Photo by Matt Barnes Other artists in recent memory (Ray LaMontagne’s “Meg White” comes to mind) have gone cowboy on us, but no one so blatantly states his Wild West ambitions like Jason Collett: he wants to rob a bank. Yup, this Canadian outlaw aspires to be like Jesse James, seconding that emotion made so … Read more
During a storm, lightning heats up the air surrounding it, causing vibrations that produce thunder. In a subtle way, “Thunder Clatter” by Nashville’s Wild Cub mimics these atmospheric conditions, also mirroring the beginnings of love. Coincidentally (or not), being struck by love forms the basis for the track, off the duo’s forthcoming full-length Youth. Hidden … Read more
My late Grandpa worked in a coal mine. He didn’t get trapped, and he married his girl and ended up living a full life. His name was Buford, but everyone called him Stan (which referred to his favorite baseball player, the great St. Louis Cardinal, Stan Musial), and he taught me how to play golf, … Read more
The nitty-gritty rockers of Kentucky Knife Fight are getting ready to release their new single, “Misshapen Love” as a 7″, and oh, is it a doozy. Jason Holler’s fiery vocals elevate the tale of a lover scorned burned and left to blaze alone. Top that off with incendiary lead guitar and a combustible horn section, … Read more
All photos by Louis Kwok Another LouFest is now behind us, and despite the occasional (and sometimes heavy) rain, record crowds gathered at the two-day festival at Forest Park in Saint Louis. We’d like to thank all the bands and organizers involved in giving our city an outdoor festival it truly deserves. And we’d also … Read more
Photo courtesy of Bloodshot Records What ex-Cop Shoot Cop frontman Tod A does with Firewater shouldn’t work; no one should be able to merge field recordings of traditional Middle Eastern, Asian, and African music with fierce punk guitars and have the song work, let alone an entire album work. But that is, in fact, what … Read more
‘Cause it’s a little bit of everything,The way you joke, the way you ache,It is getting up before you,So I can watch you as you wake.So on that day in late September,It’s not just some stupid fucking ring,I’m gettin’ a little bit of everything. I realize Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes sings “stupid little ring” instead … Read more
Song is not a history of voice, but of breath. – Anna Moï Throughout our lives, we stand still and we move in a constant state of transformation. Photographs, language and music accompany us, marking our evolutions. Charcoal lines on door frames. UK-based Alt-J (∆) meets metamorphosis head on; the delta symbol itself signifying change … Read more
Photo by Todd Roeth/Nightfox.es The infectious blend of Americana sounds with traditional Mexican music in the David Wax Museum’s “Yes Maria Yes” will have you tapping your toes, clapping your hands … and maybe chasing down the person of your dreams by the end of it. A great song for the last slow days of … Read more
Members of North Carolina bands The Rosebuds, Schooner and Pound of Miracles have just combined forces, as THE FLUTE FLIES, and released a little album for charity purposes. Their record, Yes Means Maybe, is out today, and can be listened to, then downloaded below. They are trying to raise awareness for www.CyTunes.org, which is dedicated to … Read more
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. May your rivers flow without end, meandering through pastoral valleys tinkling with bells, past temples and castles and poets’ towers into a dark primeval forest […] where something strange and more beautiful … Read more
Photo by Agatha Donkar Spider Bags are one of the most changeable bands of the Triangle scene; they can be just about anything. Under the direction of frontman, songwriter, and guitarist Dan McGee, the three piece has just released their third full-length LP, and while there are constants in ever songs — the stalwart rhythm … Read more
It’s no secret that we here at SIC heart Admiral Fallow. And why the hell would anyone not? They’ve put out two beautiful albums, and have made fans swoon over their live shows, both in Europe and here in the US of A – which they will do again this fall, when they launch their … Read more
I look for you and I know you’re out there In this mind we breathe the same air Lonely roads and freight trains will keep us sane Don’t know who fills out the current Son Volt lineup, but as long as Jay Farrar is still singing and writing the tunes, I really don’t care — … Read more
After covering the two previous Hopscotch Music Festivals, and mapping out the blog’s schedule for attending this year’s festival, I can safely say that the biggest reoccurring theme, outside hangovers and sleep deprivation, seems to be CME, or continuing musical education for the non-acronym inclined. See, what you guys may not realize is the festival … Read more
