A KDHX Live Performance Playlist for Larry Weir

Photo by Sara Finke.

As most readers of the KDHX Blog and listeners to 88.1 know, Larry Weir, Operations Manager at KDHX and host (along with Ed Becker) of Songwriters Showcase, passed away on January 13, 2010, at the age of 57.

We all miss him very much.

Larry had a wonderful radio voice: Warm, affable, yet calm and convincing. When he would talk on-air about a new release or an artist he loved, you believed him.

Some of my favorite live performances and artist interviews from the Magnolia Avenue Studios of KDHX feature that voice and reflect his keen ear for great songs. Larry helped to bring many touring artists to Saint Louis and introduced audiences around the country (even the world) to even more worthy performers, both national and homegrown. So I’m happy to share this playlist of a few recent in-studio performances at KDHX, all hosted by Larry, recorded in 2008 and 2009.

Special thanks to Radio Production Manager Andy Coco and all the volunteer engineers at KDHX for making these performances sound so good.


Various Artists - Live at KDHX 2008-2009

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Listen to the complete sessions in our Live Performance Audio Archives here and here. If you’d like to learn more about Larry Weir or share your thoughts, visit his CaringBridge.org page.

Posted by Roy Kasten | January 15, 2010 | KDHX, Music | 1 Comment 

Scrooge Converted: Recitation and Music for the Holiday

Photo by Sara Finke

This Christmas Eve morning on Memphis to Manchester on 88.1 I had the pleasure of airing a recitation from A Christmas Carol, featuring the voice of Anne Tkach and the guitar of Andy Ploof (who are my band mates in Rough Shop). It’s pretty special, so I wanted to share it with online followers of KDHX.

My thanks to Anne and Andy (and fellow KDHX programmer Roy Kasten for recording the piece), and happiest of holiday wishes to you and yours.

“Scrooge Converted” (Anne Tkach and Andy Ploof)

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Posted by John Wendland | December 24, 2009 | Culture, KDHX | Comment 

KDHX Podcast: Interview With Owen Clarke of Hot Chip

Photograph by Bevis Martin & Charlie Youle, 2008

Photograph by Bevis Martin & Charlie Youle, 2008

On February 9, 2010, British electro-whizzes Hot Chip will be releasing their fourth studio album, One Life Stand. The two songs leaked so far from the album are a bit of a departure from the buttery soul and quirky synthpop of 2008’s Made in the Dark. “Take It In” is a dead-ringer for the Human League’s nighttime keyboard pop, while the breezy-but-insistent title track conjures a new-wave discotheque in the Caribbean. (View the official video for the latter song below.)

Last week, guitarist/bassist/keyboardist Owen Clarke and I chatted via phone about all things Hot Chip. Download or listen to the exclusive interview below.

Interview With Owen Clarke of Hot Chip - 12/10/09

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Posted by Annie | December 15, 2009 | Music | 2 Comments 

Overview of the 18th Annual Whitaker St. Louis International Film Festival

Each November throngs of cinema fans gather for the annual conclave that is the St. Louis International Film Festival. The 2009 edition is monumental in scope and diversity.

There is programming for everyone — whether you are a hardcore film buff or a casual fan. In addition to over 100 feature films, shorts and documentaries, SLIFF is offering children’s programming, animation, awards, film criticism, as well as special appearances from Jason Reitman, Connie Stevens and the cast of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Tickets for films and events may be purchased at the screening venue. It is a good idea to purchase tickets in advance, as many films will sell out.

The primary venues for this year include Webster University, the Hi-Pointe Theatre, the St. Louis Art Museum, Tivoli Theatre and Plaza Frontenac.

This past Wednesday, November 4, on my show Juxtaposition on KDHX, I chatted with Chris Clark from Cinema St. Louis. Listen to and download the podcast:

Interview with Chris Clark of Cinema St. Louis

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Here are some programming highlights.

An Education

With a screenplay by author Nick Hornby and a buzz-worthy turn from star on the rise Cary Mulligan, An Education is the perfect opening night selection for the Festival. Belleville’s Peter Sarsgaard stars in this coming of age film set during the onset of swinging Sixties London.

Up In the Air

In case you hadn’t heard, George Clooney spent a lot of time here earlier this year filming this movie about a corporate downsizer whose life is being turned asunder. Director Jason Reitman’s film has generated a strong Oscar buzz on the festival circuit. St. Louisan Kevin Renick is featured on the soundtrack, and you can listen to or download my interview with Kevin and his performance of the song “Up In the Air,” recorded live at KDHX on November 4.

Kevin Renick Interview

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Kevin Renick, “Up In the Air” Live at KDHX

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The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassuss

Heath Ledger died during principle filming. Good thing Jude Law and Johnny Depp stepped in to replace him. This mythical fantasy also features Tom Waits as the Devil. Terry Gilliam always makes interesting films and this one is not to be missed.

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Posted by Rob Levy | November 9, 2009 | Culture, Video/Film | 1 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 Roy Kasten | October 29, 2009 | Concerts, Music | Comment 

Pop! The Beat Bubble Burst Chats With Chad Stuart of Chad and Jeremy

Photo courtesy of Chadandjeremy.net

Photo courtesy of chadandjeremy.net

Chad Stuart was in the British folk-rock duo Chad & Jeremy. The duo had 11 top 40 hits in that decade before splitting up, and while they’ve gotten together a couple times since then, nothing much ever came from those reunions — until the most recent one. Last year the duo re-recorded a number of their songs from each of their albums. It’s a strategy taken by many bands and artists with results that often make you wish they had just left well enough alone.

