MICHIGAN RATTLERS / THE SPLIT COILS

2025-04-17

MICHIGAN RATTLERS / THE SPLIT COILS – THE SPACE BALLROOM

By Ralph Beauchamp

The Michigan Rattlers‘ headlining tour at the Space Ballroom was something of an anomaly. I’m the one usually dragging my wife, Jenn, to shows with artists she has never heard of. Tonight was different. Jenn found the Michigan Rattlers via a Facebook feed and she then basically told me that AMP needs to feature this band. They hit her soul in the right place. After checking them out, I had to agree and noticed their current tour was coming through CT. They were performing at the Space Ballroom with The Split Coils and Anna May for support. This was a gig I couldn’t miss. Not if I wanted to stay happily married.

Anna May opened the night. She is a brilliant singer/songwriter whose music is full of emotional heartbreak. Her somber soundscapes read like aural poems that filter through the air. Her voice is truly sublime with emotive intonations. She weaves her music like a muse capturing the spirits of her audience with her inspiring voice and introspective lyrics. Even though Anna May’s set was somewhat divergent to the rest of the night’s lineup, she still seized the crowd’s avid attention.

The Split Coils are based out of CT. Their sound is raucous and full of R&R flair. The brainchild of Jay Russell, (Vocal/Guitar) the band simply takes its foot off the brakes and barrels down the road. Beside Jay, The Split Coils is comprised of Katelyn Russell (Percussion/Vocals), Joseph Ballaro (Bass), Jon Scerbo (Drums) and Mike Sembos (Guitar/ Vocals). The band put out a five song EP in 2019 entitled Earth and Dust but according to Jay, most of the songs in their set were yet to be recorded.

Their twelve song set included all of the tracks from Earth and Dust as well as new unrecorded material. The crowd was super eager throughout their time on stage. Opening with “Casting Shadows”, The Split Coils segued into “Old Ghosts” and “Cynical”. Between songs, Jay would talk to the audience about the tunes and the need to get the new ones recorded. “Change Your Mind’ and “Wandering Wild’ ensued. The house was starting to groove with the eclectic flow of their music. The Split Coils ended with a bang. “True Love” and “Earth and Dust” were huge hits. The Split Coils killed this night.

The Michigan Rattlers were up next and the room became electric. The Rattlers have a truly singular sound. It’s very difficult to pigeonhole their music. They flirt with country, Americana, R&R and bluegrass while adding a new modern twist. They mash together all these musical genres in order to create something quite extraordinary. The Michigan Rattlers formed in a small town in Michigan called Petoskey and have three full lengths to their name with their last being Waving From A Sea released last year.

The Rattlers opened with “Heaven” off of Waving From A Sea and immediately the audience was enthralled by its lovely groove. “Heaven” is wonderfully refreshing and the venue felt the silky aura of the song’s ambiance. Graham Young’s voice was full of cinematic inflections. His guitar was just as smooth. Adam Reed on bass was stellar with an impetuous feel. Tony Audia’s drums flowed with a gutsy refinement while Christian Wilder on keys exhibited a brazen panache. The band was delivering palettes of lush exuberance.

“Feel For Love”, “Didn’t You Know” and “Desert Heat” followed. The audience was floating on air as the Michigan Rattlers were flexing their muscles. The music was flowing fearlessly. Adam mentioned that the Detroit Tigers kicked the Yankees’ butts before they slid into “Baseball”. The rest of the sixteen song set was impeccably captivating. Every tune was addictive. Then the Rattlers hit their ultimate stride as they distributed incredible renditions of “Lilac Bloom”, their huge hit “Evergreen” and the effervescent “Illinois Sky”.

The Michigan Rattlers closed out in a rapacious manner. “The Storm”, “Sweet Diane” and “Geranium Day” carried the evening into a heavenly arena. The Rattlers are superb songwriters and every song tells a heartfelt story that absolutely resonates with the listener. The entire evening, the audience was spellbound with the Rattlers‘ haunting lyrics. They captured everyone’s impassioned spirit with their fervent performance.

After the show, Jenn and I spoke briefly with Adam and Graham. They were both the nicest guys who were quite appreciative of the enthusiastic crowd, especially on a Tuesday night. If you get a chance, don’t miss the Michigan Rattlers when they are around your town or city. They are a must see. But don’t take my word about that. The Michigan Rattlers‘ Waving From A Sea just won the WYCE Radio’s Jammie Award for “Best Contemporary Folk Album”. It is well deserved!