Band: Tommy & The High Pilots

Venue: The Firebird

Location: St. Louis, MO

Tickets: $13 ($15 at door)

Date: 8-12-12

“Say everyone else was shitty, but Mike was great.” – Mike Cantillon

You know how you have that one band that you’ll listen to only when you’re in a specific mood, because their music is really only one dimensional?

Tommy & The High Pilots is not that band.

On Sunday, August 12, 2012, Nicole (one of my friends who has been in a lot of these posts with me…she’s cool like that) and I drove up to St. Louis to see The High Pilots.  While driving, we had a discussion about why we loved this band and were willing to drive 3 hours one-way to see them.  We concluded that it’s because their music is brilliantly everyday.  And I don’t mean that in the sense of “it’s trite and like everything else.”  I mean that their music is applicable to every minute of your life because they have music that makes every minute of your life better.

Feeling sad?  There’s a song for that.  Feeling happy?  There’s a song for that.  Horny?  Triumphant?  Contemplative?

They cover a lot of ground.  But you already knew I loved their music.  And their live performances always deliver up the goods.

“And I lust you.  My grandma once told me that it takes 10 years for lust to become love…and I’m lusting the shit out of all of you.”  -Tom Cantillon

First, I think it’s important to note how wonderful these guys make the sound check.  I mean, Nicole and I were shifting about impatiently, wanting the show to start, and the guys are great about making the sound check something fun to watch and listen to.  You really have to admire that.

Second, their set wasn’t long enough.  This is my biggest consistent complaint about their shows.  I never get the chance to see them when they don’t get cut off at 8 songs.  8 songs goes by fast.  TOO fast.  It feels like we’re cut off when they start hitting their groove.

Of course, they also happen to be great performers.  They have memorable chemistry with the audience, and with each other.  They frequently toss grins to one another and to the crowd.  It makes them charming and irresistible.  I kept hearing one of the girls in front of me, both of whom had never seen or heard the band before, say:

“Tommy, you are flawless.  You are flawless.”

Without a doubt, their live performance always captures new fans and keeps them.

And yeah, they were on fire.  I’ve seen them 6 times now (not that I’ve been counting) and I would say this is the best they’ve sounded.  It might have been the venue, the crowd, the planet’s alignment.  All I know is they were great.  Despite some technical difficulties (like the mics not working at the end of the first song), the band had their act together.  Good show, gents.  Good show.

“Life’s full of ups and downs.  When you’re happy, BE happy.”  -Matt Palermo

From left to right: Nicole, Matt Palermo, me.

The High Pilots have been teasing us with talk of a new album for a while now.  Luckily, the boys played some new songs to whet our appetite.  And yeah.  It was successful.  Here’s a really good video of one of their new songs, “Devil To Pay” from their show at the Roxy in June.

Just listen to those lyrics.

“Tell me.  Do you love me in the worst way still?  Don’t ask me, ‘Do I need you?’ ‘Cause I plead you. And I know, you know, I do…Tell me.  Do you love me in the worse way still?  Don’t ask me, ‘Do I hold you?’  ’Cause I told you.  And I know, you know, I will.”

I’ve always been a person first attracted to the lyrics of a song, and I can safely say that these give me chills.  And when Tom kicks in with the guitar?!?  It slays me non-lethally every time.

Safe to say this kid is looking forward to the new album anxiously.  And I would like “Devil To Pay” to be released as a single sometime in the nowish.  Cool?

“Don’t touch my cocktail.  EEEEEEYAH.  EEEEEEYAH.”  -Steve Libby

Steve Libby is…the Most Interesting Man in the World.

The bottom line is that these guys are wonderful performers, musicians and guys.  As well as I can know them from bothering them at shows, I can say that they’re sweet and earnest.

My mom loves this band, my friends love this band.  There is no reason these guys shouldn’t be national icons.

So.  Let’s make that happen.

Concert: A

Venue: A+

Drink Prices: NA*

Audience: A

Overall: A

*If you’ll believe it, we didn’t drink at this show.  For some reason, a 3 hour drive makes me not want any alcohol in my system…I’m weird that way.  Anyone want to let me know how prices are?  Have they changed appreciably since the last concert I saw there?