St. Louis' electronic scene has blossomed in recent years, as evidenced by the ravenous crowds that gather when a worldwide sensation comes around town. The popularity of the genre also cultivated a string of local artists that are starting to get national attention.

Well, adherents to the wide-ranging genre are in luck: St. Louis' first ever Pulse Festival will be taking place June 9 at Old Rock House Pavillion at 1200 S. 7th Street. The two-stage outdoor event will feature some big names, including Above & Beyond, Morgan Page, Mat Zo, Alvin Risk, Krewella, Crizzly and Secret Panda Society.

There will also be plenty of local acts performing, such as Thomas & Drue, DJ Reece, Emilio Hernandez, D-Caf, super conducter, Arty J and T. Lectual.

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Dubb Nubb will play at this weekend's True/False film festival.

As its title suggests, The True/False Film Festival is focused around a cavalcade of non-fiction motion pictures. In its ninth year, the
scope of the festival has widened to feature prevalent artists in
independent music such as Dark Dark Dark and Bramble. Based out of Columbia, True/False has become a prominent player in the festival scene, selling more than 30,000 tickets alone in 2011.

True/False is no stranger to live music, as busking musicians have accompanied the festival since its inception. Films dominate the day-time, and live music lights up the night life. Cafe Berlin, Mojo's and The East Side Tavern are all home to dynamic showcases in conjunction with the festival's line up.

If you want to catch the films you'll have to make a trek to Columbia, but St. Louis natives can catch a taste of the festival's sounds right here at home. Traveling French group Les Trois Coups made its way to Plush yesterday, and Pearl and the Beard performed at the Gramophone the same night. Foam, located at the corner of Cherokee and Jefferson, is housing a special post-festival performance with Bramble.

Amanda Rainey, known for her work with Special Passenger Records, serves as the True/False Music Director. Rainey spoke with us about the festival's connections to St. Louis and the festival's merging of film and live music.

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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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In 2006, Don Bailey closed Three-1-Three, his music club in downtown Belleville, leaving a hole in a once-vibrant live music scene. "I always enjoyed Belleville and the music scene, from Uncle Tupelo to Fragile Porcelain Mice," says Bailey. "I booked over 2000 bands at the 313 Club, and I noticed touring regional and national bands had not been coming to Belleville as much as they did in the past.

"I didn't want the beautiful downtown Belleville landscape and music fans to be lacking great music, so me and some very passionate friends joined together to revamp the Mississippi River Music Festival in 2011."

This weekend, three downtown Belleville venues - The Ground Floor, Blue Agave, and Margaritas - will host a total of twelve bands each night. It's not just local bar bands, either. While the Metro East is well-represented in the eclectic line-up that includes everything from delta blues to death metal, yogic folk to electronica, Bailey's reached far for his line-up.

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When it comes to chess, St. Louis actually does have room for two sheriffs in town. (And a piano.)

According to the ticker on its website, the World Chess Hall of Fame is six days from opening in its new home in the Central West End across the street from the Chess Club and Scholastic Center. This news should be accompanied by the same level of enthusiasm you'd assume it lacks. (You'd be wrong.) In addition to showcasing the game's most prized possessions, the World Chess Hall of fame straddles the divide between art and science with its attention to chess. And on September 13, it will focus firmly on music.

In the days around its opening, the World Chess Hall of Fame will cover solid but expected terrain: hors d'oeuvres, ribbon cutting, an induction ceremony and a tour through the art, rare chess sets and other memorabilia on display in the three-floor, 15,000 square foot building. The official activities will transition to experimental on September 13, however, with a visual art performance of the world's only chess piano.

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Sleepy Kitty's debut full length, Infinity City, had an informal release party last week at the Royale. The band is playing a show tomorrow at Pig Slop with Cowboy Indian Bear and Little Big Bangs. We are introducing a feature, Live and Local, to help introduce St. Louis bands to people who may not know them and give those who do a few new things to listen for. And so...

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