Never travel far without a little Big Star

big-star-september-gurls

Artwork by Sleepy Kitty

I can recall several years ago – had to be about ’87 – I had just set out on my own after finishing college. I found myself living in a big house in Iowa City, Iowa with a handful of other artsy types: writers (it was on the same street where John Irving had once lived) film-makers, musicians and me, an artist who wanted to paint for food and a roof. Well, I got pretty hungry most of the time, but man oh man, did that house reverberate with great music! One band, especially, knocked me out.

There seemed to always be a game of wiffle ball in the yard along the side of the house and the speakers were always providing the day’s soundtrack. That’s when I first heard Big Star. I knew Alex Chilton, knew he was in the Box Tops at an early age, knew he was pretty funky, loved that Slim Harpo medley he did, knew the Replacements song and knew that he was some kind of cult hero/genius, but sadly, I didn’t know Big Star. I had heard the name, but that was about it.

So when “Feel” hit me I tried to figure out who it was. Didn’t want to appear ignorant around my new friends. Aerosmith? No. Let’s wait for the next song… “Ballad of El Goodo” definitely not Aerosmith. OK, gonna have to just wait for the hit song to come up. “In The Street”…hmm, Todd Rundgren? I think I made it one or two more songs, “Thirteen” and “Don’t Lie To Me,” when I realized I had never heard any of these songs before and wasn’t going to be able to guess who it was.

“It’s Big Star,” I was told after I finally begged, “Who is this”. Now, it made sense. Now I know why Alex Chilton was so revered. I was so overwhelmed by the music coming out of that window. I quickly asked if I could put the CD onto a cassette. I was told that it was actually two albums on one disc, #1 Record and Radio City. I got the cassette and found it had Sister Lover on the flip side. I played that tape to death.

It wasn’t just the exquisitely crafted power pop gems; there was a depth in the songs that showed the full range of the human condition. It wasn’t always pretty and lilting. It could be visceral and angular with sharp, brittle edges. You had to listen with one eye always open.

Alex Chilton did the Big Star thing and then he quickly moved on, never really able to balance the sweet harmony and the jagged discord. Did he stop trying or did he figure that that Alex Chilton was somebody else? 

Whatever the answer, it goes without saying that the impact his music had is significant. He may not have been known to the general public, but if you ask musicians, chances are they will go on and on about the man.

There is a group of musicians, mostly all from St. Louis, who will be doing some talking about Alex Chilton and Big Star, but mostly they will be playing his music to pay tribute to the musician who died earlier this year at the age of 59. The event is called September Gurls & Boys: A Tribute to Alex Chilton & Big Star. Thirteen (is that a coincidence) bands playing some of the greatest pop songs ever written will take place on Friday, September 24 at Off Broadway. And all proceeds benefit the only radio station in St. Louis that plays Big Star: 88.1 KDHX.

Posted by | September 20, 2010 | Concerts, Music | 3 Comments 

A voice in the night: the incomparable Gabriel

Benefit for Gabriel poster

And now for your listening, dancing and reminiscing pleasure! Ladies And Gentlemen! Here’s the man! I mean the man! The sensational! The incomparable! The king of the blues! The dynamic!

Gabriel playing the blues and the oldies for you and yours…

And thus fades down “Thus Spake Zarathustra,” and up comes the R&B. That’s how Gabriel’s Tin Pan Alley begins every Sunday night on 88.1.

Gabriel has been part of KDHX radio family since the days of KDNA, and a broadcaster in the St. Louis region since the early ’50s. He was born in Louisiana and moved to East St. Louis as a child. He still makes his home on the east side of the river.

Gabriel is a voice in the night and the early morning, a warm and quirky guide to the history of the blues, both holy and unholy, both country and uptown, both modern and timeless. He talks to you directly, drawing you in to his free associations, his shaggy dog tales, his obscure allusions, his shout-outs to friends and families, his pop quizzes — call in with the right answer and he’ll read your name and hometown on the air — even his technical snafus — of which there seem to be an infinite supply. Who would guess that the sound of microphones shaking, CD and cassette cases clattering, needles dropping and jumping, records popping and crackling could sound so musical, so entertaining.

