A Little Music with That Meal?
I’m fortunate to make my living writing for various magazines and websites. While clients are like children, you love them all … but … you can’t help favoring some over others. Being a musician and an advocate of everything music, it’s not surprising that I especially enjoy writing a weekly live music blog for the city. My “Hear This Week” blog for Explore St. Louis allows me to be a booster for all of the wonderful music that happens in this city.
Recently I was chatting with another local musician who lamented that too many venues start the music “too late” (10 pm) for “older” people (anyone with little kids and/or over 30). It’s true … no matter how excited I am about an act, I pause before going out to a club at 9:30 pm on a Tuesday night hoping they start by 10:30 pm.
I personally enjoy listening to music while dining , and I recently blogged about restaurants that serve great food and live music at reasonable times. These are perfect for date nights, or even that first date (good litmus test: does he or she like live music? Check! … Also if that first date were to turn awkward, enjoying the music in silence will get you through it).
Here are seven spots that are worthy both for the great food they serve and the stellar local and regional music acts that regularly perform during meal times.
BB’s Jazz, Blues and Soups. In addition to a great menu of Cajun-influenced delights, they have music seven nights a week starting at 7 pm or 8 pm during the week, and as early as 4 pm on the weekend. A lot of history, and a lot of jazz and blues played by the best local and regional bands.
Evangeline’s is an upscale restaurant that is always hosting great local and touring bands. They have music at least five nights a week starting at 7 pm, and a hot swinging jazz brunch on Sunday mornings. Otherwise jazz, Americana, folk/rock, and everything else is heard here. Excellent cocktails, fantastic menu.
Joanie’s Pizzeria offers more than pizza — there’s a full menu of apps, salads, and sandwiches too. Also a lot of live music. The starting time of 8 pm means a later dinner, but a Sunday afternoon start time of 3 pm is always perfect for the Americana and traditional blues acts they typically book.
Pat Connolly’s is an Irish pub, but every Thursday night starting at 7 pm they serve up local jazz talent with their fish and chips. Every Sunday morning they have a brunch with duo and trios playing Irish music from 11 am to 1 pm.
Hwy 61 Roadhouse is mostly a blues house, which goes perfectly with the New Orleans–inspired menu (Guy Fieri even did an episode of his show in this kitchen a while back). Friday and Saturday it all starts at 7 pm, with an open mic on Wednesdays.
Sasha’s Wine Bar and Café hosts the town’s best jazz trumpeter, Jim Manley, every Wednesday, and there’s much live music on other nights. All performers play to patrons enjoying international-inspired (Greek, Italian, French) food. There are two locations, and both feature duos and great wine lists.
The Shaved Duck has live solo and duo acts four to five nights a week. The local talent plays on Sundays at 4 pm, Mondays at 5:30 pm, Tuesday through Thursday at 6:30 pm, and Saturdays at 1 pm. So enjoy award-winning BBQ and southern specialties at this Tower Grove delight.
There are other establishments, but the ones listed here are good about posting either on their website or at least their Facebook page about the bands and their starting times. If you haven’t already, go out and enjoy the food and the music! And if there’s a tip jar on the band’s stage ….
