Each week, we bring you our picks for the best concerts of the next seven days! To submit your show for consideration, click here. All events are subject to change, especially in the age of COVID-19, so do check with the venue for the most up-to-date information before you head out for the night. And of course, be sure that you are aware of the venues’ COVID-safety requirements, as those vary from place to place and you don’t want to get stuck outside because you forgot your mask or proof of vaccination. Happy show-going!
The Mall w/ 18andCounting, D.Sablu, Scott Plant, Kong, DJ Sex Nintendo
7:30 p.m. Friday, July 29. The Golden Record, 2720 Cherokee Street. $15. No phone.
Following up on the runaway (and international!) success of 2020's Zone, the Mall's upcoming album Time Vehicle Earth promises more of the driving beats, minimalist synths and existential angst for which St. Louis' premier hard-edged minimal wave act is by now well known. Take "Deconstruction," the only track released so far from the project: Singer Mark Plant's half-shouted, reverb-drenched vocals hover over a propulsive beat fueled by sequenced drums and layered '80s synthesizers, delivering equal parts urgency and danceability alongside a set of seriously unsettling lyrics. "There's an illusion we can't break/We lick the windows of our enclosures/Spotting prey," Plant growls as the intricately crafted synths rise to a crescendo, buoyed by skittering hi-hats and haunting pads. Driven by a punk ethos and a DIY mindset, the dichotomy between the legitimately ass-shaking grooves and the dark, often furious subject matter is part of what makes the Mall's sound so fascinatingly effective, and the band plays the resulting tension to devastating — and very deliberate — effect. Or, as Plant put it to RFT in a 2020 interview, "I want it to be pretty. They're still pop songs. I just am mad."
It Takes Two: Formerly a solo project, the Mall now consists of both Plant and relative newcomer Spencer Bible. The pair will take their show on the road following Friday's performance with a 24-date tour on the East Coast from Canada to Florida. The run will be followed up by the release of Time Vehicle Earth in October. The Mall has promised there will be more songs released in the meantime; head to punk.bandcamp.com (no seriously, they got that URL somehow) for all the latest.
—Daniel Hill
The Lot Goes Local w/ Cara Louise, Valencia Rush, Choir Vandals, Holy Posers, Lumet, Michael Franco, Nite Sprites, Mold Gold, the Vanilla Beans, Macaron Afterparty, O[C]
3 p.m. Saturday, July 30. The Lot at The Big Top, 3401 Washington Avenue. $15 to $20. 314-533-0367.
Sure, St. Louis was thought of as "flyover" country at one point in time, but as the past year has shown especially, music lovers living in the river city are spoiled for choices. With national acts frequently hitting the Pageant, the Factory and the Saint Louis Music Park, it's easy to forget that this region is also an incubator for incredible original music. If you're not the type to see local bands on the regular but you are curious about the vibrant music community here in St. Louis, The Lot Goes Local offers a daylong speed run of the scene with a varied lineup that spans multiple genres. This festival comes by way of Jamo Presents, the local music entity behind an ongoing series of concerts that has so far featured the likes of George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic and Stephen Marley, to name a few, at the Lot at the Big Top. On this night, the spotlight will be turned toward 11 of St. Louis' most exciting bands for a marathon of local music inside a giant circus tent — all hosted by the Shitshow sketch-comedy crew. With an area dedicated to yard games and a market for local vendors, it's hard to think of a better (and still family friendly) introduction to the music scene.
From the Start: Wondering where to begin with the long list of performers on the lineup? We suggest looking up Holy Posers, an exceptional genre-hopping group led by songwriter Trent Dickerson — the very person responsible for helping bring together this all-star cast of hometown heroes.
—Joseph Hess
Synoptic Frequencies 2 w/ Laraaji, Aria Thomé
7 p.m. Saturday, July 30. Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 3600 Hampton Avenue. $15. 314-352-8050.
The public response and turnout for the first edition of Synoptic Frequencies was proof positive of curator Fitz Hartwig and the Distant Bloom music collective's vision for experimental music in sacred spaces. Now, exactly three months later, Hartwig and Co. return to the serene sound environment of the Gethsemane Lutheran Church with world-renowned ambient artist Laraaji, who is considered a pioneer of new-age music. His nearly five-decade tenure as an experimental musician includes more than 50 releases — most notably a collaboration with Brian Eno in 1980 titled Ambient 3: Day of Radiance. The story goes that Laraaji had converted his zither into an electronic instrument, and he met Eno while busking on the streets of New York. While that's a stirring origin story, Laraaji's recent work has rightfully brought him accolades and attention from a wide range of media outlets, from NPR to the Washington Post to Vogue. From his emphasis on calming and serene sounds to his penchant for almost always wearing the color orange, Laraaji has left an indelible impression on the landscape of electronic music in the United States.
