At the Alluvion

Written by Matt McCalpin

Spring Issue '24 - Online Shop

I committed myself to music after I graduated high school, moved to LA and attended The Musicians Institute. Or maybe it was the first time I heard Muddy Waters. Or maybe it was in eighth grade when I joined my first punk band. Or maybe it was when I was a kid and my dad came home and handed me a pawn shop Fender Stratocaster. My wife Anna and I met in middle school and I think a big part of the reason she hung out with me was because of the three giant binders of CDs I used to carry around school that contained all kinds of music. I’ve always been a music lover, both as a listener and a player. It will forever be a consistent part of my story. It would take far too long to tell that entire story, but I’ll cut to when Anna, our first child, and I committed ourselves back to Traverse City six years ago after living in Nashville, and how I continue to be fully immersed in music specifically in this community. I think this story is about that. 

It can feel bizarre when things come together just like you had hoped for. There is this dream-like moment when you come to the realization that you're no longer planning, envisioning, and working towards something. You’re living it. It came to life. Hopefully you have the clarity and perspective in that moment to truly appreciate and acknowledge that you have arrived, rather than be caught up in all the hard work and challenges you faced getting there. It’s like playing your instrument or listening to a song and completely disappearing into a meditative state for a moment of euphoria, rather than analyzing the notes or being distracted by other things that don’t have anything to do with the music. It’s like that scene in Happy Gilmore when he imagines his “happy place.” We’re all trying to get there. As a family, we had always imagined being able to move back to Traverse City. When that dream became reality in 2017, it was exciting to see how things had changed in the area after being away for so long. Musically, it was an immediate “we're gettin the band back together” situation. 

After a long hiatus, the original four piece line-up of Medicinal Groove (Jordan Moeggenberg, Jimmy Olson, Chris Burgess, and myself) had reunited. We immediately started writing and recording new songs in my basement studio. Our sound was now more refined, and intentional. It’s funk for your health. I had always wanted to record and produce in my own studio, and on my own time. There we were, laying down our funkiest, best sounding takes to date, free of charge, and in a relaxed environment. We quickly released a bunch of funky, DIY produced music videos and an album. Just like I had imagined we would. MG is still going strong after 10 plus years. We are all the best of friends and the music we make has a unique sound. It’s important to me to be in a band that plays all original music that I can constantly write songs for. It felt so good to be back.

I was on a mission to steadily gig and play out live, but I had a family, and was more or less a “slay at home dad” so I was determined to not travel. Dad by day, musician by night was the plan. So, I had to line up some regular gigs around town. Thankfully the phone rang and it was Al Jankowski, a true legend in the Michigan music scene. I made friends with Al as a kid while working at Phil’s On Front restaurant, sneaking out of the kitchen with my guitar to sit-in with his bands when he played there. You can imagine the look on Phil’s face when his cook was MIA during a dinner rush, only to look out and see me playing guitar with Al. 

I knew if Al called, you answered. However, the gig he pitched me was not what I was expecting. “It’s a gig in a furniture store, and there's no pay.” Not ideal, but as Al always says…”you gotta show up.” When I got there, the band was already playing at what turned out to be a cool fundraiser event inside of Golden Fowler with a Motown theme. Three unfamiliar musicians were in a groove with Al. I stood next to the bass player and figured he would tell me what key we were in. Instead, he leaned over and said, “chicken grease.” That man was Ralph Humes, and I knew exactly what he meant. That’s how I was introduced to the incredible soul singer Dawn Campell, her partner on bass Ralph, and saxophonist Brandon Everest. This was Dawn Campbell & The Bohemians and the beginnings of a beautiful three-year run of playing neo-soul music around town.

There was never a rehearsal, and nobody ever told me what to play. As long as I put some grease on it, everything else fell into place. Eventually Dawn and Ralph moved. This sparked The JEM Trio (Jankowski, Everest, McCalpin.) This trio carried on with gigs and was an opportunity for me to sing, and for the three of us to get a whole new set of music together, including originals. Medicinal Groove continued releasing new music videos and playing festivals. I was also playing solo gigs and teaching some lessons here and there. On Feb 3rd, 2020 we welcomed our son Wes into the world. Then the world shut down. No more gigs. 

I spent the majority of the pandemic caring for newborn Wes. Our daughter Adelynn was now three years old. I recorded and released my first ever solo album. It was also an opportunity to connect with one of my best friends and fellow musician Jonah McLean, aka DUX. DUX is a producer/songwriter based in Portland and I was recording guitar remotely for his album. I was also able to help form the electro-funk duo wtrbd. A side project with my dear friend Jimmy Olson. 

