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Charles Bradley is a hell of a soul singer and a hell of a story. In this week's print edition, Senior Writer Roy Kasten interviews the New York soul man and Daptone Records artist about the making of his new album, Victim of Love, and his long road to musical redemption. Bradley makes his first headlining appearance in St. Louis at the Old Rock House on Sunday, May 5.

Listen to the lead track "Strictly Reserved For You" -- which starts with declaration "I'm tired of the city life/I'm tired of the city people/Trying to get in my business" -- and read Bradley's take on the origin of the song after the jump.

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In this week's print feature, Widowspeak lead singer/songwriter Molly Hamilton spoke both about Almanac, her band's excellent new album, and the band's Pacific Northwest roots. Hamilton is from Tacoma, as is current bassist Dylan Treleven. Original Widowspeak drummer Michael Stasiak grew up in Lakewood, Washington. Musically speaking, the City of Destiny is often overshadowed by its neighbors in Seattle and Olympia, but it has its own proud musical heritage. In the 1960s, the Wailers and Sonics helped paved the way for half a century of punk and garage rock. Instrumental surf kings the Ventures, known for "Walk Don't Run" and the original Hawaii Five-O theme, originated in Tacoma's nontropical environs. More recently, Girl Trouble has kept alive the original Sonics/Wailers spirit with its garage-surf ditties and onstage abandon, and Oberhofer has received some modest hype.

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Roy Kasten

Dave Anderson in the shop

In this week's RFT, Senior Writer Roy Kasten tells the story of Dave Anderson, owner/operator of Tritone Guitars, a music community-focused repair shop (and teaching and session-work business) in St. Louis. Anderson currently plays guitar (and mandolin, banjo and pedal steel) with Tenement Ruth, Magnolia Summer, May Day Orchestra and Grace Basement. More »

Co-author and Missouri native Daniel Durchholz

Ever wondered if Pink Floyd purposefully synced Dark Side of the Moon with the Wizard of Oz? Or if Johnny Cash actually had the Folsom Prison blues? Gary Graff and Daniel Durchholz tackle these questions and more in their newest book Rock 'n' Roll Myths: The True Stories Behind the Most Infamous Legends.

The book examines stories that have intrigued music junkies for decades and keeps the gossip circulating. "One of the things that people like about rock stars is that they are this mysterious person that you want to know more about and that you are drawn into in some fashion," says co-author Daniel Durchholz -- a Missouri native who considers himself a KSHE 95 kid. He grew up going to concerts at the old Keil Opera House, old Ambassador Theater and the American Theater (now the Orpheum). He started writing for the Riverfront Times in the late 1980s (see his archived work here).

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Ben Moon

In this week's RFT, Senior Music Writer Roy Kasten chronicles the story behind Blind Pilot, a rising Portland folk-pop band touring behind its sophomore album We Are the Tide (produced by Tucker Martine, best known for his work with the Decemberists and Laura Veirs). The band performs at Plush (3224 Locust Street, 314-535-2686) on Friday, March 3.

In this story outtake, lead singer and songwriter Israel Nebeker gives a glimpse into his songwriting process and shares a stream of the track "White Apple."

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Bryan Sutter

Neil Hamburger at Cicero's

In this week's music feature, RFT reported on Cicero's surprising decision to fire booking agent Mike Cracchiolo and publicist Kenny Snarzyk after less than nine months of employment. They were understandably disappointed, but not all of our conversation focused on the story's negatives. Cracchiolo and Snarzyk also reminisced about their favorite shows at Cicero's during their brief stint at the venue.

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hollygolightly.com

In this week's RFT, we interviewed singer, songwriter and one-woman, country-blues-punk wrecking crew Holly Golightly. But, in truth, she's not a solo artist, as her most recent album No Help Coming and her live performances feature the Brokeoffs, aka Lawyer Dave, a one-man band of sorts who drives the duo's sound (largely with his feet) in and out of the rural route ditches. Here's more from the interview to get your ready for the duo's return to St. Louis at the Firebird tonight.More »

Jo Mccaughey

Pokey LaFarge

(Editor's note: This weekend, Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three is celebrating the release of a seven-inch, "Pack It Up" b/w "Chittlin' Cookin' Time in Cheatham County." The record is being released by Third Man Records, the label founded by Jack White. In fact, the White Stripes/Raconteurs/Dead Weather frontman produced the seven-inch, and LaFarge and crew went to Nashville and recorded it in White's studio. In this week's paper, LaFarge shared some of the artists and musicians who have meant something both to him personally -- and to the music he's creating. Below, he elaborates on modern artists, both local and national, who excel in bringing old-time swing, soul and blues to the masses.
Tonight's release show is at 9 p.m. at Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Avenue. It's $10 for 21 and up and $13 for those under 21.
-- Annie Zaleski)

There's a lot of music being made today that reaches out and grabs people and makes them know that they're alive, but it's on the underground. If you'd like to see a list of today's performers who I feel are keeping the real spirit of American music alive, check out the following list.

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Jennifer Silverberg

Flame, photographed as part of 2005's RFT feature story, "Rap vs. Rapture"

As we explore in this week's print edition (see "Music to Swing To"), choosing the right at-bat music for each St. Louis Cardinal can be a matter of science. But it can also be a matter of tradition -- or faith.

Back in 1998, when Mark McGwire was chasing after Major League Baseball's single-season homerun record, someone decided it'd be a good idea to play Guns 'N Roses' "Welcome to the Jungle" for the slugger.

"We just thought it sounded good, and it stuck," says John Ulett, the Card's public address announcer. (In that capacity, Ulett coordinated at-bat music for the team from the mid-'90s until 2006.) "We'll probably never play that one for anybody else in the future since it's so well recognized as his song during that special time."

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Courtesy of It Is Done Communications

Following the success of last year's Fresh Fest concert tour, rap icons Salt-n-Pepa are making the rounds once again and bringing with them some of the finest names in vintage hip-hop. The Queens, New York, duo gained notoriety in the mid-'80s with its debut album, Hot, Cool, & Vicious, and reigned as the top female emcees in the game well into the '90s. After a nasty split -- and a reconciliation on reality TV -- Salt, Pep and Spin have returned to the stage and have been regaining momentum ever since. In this week's paper, we spoke with Sandra "Pepa" Denton about the group's long and storied journey in the music business. Below, enjoy some outtakes in which she discusses Nicki Minaj, telemarketing with Martin Lawrence and Kid 'n Play and breaking into the music business.

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