Todd Owyoung

Rob Derhak of moe. performing at the Pageant on February 16, 2012.

​They've been playing together since the late 1980s -- long enough to know how to throw a hell of a party. And that's just what moe. did last night at The Pageant. RFT photographer Todd Owyoung brings back these photos of the band and its fans (a.k.a. "moe.rons") who just can't get enough of the Buffalo-based jam band.

View a full slideshow of moe. at The Pageant.

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Mel D. Cole/Villageslum.com

Talib Kweli and Res are Idle Warship.

​Idle Warship | SoundClash
2720 Cherokee
February 15, 2012

Since setting up shop in the burgeoning Cherokee Street Art District in 2009, 2720 has made a name for itself in the national club scene as one of the top venues for street-inspired dance music. Last night's performance with Talib Kweli in Idle Warship was one of the venue's biggest names to date. Both 2720 and the audience grappled with a talented vocalist, quasi-celebrity status, and a band with an identity crisis.

Showcasing some of the brightest talent in St. Louis' hip-hop DJ community, SoundClash kicked off the evening. Known as the street-inspired sound collage project of DJ Needles, 18andCounting (Stan Chisholm) and frequent collaborator Black Spade, SoundClash blended a feverish live mix of hyper-dub, hip-hop, neo-soul, and electro bounce. A hometown hero, DJ Needles remains the undisputed mix master of St. Louis, not just for his technical skills but also for his tastefully rich song selection. Immediately locked in, he and Chisholm weaved in between a number of downbeat tracks, stacking the likes of Debarge's "I Like It" next to remixes of Tyler The Creator's "Yonkers," M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes," and Run DMC's "My Adidas." SoundClash's organic mishmash can stylistically turn on a dime, taking soulful instrumentals into Childish Gambino, SBTRKT, and even local top dog Rockwell Knuckles. But the majority of the crowd sadly seemed to pass them off as "just another group of DJs." It was unfortunate to see such disrespect.

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Mabel Suen

N. Nomurai combines the efforts of Eric Hall, Jim Winkeler and drummer Jeremy Brantlinger.

​N. Nomurai | Demonlover
Smash Bar
February 15, 2012

N. Nomurai was assembled close to the entry way, with Eric Hall seated atop a small drum riser and his cohorts planted in a triangle. Jim Winkeler (of the Conformists) shook the walls of Washington Avenue's Smash Bar with his thousand-pound bass sound and Jeremy Brantlinger sent compliments to his band mates via disjointed percussion. N. Nomurai was coming off a recent sabbatical from shows. Last night, the powerhouse trio showed up to sling its booming improvisations.

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Kem stares into the middle distance.

​Kem | Babyface
Chaifetz Arena
February 11, 2012

The past few weeks have been particularly rough on soul music lovers. They have experienced the loss of Etta James, Don Cornelius, and now the incomparable Whitney Houston. The breaking news of Whitney's passing was still fresh in everybody's heads during this weekend's Love and Laughter show at the Chaifetz Arena on Saint Louis University's campus. Without bringing down the mood of the concert, Ricky Smiley, Babyface, and Kem took the opportunity to pay homage to some of our icons who have recently passed on, in the spirit of celebrating their lives and legacies.

Local artist Brittney J started things off promptly at 8:00; with a twenty minute set of Top 40-style r&b. With four background dancers and a repertoire of suggestive choreography at her disposal, the eighteen-year-old singer had plenty of poise and confidence onstage, although her songs may have been better suited for a younger crowd. Her club-ready tracks like "That's How We Roll" and "Body Control" were loud and upbeat, in contrast to the adult contemporary ballads of the evening's other performers.

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Stephen Houldsworth

Teengirl Fantasy makes do.

​Teengirl Fantasy
The Gargoyle
February 12, 2012

The life of a buzz band is a tough one, and Teengirl Fantasy has done serious time in the limelight. Logan Takahashi and Nick Weiss effortlessly weave an organic mélange of electronic bounce and percolating two-step. After the release of its highly anticipated 7AM, the band set the indie blogosphere aflame, earning an opening slot on a Crystal Castles tour and even a Brenmar remix. Last night, however, all that hype and talent seemed to mean diddly-squat to St. Louis.

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Kholood Eid

Craig Finn puts smiles on faces.

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Craig Finn | Mount Moriah
Off Broadway
February 10, 2012

People still talk -- and most of them were doing so through all but the quietest numbers last night, but I digress and we're only three words in -- of the one-and-only show by the Hold Steady at the Off Broadway Night Club.

It was, by all recollection, the kind of show Craig Finn would have written about in a song, had he not been the subject of the sacred and profane mythology of smoke and crushed bodies and beer and the best live rock band of the last decade playing to the beyond-sold-out sacred and profane space of the best live music club in St. Louis.

It won't happen again. Last night was a different kind of joy.

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Megan Gilliland

Heartless Bastards' Arrow comes out next Tuesday.

​Heartless Bastards has moved from Dayton to Austin in the course of a career making dusty rock. Its newest release, Arrow, is its most refined work to date. You can listen to it now a week ahead of its proper release through NPR's First Listen series.

The band stopped by the Firebird last night, and photographer Megan Gilliland was there to capture the mood. Her shots are below -- if you're looking for some accompanying live cuts, head over to KDHX; the band played an in-studio on Chris Bay's Gold Soundz show.

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Todd Owyoung

Uliana Preotu of Me Talk Pretty isn't the only one who talks pretty.

​Me Talk Pretty is on the up-and-up, and a big reason seems to be the band's live show, which features singer Uliana Preotu lending her considerable charm to win whatever crowd shows up on a given night. Todd Owyoung was among those at Pop's Nightclub in Sauget to capture the human tractor beam in action; highlights from his set are below.

View a full slideshow of Me Talk Pretty at Pop's

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The Darkness saved Samsung's ad from spiraling down into forgettable territory.

​Let's be blunt. This year's Super Bowl was dismal for Midwesterners.

Sure, there were exceptions. Transplants from Boston, New York City or New Jersey may have enjoyed the game. Some may have had a rooting interest in Chad Ochocinco's David Carr's quest for a pity Super Bowl ring. And who knows? Maybe some people just watched to see the artist who made this video dress up in a cheerleader uniform and flick off America.

In any case, this year's slate of commercials attempted to fill a void. And like every year, many of the ads incorporated popular music to snag the attention of the masses.

Which spots succeeded? And which fell flatter than Rex Grossman's performance in Super Bowl XLI? Here's an unscientific take on some of Sunday's most memorable advertisements:

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Todd Owyoung

Basking in the glow of Big Head Todd & the Monsters.

​Big Head Todd & the Monsters came from Colorado to tell the crowd that the Pageant is its second favorite venue behind the legendary Red Rocks. High praise indeed, and mellow rock enthusiasts were treated to a set from the veteren band touring in support of its eleventh studio album. Kansas City's Trampled Under Foot opened; Todd Owyoung was there to document the scene.

View a full slideshow of Big Head Todd & the Monsters at the Pageant.

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