Don't Forget the Fine Print: While the first event in the Synoptic Frequencies series was free, prospective concertgoers will have to throw down $15 for entry to this show. But, all things considered, that's a bargain for the world-class musicianship on display.
—Joseph Hess
THURSDAY JULY 28
-Aaron Carter: w/ RosesHands 8 p.m., $20-$220. Red Flag, 3040 Locust Street, St. Louis, 314-289-9050.
-Buddy Crime: w/ Klypi, Home & Office, DJ Shake Uranus 8 p.m., $7-$10. CBGB, 3163 S. Grand Blvd., St. Louis.
-Dizzy Wright: w/ Yonas 7:30 p.m., $25-$30. Pop's Nightclub, 401 Monsanto Ave., East St. Louis, 618-274-6720.
-Ethan Leinwand: w/ Miss Jubilee 8 p.m., $15. Joe's Cafe, 6014 Kingsbury Ave, St. Louis.
-Open Highway Music Festival: w/ Steve Earle & The Dukes, The Whitmore Sisters 8 p.m., $40. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505.
-Pecos & the Rooftops: 8 p.m., $20/$25. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161.
-Ryan Marquez Band: 7 p.m., $15. BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
-Sam Price and the True Believers: 9 p.m., TBA. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
-The Wilmingtons: 7 p.m., free. Das Bevo Biergarten, 4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-224-5521.
FRIDAY JULY 29
-Arlo McKinley: 8 p.m., $15-$20. Old Rock House, 1200 S. 7th St., St. Louis, 314-588-0505.
-Beth Bombara: w/ Middle Class Fashion, Boxcar 8 p.m., $15. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989.
-The Broken Hipsters: 7 p.m., free. Das Bevo Biergarten, 4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-224-5521.
-Brother Jefferson Band: 7 p.m., $15. BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
-Demarius Hicks: 7:30 p.m.; July 30, 7:30 p.m., free. The Harold & Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz, 3536 Washington Ave, St Louis, 314-571-6000.
-Dr. Zhivegas: 6 p.m., $10. The Attic Music Bar, 4247 S. Kingshighway, 2nd floor, St. Louis, 314-376-5313.
-Goo Goo Dolls: 7 p.m., TBA. St. Louis Music Park, 750 Casino Center Dr., Maryland Heights, 314-451-2244.
-Impending Doom: w/ War of Ages, This is Me Breathing, Hard Graves, Sacrifice the Sacred 6:30 p.m., $20. Red Flag, 3040 Locust Street, St. Louis, 314-289-9050.
-The Mall: w/ 18andCounting, D.Sablu, Scott Plant, Kong, DJ Sex Nintendo 7:30 p.m., $15. The Golden Record, 2720 Cherokee Street, St. Louis, N/A.
-Middle Class Fashion: w/ Beth Bombara, Boxcar 8 p.m., $15. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989.
-The Monocles: w/ No Antics, 1781 8 p.m., $10. The Heavy Anchor, 5226 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-352-5226.
-Saint Boogie Brass Band: 10 p.m., $10. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
-Superfun Yeah Yeah Rocketship: w/ The Legendary Tiger Rider, Ricki Marvel, Zantigo 7:30 p.m., $10. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.
-Sweet Lizzy Project: 7:30 p.m., $15. Blue Strawberry Showroom & Lounge, 364 N Boyle Ave, St. Louis, 314-256-1745.
-Third Sight / Dhoruba Collective: 11 p.m., $15. BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
SATURDAY JULY 30
-Backstreet Boys: 7:30 p.m., $39-$435. Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, I-70 & Earth City Expwy., Maryland Heights, 314-298-9944.
-Bit Brigade performs Mega Man and Castlevania: w/ Super Guitar Bros 8 p.m., $15. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989.
-Brewski Kicks on Route 66: w/ the Bobby Ford Band 1 p.m., $20-$75. The Factory, 17105 N Outer 40 Rd, Chesterfield, 314-423-8500.
