Though youngsters have always been the lifeblood of rock n' roll, it's odd that they've oft been excluded from it because of their age.

Fortunately, West Michigan isn't shutting all its doors to younger crowds. The Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids' newest bar/venue, has ensured that its ever-growing concert lineup includes all-ages shows. The Intersection, which has been a hotbed for great music in Grand Rapids for years, has always included shows for all ages. The Orbit Room, a popular bar/venue not far from the intersection of 28th Street and East Beltline, has done the same. Other venues that have hosted all-ages events include Mulligan's Pub in Eastown, Rocky's and Calvin College, to name a few.

In Kalamazoo, The Strutt has become one of the best places to catch live music from both locally and globally renowned artists. Many of these shows have been for all ages. Bell's Brewery's Eccentric Cafe is another great age-inclusive venue. And for the disgruntled youth in Lansing looking for such shows, check out The Loft and Mac's Bar.

But all-ages shows refer to more than just venues that occasionally allow younger crowds in. Much more, it's a movement that not only strives to be more age-inclusive, but also counter-cultural. Most importantly, proponents of this movement consider all-age shows to be a more democratic approach to live music.

"I think all-age shows are fundamentally important. I think music is for all people," said Ian MacKaye, punk legend (frontman of Minor Threat, Fugazi, Embrace and The Evens) and all-ages shows advocate.

MacKaye also stresses that the dynamic between artist and audience should be much more communal and cooperative.

"The show itself ... is a collective effort. The people in the audience and the performers are making the show together."

Another activist for the all-ages movement is Seattle-based Kevin Erickson, who founded the All Ages Movement Project (allagesmovementproject.org) in 2006. This project is essentially a network of 200 organizations that strive to make sure young people can access and participate in music scenes in their communities. The project has also sought to make all-ages shows and the greater movement more visible. Though much the movement has unfolded in underground (and often illegal) shows, AAMP has promoted venues that are legal, sustainable and not constantly in danger of being shut down.

On a local level, neighborhood punk Ryan Cappelletti devotes a large portion of his time advocating for all age shows. Yet, unlike Erickson, Ryan is perfectly comfortable with the underground ones.

"I believe in illegal shows. I believe in illegal art in general. I think art in general belongs below the surface," Cappelletti said.

He believes underground venues can avoid a lot of the restrictions that public venues demand.  This, according to Cappelletti, will in turn save the music itself from restrictions.

"Putting restrictions on art just doesn't make sense," he says.

While there are differing views regarding legal versus illegal all-ages shows, local musician and all-ages-show patron Sam Cook-Parrott — who is in Grand Rapids band Ribbons of Song — thinks both sides are important.

"I go to and play shows at underground venues, but I'm also on the Division Avenue Arts Cooperative board. I think there's a place for both. Obviously, it's nice to do things legally. But when presented with few options, you kind of have to do things underground to get things done. I think it has to be done regardless of how it's done, and kids in every city are willing to do this."

He adds that West Michigan "is a good example of a place that has been open to all ages."

For those interested in the underground, Cappelletti advises to keep your eyes and ears open. You can also check out the site grscreamer.com for more all-ages concert info.

For those who aren't quite ready to step into the underground but still want to hear great music with like-minded people of all ages, there are several legal venues in West Michigan where this can happen. In Grand Rapids, the Division Avenue Arts Cooperative (The DAAC) on Division Street has been an integral part of the local music and arts scene. In Holland, Lemonjello's Coffee has brought phenomenal artists representing a variety of genres into their space for people of all ages to enjoy. And in Lansing, the volunteer-run Basement 414 offers everything from hip hop to punk to indie and a whole lot more in between.

It's middle-aged men in oversized hats. It's southern twang that pairs perfectly with only an acoustic guitar. It's lyrics that describe life in all its hard-workin', my-girlfriend-left-me, I-just-lost-my- job glory. It's boots, aged whiskey and heartbreak. It's country music, and it has invaded West Michigan.

