Thomas Paden wants everyone to feel the love when he takes the stage on Wednesday, March 13– for the city and for each other.
“I see it as a great kickstart to the celebration,” Paden said. “I know that there are a lot of events going on. I am thinking this event is going to kind of kick off 314 Day week because it is going to be on the 13th.”
The local holiday created by Terrell “Young Dip” Evans and Tatum Polk more than 15 years ago is now a community staple that gives the region an opportunity to take their love for STL to the max.
Paden – a musician, producer and composer – promises something special for those who head down to City Winery St. Louis for the performance presented by the Towsendx3 Agency on Wednesday.
“The theme of the night is ‘Live with Love,’” Paden said. “We kind of just want to set the atmosphere when you walk in. It’s like a potluck of different artists sharing the stage.”
Fellow music makers from around the country will be sharing the stage with Paden – some of them are so St. Louis.
“The best way to describe it is a giant collaboration of some of the best musical talent that we have in the city brought together in one room,” Paden said. “You will feel the love in the room. I feel it even when we are in rehearsals. It’s vibrant, heartfelt and meaningful.”
Hip-hop veteran Blvck Spvde is among them.
“He inspires me to connect with the city as far as reaching out – and being available – and putting the city on wherever I go,” Paden said. “He is super creative with what he does.”
Paden also appreciates that Spvde is not boxed into a specific genre or sound.
“He is able to mold into different things – and he does that with St. Louis artists and makes the most of it for sure,” Paden said. “It is super inspiring to watch him do that.”
Paden is out of the box in his own right based on the lineup for Wednesday’s show, which also highlights the local talents of singer/songwriter Joanna Serenko, Tyler Dale and the band Root Mod. DJ Makeda Kravitz will set the tone for the evening with an opening set.
“We have done the last two shows together,” Paden said. “She’s a great segue while people are hanging and talking. The music kind of resets their palette.”
Although only 27, Paden has been a professional drummer for the past 18 years.
“I’ve been playing since I was nine,” Paden said. “I was always the church drummer on both sides of my family.”
His father Demarius Hicks is an established drummer in the region.
“Even before I fathomed that my dad was a drummer, I was already playing drums,” Paden said. “I already had it in my mind.”
He doesn’t remember a time when he didn’t play – but he will never forget the encouragement he received from both of his parents as he pursued music as his passion, profession and purpose.
“I was enabled in my gift, and I owe that to my mom – I really do,” Paden said of his mother, Melva Paden Moore. “She wasn’t forcing me into it, but she – and my dad –opened up the doors that allowed me to be creative as a kid. They gave me space to pursue music and encouraged me.”
His parents supplied the reassurance. His uncle, local gospel great Levi “Too” King, instilled Paden’s musical hustle.
“He really started pushing,” Paden said. “He inspired me a lot because he was doing it every day – in the studio, doing live recordings, at the church. He always had my cousins and me doing something – and was always teaching us something. He was grooming us to be good men as much as good musicians.”
Paden has played for some of the biggest names on the local music scene – and is a go-to for national artists when they opt to use a local band.
And the intention for the evening speaks to the type of man Paden has grown to become.
“I want people to say that they experienced love,” Paden said. “I want them to say they experienced God – because God is love. When you are there, I want it to feel like a warm hug – like somebody embraced you.
He also wants them to leave the show empowered.
“More than just the music, I want them to feel like they can take over the world and pursue whatever passion or dream they have – to just do it,” Paden said. “That they really can really go for whatever they feel God has called them to do.”
Thomas Paden Presented by The Townsendx3 Agency will take place at 7:30 p.m. ( 6 p.m. doors) on Wednesday, March 13 at City Winery St. Louis, 3730 Foundry Way, Suite 158, St. Louis, MO 63110. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://citywinery.com/st-louis.
