Moving Forward: Bulletpop, The Glass Calvary, and Logos at Plush

The golden haze glow of St. Louis loomed from the large warehouse windows above the stage at Plush. This haze set the tone for a night that was filled with great music. More that just great music, great Rock and Roll. St. Louis is a city that seems to be founded on great rock acts and this night was no different. It was not the the same music that blares from bland AOR stations. The days of Styx, R.E.O. Speedwagon, and Ted Nugent has long been past, but not been forgotten. The groundwork has been laid out by the countless radio standards. Those radio standards have informed a whole new generation of musicians and fans. The evidence was in the sounds of Bulletpop, The Glass Calvary, and Logos. Each band handling a new take on what Rock music is suppose to be. Sounds that resonate progressive rock, early '90's college radio, and a culmination of whatever that has been laying scattered in the remains of rock radio. These bands reached back and grabbed the essence of what makes classic rock stand the test of time and transposed it for a new generation. Their generation.

As the clock counted down the minutes until showtime, Bulletpop took the stage. They brought a dose of swirling 90's guitar work that would make Thurston Moore proud. A rhythm section that plodded along and gave the awkward guitar lines a place. This gave way for the front woman to pose, shift, and dance. A sight reminiscent of a grunge cheerleader. A sass that came with a bite and a shot of venom. Bulletpop could easily be marked as a throwback to the '90's. A sound easily defined by past punk aesthetic and experimental guitar sounds that seem to be influenced by the underground bands of the 80's.

To hear The Glass Calvary is like listening to the combination everything that is great about alternative and hard rock, mixed with a healthy dose of metal. In a way, the music is more like listening to an indie prog-rock band rather than Mastodon. A band trying to have sport prog-rock cred disguised under a heavy metal banner. What makes The Glass Calvary different is that they are not fearful of their influences. They take from whoever and whatever that has been bouncing around in their collective minds. Turning those bits and pieces into a fully formed set of songs. They are a band that at moments have recognizable stylings of Iron Maiden. Vocals tings that hint at the ghost Colin Meloy. Vocal aerobatics between male and female. To the full tilt of sounds of commercial indie and alternative music. The Glass Calvary is a band not afraid of the twists and turns that makes music exciting. They put in a performance packed with energy, fun, musicianship, and an attention to song craft.

Ending the night was Logos. Another band unafraid of their influences. From the beginning notes of Queen's “Tie Your Mother Down” the audience knew they were going to see a band that takes great pride in their roots. It is not a stretch to say that the biggest influence on Logos is Rush. It is evident (aside from the fact that they are a three piece) in the their ability to take on large rock riffs and complicate them in a manner which makes the listening experience exciting. What separates Logos from other bands that have a singular influence is that they are not afraid to expand in their songwriting. Instead of trying to weave odd time signatures with futuristic tales, they make music that has an immediacy. They are not trying to write the same chords that is heard on modern rock radio, it is a part of who they are. Creating melodies that are of the moment with a reverence towards the music of the past. The same music that is played every hour on the hour. Logos is an extension of the past and present. This night at Plush happened to coincide with Cullen O'Donnell's birthday. In celebration the night ended with both The Glass Calvary and Logos teaming up on stage for a spirited run through of The Beatles “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”

From the backdrop of the city's golden haze, the tone had been set and music had been played. Plush came alive with three band. Bands that brought a unique take on music. A take that is as much an influence as an inspiration. A direction that seemed to signify a future for rock music. The genre itself has a tendency to become stale and the radio domination is played out by bands who create sounds of convenience rather than exploration. Bulletpop, The Glass Calvary, and Logos are a few St. Louis bands that have not given up and are pushing rock music forward. In a town that seems to be splintered into different segments, it is good to see bands that are about pushing past the boundaries. Boundaries that many musicians find themselves comfortable in. There is a natural state that these bands present. On-stage they were themselves, acknowledging their influences, and moving forward.

Photos by Colin E Suchland. Thanks bro!