w/ Large Spoon & Space Quaker | 09.19.26, 8:00pm | 2720 Cherokee St. | All ages | $16.40 –$19.40
Matt F Basler knows a good gimmick when he sees one. The St. Louis singer-songwriter (and sometime member of Middle Class Fashion) once had the most complicated EP release show ever, and he made national news by performing Santana and Rob Thomas’ immortal song “Smooth” twenty times in a row. Some (but not me) might view the latter as a punishment. Fortunately for them, any suffering at Basler’s next show will be entirely self-inflicted. That’s because at this show, he’ll not only be playing his own material: he’ll be eating an entire four-foot-long hot dog while doing it.
Will he finish it? Will he keep it down? And is it funnier if he does, or doesn’t? The only way to find out is to head to the Golden Record (2720 Cherokee St.) this Saturday night and find out. You’ll not only get a one-of-a-kind show: there will also be hot dogs and tattoos for the crowd, and t-shirts for anyone who buys their tickets in advance. Intrigued? We caught up with Basler to get a preview of the festivities.
The Arts STL: Let’s start with the question on everybody’s mind: why?
Matt F Basler: I want to give people new experiences. It occurred to me that you never see people eat during shows. I think everyone can immediately think of several reasons WHY you never see people eat during shows, but what a treat it would be to actually see those reasons on display.
What, if any, toppings will this hot dog have on it?
I will have ketchup and mustard available to me. While I would like to have relish, the logistics just don’t work out.
Have you been doing any training leading up to the event?
I have done zero prep. I HAVE eaten some hot dogs for promotional videos, but not in any amount out of the ordinary. I want to leave the option for failure wide open. I will have a bucket.
Have you ever done any of our fair city’s other competitive eating, like the Pointersaurus or Crown Candy Kitchen’s 5 Malt Challenge? If so, how’d it go?
I’ve never done an eating challenge. I was going to try the Pointersaurus with my beautiful, perfect lover, Courtney, but she decided pizza should only be for pleasure.
I feel like I can do anything if there’s an audience and they think what I’m doing is funny or weird. I’m always doing pullups or climbing poles at shows, and I don’t think I could do any of that if no one was watching.
On a more serious note, this isn’t just a spectacle, it’s also a rock concert. For those who have never heard you before, how would you describe what people are in for musically on Saturday night?
Yes! It IS a rock show! And I hope that putting a little something extra on top of this one (similar to how one might put a condiment on a hot dog) might get some people out who wouldn’t normally go to this kind of thing. Live entertainment has a lot to compete with lately, and I hope people will realize that a solid three band bill is more than worth leaving the house for.
Me? Personally? My stuff? It’s kind of all over the place, but it’s all the fun songs. None of that lover’s lament crap. It’s all peppy, happy, up-tempo. It’s snappy!
Tell us a bit about the other bands on the bill.
Large Spoon is a cool, fun three-piece that I think shares my ethos for making shows as fun and enjoyable for the audience as possible. Space Quaker has too many people in their band and that’s really appealing to me.
I have the palate of an 8-year-old and still like ketchup on my hot dogs. Am I still invited?
Never in this world will I side with someone who is telling someone else how to eat their hot dog. Be true to yourself in condiments and all other matters. I only want to build wildly inclusive events. The only people not welcome are the ones who are worried about how you’re sucking down dog. | Jason Green
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit thegoldenrecord.live.
