Take a Giant Step
LOVE of Community Radio has found a new temporary home - and a bridge to our future
Come with me I’ll take you where the taste of life is green
Each and every day holds wonders to be seenCome with me, leave yesterday behind
And take a giant step outside your mind
The Monkees are best known for recording the Goffin & King composition “Take a Giant Step” back in 1966. Well, having community radio back in St. Louis, the way we remember it when it was at its best is becoming a reality. While we have made significant progress, several key milestones remain before we can launch our FM station. We’re also not quite ready to announce an official date for the launch of the new online station, we hope it will be some time in December.
Stay tuned to our Substack for all the breaking news!
Our new temporary home will be located in the old Emmanuel Congregation church built in 1925. Now known as Lindenwood Park Place, it functions as a great community space - a social club that includes a tavern game room, library game room, golf simulator, gymnasium, office spaces, live music venue, and soon an online community radio station!
Mark Your Calendars!
LOVE of Community Radio STL hosts its first ever VINYL RECORD SALE
And mark your calendars: LOVE of Community Radio STL hosts its first ever VINYL RECORD SALE on Saturday, December 6. This day-long event will feature hundreds of killer vinyl records (and maybe even CDs, tapes and who knows what else) for sale to the public. Proceeds will benefit our efforts to launch a NEW community radio station in St. Louis. If you’d like to donate records or other musical goodies to the sale, drop us a line!
The sale will take place at the Lindenwood Park Place Social Club, a fantastic complex (it looks like a church but it’s not a church!) at 3460 Jamieson Ave. St. Louis, MO 63139. It’s also going to be the new temporary home for the new online radio station!
Monthly Open Meeting
Join us at 7PM on Tuesday October 7 at The Schlafly Tap Room and find out what committees are up to and how you can help us reach or goals. 2100 Locust St, St. Louis.
More Spins!
On Saturday, October 11 the one and only Carlos Jove of the former KDHX show Latin Hemispheres will be spinning Latin grooves and more from 3-6pm at Taps & Tunes at 4 Hands downtown. Remember a portion of the bar will be donated to LOVE of Community Radio STL!
Then on Saturday October 25th bobEE Sweet, John Wendland and Rich Reese will be prepping you for Halloween with an all vinyl Spin Spooktacular at The Royale from 6-close!
Fanetti Fest Four
October 19 - Fanetti Park. LOVE of CRSTL is proud to join the Carondelet Concert Series to co-present this great community festival in Fanetti Park in the Patch neighborhood. Date is October 19. Noon-7PM. Bands include: ComRad!, Charles Calello and Company, Bruiser Queen, Midwest Avengers, Beth Bombara, Adam Gaffney, Turner Cody, Rough Shop and more! This is a free, day-long music event so bring your lawn chairs and coolers!
Evolution Festival 2025
A non-sugar-coated review by LOVE of CRSTL member Allen Dahm
After attending LouFest from its 2nd year until its last, I was pleasantly surprised when a new festival, Evolution Festival, took its place after about 3 years without a St. Louis music festival. Lineups have been solid, if unspectacular, with headliners like The Black Keys, Brandi Carlile, and Beck. But, the festival seems to be much better run so lineup unseen, I committed to attending this year’s Evolution Fest.
In recent weeks, I’ve seen a few columns and subreddits about how music criticism isn’t what it used to be, a la Lester Bangs and even some earlier Pitchford reviews where they weren’t afraid to be negative so I’m going to provide some honest feedback.(How Music Criticism Lost Its Edge | The New Yorker and How Music Criticism Lost Its Edge : r/indieheads
While I wasn’t thrilled with the entire lineup, I was really looking forward to seeing a few bands I love and a couple that I’d probably never see without the diversity of a Festival lineup. So, without further ado, here’s a recap of what I saw keeping in mind that I arrived at 4:00 the first day and 3:00 on Sunday.
Saturday:
The Kills - Boring. No heart, no melodies and just a sludge set.
The Pharcyde - Short set that I didn’t really hear while I was getting food.