If you've ever been downtown Grand Rapids the night of a Kenny Chesney concert you know country music fans are anything but scarce in the area. But more and more, our coastal community is starting to embrace not only the Georges, Tims and Brads of the genre, but also names that have a more local flair. In the last several years, an array of local country has begun to crop up and with the recent success of Battle Creek native Frankie Ballard, hope of making it big in our little community is actually looking realistic.

"We are 'Lil' Nashille', no doubt about it," B93's DJ Broadway said. "Since Frankie Ballard got his deal [with Warner Bros. Records], I think local country musicians see the summit of fame after climbing for all those years. The grind becomes worth it because one of 'them' was chosen."

And even though local country music seems to be booming currently, it is not necessarily the quantity of musicians in the area, but the quality. The performers that we have access to in the area tend to be taking the trade a little more seriously than they have in the past, according to Broadway. His favorites in the local industry include Gunnar and the Grizzly Boys, Kari Lynch, Shelagh Brown and Brian Lorente.

Richie Lampani, assistant talent buyer and marketing director at The Intersection in Grand Rapids agrees. The music venue hosts a slew of country music, both local and national, providing a better outlet in West Michigan.

"There are a lot of young, hungry people that really want to follow their dreams. But, the market can only handle so much and it's got a good balance right now."

And the talent that both Broadway and Lampani are referring to come partly from the Grand Rapids-based Kari Lynch Band. The band is becoming the talk of the local music community with its traditional-meets-contemporary-meet-blues sound. Lynch is grateful for the opportunities that the band has been given and feels she has not only her fans but other musicians in the area to thank.

"The country music community is really tight. Everyone wants to be the best you can," she said. "We have a level of competition [with other bands], but it's healthy competition. That's why we're so happy to be a part of this genre in West Michigan. A lot of talent shines; we haven't seen that everywhere else. There is something special about West Michigan country music."

That country music sound is no longer only guitars and banjos accompanying twangy lyrics about a down-and-out life. There are different niches within the genre which make the music so versatile in a community like ours.

"Country's got more of a cross-over thing going on from rocky country to hardcore David Allan Coe,"Lampani said. "I think [fans] really like that."

And it's not only the fans that appreciate it.

"Local country is super supportive of each other," Lynch said. "That's what I love about it. When something good happens to a band, it only brings more attention to West Michigan."

And opposite from the Kari Lynch Band on the local country music spectrum lays Gunnar and the Grizzly Boys with its rock-inspired beer-and-bullets country. Frontman Gunnar Nyblad agrees that even though there is a lot of country music to choose from in the area, what makes them all work so well is the fact that they are all a little different.

"We all cover different sides of country from traditional to popish, rock to country having a Detroit influence. I've seen everyone stick to what they know and what they're good at."

But it's not just the variety in the area that keeps the crowds swarming and the fans so dedicated. Country doesn't have the luxury of catchy rhythms to grasp our attention or the beat of a drum to get our feet moving. Instead, the music is more natural and relies on only the words to breed inspiration.

"I know what you're thinking: dogs, beer, cheating and pickup trucks," Broadway said. "But country is more than that."

"You're getting the same song over and over again with pop," Lynch adds. "We're inspired by pop, but [with country], you're getting something real. At some point, people don't just want to hear drums and synthesizers. Song writing is of upmost importance. It is really respected. We're writing all our own songs and people really appreciate that. Straight to the core, honest. That's one of the reasons country music has really taken off.

"You can connect to the country artist. You can't connect to people clubbing and drinking Cristal."

Even though the fans of the genre have heard these stories sung a thousand different ways, it never gets old. The words are what fans cling to and can always count on whether they're looking for something to hold onto or someone to let go of.

"For a song to be country, it no longer has to have fiddle and steel guitar by default. It just has to tell a good story and make you feel something," Broadway said.

At the end of the day, the only thing that will keep local country thriving in West Michigan is the assurance that the fans will keep coming back. From little girls to those who can remember listening to the original Grand Ole Opry on the radio, country music offers something for everyone.

