John Legend, Common and De La Soul

Wednesday, August 3; the Pageant (6161 Delmar Boulevard)

Aug 3, 2005 at 4:00 am

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St. Louis doesn't see many high-profile hip-hop/contemporary R&B touring acts, but this extravaganza makes up for a year's worth of misses. De La Soul and Common are currently reprising their 2000 tour together -- but this time the party includes John Legend, whose exquisite vocals, sensitive piano and trans-generational songwriting influences make him the leading heir to Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield's legacies. In a genre that has little pity for old-timers, De La Soul has overcome label woes and changing fashions to continue innovating, like on last year's album The Grind Date. And Common's huge single "Be" is so strikingly distinctive, you can pardon the presence of dorm-folk dumbass John Mayer in the video.

Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $26 (21+ only); call 314-726-6161 for more information.