Photo by Lindsey Byrnes Thirty something sisters and musical partners, Tegan and Sara, are back on the scene with their upcoming live CD and DVD relese, Get Along. Today’s Jam of the Day is a track from that album called “I Won’t Be Left.” Dig it the most. The duo will release the joint DVD/CD … Read more
Here’s something I never thought I’d say: my affinity for professional wrestling as a child just made me listen to a band for the first time. Weird, right? It wasn’t even via a Hulk Hogan reality show or some Mr. T impersonator, rather, it was the WWF’s birdman, Koko B. Ware. And surprisingly – this … Read more
Just when I finally made it through the entire batch of My So-Called Life reruns on The Sundance Channel, Mazzy Star decides to release a couple of singles for the first time in fifteen years. Lord, will I ever stop reliving the angst of my fourteen year old self? Or channeling Angela Chase? At least … Read more
New Pornos’ permi-member (she sings Neko’s parts when the redheaded power vocalist is away on business, so you know she’s for real) and frequent solo artist, Kathryn Calder, came correct with her sophomore album Bright and Vivid, released in October. We first caught wind of Calder going it alone in May 2010 with the release … Read more
Canadian psych-pop artist Doldrums (government name: Eric Woodhead) released Empire Sun on October 31st (No Pain in Pop), and the EP’s centerpiece “Endless Winter” is a bewitching, avant-garde standout from this innovative artist. The track is layered and complex with synth-loops and static beats. “Endless Winter” often seems on the brink of chaos, but that’s … Read more
In 2009, Bombay Bicycle Club released its debut album, I Had The Blues But I Shook Them Loose, which launched them to immediate buzz band status across the pond. Combining electronic elements with acoustic bliss, they created a near-perfect indie-pop concoction, making an instant and noticeable impact on the music scene from which they sprang. … Read more
Open up your eyesSee how lifetime fliesOpen up and let the light back in This one’s from 1992. But hey, it’s okay to look back every once in a while, right? Especially when it comes to Neil Young, my favorite artist. When people ask why I love Young’s music so much, I’m unsure of the … Read more
Based in London, S.C.U.M exploded onto the music scene two years ago with the release of their debut single “Visions Arise.” The single, together with their intense live shows, quickly grabbed the imagination of fans and critics alike. Since then, the band have toured extensively across the UK and Europe to a growing fan base, … Read more
SoKo (AKA Stéphanie Sokolinski) is a French singer-songwriter (and actress) who is set to release her debut record I Thought I Was An Alien on February 20, 2012. The record’s eponymous single is a candid, reflective, breeze-pop pajammy jam. SoKo sings, accent in tow; “And you look at me as if I was a freak. … Read more
I will remember your face‘Cause I am still in love with that placeWhen the stars are the only things we shareWill you be there? What happened to the short and sweet songs? (Or, more specifically, the ones that sound like they were made for those late autumn hours where the sun creeps down too early.) … Read more
Last night, a football player (we’re pretending one of the dead ones from Beetlejuice), a lizard man of sorts, a panda, a vampire, and a cool-as-shit ghost drummer (with sunglasses and a straw hat!) – otherwise known as the Generationals touring band – lit up The Firebird’s stage for a primo Halloween dance party. Two … Read more
Mix the subtle, retro-soul swagger of Fine Young Cannibals’ “Good Thing” with Otis Redding’s guttural vocals, put it all together, and whaddya get? The new single from SIC faves, JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound, “Everything Will Be Fine.” The band caught fire after officially releasing its version of the Wilco mainstay, “I Am Trying … Read more
All Night, the debut record from Houses, has been out for over a year (Lefse Records), but it took an exceptional turn in support of Youth Lagoon last week to make this blogger stand up and notice the indubitable talent of this Chicago duo. Houses (AKA Dexter Tortoriello & Megan Messina) churn out chilled-out, ambient … Read more
Arguably one of the best bands in South Africa (if not the best), The Parlotones are searching for something more. And that’s not easy, considering their mighty résumé. Multi-platinum records? Sure. Opening for Coldplay in front of 60,000? You bet. World Cup performers? No problem. U.S. stardom? That’s next on the list. And I wouldn’t … Read more
Boston based trio Carousel has clearly been carving out a soft spot in our ears and hearts here at Speakers in Code over the last month or so. The Berklee College of Music trained outfit has chased their tightly crafted, entirely excellent, Allston 26 EP with another catchy tune, “Best of Me,” that finds the … Read more
