It seems as though everyone in the St. Louis music scene knew Anne Tkach. In April, Tkach died tragically in a house fire. Ellen Herget, 30, played with Tkach in the band The Skekses. She said Tkach’s loss was felt throughout the music community.
“It was immeasurable,” said Herget, “she was everywhere, she was so active, and she was so enthused.”
For Herget and other musicians, Tkach embodied the best ideals of the local music scene. During her time in St. Louis she played in the influential alt-country group Nadine, The Skekses, Rough Shop, and Ransom Note. She lived in New Mexico for a time where she made music with the group Hazeldine. Tkach was also known as the manager at Local Harvest Grocery in Tower Grove South. She was outgoing, supportive and challenging to her peers. Tonight Herget and other local musicians gather at Off Broadway to memorialize their friend and colleague.
“Anne Tkach was “family” to many outside of her blood family,” said Brett Underwood, who gave Tkach’s eulogy.
That family remembers her in different ways.
Truckey trained Tkach at Local Harvest and was a close friend.
“She loved seeing St. Louis and the personalities that impacted her and made St. Louis what it was,” said Sarah Truckey, 31.
Andy Ploof co-owns instrument shop Music Folk and plays in the band Rough Shop.
“It seemed like things really got going when she showed up for rehearsals or for shows and had a sense of humor about but underneath you knew she took it seriously,” Ploof said.
Tkach helped Herget develop as a musician.
“That encouragement for me to be the band leader instead of a girl who wrote songs, was a big deal,” she said.
Wild and Blue: A Tribute to Anne Tkach begins at 7:00 at Off Broadway.
