SXSW Day 4 - The Adventures Of An Old Broad and Her Kid - Gentleman Auction House Live at Jovita’s - Twangfest
Posted by Cindy on March 19th, 2007
Saturday afternoon I decided that I would sit my ass down across from the Jovita’s outdoor stage and move only for margaritas and subsequent powder room visits. However, about mid-way through the day - between songs coming from the outdoor stage - a sound from the indoor stage wafted out to my welcoming ears - and it was so intriguing that I left my post (and good intentions) to take a stroll inside to find out what was so very ear-pleasing. That’s when I fell head-over heels in love.
I walked into the darkened back room of Jovita’s just in the knick of time to catch the final song by this quirky, adorable band from St. Louis called, Gentleman Auction House. The 7 member band filled the stage with their multitude of instruments ranging from keyboards, drums, guitars organs, horns, beaters, shakers, a flute…they had it all. This single performance was, by far, the most captivating, fun, entertaining and brilliant performance of the entire 5 days. I fell…and I fell hard. I literally had to wrench the last EP outta the hands of another rabid new fan just to get me a copy.
The good news is, I had the foresight to grab my audio recorder and got that last song recorded. The other good news is that I cornered the band later for an audio interview. The bad news is, I’m a flippin’ dumbass. But you already knew that, right? I was juggling one memory card between two audio recorders and didn’t realize that if I re-formatted one to the other, the audio was forever lost. I’m still kicking myself…literally, kicking myself for losing it.
However, thanks to modern technology I can still bring their music to your ears. I’m going to harass, plead, blackmail, bribe…whatever I have to do to get these kids back to Texas for a little Lone Star tour as soon as possible. Or hell, I loved ‘em so much, I’d even make the drive to St. Louis to seem ‘em live again.
Young Eric Enger went from a solo artist to the addition of 6 more members to this fantabulous band. The other members, Steve Kozel, Mike Tomko, Kiley Lewis, Eric Herbst, Ryan Archer Adams and Stephen Tomko seem just as dedicated and excited towards and about the band as Eric hisownself.
I listened and learned the EP on the entire 6-freakin’-hour-in-stand-still-traffic-on-I-35 drive home yesterday and now it shall never, ever leave my CD player. The real magic, however, is in their live performance. These kids don’t just get up there and strum and sing - they put on a show and the fans can’t help but become a part of the entire performance.
Remember this name, Gentleman Auction House. You’ll be hearing it over and over in the coming years.
Their self-made, self-written (Eric Enger), self-produced debut EP, The Rules Were Handed Down is a must have if you like good music. Go here and getcherown copy. Below are a couple of tunes for your listening pleasure…
“Our Angry Town Runs Them Out” by Gentleman Auction House
“A Hospital or Heaven” by Gentleman Auction House
March 19th, 2007 at 7:19 pm
i love this band!
March 19th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
my brother is Eric Enger lead singer of this band RAWKSTAR!!!
March 20th, 2007 at 10:12 am
i love this band too! big things are coming for them.
March 21st, 2007 at 8:46 pm
thanks for the kudos for gentleman auction house, Cindy — i gave you a shout-out on our blog!
http://www.riverfronttimes.com/blogs/?p=293
annie zaleski
RFT music editor
March 21st, 2007 at 8:57 pm
I am so happy this band is finally getting the recognition they deserve outside of the friendly confines of St. Louis… I am unfortunately missing their show here in St. Louis tonight, though…
March 22nd, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Cindy,
These guys played after my boyfriend Cary Hudson at Jovitas. We adored them. Trying to get them to Dallas with Sorta and Sorta to St. Louis with them!
March 22nd, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Hey Carrie,
I think I spoke to you briefly when Cary was moved to the inside stage. I wish I would have gone on to record him as well. Let me know if I can help! I love Sorta too!
April 4th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
[...] Memember a few weeks back when I gushed like a little school-girl over a band I saw at SXSW called Gentleman Auction House? And memember how’s I said I was going to get ‘em from St. Louis back to Texas however necessary? Thanks to Lance Yocom and Rosa Madriz, that gonna happen kids…that gonna happen real good. [...]
June 4th, 2007 at 10:58 am
[...] Memember a few weeks back when I gushed like a little school-girl over a band I saw at SXSW called Gentleman Auction House? And memember how’s I said I was going to get ‘em from St. Louis back to Texas however necessary? Thanks to Lance Yocom and Rosa Madriz, that gonna happen kids…that gonna happen real good. [...]
August 21st, 2007 at 3:40 pm
[...] I prolly keep gettin’ St. Louis band’s CDs in the mail due to my written adoration for the fantabulous Gentleman Auction House, also from St. Louis. [...]