Sister Hazel brought the 90's with them to Bell's Brewery

Sister Hazel‘s visit to the Back Room of Bell’s Brewery (yep, that Bell’s!) brought a truly intimate feel to a space I can’t image would fit more than 300 max. It was a musical gem that will be etched in the memories of those fortunate enough to be in attendance and an extra special night for myself personally. The reason for that? To coincide with the release of the band’s latest album at the time, 2000’s Fortress, they ran a contest through their website to submit your worst relationship story of which the top few would be posted to the bands website and be eligible for fan voting, the winner receiving an autographed-by-the-whole-band acoustic guitar! Well, ya’boy won (pic of me with it back then mixed in)! Now 20+ years later I had the opportunity to photograph them for the first time, but let’s get back to the show… From the first chords to the encore, Sister Hazel delivered a performance that was not only nostalgic but also brimming with the infectious energy that defines their classic hits.

The night officially kicked off with “Change Your Mind” off the previously mentioned Fortress. It’s a catchy pop rock bop that is rather self-described by its title and a fun upbeat way to get people moving. A few songs later and Sister Hazel’s front man, Ken Block, took a moment to talk with the packed crowd about how this next song was made famous due to finding its way onto the soundtrack of a little movie called 10 Things I Hate About You. That song was “Your Winter.” This was a big hit with the crowd singing every single word and I’m sure some reliving their teenage angst while downing an Oberon.

Later in their set the groups arguably biggest hit way back from the late 90’s was dropped. The first strums of “All For You” as pure high school nostalgia and with such an intimate venue filled with such adoring fans there were moments of banter, some drunken, some not, that created an atmosphere of camaraderie, turning the concert into a gigantic, shared experience.

The set list, a carefully curated blend of classic hits, allowed for a nostalgic journey while also highlighting the band’s time-tested appeal. The transition between songs were seamless, maintaining a rhythm that kept the energy alive. Sister Hazel’s bass player, Jett Beres, led a strong encore taking the lead as the band hyped things up to 11 with a cover of The Killers “Mr. Brightside,” something I did not see coming. Nor did I except the crowd to start jumping like they did!

It was a great night filled with some very nostalgic tunes that are a testament to the enduring magic of their sound that still has them touring and hosting The Rock Boat, an annual music festival on-board a cruise ship headlined this coming year by another artist I had covered earlier this summer, Young The Giant. You can learn more about The Rock Boat here.

Who: Sister Hazel [ Web | Instagram ]

Where: Bell’s Brewery Back Room, Kalamazoo, MI

Photos and article by David Painter [ Web | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook ]

Did you attend this tour? Comment below.