“Let them roll over me when I doubt you,” Brandi Carlile sings on “The Things I Regret,” one of the standout tracks on her latest release, The Firewatcher’s Daughter. The album follows a familiar formula that will please most fans: smart, strong songwriting (“The Eye”) and gorgeous vocals (“I Belong To You”). But if you’ve … Read more
I’ma refrain from writing a lengthy post about how if Billy Joel were actually talented, this would be the song he’d write. Nor will I complain about how this song will get little to no respect from the indie-community because its equally as accessible as it is guitarless. I’m just going to offer a warning … Read more
via Bandcamp Always and Forever, Amen is the glorious debut LP from Asheville-based electronic artist William Gerhardt. While the album is best digested from start to finish, “Night Terror” stands out as exemplary of William’s deft compositional style and penchant for exploring a variety of textural landscapes in the course of one composition. The airy synthesizers and a pitch-shifted vocal sample early in the track evoke images of a gleaming dream-world, but it disintegrates … Read more
From the opening blare of those trumpets, to the secondary plunk of them keys, “Coughing on the F Train” immediately opens it’s proverbial trench-coat and reveals itself as another exhibit in the forward progression of Durham, NC’s Bombadil. Far more poppy than folksy, it’s a relatively large leap forward for a band who started out … Read more
First, let me state the obvious – changes, while stressful and sometimes shitty, for the most part are cathartic. Geographic changes can strip away even the most stubborn of negative memories that seemingly suffocate someone’s surroundings. Personnel changes can breathe new life into everything from government to basketball teams. And band name changes, now for … Read more
All photos by Kristen Abigail Sturgill Simpson, a rising country artist who calls Nashville home, played two back-to-back sold out shows at 3rd and Lindsley this past weekend. Local radio station, Lightning 100, presented Sturgill’s second show for their Nashville Sunday Night showcase. Simpson just wrapped up a winter tour to support the release of … Read more
CHON | All photos by Kristen Abigail This past Tuesday, Circa Survive brought the angst to Cannery Ballroom along with Balance & Composure as well as a small helping of CHON, an instrumental progressive band from San Diego. CHON completely wowed the crowd for the people that had never heard of them, but they brought … Read more
April 20th marks the return of Sufjan Stevens to St. Louis, this time at The Peabody Opera House, and we have TWO PAIRS of tickets to give away to the show. Details on how to enter are below. But first, let’s have a listen to “Should Have Known Better” from the upcoming, Carrie & Lowell. Here’s how … Read more
And now, video evidence of Ryan Adams in a dress performing as Natalie Prass…errr…Natalie Sass. If you’re wondering what the hell is going on, read more about Ms. Sass here. Ain’t she purty?
Sitting in a combed out room Watching the world to end I won’t say golden Until you let me back in Interviewing Jeff Tweedy for his 2014 release, Sukierae, was indeed the apex of Speakers in Code. And we’re always happy to provide more Tweedy coverage, including photos from last night’s show in Tuscon. Please … Read more
What you see is not there What you feel is not fair What you’re hearing is wrong What you have is not gone Speakers has been fans of Chapel Hill’s Lilac Shadows since their beginnings, and their latest record, Brutalism, is no exception. It’s moody and atmospheric, there’s punctuation in one of the song titles … Read more
All photos by Kristen Abigail Drew Holcomb & the Neighbors, the four piece Americana Rock band native to Nashville, sold out Ryman Auditorium this past Saturday evening. Drew & his band started with 3 songs off the new record before he brought Ellie on stage. The duo left the Mother Church audience with few dry … Read more
I am a universe wrapped in skin Joy Williams is back, and after listening to her first single post-Civil Wars breakup, it appears she’s confident and not dwelling on the past. This is more rhythmic than anything she’s done in the past — I even think it’s fair to say that it’s a complete 180 … Read more
Have at it, Lord Huron fans! Stream Strange Trails here. The video for “Fool for Love” is below.
