2016 Fall music guide

BY Daniel Durchholz, SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH LIGHT

Excuse the St. Louis concert scene if it is still in the afterglow of Paul McCartney’s Busch Stadium concert last month. The ex-Wingsman (we’ve heard he played in a popular little band before that, too) put on the biggest – and quite possibly one of the best – shows the city has seen in ages.

But time marches on, and the fall presents us with a number of opportunities for musical spectacle on a grand scale as well as the smaller, more intimate concert experiences that ultimately mean just as much, or even more – and are easier on the pocketbook as well.

Let’s take a look at some of the season’s big concerts, and then examine the schedules of the many venues in town.

• Beyoncé — Sept. 10 at the Dome at America’s Center: Without a football team to fill the Dome, there are more dates open each year for concerts on a grand scale. But how many acts from the pop universe can really fill the dome, which holds more than 67,000 people for football? One comes to mind, and it just so happens she’s playing there. On her Formation World Tour, Queen Bey is bringing out a wide array of technological tricks to make the stadiums she’s playing feel intimate – no small feat. A deep catalog of hits and her recent No. 1 album “Lemonade” can’t hurt, either.

• LAMPEDUSA: Concerts for Refugees – Oct. 11 at the Sheldon Concert Hall: A staggering array of folk and country talent – Emmylou Harris, Steve Earle, Buddy Miller, Patty Griffin and the Milk Carton Kids – are coming together for this benefit concert designed to raise awareness and money for the plight of refugees worldwide. The St. Louis date is just one of 11 across North America.

• The Concert Across America to End Gun Violence – Sept. 25 at Central Reform Congregation: Another benefit concert, this one (as the name indicates) addressing the plague of gun violence in the United States, features shows held across the country and stitched together via social media. The St. Louis show includes performances by Liz Murphy, Angie Nicholson, Anna Blair, Debra Schuster, Christy Simmons, Erika Cockerham, Charlene Reiman, Michele Isam, Kay Martin Love, Donna Weinsting, Dionna Raedeke, Ken Haller, Jeffrey M. Wright, Steve Brammeier, Bob Becherer, Matt Anderson, Chuck Lavazzi, Nate Cox and Norm White. The show is free, but reservations are required (brownpapertickets.com)

• Beck – Sept. 23 at Peabody Opera House: It’s been a while since we’ve seen Beck, whose last album was 2014’s “Morning Phase.” The mercurial artist, whose work ranges from folk to funk to hip-hop, will release a new record this fall. The free-associative single “Wow” debuted over the summer.

• Jay Farrar – Oct. 1 at Delmar Hall: When “Trace,” St. Louisan Jay Farrar’s first solo album after the demise of Uncle Tupelo, was released in 1995, it became an instant classic, not just in the then-burgeoning alternative-country genre, but in any genre. Its best songs – “Windfall,” “Tear Stained Eye” and “Drown” among them – still hold up. Farrar is still on the road celebrating that album’s 20th anniversary and will do so here by playing in a trio format at the new Delmar Hall.

• Green Day – Sept. 20 at the Pageant: The punk-pop band, which was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, kicks off a club tour in support of its forthcoming album, “Revolution Radio,” with this show at the Pageant. Considering the band is easily capable of filling arenas anywhere and everywhere, you don’t need us to tell you that this is a big deal. 

 

Festivals

Loufest – Sept. 10-11 at Forest Park’s Central Field: From its start, Loufest has tried to present a musically diverse lineup of national and local talent. This year, that effort is even more in evidence, with headliners ranging from dance music act LCD to hip-hop diva Lauryn Hill to breakout country star Chris Stapleton. Other acts sharing the two-day festival’s four stages include blues legend Buddy Guy, jazz greats the Preservation Hall Band, and many acts from the worlds of alt-rock, hip hop, soul/R&B and even bluegrass, including Band of Horses, Shakey Graves, Charles Bradley and His Extraordinaires, St. Lucia, Anderson .Paak & the Free Nationals, Vince Staples, Greensky Bluegrass and others. John Henry, Karate Bikini, and Illphonics are among the St. Louis acts playing the event. (loufest.com)

Murmuration – Sept. 23-25 at Cortex Innovation Community: New on the festival scene this year is Murmuration, held in the fast growing tech area of town known as the Cortex. To save you the Googling, a murmuration is that shape-shifting pattern created in the sky by a giant flock of starlings. Its relation to the festival is, one presumes, its unpredictability. The founders of Murmuration (who include Loufest originator Brian Cohen) call it an “intersection of art, music, science and tech.” On the music front, the fest features forward-looking artists including Flying Lotus, Deerhoof, Dan Deacon, Yacht and Tycho, among others. (murmurationfest.com)