That’s Gabriel’s gift. He makes radio sound human, and because it sounds human, it sounds musical.

Take a look at any of his playlists from just the last few years: Gospel floats into early rock & roll, jazz drifts into harmonica blues, hillbilly records bump up against doo wop, hard electric guitar licks cut against a crooner’s voice, James Brown and Pavarotti run into the theme song from Batman which runs into the howl of the “Saginaw Wolf.”

The selections don’t feel random, or at least no more random than the evolution of American music over time has always been.

Gabriel began as a DJ in 1952 at WOKZ, did stints at WTMV, KATZ and WESL, before starting at KDHX proper in 1989. He’s run record stores, produced records, and cut his own sides. I’ve been told Gabriel is a gifted trumpet player, a competent pedal steel guitarist and a pretty good singer, though I’ve never heard any of the 45s he made back in the day. John May at BB’s Jazz, Blues & Soups says he’s working with the folks at Living Blues magazine to get a collection released, perhaps in time for a limited run for the Gabriel Benefit on August 7.

About that benefit: Gabriel’s home in East St. Louis was destroyed by a fire this past June, apparently on an early Monday morning while he was on air at 88.1. Since then he’s continued to spin records on Gabriel’s Tin Pan Alley, every late Sunday, early Monday morning, midnight-3 a.m. Central.

He’s given all of us so much music and so many stories over the years, so now’s our chance to give something back to a legend. Get all the benefit details and RSVP at the Facebook event page.

Posted by | August 1, 2010 | Concerts, KDHX | Comment 

Photostream: James Brown Tribute and KDHX Benefit 4/30/10

I’ve had the pleasure of working with the staff and volunteers of KDHX (as well as unsung hero, Scott Swartz, the Hardest Working Stage Manager in Show Business) on 4 tribute nights and benefits for 88.1 KDHX at Off Broadway. Scores of St. Louis bands have celebrated the music of Gram Parsons, Townes Van Zandt, Warren Zevon, and, this past Friday at Off Broadway, James Brown.

Soul Brothers and Sisters! was the sine qua non of parties.

Over 400 people jammed into the club for our first stone-cold sell out. Even the balcony was dancing.

Thanks to all the bands who performed (get the lineup here), the Off Broadway staff, and everyone at KDHX for helping to make it happen.

We’ll see you in September for another tribute night, but till then, enjoy the photos below, all shot by KDHX staff member (and host of the 88.1 radio show Earthsongs), Sara Finke.

View hundreds more photos at Sara’s amazing Flickr site.

More photos after the jump.

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Posted by | May 7, 2010 | Concerts, KDHX, Photos | 1 Comment 

Charity Book Sale at St. Gabe’s, April 9 and April 10

If you’ve ever won tickets on 88.1 KDHX over the years, or scored some on Facebook, you have a lot to be thankful for — and one person in particular deserves your thanks: Ed Vigil. A longtime volunteer for 88.1 KDHX, Ed coordinates with all the clubs in Saint Louis to arrange for the tickets and access. He is truly the Titan of Tickets, the Sultan of Shows, the Guru of Guest Lists, the Emperor of Events.

This morning, Ed hipped me to a great event and a great cause. No tickets necessary, and your support can make a difference in the community.

Stewards of Hope International is holding a book sale at St. Gabriel’s in South City St. Louis on Friday, April 9 and Saturday, April 10. St. Gabriel’s is located at 4700 Tamm Avenue in Saint Louis, MO 63109.

Proceeds benefit Elba’s Orphans in Venezuela. According to Ed there will be tens of thousands of books, DVDs, and video games.

Get more details here and here. I’m going. See you there!

Posted by | April 8, 2010 | Culture, Local | Comment 

Werewolves of St. Louis: Warren Zevon Tribute Photos and Streaming Audio

Photo by Sara Finke

Photo by Sara Finke

This past Friday, nine Saint Louis bands got together for a KDHX benefit at Off Broadway and paid tribute to the late Warren Zevon, a songwriter who doesn’t get near the props he deserves. I can’t think of a genuinely funnier or smarter writer in American music.

The evening captured the sweep of his work, from the wry and winsome opening song “My Ride Is Here,” wisely selected and sweetly harmonized by Auset and Brad, to the randy satire “Hula Hula Boys” of Jon Bonham and Friends, played with Tom-Waitsian growl and determination, to the acoustic blues punk of Bob Reuter (backed up by fellow KDHX programmer Fred Gumaer and Ryan Spearman on fiddle and mandolin), who did “Excitable Boys,” “Lawyers Guns and Money” and “My S**t Is F***ed Up.” Leave it to Bob to turn a potential train wreck of under rehearsal into a riveting bit of musical self-psychoanalysis. Tenement Ruth gave the songs — “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner” and “Ain’t That Pretty At All” and a cover of a cover, “Jesus Was a Cross Maker” — a Velvet Undergroundish quality and Melody Den came out of semi-retirement for a harrowing “Keep Me in Your Heart,” “Carmelita,” “Mannish Boy” and “Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead.” The band has rarely rocked so hard.

Photography, streaming audio and more after the jump.

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Posted by | October 29, 2009 | Concerts, Music | Comment 

Raglani Benefit Party at White Flag Projects

Photo by Jamie Bayer

Photo by Jamie Bayer

Music. Theft. A near-death incident. No … it’s not another episode of Law and Order; it’s the unfortunate story of what recently happened to local experimental artist Raglani.

Some may recognize Joe Raglani as the RFT’s 2008 Best Experimental Artist, or from his days bartending and spinning records at the Upstairs Lounge.  His music is subtle but beautiful–and taking off on a national level.  Raglani is on the roster of highly-regarded experimental label Kranky Records, and has garnered recognition from the likes of Arthur Magazine.  Most recently, Raglani was invited to play at the presigious No Fun Fest in New York (other performers included Sonic Youth, Bardo Pond and Blank Dogs).  While performing there, Raglani’s van was broken into and his gear, valued at around $10,000, was stolen.  Tomorrow night, some of St. Louis’ best DJs, including KDHX’s own Ashley Vulture (Talkin’ Trash), will come together at White Flag Projects to try to raise funds to replace some of his equipment.  More details are below in a press release from Spooky Action Palace’s Michael Ferrer:

A MAJOR BUMMER : THE JOE RAGLANI BENEFIT PARTY
WHITE FLAG PROJECTS >> MAY 30th >> 9PM >> $10

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

For the first four months of this year, local electronic musician Joe Raglani (Kranky Records, 2008 RFT Experimental Musician of the Year) prepared for his first cross-country tour by selling off multiple pieces of equipment and much of his music library, relentlessly producing and recording new material, and scheduling and booking the tour by himself. With the funds, he bought three vintage synths and two new amplifiers, put together some tour-only CDs and tee-shirts, and rented a van, presuming the tour would pay for itself and give him enough money to get home.

In the early morning of Sunday, May 16th, one night after playing a set at the No Fun Fest in Brooklyn, Joe stepped away from the van to get some food, and a professional thief broke in and stole nearly $10K worth of equipment, much of it custom-tweaked, which took over a decade to assemble. This included the laptop onto which Joe had ripped much of the music he’d sold to buy the synths and amps, which were among the gear stolen. Caught in the act while loading the last piece of equipment into his car, the thief tried to run Joe over. When Joe told the cops that he wasn’t able to get a license plate number because of this, they laughed.

This Saturday, May 30th, we will attempt to redress this wrong as best we can, in the only appropriate way: by throwing a big party.

