmed by all the White Lake Pub Pedal participants. I had to clear off my own high-top table near the stage and even helped the wait staff clear off the big table next to me (making four trips to the bar with empty beer bottles).
Segment 6, from Muskegon is made up of the following band members:
Michael Wood “Woody” – Lead Singer
Earl O’Connell – Guitar, Backing Vocals
James Hanenburg – Bass, Backing Vocals
Stan Levendosky – Drums
Let me set the record straight, right out of the gate, this is no run-of-the-mill dad band! Even though both Earl and James wore matching khaki cargo shorts, the de rigueur uniform for dad bands nationwide (James uses the side pocket of his to cleverly hold a wireless transmitter), these guys rock hard, loud and proud, giving their all every time they take the stage! Believe me, they’re the real deal! Prove me wrong, I dare you! Check them out next time they’re playing in the area. Argument wise, you won’t have a cargo-shorted leg to stand on!
When I was texting back and forth with Michael “Woody” he said the project was “A hobby band, we enjoy playing. It’s not about the money. We play classic rock, everything from The Beatles and The Monkeys to Alice in Chains and The Cult.” Live, it feels like much more than a mere hobby band. These guys are at a professional level.
He also mentioned “I try to give advice to other bands like ‘Do what you do well. Don’t do music that’s hard for you to do just because it’s popular’.” I think this workman-like, play-to-your-strengths approach is what makes Segment 6 what they are. They’re not all things for everyone, but if their thing happens to be your thing, you won’t find a better band.
Michael also told me, between sets, that he met Earl, the lead guitarist, while in high school at a local music store. The name “Segment 6” came from a program or project Earl was working on as part of his day job. Coincidentally, this is the 6th band or music project the two have been in together.
Halfway through their 1st set, jumping up to do a video, wobbly high-top table, (surely no fault of mine) I spilled a beer on my notes. The following is a reconstruction of my frenetic mad-scratching, beer-soaked notes (Oh, the rock-and-roll life of a local music journalist):
They started their set the right way with Fuel’s “Bad Day” before jumping right into STP’s “Plush.” Suddenly, Woody looked right at me and said, “This is going to be a good one”. I got my old iPhone set up just in time to catch their version of The Smithereens “Blood and Roses” (video below ). I suddenly had the feeling. This was going to be one of those shows. It was destined to be a late-night-walking-out-to my-’93-Chevy-truck moment in time thinking “wow, what did I just experience?”
The show went on with the expected awesome songs, Tonic’s “Open Up Your Eyes (video), Alice in Chains “Man in the Box” (with the backing parts and the quintessential lead guitar part matching the vocals), before they performed a song I had never heard before, Drivin N Crying’s “Fly Me Courageous”. That song is going on my playlist!
After two pleasant surprises, The Babys “Midnight Rendezvous” and Midnight Oil’s “Beds Are Burning” they threw the audience (which had transitioned from pub-pedal participants to concert goers – still a full house) a curve ball with The Animals “We Gotta Get Out of this Place.” In this case it was a heavy version of the classic song with surprisingly deep vocals. It was like The Cult covering The Animals with Jim Morrison on vocals.
The evening wore on with more awesome songs than I can mention, including Pearl Jams’ “Yellow Ledbetter: (video below), Urge Overkill’s “Sister Havanna”, Chris Stapleton’s “Think I’m In Love with You” (Video below), and The Cult song, “She Sells Sanctuary”.
Personal favorites from the show were 90’s alternative covers: Candlebox’s “Far Behind” and Seven Mary Three’s “Cumbersome” juxtaposed against The Monkey’s “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone”.
A show highlight was early the third set, The Cult’s “Love Removal Machine (video below). Just check out the video. Do yourself a favor. See these guys next time they’re playing in the area. You’ll thank me later…
