Verve Pipe

Verve Pipe frontman Brian Vander Ark has released two solo albums and has played sporadic shows with different members of the band during the past few years. But this month's swing through the Midwest is the Michigan post-grunge rockers' first official tour in quite some time. The band is best known for its 1997 No. 1 modern-rock hit "The Freshmen," which epitomizes an entire sub-genre of softer alterna-rock (see also: Tonic, Dishwalla) birthed from the trend of heavier bands toning down their material for appearances on MTV's Unplugged. But the 'Pipe was always known for delivering an energetic live show and would do well to focus on its more aggressive and heavily distorted songs ("Cup of Tea," "Photograph"). Either way, this VooDoo Lounge show will remind fans of that strange, late-'90s radio landscape when just about any kind of music had the potential to be ridiculously popular. At least, for a week or two.