That’s not the case with Chad Stuart & Jeremy Clyde’s ARK-eology. The songs are close to the originals, but they don’t try to exactly reproduce them, nor do they attempt to update them using the style of the day. What they do is update the quality of the recordings and perform them with “respect for the song” as Chad explained in our interview. It’s obvious that the duo has a lot of respect for the songs and a real fondness for the material. On 88.1 KDHX’s Pop! The Beat Bubble Burst this week, I played a couple tracks side by side with the originals. The depth and warmth of the new rendition was remarkable: the vocals were as clear as the originals, with a bit of experience adding charm and character. The result is nice overview of the duo’s time together.

Now that they have our attention, Chad & Jeremy are planning a release of new material next year, as well as a DVD which will feature the history of the band through performance clips and many of the bits from ‘60s-era American television which featured the group’s music: Batman, The Dick Van Dyke Show and more will be highlighted.

Chad Stuart proved that he knows how to do an interview. He was very much at ease and funny, and he also went in-depth on a number of subjects regarding the duo’s tumultuous career. He and Jeremy Clyde were not just a couple of mop-top puppets. They were serious about entertaining and they did it with humor and charm, writing and arranging some great songs, and evolving effortlessly with the changing landscape of the ‘60s.

Listen to the interview podcast below, and go hear and see the duo for yourself. They’ll be displaying their knack for harmonies and well-constructed pop songs on Friday evening, October 23, at the venerable Sheldon Concert Hall in Saint Louis.

Download the interview.

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Posted by Rich Reese | October 23, 2009 | Music | Comment 

Discovery: The Voyces

The Voyces’ song “Let Me Die In Southern California” reminds me of so much, most of which I shouldn’t say, lest you never listen to it for the first time or again.

But I’ll say it anyway.

The thick, opening guitar hook: Thin Lizzy’s “Wild One”
The melody: “Sister Golden Hair”
The whole damn thing: “Horse With No Name”
The guitar solo at 2:45: A mega-compressed “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” but not as awesome.
The voice: Auto-tuned Matthew Sweet, but auto-tuned well.

It’s classic rock red meat, sure, in a Hold Steady sort of vein (but not as jubilant), utterly without irony, nearly without self-consciousness.

The Voyces are mostly former Californian and now New Yorker Brian Wurschum, with Jude Kastle, Frank Carreno and Eric Puente backing him up. The band’s second full-length, Let Me Die in Southern California (released in September on the Planting Seeds label), is a song cycle devoted to the Golden State even when it’s not. It’s gentle and reflective at times, cool and boss at others, a little nostalgic, a little mythic, and always indebted to ‘70s California pop. It won’t change your life, but it will warm up your autumn wherever you are.

Visit the Voyces online for more free downloads.

Let Me Die in Southern California

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Posted by Roy Kasten | October 17, 2009 | Music | Comment 

Egg Chef and Ninja Academy - Live and in Costume at KDHX

This week, Spazztick featured “melodic sludge pop” outfit Egg Chef, from Belleville, IL. The group, who showed up to the KDHX studios clad in matching hazmat suits, was recently selected as the “Best Band Name” by the Riverfront Times in its annual “Best of St. Louis” issue. To find out the interesting origin of their name and to hear a full set and interview from the group, check out the archived KDHX live performance from October 13 here.

“Big Dark Puddle” - Recorded live at KDHX 10/13/09

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And if that isn’t enough fun in uniforms for you, check out photos and a track from the Los Angeles drum and bass duo Ninja Academy, who had an in-studio session on Spazztick last month.

“Your Kung Fu Sucks” - Recorded live at KDHX 9/22/09

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Posted by Spazztick | October 15, 2009 | KDHX, Music | Comment 

Goin’ Up the Country With John Henry and the Engine

Photo by Sara Finke.

Photo by Sara Finke.

I first heard of John Henry and the Engine about two, maybe three years ago, via a loose, somewhat lo-fi rock and roll EP called Charlie Baby. The sound and the songwriting had a serious Springsteen jones, with some contrapuntal alt-rock guitar hooks thrown against the dive bar band arrangements. I liked it. I heard promise.

The band’s first full-length, Under the Yellow Moon, released last year, built on that foundation, but took a harder blues turn at times, while skirting around the edges of country music in ways that surprised me. And now, on their new vinyl EP, I Don’t Wanna Know, the young Saint Louis band, has made a modest but more convincing country turn, with ripping and crying fiddles, spare acoustic strums, honky tonk piano, and some tight harmonies, especially on the title track. And the songwriting is sharper, more concise, more resonant.

Though I’ve often gone on record to voice my displeasure at shucks-and-grin country joke bands like Southern Culture on the Skids (who, to be clear, have transformed their approach), I do think country music should be fun to play, serious fun. And that’s just how John Henry and the Engine play it on this fine, new three-song slice of Americana life.

Catch the band at their vinyl release party tonight (Friday) at Off Broadway. They’ll be joined by Tom Schraeder, Mike Kendrick & The Blue Eyed Sons, and Matt Nichols.

I Don’t Wanna Know - John Henry and the Engine

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Posted by Roy Kasten | October 9, 2009 | Local, Music | Comment 

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