St. Louis Music Blog

(I never said they had to be new bands, did I?)

Name: The Trip Daddys
MySpace: myspace.com/thetripdaddys
Members: Craig Straubinger (guitars/vocals), Jamey Almond (bass/vocals),
Dennis Williams (drummer)
Sounds like: As anyone who attended the band's righteous CD release show for Too Much, Too Fast, last night can attest -- such as this commenter here -- the group is the bar band you want playing on a no-holds-barred weekend night. The part of the set I saw was raucous and raw, and inspired unrestrained dancing, rampant drinking and joyful carousing -- exactly what music should do. Playing its first show in months, the band didn't sound rusty; it sounded ecstatically happy to be back onstage, channeling all of that pent-up energy into a solid gig.
References: KSHE classic rock, rockabilly hepcats, old-school punks
Next show: July 14, Way Out Club

"By the Heart":

-- Annie Zaleski

No, not Peter, Paul and Mary. And not peanut butter & jelly. But the Swedish trio Peter, Bjorn and John are playing the Pageant on Tuesday, August 7. Whistle along with me, on the video for its song, 'Young Folks'!

-- Annie Zaleski

So reports label head Robert Griffin. And he's looking for a few good helpers to make the move just a tad bit easier this Sunday afternoon, starting at 10:30 a.m.

Anyone who helps can take their pick of label releases (and I will be generous) -- or used classical LPs if they are so inclined. Helpers should have at least 4 hours free in the late morning/early afternoon and be able to lift up to 50 pounds.

Griffin says they're located "near the Esquire," but interested parties should email him for exact directions.

-- Annie Zaleski

In this week's Homespun column, Christian Schaeffer reviews Team Tomato's new self-titled CD, which the quartet will be releasing with a show at 9 p.m. Saturday, June 30, at Off Broadway. (The Monads and Bravo Company open.) He had this to say:

Team Tomato sounds as if it’s having a personality crisis on its new self-titled record. Musically there’s almost an even split between Americana and big-guitar modern rock – making the quartet perhaps one of the only bands to tread the ground between the Jayhawks and Alice in Chains. But the main problem with Team Tomato is that there’s little crossover between these two styles; either the precise power-pop band or the acoustic, open-strumming folk band shows up.

But lest you think that Schaeffer's completely ripping the band's music apart, read on: He's not.

Every now and then, the group takes something ordinary and makes it shine. “Last Lesson” moves from generic alt-rock into something cosmic and wonderful, aided by synthesized strings and a chorus of “oohs” that could happily go on forever. The next track, “Quietly,” continues the trend with a bit of Foo Fighters-esque stomp and strut...

Size constraints prevent us from sharing "Last Lesson," but after the jump, listen to "Quietly" and the Bowie ca. Hunky Dory piano-glam torch song "Is It True?" -- and judge the quality of TT's music for yourself.

In this week's paper (link here), Jason Toon interviewed a handful of local musicians (and a writer or two) about the influence of the Police both here in St. Louis and beyond. The legendary trio hits the Scottrade Center on Monday night, July 2, at 7:30 p.m. I'll be at the show and will have a review of it up on A to Z after.

In the meantime, Toon's interviewees had some entertaining things to say that didn't make the print edition; after the jump, read about another of the trio's early gigs in town, mentions of Sting's pretentiousness and near-universal feting of drummer Stewart Copeland's mad skills.

I've been up to my elbows in packing tape and cardboard boxes (and CDs, trust me) for the past week, as I'm moving apartments tomorrow. (You're not getting rid of me, though; I'm just moving somewhere cheaper.) Since I've been attempting to compartmentalize up my life, I somehow keep reaching for albums from three bands: Jimmy Eat World, Get Up Kids and R.E.M. My love for the latter is well-documented, but for whatever reason, the band's entire catalog has helped keep me going as much as the espresso has.

After the jump, take a look at a live video (from England's old music show the Tube) of "Driver 8"/"Can't Get There from Here," two songs from 1985's Fables of the Reconstruction. More substantial content is coming later in the day.

