The Big Takeover, based in New York just popped over to St. Louis during their tour for a quick recording session at Gaslight Studio in south St. Louis. They decided fairly last-minute, according to their tour manager Alex Storm, that they also wanted to perform in public. Gaslight Studios was kind enough to accommodate them in their backroom akin to a garage space.
It was a dark and stormy St. Louis night when The Big Takeover took over the dimly-lit area to perform on August 21. The very few in the audience were treated to the reggae-roots/pop/ska/Motown/soul blend of music that sets The Big Takeover apart from other reggae bands. If the indoor space weren’t quite so awkward and it hadn’t been thick with heat, those few people might have been compelled to dance and groove the night away. Because that’s exactly the sound this six-piece band brings — they are the party.
Lead singer Nee Nee Rushie’s powerful Jamaican vocals shined through on “Silly Girl,” “Love Understands,” “Rainboots,” and their version of Sophia George’s “Girly Girly.”
Listening to their latest single “Shy” from their forthcoming studio album Spilling Water, which incorporates a little more ’50s Motown than other songs, will have you practically flinging open the front door skipping and bopping down the sidewalk, greeting all the neighbors and strangers while they fall in line until a street dance party erupts. All while wearing technicolor, of course.
They then slowed things down — just for a couple of minutes — for a sweet cover Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary” that they then spun into a fast-paced full-band frenzy with a bit of a ska feel to it.
We hope The Big Takeover finds their way back to St. Louis as they’ll surely take over our hearts — it won’t be hard.
St. Louis’ The Matching Shoe, fresh off a 3-week tour in the southwest in support of their new album Right On, opened the night. Childhood friends Dillon Wilfong and Ben Vennard have been creating and performing their mix of ’70s psychedelia with, dare we say, a little ’60s CCR-esque southern rock. They brought a good vibe with “Frisco Line,” “The Thing I Thought,” and “Sometimes I Like to Play With My Dog” which reminded us of something Keith Partridge might have performed during his more angsty teen rebellion years.
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.
