Fans of genre-defying Brits, eardrum-pummeling Phoenicians, folkgrass-slinging Colorado hippies, and great big parties in the heart of the city have much to celebrate in the coming weeks, as St. Louis plays host to High Vis, Gatecreeper, Elephant Revival, and Grove Fest over the next 14 days. Elephant Revival in particular is an exciting one, as the band has toured rather infrequently since ending its four-year hiatus in 2022, and St. Louis happens to be one of the lucky ones that got a date on the band's very short current tour. See our chat with vocalist and percussionist Bonnie Paine for more on why. And make sure to check out our recap of the 28 best songs of Evolution Festivalâthe fest was quite a hit in its second year, if a rather muddy one.
As always, weâd love to hear from you, so feel free to reply directly to this missive with any thoughts, questions, or story tips that you think should be on our radar.
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High Vis. Photography by Brage Pederson.
Critic's Picks
OCTOBER 3
High Vis with Show Me the Body, Special Interest, Bib, Bearcat
London's High Vis is the latest breakout success story for fans of genre-blending rock filtered through a decidedly hardcore punk lens, joining the likes of Angel Du$t and Turnstile and quite a few others in throwing a bunch of different sounds in a blender and seeing what comes out. In High Vis' case, this concoction consists of a little Britpop, a smattering of oi!, a bit of shoegaze, and even some goth but with considerable Youth Crew sensibilities. The vocals are more shouted than sung, and the drums are frequently thunderous, yet there's good reason the band has frequently been described by critics as something of a punk rock Oasis. Influenced by everyone from Gang of Four to The Cure to Wipers to the Sound, High Vis has seen increasing popularity since getting its start in 2016 through its channeling of working-class sentiments and a willingness to show its vulnerable side. That the songs are just downright catchy certainly doesnât hurt. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp.
OCTOBER 4 & 5
Grove Fest
The Grove will come alive this Saturday for its annual Grove Fest celebration, highlighting all that the neighborhood has to offer while inviting the community out for a free, family-friendly fun time. This yearâs festivities will include performances by BJ the Chicago Kid, DJ Alexis Tucci, Tee Parks, Andrew Dahle, DJ Agile One, Paige Alyssa, the Divas of the Grove, DJ Neighborhood & Kristopher Lay, G. Wiz, the Ish Ensemble, Che Sanchez, and 4Deep, as well as an Uncle Nearest whiskey tasting, a pizza-eating contest, a beard and mustache contest, hip-hop karaoke, and more. Perhaps most exciting, the newly opened Atomic By Jamo will be playing host to a pre-party on Friday evening that features alternative hip-hop legends Digable Planets alongside St. Louis greats Blvck Spvde & the Cosmos. The Grove, Manchester Avenue between Kingshighway and Vandeventer.
OCTOBER 5
Gatecreeper with Frozen Soul, Worm
A standout of the New Wave of American Death Metal, Phoenixâs Gatecreeper delivers sludge-soaked, crusty grooves, humongous riffs, and pulverizing drums. The band was an instant hit upon its arrival on the scene, securing a deal with the revered Relapse Records on the strength of a series of EPs and splits, culminating in its debut full-length, 2016's Sonoran Depravation. That record catapulted Gatecreeper into the spotlight, and soon the band was touring with such legends as Cannibal Corpse and Power Trip. The band's latest, May's Dark Superstition, carries on in the same heavy-as-hell manner as its prior releases while injecting a considerable amount of melodic elements into the proceedings. Expect a sweaty set and an active pit at Delmar Hall on Saturday. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar.
Newly Announced Shows
El Monstero, Amythyst Kiah, Funky Butt Brass Band, and The Wrecks are among the acts that recently announced shows in St. Louis. Check out our concert calendar of more than 100 upcoming shows.
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