"The fans make the music," Lynch said. "We write our music for the fans. We'll make music for them as long as they want to listen to it. They are the biggest reason [country music] is booming in West Michigan. They are relentless and they make us feel like rock stars."

And if you're still not convinced, you will be … eventually.

"I will always tell people that you can only deny country music for so long," Nyblad said. "Eventually, one day you're going to have a breakup or lose a loved one and you're gonna turn on country and it will just capture you. You can call it hick, but everyone has a little hick in them."

Photos — Top: Gunnar and the Grizzly Boys; Above: Kari Lynch and the Dudes, photo by Earthtones

On 20 Division Avenue, just beside the intersection of Division and Fulton, sits a gray and white building. Outside the front door is a sign shaped like a vinyl record. It reads, "Dodd's Record Shop: New & Used Vinyl." But don't let this simple building and sign fool you. Dodd's Record Shop is a music lover's paradise; one that's been holding its own for 60 years.

Inside, the walls are lined with wooden shelves. Each shelf bursts at the seams with vinyl records. There's even a smaller corner filled with cassettes and CDs. Behind a messy counter covered with 45s, random papers and an old cash register sits Gerry Dodd, who owns the business.

He's seen a lot of variety and changes in the music business throughout the years, including the birth of rock n' roll, pop and the rise of folk music into the mainstream. Dodd has also witnessed the evolution of the music mediums themselves. Along with vinyl, he has sold reel-to-reel, cassettes and compact discs. He's even dealt with 8 tracks which, as he reveals, were invented in Grand Rapids by resident Bill Lear. But for the most part, the bread-and-butter of Dodd's Record Shop has been vinyl records.

Kelly Weed, a Grand Rapids resident, is a record collector who has also worked at records stores and has been a DJ for events around the state. Dodd's has always been one of her favorite places to find music that she cannot find elsewhere.

"Sometimes I'll go in there and tell him what I'm looking for and he'll always come back with a stack of exactly what I need. Even the stuff that's rare or just strange ... he knows it all."

Up until the late '80s, Dodd sold exclusively new products. This changed with compact discs.

"For a while, you could get about anything you wanted on vinyl," Dodd says. "Then the record companies started dropping this one and dropping that one from vinyl. They were just gonna focus on CDs."

This, of course, worried him. Then one night, he had a dream.

"In this dream, there was a TV set, and there were just flickers of light on it but nobody on the screen," Dodd says. "But there was this whole thought that came over the screen. And this thought said, 'You need to become a new and used records shop to survive.'"

The next morning, he went to the shop and began changing it into a new and used vinyl store, instead of selling only new ones.

"Most of the record shops that survived, that's what they did," Dodd says.

This renewed interest was another major factor in Dodd's decision to keep vinyl records his shop's central product, as well as the younger generation.

"Younger people are the only ones that are keeping the record shops in business. Older people, most of them have quit buying records altogether ... Plus, younger people have better ears. They want to hear vinyl records because the fidelity on an LP is better than on a CD."

With this younger clientele and their renewed interest in vinyl, Dodd has been able to keep his business strong, even amidst the boom of Internet-based music sales.

"It's so easy to steal electronically, it isn't even funny," Dodd says. "Just look at what's happened to the DVD market. Man, the stores are closing just as fast as you can close them. You can hardly stand outside without hearing the sound of a door closing."

As the years pass and changes come, Dodd is also facing the changes that accompany growing older. His arthritis makes it difficult for him to move around as much.

"Life doesn't give you any rewards as you get older," he says. "It's getting to be a very big problem all over the world. The older you get, the less they want you around ... you can't produce anything. You're just a consumer."

Though Dodd may at times feel unappreciated because of his age and profession, his personality and work have certainly not gone unnoticed.

"I have gone to his store since I was in high school. Gerry is a living institution," said Steve Williamson, owner and manager of Corner Record Shop. "He's also a well of musical knowledge ... you won't find a more knowledgeable person."

And Dodd's not giving up. Even with the passing years and the challenges they present, he still has a passion for his work and for the music that has made him who he is.

