Summer Concerts: Sky Pilots return to Bayshore for hometown show
By Samantha Meyer
Beacon Correspondent
Fans of classic rock and ’90s rock can look forward to another evening of live music when Sky Pilots take the stage as part of the Alger Parks and Recreation Department’s Concert in the Park series.
Known for their energetic performances and a blend of familiar favorites, the local band is preparing to return to one of its favorite hometown venues.
Sky Pilots will perform at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 11 at Bayshore Park in Munising as part of the weekly series. The free concert offers another opportunity for the community to enjoy live music along Munising Bay.
The band features Bryan Benson on lead guitar and vocals, Eric Cromell on guitar, Rich Allender on bass, Dave Bowerman on drums, Mel Strand on lead vocals and Bryce Bowerman handling sound.
According to Cromell, the group evolved from a trio that began about six years ago. Benson, Dave Bowerman and Babcock originally formed the band before Babcock retired from performing. Allender later joined on bass, followed by Strand, whose vocals added another dimension to the group’s sound. When Cromell moved back to the area about four years ago, Benson invited him to join, creating the lineup that fans know today.
Cromell said one of the things that makes Sky Pilots unique is the chemistry between the members and the fact that everyone brings something different to the group.
“Every band member brings something special and they’re all really, really good musicians,” Cromell said. “And I think the other big thing with us is we all get along really well. There’s no drama in this band at all, which is really nice.”
Today, the band performs a mix of classic rock and ’90s rock, with one particular set becoming a crowd favorite.
“We play a medley, three songs by Led Zeppelin, and that kind of seems to have become our trademark thing,” Cromell said.
The band is no stranger to the Concert in the Park series, having performed at Bayshore Park in previous years. Although Sky Pilots play in Munising only a few times each year, Cromell said that is intentional. The band has been performing more festivals and casino shows outside of town while making sure local performances remain meaningful for both the band and the community.
The limited local schedule makes hometown performances especially meaningful.
“It’s kind of a guaranteed crowd because a lot of our friends come out to see us,” Cromell said. “It’s nice to have a bunch of friends in the audience that we know makes us feel a little more comfortable.”
The band has stayed busy throughout the summer, recently headlining Yooper Fest in Escanaba and performing at the Alger County Fair. Looking ahead, Sky Pilots have casino performances planned this fall, a Halloween show at the Barge Inn and several music festivals already booked for next summer.
Cromell also made sure to recognize the person behind the sound at many Concert in the Park performances. He gave a shout-out to Jim Supanich, who handles the sound for the series and has been a longtime supporter of local musicians.
“We really enjoy Jim Supanich,” Cromell said. “I’ve known Jim for a long time since I was in my 20s. And he’s just such a great guy to work with as far as running sound. He does an excellent job.”
