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I found my way to Sun Hotel’s bandcamp page just two months ago, armed only with the somewhat generic description “Indie Rock with Southern Blues influence”. I hit play with zero expectations, but was glued to my head phones within the first forty-five seconds of the first track, “Palms”. The haunted harmonies, the highly personal lyrics, the drawn out build up with just the right amount of dramatic quietness – it all just hit me. I knew that I’d stumbled onto a band fated to be my repeat band of the week month. When “Palms” goes balls out at the 4:30 mark with the lyric, “Now I can dance much  faster / across the neighborhood”, I hit the “Buy Now” button. I’ve listened to the album top to bottom at least once a week ever since.

Sun Hotel started as a dorm room duo from New Orleans. In a matter of months, the duo had grown to a foursome, and they eventually found their groove as the five man team you’ll see Friday night at The Heavy Anchor. Sun Hotel describes themselves as “Post-Gospel / Indie Rock”. I don’t know what that means. I don’t ever know what some of these genre bending descriptions mean.  (Mountain-Wave Rock Pop?!). What I know is that Sun Hotel’s debut LP Coast is a collection of songs that make sense. Floating electric guitar riffs grounded by a solid rhythm base, harmonies, emotion, and a touch of party. It’s all there for you.

Sun Hotel – Suburbs

Welcoming Sun Hotel on Friday night is a duo known around St. Louis as The Skekses. This pair can and will play just about any instrument within arms reach, but not in that cheesy “hey-look-we-can-play-a-million instruments” way. They play what fits and they nail it. Their album Notes on the Collapse of an Alternate Universe can be also be found on bandcamp and all of the finer brick and mortar record stores in the 314 area code. Or you might just want to hand your money straight to the musicians themselves and pick up your copy at the show on Friday? (That’s my plan)

Last but not least, we have Theodore rounding out the bill. By this time, you probably know that we love this band and were pretty excited when they replied to our show invitation. Theo was the first band mentioned on this blog just over a year ago, and Jess recently sat down with Justin Kinkel-Schuster ahead of their 10″ release, Blood Signs. You can read the gory details right over here. They’re local heroes according to me.

The Heavy Anchor is South City’s newest self-described “indie hangout dive bar”. You can drop a destination pin at 5226 Gravois Ave, or if you remember where Antarctica used to be, that’s where you’re going. Music starts at 9:00 PM. It’s $5 at the door and 21+, so bring all the pertinent paper work.

Here’s some relevant links to click click:

Facebook Event (so you don’t forget. not that YOU would forget on purpose, but you are a busy person…)

Sun Hotel’s official web presence

The Skekses blogspot

Theodore has a blogspot too!