The room was tiny, but filled with energy exuding from the crowd. Funk songs filled the air, people danced their hearts out and many found their new favorite local band.
Initially, people walk into The Record Lounge at 111 Division Street never imagining going to a concert there.
But owner Heather Frarey does not put any limitations on her store and enjoys allowing local bands to use it as a venue.
“Now that summertime is coming up, we want to do at least two (shows) a month,” Frarey said, adding they want to get a diverse variety of bands playing.
She said there is no criteria for who gets to play there because they like to give people a chance who don’t normally get to play at Mac’s Bar, The Loft or The Avenue Cafe.
“This is kind of a stepping stone, you know, you start out here and then you work your way up,” she said.
Funkapalooza, held in March, was a show which primarily featured two local bands with very different reputations in the area — Tell Yo’ Mama and The Blue Effect. While both harnessed a similar sound, The Blue Effect has gained exposure and are regulars at the MGM Grand in Detroit, while Tell Yo’ Mama is a new band in the local music scene with only a few shows under their belt at the time.
The Record Lounge sets itself apart from other venues in the area for multiple reasons — primarily because it allows small, unheard-of bands to gain recognition in the area when otherwise they may have not been given a chance.
Tell Yo’ Mama guitarist Michael Loomis said the group looked forward to the show and they were hoping to gain exposure and followers from Funkapalooza, hoping to create an “initiative to make The Record Lounge accommodate bigger bands.”
Another thing that sets The Record Lounge apart from other venues in the area is how their shows welcome attendees of any age and are completely free. This is practically unheard of in the area.
“There are a handful of shows where they’ll ask for money at the door, but it’s for the traveling bands, and basically that’s it,” Frarey said.
The Blue Effect seized the opportunity to play a free show as a chance to give something back to the community. Being a band who has received more recognition and typically plays larger shows, they enthusiastically agreed to play the show “in an effort to give something back to the local community,” drummer Alex Burgoyne said.
“The concert was free to attend, smack-dab in the middle of East Lansing, and there were no age restrictions,” he said. “East Lansing has provided us so much over the years, we’re grateful for everything and everyone who supports live music. We can’t thank the local community enough for what they’ve done for us.”
It is safe to say that The Record Lounge provides more to the East Lansing community than solely being a record store by giving smaller local bands a chance to get their name out and more well-known bands a chance to give back to the community.
