The Saint Cecilia

One Liner:  Solid if unremarkable rock for the four tunes available on Spotify

Wikipedia Genre:  No Wikipedia, this is rock

Home: Unknown, but my guess is France

Poster Position: Late Addition Not on the Poster, but small type for sure
Both Weekends.
Friday at 1:15.

AmEx Stage.

Thoughts:  So, if you remember from a few years ago, the Foo Fighters made an EP here in Austin, during that Sonic Highways period when they were travelling the country to make a documentary about music all over the place.  The title of that little EP was Saint Cecilia EP, named after the hotel south of the river and east of Congress, a cool old mansion converted into a boutique hotel.  So, it definitely seemed weird when I pulled up this band and their first song is "Pretender," which is one of the Foo's biggest hits.  But, NOT a cover song, it is its own thing, just with a similar name.

It ends up that Saint Cecilia is the patroness of music and musicians.  That is a fucking dope thing to become the patron saint for - way better than like Matthew (accountants), Genesius (attorneys), Piran (pastry crimpers), Bernardine of Feltre (bankers), Cosmas (barbers), or Zita (janitors).  To be the patron saint of music would be amazing.  Although, her story sounds kind of lame - she was forced to marry a pagan nobleman but during the wedding she sat apart singing to God in her heart, and for that she was later declared the saint of musicians.  I mean, a pagan nobleman is kind of a cool piece to the story, but I feel like we should reconsider who the proper patron saint of music should be.  I'm going with Willie Nelson.  He has a gospel album or three.

Their Spotify bio is one of those annoying PR word salads that can induce vomiting.  "From the outside, Saint Cecilia is a collection of emotional images, love, art, power, passion, lust and verse."  GTFOH with that noise.  You're a basic rock band.  Nerds.  There was also once a band named St. Cecelia, who Wikipedia claims recorded a 1971 song called "Leap Up and Down (Wave Your Knickers in the Air)."  Sounds amazing.  Also, Blue Oyster Cult released an album named St. Cecilia.  These dudes don't have Wikipedia, and their website will make you want to launch the world into the sun because it immediately starts autoplaying a live show or something.  assholes.

From their names - Guillaume, Stewart, Daniel, and Romain - I am wondering if they are French.  They don't sound French, but Guillaume Devigne and Romain Garriot sound like Olympic fencers for the Frogs.  One article about them claims that "Although they may not have known each other at the time, all of the band members derived their love for music and chose their life path after hearing the opening chord to The Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night” as children."  I am guessing this article was written by AI.  It also says they are from "all across the northern hemisphere," without naming those places.  JUST TELL ME ABOUT THEM WITHOUT MENTIONING LOVE AND LUST!

Whatever.  Not like you care, this is a 1:15 in the afternoon band on Friday that has four total songs available on Spotify.  Why am I still talking about them?  "Pretender" is their top track with 231k streams.

I feel like that was dismissive and rude - I don't want to be like that.  This is a good rock and roll band.  In that article I read it claimed they were the Doors mixed with the Arctic Monkeys and that is horseshit, but they make enjoyable if generic rock tunes.  All of their singles are from 2023, and they are all good enough.  I listened to them for way too long as I tried to research this and so if you want to hear more, go find them.

Probably a no on seeing this show.  Who knows, maybe I'll be early on Friday.