It could have happened in any dimly-lit bar or club over the past 33 years. Mission of Burma, the iconic post-punk power trio from Boston, could have played any number of venues that have come and gone in St. Louis, but they didn't. In that sense, their show at the Firebird last night was indeed historic.

Punk-rock icon turned wordsmith Henry Rollins summed up his set of spoken word material perfectly himself last night. Stating that he was, "Like a 33 1/3 RPM record playing at 78 RPM," Rollins advised, "I try to squeeze eight hours of material into four and a half."

When the buzz surrounding a band is in the air the electricity is palpable. Last night at the Old Rock House, high excitement ensued as Delta Spirit had the St. Louis audience thoroughly humming in unison.

Lucero
"Women & Work"
ATO

With their latest studio record, "Women & Work," the alt-country rockers known as Lucero have managed to harness fully the music of their hometown to make their most Memphis-sounding record yet.

Late in his set, Hayes Carll gave his appreciation to the audience as he said, "Thanks for coming out on a Sunday night especially after the official Super Bowl of drinking yesterday."

Had any unsuspecting music fan walked in for the Del Fuegos performance at the Old Rock House on Thursday night they wouldn't have had any inkling that the band they had paid to see had not played regularly together in 25 years.

As the audience roared and gave Los Lobos a standing ovation, guitarist Cesar Rosas joked, "You know we're Los Lobos? Not Los Lonely Boys right?" The St. Louis crowd, fully aware of who they were about to see, were genuinely thrilled and the air filled with electricity.

Wouldn't you just know it? A cold blast of winter finally arrived in St. Louis yesterday just as native Minnesotan Craig Finn rolled into town to play Off Broadway.

Last night, halfway through his set, Todd Snider asked the audience to request songs. Loud calls rained down directed at the stage.

Possessing a humor that draws fans in, singer-songwriter Todd Snider often covers topics that run much deeper.