Live from the Boom Room is a live music video series featuring live performances recorded in the Blip Blap Video HQ bunker in St. Louis, Mo. Learn more about Blip Blap Video at blipblapvideo.com, or follow them on Instagram and YouTube.
This week’s episode of Live from the Boom Room features SoulCity Organ Trio performing “Sweet Pea.” Stay tuned for the rest of the fifth and final season with a new video every two weeks.
About this week’s artist:
SoulCity Organ Trio is a soul, funk and jazz group based on St. Louis, MO. Led by organist Luke Sailor and guitarist Matt Lesch, they released their first record, titled Meet Us Here, in June 2023. The album and group have received airplay and interviews from Andy Coco’s The Rhythm Section and WSIE 88.7 (Jason Church’s The Jazz Collective).
What brought you to this point in your life as a working St. Louis artist?
Luke Sailor: Matt and I went to college together, and I’ve been playing in his blues band for years. The conversation to form an organ trio was natural and we wanted to jump on the idea of making an instrumental album. It was also my first experience self-releasing an album.
What inspires your music? What does this song in particular mean to you?
Sailor: Our music is inspired by all organ trios that came before us – from the godfathers Jimmy Smith, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Jimmy McGriff, Jack McDuff, Joey DeFrancesco to more modern organists like Delvon Lamarr, Chris Foreman, Chris Hazelton. We put our unique modern lens into our songwriting. This song is titled “Sweet Pea.” It started as a drum pattern brought in by our original drummer, Taryn Michelson. I then wrote a melody and chords to it. It was the last song, and puzzle piece, written and recorded for our first album.
Who in St. Louis are you inspired by right now?
Sailor: As far as organists go, I’m inspired by Dave Grelle, Nate Hershey, and Ryan Marquez, to name a few. Otherwise, I’m inspired by so many – RonKat Spearman, Scooter Brown, Billy Gritz, Joey Ferber, Marquise Knox, Monkh, Brit Lockhart, Andy Coco, Tef Poe, K Kudda, Samir Knox, and many more. Special shout-out to Dylan Triplett, an STL native who is touring worldwide.
What artists are you performing with lately?
Sailor: I’m currently touring with Tony Holiday (we’re set to hit Europe in 2025!), Marquise Knox, and RonKat Spearman.
Matt Lesch: I’m currently touring with Marquise Knox and Dylan Triplett. We have some big shows coming up such as the Legendary Blues Cruise in January and October and many other shows both nationally and internationally.
Where do you hope to be in 5 years?
Sailor: I hope to be writing and producing music for myself and other artists and continue touring around the world!
Lesch: In 5 years, I hope to be touring with my own band as well as creating more music with other friends in this music scene. I am releasing an original blues album called Blues Cut Like Glass in January 2025, so I hope to have another blues album under my belt in another 5 years.
Links:
Linktree | Facebook | Instagram
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