Is there a little more reflection brought to the music when performing on Thanksgiving eve? Perhaps. At least it felt like it at this 45th-anniversary concert at The Pageant.
Jake’s Leg. It’s a band that’s synonymous with psychedelic blues-rock. If you’re into music and have been in St. Louis long enough, you’ve most likely at least heard of them if not seen them a dozen or more times. How could you not? They’ve been performing for 45 years with no signs of slowing down. That’s not easy for any group, especially ones when it’s not their full-time gig.
When you do see them perform you immediately feel the love and pure joy pulsating throughout the room, no matter the size. Most will remember them in their heyday during the 20 years they performed weekly (or even twice per week) at 20 North, a small corner bar that is now a field of some sort for Saint Louis University. It closed in 1999 and they’ve been flitting about venues ever since.
If last night was any indication, the stylings of Jake’s Leg aren’t going anywhere. The all-ages fan base was enrapt throughout the 3-hour concert (with a brief intermission) swirling, dancing, delighting in the space jams.
Their website says, “It’s not The Grateful Dead and it’s not supposed to be. The introspective singer-songwriter, the jazz stylings of an improvising soloist, rock-solid dance grooves, mind-bending jams: all are in play at their shows. The music can take you anywhere you want to go.”
However, they do cover Grateful Dead songs while adding their own nuances to the grooves. And they do it to perfection. Like a well-oiled machine, one song seamlessly flows into another without skipping a beat.
“If you get confused just listen to the music play/ Some come to laugh their past away/ Some come to make it just one more day” and many came to let the music wash over them and make things right just for a while.
Find all photos from the night: https://bit.ly/JakesLeg21cz
Setlist:
1
Not Fade Away>
Going Down The Road Feeling Bad
Stagger Lee
That’s What Love Will Make You Do
Friend of the Devil
China Cat Sunflower>
I Know You Rider
Pride Of Cucamonga
Cold Rain and Snow
Jack Straw
You Never Can Tell
2
Help On The Way>
Slipknot>
Scarlet Begonias>
Throwing Stones>
New Minglewood Blues>
Truckin’>
The Other One>
Drums/Space>
Wharf Rat>
Franklin’s Tower
Encore:
Stella Blue
Shakedown Street
In my work life, I help nonprofits and small businesses with media and public relations. In my what I love to do life, you can typically find me photographing either wild horses or concerts.
