Detroit Funk City

Grant Kwiecinski, aka GRiZ, is a 24-year-old DJ and producer from Detroit. Watch his concert footage and find crowds donned in neon and screaming over thunderous bass with beach balls sailing everywhere. Many deem this pop, and it’s certainly popular: 2012’s “Smash the Funk” already has more than a million listens on Spotify.

But GRiZ constantly blurs genre lines, and when he starts to cut his sound with vinyl from the ’60s and ’70s, his identity becomes more refined in his “old-school” aesthetic. Perhaps that’s why GRiZ (who runs computers, controllers and plays saxophone during shows) defines his own style as “electro-soul” or “future-funk” rather than EDM or dubstep.

A great introduction to GRiZ is “For The Love” with Talib Kweli from 2015’s Say It Loud. His self-described “collage of music” and “clash of sound” come alive with the horns, adding new textures and emotion. It also speaks to the mantra of his “GRiZFam” fan base: “Show Love. Spread Love.”

Kansas electronic duo The Floozies and Detroit’s Muzzy Bearr join GRiZ 8 pm Thursday, May 7, at McDonald Theatre; $15 adv., $20-$25 door. 16-plus.

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

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Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

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Thank you for standing with us!