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 | 1 Comment 

Thursday Morning Music News: Record Store Day preps for Black Friday, Loretta Lynn recovers and Leonard Cohen comes up with ‘Old Ideas’

facebook.com/thedecemberists

Extreme alcohol poisoning took the life of Amy Winehouse.

It’s been seven years since Leonard Cohen released an album of new material. “Old Ideas” ensures it won’t be eight.

Watch the trailer for the Andrew Bird documentary.

Clear Channel goes on a layoff binge.

Is the 1% really that into the Stone Roses? Only eBay knows: Tickets for the band’s reunion have crossed the million pound rubicon.

In other reunion news: The Scud Mountain Boys are playing together again after 14 years.

Consequence of Sound gathers up some excellent footage from the Bridge School Benefits, in honor of the charity’s 25th anniversary.

NPR asks a question it’s well-positioned to answer: Has indie rock become adult contemporary?

A bunch of St. Louis bands are doing a Guided Boy Voices tribute.

Loretta Lynn has been released from a hospital in Kentucky after a pretty scary case of pneumonia.

Ryan Wasoba at RFT Music counts down the six best drum fills.

Get the scoop on Record Story Day Black Friday releases.

Rolling Stone shares a spooky, new Decemberists track.

Ted Leo joins cover punks TV Casualty for an EP of Misfits songs.

Johnny Depp jams with Billy Gibbons and Bill Carter in Austin.

Prefix shares a previously unreleased track from the forthcoming “Some Girls” reissue.

It’s a battle of the hair bands as former members of Kid Rocker sue Poison for ripping them off.

PopMatters scores an interview with legendary jazz drummer Jack DeJohnette.

Spin streams the new Christmas album by Scott Weiland.

Country boy (really) Lionel Richie says hello to twang with forthcoming album of duets.

Barry Feinstein, one of rock music’s most brilliant photographers, has passed away.

Nada Surf will kick off 2012 with a new album.

Hear two songs from the forthcoming Mazzy Star album.

Nostalgia for the ’90s knows no bounds: The Lemonheads have expanded their US tour, with a date in St. Louis on January 28. They’ll be playing all of “It’s a Shame About Ray.”

And in final Halloween-related news:

Posted by | October 27, 2011 | Music, News | Comment 

Thursday Morning Music News: The Cranberries plant ‘Roses,’ Skrillex meets the Doors, and Kanye and Tom Morello occupy different streets

facebook.com/TheCranberries

What do Jarvis Cocker and T.S. Eliot have in common? Editorial positions at Faber & Faber.

Behold the lineup for Moogfest 2011.

RIP Mikey Welsh, bassist for Weezer.

Experience the epic train wreck of LA Weekly attempting to interview Ryan Adams.

Pianist Roger Williams, who performed for no less than nine US presidents, has passed away.

Spotify has notched some 2 million subscribers but it’s a long way from turning a profit.

The Cranberries haven’t released an album in 11 years. Valentine’s Day 2012 will put a stop to that.

Jens Lekman debuted a new song in Chicago. Watch.

Wilco hangs out on a stoop in New York and talks about stuff.

Christmas comes early for Black Keys fans: The Danger Mouse-produced “El Camino” is due out December 6.

Skrillex has hooked up with the surviving members of the Doors.

Pitchfork already had a music festival in Chicago. Now they’ve got one in New York.

Billboard has the scoop on forthcoming Flaming Lips’ Record Store Day release.

NPR is streaming new albums by Future Islands, My Brightest Diamond, Joe Henry and Real Estate.

Paste rates the 20 most underrated bass guitarists.

The New Record (Beta) features free, legal MP3s from a bunch of indie labels.

It’s safe to say that Kanye West will be the only dude to occupy Wall Street in Givenchy.

In contrast, Tom Morello sings “This Land Is Your Land” at #occupyLA. Watch.

NME shares a new track by Kurt Vile.