The Hives - Started 15 minutes late so cut the set from its intended 1 hour down to 45 minutes. But, I’ve gotta hand it to them, they brought the energy, especially on a sunny near 90 degree day, all while wearing what looked to be newfangled tuxedos. They were fun and definitely made the heat a little more bearable.
Corinne Bailey Rae - Granted, I didn’t see much of this set but what I did see … yawn.
Sam Fender - I’d heard a few songs I liked leading into the show but was pleasantly surprised by the set. Tuneful and fun if only blemished by the drunk woman near us who must have yelled “I Love You Sam” about 30 times.
Public Enemy - Admittedly Public Enemy doesn’t fall into my comfort zone of music that I would seek out but I understand their importance to the music landscape. I went into the show excited to see them but with a limited expectation. I thought they were much better than I could have hoped for. The songs were great and they seemed to be having a lot of fun on stage.
Sublime - I get the desire in the current market for retro but a band that put out maybe one decent album 30 years ago - who now tours with the son of the deceased lead singer/songwriter - seemed an odd and unfortunate choice to headline this night of the festival. I was surprised by how many Sublime shirts I saw so they obviously have some fans but I thought their performance was *7%$. Jakob Nowell, the son of the late Bradley Nowell, did provide a lot of energy onstage. But, his banter could have been found on bric a brac lining the walls of kitchens in Des Peres and Ballwin. I hope some of the marketing team from Michael’s or Hobby Lobby were there to write some of the drivel down. I’ll be more kind, say I love you often, and dance like nobody’s watching. Thanks.
Sunday:
Low Cut Connie - Admittedly, one of the reasons I was excited for the lineup, LCC did not disappoint. I’ve never seen more energy from a performer than Adam Weiner, the leader of Low Cut Connie. He found a way to dance on a piano, visit with the crowd, and shake his tail feathers along with one of his backup singers. It was early in the day but it seemed everyone at the festival found their way to the Lindenwood stage to see them and I do hope they gained many fans on this day. It was an inspiring 30 minutes that reawakened my love of rock and roll after Sublime had managed to kill it the night before.
Maggie Rose - A good performance, if a bit generic. She can definitely sing but being on the big stage at the hottest part of the day with the sun beating down on the crowd made it difficult to love the show. Maybe I’m being generous because I appreciate my current air conditioning.
Cut Worms - The first two songs had some major audio issues. It seemed like they didn’t do a sound check and were just winging it. By song 3 they’d managed to find the right mix but in a 30 minute performance, no time can be wasted (I’m guessing they didn’t see Low Cut Connie’s show). Also, they were extremely low energy. I did like some of the songs but this was not the kind of performance that would make me want to put down their album and go see them in concert.
Marcus King Band - I could tell that they brought some fans with them. But, I felt they were a mash up of Jason Isbell and Allman Brothers Band. But, again I was in the hot sun and may be a bit overheated.
Pokey Lafarge - I saw Pokey several times over about a 6 year span in the St. Louis area and he was always a fun watch. Then he seemed to go big time, moved to LA, and lost a lot of his edge. To be fair, he didn’t bring back a lot of the fun but it was a very professional show and the band really did seem to care and I enjoyed the fact that they reworked many of his classic songs (“Central Time”, for one). It was also the perfect time of day with the sun lowering and the evening coolness approaching. Maybe my sun stroke was going away.
TLC - Honestly, I didn’t expect to love this set and this is another band I knew I’d have never seen outside of a festival so I was intrigued. All I knew of TLC was “Waterfalls”, a major hit in the 90’s. But, WTH … I thought they were a pop band led by 3 women (one of whom later died in a car crash)? So, I expected girl group sounds. What I got was a bad mix of dancers and a male MC who seemed to overshadow the ladies singing and seemed to be much louder in the mix. Can I have that hour back?
Father John Misty - To be honest, I LOVE Father John Misty. I’ve seem him at least 4 times and it’s always a great show. And because of how much I love him, I enjoyed the show. But, trying to take a step back from my love of FJM, he didn’t bring the energy that you need to keep a crowd’s interest. It was nice seeing some of the new songs live.
