Rain or Shine, 636 Day Delivered — A Recap from Tony Patrico, Host of Sounds of STL

Saturday brought a whole lotta rain, but that didn’t stop thousands of folks from rolling into Frenchtown, St. Charles to celebrate 636 Day — and man, what a night it turned out to be.

For those unfamiliar, 636 Day is a big ol’ street fest that celebrates the people, places, and culture of St. Charles and the surrounding area. It’s billed as family-friendly, packed with live music, local food, and interactive art — and it absolutely delivered on all fronts.

When I pulled up to the event, honestly, I wasn’t sure how many people would actually show up with the skies dumping buckets. But the second I stepped out — BAM — the streets were filled with dedicated locals who clearly weren’t afraid of a little water.

Right away, the smells hit me. BBQ pork steaks in the air. Then Thai food. A ton of amazing vendors lined the streets, selling everything from handmade goods to comfort food. I grabbed a Surfside to sip on, and started wandering the festival with my crew. Along the way, we bumped into St. Louis Rugby tent and a whole bunch of familiar faces from the local music scene and community.

One of my only regrets? Missing most of Jeremiah Johnson’s set. We caught the tail end — and what we heard was absolutely killer. If you’re into jazz, blues, gritty rock — or honestly, even if you’re not — you gotta appreciate watching someone absolutely crush it on stage. That was Jeremiah and his band — top-notch stuff.

Later in the night, after a quick stop at Good News Brewing Company (highly recommend), we staked out our spot to catch the Steve Ewing Band. Now, if you don’t know — Steve Ewing is the frontman for The Urge, but he also juggles multiple bands and owns a chain of fantastic hot dog and melt shops (seriously, go try ’em).

But on this night, it was all about The Steve Ewing Band. Right as they hit the first note, the skies decided to fully open up again. Some folks bailed — hey, no shame — but for those of us who stayed? We got an incredible show.

Through covers, Urge favorites, and a few technical difficulties, Steve and the band powered through. Hearing “A Message to You, Rudy” by The Specials, a stripped-down “Jack & Diane”, and Urge classics like Open All Night, Brainless, and Gettin' Hectic — on the rain-soaked streets of St. Charles? Unforgettable.

And I’d be lying if I didn’t say one of the highlights was acting like a 10-year-old, dancing like a lunatic in the rain with my fiancée during HER favorite Urge song - which by the way is Closer. That’s what it’s about — letting loose, soaking it all in (literally), and supporting live, local music.

We even hung out with Steve for a few minutes after the show, which was the perfect way to cap off the night — well, that and the McDouble I crushed on the ride home.

Here’s the thing: both Jeremiah Johnson and The Steve Ewing Band play all over STL throughout the year. If you see their name on an event, at a bar, or anywhere around town — GO SEE THEM. Support local artists.

Local music can’t thrive without us. Get out there — bring friends, bring family — and support the folks pouring their heart into every performance.

Music matters, and the STL local scene depends… on… us.

If you’ve got a local event or show you’d like to see covered here on Sounds of STL, shoot me an email — patrico@soundsofstl.com — or hit me up on X (Twitter) @SoundsofStLouis or @ONAIRTP.

See ya at the next show! — Patrico 🎙️