When it was time to start playing live again, Dawn and Ralph ended up moving back to TC. Dawn was dedicated to building their dream home and planned to focus on that. Enter drummer Steve Seward, and the funk-fusion band Funky Uncle is born! Funky Uncle is an all instrumental group inspired by fusion groups like Herbie Hancock & The Headhunters, Miles Davis, Weather Report, etc. Brandon, Al, Ralph, Steve, and myself thought it would be fun to nerd out and just play the music we loved. People have responded in such a positive way to this band. We posted a video of us rehearsing on facebook and it caught the attention of a prolific, legendary musician in town that we all deeply respect and admire, Jeff Haas. Jeff offered us our very first gig. 

At this point, I had spent the last several years active in the local music scene, and getting to know this community as an artist, a father, and overall appreciator of this place we’re lucky enough to live in. In all this beauty, there was something missing; a new music venue. For years I was a broken record. I would go on and on about my desire for a venue in Traverse City that served artists and audiences in a different way. Next thing I know, during a long, post-performance Medicinal Groove festival night, my bff Chris Burgess is showing me an article about a building that will have a new listening room. Next, next thing I know I’m standing across the street from the newly built Commongrounds Cooperative building on Eighth Street with an artist, songwriter, and another person I deeply respect, Andrew Lutes. He seems to know everything about this building, including its yet to be built performing arts space called The Alluvion. I then learn about how Jeff Haas and an organization called Crosshatch Center for Art & Ecology (aka Brad and Amanda Kik) are partners involved, as well as the great musician May Erlewine, and the great community visionary Kate Redman. 

These people seem so cool to me, yet so far away. I wonder if I could meet them, and convince them that this too is my dream? Sure enough I find myself on Zoom meetings with this team, and accept the job as director of operations for The Alluvion. Next, next, next thing I know I’m standing in the now built room with Jeff Haas, Bob James, and David Marchione. There isn’t even paint on the walls yet. Jeff and I are showing this incomplete, future venue to this hero of mine, a legendary jazz icon and his sound engineer, in hopes that they can point us in the right direction for a house grand piano. Bob is so inspired, and generous, he gives us a grand piano from his family collection as a gift. (Thank you Bob James, Hilary James, Kevin and Ava DiSimone.) 

Fast forward to a year later. It’s Monday night inside The Alluvion. Funky Fun Monday featuring Funky Uncle to be exact. I’m on stage and I open my eyes mid guitar solo to experience yet another full circle realization that a vision has become reality. This same room that was once concrete and drywall was now completely packed full with people enjoying the music. This space has now hosted a year's worth of remarkable performances and events beyond our wildest dreams, and there is a full schedule ahead to look forward to. We were able to hire the mighty Tiff Falls who makes the room sing.

When we first started Funky Fun Monday, there were only a few people there. My friend and local guitar extraordinaire Chris Sterr would come and sit in. Brad Kik from Crosshatch would come and quietly work on graphic design projects in the corner. A few regulars here and there. And before we had food and bar service via Nobo Mrkt, we had a sweet cast of volunteers who lugged in an Edson Farms buffet and served free wine. That was pretty much it. Now, when I open my eyes in this meditative, musical state…I look out and the bar is open. Chris Sterr is in the front row, eyes closed, digging the music. Our once volunteers are now being served food and wine to their table by a Nobo Mrkt server. Brad Kik is still there working on graphic design, only now he’s surrounded by a bustling bar, full tables, and a random hula-hoop dancer. Our sound engineer Derrick Hall is in the booth. Skyelea Martin comes up and sings a tune. A whole new crowd of regulars have smiles on their faces. Then, as I take one more look, there’s Bob James, tapping his foot with his daughter Hilary and son-in-law Kevin sitting beside him right before Kevin joins us on stage to sit at the piano that was once in his living room. All of this coming together in a dream-like, happy-place reality. All of this possible by simply following the music. 

It’s worth noting that in addition to all of this great music, helping other bands, musicians, artists, and all of these new friends I’ve made has been equally rewarding. The Alluvion seems like a turning point venue on a new horizon for this growing community. Helping others find the right space and the right audience also feels like a dream come true. But I’ll just stick to the line I continue to tell everyone…I’m just a musician who is happy to be a part of it all. 

BIO

Musician, father, husband, beach sleeper, record collector, swimmer, earth lover, and obsessive playlist maker—Matt McCalpin lives a life dedicated to music and creativity. Born and raised in Traverse City, Matt has lived in Los Angeles, Kalamazoo, and Nashville before returning to TC in 2017. Musical projects include: Medicinal Groove, Like It Is, Dux, wtrbd, Funky Uncle, Dawn Campbell & The Bohemians, and his solo albums. 

Spring Issue '24 - Online Shop