Joe Pug triumphantly returned to St. Louis in early April with a new record on Lightning Rod, his steady backing band, a drummer, and some apt, self-deprecating jokes about the state of folk and country music. Pug, a workhorse on stage with dedicated fans singing along to nearly every song in appreciation, seemed focused and joyful. “Pair of Shadows”, which he playfully introduced as a love song that his fiancée once compared to Townes Van Zandt’s “Waiting Around to Die”, was devastatingly beautiful live.

Our favorite community radio station also recorded an in-studio session when the guys were in town. If you missed the show, check this out:

All photos by Jess Luther:

Joe Pug takes the stage at Firebird. 

 

Greg Tuohey on electric guitar.

 

Matt Schuessler on upright bass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chris Porterfield, leading man of Field Report, opened the evening and took requests as well as pulling from the band’s 2014 release, Marigolden. The guitar was tinny by Porterfield’s own admission but his voice was per usual effectual and captivating.

 

 

 

The bill was rounded out by STL’s River Kittens. I arrived in time to catch the very end of their set.