Photo by Jo McCaughey My favorite Bob Dylan album is, and always will be, Desire. (And yes, I’ve played the wonderful Time Out My Mind and Blood on the Tracks to death.) As a lover of music, its songs first taught me the difference from being angry and being confident, and that telling the truth … Read more
I had a dream that we were sitting on the summer porchIt seemed like everything was just the way it was before Summer (officially) begins on Wednesday, so let’s ease out of the Week of Melancholy and into something more hopeful. And while Joe Pug might not be the happiest songwriter on the planet, his … Read more
Photo by Chris Lay It’s around 10:35 pm at Off Broadway in Saint Louis, and I’m greeted heartily by a man who wants to be called Papa Joe. He’s got a PBR tall boy in each hand, and although Whitey Morgan & the 78’s haven’t played a note, he asks me, “They great, ain’t they?” … Read more
It would be awfully unfortunate to call Brandi Carlile a “singer-songwriter,” because her music is much more than that term’s sometimes negative and boring connotation. The problem is, there are times that her studio work doesn’t catch fire that her live performances always do. And while today’s Jam of the Day, “Raise Hell,” taken from … Read more
Tonight, The Shins invade The Pageant for a sold out show, presumably to slay us with tunes from their latest release, Port Of Morrow. Deep Sea Diver, featuring The Shins’ guitarist Jessica Dobson, will open the show, along with The Antlers. Dobson delivers on her own on today’s Jam of the Day, “NWO,” which is … Read more
Photo by Louis Kwok Last Saturday, downtown Saint Louis played host to one of the biggest displays and celebrations of local music: The Riverfront Times Music Showcase. While it’s a fantastic way to dive headfirst into the deep end of our city’s immense local talent, the showcase itself presents a little bit of a conundrum. … Read more
Photo by Conor Masterson Maybe when our hearts have realignedMaybe when we’ve both had some timeI’m gonna see you there Glen Hansard just might be the most passionate artist alive, and it’s simply a gift that he also happens to write magical songs. If you’ve seen Hansard perform, whether it be solo, with The Frames, … Read more
Photo by Shervin Lainez I’ve been a Mynabirds fan since the band’s inception, doting on singer-songwriter Laura Burhenn more than sporadically on this here blog. I’ll keep this interview introduction simple: after talking with her, I think I’m in love. A whip-smart, creative, grounded/groundbreaking woman is, of course, not an anomaly, but I still feel … Read more
Photo courtesy of the artist Oooh, summer’s on like Donkey Kong, and if anyone is well aware of this fact, it’s Matt & Kim. The feelgood duo has released its first single off the forthcoming album, Lightning (FADER), and it’s enough to make us skip through the sprinklers in our skivvies. Matt Johnson requests, “Just … Read more
Photo by Piper Ferguson Today, I’m feeling listless and frustrated, trapped indoors due to the oppressive summer heat. I wish I could transform into a Southern lady and make couch lock cool, drinking spiked iced tea while muttering incoherent things like, “I simply cannot move!” And listening to today’s Jam of the Day. Ariel Pink’s … Read more
Photo by Jason Gonulsen I know that things can really get roughwhen you go it alone A part of me has always really wanted to love The Shins, but perhaps only in small doses. Because when the band led by James Mercer is on, they are fabulous, providing hooks and melodies that you shouldn’t deny. … Read more
All Photos by Aggie Donkar “We had planned to not rock, but really, we fucking rock.” – Gary Jarman The way I see it, you have two choices when walking out on stage to greet a crowd of around 50 people standing in a room that holds a few hundred. The first is to let … Read more
Photo courtesy of the band It’s an age old story: a songwriter’s band takes a break, but the songwriter keeps writing songs. When JKutchma’s primary vehicle, Durham punk stalwarts Red Collar, took a break to deal with life two years ago, J kept writing, and took the songs on the road by himself. Eventually Red … Read more
Summer is coming. Matthew E. White will make it his. Just surrender now. But if your hand and ears must be forced, they will not be led by extreme means. Instead, you will slowly succumb to beats that sneak along and a voice that quietly kills, seemingly possessed by the ghosts of history’s most powerful … Read more
Funny how these summer songs just keep popping up once it officially turns…summer. St. Louis’ John Henry & the Engine propose that they’re “fighting the good rock and roll fight,” and I can’t really argue with that notion — their sound would travel well on America’s highways, racing past semis and rolling hills, fighting its … Read more