Jon Brion is set to produce the next Best Coast album.

Tom Petty is still fighting the good fight.

Posted by | October 13, 2011 | Music, News | Comment 

Thursday Morning Music News: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame makes nominations, Roberta Flack covers the Beatles and a pig flies over London

Tom Waits

facebook.com/tomwaits

Bob Dylan is in lukewarm water again over questions of plagiarism — this time for his paintings.

Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band are contemplating music after Clarence.

Guns N’ Roses, the Cure, Eric B. and Rakim, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts are all part of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees for 2011.

NPR is streaming new releases by Ryan Adams, Zola Jesus, Wilco and DJ Shadow.

Hear “Metals,” the new album by Feist.

Roberta Flack returns with an album of Beatles covers.

Hear “Back in the Crowd,” another song from the forthcoming Tom Waits album.

James Brown may get the bio pic, tribute album and museum he deserves.

Roger Waters joins Foo Fighters on Fallon. Watch.

Jesse Winchester’s fight against cancer takes a turn for the better.

The KDHX Blog, Dr. Jeff of the Big Bang! and Rob Levy of Juxtaposition are all winners in the Riverfront Times Best of St. Louis 2011. And 88.1 KDHX won the Reader’s Choice for Best Radio Station.

RIP Johnny Wright, husband to Kitty Wells, and country pioneer.

Robert Whitaker, the photographer who shot the notorious “Butcher” album cover for the Beatles, has died.

Facebook and Spotify: A match made to annoy a lot of people.

A pig flies over London. That can only mean the Pink Floyd remasters are ready.

Billboard takes a look back at 31 chart milestones for R.E.M.’s 31-year career.

Norah Jones’ side project, the Little Willies, readies album of country songs.

Paste tallies 25 one-hit wonders from the ’90s.

Berkeley indie Absolutely Kosher closes up shop.

Posted by | September 29, 2011 | Music, News | Comment 

They Might Be Giants return to St. Louis and the Pageant, tonight

facebook.com/theymightbegiants

They Might Be Giants know a thing or two about staying power. With a fun and arty sound the band continues to pull out surprises and memorable pop songs.

Originally a duo of John Flansburgh and John Linnell, They Might Be Giants has remained a pillar in indie rock over the last three decades. The band has maintained a hefty cult following since the mid-’80s with their nerdy personas and smart songwriting. Eccentricity also largely contributed to the band’s popularity. When the duo first started writing together, they used their original songs on a Dial-a-Song phone line’s answering machine in an attempt to share their music. Odd and memorable videos accompanied the group’s popular songs such as “Don’t Lets Start” and “Ana Ng.”

The band flirted briefly with the mainstream with their early ’90s albums and adopted a full live band. Many devoted fans felt estranged and betrayed that their band appeared on MTV and changed up their less conventional sound. But They Might Be Giants were always a little too quirky to do what’s expected of an alternative band; and that was quite clear when the band began releasing children’s albums such as “Here Comes the 123′s,” “Here Comes the ABC’s” and “Here Comes Science” throughout the last decade.

After creating original music for animated movies and collaborating on children’s books They Might Be Giants return to the adult-oriented rock with 2011′s “Join Us.”

KDHX welcomes They Might Be Giants to the Pageant on Saturday, September 24.

They Might Be Giants: Live at KDHX 10/9/09

This div will be replaced

Launch player

Posted by | September 24, 2011 | Concerts, Video/Film | Comment 

Thursday Morning Music News: R.E.M. says goodbye, Neil Young says hello and Radiohead says see you next year

Warpaint

warpaintwarpaint.com

After 31 years, R.E.M. is kaput. Read the statements from the band.

Tony Bennett is about to have his first No. 1 album.

NPR has put together a list of 50 artists who inspired Kurt Cobain. The cloud isn’t big enough yet for the converse.

The story of Miles Davis’ home in East St. Louis is dispiriting, to say the very least.

