Troll for Trout making their way out of proverbial fishbowl
If you have been fishing for some good live pop music, the band Troll for Trout will swim your way this weekend bringing with it a tasty and quality dose of rock. There is nothing fishy about this Grand Rapids-based group's stage show. This band simply specializes in pleasing the crowd and will perform their high energy show tomorrow night at Rubbles, 112 W. Michigan St.
The group has played Rubbles many times over the years, often with some of Michigan's finest bands, such as Domestic Problems, for example. The group mixes well with many different types of bands due to their versatility and what Michael Crittenden, guitarist and lead vocalist, describes as a penchant for writing quality pop music songwriting.
"The lyrics are very important, and I also try to write songs that are in the hopeful range rather than just about angst. We try to make music that makes people feel good. This results in fairly melodic tunes that are powerful but clean," he said.
He continued that their music is what he calls modern pop rock influenced by many styles. For example, anything from progressive seventies rock, to soul, to jazz and fusion, etc.
Armed with grooving instruments such as keyboards, hand percussion and harmonica alongside the classic rock & roll band format, Crittenden concedes that Troll For Trout's music tends to also give off a "storytelling angle" and a "rootsy feeling, folky rock" influence, appearing like "Paul Westerberg meets Steely Dan, or even like Barenaked Ladies," Crittenden said, keeping the music from being simplistic or too straight-forward.
This sonic vibe can best be found on TFT's third and latest full-length release "Rancho Relaxo" which was released earlier this year. The group's acclaimed previous releases are entitled "Perfect Existence" (1995) and "International Harvester" (1996). All three releases have sold an impressive total of about 12,000 units, according to Crittenden.
Crittenden said that in recent news, the band has constantly been playing often, while also spending time in the studio again working on more radio singles which will eventually end up on another full-length release. He explained that the new music has evolved into a bit more of an "experimental direction production-wise" while also taking a songwriting twist from their previous styles.
"Instead of our previous 70's influenced slower soul groove sound, the new stuff is sounding more like an 80's uptempo rock groove. We seem to want to rock out more, now," he said.
Crittenden went on to say that the new music has been giving off a kind of "Psychedelic Furs vibe, even though it doesn't sound quite like it." He said that the lyrical content has also thickened a bit into a "more obscure" style that requires the listener to "think about them a bit more."
The band's popularity throughout the Midwest has grown strong due to many years of gaining experience playing out on the road and also performing on the same stages as well known groups such as Belly, Catherine Wheel, Geggy Tah, Kenny Wayne Sheppard and The Why Store.
Crittenden also joked that they "seem to luck out with dinosaur acts" such as The Doobie Bros., George Thorogood and the Destroyers and The Freddie Jones Band, having shared bills with them also.
With credentials like these, audiences can expect an entertaining and dynamic show from Troll for Trout.
For more information on the band, see the extensive web site www.trollfortrout.com
This show begins at 10:30 p.m. with the opening band Beat Poets, also from Grand Rapids and comprised of former members from the defunct-but-popular bands Jawbone and The Voice.
Crittenden described Beat Poets as a very good "melodic, kind of poppy Verve Pipe-ish band with a lot of psychedelic Beatles influences"
