Evolution Festival Lifted St. Louis Over The Weekend

–by Randy Thompson

–photos by Hailey Dell/ Hailey Dell Photography

The Evolution Festival at Forest Park in St. Louis was a huge success this past weekend. The magic of this event is that fans were able to donate to the United Way Storm Relief Fund this year and support the local community, raising a donation of $100,000.

As we approached the festival on Saturday, we heard far off but intense music blasting from the main stage. The Kills were filling the air with rock and roll tinged metal with a blues heart. Mosshart’s voice was as strong and radiant as the afternoon sun.  We attempted to make a beeline to that area but weren’t in time to see the rest of their show, yet they certainly did make an impression as we entered the venue.

 

We stopped by the AT&T station and received information on communications setup. They were very helpful and explained to us how they were able to set up communications links around the venue in an effort to make sure everybody would have access to the internet.  They also provided free phone charging for anyone who needed it, no matter your provider.

 

The Evolution Festival this year was very organized and there were few changes over the previous years that we have been there. There were many vendors that we enjoyed from last year who were serving a variety of food from burgers to brisket, pizza to shawarma, salads and mac & cheese . There was a string of booths that served drinks boasting a range of options from beer to soda, and water to mixed drinks.  There were also returning booths from the Regional Arts Council with art as well as clothing and  jewelry vendors. And of course, there was the ever-changing merch tent which displayed t-shirts, albums and tote bags with many of the bands’ products available.

There were a few changes to the venue itself, most involved seating and  access around the main stages that didn’t seem to impact the crowd much. We noted that there was a larger VIP area at the main stages, and a row of sponsor tents that lined one side of the field at the World Wide Technology stage.  Both venues had large screens so that the audience could see the band from a distance. The sound at each stage was set up very well, allowing festival attendees to enjoy the music at full volume and with no real technical issues that we noticed. The shows were scheduled in a staggered arrangement, and it felt like everything was running on time, which is really helpful as the crowd moved back and forth to see the bands.

 

 

On Saturday we were unable to make our way to the Lindenwood University stage, but we were able to see some shows at the NUTRL Stage. It is a smaller area with an accessible stage and plenty of shade as it is under a tent. Wally’s was selling snacks, drinks, food  and their regular stock; it anchored the NUTRL stage area.  Following is a description of some of the acts that we were able to enjoy there:

 

TVOD

This melodic Brooklyn based punk band had great rapport with their audience. The six band members had lots of energy on stage and slammed us with hard edged guitar heavy punk rock. Two lead singers shared the  duties with expressive lyrics. One would grab a guitar, carrying the tune, while the other tossed themselves about the stage singing. It was an exciting band that entertained the audience for the entire set with their antics and music.

 

HIS LORDSHIP

A British band also graced the stage at Nutrl, and they really packed a wallop. This was a hard edge punk band that also made mention of enjoying the opportunity to perform  at the same festival as The Kills and The Hives. They had great energy, and solid, powerful rock and roll guitar licks throughout the show. We weren’t able to get close to the stage but the band was loud enough to hear anywhere on the grounds as they really were able to work the crowd up and the combined sound was enough to shake the roof if there had been one. They were engaging as they talked of their history, knowing Shane MacGowan and played “Gin and Fog”, a tribute they wrote at his passing. They were moving about the stage in a syncopated way that really fed into the rhythm pulsating   from the stage. The capacity crowd underneath the tent was loud and appreciative with their praise.

 

 

At this point we stopped for some lunch and enjoyed watching people as they happily shopped, listened to music, and enjoyed all the food and drinks available. We then headed to the Worldwide Technology stage where we spent the rest of the day. There was an area set aside for chairs and blankets, and a non VIP area that allowed the crowd to get fairly close to the action. The following are some of the bands that we were able to enjoy there:

 

 

THE HIVES

This is a garage rock/ punk band that shook the roof off the stage. The Hives are an extremely entertaining Swedish rock group that pounds out unrelenting high-powered music. They had the giant rubber balls that spelled out HIVE. They wore the black and white suits that they are known for, giving them an old school look.  Lead singer, Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist, is charismatic and powerfully focused on keeping the energy high.

The Hives live shows have a reputation for focusing on intensity. In their own words they’re “a velvet glove with brass knuckles” and that force came through in their music. The crowd grew louder throughout the set until everyone was chanting “The Hives for Ever, Forever the Hives” along with the band.