Continuing to blur the line that historically separated “indie rock” from music your dad used to spin at night when he drank, NYC-based Forest Fire are hitting our asses hard with classic hooks and melodies that hipsters and hippies alike can get down to in unison. And looking back, 2011 has been an interesting year … Read more
***UPDATE: Ticket info has been released, including a pre-sale on Thursday: On sale to General Public: Start: Sat, 12/03/11 11:00 AM CST Internet Presale: Start: Thu, 12/01/11 10:00 AM CST End: Fri, 12/02/11 10:00 PM CST Price Range All Reserved tickets are $32.00, which includes a $3 facility fee. *** As we mentioned earlier, Ryan … Read more
Holy shit. Either Cameron Crowe is a prophet, or some pretty crazy stars aligned to bring this Jam of the Day to fruition. Feel my flow… In the year 2000, Crowe dropped a little movie entitled Almost Famous that chronicled a band named Stillwater, as it gigged across America, opening for larger and larger bands, … Read more
Pittsburgh trio Donora knows how to have a good time. How do I know? Well, for starters, their 10 to Spin below has a roller skating theme. And the video they released for their sophomore album, Boyfriends, Girlfriends, features hot tubs, pinatas, balloons, barbeques, karaoke, making out after fighting, and lotsa confetti. Have a look/listen. … Read more
Photo courtesy of The Blind Eyes Last Friday, we had the pleasure of seeing our friends, The Blind Eyes, headline an all local show (well, almost all local…The ACBs from Kansas City completed the bill) for the first time since adding a fourth member to the line-up. Andy White, on guitar, rounds out the band’s … Read more
Bass Drum of Death did not consult marketing professionals when picking a band name. Bass Drum of Death sounds like a band that would pick a name like Bass Drum of Death. Bass Drum of Death is not meant to be listened to while doing yoga. Bass Drum of Death will never be featured during … Read more
The Builders and the Butchers / Photo by Peter Blanchard Our new(ish) feature, The Radio Cure, provides you a smattering of great tracks to cure you of the radio blues. Enjoy Volume 1.2. The Builders and the Butchers – Rotten To The Core Portland’s folk-rock five-piece is pushing the new album, Dead Reckoning, with this … Read more
Saturday, April 23rd marks The Civil Wars’ first appearance at The Old Rock House, and guess what? Yup, it’s sold out. Well, we can’t say we’re surprised, as the buzz has been steady around Joy Williams and John Paul White for quite awhile now (check out our interview with them here). Obviously, we’re pumped for … Read more
I don’t know how you’re moving forwardWhen you look frozen to me There’s a song on Neil Young’s self-titled debut solo album called “Here We Are In The Years,” and in it, Young basically questions everything that he’s observed around him. I’ve always thought it was a song about the transient nature of life—that the … Read more
Photo by Bobt3 As in life, the musical experience can be one long, all-encompassing journey, or it can be a few different pieces that combine to paint a complete picture for those outside the immediate perspective to consume. And, as someone who has many life experiences that revolve around the works of John Davis as … Read more
Back in January, we suggested you keep your eyes and ears on Cults, the cryptic NYC duo that set innumerable music websites aflutter with its dreamy, slightly creepy single “Go Outside.” Cults capitalized on the unabashed internet love, signed with Columbia Records, and now the self-titled debut LP drops on June 7th. In advance of … Read more
Few things this year have gotten us as excited as the unexpected news that Blake Sennett has decided to hang up his golfing shoes and come out of musical retirement to personally deliver audio goodness to us all, in order to rid the world of unhappiness. For that reason alone, we’ve already awarded “Babyface,” … Read more
On Thursday, May 12th, Brooke Fraser + Cary Brothers will be performing at The Blue Note in Columbia, Missouri, and we want you to go. Like, how does two free tickets sound? We’re excited for this show for a coupla reasons: 1. These are two great singer-songwriters. 2. Brooke Fraser doesn’t make it around these … Read more
Photo by Katie Guymon Alright, you all know good and well that Record Store Day is coming up this Saturday, April 16th. All across the country, indie shops will celebrate in high fashion: special releases, live bands, maybe an adult beverage or six… Jason and I will be representing the Saint Louis contingency of our … Read more
Contrary to popular belief, the members of Times New Viking are not art school dropouts; they’re art school graduates, dammit. And rather than follow the path of stuffy galleries and regular unemployment, they chose to start a band. They began inconspicuously in 2003 when it was particularly out of vogue to do it yourself. From … Read more