Manitowoc's Metro Jam unveils June 15 lineup. Here's who will open for headliners Drivin N Cryin.
MANITOWOC — Metro Jam is marking its 45th anniversary with a mix of international, national, regional and local music June 14-15.
Organizers this week released the June 15 lineup for the free event. Headliner that day will be Atlanta-based Drivin N Cryin, which takes the stage from 8:30 to 10 p.m., and openers include The Pretty Flowers from 7 to 8 p.m.; The Mommyheads from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; punk-rock influenced Milwaukee band Combuster from 4 to 5 p.m.; indie rockers Rose Cora Perry & The Truth Untold from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; Charlie Bucket from 1:15 to 2 p.m.; and Marc Birr from noon to 12:45 p.m.
Here's more about some of the June 15 acts.
Drivin N Cryin is celebrating its 35th anniversary.
In October 1985, Drivin N Cryin played its first show in Atlanta, and quickly gained attention for its blistering live shows.
Founding members Kevin Kinney and Tim Nielsen still are part of the band, which has won a gold record and released nine full-length albums and and a handful of singles.
Along with Dave V. Johnson on drums and the band’s newest member Laur Joamets on guitar, Drivin N Cryin continues to tour the U.S. Island Records re-released their its recognized “Mystery Road” album through Universal Music Group. “Mystery Road” was named one of “The 50 Best Southern Rock Albums of All Time” by Paste Magazine in 2017.
“We are a band that’s like your record collection,” lead singer Kinney said in a news release. “A little driving rock 'n' roll and a little country twang. We have an arsenal of songs, a full tank of gas and no plans of stopping anytime soon.”
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The Pretty Flowers mixes late Replacements with early Weezer.
Los Angeles indie-rock band The Pretty Flowers is described as reminiscent of later Replacements and early Weezer.
The four-piece band includes Noah Green on vocals and guitar, Jake Gideon on guitar and vocals, Sam Tiger on bass and vocals, and Sean Johnson on drums. Their music has been described as hooky, heartfelt and literate, according to a news release.
The band’s influences span more than a few decades of loud guitar indie and college rock.
“These LA hard power-poppers have the chops to write great songs,” The Big Takeover magazine said of The Pretty Flowers.
The band toured the U.S. West Coast with The Roxies from Berlin, Germany, in 2023. They released their sophomore album “A Company Sleeve” last summer. The album landed on numerous year-end lists, with the blog “I Buy Way Too Many Records” naming it “the absolute best record of 2023.”
The Mommyheads are New York-based power pop/progressive rockers.
New York City-based power pop/progressive rock band The Mommyheads is in its 37th year and has 15 albums under its belt.
The eclectic band is known for its stylistic verve, combining power pop, art-rock, new wave and other errant genres into their signature mix, according to the news release.
The band rose from underground success to a stint on Geffen Records with its self-titled 1997 album before disbanding a year later. They reunited in 2008 and have continued to nurture their status as a beloved cult band, especially in Scandanavia, where they found an “unexpectedly robust fan base.”
The Mommyheads have been prolific in their second act, with highlights such as 2010’s “Finest Specimens” and 2018’s “Soundtrack to the World’s End.” The band was formed in 1987 while Brooklyn-born singer Adam Elk (Cohen) attended New York City's prestigious High School of Music and Art. Within two years, Elk and company released their full-length debut “Acorn” on Fang Records. Soon afterward, keyboard player Mike Holt and drummer Dan Fisherman joined Elk and Matt Patrick, and the new line-up hit the road on one of many national tours.
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Metro Jam will release the rest of its lineup in a few weeks.
The June 14 Metro Jam lineup will be announced in a few weeks, organizers said in the news release.
The festival is held at Washington Park, 1115 Washington St. in downtown Manitowoc. Admission is free. People can watch for festival updates at metrojam.org or on Facebook.
Metro Jam is presented in partnership with and in support of Manitowoc’s Grow It Forward, which also coordinates the beverage and food concessions for Metro Jam.
Contact reporter Patti Zarling at [email protected] or call 920-606-2575.
This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc Metro Jam unveils 2024 lineup with headliners Drivin N Cryin
