Pioneering “Grapid Rock”: The Westside Releases 4th Album
Interview/Album Review ★ Kenzie Gay ★ @kenzwrites ★ 7 Minutes
Within the vast sea of indie rockers that make up the West side of Michigan’s lower peninsula, there is one band I’ve had my eye on since seeing them perform last month at Kilroy’s Garage, a rising DIY venue in Grand Rapids, and that is a 5 piece known as The Westside.
Composed of lead guitarist Isaiah Sabin (he/him), bassist Ashlyn Koeller (she/her), rhythm guitarist Jack Hangen (he/him), drummer Sam Vasche (he/him), and lead vocalist Elijah Kolipowski (he/him), the band has stepped out with their 4th album titled Spiked Mike & His Blue Dog. Recently, I got to discuss the new record and more with the group.
(from left to right) Elijah, Jack, Ashlyn, Isaiah, and Sam - photographer unknown
A Conversation with The Westside
Who are some of the band’s individual musical inspirations?
We all pull from different areas, which is what makes our sound click. Isaiah leans into music by cleopatrick, Joey Valence and Brae, Kublai Khan TX . Ashlyn’s bass style is shaped by constantly learning something new to grow as an artist. She is influenced by many but to name a few she mentions, Blue DeTriger, Flea, and Men I Trust. Jack pulls from bands like The Smiths and The Cure, Sam’s drumming has punk energy mixed with precise, dynamic rhythms, to name a couple musical inspirations he mentions Wreckage and envision. Elijah takes influence from powerhouse artists/bands like The Strokes, The Voidz, Beatles, Cage the Elephant and The Lumineers.
You recently played Kilroy’s Garage in Grand Rapids alongside Alden McCoy, Mac N’ Toss, The Frogs and Toads, and Dream Demon. How was that experience?
It was electric. Kilroy’s has such a unique energy, and sharing the stage with acts like Alden McCoy, Mac N’ Toss, The Frogs and Toads, and Dream Demon kept the momentum high. Each band brought something unique to the stage, and we felt like together we created a night full of energy, artistry, and just fun. The crowd was wild! Kilroy’s Garage gave the stage (or should we say garage) to allow the local scene to really show how much talent you can find in Grand Rapids, MI. Easily one of our favorite shows this year.
You are currently based in the Grand Rapids area. How does living here/growing up here influence you as a group?
From our perspective, Grand Rapids is an incredibly inclusive space. There’s so much to draw from here, whether it’s the city’s grit or its creative side, we experience it all and let the environment shape a lot of our music. Spiked Mike & His Blue Dog was written almost fully in Grand Rapids.
What genre or genres of music would you categorize The Westside as?
Traditionally we’d be categorized as indie-rock or garage rock. But we call it Grapid Rock, named after our love for Grand Rapids. It’s not just a label, it’s a sound we’re building from the ground up. Grapid Rock has the raw, punchy energy of garage, but with more space for melody and atmosphere. We add funky, groovy bass lines, vocal layering that gives each song depth, and dual guitars that weave together to create something bigger than the sum of their parts. What makes it different is the mix, we blend high energy with emotional depth, gritty edge with catchiness, and a live-show intensity that makes every track feel alive. We don’t just want to fit into a genre, we want to pioneer one.
What do you guys do outside of music that may or may not contribute to the band’s style and sound?
We’re all in different stages of life; working, studying, creating, and just figuring out adulthood—and all of that bleeds into our music. Elijah’s a social studies teacher, so a lot of his lyrics come from his love of history and the world around him (cue our song Renaissance). He’s always observing and pulling ideas from daily life. Ashlyn is a Respiratory Therapist Care Manager and spends a lot of time creating art and being active, which definitely brings a natural perspective and heart into the songs. Jack is basically a skating god, he can bomb any road, rail, or ramp and on top of that, he’s the guy who can fix any broken computer like it’s a Rubik’s cube he’s solving blindfolded. Isaiah rides his motorcycle around the city, works as a financial forecaster, and brings this sense of freedom and precision into his playing. Sam’s in school to be a mechanic and also kills it on a skateboard—he’s got this mix of structure and spontaneity that really shows up in the drums.
What do you hope listeners/fans take away from the group’s music?
We want people to feel understood. Our songs talk about ambition, burnout, mental health, and the messy side of chasing dreams. If someone hears a lyric and thinks, “Yeah, that’s me,” then we’ve done our job. And of course, we also just want people to have fun, whether that’s jumping around at a show or blasting a track in the car.
