Photo by Jason Gonulsen In 2002, I went to my first music festival — the inaugural Austin City Limits Music Festival — and I’ll fully admit it: I had no idea what I was doing, who I really wanted to see, or how to navigate such an immense offering of art before my eyes. Really, … Read more
On the last day of any music festival, night arrives before you know it. You struggle to hold on to what you’ve experienced, what’s still left, and you maybe start to think if you’ll be able to do it all again next year. Of course, there are no guarantees — you might not ever pass … Read more
For everyone who has seen Purple Rain, there is a scene where Prince walks into First Avenue, sees Morris Day & The Time on stage and is blown away by what’s going down. It’s one of those iconic movie moments that perfectly encapsulates the feeling of a musical movement in its infancy. I literally lived … Read more
Today is the beginning of the 10th Austin City Limits Music Festival, and we’re excited for two big reasons: A) We’re covering the festival and B) we get to unveil our latest and greatest 10 to Spin, handpicked by one of our favorite artists, the one and only Courtney Jaye (who we were also fortunate … Read more
Photo by Jason Stoff September 9th and 10th marks the fifth annual An Under Cover Weekend, a celebration of live music at The Firebird where local bands cover their favorite artists/bands. The rules surrounding the event are simple: be awesome, don’t be obscure, and play the hits. And while the awesome local bands will be … Read more
We won’t break if we let go A friend of mine sent me this song the other day, and I’m guessing it’s a demo of what’s to come — a new album from Tristan Prettyman. If so, I’m ready. It’s been too long, Tristan. Where have you been hiding this gorgeous voice, these beautiful words? … Read more
Back in July, we were introduced to singer-songwriter Nerina Pallot, and made her song “This Will Be Our Year” our Pajammy Jam of the Day. And while we’re still fond of that song, that’s not the only gem in the platinum-selling artist’s arsenal. Nope, just have a listen to “Turn Me On Again,” which will, … Read more
Robert Pollard of Guided by Voices | Photo by Aggie Donkar Much, much more coming, but here is a taste of what we’ve seen thus far at the 2011 Hopscotch Music Festival. It’s been a blast thus far, and even though our heads hurt, our ears are still ringing, and our feet are KILLING us, … Read more
I’m going to level with everyone. The Hopscotch Music Festival kicked off last night in Raleigh, North Carolina – and at least one blogger I know, ahem, acted like he was twenty-one again. Drinking his way through seven bands until the wee hours of the morning. Was it fun? Hell yes. Did he just get out … Read more
When I listen to “Nine Equals Nine,” I feel chaos. I’m in a car, speeding down the freeway. It’s pouring, I can’t see what’s in front of me, but I can feel everything. The trees are swaying in the wind, there are sirens, I can sense I’m somewhere I’ve never been. My heart is racing; … Read more
Photo by Tod Seelie Dark Dark Dark is one of many bands out there right now parlaying orchestral instruments – somehow, someway – into a contemporary sound. When I try to wrap my head around how exactly this is possible, I come up empty. With a “psychedelic” mix of influences (yes, classical but also Middle … Read more
Scare away the shadows in my head still growin’ Only you and I can bring them down Jill Andrews picked a good one to open her first full-length studio album, The Mirror. “Sound of the Bells” is a catchy, feel-good pop/rock gem that builds into its final lyric: “Only you and I will hear the … Read more
Photo by Bryan Sutter Tonight marks the beginning of the fifth annual An Under Cover Weekend going down at The Firebird, and we couldn’t be more excited. One of our favorite Saint Louis bands, Dots Not Feathers, has opted to take on the man, the myth, the legend…Stevie Wonder. Jammin’ on the one! They also, … Read more
Speakers Rating: 96/100 “I still love you to death, and I won’t ever forget how,” Jeff Tweedy sings on the title track of Wilco’s eighth studio album, The Whole Love. It’s one of Wilco’s best albums in a few years because it exudes happiness and vulnerability at the same time. Yes, this is the band … Read more
Back in July, Matt introduced us all to Tyler Powers, also known as Youth Lagoon, the 22 year old, solo musical savant out of Boise, Idaho. Back then, Youth Lagoon’s much anticipated debut LP, The Year of Hibernation, was still two months away from release. On the strength of what we heard from Powers this … Read more