It's a light week in terms of new shows on the St. Louis Concert Calendar (a.k.a. the St. Louis Snappy Show Schedule). This week's additions include theSTART and Voodoo Glow Skulls at the Creepy Crawl; this week's feature musician Corey Smth at Blueberry Hill's Duck Room; Bobby Bare Jr.'s Pixies cover band, the Hibernauts' CD release show and oh my god at Off Broadway; Mindless Self Indulgence at Pop's; Bonerama at the Broadway Oyster Bar -- and later in the year, Sammy Hagar playing not one, but two shows at the Fox Theater. Wabo-riffic!

-- Annie Zaleski and Christian Schaeffer

Loyal A to Z readers, I have to confess: I've been cheating on you today, and wrote an entry for Ian over at our food blog, Gut Check. I know, I know; I'll affix a scarlet letter "A" to my shirt in shame.

But to make this post music-related: The restaurant I reference, La Dolce Via, is fond of playing the Shins, as they were yesterday. It was a pleasant experience while I read the 33 1/3 book on Jeff Buckley's Grace. (So far, so good.)

-- Annie Zaleski

My pal D.X. Ferris in Cleveland (the only man I know who loves R.E.M. and Slayer equally) sends an updated version of this missive about Joe Jack Talcum of the Dead Milkmen, who's playing a show Monday night at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center. A to Z totally spaced on this show, so we hope that people still go out and support. YouTube footage after the jump, Ferris' words just below:

Former Dead Milkmen member Joe Jack Talcum is back on the road, winging his way through a boppy set that won't disappoint faithful Deadheads, who remember the gnarlieness of some of the happiest punk rock ever. "I usually don't use set lists, but I do at least 50-percent Dead Milkmen songs -- often more," says Talcum. "I do take requests, but there are a lot of songs I can't remember. I've performed both 'Bitchin' Camaro' and 'Stuart' in my acoustic sets in the past, but only with help from someone in the audience. Indeed, it is all acoustic solo. I don't have what you would call a tender style, though. It's usually a casual and fun vibe." It sure as heck is. Turnouts have been spotty on the underpromoted tour -- a report from Friday night's Pittsburgh show said the (truly) gross attendance was around 20 -- so go see him; you can tell your friends you sang 'Bitchin' Camaro' with the 'Punk Rock Girl' guy.

Interpol’s major label debut, Our Love to Admire, leaked on the Internet this week, two-and-a-half weeks before it arrives in stores officially on July 10. (And a mere five-and-change weeks before the NYC quartet plays the Pageant, on August 1.)

The Joy Division/Echo & the Bunnymen/Chameleons comparisons thrown at the band remain valid, but Admire also channels the work of another seminal gloomy band, at least in an abstract sense: The Cure. More specifically, the stark, stormy clouds of Faith/Seventeen Seconds/Pornography-era Cure, a time when Robert Smith & Co. focused on atmosphere over traditional song structure, a time when abject misery and howling despair dominated its music. A few pop songs peek out from the murk, but the focus of Admire (and those Cure discs) is rich, gorgeous texture.

Without further ado, welcome to A to Z's new weekly feature, the local band of the week. We'll be posting this earlier from here on out, so check back every Friday morning for some hot audio action and information about great local bands to check out. Our inaugural group is below!

Name: The 75s
MySpace: myspace.com/the75s
Members: Laurel (guitar and vocals), Morgan (bass and vocals), Scott (drums)
Sounds like: Winsome girl-fronted rock fond of short-and-snappy fuzzbombs. Would fit well on a bill playing between Bunnygrunt and That's My Daughter.
References: Lo-fi 1990s indie-rock, K Records, the type of DIY pop RFT freelancer Mike Appelstein writes about for us
Next show: TBA. Rumor has it the trio's first show will be later in the summer; when something is confirmed we'll let you know.

Song: "Finders Keepers"

-- Annie Zaleski

As my pal Ian notes over in Gut Check, Maplewood has a new Tex-Mex restaurant that just opened, El Scorcho.

Looks like someone else who's a fan of that phrase came to check it out as well.