"I still enjoy doing it, but it gets harder and harder to function every day. As long as I can keep going, it will be great. But I'd sure hate to see the day when I couldn't come in and work."

Photo: Gerry Dodd of Dodd's Record Shop, shot by Ryan P.

Breathe Owl Breathe, photo by John Hanson

For Breathe Owl Breathe, East Jordan's earthy folk outfit, reaching a national audience may have been a long road (one that spanned over seven years), but the trials never exceeded the joy.

"I'd say the biggest accomplishment for Breathe Owl Breathe is that we're good friends who love to make music together," said Micah Middaugh (vocals/guitar). "We're lucky. The music is bigger than we are."

With two-thirds of the band based out of cabin in the woods near Lake Charlevoix, it's the simple things that keep its members happy. Middaugh describes his favorite tour moment camping beneath the mountains in Nebraska and cooking lentil soup out of a can, while listening to a creek in the background.

Currently, the band is offering Middaugh an opportunity to embrace another love - this time, art. On a tentative release date of July 28, Breathe Owl Breathe will release a 7" vinyl packaged with a children's book, illustrated with hand-carved wood prints done by Middaugh, a former art student.

"One of my early memories is my parents having this record player and the feeling that it would generate," Middaugh said. "It was really magical.  And then, every night before bed, I would open up [Shel Silverstein's] Where the Sidewalk Ends to a random page and my mom would read the two poems before I'd fall asleep. I guess this is just a way to combine those two."

The book will be double-sided (referred to in the publishing world as a dos-á-dos) and will contain two separate short stories, which begin at either end of the book and meet on the middle. On one side the cover will read "The Listeners (The Mole and the Ostrich)," and the other will say "These Train Tracks." The attached vinyl will narrate the stories.

Cellist Andrea Moreno-Beals, who previously spent time as a first grade teaching assistant, says she has hopes the book will open the door for the band to perform at schools and camps. She's not quick to write off an adult audience either.

"I really don't think the album will appeal just to children," Moreno-Beals said. "I'm just as artistically excited about these two songs as I was about anything that appeared on our last album, Magic Central."

While the children's book is a new concept for Breathe Owl Breathe, it won't be a stretch for the band to make appearances in all-age friendly venues. For most of its career now, the members have been seeking out ways to bypass the alcohol industry, so often interwoven with the music business.

"None of us are very into drinking," Moreno-Beals said. "We don't really enjoy that scene very much. Even the very nice venues that serves alcohol - people just listen differently. We really like to play venues where the primary reason that people are there is the music. We've found that when people are at venues that serve alcohol, the primary reason they're there is the socializing."

The band's manager, Terry Groves, says it's part of his job to see these unique considerations and make them happen, so that the members have more time to "focus on being artists."

"It depends on the time of year, but instead they'll do creative spaces that people open to them: barns, places outside, state parks, national parks, campgrounds and amphitheaters," Groves said. "We think about it more in the terms of how a great place would be made even better by a great concert."

As out of the ordinary as such a concept may be, Groves says the band has barely begun dishing its 'out-of-the-box' ideas.

"[T]hey show me their ideas and I have to find a way to make it happen. I think we haven't even begun to get out of the norm here. I think things are going to be a lot more weird in the next few years."

That's the reason the band funded its children's book the way it did — by launching a kickstarter.com page - a website where fans can choose to donate to the project, and in return receive gifts depending on the amount of their pledge. Gifts included art by Middaugh to a one-night private sleepover show with the band. More than 140 donors pledged more than $10,000 — blowing the original goal of $5,000 out of the water.

"It's nice to say how faithful I am to Michigan for having supported us," Moreno-Beals said. "Five years ago I would never have imagined that I could be in a band fulltime. It's still weird when I think about it ... Sometimes it doesn't feel easy because it's so much constant work ... It's not like we've 'made it' yet, but they've given us the chance to try."

Breathe Owl Breathe is scheduled to appear at the Charlevoix Public Library on July 28 to release its children's book, after completing their first European tour which includes stops in Ireland, France and Spain.