 

 

SAM FENDER

Sam Fender and his band hail from Northern England and have been on the scene since 2013. They had a good crowd when they began the show, and as the audience grew they seemed very familiar with their work. We hadn’t seen them before, but they certainly showed their chops and carried the show with a solid mix of indie and pop rock with a lot of energy throughout the show.

The horns backed up the singer along with guitars, keyboard and drums; a full suite of talented musicians. The melodies were both earnest and catchy and had the audience singing along and clapping. We were encouraged to sing along to complete the lyrics at points in the set. Sam and the rest of the band have a great connection with each other which was palpable from the audience reaction. The band was confident on stage, and demonstrated why they have been a top act for a long time.

 

 

SUBLIME

 

Sublime is a well-known band with a great musical history and the crowd was happy to see this new iteration of the Sublime they knew.

They had many number one hits throughout their career, and they are certainly a top of the line band in their genre. They  recently released a single “Ensenada” from their upcoming album featuring Jakob Nowell on vocals, son of the original lead, Bradley. They came to the stage casually but with an impressive screen show and intense lighting effects going on behind them. There was a heavy emphasis on the vibe they’re known for including the skater/surf  culture, laid back California cool, and a hope that we can all live in peace together. They have strong political views in their lyrics and the graphics behind them highlight that including two enormous dogs, a large inflatable man in a recliner and an inflatable couch that Nowell laid on, ran across and jumped on as he sang.

They were an eclectic looking group, with a bass player that looked like an offensive lineman, staring into the audience through dark sunglasses and keeping an exceptional rhythm going the entire set. Jakob Nowell has a mop of curly hair and strutted the stage with purpose in his stockinged feet. His voice was flawless as he ran through the band’s old hits and their new material.  He had the audience in his grip the entire show and there was lots of audience participation, with many folks singing along the entire show.

Sublime reaches beyond generations bringing in new listeners with every performance and there were plenty of teens with their parents in tow all singing together.  We happened to be in an area where two moms had brought their teenage daughters at their request. One of them was lucky enough to get a drum head after the show. This band does have a sharp edge at times but there’s a joyful bop in their California Ska type sound and the message of love, peace and gratitude sent us off into the night.

The Evolution Festival was even brighter and sunnier on Sunday than it was on Saturday.  We came even earlier to catch more of the bands but it’s really an impossible though pleasant task. Here we go!  Back at the NUTRL on Sunday afternoon. We know we said we were going to other stages, but it’s hard to get past the NUTRL stage, just past the entry point and to the right. It is on the way to each of the larger stages and central to food, drink and vending. And the  acts are always interesting

 

DAGGER POLYESTER

 

At the NUTRL stage, we witnessed a band that was fiercely original. A four piece punk band with theatrical range, they included a cello, a lead singer, Dagger Polyester, who looks straight out of Rocky Horror Picture Show, a keyboardist and a guitarist. They definitely held their own with music that covers several ranges. They seemed to enjoy being conspiratorial, sharing intense energy and mixing in slow, haunting moments. They had great support from the fans under the tent. The audience was jumping and  applauding while having a great time. This is a fun band that is outspoken and unrelenting at the same time. They wedged in very serious and dramatic moments that touched on some of the important social issues of the day. The music was strong and the presentation was theatrical, artistic and creative.

 

 

After our stop, we traveled down for our first visit to the Lindenwood University stage. The sound and layout were very good despite there not being much shade. In all fairness, there’s no shade at the World Wide stage either. Low Cut Connie was the first band we saw there.

 

LOW CUT CONNIE

Low Cut Connie is a hell of a rock and roll band. Fronted by Adam Weiner on piano and lead vocals, this band explodes on stage. With incredible backup singers to support his amazing voice, the band is rolling and not prone to slowing down the pace. Weiner is an acrobat on the piano standing on top of it, diving below the keyboard, and high kicking every chance that he gets. The fans were absolutely on board, and this band showed that they have it all when it comes to knocking out strong, intense, rock and roll riffs. They banged out energetic tunes such as “Dirty Water” and “Whips and Chains” that carried the pace of the show. They did stop to discuss the dirty words that they were not allowed to say on stage at a different event. Weiner indicated that while the word “motherfucker” was apparently okay to say at that venue, they were not allowed to say “diversity” or “inclusion”.  Then it was right back to the rock and roll and finished with Weiner standing on top of the piano ripping his t-shirt in half.  It’s a band that definitely catered to their audiences tastes and the crowd shouted their love and appreciation right back.

