Concert photos: Still Be Around: A Tribute to Uncle Tupelo and KDHX Benefit at Off Broadway, Saturday, December 4

An assortment of local bands played tribute to Uncle Tupelo in front of a sold-out crowd at Off Broadway. The crowd rocked, swayed and sang along to songs that they knew and loved. It proved to be another affirmation of how much this city loves local music and the radio station that supports it.

All photos by Kate McDaniel. See more at my Flickr stream.

Read more

Posted by | December 6, 2010 | Concerts, Photos | 1 Comment 

Concert photos: Richard Buckner and Fred Friction at Off Broadway and Jukebox the Ghost at Cicero’s, Tuesday, September 22

A busy night for music in St. Louis. All photos by Kate McDaniel. See more at her Flickr stream.

Read more

Posted by | September 22, 2010 | Concerts, Photos | Comment 

Devil at the Confluence: Podcast on the Pre-War Blues in St. Louis

Art by Kevin Belford

Art by Kevin Belford

On September 10, Fred Friction (host of 88.1 FM’s Fishing With Dynamite) and author and artist Kevin Belford discussed Belford’s book, Devil at the Confluence: The Pre-War Blues Music of St. Louis, Missouri, recently published by Virginia Publishing. The wide-ranging and entertaining conversation covers the role of the river city in the blues, myths and legends of the music, and the many transformations of murder ballads, as well as featuring music by Pops Farrar and the Rum Drum Ramblers.

Download a shorter, edited-for-podcast version of the program below, or stream the whole two-hour episode for the next two weeks at KDHX.org.

Devil at the Confluence: Fred Friction and Kevin Belford on the Pre-War Blues in St. Louis

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Posted by | September 13, 2009 | Local, Music | Comment 

Video: Midwest Mayhem 2009 @ the City Museum

Photo by Sara Finke.

Photo by Sara Finke.

Full disclosure: I’m a KDHX programmer and KDHX.org web editor, so when I say that Midwest Mayhem, our annual spring party at the City Museum, rocked, you’ll know where I’m coming from. Over 2000 people jammed into that bizzaro industrial art space to hear 12 local bands perform. Faces were painted, hoops were hula-ed, and lawn chairs were brigaded. DJs spun and burlesque dancers teased. The Fat Tire beer approached flood stage levels, yet no injuries were reported. I wish we could do this every weekend.

Now, no one goes to the City Museum for symphony hall-style acoustics, and the sound, as heard on the following videos, can be a bit kaboomy and screechy. So stay tuned to KDHX.org (and this blog) for more and higher quality videos from the event. And don’t miss Sara Finke’s epic photo collection over at her Flickr.

More videos after the jump!

Read more

Posted by | May 16, 2009 | KDHX, Video/Film | 4 Comments 

It’s a Fred Friction Frenzy!

Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/prettywarstl

Photo by Tom Lampe (http://www.flickr.com/photos/prettywarstl)

While a recent post by Roy introduced the world to Fred Friction‘s new music venue, Fred’s Six Feet Under, the Riverfront Times recently posted a slideshow that highlights some of the heydays of Frederick’s Music Lounge. The RFT also has a nice interview with Fred by Christian Schaeffer in which he discusses both the new venue and his debut album, Jesus Drank Wine.

If you can’t wait until next week’s Fishin’ With Dynamite to get your Friction fix, just mosey on down to Off Broadway this Saturday for Fred’s CD release party. The shindig will also feature Raphael Maurice, the Dock Ellis Band, Charlie King (of the Asylum Street Spankers) and the always-elusive “special guests.”  Tickets are $5, and the fun gets goin’ at 9 p.m.

Posted by | February 5, 2009 | Concerts, KDHX, Music | 1 Comment 

Adam Reichmann Resurfaces Six Feet Under

In a way, it should surprise no one that the former singer and songwriter of Nadine (and Sourpatch for those keeping score) Adam Reichmann returned to live performance in a small basement bar run by KDHX’s own Fred Friction. Fred’s Six Foot Under (and that’s “foot” not “feet,” as “foot” has more of a hoosier ring to it) is a new extension to the venerable Iron Barley that echoes the smoky dive glory of the long lost Frederick’s Music Lounge. Nadine was a fixture there and Friction’s KDHX program, Fishing w/ Dynamite, has long championed Reichmann’s music.

Friday night Adam was joined in the basement bar by Sourpatch and Nadine collaborator Todd Schnitzer. The two have been recording together again — results remain top secret, though Adam, post-tequila shot, said he plans to release new material for free on the web.

Fred’s Six Foot Under is just what you’d expect, hope or fear, depending on your level of speluncaphobia and/or fumiphobia. Capacity is set at 30 (though I counted at least 40 at one point), with chairs and couches for half that many, and the walls are brick and stone, with a ceiling that may prove hazardous for the Steve Picks among us. Note the chalkboard tiling on one side and the stratocaster-shaped coffee table, as well as the essential neon Stag sign and small bar, behind which Fred chain smokes and dishes the cocktails. One bathroom and no ventilation or ceiling fans to speak of. With lights kept low, the joint feels like a secret club house.

Read more

Posted by | February 1, 2009 | Concerts, Video/Film | 7 Comments