While it may not have performed in front of a sold-out house, the rock band Ours played a high-energy performance Saturday night that rattled the walls of the Erickson Kiva.
Playing a majority of the material off its latest album, “Distorted Lullabies,” Ours played for more than an hour and cruised solidly through the singles “Drowning,” “Sometimes” and “Here is the Light,” among others. The band also unveiled a new song to the college-aged audience called “Flower Girl.”
“We thought it was really important to come back through here one more time,” Frontman Jimmy Gnecco told the crowd. “It’s such a dark time now with what’s going on in our world.
“We thought we’d come back through and spread a little joy, hope and positivity.”
The high point of the evening was toward the end of the set when Gnecco went from a solo version of “Meet Me In the Tower” directly into a frighteningly authentic rendition of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Gnecco’s range of voice came fairly close to matching Freddie Mercury note for note.
Following that, openers Complex joined Ours on stage for an eight-minute version of “London Paper.” Between the dueling drummers and psychedelic guitar playing, the song was an absolute awesome way to end the show.
But Gnecco had other ideas.
Gnecco seemed to pool every last ounce of strength and emotion left in his thin, leather-clad body to bring down the kiva with one last song. Ending the night with an incredible version of the track “Miseryhead,” Gnecco quickly made for the backdoor of the pseudo arena before fans could start to push and prod their way toward the door.
When they got outside, Gnecco was waiting for them.
“We always wait around after the shows to sign stuff for the fans, no matter how tired we are after the set,” Gnecco said while inking a promo flat for Sarah DeVille, a 17-year-old Shelby Township resident. “They’ve done so much for us, I don’t see how we can begin to repay them.”
Gnecco waited in the lobby for more than an hour after the show signing every last item fans could stick in front of him.
“I thought Ours was just incredible,” journalism senior Justin Stewart said.
“This is the fifth time I’ve seen them in the last six months, and Jimmy is such an incredible songwriter and performer. Just seeing them is an awesome experience.”
Max Gosling, director of Pop Entertainment, which put on the show, said an hour after doors opened, only 300 tickets had been sold for the 450-capacity venue.
“Every night, no matter if there’s 3,000 or 20 people out there, we give it our all,” Gnecco said as he wiped his sweat-streaked eyeliner from his cheek.
Also playing an impressive set was Grand Rapids-based Miles to Mars, a band that includes former members of Papa Vegas. Its set was as loud as it was impressive.
“I was almost as impressed with them as I was with Ours,” said Jeremy Hansen, a 24-year-old Clinton Township resident.
Pop Entertainment is bringing Howie Day to the Union Ballroom on Dec. 3.
