Brigitte Calls Me Baby in Concert is Simply Dreamy: St. Louis at Off Broadway
— by Carrie Zukoski
A new take on the ’80s synth/new wave sound has been in various forms of resurgence for a while, with Chicago’s Brigitte Calls Me Baby capturing it perfectly. And that was exemplified at Saturday night’s Off Broadway concert in St. Louis. The packed room was nearly evenly divided, not in half or over anything divisive, but in ages. For the most part, fans were either in their 20s or in their 50s. Highlighting what’s “old” is new again.
While the show wasn’t officially sold out, it was nearly. Sure, a few more people could have squeezed into the venue, but it would have made it a lot less comfortable to bop and sway to the transcendent sounds. Hailing from the likes of Minnesota, Ohio, Des Moines, Champaign, and, of course, St. Louis, fans came from near and far to see this breakout band that is climbing the charts and into people’s hearts. The music is certainly a bit of nostalgia for the Gen Xers in the room—remembering their youthful teen years, but the music is truly a beautiful blend of pop romanticism (despite some dark lyrics) and indie synth rock that transcends the generations.
For all photos from the St. Louis concert, go here: https://bit.ly/BCMB26cz
At 9:06 p.m. on the fifth night of their Irreversible tour, the lads of Brigitte Calls Me Baby, all dressed in black, strode onto stage bathed in a darkened, hazy glow of oranges, reds, and purples, immediately setting the mood. Their second time in St. Louis (and first time headlining), BCMB began their hour set with the bright, shiny “I Danced with Another Love in My Dream” from their new album, Irreversible (released March 13). They then slid into the bright but haunting “Pink Palace.” The night continued in mostly a swirl of pinks and purple/blue hues and included fan favorites and new material such as “I Wanna Die in the Suburbs,” “Too Easy,” and the moody, power-pop tinged “Slumber Party,” which elicited loud cheers from the entire room.
The unruffled, cool, brooding, sultry essence of lead singer, Wes Leavins, casually strolling back and forth across the stage throughout the night, gripping the mic, only adds to the mesmerizing mood that this band formed in 2022 brings.
Prior to their cover of The Strokes’ “Is This It,” Leavins briefly addressed the crowd by asking for any criticisms or questions, saying, “We can take it.” They didn’t answer any of the dozens shouted out, but they do have a Reddit thread where they’ve been answering some.
Each member was given time to shine, including a bass solo from Devin Wessels during “We Were Never Alive.”
They ended the night with the melancholy sublime “The Future is Our Way Out.”
If you’re a fan of ’80s synth, or Morrissey/The Smiths, or Orville Peck, what are you waiting for? You might not be able to get enough of the gorgeous crooning of Leavins engulfed by the moody, synth, alt/indie rock.
Brigitte Calls Me Baby is bridging the generation gap, at least those of Gen X and Gen Z.
Opening the night was the dynamic SKORTS. Hailing from New York City, this group was just in St. Louis a few weeks prior, of which at least one audience member also attended. Hard to pinpoint their sound, Modern Frequency may have said it best with ”thrusting their 70s glam and 90s alternative together.” Their 40-minute set wowed the growing crowd, creating instant fans. Half of the songs performed are from their October 2025 album, Incompletement, including “Eat Your Heart Out,” which has a bit of The Runaways feel, and a grungier, vibey “Bodies.”
Fans lingered long after the concert ended, meeting the bands, gobbling up their albums, knowing that both bands are destined for bigger rooms than where they just performed.
For all photos from the St. Louis concert, go here: https://bit.ly/BCMB26cz
Brigitte Calls Me Baby St. Louis setlist: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/brigitte-calls-me-baby/2026/off-broadway-st-louis-mo-377a197.html
SKORTS St. Louis setlist https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/skorts/2026/off-broadway-st-louis-mo-2377a073.html