Lenny Kravitz - While I didn’t think putting Lenny Kravitz in the headliner spot was as much of a reach as Sublime, I feel like Evolution Fest really needs to step up its booking game to be a serious festival contender. Alabama Shakes were touring this summer. Maybe Kendrick Lamar? Even Neil Young is out there. Lenny was … fine, nah, he was good. He played the hits and the crowd seemed to enjoy it.
Weekly Playlist
DJ Brian Lock (Of Universal Default) has the latest and greatest playlist of ryou to spin. Read On!
From the archive, we’re picking a September 2023 Sound Salvation hosted by Caron (filling in for Steve Pick), off the vine this week.
Some folks stir the pot, others must deal with it, and this week’s mix has tunes from both sides. Since our problems won’t go away, we might as well learn to roll with the punches. Trouble might come knocking, but you’ve got a soundtrack for it now. We hope you enjoy ‘A Setback Can Be a Setup for a Comeback If You Don’t Let Up.’
One more thing, did you know James Brown had his own dance show for a brief time in the 70s? His estate recently posted the first episode of Future Shock, which aired 50 years ago last month. This came across our radar, and we are passing it along. Some wild stuff!
September Sound Salvation on YouTube
A Setback Can Be A Setup For A Comeback… on YouTube
Album Release Update for 10.03.25
DJ Allen Dahm (pulling double duty this on this week’s newsletter!) former host of Bittersweet Melody on the former radio station KDHX, has the scoop on all the upcoming album releases. And as always, what are you looking forward to? Leave us a comment and let us know!
2BYG – The Yearbook
Adekunle Gold – FUJI
Adult Leisure – The Things You Don’t Know Yet
AFI – Silver Bleeds the Black Sun…
Agriculture – The Spiritual Sound
Alicia Keys – Unplugged 20th Anniversary
Ann Annie – El Prado
Arthur & Punisher – Nocturnal Birding
The Bloody Beetroots – Forever Part One EP
Blue Lake – The Animal
Cal in Red – The Days EP
Carter Faith – Cherry Valley
Cheap Perfume – Don’t Care. Didn’t Ask.
Cory Marks – Sorry For Nothing Volume 2
Deaf Havana – We’re Never Getting Out
Dierks Bentley – Broken Branches Extended
dodie – Not For Lack of Trying
Dolo Tonight – DVD Rental Store
FearDorian and osquinn (She/Her) – Before You Press Play
Gatlin – The Eldest Daughter
Glimmer – Get Weak
Gully Boys – Gully Boys
Harrison Storm – Empty Garden
Haerts – Laguna Road
Hooded Menace – Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration
Homeboy Sandman – Tears of Joy EP
Ink – BIG BUSKIN’ EP
jackzebra – Hunched Jack
James Morrison – Fight Another Day
Jamie Woon – 3, 10, Why, When
Jason Isbell – Something More Than Free (10th Anniversary Reissue)
Joan Baez – Farewell, Angelina (Vinyl Reissue)
John Carpenter – Halloween: The Complete Expanded Collection
Johnny Clarke – African Roots
JOHNNYSWIM – When The War Is Over (Deluxe Edition)
Joseph Arthur and Peter Buck – Arthur Buck 2
Ledisi – For Dinah
Lovejoy – One Simple Trick
Luke Combs – The Prequel EP
Malibu – Vanities
Marta – Out the Way
Matisyahu – Ancient Child
Max Pope – Praise Animal
Mayday Parade – Sad
Michael Schenker Group – Don’t Sell Your Soul
Moon Panda – Dumb Luck
My Morning Jacket – Z 20th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
Naima Bock – Live In Toulon EP
Nala Sinephro – The Smashing Machine (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Nicki Bluhm – Rancho Deluxe
Noah Floersch – Francis Aquarius
Noods – I Never Dream About You
Oasis – (What’s The Story) Morning Glory? (30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition)
P.E. – Oh!
