Take Ten with Jeff Faulkner, ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ Frontman

Take Ten with Jeff Faulkner, ‘Mr. Blue Sky’ Frontman

The ELO Tribute Band will Headline Show at Delmar Hall on Thanksgiving Eve Nov. 23

By Lynn Venhaus

Majestic splendor.

That’s the sight, sound and the vibe of Mr. Blue Sky, the St. Louis-based Electric Light Orchestra tribute band that makes sure every multimedia production is authentic.

With its 10 bandmates and dazzling visual imagery taking the audience both back in time and into the future, their intricate harmonies and musicianship stand out.

When Mr. Blue Sky takes the stage at the Delmar Hall on Nov. 23, the third time’s a charm for they have sold out that venue twice before (Hint: get tickets now, for the night before Thanksgiving is considered the biggest night out of the year. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster (see link at end of article). Doors open at 7 p.m., show starts at 8 p.m. Delmar Hall is at 6133 Delmar Boulevard.

Local legend Steve Ewing from the Urge (and Steve’s Hot Dogs) will open the show with his duo.

This special night will be different from their triumphant appearance at the Chesterfield Amphitheater two months ago (where they drew 1,500 people), for they like to mix it up for every appearance.

Veteran St. Louis musician Jeff Faulkner, who assembled the tribute band three years ago, said the Nov. 23 show will feature two new songs and a different setlist.

Jeff Faulkner of Mr Blue Sky

“We do all the hits — 22 top ten hits, we always play those,” Faulkner said. “Then we’ll play deeper cuts like ‘Face the Music,’ we play some Traveling Wilburys. We played the ‘Discovery’ album in entirety when we were at The Wildey.”

He enjoys introducing the symphonic rock icons to new fans and reminding longtime fans of their legacy.

“It’s really great music. I think Jeff Lynne is one of the best singer-songwriters in the history of rock ‘n roll,” he said. “He is a musical genius.”

Besides Faulkner on lead guitar and vocals, their all-star line-up includes Dave Watkins on lead guitar and vocals; Anastasia Hamilton, vocals; Abby Stahlschmidt, violin; Jessie Youngblood, violin; Jake Brookman, cello; Stephen Winter, keyboard and vocals; Charlie Brown, keyboard and vocals; Steve Bunck, drums; and Ben Moyer, bass and vocals.

The group’s musicians have performed with local heavyweights Pavlov’s Dog, That 80s Band and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra. And have toured with The Who and Weird Al Yankovic.

Besides Delmar Hall, they’ve sold out shows at The Pageant, The Wildey Theatre, The Duck Room, and Ballpark Village. They recently performed in the Chicago area, at Impact Fuel Room in Libertyville, to a rocking crowd.

“A fair percentage of people that we’re playing for are familiar with ELO’s music – even if they don’t realize it. Probably 90% of them know ‘Mr. Blue Sky,’ Faulkner said. “They’re used in so many movies, so many commercials. Even if you don’t think you know ELO, you know ELO.”

Faulkner fell in love with the English rock band at an early age. Their fusion of modern rock and pop with classical overtones intrigued him.

ELO was formed in 1970 by songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Jeff Lynne and Roy Wood with drummer Bev Bevan, and following Wood’s departure in 1972, Lynne became the sole leader, arranging and producing every album – and wrote nearly all their original material.

Lynne disbanded the group in 1986, but Bevan formed his own, ELO Part II, which later became the Orchestra. Apart from a brief reunion in the early 2000s, ELO wasn’t active again until 2014, when Lynne reunited with Richard Tandy as Jeff Lynne’s ELO.

During their original 13 years of active recording and touring, they sold more than 50 million records, and had 15 Top 20 songs on the Billboard Hot 100. Their most successful album, the double album “Out of the Blue” in 1977, was among their top 10 albums in the ‘70s and ‘80s. They had a disco-inspired album “Discovery” in 1979 and a science-fiction themed “Time” in 1981.

In 2017, Bevan, Lynne, Tandy, and Wood were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Faulkner discovered that there wasn’t a tribute band in St. Louis, so he decided to go in that direction.

“It hadn’t been done before. With the strings and the orchestral sound, ELO is just different. That’s what makes it unique. We have a three-piece string section,” he said.

He is very proud of the work that the band has put into capturing “the majestic splendor.” “It’s taken a lot of work to get it there, but we have gotten it there,” he said.

To hear our PopLifeSTL.com podcast with guest Jeff Faulkner, co-hosted by Carl “The Intern” Middleman and Lynn Venhaus on March 11, here is the link:

Take Ten Q&A with Jeff Faulkner:


1. Why did you choose your profession?

“It’s what I’ve been most passionate about since I was 11 years old.”

2.  How would your friends describe you?

“Outgoing, and a big sense of humor.”

