The winds were heavy, and the rain was hard. But not even tornado warnings – or a moment of sheltering in place – could keep high spirited millennials and generation X from unleashing their early 2000s inner crunk. The Hawthorn transformed into a throwback to the beloved hotspots of the era thanks to St. Louis Nights. As soon as the doors opened, the concert floor filled with red and white STL gear.
Most wore some variation of St. Louis Cardinals jerseys. Ladies cut them to hang off the shoulder – or cropped them to show their midriffs. The creativity and innovation were on full display through the outfits and accessories. In addition to the embellished STL baseball caps, there were handbags that resembled Red Hot Riplets – and even a box of fried rice.
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To fully appreciate the vibe that St. Louis Nights, one had to be a part of the era for which the concert paid tribute. Whether it was Generation X – who created the sounds – or the millennials who grew up listening to them. Most of the songs performed had not been played for years and solely existed in the memories of the early 2000s.
The event featured two specialty drinks. There was Lunatic Juice, a smooth blend of coconut and rum balanced with passionfruit and grenadine. The other was the Cardinal Margarita, a fruity blend of watermelon and orange over the traditional tequila and lime.
An elaborate backdrop showing the street view of the White Castles at Natural Bridge and Kingshighway behind an old school burgundy Malibu Classic with bright gold rims was near the bar. Another backdrop had “So St. Louis” being spray painted on a brick wall. In the middle was the official St. Louis City logo with 314 Day at the bottom. At the edges of this backdrop was a collection of Imo’s boxes, Vess sodas and Fitz root beer bottles. It also included Ted Drewes containers and a plethora of St. Louis sports imagery.
Getting the night started was DJ Duo playing several millennial favorites. “O Let’s Do It” by Waka Flocka was one of the first to get the audience singing along. Then he called out to the women by playing “I Need a Hot Girl.” “Flex” by The Party Boys motivated everyone to form small circles and show off their dance moves.
The crowd went crazy when STL rap diva Ebony Eyez performed “In Ya Face.” The crowd instantly started reliving their high school dance party days with their best “Nina Pop,” “Pancake” and other popular dance moves from that moment in music.
Da Bangazz also got the crowd hype with “Ain’t No [EXPLETIVE] In Me.”
Willie Moore Jr. – then known by Pretty Willie – was back in STL heartthrob mode for his set. Screams erupted the moment he started singing “She Got A Man At Home.” The song ended with the audience singing along to the chorus a capella. With hands still in the air, fans swayed and sang every word like it was 2002. The singing continued with “4 Walls” and “Lay Your Body Down.” By the time he closed the show with “Good Thang,” the audience was screaming the lyrics at the top of their lungs and would meet him at the chorus with “… hold on and don’t let go.”
Crime Mob brought their club bangers to the stage after Willie did his thing. They kept the party going with “Stilettos (Pumps)” getting all the ladies hype before seamlessly transitioning into “I’ll Beat Yo [expletive].” The crowd bounced up and down to this song before again splitting into small dance circles for “Knuck If You Buck.”
Another STL classic packed out the dancefloor as the 314 Day love continued. When KOKO C’vere took to the stage to perform “Mobb Out,” the dance circles widened to make room for the signature move that shares the song’s name. Everyone in the building took advantage of the moment, and showcased originality with their own Mobb Out variations.
The party continued late into the night well after the storm passed as guests rediscovered songs and rekindled cherished memories.
Living It content is produced with funding by the ARPA for the Arts grants program in partnership with the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis and the Community Development Administration.
