Aaron Kamm and the One Drops @ 2720 Cherokee, St. Louis, MO

Pictures and words by Duane Clawson
The most common theme heard before Aaron Kamm and the One Drops took the stage @ 2720 Cherokee was, “You’re gonna like this band”.  As with most shows I have covered this year, I knew very little about this band.  All I knew was the band had a cool name and their Facebook page had some cool music on it.  I was hoping that the band’s name and a snippet of their music would be the formula for a great live show.  As I entered 2720 Cherokee, I was asked by the bouncer if I had seen this band before, to which I told him no.   He said it was one of his favorite bands to see at 2720.  The crowd was growing for this Wednesday night show, a good indicator that this band might be good.  I found a table for my camera bag and my adult beverage.  I also shared the table with a couple from Litchfield Illinois, a 112-mile round trip, another indicator this band might be good.  Again, I was asked by this couple if I had seen the band before.  Again, the answer was no.  Once again I heard, “You’re gonna like this band”. 


Shortly after 10pm, Aaron Kamm (guitar/vocals), Sean Raila (drums), and Andy Lee Dorris (bass) took the 2720 stage.   It didn’t take long to hear why this band had such a large following.  With the ability to play the smoothest of Reggae blends or break out in a jam that would rival a live version of “Freebird”, this band had something for everyone.  A look at the audience for this show was also proof there was something for everyone.  Be it the coolest of hipsters or an older guy, like me, every subculture seemed to be represented at this show.  The band’s Facebook page list of influences includes Peter Tosh; the Allman Brothers, and Sublime, bits of all of these bands can be heard in the band’s sound.  Aaron and the Drops also played one of the longest sets of any local bands I have covered this year.  Their set clocked in at right around the three-hour mark with a 20-minute intermission.  A couple of songs that deserve attention are “Southtown” and “Lil Ruby”.  In “Southtown”, the band shows off their chops throughout this song with flourishes of jam band, reggae, and blues.  “Lil Ruby” starts off with a groovy shuffle and then breaks out in a jam band styled chorus which abruptly ends and returns you to the shuffle that started it all.  The band has two albums out there, titled Gnu-Gnu and Grow, both can be picked up at CD Baby, iTunes, and at the band’s website.   The band also has the honor of having both of their albums in December’s Top 10 playlist at Jam's Space.  As the band left the stage, drummer Sean Raila introduced himself to me.  At the end of our conversation, I was reminded of a passage from my last review, “Bands put it out there; it’s your job to find it”.  I asked Sean, “Where have you guys been“ and his reply was simple, “Right here”.  Thanks to Aaron Kamm and the One Drops for allowing me to cover the show and 2720 for their hospitality.  Pictures of the show are below:

Contributed by Duane Clawson
Aaron Kamm and the One Drops @ 2720 Cherokee, St. Louis, MO Aaron Kamm and the One Drops @ 2720 Cherokee, St. Louis, MO Reviewed by Scott Rowe, Editor on January 10, 2012 Rating: 5
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