[show_avatar email=jess@iwenttoashow.com align=left avatar_size=62] For the second time in as many weeks, St. Louis music fans showed up, enthusiastically, to support a local band’s album release. Pretty Little Empire, with help from openers Bo and the Locomotive and Art Majors, played to a full room at The Firebird.

PLE’s new album, Reasons and Rooms, is a valiant sophomore effort from the band, and one that contains elements of their signature sound – rolling drums, Justin Johnson’s unique intonation, snappy lyricism – while exploring new musical territory. Christian Schaeffer of RFT deftly reviewed R & R last week. Having never seen a full PLE live set, I was enchanted (for real) by the band’s stage presence and delivery on what was certainly one of their bigger nights. Pretty Little Empire is fronted by Justin Johnson, but it should be noted that the members share vocal responsibilities and lead instrumentals depending on the song.

Bo and the Locomotive was a pleasant surprise of an opener. Bo Jackson (who is adorable), seemed to get the crowd settled in with a pretty joyful demeanor and reasonable, non-gratuitous use of vocal and guitar looping. Self-described as mid-fi bedroom pop, I’m not too familiar with this young band yet, but I think they very well may be a nice, clever addition to the scene. Start with their track, “I’m Not Your House,” if only for the fantastic title.

I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Art Majors play several times in a variety of settings (including an unfortunate set-up in the front window/corner of Hair of the Dog), and The Firebird looks good on them. A.M.’s brand of alternative rock can get serious on stage with guitarist and vocalist Mike Roche at the helm. It was the perfect segway between Bo and PLE.

Art Majors are building a solid reputation in St. Louis and across the river and released an EP, The War of Wealth, this summer. A personal favorite is “Race from the Hotel,” which you can see and hear below, from the Majors’ Stack Session at KWUR:

The Pretty Little Empire show was another hopeful example of local support and camaraderie between musicians, patrons, and a venue. Several guests made appearances, including cellist Cathie Degler of Paper Dolls, drummer Sarah Ross of PDs and the new Johnson/Ross duo Jump Starts, and Elly Herget of The Skeses and O Fool. When Pretty Little Empire began to play at long last, the crowd was buzzed, jovial, and ready to dance. We stood close to the stage, close to the speakers, close to one another. PLE sweated and smiled through a set we had earned; they delivered that set to an adoring group of fans that they had earned.

“You can’t have it all,” Johnson declares on the last track of Reasons and Rooms. Last Saturday, Pretty Little Empire did.

Link line-up:

— Schaeff’s RFT Review of PLE’s newest album.

— Pretty Little Empire’s Bandcamp. Try; then buy!

— Bo and the Locomotive Bandcamp. Grab the free track, “Harder With Time”.

— Our Flickr account with photo sets of each of the bands from the evening.