well Iʼd know that you’d offerwould reveal it, though it’s soft and flatwon’t repeat it, cull and coffer’s thatfor the soffit, hang this homewardpry it open with your lovesending lost and alone standing offers Uhhh…I’m not going to even try to make meaning of that. But know this: I love me some “Best/Rest,” the closing … Read more
Keep on tryin’, you’re gonna get it gonna get it Keep on tryin’, you’re gonna get it gonna get it Justin Jones wants your attention, and for good reason: he’s got a voice that echoes Jakob Dylan, and a driving sound for a promising summer day. The only thing he’s surrendering on today’s Jam of … Read more
Twangfest, KDHX‘s annual celebration of all things twang, the outskirts of twang, and fourth cousins of twang, will fete its sweet sixteen this week, and we’re giving away a pair of tickets for Thursday night and a pair of tickets for Saturday night. Cool? Cool. Thursday night features Kelly Hogan, Wussy, Deano & the Purvs, … Read more
All photos by Jason Gonulsen The grids, they are what lure you in. You see them the day they’re released and that’s when you think you stand a chance to have it all — they look so clean, so structured, so inviting. You block out the crowds, the lines, the sun, the hunger, and the … Read more
Photo by Brian Scott The Demon Beat’s “Teenage Wasteland” may call back to the Who’s “Baba O’Riley” in title, but it doesn’t even come close in sound: it’s a thrash of melodic garage rock, with a thumping bass line, hoarse vocals, and some terrific guitar playing. It’s a three minute shot of teenage lovesickness and … Read more
Photo by Joe Appaluccio NY multi-instrumentalist, Steve, has been touring the world with Yeasayer and tUnE-yArDs for a minute now behind his new LP, Positive Force. His reception has been met with more than positive reviews. That alone is reason enough to check him out, no? In addition, Steve wrote, performed, recorded, and mixed Positive … Read more
Whenever I see the big fire comingcoming to burn down all my ideasI try to hold onto my thinkingremember how it feels I think Neil Young is searching for something in this new song, something that has passed him by. Not something he’s missed out on — he’s experienced enough. I think the world where … Read more
Music nerdom can sometimes be frustrating. Sure – you have the typical irritation points, like when you see that Maroon 5 sold out the local Bud Light Lime Dome, or that the massive pool of Top 40 fans were amazed and horribly irritated when Bon Iver won a Grammy, despite their not knowing who the … Read more
Photo by Simon Birk Of course, it’s a familiar formula for a song: summer comes, and a relationship ends. And Fallulah’s latest, “He’ll Break Up With You When Summer Comes,” is just that on the surface — an old routine. But there is something about her voice when she sings, “You motherfucking asshole, you make … Read more
I wanted more than you would give Maybe you were afraid to live With someone who loved you Oh, but there will be plenty of love on Saturday at Off Broadway for the Open Highway Music Festival. That’s when the Bottle Rockets will headline day four of the inaugural festival that also includes Ben Nichols … Read more
Photo courtesy of Truth and Soul Falling in love with Lee Fields was a three step process: 1) allowing my husband to watch his favorite lawyering show, Suits, even though I wanted to catch up on episodes of Episodes, 2) busting out my Shazam app during a poignant lawyer-visiting-his-recently-deceased-father’s-grave scene, and 3) Googling the results … Read more
All photos by Nate Burrell My Morning Jacket stormed the Peabody Opera House last night, playing a two-and-a-half hour set set that took us through their massive catalog. Jim James danced, swung his hair, and we sang along to jams like “Mageetah,” “Holdin’ On To Black Metal,” “One Big Holiday,” “Victory Dance,” “What A Wonderful … Read more
Well, Chicago, it’s time for my first Lollapalooza. I think I’m ready. Crappy hotel for under $40/night? Check. Earplugs for Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath? Check. Expired vitamins fueling my adventure? Check. Clean clothes? We’re getting there. Oh, and I have a plan. Sure, it’s soon to be demolished once I step foot in Grant … Read more
Photo by Jay Sansone I never laughed so loudI never laughed so loudI never laughed so loudThink I’m coming down It saddens me when people confuse struggle with failure. When you struggle, you often lose, you don’t get what you want, and still, nothing can stop you. You only fail when you lose and give … Read more
Ever look around a meeting and wonder what’s going on inside the heads of the people who surround you? They appear to be mentally present, and cognizant of the meaning of the words they are nodding their heads to, but I have a feeling that most of them are either: A) recounting the previous night’s … Read more