-- Annie Zaleski

Much has been made around the blogosphere this week about the diary John Roderick of the Long Winters kept about Bonnaroo. (For excellent exclusive photos of the event -- including one of Beatle Bob dancing and Jeff Tweedy playing baseball -- go here!)

In a nutshell, he hated almost everything -- although he described bands in a hilarious way. For instance, about the Hold Steady: "I felt like I was at a dot-com Christmas party and a bunch of drunk webmasters got up on stage to jam, with the company cut-up rapping their mission-statement out of a three-ring binder. And everyone at the party said, 'Whoa, those guys are actually good. They should form a band.'"

But Roderick certainly didn't hate the food he had at Blueberry Hill when the Long Winters swung through town in early April. No, as A to Z operative Mike Cracchiolo found, the cranky critic loved the Hill's chili-burger. To wit:

Click To Play

click here to download (mp4/30mb)
Video by Bill Streeter of Lo-Fi Saint Louis

With this week's announcement that the Polyphonic Spree is playing the Pageant on Saturday, August 4 (see more visuals here), we here at A to Z HQ started reminiscing about PS leader's Tim DeLaughter's former band, Tripping Daisy. Since it's unofficially 1990s week on our blog -- see our stories on Ben Folds, Smashing Pumpkins and Tool -- I decided to post three great YouTube videos from TD. When A to Z was a wee, flannel-wearing lass with bad hair, she remembers digging on these guys pretty hardcore. (DeLaughter is also one of the nicest, most genuine musicians I've ever interviewed, as well -- so any continued success he has is well-deserved.) See 'em in action after the jump.

Last week's small paper also prevented me from running an interview with one of my favorite artists, Ben Folds. The piano man is opening for John Mayer tonight at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater (show up early!). I caught up with Folds not long after he talked to some "wacky morning DJs" in San Jose, California, and chatted about the ten-year anniversary of the release of Ben Folds Five's landmark album, Whatever and Ever Amen, and an upcoming music-themed cruise he's helming, The Ben Folds Experience.

As we started last week, here is our weekly, comprehensive STL Snappy Show Schedule. Additions/changes in bold. And feel free to add things in the comments. After all, the RFT music section isn't as perfect as we'd like to think we are. (Sarcasm alert!)

-- Annie Zaleski and Christian Schaeffer

From the Chicago Tribune, via Jeff Hess:

It may sound like an April fool's joke, but it's true -- state senators might declare April 1 to be "Cheap Trick Day" in Illinois.

Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford). has introduced a resolution that would set aside every April 1st to honor the band. Cheap Trick began in Rockford and still has strong ties to the state.

The band formed in the mid-70s and became a national success in 1978 with the album "At Budokan." Cheap Trick has sold more than 20 million albums and performed 5,000 concerts.

Guitarist Rick Nielsen got a warm welcome when he visited the state Senate today. He told lawmakers that the band's achievements include not being convicted of a felony within the past ten years.

The Senate has not yet voted on the resolution to establish Cheap Trick Day.

-- Annie Zaleski

Refunds at point of purchase. She won't be at the Duck Room this week, so please ignore our critpick.

--Annie Zaleski

Even though Tool is notoriously camera-shy in concert -- although its backyard-barbecue pics are apparently fair game -- fearless photographer Jaime Lees ventured to its show in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on Saturday night and managed to snap the band in action. We'll have her review of the show in the paper this week -- to better preview Tool's show this Friday night at the Scottrade Center -- but until then, check out some visual shots of the band, starting with one of vocalist/frontman Maynard James Keenan. We'll have more after the jump, and also check out A to Z's new Flickr page for more. All photos taken by Jaime Lees.

Sometimes the mailman graces me with some unexpected gifts – like this week, when the USPS dropped off a top-secret, watermarked copy of the new Smashing Pumpkins album, Zeitgeist. I don’t think it’s leaked online yet (or has it?), nor have I read much on other blogs about how the rest of the album sounds beyond the first single, “Tarantula.” So since I’ve been listening to the disc for the past week trying to wrap my brain around it, here’s an exclusive, track-by-track review of the album. I’ll put my thoughts after the jump, in case people want to be surprised when Zeitgeist comes out on July 10.