Prewn – System
Pynch – Beautiful Noise
Rachael Yamagata – Starlit Alchemy
Real Bad Man and Genevieve Artadi – Everything Is Under Control
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus – X’s For Eyes
Richard Ashcroft – Lovin’ You
The Rions – Everything Every Single Day
Rocket – R Is for Rocket
S. Carey – Watercress EP
Snooper – Worldwide
Sparks – MADDER! EP
Stay Inside – Lunger
Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl
teethin – Greed Between The Lines EP
Thrice – Horizons/West
Upchuck – I’m Nice Now
Vitamin String Quartet – VSQ Performs Billie Eilish
Waylon Jennings – Songbird
Wild Pink – The Horns (Deluxe Edition)
Will Anderson – How Little Love Is / How Worth Everything
Worthitpurchase – Worthitpurchase
The Concert Calendar for 10.3.25-10.10.25
LOVE of Community Radio STL member Ken Laster, and his support team led by Shawn Greene, have the big run down on upcoming shows through the first week of October. Be sure to follow Ken’s Concert Calendar Podcast on Facebook. Every Monday Ken and Shawn break down the upcoming concerts and even play snippets of songs with great info about the bands and ticket costs!
What shows are you hitting this weekend? Leave us a comment and let us know!
🎶 Friday, Oct. 3
Drew Lance & Friends — Broadway Oyster Bar
Rick Green & Friends — 1860 Saloon
Bill Frisell Trio; Gregory Tardy — City Winery STL
Lita Ford; Dee Snider; Firehouse; Red Voodoo — Family Arena
Bless The Fall; Miss May I; Dark Divine; Colorblind — Red Flag STL
Mary Stallings — Jazz St. Louis
Jon Bonham & Friends — Frisco Barroom
Pik’N Lik’N — Evangeline’s Bistro & Music House
The Claudettes — Blue Strawberry STL
The Special Consensus — The Focal Point
The Barrelhouse Sinners — Das Bevo Biergarten
Niko Moon; Iam Tongi — The Factory STL
Willi Carlisle; The Lowest Pair — Delmar Hall
Flying House; BAJA — Off Broadway STL
Gary Numan; Tremours — The Sovereign STL
Dummy; The Mall; Perfect Worker — The Sinkhole
Xoth; Inoculation; Bleed Black; Ex Cathedra — Moshmellow STL
Super Yeah Yeah Rocketship; Ddare Bionic; Grain — Platypus STL
Family Medicine; Willem Defrend — The Heavy Anchor
Fleetwood & Family — Broadway Oyster Bar
The Hamilton Band — 1860 Saloon
🎶 Saturday, Oct. 4
Brunch w/Angie Boger — Evangeline’s Bistro & Music House
All Roostered Up — Broadway Oyster Bar
The Liston Brothers, Anthology: A Tribute To The Allman Brothers Band — The Pageant
Morgan James — City Winery STL
Alabama; Lonestar — Enterprise Center
Cazadores; Sewer Urchin; The Boogens; 86 Red; The Pink Tax — Moshmellow STL
Mary Stallings — Jazz St. Louis
Joe Park & The Hot Club of St. Louis — Frisco Barroom
Diesel Island — Das Bevo Biergarten
The Roomminators — Evangeline’s Bistro & Music House
Joe Pug — Blue Strawberry STL
Royel Otis, BBY — The Factory STL
Stephen Lynch — Delmar Hall
Fear — Off Broadway STL
High Vis; Secret World; Locked Shut; Cold Gawd — Red Flag STL
Tigers Of Paradise; Boreal Hills — The Sinkhole
North By North; The Winks; Augmented Hearts — Platypus STL
Free Field; Megadune; Mind Of A Mango; Cockatrice — Platypus STL
