Brigitte Calls Me Baby Brings ‘Irreversible’ to St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri - April 18, 2026
The brisk Saturday night drew in a crowd to the St. Louis independent venue, Off Broadway. The small, yet efficient space built on its local reputation left no assumption of its old school roots. The stickers on the bathroom walls mixed in with its large selection of local drinks, set up the perfect conditions to host the night’s special guests, Brigitte Calls Me Baby. Their fifth show on the ‘Irreversible’ Tour, following an album release of the same name, marked their first headlining show at Off Broadway and The Lou.
The Chicago based 5-piece band (4 original members and 1 touring musician) will have new fans puzzled at the suave tones reminiscent of Morrissey or, at times, Elvis Presley. Combining infectious riffs as well as snappy rhythm sections, Brigitte Calls Me Baby blends a unique vision of modern life with a taste of the past enough to wonder which decade it is coming from. The face of their originality stems from their lead singer, Wes Leavins, who is assured in his talents and aesthetic. The fashion and the look would still be iconic whether it was on Instagram or Hit Parader magazine, the profound lyrics referencing David Lynch films or infidelity while asleep. The rest of the band, guitarist Jack Fluegel, bassist Devin Wessels, and drummer Jeremy Benshish, each equally representing the band and the image.
Brigitte Calls Me Baby took the stage after the opening act, Skorts, which the nearly sold out show cheered affectionately when taking the stage. The slow start up of a synth to the tune of one of their new singles, “I Danced with Another Love in my Dreams” began to shout from the speakers. The lights beamed a dark blue that perfectly resembled the tone and the intention of the song. From wall to wall, the crowd was engaged and ready for the rest of the show. “Pink Palace” was up next on the setlist, and if the previous song didn’t get the crowd dancing and on their feet, this one did. The song balanced a punchy brightness with Leavins crooning voice range in such a unique and powerful way. As the band continued, this sort of energy was present through the entire mix.
Midway through the set, the band took a moment to allow the crowd to ask questions or give critiques. It was played for kicks, and was an entertaining way of crowd engagement with the fans shouting their burning questions or slight concerns. Most of which were why certain songs haven't been played yet. The band was acting serious in the moment, however the intense listening and answers softly mumbled into the microphone was a playful bit that is a rarity among bands.
After the peanut gallery closed, the band snapped back into the set. To the surprise of many, they asked the audience if a cover could be performed. The crowd delightfully agreed, to which “Is This It” by The Strokes was what began playing. The song fit perfectly in the lineup, with the jumpy bassline and guitar keeping steady for the whole song. The last half of the song was sung in a higher octave, which had the crowd stunned and in awe of the enjoyable escalation. The song was an unlikely surprise, yet a welcomed one.
The setlist allowed each member to have their moment to shine, which showed off their immense chemistry and artistry. Standout moments included the bass guitar solo on “We Were Never Alive”, a song off their debut album The Future is Our Way Out and the guitars taking center stage on “The Pit”, off of their newest release Irreversible. Though the synth work was never the highlight of any of the songs, the switching between instruments throughout songs was tight and added a deep layer to their sound. The drums kept everything tied together nicely and were especially good for “These Acts of Which We’re Designed”. The synth is percussive, but the drums come into the mix perfectly to balance the sound.
As the night went on, the band saved their most danceable and memorable tracks for the end. The first single off of Irreversible, “Slumber Party” is clearly meant to have fans on their feet and hearts racing. The last song before the encore was ultimately the most exciting display of what the band is capable of. Quickly after finishing “Slumber Party”, Leavins dropped the tone and went straight to belting out “Impressively Average”, one of their most popular songs from The Future is Our Way Out. If there was a song to submit for best vocals, this would be up there. Leavins effortlessly flowed through the song, showing off incredible vocal range through all the highs and lows of the song. The stage truly came alive for the song as the pink and blue lights shined, with flashes of green as soon as the sustained notes were sung out. Brigitte Calls Me Baby thanked the crowd and headed backstage to the crowd wanting more. Eventually, the 5-piece came back out to play the titular song from their first album, which at its conclusion, the show was officially over.
Brigitte Calls Me Baby has all the tools to be a touring staple now and for years to come. They are an immensely talented group and have a special way of blending interesting concepts into a freshly nostalgic sound. Not only does their music make the case alone, they are performers awaiting bigger stages and massive crowds. Several more shows on this tour are sold out, and understandably so as Brigitte Calls Me Baby is not one you will want to miss.
