15 Michigan Bands You Should Really Know About | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

15 Michigan Bands You Should Really Know About

We're more than just a Hockeytown.

11748
15 Michigan Bands You Should Really Know About
We Came As Romans Facebook Page

There is something particularly exhilarating about listening to bands that hail from your home state. Whether this means a hometown advantage when it comes to shows, or hearing familiar places in lyrics, there is nothing greater than sharing the same home as your favorite band. And for me, this means Michigan. While everyone knows The White Stripes, Eminem and Kid Rock, our musical talents encompass so much more than that. Along with the familiar music stylings of Motown that Michigan is most known for, Michigan is also home to the post-hardcore/punk-rock genre that is quite favorable in the Midwest. With musical hotspots all throughout Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor, Lansing and Ferndale, Michigan is definitely the home to some great music.

Here are 15 Michigan bands you should know about, big and small. The list may surprise you.



1. La Dispute

This post-hardcore band from Grand Rapids is composed of both cousins and friends whose songs convey emotionally charged narratives that are brilliantly relatable and worthy of a plethora of emotional reactions.

Genre: Post-hardcore.

Song Suggestion: King Park

City of origin: Grand Rapids, MI.


2. The Cardboard Swords

If you dig songs that make you feel 15,000 emotions all at once, this band is for you. Each song is emotionally charged, beautifully poetic, and wickedly inspirational if you're in need of a little self-acceptance.

Genre: "Sad pop."

Song suggestion: Flannel.

City of origin: Grand Rapids, MI.


3. Citizen

This Michigan/Ohio band blends the musical stylings of post-hardcore, pop-punk, and indie rock into a musical culmination that is representative of Midwestern music.

Genre: Indie rock/post-hardcore/pop-punk.

Song suggestion: Sleep.

City of origin: Detroit, MI/Toledo, OH.


4. The Black Dahlia Murder

The Black Dahlia Murder features melodic death metal mixed with a little Sweedish death metal influence. This Michigan band has underwent various member changes since the debut of their first album, "Unhallowed" in 2003- but one fan notes that "with each lineup change, things generally tend to get better," Mike, 21.

Genre: Death metal.

Song Suggestion: Receipt.

City of origin: Waterford, MI.


5. We Came as Romans

We Came as Romans' songs feature a blend of post-hardcore and melodic metal with beats that are energizing and insightful in nature. Although well known, many fans may not realize that WCAR has Michigan roots.

Genre: Rock/post-hardcore.

Song suggestion: Hope.

City of origin: Troy, MI.


6. Stories Untold

Stories Untold recently debuted their first album "Can't Go Home" and since then has been making a tremendous splash in the punk-rock world, playing at festivals such as "Common Ground Music Festival" and "Bledfest." Whether you're looking for a song you can cry to, or dance to in your car, Stories Untold has you covered on both.

Genre: Alternative Rock/Post-Hardcore.

Song suggestion: Things Change.

City of origin: Saint Clair, MI.


7. Gold Route

This Michigan band has picked up serious momentum after its inclusion in the 2016 Warped Tour, and is a guaranteed contender in the world of pop-punk. As is the norm with pop-punk, Gold Route's songs feature hard-hitting emotional sentiments intermingled with an energizing feel.

Genre: Pop Punk.

Song suggestion: Mindless.

City of origin: Metro Detroit, MI.


8. Hot Mulligan

Hot Mulligan is a hilariously witty band that will have you laughing just as much as they'll have you jamming along to their songs. Hot Mulligan has established a very dedicated following all through the Midwest and strives to see that following grow.

Genre: Emo/Pop-Punk.

Song suggestion: Jimmy Neutron Had a Dog So Why Can't I Have a Friend?

City of origin: Originally from the UP but now reside in Lansing, MI.


9. Spirit Breaker

Started in 2014, Spirit Breaker has accomplished a lot in two years, such as playing at Bledfest and Warped Tour. Spirit Breaker has musical influences such as August Burns Red, Architects and Convictions.

Genre: Progressive Metalcore.

Song suggestion: Threads.

City of origin: Dearborn Heights, MI.


10. Chiodos

Chiodos (pronounced "chee-OH-dose"), named after an 80's horror movie term is a band whose genre classification does not come easy. Chiodos can most accurately be described as a hodge-podge of pop punk, metal, with melodic sounds, and the occasional electronic beat.

Genre: Punk/metal.

Song suggestion: Bulls Make Money, Bears Make Money, Pigs Get Slaughtered

City of origin: Davison, MI.


11. I Prevail

Most recognized for their cover of Taylor Swift's "Blank Space", this Michigan band has accomplished a lot since their viral hit, such as releasing an album, playing at various festivals, and having a single land #3 on iTunes' Rock Chart.

Genre: Hard rock.

Song suggestion: Scars.

City of origin: Rochester Hills, MI.


12. Shapes & Colors

Shapes & Colors is a genre-fluid band from Detroit whose goal is to create music that can reach the plight of many and touch on the hopes and fears of their fans. Shapes & Colors is a band that artfully chooses to experiment with a variety of genres in their songs, something that is quickly apparent to any listener.

Genre: Alternative Rock.

Song suggestion: Lately.

City of origin: Detroit, MI.


13. Oliver Houston


This four-piece band from Grand Rapids can best be described as "intricate yet fun" as a journalist from New Noise Magazine notes. Despite a recent growth in fans, Oliver Houston remains humble and strives to maintain the morality and authenticity that sets them apart from other bands. They enjoy touring, but admit they're a "house-band to some extent."

Genre: "Beach Punk."

Song suggestion: The Dork Ages.

City of origin: Grand Rapids, MI.


14. Lemix J. Buckley

From the first line of their new single, "Blue Hair", it is obvious that Lemix J. Buckely pours every morsel of emotion they have into their music. To accompany "Blue Hair," L-JB will be releasing their 3rd album on August 27th. According to their Facebook page, L-JB is "emo af" and is influenced by "any green thing."

Genre: "Professional Emo."

Song suggestion: Marla Singer.

City of origin: Westland, MI.


15. Mover Shaker

This "technicolor gloom rock" from Detroit has musical influences such as Modest Mouse, The Smashing Pumpkins and Jawbreaker. Mover Shaker recently finished up a month long tour across the Midwest and Eastcoast, and will be releasing their first full length album, "Michigania", in the upcoming months.

Genre: "Post-everything."

Song suggestion: No Backyard.

City of origin: Detroit, MI.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

193896
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

17082
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

459468
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

27524
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments