Video Premiere: Pretty Little Empire’s ‘All I Know’

Pretty Little Empire - "All I Know" Video

Video still by Joseph Fitzgerald

Pretty Little Empire is a force in the St. Louis music scene. The affable quartet’s sophomore release “Reasons and Rooms” was one of the best locally-produced records of 2010, and their inspired, rock-solid live sets have only been getting better over time, with no bound in sight.

The band is currently hard at work on LP number three, with recording taking place at Cherokee Street’s Native Sound studio. While we wait to hear what they’re cooking up, perched at the edge of the seat, they have been kind enough to temper our thirst by releasing a video for their non-album cut “All I Know.” The song has been a staple of their live shows and was released in 2011 on the “STL LOUD Vol. 2″ compilation.

This burning, mysterious track is a keeper, and it gets proper visual treatment thanks to a few of the band’s talented friends. I recommend that you experience it with headphones on, video set to full screen.

Posted by | February 3, 2012 | Local, News, Video/Film | Comment 

Thursday morning music news: Abigail Washburn returns from the Silk Road, Garbage and Jack White return (full stop) and Don Cornelius and King Stitt journey on

facebook.com/jackwhite

Farewell to the chief engineer of Soul Train. Don Cornelius has died.

Alan Lomax dreamed of a global jukebox of folk music and culture. That dream is about to come true.

Lana Del Rey has had a really bad couple of weeks. Or has she?

Coming to a theatre near you soon: Katy Perry in 3D.

RIP King Stitt, reggae dancehall legend.

Abigail Washburn is back from a rather extraordinary tour of China, and she has the video and photos to prove it.

Fucked Up counters (not really) by streaming all of its Chinese New Year singles (really).

Adele is slated to appear at the Grammys. Ditto for Glen Campbell.

Dear Mr. Gingrich: Better luck with “Eye of the Newt” as a theme song.

Listen to “Love Interruption,” the new single by Jack White.

Fader shares a new MP3 by Vancouver’s Teen Daze.

UK acid housers Happy Mondays are reforming and touring. No US dates as yet.

So, you were probably wondering: “Just how many songs get shared on Facebook monthly?” About 1 billion.

Brooklyn Vegan shares a new song from the forthcoming Jim Jarmusch and Jozef Van Wissem album.

John Morthland profiles Don Robey and the Duke-Peacock label.

Village Voice Media has thought better of suing to keep control of two little words: “Best of.”

Was January 20, 1992 a really, really good day for Ice Cube? “Nice try.”

Neil Young and Crazy Horse set first live show in eight years.

Techdirt shares an infographic on the entertainment industry. Spolier: It’s a happy infographic.

Garbage (the band) is making a comeback. Shirley Manson speaks.

Patterson Hood and Mike Mills (and friends) take on Walmart, in video and song.

The Flaming Lips have a new band member. Her name is Siri.

The Black Keys’ Dan Auebach digs into Nashville cuisine with Bon Appétit.

Not to be a killjoy, but the Super Bowl is about money, not sport. Gary Glitter likes it that way.

Posted by | February 2, 2012 | Music, News | 1 Comment 

Breaking: Van Dyke Parks in St. Louis at the Luminary Center for the Arts, April 5, 2012

Howard Stanbury

This just in from the Luminary Center for the Arts:

On April 5th, The Luminary welcomes the legendary composer Van Dyke Parks to the Elevator Music Series. Over the course of a 50 year career, Parks has worked with the Beach Boys, Joanna Newsom, Ringo Starr in addition to his own celebrated releases. Join us for this very special seated performance in The Luminary’s gallery space. Seating is limited to 250, so we recommend purchasing in advance.

Very exciting, and who knows when he was last in town? Tickets available through Brown Paper Tickets.

Posted by | January 31, 2012 | Music, News | Comment 

Thursday morning music news: Norah Jones meets Danger Mouse (again), Best Coast meets Dusty and Dolly (sort of) and Ben Folds Five regroups (really)

Best Coast. flickr.com/photos/joeyjojojo/4465037589

We lost two very great artists this past week: Etta James and Johnny Otis. Read KDHX DJ Tom Ray’s take on Etta.

What better ambassador then Iggy Pop for Record Store Day 2012?

Music video moguls Vevo may be bailing on YouTube and heading to Facebook.

The week in St. Louis concert announcements includes dates from Portugal. The Man, William Shatner, North Mississippi Allstars, Florence + the Machine, Janus, Polica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mission of Burma, White Denim and Yonder Mountain String Band. Phew!

Ben Folds Five is back. Ditto for 2 Live Crew.

Spin is spinning the new of Montreal album, “Paralytic Stalks.”

American Songwriter continues its 30 Days of Dylan series with some thoughts from Tom Petty.

The touchstones for the new Jon Brion-produced Best Coast album? Dusty and Dolly.

Congrats to all the volunteers who contribute to the KDHX Blog. The RFT Point and Clique Awards just named it Best Music Blog of 2012.

Norah Jones is working with Danger Mouse on her next album, “Little Broken Hearts.”

Jon Caramanica does a musical/cultural autopsy on Lana Del Rey.

Craig Finn chats with one of his heroes, Bob Mould.

M. Ward kept his new album, “A Wasteland Companion,” well under wraps, but details are out, and they are awesome.

Burt Bacharach is working on a memoir.

RIP Alice Jacobs, co-owner of Cicero’s in St. Louis.

Battles announces a four-part remix series, starting February 21.

Did you get your Mickey Mouse Joy Division t-shirt yet? No? Too late.

The silliest listicle of the week goes to the Awl: The 18 Purplest Musical Artists of All Time.

Mark Reale, of the band Riot, has died at age 56.

If Megaupload made a dent in iTunes revenue, you wouldn’t know it. $6 billion (with a b) was the take in 2011.

M.I.A. and the worst Photoshop experience in the known universe are back with a new single next week.

Julian Casablancas interviews the Doors. Jim Morrison withholds comment.

Behold the Minutemen, unplugged, on public access TV in 1985.

Posted by | January 26, 2012 | Music, News | Comment 

KDHX Blog wins 2012 RFT Point and Clique Award

Laptop photo courtesy of Simon Law

When it comes to music coverage, local and national, the KDHX Blog is a terrific, one-of-a-kind resource. That excellence has just been recognized by the Riverfront Times Point and Clique Awards.

A panel of judges from a range of St. Louis-based interactive media outlets recently selected the KDHX Blog as Best Music Blog of 2012. Here’s what they said:

OK, it’s not really fair. KDHX (88.1 FM) has tremendous resources, including an army of volunteer writers and DJs and an in-house studio for shooting great live performances. But, hey, at least the radio station isn’t squandering its opportunities. Instead, it has made KDHX Blog the envy of any music site out there, with expert reviews and interviews of local and traveling acts, music downloads and a breadth of content as diverse as its over-the-air broadcasts.

Dozens of dedicated volunteer writers, photographers and DJs contribute to the KDHX Blog every month, and dozens more power all the music features, videos and live performance sessions you’ll find on KDHX.org. It’s a true community effort.

We thank each and every one of our volunteers, and thank you for reading, watching and listening to KDHX.org and the KDHX Blog. Independent music plays here — because of you.

Sara Finke

Posted by | January 25, 2012 | KDHX, News | Comment 

Thursday morning music news: Springsteen drops ‘Wrecking Ball,’ Dylan serenades Scorcese and Jimmy Castor passes on

facebook.com/theAlabamaShakes

Listen to the first single from Bruce Springsteen’s new album, “Wrecking Ball,” due out March 6.

Jimmy Castor has died at the age of 71.

The Grammys get a host: LL Cool J.

The week in concert announcements features St. Louis dates for Hayes Carll, Social Distortion, Rosie Thomas, Band of Heathens, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert and Kim Massie.

Joseph Arthur has released a double album, for free, on his website.

Grizzly Bear’s Daniel Rossen is releasing a solo EP in March.

On good authority, there will be two Public Enemy albums this year.

Maybe it’s time to bring back the boom box. Headphones are killing us.

The Paper Bag Sessions Volume 1 features the Rural Alberta Advantage, Austra, Elliott BROOD and Cuff the Duke. Download it for free.

Merle Haggard has been hospitalized with pneumonia.

Bob Dylan treats Martin Scorcese to a version of “Blind Willie McTell.” Watch.

L Magazine has a 101 tips for indie rock triumph.

The 39th Pazz and Jop Poll is out.

Watch Arcade Fire on Austin City Limits.

In 1963, a very clean cut Frank Zappa showed Steve Allen how to make music with bicycles.

Jarvis Cocker interviews Leonard Cohen about his new album.

Two great country music sidemen died this week: Pee Wee Moultrie (of Hank Williams’ Drifting Cowboys) and Charlie Collins (of Roy Acuff’s Smokey Mountain Boys).

Alabama Shakes reveal track list for forthcoming debut, “Boys & Girls.”

Lookout! Records closes up shop. RFT Music picks its six favorite tracks from the beloved punk label.

Flavorwire ranks the 10 most unlikely samples in music.

Wilco fans will have to wait another year for another Solid Sound Festival. They can console themselves with a new iTunes EP.

Posted by | January 19, 2012 | Music, News | Comment 

KDHX’s super winter electronics and office supply sale

We’re shutting down our Central West End office and that means there are great deals on office furniture, electronics, storage cabinets, filing cabinets, audio and video equipment and building materials.

The sale is at 625 N. Euclid, Suite 100 in the Euclid Plaza Building (corner of Delmar and Euclid) from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, January 14.

Here’s some of what we’ve got for sale. And check it out on Craigslist. Don’t miss out!

See photos of items we have for sale after the jump.

Read more

Posted by | January 12, 2012 | KDHX, News | Comment 

Thursday morning music news: Spotify pulls the plug (or nearly), Spin downsizes and Tom Ardolino and Bob Weston pass on

facebook.com/SharonVanEttenMusic / Allison Kaye

Kickstarter generated a cool $20 million for music projects this year.

Mashable reports on Spin’s whacky new Twitter album review project.

Revolver says these are the “most metal” books of the year.

Watch Jerry Garcia and Mick Jagger wait around for a helicopter in 1969.

It’s 2012 and Charlie Watts really wants the Stones to tour.

Tom Ardolino, NRBQ’s terrific drummer, has died.

NPR reviews the late Gil Scott-Heron’s memoir “The Last Holiday.”

The not-even-close-to-late Mitch Ryder has his own memoir out.

Pop & Hiss chats with Wilco’s Glenn Kotche. And did you see that green room video of the band + Nick Lowe + Mavis Staples rehearsing “The Weight”? Wonderful.

The Wire gets so much great stuff in its mailbox.

The Spotify free-music-all-the-time party is over.

Did Dierks Bentley rip off Jason Isbell? Kinda sounds like it.

Indie rock + webcomics = “The Chairs.”

NPR is streaming new releases by Laura Gibson, Kathleen Edwards, Howler and the Little Willies.

Relive the nightmare of being a DJ in the ’50s.

The Coachella lineup is out. Not bad, but it would have been better with Black Sabbath. RFT Music gives you tips on making your own Coachella in St. Louis.

More seriously, Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with lymphoma.

Leonard Cohen shares another song from his forthcoming album.

The Guardian goes on a rather arduous journey: Finding the perfect wedding first-dance song.

Justin Townes Earle’s new album will be called “Nothing’s Gonna Change the Way You Feel About Me Now.” Download the title track.

Ex-Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Weston has died at the age of 64.

Is R.E.M. the go-to band when you can’t think of a book title? Maybe.

A Norwegian disco-dub remix of Roxy Music? Pitchfork shares.

Let’s say you’ve got a cross-country trip planned (yeah, it’s January; bear with me) and you want to do some record shopping. Matablog has the tour for you.

Jay-Z and Beyoncé had a baby and Jay-Z wrote a song about it. They weren’t the first.

Justin Vernon starts his own label.

Listen to the Cure cover David Bowie’s “Young Americans.”

The Dean’s List for 2011 is out. Read Mr. Christgau’s essay on the whole shebang.

Next time you go to the symphony, make sure that iPhone is off.

Posted by | January 12, 2012 | Music, News | Comment 

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