Taste of St. Louis – Sept. 16-18 at Chesterfield Amphitheater: Food is the primary calling card of Taste of St. Louis, but its bill of fare includes other activities and entertainment, not least of which is music. Friday is headlined by Reel Big Fish, with earlier appearances by Sublime tribute band 40 oz. to Freedom and KDHX’s “Soul Selector,” deejay Tom “Papa” Ray. Saturday features an all-country bill led by Jerrod Niemann, plus CJ Solar and St. Louisans Brian Bax & Matt Wynn. (tastestl.com)

Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival – Sept. 17 in downtown Webster Groves: Held in the historic downtown area of Webster Groves, the Old Webster Jazz & Blues Festival offers lots of great sounds emanating from two stages. Among the featured acts this year are the Marquis Knox Blues Revue, Bach to the Future, the Webster University Jazz Ensemble, the Anita Rosamond Band with guest Gene Dobbs Bradford, and many more. (oldwebsterjazzfest.com)

Folk and Roots FestivalSept. 22-25 in Grand Center: Musical acts at this festival’s fifth edition include the Creek Rocks, Hubby Jenkins, the Corn Potato String Band, Jim Kweskin & Geoff Muldaur, High Plains Jamboree, Greg Schochet & Katie Glassman, Elephant Revival, the Missouri Rounders and Chatham County Line. Brought to you by the Sheldon and KDHX, the event also includes fiddle workshops, dances and a fiddle contest.  (folkandrootsfestival.com)

Grove FestOct. 1 in the Grove: The Grove has established itself as one of St. Louis’ greatest entertainment districts. If that’s news to you, Grove Fest offers a one-day introduction to the area, with food, shopping, crafts and much more – including music, of course. Mainstage acts are Blackalicious, Particle and American Wrestlers, plus area musicians from School of Rock St. Louis and the Grand Center Academy Jazz Ensemble. (thegrovestl.com/grove-fest)

 

Also outdoors

Beyond the festivals, the changing season demands that shows start moving indoors, but a handful of concerts remain at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre (livenation.com), including red Solo cup enthusiast Toby Keith (Sept. 10); attitudinal adolescents Blink-182 (Sept. 11);  hick-hoppers Florida Georgia Line (Sept. 16); pop/rock perennial Bryan Adams (Sept. 17); that little ol’ band from Texas, ZZ Top (Sept. 18); and, finally, a double bill featuring Counting Crows and Rob Thomas (Sept. 28).

Just one show is left at Alton’s Liberty Bank Amphitheater (libertybankamphitheater.com): country singer Travis Tritt (Sept. 9).

 


 

 

Arenas

Scottrade Center (scottradecenter.com) has just one concert scheduled at present: Maroon 5 with Tove Lo and R. City (Oct. 3). 

Meanwhile, Chaifetz Arena (chaifetzarena.com) asks the musical question: “Just how much did you love the ’90s?” If the answer is “Unto death,” the “I Love the 90’s” show featuring Vanilla Ice, Salt N’  Pepa with Spinderella, Kid N’ Play, All 4 One, Coolio and Young MC (Oct. 7) is a must-see.

St. Charles’ Family Arena (familyarena.com) is also mining the past, with the Fab Four – The Ultimate Beatles Tribute (Oct. 7); and Mean Street – A Tribute to Van Halen with Decade of Decadence – A Tribute to Motley Crue (Oct. 14). Also upcoming are still-viable rocker Rick Springfield (Oct. 15), crooner Engelbert Humperdinck (Nov. 4) and the Monkees (Nov. 5), whose recent album “Forever” is a late-career delight.

 

Theaters

As for shows under a roof (and a beautiful one at that), the Fabulous Fox (fabulousfox.com) hosts Indian playback singer Shreya Ghoshal (Sept. 10); Irish traditionalists Celtic Thunder (Oct. 8); a cappella wonder Straight No Chaser (Nov. 6); and alumni of classic rockers Yes – Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman – collectively known as ARW (Nov. 9).

At the Peabody Opera House (peabodyoperahouse.com), you’ll find Beck (see above) (Sept. 23); Gavin DeGraw and Andy Grammer (Sept. 27); perennial St. Louis favorite Kansas (Oct. 21); soul diva Aretha Franklin (Oct. 22) followed by operatic boy band Il Divo (Oct. 26) – a fine juxtaposition there; plus viral-video sensation Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox (Nov. 3).

