We’re starting to gear up for our chance to see Matt & Kim in Nashville later this month. They’ve released a large handful of videos over the last few months to hold us over until May 9th at Marathon Music Works. If you’re into fun dance parties, be sure to see them live and pick … Read more
Pony Bwoy | All photos by Kristen Abigail Usually when you think of Poliça, you’d think of an easy going beautiful synth pop kind of vibes. But this past Saturday night started with a bang, or rather a lot of bass. Poliça brought on their label mates Pony Bwoy to open for their short tour … Read more
Today I’m thrilled to premiere a track from Nashville’s Willie and the Giant for the Jam of the Day; “On The Corner” draws from the same retro soul influences that “Ain’t Gonna Wait” (a JOTD last October) did, but it also brings some serious rock and roll guitars that wouldn’t sound out of place on … Read more
via Line Of Best Fit The National have just released a surprise single called “Sunshine On My Back” that was recorded during the sessions for 2013’s Trouble Will Find Me. Matt Berninger’s morose croon dances over a propulsive hi-hat groove and the track is immediately, unmistakably The National, but an element of intrigue is presented when … Read more
Happy Friday, friends. We’d like to direct your immediate attention to Sam Amidon’s new video for “Blue Mountains,” which comes from the fantastic Lily-O that was released last year. We hope you like it as much as we do, and we also hope you have a tremendous weekend. Cheers.
Sorrow found me when I was youngSorrow waited, sorrow won As you might remember, The National collaborated with Icelandic artist Ragnar Kjartansson to perform the song “Sorrow,” a three-minute, twenty-five second song, continuously for six hours. That happened on May 5, 2013. Today, The National announce a boxed set of that recording, “featuring nine pieces … Read more
As a blog that features the saddest of sad-bastards more frequently than occasionally, Conor Oberst has been a staple for us over the years, mainly through his non-side-project Bright Eyes. But with the revival of his other project, the refreshingly upbeat Desaparecidos, we’re happy to bring you “City on the Hill” as our Jam of … Read more
Few songs invoke innocent nostalgia for me more than Cornershop’s 1997 hit “Brimful of Asha.” I’m sure if one were to invent a time machine, and go back to small-town-North-Carolina that summer, you’d find a moppy-headed, slightly-misguided kid walking around his parents’ hood, jamming this shit repeatedly on his discman, while incorrectly singing pretty much … Read more
Swear & Shake | All photos by Kristen Abigail Even on a Thursday night, Nashville can get a little crazy. Bronze Radio Return brought an electrifying set to the High Watt last week with Nashville based Swear & Shake opening the night. Bronze Radio Return wrapped up a tour to support their upcoming record which … Read more
Courage is the ability to do something that frightens you. It’s also the strength you draw upon in the face of pain or grief — and right now that pain and grief for this here blogger is a wife that’s getting ready to drop a baby like any day now, as well as an insane … Read more
Two years ago, I met Kelsey Kopecky and Gabe Simon at Off Broadway in St. Louis. Their band, then named Kopecky Family Band (now simply “Kopecky”), had just finished their set promoting their latest album, Kids Raising Kids, and since they were in a great mood, I talked to them about maybe playing the Speakers … Read more
Good news for your Monday: Dawes will release All Your Favorite Bands on June 2, and have dropped its first single, “Things Happen,” on the interwebs today. Have at it below.
