Brigitte Calls Me Baby brings a suave, retro-inspired set to XPNFest

The rising pop-rock showmen known collectively as Brigitte Calls Me Baby made their XPoNential Music Festival debut in the afternoon of day two. The Chicago-formed band emerged from stage left to a cheering crowd; the grassy hill steps down to the Marina Stage was heavily populated for the retro-inspired group. Each member wore sunglasses and donned semi formal attire; “the cool guys at prom” vibes.

Lead singer Wes Leavins was solely tasked with singing and waltzing the stage. Two mulleted guitar players (Jack Fluegel and David Rosendahl) and a bassist (Devin Wessels) with poofy curls backed him up, and a dapper drummer (Jeremy Benshish) held them down.

Their style of songwriting is totally inspired by 80s pop-rock. Fast drumming mixed with thin, reverb-y, slightly chorused guitars, and Leavins’s smooth crooning voice fit the bill as well. For reference, think somewhere between The Smiths, The Cure, and Tears for Fears. The sun was breaking through the clouds, ensuring a “hot” set for the fans. Leavins’ voice carried theatrical melancholy

Brigitte Calls Me Baby | photo by Megan Matuzak for WXPN

For the front half of their set, the band played tracks off their debut album The Future is Out Way Out, which was released at the beginning of August 2024. Near the middle, they snuck in the song “Eddie My Love,” off their debut EP This House Is Made of Corners, from 2023. Two unreleased tracks, titled “There Always” and “Slumber Party,” bookended “Eddie.” At this point, a large semi-circle of fans reached around the front of the amphitheater.

“Too Easy” and “We Were Never Alive” were both highlights, the former taking on an otherworldly feeling during the chorus, and the former building around an ultra-danceable drum beat. Fluegel and Wessels met at centerstage for a quick guitar duel during “We Were Never Alive,” which was followed by a delay-drenched guitar solo from Fluegel.

After thanking XPN for giving them steady airplay over the past year, the band broke out a cover of “Careless Whisper” by Wham!, complete with the iconic saxophone line played by Fluegel on guitar. The sax part is incredibly showy, which fits the band’s persona, but covering “Careless Whisper” and leaving out the sax line would’ve been an extreme power move, also in line with the band’s attitude.

Brigitte Calls Me Baby flipped the script for their final song, playing their album’s opener to close the set. “The Future Is Our Way Out” threw a burst of energy at the crowd, complete with a huge vocal performance from Leavins. The festival audience responded with a giant standing ovation.

With a supporting tour for their debut album coming to close in early October, the band will likely be off-duty for the end of 2024. If you enjoyed their set, make sure to find them online, and stay connected with WXPN for more updates for the rest of the XPoNential Music Festival 2024!