-Cloud Machine: w/ At My Worst, the Doubted, Unknown & Sailing 8 p.m., $12. Red Flag, 3040 Locust Street, St. Louis, 314-289-9050.
-Convert: w/ Enemy of Magic, Van Buren, The Vast 8 p.m., $10. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.
-Demarius Hicks: July 29, 7:30 p.m.; 7:30 p.m., free. The Harold & Dorothy Steward Center for Jazz, 3536 Washington Ave, St Louis, 314-571-6000.
-The Factory Inaugural Brewfest: Brewski Fix on Route 66: noon, $50. The Factory, 17105 N Outer 40 Rd, Chesterfield, 314-423-8500.
-The Forestwood Boys: 7 p.m., free. Das Bevo Biergarten, 4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-224-5521.
-Garcia Peoples: 8 p.m., $15. The Ready Room, 4140 Manchester Ave, St. Louis, 314-833-3929.
-Ivas John Band: 7 p.m., $15. BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
-Jason Cooper Band: 3 p.m., $15. BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
-Laraaji: 7 p.m., $15. Gethsemane Lutheran Church, 3600 Hampton Avenue, St Louis, (314) 352-8050.
-Over Head Dog Acoustic: 6:30 p.m., free. 9 Mile Garden, 9375 Gravois Rd, Affton, 3143902806.
-Pinegrove: w/ Poise 8 p.m., $27. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161.
-Proud Larry: 6:30 p.m., $10. The Attic Music Bar, 4247 S. Kingshighway, 2nd floor, St. Louis, 314-376-5313.
-Third Sight / Dhoruba Collective: 11 p.m., $15. BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
-With Glee: w/ Grip Slime, Giant's Knife 8 p.m., $10. The Heavy Anchor, 5226 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-352-5226.
SUNDAY JULY 31
-The Extra 3: 9 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
-The Hangovers: w/ Ex Cathedra, V Formation, Gavin Crowe 8 p.m., $12. Red Flag, 3040 Locust Street, St. Louis, 314-289-9050.
-Hot Hands Wonderland: 3 p.m., free. KT's Smokehouse, 4574 Telegraph Road, South St. Louis County, 314-892-7788.
-Love Jones "The Band": 7 p.m., $15. BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
-Monica: 5 p.m., $50. Ballpark Village, 601 Clark Ave, St. Louis, 314-345-9481.
-Press Play Concert Series: w/ Monica, Tono Da Poet, Buddy Luv, Darius Bradford 5 p.m., $50. Ballpark Village, 601 Clark Ave, St. Louis, 314-345-9481.
-Rocky and the Wranglers: 10 a.m., free. Das Bevo Biergarten, 4749 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-224-5521.
-Sarah Shook & the Disarmers: 8 p.m., $17/$20. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989.
-Sunday Rhythm & Blues Sessions: 3 p.m., $15. BB's Jazz, Blues & Soups, 700 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-436-5222.
MONDAY AUGUST 1
-Alex Ruwe: 9 p.m., $5. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
-Comedy Shipwreck Open Mic: w/ Chad Wallace 9 p.m., free. The Heavy Anchor, 5226 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, 314-352-5226.
-Dreadnought: w/ Path of Might, Blackwell, Nest 7 p.m., $10/$12. The Sinkhole, 7423 South Broadway, St. Louis, 314-328-2309.
-Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo: 7:30 p.m., TBA. The Factory, 17105 N Outer 40 Rd, Chesterfield, 314-423-8500.
TUESDAY AUGUST 2
-Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness: w/ Dashboard Confessional 7 p.m., $29-$59. St. Louis Music Park, 750 Casino Center Dr., Maryland Heights, 314-451-2244.
-Coin: w/ BLACKSTARKIDS 8 p.m., $29.50-$35. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161.
-Crash Test Dummies: 8 p.m., $40-$50. Delmar Hall, 6133 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, 314-726-6161.
-Duhart Duo: 5 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
-Night Moves: 8 p.m., $15/$18. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Ave., St. Louis, 314-498-6989.
-Steve Bauer and Matt Rudolph: 9 p.m., free. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3
-Banarang: 7 p.m., free. Steve's Hot Dogs, 3145 South Grand, St. Louis.
-Old Salt Union: 5 p.m., free. Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Blvd., St. Louis, 314-577-9400.
-Voodoo JGB: 9 p.m., $12. Broadway Oyster Bar, 736 S. Broadway, St. Louis, 314-621-8811.
