Allen Stone and Ripe Bring Warmth to The Pagent on Their Co-Headline Tour
- Michelle Zigler
- Jan 14
- 3 min read
Winter is a challenging season for many of us. The sun sets far too early, you’re shivering constantly, and much of the fun events and activities get put on pause until springtime. While concert season does tend to slow down as well during this time, luckily it never fully stops. For the community of St. Louis, venues like The Pageant continue to host concerts year round so you never have to go an entire season without seeing your favorite live performances. Earlier in December, Allen Stone and Ripe stopped by while on The Get Sweet Tour.
The opener for the evening was Missouri’s own Post Sex Nachos, the indie/alt rock group from Kansas City. It’s hard not to love a band from your own state, but it’s true when I say that Post Sex Nachos is just that good. I was familiar with their music long before I knew where they originated from and I was hooked almost instantly. They kicked off the night with their 2024 hit, “Talk About It” which had the crowd dancing right off the bat. Their music combines the unique and emotional lyrics characterized with indie, but with a perfect blend of upbeat rhythm that’s never overdone and keeps you wishing for more from each song.
Post Sex Nachos bring a familiarity to the stage in their personalities, that friendly and relatable Midwest demeanor as if you’ve known these guys your whole life. After finishing their set with some newer releases including “Supergirl,” the energy from the crowd was hyped and ready for Ripe to make their appearance.
As part of The Get Sweet Tour, Ripe and Allen Stone have been co-headlining for shows across the United States since October 2025, and finished up in late December. The stage was decorated with a backdrop of two large pennants with the text “Allen Stone” and “Ripe” printed on each one. Ripe stayed on brand when its members appeared on stage, each wearing their own green and white letterman jacket with a large R stitched on the front left side. You could feel the excitement grow among the audience as Ripe’s lead vocalist Robbie Wulfsohn broke into song and the band followed along beside him. The joy from their performance was infectious with their groovy soulful sound and funky yet upbeat melodies. Ripe sets themselves apart from the traditional funk band by sprinkling in the catchy attributes of pop while avoiding falling into the mainstream. One of my favorite songs performed by them that night was “Settling,” which is a great incorporation of their genre-blending sound, plus the addition of their talented trombone players.
The first word that comes to mind when I think back to that evening is colorful. Everything about the show was colorful and bright and full of good vibes. Ripe had such an incredible set that I couldn’t believe we still had Allen Stone to look forward to and keep up the pace. Colorful went far beyond just describing the music; with streaks of rainbow lighting the stage, Allen Stone strutted out before us in a matching jacket and pants, both lined with bright orange fringe that swayed just as he did. He wore a large pair of orange sunglasses concealing half of his face, with the bottom half revealing his beaming smile to the crowd.
Originally from Chewlah, Washington, Allen Stone began performing at the age of 14 and his musical career began in 2010. Over the last 15 years, Stone has released five albums highlighting his talents in the soul and R&B genres.
With his booming voice and tall statue, Allen Stone took to that stage like it was the back of his hand. Watching his performance, I was in awe of his incredible vocal range, hitting notes so low they pulled you down along with him. His set had a perfect mixture of feeling and rhythm, like his sultry and passionate performance of “Consider Me” compared to the groovy soulfulness of “Strong.”
Turning back to look at the audience, I saw a roomful of happy and blissful people smiling from beginning to end of this concert. It was a night fueled by fun and lively music that gives you a feel-good warmth that you carry all the way home back with you. It may be a bitterly cold winter, but this performance was one that will keep me warm all season long.
