Suite Soul Spot, Soul Sessions go head to head Tuesdays
St. Louis’ underground soul music community is scratching its head a bit wondering why a pair of too-similar events will bump heads tonight.
This can’t serve either event well.
Mainstay music showcase Suite Soul Spot laid its claim first, staking out the first Tuesday of the month at the Old Rock House.
Tonight’s lineup features Wildmann, Teresa Jenee, DJ Will Power, and a jam session with special guests on tap for the 8 p.m. event (the previously announced Big Brooklyn Red and the Paxtons will not perform).
Admission to Suite Soul Spot is $10, with more information at www.myspace.com/suitesoulspot.
Also tonight is Soul Sessions, a weekly live band/open mic event at Jazz at the Bistro that will run up against Suite Soul Spot once a month. Soul Sessions is vacating its usual Wednesday night perch to debut in its new 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays slot.
Admission is $5. More information is at 314-766-9292 and at www.myspace.com/soulsessions01.
We love all this interest in presenting soul music locally and understand Soul Sessions had little choice in its move to Tuesdays. Still, the music fan forced to make a choice loses in the end.
Kevin C. Johnson has covered the St. Louis' music and nightlife scene for the past decade. 
It is sad that Suite Soul Spot is bringing the same Artist over and over again. Can we please get some variety. Raphael Saadiq, Goapele, Leela James, Omar, Solage, Cee Lo, or some well known DJ’s from other places. They have got to do better! Club EXO is bringing better artist with Chico Debarge and 9th Wonder. Sad, so sad!
Nothing wrong with seeing some fresh talent…
Doesn’t Suite Soul Spot already struggle to attract an audience? I wonder what would lead Soul Sessions to think that going head to head would actually draw an audience for them, on the same monthly night no less. How many other Tuesday nights are there in a month? Oh, how many people in STL are there who are heading out on ANY Tuesday night cramming for such? Wait…I have an idea, how about doing it on the nights in which Cafe Soul holds its events, no a better idea, how about the First Friday of every month? STL promoters should know better! Spread out the fun…pick an open date and leave already established events along.
Peace Star Soul Fan and all,
Suite Soul Spot would love to bring Raphael and some of the other phenomenal more mainstream soul music artists. What can individual soul music lovers do to help us bring artists that you want to see?
1. Come to the shows, pay to get in and buy artist merchandise.
2. Bring your friends - introduce them to something new.
3. Go to the websites and tell us who you want to see.
The Suite Soul Spot is dedicated to presenting national independent artists that most mainstream venues and promotors won’t book because the soulfanz community in the STL is very difficult to reach and maintain which translates into little or no financial return. The artists that we have brought have had two things going: a) they have been requested by the people that support the Suite Soul Spot and b) they are willing to work hard to build their base in this market.
Overall, if concert goers don’t support the SSS (and other similar events)in the forms of physical presence and financial support, it becomes difficult to generate corporate interest to pay for the kinds of artists that you name, what ends up happening is the promotors take the financial hit in their personal lives. That is why, in the past new soul music pioneers like Soul Cafe, The 5 Spot and other events have not been able to maintain.
The blessing is that although the SSS has struggled to make it through this first year, the best is yet to come. The 2009 season has garnered corporate support and is being reformatted for a slightly more mainstream appeal without losing its organic soul vibe. We hope to see you thare Star Soul fan.
Love and light,
SSS