DJS SCHEDULED TO APPEAR SO FAR: GHOST ICE; ASHLEY VULTURE (ATOMIC COWBOY); D-GRETS (FOUND FUTURE, UPSTAIRS); RAGLANI (THE VICTIM); MATT LEACH (DIRTY MONEY, UPSTAIRS); ONE VISION; JOHN TAMM-BUCKLE…SPINNING EVERYTHING FROM GARAGE ROCK TO MINIMAL SYNTH, NEW WAVE TO NEW JACK SWING, ELECTRO AND DUB TO HAPPY HARDCORE AND IDM.

SCHLAFLY KEGS, CUP INCLUDED IN DOOR FEE; $1 CANS FROM STEVE POWERS’ POUR BOX. RAFFLE, DONATED ARTWORK AND MERCH.

MAY 30th, 9PM @ WHITE FLAG PROJECTS . $10-$15 STRONGLY SUGGESTED DONATION (IT’S A BENEFIT, Y’ALL).

spookyinfo@gmail.com FOR MORE INFO, OR TO VOLUNTEER SERVICES, ARTWORK, OR SUGGESTIONS.

Posted by | May 29, 2009 | Local, Music | Comment 

Reggae Fi Ranx Benefit on Thursday, May 7

Photo by Sara Finke

A special benefit show that we are calling REGGAE FI RANX takes place this Thursday, May 7 at the Rockstar Nightclub (8658 South Broadway). As many listeners know, DJ Ranx of Dub Mixture (late Friday/early Saturday 2:00 – 4:00 am CST) suffered a stroke in mid-April; he underwent heart surgery in late April and remains a patient at Belleville Memorial Hospital. Proceeds from the door will go to defray Ranx’s mounting medical expenses.

Doors open and music begins at 8:00 pm. KDHX Midnite Rockers programmers Ital-K and Erica Lewis will open with three-quarters of an hour’s worth of reggae, followed by short sets from the Dub Brothers (DJ Ranx’s sons) and Youth and Roots. Michael Kuelker from KDHX’s Positive Vibrations will squeeze in a quarter hour at the turntables, and then at 10:00 pm, Murder City Players will perform its brand of roots and rocksteady for a 60-minute set.

At 11:00 pm Massive Hi Fi (DJ B Wise and Ras Tra) will spin the slammin dancehall inna conscious style for half an hour, and then Yard Squad will take the stage for the rest of the evening, bringing in special guest artists from the reggae scene and mixing it up between roots and dancehall.

It is an evening of unity and community on behalf of reggae soldier Ranx, who has been a bandleader (Dubtronix) and reggae programmer (radio and on local cable TV, “Culture Vision”) for many years.

Come on out and do the reggae for a great cause. Unity is livity.

Posted by | May 6, 2009 | Concerts | Comment 

Townes Birthday Party Recap

When KDHX started what will likely become a series of benefit tribute concerts, the station began with Gram Parsons, a country rock hero whose songwriting and devil-may-care attitude resonate still with a wide audience. In truth, the idea belonged largely to Scott Swartz, guitarist and pedal steel maestro for Saint Louis country band the Linemen. That night last year, featuring a dozen Saint Louis bands and songwriters, was a wild success.

This year, the subject was Townes Van Zandt, an artist with a more narrow but no less passionate a cult following. If the phrase “songwriter’s songwriter” has any meaning, it should be applied first and foremost to Townes, who somehow tapped into the the heart of American songwriting–that would be the blues–while individualizing those archetypes with a kind of Byronic poetry and simple but elegant melodies. Still, as the leader of the Texan school of country folk, his music isn’t for everyone, and I wasn’t alone in wondering how this benefit would turn out.


Photos by Sara Finke

As it happened, the 12 bands who performed the songs of Townes Van Zandt at Off Broadway last Saturday, were heard by at least 250 people, most of whom threatened to drain the bar of its resources, some of whom danced, and all of whom knew how to curb their enthusiasm when a performer, like Cassie Morgan say, would venture the most delicate of arrangements.

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Posted by | March 16, 2009 | Concerts, KDHX | Comment 

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