Matt ’’Rattlesnake’’ Lesch — Broadway Oyster Bar
Travelin’ Band w/Michael Thomas — 1860 Saloon
🎶 Sunday, Oct. 5
Brunch w/Jim Manley Jazz Band — Evangeline’s Bistro & Music House
Brunch w/Kevin Buckley — Das Bevo Biergarten
Farshid Etniko Duo — Frisco Barroom (Webster Groves)
Die Spitzbuam — Das Bevo Biergarten
Meat Sweats — Broadway Oyster Bar
Thunderchief; Murtagh; Socket — Platypus STL
Joe Pug — Blue Strawberry STL
The Revivalists; Nolan Taylor — The Pageant
Wilderado; Illiterate Light — Delmar Hall
Michael Minelli — Off Broadway STL
Wombo; Ribbon Skirt; Shady Blue — The Sinkhole
Richie Darling — 1860 Saloon
Broken Jukebox — Broadway Oyster Bar
🎶 Monday, Oct. 6
Big Mike Aguirre — Broadway Oyster Bar
Many Eyes; Naysayers; While(True); Abrade — Off Broadway STL
Modest Mouse; Built To Spill — The Factory (Chesterfield)
Japanese Breakfast; Spelling — The Pageant
Nate & Dan Play Americana — 1860 Saloon
Soulard Blues Band Open Jam — Broadway Oyster Bar
🎶 Tuesday, Oct. 7
Ally & AJ, Amanda Shires-The Factory
Wisp, Dream Ivory, Temachii-Off Broadway
Jimmy Webb-City Winery STL
Elliott-Red Flag
The Thyoids, Boreal Hills, Nesting Dolls, Cheap Knives-Platypus
Restrictor Plate, Blazing Tomb, Peach Blush, Beed Black, The Kush Symptom-Moshmelllow
Teddy & The Rough Riders, Adam Gaffney & The Balladeers-The Sinkhole
🎶 Wednesday, Oct. 8
Jonas Brothers, The All-American Rejects-Enterprise Center
Ziggy Marley, Burning Spear-The Factory
Xana, Siena Liggins-Delmar Hall
Bombargo-Old Rock House
Raynes, Lennon VanderDoes-City Winery STL
Basketball Divorce Court, Battery Acid, Less Willing-Moshmellow
Bennett Wood Quintet-Jazz St. Louis
Mary Rogers Band-Evangeline’s
Jonathan Karrant-Blue Strawberry
Sean Canan’s Voodoo Players-Voodoo Allman Brothers Band-Broadway Oyster Bar
🎶 Thursday, Oct. 9
Lorde, The Japanese House, Empress Of-Chaifetz Arena
Sam Nash-City Winery STL
Heavy Hitter, Half Me, Dems Fighting Words-Red Flag
Suzie Cue, Oly & Co., Dear Genre, John Krane-Moshmellow
Shira Knives, Low Cloud, Micajah-The Heavy Anchor
The Frozen Headz, Vulture Vulture, Stinkbomb-The Sinkhole
Bennett Wood Quintet-Jazz St. Louis
Eric Stiller Jazz Trio-Evangeline’s
Mark West, Hannah Wozniak-Blue Strawberry
Andrew Dahle-1860 Saloon
🎶 Friday, Oct. 10
Greensky Bluegrass-The Pageant
Inner City Witches, The Chandelier Swing, Buck Fever, Shareholder-Off Broadway
MICO, Vaultboy-Old Rock House
Molly Tuttle, Joshua Ray Walker Cecila Castleman-The Hawthorn
Lori McKenna-The Sheldon
Demon Hunter, War Of Ages, Convictions, Cultist-Red Flag
In Gloom, Beheading The Icon, Perfect Woker, While (True), Maya Mara, Naydra-Moshmellow
Nequient, Rejected Limbs, Fool’s World-Platypus
Sexual Purity, Moon 17, Sharperheart-The Sinkhole
Arcadia Dance Orchestra-Jazz St. Louis
Uncle Albert, West End Junction-Evangeline’s
Jimmy Griffin, Emily Wallace-Blue Strawberry
Ethan Leinwand-The Focal Point
This is wonderful! I was hoping something like this would happen:) I'll be tuning in when the time comes.
Good luck with the new location; I am looking forward to things.