Smoking (and coughing) with October. Because of my deadline, October London had to wait. It is a week old at this point, but in my opinion it was worth the wait! Now what a lot of y’all might not know is that I have a cigar allergy, so me perched up in smoking environment nearly had your girl up in urgent care. I thought I was gonna need a temporary oxygen tank after Larry Blue and ‘nem had my fear of missing out so bad that I risked my life to pop in for the bourbon tasting last Tuesday at Ash with rising R&B star October London. Wednesday morning until Friday afternoon I thought I was going to be the ash – as in ashes – after ignoring my allergy, but I can’t say that I regret it. My seat neighbor at editorial meeting probably wishes that I hadn’t chose violence. Sorry Earl, I promise you again it wasn’t Miss Rona – that’s COVID for the folks who don’t know her street name. Anyway, the event was super cute. And as I coughed my way through, I decided that Mr. October (not to be confused with Reggie Jackson) has the charm that superstars are made of. I do wish his suit had a little more breathing room though. I guess he figured he didn’t need any extra space since he wasn’t doing a show. As always with an event that has Blue’s hand on it in any capacity, a time was had. It made me think of that song “Going Up on a Tuesday” as I was propped up on the sit and shut in list for the rest of the week. I was also thrilled that he will be back to town for a concert with Eric Benet at Stifel on March 7. I will be in the front row for that overdose of R&B charm.
Another wonderful STL return for Raheem. While I’m talking about R&B charm on a weekday, let me give it all the way up for how Raheem DeVaughn turned it out on a Monday at City Winery. I had to attend the late show, so I assumed that he was gonna be a little worn down – even though every single time Mr. “Guess Who Loves You More” makes his way to a stage, he kills it with an upper-case K. I was worn out from watching him – and late to my Tuesday morning meeting. He was worth it. He worked that room, didn’t he y’all! I was thinking when he stepped down, “How is he gonna make his way through this space when there was barely enough space at my table for my burger and my bosom to sit together?” He made it happen! Because this might technically be his second trip to St. Louis this year, I’m gonna go ahead and start the rumor that he has some sort of situationship in the STL. Please don’t bother trying to drag me for being in his personal business – especially when I think I’m right. Somebody tried to clock me for doing the same thing with Tank when he was popping up in town and doing shows like he had some sort of mandatory check-in. Technically, he did…with his future wife. What? Where is the lie? But back to Raheem. He put it all the way down yet again! And will probably do the same thing in the six-to-eight months when he happens to “have another show in St. Louis.”
Tish exclamation point! The national R&B folks aren’t the only ones out here winning in these streets. I will say that Tish Period is technically has a national R&B presence thanks to her time on “The Voice,” and her recent viral moment with TLC that had her posted up on the couch next to Tamron Hall. However, Tish Period belongs to us! And we showed her how much we loved her Saturday night with her sold-out show at The National Blues Museum. It was so packed up in there that I was like “Is Buddy Guy coming up in here, or did they bring B.B. King back from glory?” Nope, it was all for Tish. I’m thrilled for you Miss Ma’am and I’m claiming that this latest wave will carry you right where you are destined to be as far as your career.
See you later, Local Legends. Since they swore it wasn’t a permanent goodbye, I won’t bid them farewell. But your favorite area musicians’ favorite hangout spot and jam session headquarters is closing its doors on the East side after six years. Say what you want, but I consider any nightlife establishment that can make it through to next night a success, so six years of Local Legends is an absolute triumph! I will be holding y’all to your promise to keep Soulful Sundays going through other spots playing guest host. I’m glad y’all had one more Sunday to get it in – and I will be looking out for more details for the remote location version. I’ll also be awaiting the news about the when and where y’all will get back to giving the St. Louis Black music community its own personal Cheers. The sweet seasonal sounds of Alexia Simone. On Sunday, your girl took a much-needed break from these Christmas shopping streets and stepped into something real cozy with Rare Radar and Alexia Simone at their “Merry Little Holiday” party. They made me feel welcome with all that wine. And wasn’t that cookie decorating table the cutest? I’m so glad I was sober enough to stay away from that karaoke – or somebody would have been trying to sign me to a deal. But I will put that out in the universe for Alexia Simone and her latest single, “Waiting for My Merry Christmas.” Get out of my head and my heart as far as wanting to bring in the holiday with a boo thang (yes, thang) for a change. But in the meantime, the Merry Little Holiday party had me feeling warm and fuzzy thanks to the vibe.