Melody Den are a St. Louis-based band that formed in 1999. The core band is John Baldus (drums), Jerry Baugher (guitar), Marc Chechik (guitar) and Dave Melson (bass). John, Marc and Dave met while playing in another St. Louis band, Waterloo. All three are veterans in the St. Louis music scene. After the three had been together a couple years, the band recruited ace guitarist, Jerry Baugher, and Melody Den was born, living squarely in Roots/Rock and Americana. Think Midwestern Stones-meets-Tragically Hip-meets-Velvets-meets-Muddy and you’ve got it. The band has recorded five full-length releases over the course of their 25-year history, which have garnered critical praise from No Depression and, of course, the local music rags. The band has played a sh*tload of venues and festivals, including the famous St. Louis-based, Twangfest. On their upcoming March 2025 release, Gospel Karma, the band continues to broaden its core two guitars-bass-and-drums recipe by adding horns, keys, pedal steel, and additional vocals. Recorded in their home away from home, Sawhorse Studios, the songwriting, too, has expanded considerably – still deeply personal, but with a foray into more unexpected imagery and wordplay.