What are your thoughts/feelings/opinions on DIY culture in the context of music and performance?
DIY culture is the heartbeat of bands like us and so many local artists. It’s not just about booking your own shows or printing your own merch (which we quite literally do) but it’s also about community, creativity, and building something real without waiting for permission. Some of the most special shows we’ve ever played weren’t polished venues but DIY spaces packed with people who actually care about the music. It keeps the scene alive. We are also constantly heavy at work to get our name out there. Whether it’s making our own merch, carrying a couch around the city of Grand Rapids or going ham with the staple gun hanging up flyers to catch the public eye. We do it all and it has and continues to prove worth it.
Where do you hope to see the band in ten years?
Of course we’d love to still be making music together, maybe even playing bigger stages, and connecting with people on a larger scale. Ideally, we would love to do some tours! We would want to continue releasing music we’re proud of, and still keeping that same energy we started with. Success for us isn’t just measurable by fame, it’s longevity, growth, and always loving what we do.
Are there any solid plans for upcoming projects in the works? (new music, shows, music video, mini tour, etc.)
We’ve got a bunch of shows coming up; Fulton St. Pub in Grand Rapids, Fall Bash, and Parktober at Park Theatre, all happening this September. And of course, more to come ;) Even more exciting, our newest album Spiked Mike & His Blue Dog drops on September 20th (today)! We’ve all poured so much into this project; it really feels like a solid, well-rounded piece of art. We hope listeners can connect with it in their own way, whether it’s through the lyrics, the sound, or just the feeling it gives them.
Tell me about the album.
Spiked Mike & His Blue Dog is a nod to significant locations in Grand Rapids dear to us. However, after naming our album Spiked Mike & His Blue Dog we realized it sounded like character. To us, Spiked Mike represents the everyday person just grinding through life, kind of scared and rough on the edges from everything stacked against him and going on in the world. The blue dog represents his dreamer side, the loyal part of you that never leaves, even when things feel hopeless. The songs on the album are basically snapshots of our journey working hard, hitting walls, still chasing something better. It fit perfectly with what we were trying to say about resilience, struggle, and holding on to your dreams. Spiked Mike and his blue dog is a character we created to represent us and anyone else who connects with our album.
Spiked Mike and his Blue Dog: A Review
Through and through, Spiked Mike & His Blue Dog is a Grand Rapids album that rings similar to several Michigan acts while also paying homage to the city itself through subtle lyricism and style. There’s something for everyone in this record, too, even if you aren’t a Beer City native.
The album opens up with Why Are You Always Late? It’s bright, bubbly, and an uplifting song that kicks things off on a ride that only goes up. Sabin and Hangen take a funkier Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits) approach on the guitar(s) and the whole vibe is uncanny to fellow GR band The Skinny Limbs, potentially proving that the aforementioned genre of Grapid Rock may just be a real thing.
(left) Spiked Mike & His Blue Dog album cover, (right) Spiked Mike & His Blue Dog Tracklist via @laur.rehn on Instagram
Further down the line after a friendly pit stop at Guide, a spooky-sounding indie jam at Furniture City Lockdown, and an angsty though hell of a good time at She’s Just A Friend, listeners are met with Snowbird, a temporary shift in attitude but a notable one all the same. It’s acoustic and much more solemn compared to the general energy of the album’s other tracks and it’s similar to yet another West Michigan act: Creature, the indie folk duo of Seth Bernard and Gabrielle Schaub. Snowbird somehow perfectly captures the slow, melancholic atmosphere of Michigan winters even if it isn’t intentional. You can sense the stillness, feel the cold, and it sticks with you even once the song is long over.
With some more songs that bring the heat whether it be Sidestep with its resemblance to Detroit band Lyons, Lucky Loser with its spot-on Grand Rapids groove and sass, or Thrill of It All with its certified indie kid demeanor, listeners are brought to my personal favorite aspect of Spiked Mike & His Blue Dog: track 9, Dreamers. Dreamers, rather than an indie or ambient approach, has more of a “dad rock” style from an instrumental point. It’s darker and comparable to some of the greats: Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and even Creed. As a long time rock fan, it makes sense why this one spoke to me so much but I find it even cooler that a sound like this came from my own community.
After its tenth track, Apocolyze, Spiked Mike & His Blue Dog meets its inevitable demise as a well rounded, impressive, and effervescent album from a band I’m proud to now know. As of publishing, the record is available to stream and The Westside has a set on September 26th at Parktober Fest in Holland, Michigan. Links to keep up with/support/listen to the band are available below.
