Halloween Cake

A Concert Review By Jason Stone

A wise man once said, "Music makes the world go around." Maybe not, but he should have. Regardless music does have a certain driving force behind it and that's what lured me to St. Louis on Halloween night. Who were these masked musicians, powerful enough to drag me two hours from my home? They were none other than the musical genius of Cake. You probably remember Cake from such tracks as "Going the Distance" or 'Never There' but the bands' handful of top forty appearances does no justice to their creativity and musical allure.

Cake was born in 1993, out of Sacramento, CA. The band, under the lead of vocalist/guitarist John McCrea has long been known for their unique style and satirical lyrics. The bands' style is nearly indescribable. The mix of funk, pop, rock, and even country has made Cake unparalleled in the department of sound. This one of a kind sound has gained the band much respect in the eyes of music fans of all ages. Cake recently released its fourth mainstream album, "Comfort Eagle." The album has been given rave reviews and gained the band much air play with the hit single Short Skirt/Long Jacket. Along with "Comfort Eagle" (2001), the band's arsenal includes "Prolonging the Magic" (1998), "Fashion Nugget" (1996), and "Motorcade of Generosity" (1994).

At about 7:30 pm I had finally arrived at my destination. As I approached the Pageant on Delmar, I could see the crowd flocking in anticipation. The line filed from the front doors, around the corner and into the parking lot. The wait however, soon proved to be worth while. The show began with an opening act by the name of Beulah. The band Beulah, a four-piece out of San Francisco, CA lit up the crowd with its upbeat "poppy" rock style. Off the subject of Cake, I promised Beulah some props in this story of the show. Beulah, wherever you are, here I go. I was fortunate enough to have a few minutes to talk with Beulah after the show. The band seemed excited and optimistic about their up-and-coming careers. Currently, the band is touring nationally with Cake on the "Comfort Eagle" tour. You can purchase a copy of their latest CD "The Coast is Never Clear" at any CD Warehouse location. Thanks Beulah!

Soon to follow, Cake with their odd, yet powerful vibe, took the stage. The crowd went into hysteria as John McCrea walked to the front of the stage and picked up a ukulele and began to pick the instrumental "Arco Arena." As the show continued, the energy was unmatched. Cake fans in all their glory sang along with each lyric as if it were their own. The highlight of the show came with the performance of "Satan is My Motor," the first track off of "Prolonging the Magic." All fans who were wearing the Halloween costume of a devil were invited to the stage for a sing along. The crowd erupted as dozens of "satans" flocked the front of the arena.

Unfortunately Cake declined time for an interview after the show, so I can only leave you with the images in my mind. I will say though that this was one of best shows that I've seen in quite some while. The band played superbly with a flawless sound. Each song was clean and crisp, with a CD quality sound. As a music connoisseur I would advise everyone to pick a Cake CD. I would also strongly suggest catching a show when and if the band comes back to town (knock on wood).