Grand Rapids has multiple music venues that stick to one genre. There are blues bars, dueling piano joints and country music venues, but one venue refuses to be labeled. The Pyramid Scheme welcomes just about any type of music to their stage and this weekend was a perfect example of this diversity.

The Pyramid Scheme scheduled concerts for both Friday night and Saturday night, shows that couldn’t be more different. The often controversial, national underground rap act Dead Prez was featured Friday and two of the most successful local bands, Ultraviolet Hippopotamus and Four Finger Five donned the stage Saturday.

These two shows couldn’t be further from each other on the musical genre spectrum, yet the combination perfectly describes the Pyramid Scheme’s musical mission.

The Scheme’s stage and sound system looked like it was specifically designed for Dead Prez. Dead Prez’ music, especially their most recognizable hit “Hip-hop,” is very bass heavy. At times the music supporting the rappers sounded like it was only comprised of low tones. The Scheme’s sound system was able to handle the tones as well if not better than any other venue in town.

Many hip-hop groups feature multiple unfamiliar people on stage, all repeating the last word of every line of vocals. Dead Prez is an exception. There were only three people with microphones, the two members of the group and their DJ. The lyrics were clear and discernable.

Many fans in the sold-out crowd recognized many of the songs on the set list. Dead Prez made a point to include their more popular hits along with more obscure tracks. Most songs were transitioned by some kind of political of social message from the group, a practice Dead Prez has employed for many years.

The crowd was energetic and excitable without creating problems. Packing a room to capacity with jumping music fans can often be a recipe for altercation. This was not the case on either Friday or Saturday.

The Scheme wasn’t quiet for very long after Dead Prez left the building, The next night fans would rush back in to see two rising stars of Grand Rapids.

Ultraviolet Hippopotamus is a band formed in Big Rapids that has been dominating the jam band scene in West Michigan for a few years. Although the group is now based out of Grand Rapids, major U.S. touring keeps UV Hippo on the road so much that their appearances in town are limited.

Saturday’s show was a kick off for their spring tour, a trip that will push the band about 5,000 miles during its first half alone.

Four Finger Five, a rock band from Muskegon but now based in Grand Rapids opened the show. FF5 has been on every big stage in West Michigan including the Rothbury Festival.

Both bands played long seats with limited amounts of time between songs.

UV Hippo played in and out of some songs without stopping at all for 45 minutes or more.

The show concluded with both bands converging on the stage together to play Stevie Wonder’s hit “I Wish.”

Along with great music, Saturday’s show featured a light show usually reserved for multi-thousand person venues. Robotic lights and operators familiar with the songs combined for a visual experience that matched the sonic.

These two shows couldn’t be more different musically, yet they were all groups serious about their craft and performing in front of appreciative fans.

The Pyramid Scheme not only allows this but it encourages the diversity. In less than a year this venue has carved out a corner in the Grand Rapids music scene that will continue to belong to them as long as they keep inviting the right groups on stage.

clafoy@lanthorn.com