The GasTown Lamps and Band 13 poster from the Cafe Acoustic on 12//1/12.

It’s hard to compete with free beer. The Cafe Acoustic went up against that with it’s December 1st show featuring The GasTown Lamps and Band 13. Magoon’s (a bar across town) was hosting “Occupy A Venue IV” forming the main competition on this night and in the past has had free beer. The Cafe Acoustic still packed a good crowd in, even with rumors of a Dsoedean reunion down at Magoon’s.

The GasTown Lamps bring the heat at the Cafe Acoustic .

The GasTown Lamps would go on first and they just keep getting better. The more times they trot out their brand of bluesy rock, the better they sound. Todd Ward’s vocal style compliments his grounded guitar playing nicely with a mix of well written songs. Drummer Jason Baines has always been Ward’s shadow in music and keeps him on track. Baines’ personality transcends from behind the drumkit as he is the voice of band in-between songs always reminding the crowd to tip their bartenders at each show. The newest GasTown Lamp is bass player Steven Williamson who joined the two-piece after they already had a group of songs together. His addition has helped the band expand their sound and put a little more meat on the bones of The GasTown Lamps music.

The GasTown Lamps have put together a group of very good songs you can expect to see at their shows. The loose “Free To Run” usually starts the show and instantly makes it difficult to keep your head still. One of the bands slower songs “Out of Your Soul” is now a staple for the band as well, having no shortage of soul itself. That song may have been a turning point in the group’s sound. The band has several upbeat, noisy numbers as well like “The One To Bet On” and “Can You Get To That” that still maintain that very distinct GasTown Lamps sound. They would attempt to leave the stage after they built their set to a climax with the Neil Young inspired “If We’re Here” and their appropriate closing song “Hands In The Air.” The crowd of about 35 people gave the opening band on the night a good enough ovation they felt compelled to do one more song. They would comply by coming back and playing “Effect the Effect.”

Band 13 from Kansas City plays the Cafe Acoustic in St. Joseph, MO on 12/1/12.

Band 13 would make their way up from Kansas City to headline the evening at The Cafe Acoustic only to see much of the present crowd exit before they would start playing. The trio would still put forth a diligent effort to fill out their set of classic rock inspired music with energy. They would be giving away their 2011 CD Transmission From Exile and playing a few songs from it but mostly other tunes.

They had a Red Hot Chili Peppers inspired number in “Son of Saint Star Killer” and absolutely killed a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “The Immigrant Song.” They would show a little surf-billy swing by opening their set with their original song “Into The Blue” as well. The snarky humor of “Gas Station Rose” was one of the better songs on the night. They would end with a very good sounding song “Light Years” and would grant the request to play one last song. Because dancing broke out on a few songs, singer Shaun Lindsey would let the crowd know since they wanted to dance they would end with a dance number. Band 13 would then tear into a tight version of Michael Jackson’s “Billy Jean.” They might try to tell you they hadn’t practiced it but you could tell they had.

I’m not sure what went on down at Magoon’s with the about 8 bands playing there but The Cafe had a pretty good show on this night too. Hopefully Band 13 will return soon and The GasTown Lamps are putting finishing touches on their first EP. It is set to be called “Heavy Trunk” and should be available at their shows early next year.

The GasTown Lamps setilst from 12/1/12 at Cafe Acoustic in St. Joseph, MO:

• Free To Run
• Cross The Line
• Out Of Your Soul
• The One To Bet On
• Two Kinds
• No Friend Of Mine
• The Breaks
• Call My Name
• When The Night Comes Through
• Can You Get To That
• If We’re Here
• Hands In The Air
• Effect The Effect

Band 13 setilst from 12/1/12 at Cafe Acoustic in St. Joseph, MO:

• Into The Blue
• Nobody Knows
• Last New Mystery
• Salesman
• Lost In Atomic Passion
• Son of Saint Star Killer
• Beast Boy Shindig
• The Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin cover)
• Sweet Majestic
• Gas Station Rose
• Zero Warning
• The Last Living Dinosaur
• Light Years
• Billy Jean (Michael Jackson cover)