Regular Everywhere: May 2026 Concerts In Review
While April unexpectedly kept me sidelined from live music, May made up for it in spades with a wonderful now-annual trip to SLC for the fabulous Kilby Block Party.
Let's trek back through an absurdly great 60+ band month!
KSLU Spring Show: Greet Death w/ Mattie Schell & Cupid's Trick
@ SLU Busch Student Center — St. Louis, MO — May 2, 2026
Greet Death are a fantastic band on the rise. I was lucky to catch them twice at the end of 2025 when they opened the Foxing farewell shows, and they haven't lost a step since then. Absolutely fantastic set on a beautiful day in downtown St. Louis. Local openers, Mattie Schell and Cupid's Trick were awesome as always. This is a talented town!
Hanging out with the KSLU kids made me miss my years running KGLX at Webster University. Those were the days.
Kilby Block Party 2026 (Day One)
@ Utah State Fairpark — Salt Lake City, UT — May 15, 2026
Turnstile
Modest Mouse
Father John Misty
Kevin Morby
NewDad
Die Spitz
Gelli Haha
Hotline TNT
I experienced what felt like three seasons at Kilby Block Party this year, and this was the warmest day of the three. I sprung for the super VIP tickets, which made securing viewing angles dramatically easier for someone who sets out to see every set.
My highlights of Day One are photographed above. Gelli Haha, Die Spitz, Hotline TNT, and NewDad had that searing young band on the rise energy, with rapt crowds to match. Father John Misty, Modest Mouse, and Turnstile were captivating as usual. It was surreal being camped out at FOH while Turnstile got 20k+ jumping up and down in unison. A hell of a way to close out the first night!
Kilby Block Party 2026 (Day Two)
@ Utah State Fairpark — Salt Lake City, UT — May 16, 2026
The xx
Alex G
The Last Dinner Party
Automatic
YHWH Nailgun
Cardinals
Wilbere
Day Two had the most mild weather of the weekend and the weakest through-line of artists, but was still a great time—again, my highlights are highlighted above.
The Last Dinner Party were likely my top set of the entire weekend and their debut of new song, "Big Dog," was absolutely enthralling. TLDP seemed to have most of the festival's attendees gathered 'round, hanging on every note. Absolutely bonkers. They've been on my must see list for a few years now, and I look forward to taking my girls to see them again in St. Louis this October.
Alex G was an unexpected [for me] standout who had an absolute ripper of a set. I have seen him a few times, most recently at Hinterland in 2023, and he was nowhere near as captivating then as he was at Kilby. The crowd was in the palm of his hand and the sunset set time was the perfect backdrop for his controlled cacophony.
Automatic, Cardinals, and YHWH Nailgun brought something new and interesting to the open-minded crowd, and they have all been bands I've been dying to see recently. Also, Wilbere had fantastic hometown energy! I love Kilby for how stacked these lineups are, even in the undercard.
The xx are a complicated headliner for me. They are cool and competent, but like Beach House as a headliner last year, are just too chill to wow me in that spot on the lineup. I am glad, however, for those that were really into it. I get that they get it, but I don't. That's completely OK and unlike many other fests, wasn't a bad headliner as much as it was just not one catered to me. Also OK.
Kilby Block Party 2026 (Day Three)
@ Utah State Fairpark — Salt Lake City, UT — May 17, 2026
Lorde
Blood Orange
Hayley Williams
Magdalena Bay
flipturn
American Football
Freak Slug
Grandaddy
TOPS
Melody's Echo Chamber
SMERZ
Day Three (highlights above) had the worst weather of the festival and the one that stretched my preparedness to the test. The cold and dampness was right at that line of misery, which the Kilby Club VIP tent luckily helped me temper. Days like these are also the hardest solo festival travel.
SMERZ, Melody's Echo Chamber, TOPS, and Freak Slug have all had albums that I've loved over the last few years, and they each brought something great to the Kilby stage. Grandaddy sounded as great as they ever have—the last time I saw them was in college. And I had somehow managed not to see American Football until now, with the Hayley Williams cameo and rodeo arena being the perfect way to experience them. flipturn were great as usual!
The end of Day Three was a non-stop hit parade, which also had me making hard choices—sorry again, Kennyhoopla. My third Magdalena Bay show in a year was magical; the post-Imaginal Disk singles were stupidly good live. Hayley Williams' first ever solo festival set was wet and wild, with a true "fuck yeah" energy. Blood Orange was weird and dynamic, and I love it. And Lorde brought it all home with a high-energy set focused on her later albums, which had her and the entire festival splashing about in the pouring rain.
It was bittersweet to travel home after another incredible Kilby Block Party. I look forward to next year, as well as to seeing a few repeats in September at Shaky Knees in Atlanta and All Things Go in DC.
---
Kasey Grelle's Memorial Service
@ Graham Chapel — St. Louis, MO — May 1, 2026
It's weird to write about a memorial service on a music blog. This was likely the most musical memorial I have ever been to, with many of St. Louis' best emitting joy from the altar in the memory of Kasey Grelle. She wouldn't have wanted any less.
Kasey was one of the earliest regular patrons of my club, The Bluebird, and her magnetic presence made sure that you always knew when she was around. We last saw each other at 2025's Music at the Intersection after a good handful of years since our last hang. Still, her bright, "Hey, dude!" caused me to turn my head, ready for a hug. It was great watch Patti LaBelle perform on the streets of Grand Center with Kasey and Dave. I will always remember it.
No words.
