Hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Queen of Jeans brought their indie-rock tracks to Grand Rapids, Michigan while opening for Turnover and Movements. A Movements fan in the crowd let me know that the headlining band is respected in the music community for bringing female-fronted acts on tour with them; Queen of Jeans were lucky enough to snag that spot this time around and fit in seamlessly. This rock outfit provided an effective and meaningful start to the night, sharing songs that centered around the beauty of love and the devastating effects of heartbreak. Fronted by Miri Devora, Queen of Jeans almost never happened. Devora and her partner, guitarist Mattie Glass, were originally the token queer women in their respective bands and once they decided enough was enough, a new group was formed.

Now with bassist Andrew Nitz and drummer Patrick Wall, Queen of Jeans is a force to be reckoned with. Their opening set heavily featured the group’s third album, All Again, which was released earlier this year. Devora provided the lead vocals of the set, showcasing that storytelling and vulnerability play a big part in who she is as a musician. Nitz and Wall provided the perfect support to Devora and Glass, taking the backseat for them to be seen as the true stars of this band and no longer the token women in their craft. Glass is an expert guitarist and carried the bulk of the intricate melodies on her shoulder. There was an incredibly synchronicity in Queen of Jeans that you don’t normally see in an opening set. In between songs they four-piece joked and shared the stories behind their music, but once the first note rang out these four friends jumped into the mindset of professional musicians.

The music scene in Grand Rapids has been growing steadily since social distancing bans were lifted and the rock genre of music has really boomed with local and touring artists. One thing that Grand Rapids is lacking in, however, is the talent of female-fronted groups. Queen of Jeans provided a relief from the same old routine we see too often; multiple bands, full of men. We’d love to see this talented group back in the city soon, hopefully on their own headlining run.

Article and Photo Gallery by Isabel Dowell