Grand Valley State University’s Campus Activity Board (CAB) hosted a local band, the Phabies, on Oct. 24 in the University’s Arboretum as part of GVSU’s Fall Festival. Reette Thorns, a GVSU student who won CAB’s Got Talent Show in May 2024, served as the concert’s opening act.
Students, sitting on blankets, gathered with friends around the Arboretum, sipping hot cider that was provided during the show. CAB decided to host the event at the Arboretum, as the location had previously served as placement for previous fall events, such as last year’s Haunted Aboretum. To keep the excitement at the Arboretum and maintain community on campus, CAB invited the Phabies and Thorns to perform.
“I just think (the Arboretum is) such a beautiful space on campus that I’m not sure a ton of people either knew about or utilize,” said Dana Krol, a first-year graduate assistant for CAB. “We thought (that) if we could use this (the Arboretum) for an event with the fall colors, the leaves changing, it could be great.”
The fall weather that Krol wanted to highlight was in full force for the evening’s performances. As the Phabies began their set, the temperature dropped and the stars came out, prompting bassist Garrett Stier to tell people to look up at the sky. After pausing to activate hand warmers and tune their guitars, the band pushed through the cold to deliver a dynamic set. They played a mix of old songs off of their 2022 debut album, “Fire Seed,” which won a WYCE 88.1 FM Jammie award from the West Michigan station. They also performed unreleased songs from their forthcoming album, “The Curse of Caring.”
“We’ve been working very, very hard to create a pulse in Grand Rapids,” said Laura Hobson, the Phabies’ frontwoman. “I think a lot of us have been kind of jumping together, trying to make the pulse. At the same time, we’re really into the DIY scene and very into collaborating.”
Hobson came from a musical family, where she took piano and choir lessons, and performed in band during college. She compared her creative writing process to hibernation, and said that when writing a song, she gets tunnel vision and has to see it all the way through.
“I keep these little index cards,” Hobson said. “When I’m reading a book, I’ll write down a page number and a word or a phrase that sparks interest. Then, later in the winter, when I’m writing again, I go through my little cards, and I’m like, ‘Why did I write that?’ If I’m still interested in it (the idea), I will do a free write based (on) those.”
The Phabies is very connected and active in the Grand Rapids community. As members of the blossoming music scene in Grand Rapids, Hobson said the band hopes to create growth and recognition that stretches beyond Michigan.
“The intent was always to work with what we have and create joy right where we’re rooted,” Hobson said. “I think touring (will) be the natural next step. If I get ants in my pants and I get the thing in my mind that I want to leave (to perform), it usually just means that we need to tour.”
The Phabies released their newest song “Tell Her” on Oct. 23, and will be releasing their next album in the spring of 2025.
