Craig Owens Comes Home for the Holidays
The first time Craig Owens took the stage at Flint Local 432 was sometime in 2001. Over the next few years The Chiodos Bros. would grow into the most popular band in the Flint scene, then a relentlessly touring regional band, and finally a national phenomenon hitting the Billboard charts and playing festivals and arenas in front of thousands. In between that first show, and Craig’s last with Chiodos at the Local in 2014, they played here dozens of times.
In the five years since Flint hasn’t seen much of Craig Owens. His battles with personal demons have been fairly public, and he’s been frank about struggles both physical and mental. During this time he has put on thousands of miles each year, produced acts, fronted various projects, DJed, and done guest vocal spots with groups ranging from unheralded to enormous in popularity. It doesn’t feel like he is chasing fame, or chasing relevance, but instead it feels like Craig is continually fueling the desire to keep making music as a career, something he has done pretty much full time for half of his thirty-five years.
Lately he has done a series of tiny acoustic shows under his badXchannels moniker. Craig with an acoustic guitar and a keyboard, an audience of about 35 people, and a completely intimate and personal experience. This was the spirit of the show at the Local last week, thought the presence of many family members and several musicians from the old Flint scene gave it a reunion atmosphere. Craig’s voice sounds better than it ever has; not having to compete with the relentless drive of a Chiodos set lets him sing with range, power and the sweetness of the choir boy he once was. He did songs from across his career, including gems from Cinematic Sunrise, Isles and Glaciers, and new work from badXchannels. Many of the folks at the sold-out show knew every word.
In between songs he talked about his process, his passion, and his growth as a musician. In a bit of coming full circle he also did a Chiodos song from Bone Palace Ballet, an album written in their old practice space just one floor above the stage he was performing on. After the last song Craig held a meet and greet, and just like he did from that very first Flint show, he talked to every fan, signed every poster, posed for every picture until the last person had left the venue. The next day he was off to Grand Rapids for an Emo Nite gig, with a much bigger crowd at a much bigger venue. More fans, more toys donated, but only Flint felt like home.
The opening acts all have a long connection to the Local as well. Bryce Mata and Kyle Maddock of PINCH did a lively set of their upbeat songs. Bryce’s brothers both played the Local in the early 2000s, and he’s kind of grown up in the scene. Katie Stanley was fighting a cold, which in the still room only enhanced the heartfelt yearning in her songs. Fifteen years ago Katie’s band Darling Be Rational was opening for Chiodos at the Local. Not only is she still making music, Katie is now on the Board of Directors for the organization that runs the non-profit venue. Fernando Silverio Solis is also pretty much a 432 lifer, playing solo and acoustic since before it became fashionable, but also fronting a series of bands that ranged from introspective to aggressive to insane. This night shared songs from his new EP, Wake Up Slow, while his wife, mother and young daughter looked on from the crowd.
Sure this night was full of music, but it was also a homecoming, a therapy session, and a history lesson. It was one more thing as well, it was a benefit. Craig asked folks to bring a new toy or food item to donate to a local shelter. The table put out for donations quickly overflowed, and boxes piled up on the floor. Most of it did make it to the shelter, but a couple boxes found their way to an old friend from the scene whose family has struggled this year with housing and food insecurity. They will have a full cupboard this week, and the kids will have presents to open Christmas morning. For Craig Owens, it has never just been about music, it is about what music can do.
More Info:
badXchannels: https://www.facebook.com/badXchannels/
Craig’s New Christmas Song: https://smarturl.it/CraigOwens
Fernando Silverio Solis: https://www.facebook.com/FernandoSilverioSolisOfficial/
Katie Stanley: http://www.katiestanleymusic.com/
PINCH: https://www.facebook.com/pnchbnd/
Flint Local 432: https://www.facebook.com/FlintLocal432/
My Brother’s Keeper Mission: https://mybrotherskeeperflint.org/
Photo and Flyer Gallery: Craig at the Local Over the Years
