Big Rain Will Pour Down Plenty Of Variety In Series Debut

Big Rain has been around the St. Louis music scene for about 10 years, but it will be making its first appearance in Ste. Genevieve this Friday.

Big Rain was one of the new acts added to the Ste. Genevieve Chamber of Commerce’s Summer Music Series, which is celebrating its 11th season.

In a season that has featured trubute bands for the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Alan Jackson and will close with a Jason Aldean tribute concern, Big Rain stands out a little bit for what will be a show featuring more contemporary hits.

“We do maybe a couple of classic rock tunes, a couple of ’80s tunes,” said Francis Gomez, the band’s drummer. “Primarily some alternative tunes and top-40 dance stuff.”

Gomez said the group also feels out the crowd to see what it likes to hear and what will live up the band’s motto: “We bring the music; you bring the moves.”

“We do a couple of country tunes but we’re not a country band,” Gomez added.

The band plays on the experience and versatility of its musicians, which helps form a “big rain.”

Three founding members remain.

Keyboard player Steve Thomas had been a member of That 80s Band.

Guitarist Bob Wilhite played for 17 years with Paint the Earth and has been a member of other bands such as Shrinking Violets, The Others, Hollywood 5 and Elevation.

Bass guitarist Ben Rohan also played with Elevation and other bands.

Gomez joined the group in 2012, two years after Big Rain had formed, but he has been a musician in the St. Louis area for more than two decades, including as a member of That 80s Band.

Vocalists Matt Mitchell and Jaime Kennington Wilhite are the most recent additions, with Jaime Wilhite joining last year to provide female vocals after a 10-year stint with Super Majik Robots.

The concert at the Orris Theatre begins at 8 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets to all shows in the series this year are $20. They may be purchased through the Chamber of Commerce at 573-883-3686 or its website.

Preferred sponsors of the series are: Ste. Genevieve County Memorial Hospital; Bloomsdale Bank; Hardin & Schaefer, PC; ST Gear & Machine LLC; Ste. Genevieve County Abstract Co. Inc.; Carl Kinsky, Attorney At Law; Mississippi Lime Company; Ste. Gen Vision Care; Citizens Electric Corporation; and Mid America Barnwood.

Regular sponsors are: MRV Banks; Family Dentistry of Ste. Genevieve; Jacquelyn S. Gonz, Attorney At Law, LLC; Shuh & Sons Plumbing, Heating & AC, LLC; Lance R. Drury, Attorney At Law; Lhoist North America; Eric Scott Leathers, Ltd.; Holcim (U.S.), Inc.; Loida Ag Service; Missouri Alliance Mutual Insurance; the Ste. Genevieve County Community Center; and the Ste. Genevieve Herald.

(Information from the Ste. Genevieve Chamber of Commerce, interviewing Francis Gomez, bigrainstl.com and the band’s Facebook page.)

“