At the Blanche M. Touhill Performing Arts Center (touhill.org), you’ll find The Summit: The Manhattan Transfer Meets Take 6 (Oct. 28) – think of it as Pitch Perfect for adults of a certain age; Canadian family group Ennis Sisters (Nov. 5); and Jim Widner Big Band Tribute to Ray Charles (Nov. 6).

Powell Symphony Hall (stlsymphony.org) goes purple for a Tribute to Prince (Oct. 9).

The busiest theater space in St. Louis this fall is once again the Sheldon Concert Hall (thesheldon.org). On the schedule is the Music of Marvin Gaye featuring Bryan Owens and the Deacons of Soul (Sept. 22); Hubby Jenkins, the Corn Potato String Band and Jim Kweskin & Geoff Muldaur (Sept. 23), and Greg Schochet & Katie Glassman and Elephant Revival (Sept. 24), both dates part of the Folk and Roots Festival; jazz guitar great Pat Metheny (Sept. 25); Jason Marsalis Vibes Quartet (Oct. 1); country singer Kathy Mattea (Oct. 14); Art of Time Ensemble: Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (Oct. 17); Artsounds featuring James Carter Organ Trio (Oct. 22); country singers (and former college roommates – no lie!) Lyle Lovett and Robert Earl Keen (Oct. 26); Mildred Thimes Foundation 12th annual benefit concert featuring Denise Thimes with Dee Alexander and Monique Marvez (Oct. 27); the Steeldrivers (Oct. 28); the Gaslight Squares (Nov. 1); Mavis Staples (Nov. 5); Darrell Scott (Nov. 9); They Write the Songs featuring Gary Burr, Georgia Middleman, Will Nance & Steve Williams (Nov. 11); Chucho Valdez-Joe Lovano Quartet (Nov. 12); Marc Cohn (Nov. 18); Grisha Goryachev (Nov. 19); Amira Queen of Svedahlinka (Nov. 20); and Illphonics: A Formal Affair for Charity (Nov. 25).

Edwardsville’s Wildey Theatre (wildeytheatre.com) hosts classic rockers Wishbone Ash (Sept. 16), Plainsong (Sept. 23), Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn (Sept. 24), a reunion of jazz/rock fusionists Brand X (Oct. 20), and a concert pairing of Al “Year of the Cat” Stewart and Gary “Dream Weaver” Wright (Nov. 11).

 


 

 

Clubs

The club scene this fall is as busy as we’ve ever seen it, thanks in part to the opening of a new venue, Delmar Hall (delmarhall.com). The club is a smaller companion to the Pageant, which is located next door. Its schedule kicks off with an already sold-out show by St. Louis band Stir (Sept. 30); that’s followed by Jay Farrar (see above) (Oct. 1); Hippie Sabotage (Oct. 2); NF (Oct. 4); LANY (Oct. 5); Matoma (Oct. 6); Pennywise (Oct. 7); the Dandy Warhols (Oct. 8); Bronze Radio Return (Oct. 9); Saint Motel (Oct. 10); Kishi Bashi (Oct. 11); Moon Taxi (Oct. 12); Highly Suspect (Oct. 13); Nothing But Thieves (Oct. 14); Kaleo (Oct. 18) (sold out); Rhett Miller, Joe Purdy (Oct. 19); the Schwag (Oct. 22); Dean Ween Group (Oct. 25); Here Come the Mummies (Oct. 27); and Rufus du Sol (Nov. 17).

Next door at Delmar Hall’s mothership, the Pageant (thepageant.com), you’ll find O.A.R (Sept. 9); Flume (Sept. 16) (sold out); Beth Hart (Sept. 17); Tech N9ne (Sept. 19); Pierce the Veil (Sept. 11); Slayer (Sept. 22); A USO of Missouri Red, Rock & Blue Benefit Concert featuring Story of the Year and the Struts (Sept. 23); Amos Lee (Sept. 27); Ghost (Sept. 28); Young the Giant (Sept. 29); Thrice (Sept. 30); the Head and the Heart (Oct. 3); Corrine Bailey Rae, Andra Day (Oct. 4); Local Natives (Oct. 5); James Bay (Oct. 7) (sold out); Boyce Avenue (Oct. 8); Rae Sremmurd (Oct. 10); Meshuggah (Oct. 12); Lettuce (Oct. 13); 3LAU (Oct. 15); Zeds Dead (Oct. 17); Nick Lowe (Oct. 18); Brian Culbertson (Oct. 19); Loreena McKennitt (Oct. 21); Tegan and Sara (Oct. 22); Mac Miller (Oct. 23); Charlie Puth (Oct. 24); Schoolboy Q (Oct. 25); Umphrey’s McGee (Oct. 29-30); Troye Sivan (Oct. 31); Seven Lions (Nov. 2); Rebelution (Nov. 4); Machine Gun Kelly (Nov. 11); Aaron Lewis (Nov. 12); a spoken words show from Henry Rollins (Nov. 16); Griz (Nov. 17); St. Louis favorites the Urge (Nov. 18-19); JJ Grey & Mofro (Nov. 23); Marshmello (Dec. 3) (sold out); and Steel Panther (Dec. 11).