Photo by Carson Minow “You know I probably broke one hundred hearts by now…” I’ve recently been going through an MC Lyte phase, so I’ll just go ahead and say it: Née cold rocks a party. I mean, Spinner compared the Saint Louis foursome (Kristin Dennis, David Beeman, Mic Boshans, and Lex Herbert) to LCD Soundsystem. … Read more
I have no idea how I feel about this. On one hand, it seems like something I should hate, since I’m too-cool-for-school, and basically dislike anything that is easily accessible to the casual music listener. But, on that other hand, it makes me want to go find a fine-ass Nubian queen and shake my ass … Read more
All photos by Louis Kwok Day Two at LouFest in Saint Louis featured The Flaming Lips, and abbreviated sets by Dawes and Dr. Dog, only because of a sudden downpour. Unfortunately, the rain picked up right when Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes was absolutely killing it. Oh well, such is life. Once again, thanks to Louis … Read more
Ok, let’s get the obvious shit out of way, Bradley Hanan Carter’s voice is reminiscent of Matt Berninger’s from The National. There. No need to discuss that any more. From the the first time you hear his vocal chords rattle, the familiar baritone is present, but it’s also apparent that there is no intent to impersonate or … Read more
I’m here to love you, but I don’t know what that means. I just want to feel what I feel, not wonder if it’s real… I want you to be real. Call me romantic, delusional even, but I believe in soul mates. This summer, for the first time in my life, I’ve felt that thing … Read more
All photos by Lauren Ross You should listen to your heart it’s gonna tell you what you need Take care of yourself and don’t you worry about me Last September, we were given a demo of one of Tristan Prettyman’s new songs called “Say Anything,” and naturally, we wrote about it. What we didn’t know … Read more
Photo courtesy of Magic Castles I’m fresh off a four day tour of Twin Cities punk history, having spent most of the week with a documentary crew working on a film about Grant Hart, but the truth is, even after that, I don’t know much about what’s going in Minneapolis or St. Paul music-wise these days. … Read more
Come on, we gotta get out, get out of this mess we madeAnd still for all our talk, we’re both so afraidWill we leave this up to chance, like we do everything?Love is gonna find us again There is a saying that goes something like this: Force is most always met with resistance. And with … Read more
Photo courtesy of the artist I’m not quite sure why I’m so utterly captivated by this video for Philadelphia’s Heyward Howkins’ “Sugar Sand Stitched Lip”: it’s sort of creepy, and the song, from Hoskins’ debut LP The Hale & Hearty, is equally creepy, Howkins’ warm voice disconnected from the eerie lyrics and the muted horns … Read more
The first night of the Hopscotch Music Festival can be tough. If you don’t take the entire day off – you spend the daylight hours working your normal 9 to 5, then do your best to turn into the 21 year-old you, and stay up and alert until after 2:00 am. In the past, those … Read more
Russell Simmons! Judah Bauer! Blues Explosion! Anyone who has seen The Blues Explosion live, has heard those words screamed through Jon Spencer’s microphone at least once in their lives — after, of course, the myriad times they show up on every single record they’ve ever produced. Well – they’re back, and holy shit does their … Read more
All photos by Agatha Donkar I never saw Sleater-Kinney – which is a tragedy, yes – but if they rocked half as hard as Corin Tucker and her band rocked a small but enthusiastic crowd at the Local 506 in Chapel Hill, I can guarantee you they were great shows. Tucker, touring behind the recently … Read more
For the final installment of our Tuesday Hopscotch Music Festival preview, we bring you one of the most interesting babies our research birthed – Louisville’s Nerves Junior. We literally took a whip to ourselves, Illuminati style, for not knowing about them earlier than this. We wasted a whole year of our musical lives – the … Read more
AKG’s flying in Columbia, MO. I’d like to thank you all for nothing at all Last week, we wrote about Wilco’s concert at Live on Ninth Street in Columbia. What we didn’t tell you was that our digital archivist, Chris Finn, captured it all for you to enjoy. Here are a few samples, and below … Read more
Photo by Jason Gonulsen If it’s the wish to run away Then I will grant it Take whatever what you think of While I go gas up the truck Pack the old love letters up We will read them when we forget why we left here There’s a fine line between being hopeful and admitting … Read more