The RFT Music Showcase was a melting pot of music. There were so many different bands at various venues, it was hard to choose which ones to see. There was a huge crowd at the outdoor stage when Sleepy Kitty came on, and they brought lots of energy to the stage. Not only are they a talented musician, but they also designed the logo this year. After them, I headed to the various venues on Washington Street. Cassie Morgan and the Lonely Pine had a sweet, melancholy sound, while Theodore rocked the stage at the Dubliner to a packed house. Dots Not Feathers played to a calmer crowd with their soft, catchy tunes. At the Copia Winery and Market, Union Tree Review ended the night with a bang. As the lead singer/guitarist made his way into the crowd, Bo and the Locomotive, joined them on stage for their last song. It was great to see all the local favorites in one place, and I look forward to next year.
Review by Abby Gillardi. Check out her Flickr stream for more Showcase photos.
To best imagine what the Music Showcase is you only have to imagine a full day festival filled with the best local bands St. Louis has to offer. The outdoor stage was surrounded by sponsor tents and grooving fans. It was very hot and sweaty - very festival like. Once you stepped inside one of the venues you received a swoosh of air conditioning and fresh atmosphere. Each venue had it's own unique feel, most felt very unfitting for the bands that played there. That may be why the RFT Music Showcase is so worthy of your attendance. You get the chance to see the bands in places you never would imagined. Plus, it was only $5 to see the 50 or so bands. The best reaction I witnessed all night was of Best New Band nominee Dots Not Feathers at the Over/Under Bar and Grill. The crowd started an uproar of chanting for one more song, this just after I hear the sound engineer congratulating the band for finishing right on time. Needless to say, they didn't get their encore. It was a amazing night for music fanatics and I am sure an even better one for the participating venues.
Review by Jarred Gasterich. Check out his Flickr stream for even more Showcase photos.
Additional photos by Travis Crosby. See more on his Picasa web album.