via Pitchfork “Let it Happen” is a tantalizing glimpse into Tame Impala’s as-of-yet untitled third LP. At nearly 8 minutes, the track sees Kevin Parker exploring a sprawling psychedelic landscape populated by ghostly synthesizer tones and an infectious dance beat. An irresistible rhythmic pulse permeates the song and it eventually manifests itself as a skittering … Read more
Photo Credit: Brian Stowell By: Mary Broome It was fitting that Punch Brothers started their show in The Mother Church with the hymn that opens The Phosphorescent Blues: I love you I mean it, I want to feel it God help me feel it I love you God knows I mean it God help me … Read more
Glen Hansard in the rain at Lollapalooza 2014 | Photo by Jason Gonulsen No one should have to be that strong But if you’re stubborn like me I know what you’re trying to be We lost Jason Molina two years ago, yesterday. Today is St. Patrick’s Day, and our favorite Irishman, Glen Hansard, has delivered … Read more
Photo by Joshua Black Wilkins Last week we told you about Kristin Diable coming to Off Broadway, which is actually going down tonight. Details can be found here. What we didn’t tell you was that Anderson East, who will be releasing Delilah on July 14, will be opening the show, and you would be insane in … Read more
Meg Myers at The Pageant in St. Louis | Photo by Jason Gonulsen There’s been a lot of complaining this year about female artists not being represented at major music festivals, but in my opinion, that’s wasted energy. You’re never going to understand what factors go in to booking a huge festival, and I’m quite … Read more
Photo by Jason Kruppa I’ll make time for you but I will not hold you down Cross the line for you, love Cause I know that it circles around Well isn’t this a little funky and confident at the same time. I wish I had something witty to say, or perhaps eloquent, but for now … Read more
Photo by Jason Quigley i think i love you most in the summertime i just might make it as long as you’re still mine Since I spent most of the winter plying you with songs that made it not feel like winter – and here in the NC it finally feels not like winter for real – … Read more
The rabbit holes we follow through life are normally one-way-streets where, once we’ve traveled down them, there is sadly no going back. For my life, that’s meant never drinking PBR, Starbucks Coffee, or Johnnie Walker Red ever again. It’s also meant permanently flipping off Top 40 radio and MTV forever. Luckily though, good ole’ fashioned … Read more
If anyone ever needed an audio-example of how a band name can influence the way users consume a piece of music, I offer EXHIBIT A. Kopecky Family Band (Kopecky’s former name), draws visual images to something much more…rural than their sound suggests. Or maybe rural is a ill-conceived term and we should be using “traditional” … Read more
Matthew Ryan by Tim Bottchen From The Pageant in St. Louis to Lollapalooza in Chicago to Forecastle in Louisville to Austin City Limits Music Festival, here are our favorite photos of 2015. Thank you for being there with us. Metallica by Bridgette Aikens Neil Young by Jason Gonulsen Carrie Brownstein by Nate Burrell Brandi Carlile … Read more
On the last day of each year, I like to tell a story that happened to me during the year, so can I remember a lesson for myself, and to perhaps pass it on to a few more. This year, I asked one of my favorite bands, HONEYHONEY, to write this essay, which is titled … Read more
Photo by Jason Gonulsen Taylor Swift. I never took her seriously until I saw this. Of course, her pop album, 1989, sounds nothing like that. So why did I care? Because I love (some) pop music, and Swift took her onslaught of hooks on the road in 2015. It was absolutely amazing. There were so … Read more
ALL PHOTOS BY TIM BOTTCHEN Punch Brothers performed at The Pageant in St. Louis on Friday evening. Gabriel Kahane opened the show. Please enjoy these photos by Tim Bottchen, and be sure to visit his site here. GABRIEL KAHANE
Photo by Jason Gonulsen Each year since 2013, we’ve held a special concert to celebrate another year of Speakers in Code. And in 2015, we were so excited to welcome Kopecky and Geoff Koch to Off Broadway. Kopecky released Drug For The Modern Age in May, and they played most of the album — they … Read more
All Photos by Jason Gonulsen If a band can come of age during one show, then Houndmouth achieved that feat during their rousing Forecastle set this past summer in Louisville. Technically, the band isn’t from Louisville, but they hail from across the Ohio River in New Albany, Indiana; so, it felt like a homecoming, and … Read more
ALL PHOTOS BY JULIA DRUMMOND Sleater-Kinney rocked NYC last week. Please enjoy these photos by Julia Drummond.