Concert review: Saint Motel w/ Brigitte Calls Me Baby | 05.14.25, The Hawthorn (with photo gallery)

Photo of Saint Motel’s AJ Jackson by Laura Jerele

Saint Motel turned their Symphony in the Sky tour stop at The Hawthorn into a full-on midweek celebration, kicking things off with a visually lush and playful symphonic intro that set the stage for what would become a nonstop party. From the excited crowd singalong and dance-off during “Move,” complete with light sticks waving like a mid-week mini-rave, to their animated and very theatrical energy that ran through the entire set, this California-based indie-pop band totally brought their A-game and then some!

I’ve never seen Saint Motel live, though I had heard they’re known for their clever visuals and are a lot of fun, and man, did they did ever deliver that—along with sounding stellar! They’re definitely pros, and super fab musicians, but they’re also tremendous fun. They delivered all the ingredients of a great show: a horn section that gave songs extra punch, infectious hooks that walked the line between super polished pop and moody indie, and a dash of wicked sense of humor. Tracks like “Fine Wine,” “Stay Golden,” and “My Type” blended textures without ever slowing the pace. “Steady Hand” landed like a mid-set climax, with booming drums, dazzling lights, and echoing vocals that felt like a grand finale—except the band wasn’t even close to done! Frontman AJ Jackson was magnetic throughout, shifting seamlessly from commanding the stage behind a piano to donning angel wings to nearly diving into the crowd. He’s the kind of frontman who knows exactly how to read the room and turn it into his playground.

Saint Motel certainly has a flair for blending sound and vision, and this show was no exception—it was a blast! They brought color, charisma, and total commitment to fun, the kind of performance that makes you want to see them again. I know I sure will! The band is composed of singer, songwriter, and producer AJ Jackson (vocals, guitar, piano), Aaron Sharp (lead guitar), Dak Lerdamornpong (bass), and Greg Erwin (drums). The encore brought a surprise with Jackson entering the front doors of the Hawthorn and being in the crowd which made everyone go…well…bonkers! The finale was comprised of “A Bluer Blue,” “Sweet Talk,” “Van Horn,” and ending the night with their biggest hit, “My Type.”

Brigitte Calls Me Baby might just be one of the most magnetic bands making music right now and I was dying to see them ever since they hit my radar. They’re why I wanted to cover this show so badly—I just had to see them! And I can guarantee that after this recent stop in town, they proved exactly why they’re turning so many heads. Hailing from Chicago (don’t hold that against them!), they gave a performance that was equal parts vintage cool and extremely modern charm, effortlessly blending eras and sounds into something truly their own. Styled in a way that didn’t feel American, looking more mod like The Kinks rather than a Midwest act, somehow giving the freshest of vibes despite comparisons to The Smiths or Morrissey that may come to mind. Frontman Wes Leavins’ swoon-worthy presence and crooning vocals chalk up those parallels, but they fade fast once you realize just how original and emotionally rich this band really is.

From the start, Brigitte Calls Me Baby had the crowd wrapped up in a ‘woah, who are these guys?’ kind of moment. Their killer look, sound, and energy were all perfect and the music was even more captivating live than I hoped! Each track was like stepping into my own personal dreamy time warp, full of retro romanticism layered over sharp indie-rock edges that cut. There’s a rare elegance to their songs. Their songs like “Palm of Your Hand” and “The Future Is Our Way Out” are grounded in very real, very current emotional terrain we all know, like love, longing, and the quiet chaos of being human. This is a band—Wes Leavins (vocals), Trevor Lynch (guitar), Jack Fluegel (guitar), Devin Wessels (keyboard/bass), and Jeremy Benshish (drums)—that clearly knows who they are and where they’re going. Their music is tight, giving stylish performances with an unmistakable sense of identity. Brigitte Calls Me Baby didn’t just meet expectations, they raised the bar. And despite their set-ending song “Impressively Average,” they proved that they are anything but! Do not sleep on this band! | Laura Jerele