Over in the Grove, The Ready Room (thereadyroom.com) is holding its own with the Motet (Sept. 9); Tiger Army (Sept. 16); Bayside (Sept. 17); Thrashmania 7 featuring D.R.I. (Sept. 18); the Dear Hunter (Sept. 20); Of Montreal (Sept. 22); Taking Back Sunday (Sept. 23); Blind Guardian (Sept. 24); Built to Spill (Sept. 26); the Amity Affliction (Sept. 27); Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls (Sept. 28); the Mowgli’s (Sept. 29); Blind Pilot (Sept. 30); My Posse in Effect: A Tribute to the Beastie Boys (Oct. 1); Marian Hill (Oct. 4); IAMX (Oct. 5); Unknown Hinson (Oct. 8); Dweezil Zappa (Oct. 13); Bear Hands (Oct. 14); Dance Gavin Dance (Oct. 20); Tory Lanez (Oct. 25); Old Salt Union (Oct. 28); Andrew W.K. (Oct. 29); We Came as Romans (Oct. 30); Bowling for Soup (Nov. 2); Leon Russell (Nov. 3); YG (Nov. 4); Yeasayer (Nov. 5); Beartooth (Nov. 9).

Not to be outdone, Old Rock House (oldrockhouse.com) maintains a full schedule with Delta Rae (Sept. 9); Free Bass VI (Sept. 10); Bob Mould Band (Sept. 14); Mountain Heart with Gipsy Moon (Sept. 15); Los Lonely Boys (Sept. 16); GTA (Sept. 21); Aoife O’Donovan (Sept. 22); Jake’s Leg (Sept. 23); Mike Peters (Sept. 24); Nada Surf (Sept. 26); Junior Boys (Sept. 27); Twiddle with Kitchen Dwellers (Sept. 28); Zoogma (Sept. 30); Martin Sexton (Oct. 2); Green River Ordinance (Oct. 6); Matt Wertz (Oct. 9); Earphunk (Oct. 14); Bob Schneider (Oct. 15); Jamestown Revival with Jonny Fritz (Oct. 18); Mandolin Orange with Dead Horses (Oct. 19); Moon Hooch with Honeycomb (Oct. 20); Bleached with Beach Slang (Oct. 26); Manic Focus (Oct. 27); Doyle Bramhall II (Oct. 28); Margo Price (Oct. 29); Kyng (Nov. 1); Eric Johnson (Nov. 2); Cowboy Mouth with Dirty Dozen Brass Band (Nov. 3); Over the Rhine (Nov. 4); the Travelin’ McCourys (Nov. 18); Marc Ford (Nov. 27); and Tim Reynolds (Dec. 18).

Last but not least among our featured clubs, Off Broadway (offbroadwaystl.com) hosts Reckless Kelly (Sept. 7); Los Straitjackets (Sept. 8); Allah-Lahs (Sept. 9); Leopold and His Fiction (Sept. 10); Melodime (Sept. 15); John D. Hale Band (Sept. 16); Joan Shelly with Maiden Radio (Sept. 17); Palomino Shakedown (Sept. 18); Dale Watson and the Lonestars (Sept. 19); the Handsome Family (Sept. 21); Bit Brigade (Sept. 22); the Dust Covers (Sept. 23); the Pines (Sept. 24); Adia Victoria (Sept. 25); Erick Hutchinson (Sept. 27); Angel Olsen (Sept. 30); Anderson East (Oct. 1); Kevin Devine (Oct. 4); Tacocat (Oct. 7); the Growlers (Oct. 8); Hellbound Glory (Oct. 11); Will Hoge (Oct. 12); Swear and Shake (Oct. 14); Ray Wylie Hubbard (Oct. 15); Caroline Smit h (Oct. 18); Sweet Spirit (Oct. 19); Jason D. Williams (Oct. 20); Bug Chaser (Oct. 22); Slaid Cleaves (Oct. 23); Nots (Oct. 24); Tall Heights (Oct. 26); Foy Vance (Oct. 27); Adam Torres (Oct. 28); Brett Dennen (Oct. 29); Aaron Lee Tasjan (Oct. 30); Toche Amore (Nov. 2); Amanda Shires (Nov. 3); Jack Grelle (Nov. 5); Mitski (Nov. 6); and Alanna Royale (Nov. 19).