3.  What do you like to do in your spare time?

Traveling, seeing live music and theatre

4. What is your current obsession?

Rufus Wainwright

5. What would people be surprised to find out about you?

“I’m 9-1/2 years sober.”

6. Can you share one of your most defining moments in life?

“When my son was born.”

7. What do you admire most?

“Kindness, and humility.”

8. What is at the top of your bucket list?

“Going back to Europe and visiting Germany and Italy.”

9. How were you affected by the current pandemic years, and anything you would like to share about what got you through the pre-vaccine part?

“It shut down my industry completely for three months. I spent a lot of time hiking various trails, and binge-watching sit coms.

10. What is your favorite thing to do in St. Louis?

Hanging out in the Loop, Forest Park, and going to Blues hockey games

11. What’s next?

Mr. Blue Sky has great shows coming in 2023!

Mr Bue Sky


More to Know About Jeff Faulkner:

Age: 47
Birthplace: St. Louis
Current: Brentwood, Mo
Education: 2 years of college
Day job: Musician
First job: Dishwasher
What you like about what you do: I love everything about being a musician
Dream job: I have it
Awards/Honors/Achievements: Mr. Blue Sky has finished as a finalist for best cover band in St Louis Mag the last two years
Favorite quote/words to live by: Carpe Diem
A song that makes you happy: “Mr. Blue Sky”

For tickets, go to this link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/06005D3DCE0A667B?mibextid=Zxz2cZ&fbclid=IwAR37gHyVqGUviR-F-nx6R9f9nCr40MeDqWa73uNgxAjygW_PKglN4Yls_lM

For more on the band, visit: www.mrblueskymusic.com

Mr Blue Sky

Steve Ewing’s STLOriginals Music Festival to Highlight Homegrown Bands, Raise Funds to Fight Hunger

Steve Ewing’s STLOriginals Music Festival to Highlight Homegrown Bands, Raise Funds to Fight Hunger

Steve Ewing’s STLOriginals Festival will be held on Sunday, Oct. 2, in Ritz Park on South Grand – the pocket park that attaches to the patio of Steve’s Hot Dogs. 

This will be the first year for the festival and our goal is to really celebrate St. Louis’s homegrown creators – while leaving a positive mark on the community at the end of the day. The performers are hand-picked by Steve – as he works to foster up-and-coming St. Louis music talent

Danni Eickenhorst, co-owner of Steve’s Hot Dogs, “Some of our customers that frequent Steve’s Hot Dogs don’t always make the connection that Hot Dog Steve is also accomplished Musician Steve Ewing. It’s always fun to see their faces once they figure it out,” she said.

Founder and fearless leader Steve Ewing has seen the world touring as the frontman with bands like The Urge, Master Blaster and the Steve Ewing band. He has shared the bill with musical heavyweights such as 311, Korn, and Incubus, releasing 3 major records with Epic Records and Virgin records, charting in Billboard’s top 100 and hitting alternative radio’s Top 10. Ewing did all of this while calling St. Louis his home base. Now Steve is working on his next phase – nurturing new homegrown talent and finding new ways to give back to the community that has given him so much.

We will have live art creation, locally grown musical talent including Boomtown United, Orangetree, Midwest Avengers and more. We will highlight emerging talent as well with performances by Mary Clare Dunphy, Kathleen Teeter and the young talent at School of Rock, Eickenhorst said.

The one-day festival will also raise funds to support Steve’s Hot Dogs Feed the People program – which provides about $10,000 in meals for the hungry and first responders in the St. Louis community.

About 85% of the meals we give away are distributed to partners who address food insecurity in our community – including St. Patrick’s Center, and the Waymakers Chapel for the Exceptional. The remainder are given to first responders in our community as our way of thanking them for all they do in our times of need. 

The program is funded by customers of Steve’s Hot Dogs who purchase meals from the restaurant. The meals are then allocated in a fund and distributed through community partnerships. Our hope is to say “Yes” whenever we’re asked to give. We are on pace to give away about 1,000 meals this year – including 150 to first responders by the end of October, but donations are running low, so the STLOriginals concert and its fundraising are coming at an ideal time.

Those who attend the concert will be able to donate to Feed the People by buying a meal on the spot, signing up for recurring meal donations, by participating in a raffle for donated prizes, buying t-shirts or grabbing a meal at Steve’s Hot Dogs – which will allocate 15% of all sales during the event to the help replenish the fund. Those that can’t attend in person are invited to donate a one-time meal purchase or to set up a recurring purchase of meals each month online.

The event is free to the public thanks to sponsorship from local partners including Sysco, 4 Hands Brewing, Country Financial, Toast, and more. There is built-in seating in Ritz Park, but guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs in the event that none is open. Free parking is available behind Commerce Bank along Hartford at South Grand. More information is available at https://www.steveshotdogsstl.com/stloriginals.