AltWeeklies Wire
Old Lights' David Beeman Gets by with a Little Help from His Friendsnew
Old Lights played its first official gig in April of this year, and after only about fifteen shows, the band has become one of the most talked-about -- and most promising -- new bands to emerge from St. Louis in the last few years.
Riverfront Times |
Christian Schaeffer |
10-16-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs Chat About the Second Volume in Their Covers Seriesnew
In June, power-pop darlings Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoffs released Under the Covers, Vol. 2, which focuses on the '70s. The album spans prog, sappy folk, power-pop and rock royalty.
Riverfront Times |
Annie Zaleski |
08-28-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Soul Sister: Teresajenee Debuts Her New Album, 'The Ecklectic'new
What anchors The Ecklectic is Teresajenee's expressive voice, which can coo like a new mother or wail like a church soloist. Think Lauryn Hill or Erykah Badu -- and that just scratches the surface.
Riverfront Times |
Annie Zaleski |
07-31-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Teresajenee, The Ecklectic
Son Volt's New LP Has Deep Reverence for — And Curiosity About — Historynew
Son Volt's latest is notable for incorporating curls of pedal-steel, wistful strings and multiple nods to St. Louis' regional history.
Riverfront Times |
Annie Zaleski |
07-10-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
The Influential Music of St. Louis Sax Legend Oliver Sain Lives Onnew
Oliver Sain was a saxophone player, producer, composer, arranger, talent scout and multi-instrumentalist who reigned over the St. Louis worlds of blues, jazz, soul and R&B for more than four decades.
Riverfront Times |
Keegan Hamilton |
05-22-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
How the Blind Eyes Evolved from Metalhead Kids and Orchestral Geeks to the City's Tightest Rock Trionew
As its snappy name implies, the Blind Eyes' Modernity is sleek and to-the-point, and full of the trio's shuffling rock tunes — which combine power-pop melodies, punk tenacity and mod-rock precision.
Riverfront Times |
Annie Zaleski |
03-05-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Anarchy in the Ozarks: A Hardcore Punk Scene in the Missouri Backwaters?new
Springfield and Joplin once served as Missouri's primary nexus for punk. Those relatively populous cities harbored the region's most popular bands and, despite their remote locales, national touring acts considered them a perfect stopping point while driving from, say, Chicago to Dallas.
Riverfront Times |
Ben Westhoff |
01-23-2009 |
Profiles & Interviews
Hip-Hop Ex-Pat Wafeek Celebrates Paradoxes with New Albumnew
How does he reconcile the fact that he's backhanding the hype machine with one hand while hitting up one of the best-known hip-hop blogs for some cross-promotional buzz with the other?
Riverfront Times |
Keegan Hamilton |
12-05-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Pianist Terry Adams Moves Beyond NRBQ with a New Band and Forays into Jazznew
In 2004, NRBQ went on hiatus, and the band is unlikely to perform again on a regular basis. Adams has begun to forge a solo identity, recording a jazz-piano album, Love Letter to Andromeda, and a pop-rock throwdown called Rhythm Spell. He calls his current touring band the Terry Adams Quartet, a group featuring bassist Pete Donnelly, drummer Conrad Choucroun and guitarist and singer Scott Ligon.
Riverfront Times |
Roy Kasten |
12-01-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Kirk Hammett Talks Cartoon Voiceovers, the Art of Guitar Solos and Metallica's New Albumnew
Death Magnetic is a promising start to a new chapter for Metallica. And standing in the center once again swinging the Hammer of Justice with both hands is guitarist Kirk Hammett.
Riverfront Times |
Paul Friswold |
11-14-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Steve Wynn Heads to the Other Side of the World for His Latest Solo Albumnew
For his latest solo effort, Crossing Dragon Bridge, the 48-year-old traveled to Ljubljana, Slovenia. Working with producer Chris Eckman, Wynn has created an intimate moodpiece that's often a slightly shadier version of his usual rock fodder.
Riverfront Times |
Annie Zaleski |
11-14-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Death Cab for Cutie's Chris Walla Talks Politics and Musical Activismnew
In recent months, the band's name has been closely linked with politics: Walla and vocalist Ben Gibbard appeared at the DNC in Denver, and the band is participating in the Ultimate College Bowl, a contest where the school that registers the most voters will get a free Death Cab show.
Riverfront Times |
Annie Zaleski |
10-10-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Squeeze is Reunited, Reinvented and Rejuvenatednew
One of the most enduring influences on melody-makers is a pair few would suspect: the Squeeze songwriting team of Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook.
Riverfront Times |
Annie Zaleski |
08-29-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Prisonshake Spent 15 Years on 'Dirty Moons'new
When Prisonshake released its last full-length, The Roaring Third, unleaded regular gas sold for $1.11 a gallon.
Riverfront Times |
Annie Zaleski |
08-22-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Dirty Moons, Prisonshake
'Weird Al' Yankovic Dares to be Honest About 'Straight Outta Lynwood'new
"Longevity" is not a word we usually associate with novelty artists, but "Weird Al" Yankovic has trumped his Dr. Demento peers by releasing twelve albums and capturing three Grammys since 1980.
Riverfront Times |
Ryan Wasoba |
08-11-2008 |
Profiles & Interviews
Tags: Weird Al Yankovic