I will say, however, that those of you hoping that Zeitgeist is an unmitigated disaster will be disappointed: It’s not. Those of you afraid that Billy Corgan made another The Future Embrace (his uber-synthpop, somewhat-cheesy solo album) will be happy: He didn’t.

We here at A to Z know that keeping track of what's going on in town is sometimes a daunting proposition, what with sketchy Web sites, poor promotion or just general over-scheduling. (Seriously, how many nights in town are there, like, eight things to do -- when others have none?)

Since A to Z feels your pain, we'd like to introduce a recurring post on the blog, our Comprehensive Concert Calendar -- otherwise known as the STL Snappy Show Schedule. We'll be updating it weekly -- new additions in bold, to make things easier -- so you'll never utter the dreaded phrase, "I'm bored!" ever again. And if you have additions or things we've forgotten? Chime in! This list is, of course, incomplete. Omissions are completely unintentional, and in no way reflect any grudges/biases/blacklisting from the music department.

-- Annie Zaleski and Christian Schaeffer

I'm sure I missed some things here. If I did, comment away!

Tonight, Friday, June 15:

Underground @ Red Sea: Target Market, I Love You (Kansas City indie rockers), others
Blueberry Hill's Duck Room: Murder City Players, Dub KItchen

Saturday, June 16:

Blueberry Hill's Duck Room: Midwest Avengers (CD release party), Earthworms, NIte Owl, Spatik
Mangia:Trip Daddys
Cicero's: The Upright Animals, others
Skatium: Big Muddy Beach Party w/Johnny O & the Jerks, the Vultures, 7 Shot Screamers, Monads. The ad says: Wear your best beach party attire and receive a BMR cassette tape compilation of all the bands on one side and APOP RECORDS artists on the other! 9 p.m. - 3 a.m. $10. BYOB.

Sunday, June 17:

Creepy Crawl: 7 Shot Screamers, Dirty Novels, Paul Bearer & the Coffin Kings

-- Annie Zaleski

We didn't have room in the paper this week to run this interview freelancer Roy Kasten did with Josh Berwanger of the Only Children, who is playing at Cicero's (6691 Delmar Boulevard, University City; 314-862-0009) on Wednesday, June 20; tickets are $10. But here it is anyway, for your reading pleasure.

Whatever you want to call the Only Children -- rootsy, Stonesy, twangy -- you can't call them emo. Or can you? After fronting emotive kid faves the Anniversary and releasing two albums of earnest guitar and synth pop, Josh Berwanger decided to ditch the whole thing and reform as the Only Children. The band is closer to his native Midwest's classic guitar-riff roots, but still relies on unfiltered feeling, as if Berwanger is forever singing the first thing that comes to the heart on his sleeve. B-Sides called Berwanger at his home in Lawerence, Kansas, to get the scoop on where he's been, where he's going and the new album Keeper of Youth.

My operatives who are more "in the know" than I am tell me that Bloc Party will be at the Pageant in September. Finally!

To celebrate, here's a video of (in my opinion) the best song from A Weekend in the City, "I Still Remember."

-- Annie Zaleski

Right, maybe I should post the winners. They're also in the print edition of the paper this week, for those interested. Congratulations to all who won!

Best Americana/Folk: Magnolia Summer

Best Blues Artist: Bottoms Up Blues Gang

Best DJ: Flex Boogie

Best Eclectic/Uncategorizable: Superfun Yeah Yeah Rocketship

Best Funk/Soul/R&B: Dogtown Allstars

Best Garage Band. Johnny O & the Jerks

Best Hard Rock/Metal. Head-On Collision

Best Hip-Hop DJ. Needles

Best Indie Band. Ghost in Light

Best Jazz Artist. Erin Bode

Best Live Act. 7 Shot Screamers

Best Local Release (on a label). Sex Robots, Sex Robots

Best Local Release (self-released). Nite Owl, Now You Can Boo Me

Best New Artist. The Humanoids

Best Punk/Hardcore. 7 Shot Screamers

Best Pop Band. Sex Robots

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist. Midwest Avengers

Best Reggae Band. Murder City Players

Best Rock Band. Riddle of Steel

Best Vocalist. Kim Massie

-- Annie Zaleski

(Footage was filmed in St. Louis, among other places, so this is relevant. Also, language might be not safe for those of you with bosses who don't like the swears.)