Should I tear my eyes out now? Everything I see returns to you somehow Should I tear my heart out now? Everything I feel returns to you somehow Growing up, I wanted things. I wanted a basketball and a hoop in my own driveway. I wanted a stereo system with power. I wanted CDs, I … Read more
Photo by Jason Gonulsen Words and photos by Jason Gonulsen There weren’t many disgruntled fans after last night’s Sufjan Stevens show at the Peabody Opera House. But there was at least one, and he was just steps ahead of me. “Do you know how Sufjan spells his name now after a performance like that?” he … Read more
PHOTO BY JEFF ALLEN Stills, Earle, & Young. (No Crosby/Nash). Last night in Hollywood for Stills’ annual Light Up The Blues concert to benefit autism. We love it. More details at Thrasher’s Wheat. “Keep on rockin’ in the free world…”
PHOTO BY JASON GONULSEN And I leave it on the shore (leave it for somebody) I’d leave it for somebody Surely there’s somebody Who needs it more than me If you live in St. Louis you probably know that Wilco’s show on May 4th at The Pageant sold out in like 30 minutes. So that … Read more
Photo by Jon Karr The amount of young talent coming out of Nashville right now is rather impressive, but the artists that stick out the most are the ones that are hustling to craft their sound and keep the true nature of their music alive and well when they’re performing live. Ellery Bonham, who’s stage … Read more
All photos by Kristen Abigail In the process of producing his second record, EDM artist Robert DeLong is still making waves as a one-man band using instruments like video game controllers to anything he can hook up to his computer. The 29-year old originally from the suburbs of Seattle has successfully made his way through … Read more
Photo by Cameron Powell As we get into gear for warmer and brighter weather, Nashville rising artist COIN has been stuck in my head for weeks now. So go roll down your windows in the car and turn up COIN’s hit single “Run” from their upcoming self-titled full-length. You can pre-order their record on iTunes now. You can also catch … Read more
Judah & the Lion | Photos by Kristen Abigail The Ryman stage was filled with a lot of talented local musicians this past Saturday night. Pop artist, Mat Kearney, brought along Judah & the Lion and Parachute for the Just Kids tour. The night started with folk hop group Judah & the Lion. With … Read more
Singer-songwriter Julie Mintz will be releasing her debut EP, The Thin Veil, on May 5th, and today’s Jam of the Day is the fantastic and mesmerizing “Til She Disappears.” Dreamy stuff for your Monday.
Guthrie Brown & the Family Tree | All photos by Kristen Abigail This past Friday evening, American Aquarium stopped in Nashville at Exit/In on the spring leg of their tour to support their new record titled Wolves. Guthrie Brown & the Family Tree opened right before American Aquarium and put on an energetic set that … Read more
Neil Young said at CES on Tuesday: ” “I didn’t listen to music for the last 15 years because I hated the way it sounded and it made me pissed off and I couldn’t enjoy it any more. I could only hear what was missing.” UPDATE: Paul McCartney Reboots Beatles Catalog for Neil Young’s Pono … Read more
Photo by Jason Gonulsen All my life been shaking wanting something Holding everything I have like it was broken Ryan Adams played an acoustic, dark version of “Gimme Something Good” on the Late Late Show last night. Don Was performed on bass and Judd Apatow guest-hosted the show. Adams will resume his tour in February.
“Chess” is one of those songs that, by the time it ends, is in a very different place than where it began. The first two minutes are pretty sparse. Just a beat, teeny guitar strum and some singing. By the end, your basically engulfed in a sonic storm that wipes your brain of the three … Read more
via Bandcamp I deeply regret not having heard Battle Trance’s Palace of Wind when it came time to announce album of the year contenders for 2014. This New York based saxophone quartet, led by composer Travis Laplante, is breaking new ground in the art music sphere and doing things with wind that I didn’t know … Read more
Last Friday night I was standing at the back of Chapel Hill’s Nightlight, nursing a Diet Coke, when New York City’s Las Rosas stormed the stage, introduced themselves, and launched into the first song of what would end up being an absolutely incendiary opening set. 30 seconds in, I turned to the friend I was … Read more
Photo by Danielle St. Laurent 2015 is finally here and Broken Social Scene are back to help you ring in the New Year. They released “Golden Facelift,” a track originally recorded for 2010’s Forgiveness Rock Record, a few weeks ago on a compilation, but now seems like the perfect time to take its sentiments heart. Here’s what … Read more
Sophomore albums are almost always dangerous territory. Because, you know, can it ever be the same? Should it? This is especially true for bands like The Lone Bellow, who exploded in 2013 with an undeniably great and emotional song, “You Never Need Nobody.” Basically, they were producing harmonies better than anyone else. Their introduction left … Read more
2015 is heating up with more releases including this Archive Series from Iron & Wine. Straight from the press release: “Iron & Wine’s Archive Series Volume No. 1 is the first in a series of releases pulled from tapes found in the back corners of closets and dusty shoe boxes – long neglected, but never … Read more