Photo of Brett Young at Santa Jam by Paul Liggett
Santa Jam, hosted by 93.7 The Bull, delivered a healthy dose of holiday cheer Friday night at the Stifel Theater. Bringing together country stars Russo & Co., Greylan James, Alexandra Kay, and headliner Brett Young made for a fun filled night packed with holiday spirit! Walter Knoll Florist created a winter wonderland on the stage, featuring Christmas lights and snow-capped Christmas trees, which was a perfect backdrop for the festive evening. Between sets, the crowd was entertained by appearances and giveaways from Santa Claus and Archie of the St. Louis Battlehawks. Several lucky concertgoers walked away with Battlehawks tickets and NASCAR tickets, as well as a guitar autographed by all the performers.
The first act to kick off the night was an up-and-coming local band from St. Charles, MO, Russo & Co. Russo & Co. are no strangers to The Bull listeners thanks to their appearance at the famous Bull summer float trip. Having been named “Best Original Band 2024” on St. Louis Magazine’s A-List, the group wasted no time proving why they earned the honor. They sang fan favorites like “Key West of the Midwest” and “Good Luck Charm,” a catchy tune that proudly name drops the Show-Me State with the lyrics, “I’ve never been in such a hurry to get back to Missouri where I’ll run right into your arms, baby you’ll always be my good luck charm.” The energy remained high as the band pounded out more tunes on the charming standup bass and the lead singer closed out the set with a surprise, off-the-charts tap dancing performance. Russo & Co. delivered a truly entertaining performance that set the tone for an exciting Santa Jam!
Next on stage was Greylan James, who instantly won the crowd over with his storytelling and self-deprecating humor. He started his set off with his hit “Who Broke Up With You,” joined by his side kick, whom he introduced as “Brian with the Box.” Brian kept the songs going by beating on a simple wooden box, using only his hands. James then sang his popular song “Ain’t Thinkin Bout You” before thrilling the audience with his performance of “Next Thing You Know,” the huge hit he wrote for country star Jordan Davis. James shared a good laugh with the crowd as he shared the song had been nominated for CMA song of the year – and lost, but the song went on to win ACM Song of the Year.
The next local performer made a short journey from her hometown of Waterloo, Illinois to the Santa Jam stage. Alexandra Kay, also known on TikTok as “the coffee girl” connected with the crowd as she spoke about the heartbreaking divorce that inspired many of her songs. She delivered her emotional hits “Backroad Therapy” and “Painted Him Perfect” to a crowd that was in awe of her angelic voice and truly connected with the singer as their voices joined in to sing along. Fans also erupted in cheers for her guitarist, Rocco, who she lovingly introduced as the love of her life. Alexandra kept the audience captivated for more than 45 minutes, the longest performance of the night aside from headliner Brett Young.
The final act of the night, headliner Brett Young, took the stage in a pair of overalls, a charming smile, and those piercing blue eyes. Seated on a simple stool, he told the crowd how much he enjoys performing acoustic shows in intimate venues like the Stifel Theatre, setting the tone for a warm and personal set. He opened with his hit “Drink With You” before sharing a touching story about his parents’ love, which was the perfect segue into the song inspired by it, “Sleep Without You.” One of the standout moments of the night came when Young performed his hit “Catch” with his lead guitarist, Keaton Simons; the duo had the crowd singing along and enjoying every second. As if the show wasn’t exciting enough, as concertgoers left the venue, they were gifted holiday ornaments to adorn their own Christmas trees; the perfect memento to remember an unforgettable show! | Paul Liggett
