St. Louis Post-Dispatch from St. Louis, Missouri • Page 102

30 Calling All Anglers The Urge come home for the holidays 1-1 'IIP By Kevin C. Johnson call 314416-4374 Pi Namre rf If Canoed ViJSW; for the FREE 68-page guide to America's Best Outdoor Program I ri, COUNTY PARK Theatre Cnrivans CAROL mm The Urge, circa 2000 (from left): Matt Kwaitkowskl, Karl Grable, John Pessoni, Steve Ewing, Bill Reiter and Jerry Jost. Dickens' classic tale brings the sights and sounds of an old-fashioned Christmas to the Fox spectacular holiday treat for the entire family. NetiraMko I Charles A I Post-Dispatch Pop Music Critic Sometimes, even after the music is over, a band still gets that Urge to play on. Such is the case with the Urge, one of St.

Louis' favorite rock bands, which broke up two years ago. The group's 14-year run included a hit single in "Jump Right In," bills with Korn, No Doubt and Sugar Ray, and some major-label deals that eventually soured. At the time of the breakup, the group cited "musical differences" and claimed vaguely that it was "one of those things." Whatever the cause, the split was never nasty, allowing the group to reunite for a trio of concerts at the Pageant beginning Friday. The Urge's holiday-timed shows are a long-standing tradition for the band, one the fellows are apparently not ready to give up. But singer Steve Ewing doesn't want fans to get the wrong idea.

The reunion is just for these Christmas shows and perhaps a couple of other dates in Kansas City and Omaha, Neb. But there's no new album, music or tour on the horizon, no thoughts of a grander reunion. And that takes the pressure off the holiday shows, allowing the Urge to just have a good time. "It's not ongoing now, whereas before it was ongoing, and after the Christmas shows we had to get ready for the new year," Ewing says. "Usually, we had to think about a new tour or another string of dates.

This time it's real easy. We play the songs onstage, and that's it. There's no pressure, no other stuff going on. We're just playing the shows and having a good time." They're not even promising more Christmas shows after this year's batch. "I don't know.

We'll see," he says, laughing. "If a play-it-by-ear kind of thing. It depends on what everyone else is doing in the year to come. We're doing it this year because everyone thought it was overdue for us to get our ya-yas off and do our thing." Fans who've supported the Urge over the years are in store for the same energy the band has always delivered, the type of fun that cemented the band's live presence, Ewing promises. "We're going to play as much material as we possibly can, just stuff that basically spans the whole 15 years of songwriting, stuff from every record.

And the shows are gonna be crazy hype, like always," he says, referring to the spirited flow of Urge concerts. In keeping with another tradition, the three shows will feature different opening acts, allowing the band to bring some exposure to undiscovered St. Louis acts. Ewing explains: "A lot of people are like, 'Why don't you have this band or that band open for But we've always had those bands open fop before. In -or-! der for us not to go crazy with the GartSimertcatr Girisfmas in Historic Saint Charles "certain small intricacies go away.

So we definitely have to rehearse." Ewing, who lives in Los Angeles, says the band started rehearsals without him until he joined them Wednesday. "I've been going over the lyrics and stuff," he says. "We should be in good shape." The idea of resurrecting the Christmas shows came about at Pessoni's wedding in October. The band came together for the festivities, and Joe Dirt, played the reception. While Joe Dirt's equipment was set up, someone suggested the Urge do a number, and they ended up performing three: "Brainless," "Closer" and "Warning Warning." "I botched a couple of words to the songs," Ewing says.

"Other than that, it felt like we never left the stage, really." A week after the wedding, Pessoni suggested a Christmas show, and Ewing was agreeable. "I said, 'Yeah, why not, but what about the rest of the guys? Let's We called the other guys," Ewing says. "In the back of all our minds, we thought it would be cool to do a Christmas show, but we all have other things going on, so would it work? We said, 'Let's do And one show turned into three." As if the Urge could get away with just one Christmas show. The Urge When: 8 p.m. Friday with Shaman's Harvest and Clanky's Nub; 8 p.m.

Tuesday with La Push and Strange Device; 8 p.m. Dec. 25 with Adair and Lojic Where: The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Boulevard How much: 19 for Friday show (Tuesday and Dec. 25 shows are sold out) More info: 314-726-6161' whole thing, everybody just picks a band they like. There are six members and six slots.

It's not like we were in a room together figuring out who's going to do the opening slots." Although the Urge prefers to only use bands with which they've never shared a bill, Adair has played with the group before. But Adair has an advantage because it's the band of Urge guitarist Jerry Jost's little brother. The other openers are Shaman's Harvest, Clanky's Nub, La Push, Strange Device and Lojic. Not among the bands opening is the Steve Ewing Band, the outfit Ewing formed after the Urge's breakup. Ewing is putting the finishing touches on the band's second CD, which will be out in the spring.

"The new record is gonna be even crazier, nuts," he says. "What we're going to do is more of an English sound, a European sound going further off the deep end. I'm experimenting with tones and using more artists and players. I cut a lot of the last record myself. This time, I wanted to achieve something I couldnt do myself, so I got a lot of guys to play." But right now the "lot of guys" Ewing is playing with are his Urge mates, who have had to re-familiarize themselves with the band's catalog for these special holiday gigs.

"There's so much material we haven't played in a while because we were doing other things," Ewing says. Jost, bassist Karl Grable and guitarist Pat Malecek are now in Ulcer. Jost and drummer John Pessoni created cover band Joe Dirt Trombonist Matt Kwiatkow-ski returned to school at Washington University. Saxophonist-keyboardist Bill Reiter does session and songwriter work and Web design. As a result of the guys going in different directions, Ewing says, Half-off opening night coupons available at.

restrictions appiy Traditions December 21 Shopping hours on Main Street are 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except Wednesday and Friday which are 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday hours are 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.

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