Turn it Down: A survey of Lansing’s musical landscape

Narc Out the Reds kick off tour with Hat Madder

Narc Out the Reds and The Hat Madder play a tour kickoff show at Mac’s Bar Thursday. The Lansing bands will then take off on a mini-tour across the East Coast, making stops in New York City and Philadelphia.

Opening the show are The Fencemen (featuring members of Small Brown Bike and Ettison Clio), along with locals Frank and Earnest, plus Aspiga from New Jersey. Narc Out the Reds also recently pressed up a 7-inch single,

which will be released at the show. The songs were recorded by Michigan garage-rock producer Jim Diamond.

Thursday, July 21 @ Mac’s Bar, 2700 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, 18 and over. $7, 9 p.m.

Indie ‘Airstrikes’ rock B414

Good Weather for Airstrikes, an indie-rock four-piece out of Howell, plays Basement 414 Friday. The band’s sound is similar to Death Cab for Cutie and Explosions in the Sky. Also set to perform are Sunlight Ascending and Words After. B414 is located at the end of the Jay Street alley, behind the Nuthouse Sports Grill.

Friday, July 22 @ Basement 414, 414 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, FREE, all-ages, 8 p.m

The 500 Club sails into Loft

Ben Keeler, a former member of the pre-Cheap Girls band The Van Ermans, now lives in Chicago where he fronts Ben Keeler & the 500 Club. The band’s latest album, “Water Water,” features epic production, clever nautical storytelling and brilliant song structures.

On Friday, Keeler plays a hometown show at The Loft.

Also performing are The JHD and Jonesday. The night is hosted by comedian Bert DiVietri.

Friday, July 22 @ The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave., $7 for 21 and over, $10 for 18 and over, 18 and over welcome, doors 9 p.m.

KISS tribute band rock and rolls all night at Uli’s

While Uli’s Haus of Rock is known for hosting original hard-rock bands, on Saturday it will host War Machine, a full-makeup, full-costume KISS tribute band that even hails from Detroit Rock City.

Formed in 1998, War Machine has performed at numerous KISS conventions across the map, shredding through classics like “Love Gun,” “Rock and Roll All Night,” “Deuce,” “Shout it Out Loud,” the ballad “Beth” and even later-era KISS tunes, like “Lick It Up.”

At some shows War Machine showcases such special effects as a rocket-launching guitar, fire breathing, stage fog and pyro-technical stage props — not to mention its eight-foot illuminated KISS sign and illuminated staircases.

Opening the Uli’s show is Sevin (from Kalamazoo).

Saturday, July 23 @ Uli’s Haus of Rock, 4519 S. Martin Luther King Blvd., Lansing. Ticket price not yet announced, door open at 8 p.m., music at 10 p.m.

Delta Rhythms jump into LeRoy’s

Those Delta Rhythm Kings have been rockin’ out “jump” blues and swing since 1982. The Lansing band has mastered the little big band sound of the 1940s, performing tunes by legends like B.B. King, Count Basie, Louis Jordan, T. Bone Walker and Roy Brown.

Saturday, July 23 @ LeRoy’s Classic Bar & Grill, 1526 S. Cedar St., Lansing, 21 and over, $5, 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Country-fried Americana at Pump House

The Pump House Concert Series hosts the Detroit Americana/bluegrass group Bill Bynum & Co. Saturday. Bynum grew up listening to artists like Johnny Cash and Buck Owens on Detroit’s country radio station, “The Big D.” The band’s sound consists of guitar, pedal steel, fiddle, bass and harmony vocals. It can lean into bluegrass, veer toward country or take listeners through Bynum’s original songs. All donations at Pump House shows go to the artists.

Sunday, July 24 @ the Pump House, 368 Orchard St., East Lansing, all ages, $10 suggested donation, kids are FREE, 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

If your band has an upcoming show, post it at www.facebook.com/turnitdown