The Flaming Lips | Photo by Aggie Donkar The 2011 Hopscotch Music Festival is over, dammit, and I now have a new way to gauge my experience. When getting ready for work this morning, I had to move my belt to the next largest size. No shit y’all – I drank, and ate, THAT much … Read more
Photo by Jason Gonulsen You’re gonna know my name by the end of the night I’m now convinced — Gary Clark Jr. can do no wrong. Zippo. Someone start crafting a statue, because it will eventually be needed. Hell, start chipping away on a mountain for all I care. You won’t be wasting your time. … Read more
A braid is “a complex structure or pattern formed by intertwining three or more strands of flexible material such as textile fibers, wire, or human hair.” Braids is a band who makes complex musical structures or patterns by intertwining three or more elements such as guitars, vocals, drums, and synthesizers. Who would have thunk it … Read more
It’s the summer of 2001 that I miss the most. I still went to record stores often. I didn’t have an iPod. There was no Facebook or Twitter. I gladly waited for everything, and I didn’t care about the urge to broadcast every little moment that I experienced (something that I’m trying to care less … Read more
In a year where a certain British singer-songwriter has basically taken over the charts with her beautiful songs, artists like Nerina Pallot (born in London, raised in the Bailiwick of Jersey) can certainly get lost in the shuffle. Oh, but not on Speakers in Code. We’re listening. Pallot’s new album, Year of the Wolf, recently … Read more
Earlier this year, Abigail Washburn hit us hard with her second solo album called City of Refuge; it’s been called a “a sublime marriage of old-time and indie-pop,” and rightfully so – it was recorded with a new cast of characters, including My Morning Jacket’s Carl Broemel and The Decemberists’ Chris Funk. It certainly takes … Read more
Album art credit: Nate Burrell and Kristin Dennis 1 The Cool Kids | When Fish Ride Bicycles (Green Label Sound) Release Date: July 12th Listen: “Bundle Up” 2 Sleepy Kitty | Infinity City (Euclid) Release Date: July 12th Listen: “Gimme a Chantz!” 3 William Elliott Whitmore | Field Songs (ANTI-) Release Date: July 12th Listen: … Read more
As I write this post, I’m sitting on a patio overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Surfers are lined up just on the other side of the breakers, talking about what surfers talk about, and the sun is just starting to make everything in its presence electric pink. I have on headphones, and I have listened to … Read more
Go see Megafaun live, and you will immediately understand what the entire Triangle has been…yeah I’m going to do it…”fawning” over in increasing fashion over the last few years. The boys, Phil & Brad Cook, and percussionist Joe Westerlund, have become local celebrities, immediately getting tables at the most popular restaurants, and roaming around with … Read more
Over the past decade, Dan Boeckner has been able to do something that many around him have not: produce amazing music consistently, while fronting more than one band. True, his “main band,” the on-indefinite-hiatus Wolf Parade got the most the fanfare and accolades, but in this blog’s opinion, the three Handsome Furs albums he’s created … Read more
L.A.’s indie pop artist AM and London’s cinematic tunesmith Shawn Lee have gone all Postal Service on our asses, forging a fortuitous long distance relationship that is bearing some pretty sexy fruit! The concept here is the same, with Lee sending AM drum and percussion beats from London. Then, in Los Angeles, AM wrote and … Read more
“Where did I fail you, my love?” That’s the central question in our Jam of the Day, brought to you by Nashville’s Colorfeels. Basically, it’s a pretty way of asking, “Just how did I eff this up?” “Pretty Walk” leisurely tries to sort out the confusion (Was it me? Was it you?) with a cadence that … Read more
I don’t know why 23-year-old Max McElligott goes by Wolf Gang. I do know that I usually pass on artists like him. But, there is something different about this cat. Something about today’s JOTD makes me wanna, I don’t know, build something up and tear it right down. And then react to the mess I’ve … Read more
Photo by Jason Gonulsen UPDATE: Download a recording of the show in FLAC or MP3! Links are at the end of the review. If God’s up there he’s in a cold dark room The heavenly host are just the cold dark moons He bent down and made the world in seven days And ever since … Read more
In what should be a can’t-miss show, Josh Ritter & The Royal City Band will be making their return to Off Broadway in Saint Louis on Friday, July 22nd. This will be Ritter’s first appearance in Saint Louis since his last sold-out show at Off Broadway on July 28, 2009, and Speakers in Code + … Read more