 

More clubs

For still more club concert action, check out the Duck Room at Blueberry Hill (blueberryhill.com/shows/); the Firebird (firebirdstl.com); Pop’s (popsrocks.com); 2720 Cherokee Performing Arts Center (2720cherokee.com); Ballpark Village (stlballparkvillage.com); the Luminary (luminaryarts.com); the Bootleg at Atomic Cowboy (atomiccowboystl.com/the-bootleg/); the Ambassador (thenewambassadorstl.com); Cicero’s (ciceros-stl.com); and Fubar (fubarstl.com).

 

Casinos

We’ll lay our cards on the table: The concert schedules at local casinos seem to come and go, and some gaming houses are more committed to live entertainment than others. Your best bet these days (see what we did there?) is the Venue at River City Casino (rivercity.com), where they’ve booked Eagles tribute act Hotel California (Sept. 16); soul hitmakers the Commodores (Oct. 1); rock ’n’ soul great Boz Scaggs (Oct. 18); pop veterans Ambrosia (Oct. 22); and Poison vocalist Bret Michaels (Oct. 30).

Lumiere Place Casino (lumiereplace.com) has comedy in the schedule, but no concerts. Stay tuned.

Beyond a weekly blues series (see below) at Ameristar St. Charles (ameristar.com/st-charles), the casino’s Rhyse nightclub is booking high-profile deejays of note, including Diplo (Oct. 22).

 

More specialized sounds

St. Louis loves its jazz and blues. As for soup … well, who doesn’t love soup? One place that has you covered is BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soups (bbsjazzbluessoups.com), where you’ll find a calendar chock full of local and regional talent, plus the occasional national act. 

Across the street and down the block, there’s more blues in the friendly confines of Beale on Broadway (bealeonbroadway.com) and Broadway Oyster Bar (broadwayoysterbar.com). 

Out in St. Charles, Ameristar Casino’s Bottleneck Blues Bar (bottleneckbluesbar.com) hosts a Friday Night Blues series curated by our town’s Devin Allman. Upcoming shows include Cory Stevens (Sept. 16) and Anthony Gomes (Sept. 30).

The place you’ll always find jazz of the finest sort, is, of course, Jazz at the Bistro (jazzstl.org). This season’s offerings include Coleman Hawkins Project featuring Adrianne (Sept. 9-10); Koplant No (Sept. 16-17); Dr. Lonnie Smith’s Evolution (Sept. 21-24); Bill Charlap Trio (Sept. 28-29); the Al Jarreau Duo (Sept. 30-Oct. 1); Jamison Ross (Oct. 5-8); the People’s Key: Souled Out (Oct. 12-13); 88 Squared: Adaron “Pops” Jackson & Phil Dunlap; Donnie McCaslin Group (Oct. 19-22); the 442’s (Oct. 26-27); Sharel Cassity, Ingrid Jensen & Ben Wolfe (Oct. 28-29); Jimmy Greene Quartet (Nov. 2-5); Dawn Weber (Nov. 11-12); Catherine Russell Quartet (Nov. 16-19); Jeremy Davenport (Nov. 25-26); and Vijay Iyer Trio (Nov. 30-Dec. 3).

And finally, the fall is full of folk (say that five times fast) thanks to Focal Point (thefocalpoint.org), whose bookings include Dan Levenseon (Sept. 10); Tom Hall ( Sept. 16); the Wee Heavies (Sept. 17); Kevin Burke (Sept. 22); Richard Gilewitz (Sept. 23); Leela & Ellie Grace (Sept. 25); Songbird Café with Bob McKee, Emily Wallace, Matt McGauhey and Hilary Fitz (Sept. 28); Open the Door for Three (Sept. 30); the Volo Bogtrotters (Oct. 1); Brian McNeill (Oct. 8); Alison Perkins & Nicolas Brown (Oct. 9); Adrien Legg (Oct. 16); Lucas Simpson’s Goldmine Pickers (Oct. 21); Brian Curran (Oct. 22); Greg Klyma (Oct. 28); Ed Miller (Oct. 29); Randle Chowning and Larry Lee (of Ozark Mountain Daredevils fame) (Nov. 11); and John McCutcheon (Nov. 13).