MISSIO is a band that could easily play to a bigger room than what Blueberry Hill Duck Room holds. And the packed house Wednesday night was proof. With everyone crammed shoulder to shoulder, people appeared quite content to stay firmly planted where they landed and opted to bounce up and down or sway their hands in this cave-like basement venue.
The Austin-based alt/electronic duo has been prolific in touring and creating music since it began in 2014 and are on a fast-paced 31-city tour supporting their spring 2024 release of I Am Cinco, an epic 26-song 3-LP or 5-disc set, each with their own mood. The St. Louis date landed about halfway through the current headlining tour.
With the simple backing of a drummer, Boston-based singer Layto (Paul Catalano) opened the night with a 30-minute set of his style of blended pop/hip-hop. Songs included the catchy “five4three2one,” the textured, “rusty,” and the driven “Drown.” Part way through, Layto mentioned how much he liked MISSIO and then one day got a call to come on tour, and the rest, they say, is history.
MISSIO took the stage at 9 p.m. to a hyped crowd (MISSIO Mafia) amid low lights and immediately swung into the electro-pop “Wolves” followed by the darker “Fuck It” from the I Am Angry mood disc of I Am Cinco. Flanked by a drummer and a keyboardist/guitarist, the duo of Matthew Brue and David Butler entranced the mafia for the next hour plus mixing in fan favorites such as the broody but bright “I Don’t Even Care About You” and “Twisted.” Other songs from their 2024 release included the soft, easy “Good Vibrations” and the simple, catchy “Fall Into a Blackhole.” They ended the night with what put them on the map nearly 10 years ago, the anthemic “Middle Fingers.”
Interacting with the crowd throughout their set, at one point Brue paused to share how truly touched he was to be on stage in front of everyone, “I know it’s a Wednesday and you’re busy. It’s because of beautiful fans that we’re able to do this. From everyone on stage, thank you, St. Louis.“ This reminded me of just how genuine and nice Brue and Butler are from this 2019 interview I had with them.
See all photos from the night here https://bit.ly/Missio25cz
MISSIO
MISSIO with opener Layto performed in St. Louis at Blueberry Hill Duck Room on February 26, 2025. Originally photographed for Litehouse Media.
MISSIO
MISSIO with opener Layto performed in St. Louis at Blueberry Hill Duck Room on February 26, 2025. Originally photographed for Litehouse Media.
MISSIO
MISSIO with opener Layto performed in St. Louis at Blueberry Hill Duck Room on February 26, 2025. Originally photographed for Litehouse Media.
MISSIO
MISSIO with opener Layto performed in St. Louis at Blueberry Hill Duck Room on February 26, 2025. Originally photographed for Litehouse Media.
MISSIO
MISSIO with opener Layto performed in St. Louis at Blueberry Hill Duck Room on February 26, 2025. Originally photographed for Litehouse Media.
Layto
MISSIO with opener Layto performed in St. Louis at Blueberry Hill Duck Room on February 26, 2025. Originally photographed for Litehouse Media.
