Roadrunner, Roadrunner
Live music can be a healing force, both physically and spiritually, especially when removed from the corporate cash grab machine concerts have become. Getting friends together to share an underground performance is sometimes a party, sometimes a high-volume holy vision that provides a group ticket on the groove train to nirvana. For one night at the Roadrunner, it was both.
Plus they had a puppet show.
Roadrunner is a DIY venue hidden in the wilds of STL City which does double duty as the garage for a plumbing business during the day. On Saturday, Oct. 3rd, they featured the return of Quintron & Miss Pussycat, a duo self-described as playing “the psychedelic soul of traditional New Orleans party music, filtered through a Hammond organ, technicolor puppets, and a battalion of homemade instruments.” Also on the bill were local punk band Miracle Whip and the stripped-down primal rock fury of Still Animals, who hosted the evening. This wasn’t the first time, though.
“My friend Cole and I started throwing parties at Roadrunner in 2021,” says Gabe Karabell, firebrand guitarist for Still Animals and one of the do-ers in this DIY venue. “The first show was a birthday party for Cole with a surprise Alice Cooper cover set. Lee from Still Animals sang and built a fake electric chair.”
“It’s a really fun place for shows,” the musician continues. “St. Louis needs more warehouse and basement gig spots. Cole and I spent eight months on bank paperwork to get the loan for the building, then we had to cut off the roof and all the framing, replace an I-beam, and completely rebuild the roof.”
Doing it yourself the STL way usually means doing it outside the system, at least until the system gets wind and does its thing. “We tried to do it without permits and got caught,” Gabe confesses. “Our friend Brian is an engineer and got us the drawings for permits to save us.”
Saved by the hookup, another STL tradition, Gabe and his crew pushed forward with the vision they believed in. “I know it’s a cliché, but if you’re willing to put the work in, and convince a bank to give you a loan, you can build something special in St. Louis,” he says.
A unique place to play also helps bring in out of town acts tired of the usual grind. “Still Animals met Quintron and Miss Pussycat in Kansas City last year,” tells Gabe. “Our friend, Still Animals publicist Bazooka Joe (aka The Go-Go Muck, who was also served as DJ for the Roadrunner show) booked us to open for them at the Ship.”
“When Quintron was booking this tour, he hit (Still Animals bassist) Jessie up,” says the guitarist. “They talked and decided that a party would be a lot more fun than a traditional show. The garage door makes loading an organ easier too.”
“St. Louis is a really great place for punk and underground music,” Gabe raves. “This show will stand out in my mind for a long time. Quintron and Miss Pussycat are incredible, the vibes were great. It was a really cool crowd.”
All the area neighbors were invited, and the sense of fellowship was palpable among the broad cross-section of age groups represented. Folks were there for a good time, and the crowd stayed peaceful and respectful. Not everyone in the area was pleased, though, with one neighbor deciding that calling the cops on what they deemed a “disgusting” and “unacceptable” puppet-show rock-and-roll dance party was a good use of resources.
The cops came. They apologized for bothering everyone and then went back to looking for a missing child. No word on whether the angry neighbor pouted about it afterwards.
Outside of that one salty weirdo, everyone involved seemed to be truly grateful for a chance to share in the moment and be together in a one-of-a-kind event. We only get so many chances to dance, and they all go by too fast, so we have to enjoy it while we can. Having recently had some health scares, gratitude for community love and help was foremost on Gabe’s mind.
“Most important thing to mention is how our friends really came out to turn our plumbing garage into a venue,” shares Gabe. “I just had surgery, so I couldn’t lift anything or move gear. Thanks to Brett from Ace of Spit and Government Jobs, and Austin from Glory and Perfection, Ben from Shaved Women and Iron Bars, (Still Animals drummer) Francis, Jessie, Lee, Nathan, Gary, Andrea, Miracle Whip, Joe and Jeff from KC. Everything came together better than I expected. Truly a group effort!”
Like Chuck Berry said, hail, hail, rock n’ roll. Hallelujah, amen.
Find Still Animals music at https://stillanimals.bandcamp.com/
Find Quintron and Miss Pussycat music at https://quintron10.bandcamp.com/ and probably wherever puppets buy records.
Pictorial directly from the center of the action by the author. To see more photos and discover some awesome new STL music, go to https://www.instagram.com/sonicgallerystl