 

CUT WORMS

Next up on the stage was Cut Worms.  Max Clarke is Cut Worm and he and the band are a soft, easygoing alternative rock band that presents ‘Cool Breeze’ music. Nothing controversial here but instead, the music focuses on playful, dreamy and mystical references. It was definitely listenable, melodic rock music that everyone seemed to relax and kick back to while listening. They kept a low profile, and served as a generous departure from the hard rock level of some of the previous bands.

 

 

POKEY LAFARGE

Next up on the Lindenwood University stage was Pokey LaFarge.  His band featured a stand up bass, an organ and two guitars which seemed to be the perfect instruments for the type of 1940s and ’50s rockabilly and Americana that this band is known for, as in the song “Get It ‘Fore It’s Gone” . Pokey has a nasal singing voice that comes out beautifully and compliments the style perfectly. He has a new album coming out next year. The group had a strong following of true fans, singing, dancing on the lawn and really getting into the groove with the band. They’re not a group that you go see for a lot of explosions and confetti but instead, they let the music do the talking and it’s pretty joyful.

 

FATHER JOHN MISTY

 

The last group playing at the Lindenwood University stage was Father John Misty.

 

An Indie folk rock band with an orchestral sound and smooth folk vocals. They have an effective horn section that added a lush sound and rich tones to their music. Father John Misty’s voice is deep, rich, and warm while the lyrics can be touching but also full of irony and honesty. The stage set was minimal but they used lighting and fog machines to emphasize the changing mood of the music.  They had a large and appreciative audience with the crowd extending well behind the sound booth and into the vending area.

 

 

MARCUS KING BAND

Moving to the World Wide Technology stage, the Marcus King Band came out rocking hard from the very get-go, and had the audiences full attention.  Marcus King has an amazingly strong voice, and he was supported ably by his band.  King and his lead guitarist, Drew Smithers, combined through several songs for some amazing guitar playing. This is a rocking blues band with a splash of country, even covering the Charlie Daniels classic “Long Haired Country Boy”. Another country rock classic that they covered and concluded their show with, was an exceptional version of Rambling Man.” They have a new album about to release called Darling Blue and they played a few brand new songs that had their fans shouting.  The audience certainly enjoyed the music as they were dancing and singing along with the band throughout the set.

 

 

TLC

TLC is a great group from the ’90s with T-Boz and Chilli still performing and as exciting to watch and listen to as ever.  To begin, a DJ and four dancers exploded onto the stage.  The dancers had incredible power in their movements and in the intro music they were presenting. When the rest of the band came to the stage with T-Boz and Chilli, the show became a juggernaut of hip hop and soul. They sang all their hits including “Unpretty”, starting by addressing all of the young ladies in the crowd and imploring them to maintain their self-esteem.

The hit song “Scrubs” also came with some playful advice and a shout out to the men in the audience because they were certainly not scrubs given that they were at the show. There was a huge excited and enthusiastic crowd present for this band. This was also a celebration of the classic album CrazySexyCool that came out 30 years ago and as a highlight they sang “Waterfalls”. The band’s DJ, who opened the show, maintained a presence throughout and kept everything flowing smoothly keeping the energy up as T-Boz and Chilli sang and danced along with the dancers.  The dancers amazed us while the music moved us, and carried us away.  This was a band that left joy in our hearts and that is the kind of TLC we all need.

 

LENNY KRAVITZ

 

The last show of the festival was also at the World Wide Stage.  Lenny Kravitz and his band have been world class entertainers for many, many years. They brought all the professionalism, incredible and powerful music that anybody could handle. The crowd was huge, shouting singing and dancing the entire show. Lenny and the band rocked it hard and shared beautiful messages of loving each other and taking care of each other.

 

There were times when they plowed into heavy metal sounding rock and roll with blazing guitars and drums smashing out a beat. Then Lenny would quickly switch into his high-pitched, soulful voice and carry a tune that was out of this world. He sang music from a new album “Let It Ride” and then started with his hits, “It Ain’t Over Til It’s Over”, “American Woman”, “Fly Away” and on and on.  He is a charismatic performer, and he pleaded for us to love and care for each other. And then he went and rocked out with his band for the rest of the show.

 

The crescendo came during their encore. They played “Let Love Rule” a beautiful song about loving each other and at one point Lenny gave the song to the crowd and we sang together, serving as the background while he shared his message of love and hope while walking among the crowd. It was a magical, hopeful moment.

 

Because of Lenny, and all of the bands that we had seen over the weekend, we were smiling. And thanks to the Evolution Festival for bringing happiness, joy, and support to the local community. It is an amazing festival and we encourage you to come and celebrate there next year.