st. louis: company of thieves and the whigs

wednesday shows are brutal, especially when they're two hours away from school in st. louis! but that's never stopped this traveling one-girl circus. and when company of thieves is in the picture? well, duh. of course i'll be there. work at eight am in columbia? psh.

abby decided last minute to tag along so that was a welcome surprise; i'm quite used to going to shows alone and it rarely bothers me anymore (i want to see the show, not hang out with friends) but it's always nice to have an extra person with you. we grabbed some dinner and left columbia around six, putting us at off broadway at around a quarter of eight. i guess the show got a late start, because while the website said show time was 7:30, opening band ravenhill didn't go on until 8. but it was a welcome wait, because the band was surprisingly good. a mixture of am taxi and ha ha tonka comes to mind, and if you know me at all, you know that's an excellent combination. they were pretty rock'n'roll, but had some great harmonies going with a little gospel on the side. good stuff. and i'm pretty sure i went to high school with the guitarist.... maybe... i think... i was too chicken to say something, but hey. whatever.

up next was company of thieves who always put on a flawless show. marc was looking quite dapper with his little hat, and gen is always adorable. that girl could wear a trash bag and look good. and her hair! ohh, her hair. she probably hates it, but i'd kill for a wild mop of curls like that. anyway, enough about unnecessary aesthetics. THE MUSIC was fantastic. i know their music well enough to keep mental notes of songs, and it was great already having the new album (review up on popwreckoning coming this week, written by yours truly!) they started with a brand new one 'look both ways,' then carried on with 'in passing' and 'old letters,' then played two somewhat familiar new songs ('queen of hearts' and 'nothing's in the flowers'). i remember first hearing 'queen of hearts' at lollapalooza this past summer, and the band has had free download cards floating around for 'nothing's in the flowers' for several months now. next was 'fire song,' 'modern waste' (new), 'death of communication' (new), 'gorgeous/grotesque' (new, which they've played live a couple times before) and finally the crowd favorite 'oscar wilde.' gen gave a great little anecdote about their next single 'death of communication' too, saying "it's about when you're being honest and someone holds it against you; it's about not changing even when you're alone, and sticking with your gut." and she meant every word of it; gen sings and dances on stage with a fiery passion that is unlike anything i've every seen in a front(wo)man. she feels it, and the audience can feel it to. you can't help but stand there with a silly grin on your face and sing along with reckless abandon.

i should probably intoduce myself to them formally at some point. i've seen them quite a few times, and we know so many of the same people. i even got a tweet from them this morning saying that i should have said hello. i get so flustered though! "hi i'm devon and you don't really know me but we know all the same people and i'm in love with your music and you know am taxi and my best friends we the living and all of my chicago people and..." yeah. whoops.

 and finally there was the whigs. i was late to this bandwagon and i'm sincerely regretting it now. they have three albums out to date, the first released in 2005. i first heard their name is association with kings of leon, and then my friend nora of thefivethreesix really turned me on to them. this was my first time seeing them live and it was definitely a great show. i've listened the their newest album a couple times through, but i won't pretend i know it very well. that'll change soon though. i'm sure it will be on heavy rotation in the next couple of weeks along with the other albums i'm missing that will soon be acquired. they're a fierce trio of gritty rock and i highly suggest you check them out. they're a pleasure to watch as well; lead singer/guitarist has some sweet dance moves.

pre-order company of thieves' new album 'running from a gamble' (out may 17th) here! and be sure to give the whigs a listen.

*company of thieves will be back in st. louis june 22 at the firebird. get tickets here!