Photo of Julia Eubanks of Creeping Charlie courtesy of the band’s Bandcamp page
In the first half of 2024, I was writing reviews of student music shows, finishing my time at school. In the second half, I began working at an independent venue in St. Louis, which, of course, only continued my love for live music. Whether an arena show from a musician I know and love or an artist I’ve never heard before in a basement, I didn’t regret a single concert I saw this year. Here are the five most memorable ones to me in chronological order.
1. Creeping Charlie, March 1 (Gardener Lounge — Grinnell, IA)
I attended a college of 1,600 students in a city of 9,500 people, so bringing in touring artists was essential for musical nourishment. What stood out to me about this show was the connection that Creeping Charlie made with the crowd of about two hundred 18-to-20-year-olds. They joked with the audience members and spoke about being in the small town. In addition to that rapport, the band indeed played well with interesting guitar licks and surprising drum patterns. With live energy, frontwoman Julia Eubanks’ vocals impressed me, as I was used to her breathy indie sound on the recorded tracks.
2. Sleater-Kinney, March 21 (Riviera Theatre — Chicago, IL)
Riot grrrl is my favorite musical movement, so it was a dream of mine to see Sleater-Kinney. After Black Belt Eagle Scout opened with a beautiful, earnest set, I could feel the anticipation of the audience, filled with a span of ages. As soon as Carrie Brownstein and Corin Tucker jumped in with “Hell” from their new album Little Rope, the room became electric. Something notable about the band is the extent of their discography, with selections from 1996 to 2024. I especially appreciated that aspect of the set — the scope of songs, from their riot grrrl staples to recent, indie-rock excellence.
3. Alanis Morissette, July 3 (PNC Bank Arts Center — Holmdel, NJ)
Alanis Morissette delivered one of the best arena shows that I have ever seen. In that space, where a singer has the task of connecting to some 17,000 people, she not only fulfilled that expectation, she exceeded it through a combination of her vocal ability, movement, stage design, and conversation between songs. From Morissette’s classic spin move of the Jagged Little Pill era to her somber staring at the audience in tracks like “Hands Clean” and “Thank You,” she felt present and made me feel present. However, I was biased to like this show from when I bought tickets, though, because Joan Jett & The Blackhearts opened, and I have had a crush on Joan Jett since I was little.
4. Destroy Boys, July 29 (Wooly’s — Des Moines, IA)
This past summer, I saw Destroy Boys for the third time with an incredible lineup of support from Basketball Divorce Court and Sorry Mom. All around, each band provided a fitting name for a punk show, and they also each definitely brought the energy. I wasn’t sure about Destroy Boys’ more recent music that they were exhibiting at this concert, as my personal favorites from them come from their first album. However, frontperson Alexia Roditis performed their new work with finesse that gave me a more positive impression. I’ve also always loved Violet Mayugba’s guitar work, which really shone that night in tracks like “Beg for the Torture.”
5. Aaron Frazer, September 20 (Off Broadway — St. Louis, MO)
Aaron Frazer was one of those instances where I did not know the artist, but, clearly, his set turned into one of my favorites. The Tailspins, a jump blues-style band, opened, so I was expecting more country tunes. However, Aaron Frazer’s sweet soul voice evoked a bit of ’90s R&B mixed with a current pop, hip hop sound. Again, this show stood out to me because of the effort that Frazer put in to connect with the audience. He entered on the stage and sat behind the drums, displaying refined instrumental skills, before jumping up and crushing it on the mic. After the first song, he spoke about St. Louis’ importance as a historic music city and said that it meant so much to perform here. | Krista Spies
