GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) -- A West Michigan band is seeing its fanbase grow alongside its number of band members.

Rip Smidgeon, made up of Jack Shackelford, Aedan Favale, Matt Huffman and Thom Loos, released its first album, "The Sum of My Dreams" earlier this year, but that was just the beginning.

When News 8 spoke to Rip Smidgeon in February, the band did not have a drummer on staff and instead relied on a drum machine to keep the beat to their songs. That all changed this summer.

The band dropped their second album of 2025 in July called "POINTS." It's a much different record, Shackelford said. Where the first album used a lot of technical instrumentation, this sophomore record was mainly recorded in one-take sessions with the band. This included the new member of the band: drummer Ben Ferrell.

"I knew Jack just from seeing him around ... and then we found out we both make music," Ferrell said. "He came to one of my shows and then I came to one of his shows and I saw he didn't have a drummer. They were running into technical difficulties trying to get the drum machine going and it just seemed like a whole headache that might've been easier solved with just having a live drummer ... I grew up playing drums so I thought I could maybe step up to the plate."

The new album allowed each member of the band to shine with songwriting and even Shackelford said he was able to do a lot more instrumentation on this project. The result is a more raw approach to their discography and a chance for Rip Smidgeon to avoid falling short of their fans' expectations.

"We wanted to beat the sophomore curse that a lot of bands have," Shackelford said.

Following the release of "POINTS," the band went on a lengthy tour across parts of the Midwest that began with an album release show at The Pyramid Scheme in July. Now that the tour has ended, the band plans to relax but the next chapter of Rip Smidgeon is closer than you might think.

"It's time. It's time to get back in (the studio)," Shackelford said.

You can check out "POINTS" and the band's other music by clicking here.

Rip Smidgeon talks new album 'POINTS', beating sophomore curse