-- Annie Zaleski

My cross-state colleague Jason Harper told me that a couple of years ago, when the National played Kansas City, they drew a staggeringly small crowd. A huge National fan (we still have to arm-wrestle to determine supremacy), Harper was justifiably bummed. And I was worried. What if the same thing happened in St. Louis? It was like a Zen koan: If a band plays the Duck Room and no one attends, is it still a rock show? And etc. Fortunately, my worries were completely unfounded. The show sold out, and the audience was into it, thank God. (I have a serious problem being surrounded by wasted, whoohoo-ing bro-dogs who barely know what concert they're attending.)

Opening acts Talkdemonic and Shapes & Sizes were both quite good, with Talkdemonic's gorgeous Lisa Molinero coaxing transportative melodies out of her viola.

My adoration of the National has been, um, documented, but this was the first time I'd had the chance to see them live. If there's a better band making music today, you're going to have to do a hell of a lot of talking to convince me. The songs that are so lush and amazing on The National, Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers, the Cherry Tree EP, Alligator and Boxer are equally stunning live. Brothers Scott and Bryan Devendorf (guitar and drums, respectively) and Aaron and Bryce Dessner (bass and guitar) absolutely tore it up, and lead singer Matt Berninger brought sweet charm and self-effacing good humor to his stage banter -- an interesting juxtaposition to the menacing twists in the National's lyrics.

The true secret weapon on this tour is Padme Newsome, a non-official member of the National who, in the erudite words of my friend and co-worker Christian Schaeffer, "plays the hell out of a violin, son." Newsome's fiddle work was nothing short of astounding; it often appeared that he was trying to exorcise the instrument. Of course, spiritual cleansing was in abundance: for Berninger, who makes every song sound like a catharsis, and for the audience, who could not have hoped for a better performance. I was even happy that the guy who kept screaming for his favorite song (Guy: "Murder Me Rachael!" Berninger: "We're not playing that." Guy: "Murder! Me! Rachael!" Berninger, good-naturedly: "Nope." Guy: "Why do you hate me?") got his wish; the band's live version of "Murder Me Rachael" is amazing. Songs from the new Boxer (already touted by Frank at Chromewaves.net as a front-runner for album of the year, and I won't disagree) were terrific live, particularly the gorgeous "Slow Show" -- the closest thing to a straight-up love song the National's ever done. It was a treat to hear smoky, quiet cuts like "Lucky You" and "Daughters of the SoHo Riots," too. And, well, there's nothing better in the world like a National scream-along, and "Abel," "Mr. November" and a wall-shaking version of the new "Squalor Victoria" provided that joy.

In the words of the guy standing next to me -- sweat-soaked, red-faced and grinning, perhaps already regretting the number of Buds consumed, but then again maybe not: Thanks, boys.

Thanks.

-Brooke Foster

Tim Robbins was spotted all around town last week while shooting the movie The Return -- at locales including BB's Jazz, Blues and Soups and new Maplewood hotspot Acero. But my spies in Edwardsville also spotted him at an open mic at the Stagger Inn as well last week. One of my operatives called his first song "awesome" -- but they left a few songs into the set, so a further verdict was unclear.

-- Annie Zaleski

We have the final, updated schedule of events for tomorrow's shindig at the Pageant! Good news -- or bad news, depending on how you look at it -- I now have an hour during which to imbibe some tasty beverages to take the edge off my nervousness about co-emceeing the presentation of the awards (along with the esteemed Christian Schaeffer). He and I are certainly winging it; hilarity should ensue.

7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
DJ Foster and Needles
Live Art Demos by Cbabi and Calc 2

8:00 - 9:00 p.m.
RFT Music Showcase 2007 Awards Presentation

9:00 - 10:00 pm
Dogtown Allstars

10:00 - 11:00 pm
7 Shot Screamers

11:00 pm - Midnight
Midwest Avengers

-- Annie Zaleski