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Double Bass Moving to St. Louis

damonsmith

damonsmith

May 10, 2006
10,333
9,044
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Saint Louis, MO
www.balancepointacoustics.com
#1
I am moving to St. Louis by the end of May! my girlfriend got a three year fellowship at the St. Louis Art Museum to write a book about German Expressionism. I will miss playing music in New England - I don't think I had a single bad gig here, The musicians are so incredible! however, I did not fall in love with the place. I look forward to being closer to Texas and Chicago and having a better quality of daily life.
 
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#3
damonsmith said:
I am moving to St. Louis by the end of May! my girlfriend got a three year fellowship at the St. Louis Art Museum to write a book about German Expressionism. I will miss playing music in New England - I don't think I had a single bad gig here, The musicians are so incredible! however, I did not fall in love with the place. I look forward to being closer to Texas and Chicago and having a better quality of daily life.
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Congrats. I'm sure you'll be missed up there.
 
#5
I think it will be great, better food than New England for sure!!! The level of musicianship in the Boston area is so high, though. I will really miss that. I don't think I've had a bad gig, I am lucky to have had a situation that has allowed to be prepared for these shows! Proximity to NY has been great as well. I am not afraid of snow, so I've enjoyed the weather.

The day to day life can be a real drag - the roads and trains are not laid out well, anything even mildly interesting is an hour there and an hour back minimum - and too often it is just mildly interesting. Not a single bookstore I'd call great, a few good ones, same with record stores.
The Boston museums are pretty backwards and have wack priorities (colonial furniture at the MFA, "virtue signifying" at the ICA), the colleges, Harvard, Brandies and Yale in particular have strong museums.
The food can be good and even great but, it terrible and expensive often enough that taking chances is not advisable!

In the other places I lived, Oakland and Houston, I was able to be closer to the centers, it seems like I'll be able to do that in St. Louis, which will be nice. The art institutions also have far a more serious attitude about modern and contemporary art, so I will enjoy that.
 
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#7
damonsmith said:
I am moving to St. Louis by the end of May! my girlfriend got a three year fellowship at the St. Louis Art Museum to write a book about German Expressionism. I will miss playing music in New England - I don't think I had a single bad gig here, The musicians are so incredible! however, I did not fall in love with the place. I look forward to being closer to Texas and Chicago and having a better quality of daily life.
Click to expand...

New England can be nice on some levels (I'm from MA), but I agree that many of the "interesting" things must be sought out. I find the typical MA mentality to be on the provincial side. Yeah I like chairs, but...

And damn yes food is expensive, especially in the GBA.

Agreed on the extremely high level of musicianship! Except for "scenes." But those are hacky all over. Also great shops and repair techs in NE, at least when I was living in Boston.

Good luck with the move! Enjoy the warmer weather and change of scenery.
 
#10
John Chambliss said:
Hope you’ll love St Louis. Yes, closer to Chicago and to Memphis. Probably a better Jazz scene in St Louis than in Memphis these days though. Good luck man!
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It looks like I will have plenty of music to play. I am more interested in getting a good handle on the subtle differences between Tennessee, Kansas, Kentucky and Missouri BBQ.
I doubt Lockhart, Texas can be unseated as the world BBQ Mecca, but, I will come with an open mind!
 
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#12
You'll dig it here. Lots of great blues, the jazz scene is damn good. Be patient and seek things out, the Loop is near the Museum, the West end is connected to Forest park. A couple of great record stores in Vintage Vinyl and the Record Space....loads of great food in the metro area. Instrument wise you have Killer Vintage, Fazio's, Acme, Mojo's, Music Go Round and the guitar centers.
 
#13
damonsmith said:
It looks like I will have plenty of music to play. I am more interested in getting a good handle on the subtle differences between Tennessee, Kansas, Kentucky and Missouri BBQ.
I doubt Lockhart, Texas can be unseated as the world BBQ Mecca, but, I will come with an open mind!
Click to expand...

Texas is the center of the BBQ universe in my books.
 
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#17
As one who moved to STL from KC, I must say that KC's barbecue is better and more available.
I've heard it said that St. Louis is "the northernmost southern city and the westernmost eastern city." True, I think. I love it here but there are some things that drive me a little nuts. Welcome, and I hope you enjoy it.
 

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