Photo of Slowdive’s Neil Halstead, live at The Pageant on May 4, 2024 by Bryan J. Sutter. Check out his review and photos of the show here.
Pulp, September 8 at the Aragon Ballroom, Chicago. My #1 bucket list show. It’s been a few months since and can scantly believe that, after 30 years, I finally got to see them still. One of those shows that I never ever thought was going to happen without some serious travel. Just perfect in every way, plus we got a new song. It was in Chicago and the last time they played there was something like 1996, so the rarity of it wasn’t lost on me.
The Jesus and Mary Chain, Sept 9 at the Stifel Theater, St Louis. Another bucket list show. I had a good time with it even if their stage presence was slightly perfunctory. Good set list with a mix of classic tunes and songs from the latest LP. I’m glad I got to see them at least once. Having Psychedelic Furs as an opener was a great call also. They are fun live and got the crowd going.
Bob Mould, September 22 at Delmar Hall, St. Louis. Bob is my favorite musician of all time. This was a solo electric show and it was fantastic as always. Great setlist with a mixture of songs from his entire career. Got to see it with my Bob partner-in-crime Jason Green (who reviewed the show here) and my brother-in-law, whom I have turned into a Bob guy, made it even more special.
Slowdive, May 4 at the Pageant, St Louis. Another band I never thought would ever be possible to see. Being a big shoegaze fan, when they reformed a few years ago I was pleased and very surprised. Their first, self-titled reunion album is really good, their newest (2023’s Everything Is Alive), however, is incredible and just is a whole mood. Lo and behold, they announced a gig here in town. The latest album is an incredible LP and seeing them live was a thrill.
Osees, October 30 at Thalia Hall, Chicago. One of my favorite bands to see live, they always BRING it. Another Chicago show (they’ve never played St Louis that I could ever find). Every year they do two nights at Thalia Hall and my wife and I were supposed to attend both, sadly only made the second night due to pet-related emergencies while on the drive up (we had to turn around halfway up). They seemed to have a little extra oomph on the second night which made up for it. Opener Iguana Death Cult were tremendous as well.
King Buffalo, December 20 at Off Broadway, St Louis. For those unfamiliar, King Buffalo is part heavy Psychedelic, Stoner, and Doom with some minor heavy blues and prog elements band. Their 2022 LP, Regenerator, is a slightly less heavy slab of doom and psychedelic goodness. Toured through November and most of December before the release of their next LP. Currently they’ve only released one single from the new record, and it is fantastic live. Excellent mix of songs from their five LPs, and closed with Regenerator’s closing track “Firmament,” which may be my favorite KB song. Just mind-blowing live. | Michael Koehler
