| The Crane Wives | |
| Origin: | Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States |
| Genre: | Indie rock, Americana, folk |
| Years Active: | 2010–present |
| Label: | Unsigned |
| Current Members: | Emilee Petersmark Kate Pillsbury Dan Rickabus Ben Zito Tom Gunnels (formerly) |
The Crane Wives is a four-piece indie band founded in Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States in 2010. They utilize three-part vocal harmonies and eclectic instrumentation.
Emilee Petersmark (guitar/vocals) and Kate Pillsbury (guitar/vocals) were aspiring solo artists working at a Chinese restaurant in Grandville, Michigan. In an attempt to avoid waiting tables, they began performing weekends in the restaurant as The Crane Wives, named after the album "The Crane Wife" by The Decemberists, itself based on the Japanese folk tale .[1]
Petersmark and Pillsbury, both students at Grand Valley State University, joined fellow students Dan Rickabus (percussion/vocals) and Tom Gunnel (banjo) for practice sessions in August 2010.[2] The band played a few shows around Grand Rapids, and soon after, friend and fellow Grand Valley student Ben Zito (who ran sound for the band a few times) joined as the band's bass player.[3]
The band's upbeat sound, folk influence, and use of three-part harmony set them apart in the indie rock-dominated Grand Rapids music scene. The members claim a wide variety of influences: folk, blues, ska, punk, and heavy metal.
The Crane Wives self-produced their first full-length CD, Safe Ship Harbored, in May 2011. The album was funded through Kickstarter and produced at Sound Post Studios, where Rickabus worked as a sound engineer.
In June 2011, the band received a degree of national attention when The Decemberists lead singer Colin Meloy saw their album Safe Ship, Harbored at NPR during an interview and had his picture taken with it. In response to the photo, fans and other local artists posted photos to Facebook mimicking Meloy's pose (profile, with the album touching their noses), creating a flood of support. The band had previously attempted to open for The Decemberists at a show at Calvin College, but were unable to secure the spot.[4]
Paste Magazine listed the band among "12 Michigan Acts You Should Listen to Now",[5] and they received the "Local Spin of the Year" from Grand Rapids Press.[6] At WYCE's 2012 "Jammies" award ceremony for West Michigan musicians, the band won WYCE's Album of the Year for Safe Ship Harbored.[7] [8]
In 2012, the Crane Wives played music festivals, and toured Michigan and surrounding states in 2013. Their second album, The Fool in Her Wedding Gown, was released September 22, 2012, at The Intersection, a nightclub in Grand Rapids.[9]
The band was in talks with several managers and booking agents but did not sign any deals.[10]
On August 29, 2015, the band released their album Coyote Stories at Founders Brewing Company in Grand Rapids. Coyote Stories was recorded as part of a two album project, in which the band recorded two albums worth of material in March and April 2015.
The second album from this project, Foxlore was released April 2, 2016. The albums progress from the previous two albums with the addition of electric guitar and jazz influences. The two albums also feature long-time collaborators in the Michigan music community.
Banjo player Tom Gunnels left the band in 2015. Percussionist Dan Rickabus told Local Spins that the group would continue as a four-piece set.[11]
On June 4, 2024, the band announced that Beyond Beyond Beyond, their fifth major studio album, would release on September 6, 2024. The same day, they released the album's first single, "Arcturus Beaming". A second single, "Bitter Medicine", released on July 10, 2024. On August 8, 2024, an additional third single, “Scars” was released.
| Safe Ship, Harbored | May 12, 2011[12] | |
| The Fool in Her Wedding Gown | September 22, 2012[13] | |
| A Very Crane Wives Christmas | November 28, 2014[14] | |
| Coyote Stories | August 29, 2015[15] | |
| A Very, Very Crane Wives Christmas | December 1, 2015[16] | |
| Foxlore | April 2, 2016[17] | |
| Beyond Beyond Beyond | September 6, 2024 |
| Album | Release date | |
|---|---|---|
| Live from River City Studios | 2015 | |
| Here I Am: Live from the Listening Room | October 14, 2020[18] | |
| Live from Dogtown Studio | 2023 |
| High Horse (Live) | 2017 | |
| Empty Page (Live) | 2017 | |
| Take Me to War (Live) | 2017 | |
| Volta (Live) | 2017 | |
| Daydreamer (Live) | 2018 | |
| Here I Am | 2018 | |
| Hollow Moon (Single Version) | 2018 | |
| Sowing Seeds | 2019 | |
| The Well | 2023 |
| Year | Nominated work | Organization | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | "Safe Ship, Harbored" | WYCE | Jammies Album of the Year[19] | |
| "Safe Ship, Harbored" | WYCE | Jammies Song of the Year | ||
| "Safe Ship, Harbored" | WYCE | Jammies Listen Choice Album of the Year | ||
| "Safe Ship, Harbored" | WYCE | Jammies Special Jury Prize | ||
| "Safe Ship, Harbored" | Grand Rapids Press | Local Spin of the Year | ||
| 2012 | "The Fool in Her Wedding Gown" | WYCE | Jammies Best Rock/Pop Album[20] | |
| "The Fool in Her Wedding Gown" | WYCE | Jammies Listener Choice Album | ||
| "Easier" | ArtPrize | Folk/Country Music Song[21] |