Champaign, Ill. indie Polyvinyl celebrates 15 years in business with a sampler and a concert.

Neil Young already has a very good biography. Now comes the autobiography.

KDHX has hosted some terrific in-studio sessions this week. Bands include: Those Darlins, Mariachi El Bronx, An Horse, Vetiver and Eric Johnson of Fruit Bats. Hear them all.

RIP blues great Willie “Big Eyes” Smith.

The week in St. Louis concert announcements includes dates for Paul Simon, Mastodon, String Cheese Incident and Trampled by Turtles.

Guns N’ Roses is touring again. The closest they’ll be coming to St. Louis (so far) is a November 12 date in Kansas City.

Watch some gorgeous video footage of Warpaint’s Rough Trade Sessions.

Evolver.fm speculates on how Facebook’s real-time feed will affect music sharing.

The classic lineup of Guided By Voices is readying a new album, “Let’s Go Eat the Factory.”

If you really want to hear that six-hour Flaming Lips song, you can.

It must be getting close to Christmas, as the box set frenzy is heating up. Ray Charles and Leonard Cohen are the latest subjects.

If Thom Yorke is to be believed, Radiohead will, in fact, tour in 2012.

Watch the new, low budget video from Hole — but not if you’re squeamish about tattooing or shaky cameras.

Pandora has a new look and a new take on listening caps.

The great Cuban drummer Dafnis Prieto has just received a MacArthur genius grant.

Stream a new song by Joe Henry from his forthcoming album, “Reverie.”

Listen to MGMT cover Bauhaus.

Elbow is helping Jimi Goodwin of Doves go solo.

Bon Iver covers the gentle giant, Don Williams, at the Ryman in Nashville.

Pretty much a non-shocker, but Arcade Fire has walked away with the Polaris Music Prize.

Chris Thile and Yo Yo Ma will jam together on a new album.

You heard about that Lou Reed and Metallica album, right? Take 30 seconds out of your day and preview it.

Posted by | September 22, 2011 | Music, News | Comment 

An Under Cover Weekend video playlist

In anticipation of seeing some excellent St. Louis artists cover some of the best artists on the planet during An Under Cover Weekend (an event welcomed by KDHX), I threw together a list of favorite songs by the artists who will be honored on September 9 and 10 at the Firebird.

September 9

AC/DC “Back in Black”

Aside from the fact that it contains one of the most recognizable riffs that ever exited a Marshall stack, the story behind “Back in Black” is what makes it my favorite AC/DC tune. It was written as a tribute to former vocalist Bon Scott, who had died six months prior to its release and was sung by new vocalist Brian Johnson, whom Scott had previously requested replace him if something should ever happen to him.

Marvin Gaye “Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)”

Although this song was written in 1971, the words sound as if they were pulled from today’s news stories. As timeless as Marvin Gaye’s tunes are, I almost wish this one was a relic of the past.

Cake “Short Skirt Long Jacket”

Cake is one of those bands that you can’t truly appreciate until you see them performing live. This ode to workplace lust has everything you need: A catchy hook, driving drums, and a vibraslap.

Stevie Wonder “Superstition”

Stevie Wonder is a master at everything he does, but his funkier works are my favorites. This song always reminds me of the silly superstitions that my grandmother used to believe.

Electric Light Orchestra “Do Ya”

I don’t think it’s possible to hear an ELO song without nodding your head. The crunchy guitar riffs in this one get me every time.

Read more

Posted by | September 8, 2011 | Concerts, Video/Film | 2 Comments 

Breaking: Fitz and the Tantrums to play Taste of St. Louis, September 24

Fitz and the Tantrums by Jon Gitchoff

Jon Gitchoff

Well, news to me anyway. According to Taste of St. Louis, the soul pop band is coming back to the river city this fall. The last time Fitz and friends were in town they sold out the Duck Room, right after playing live in the studios of KDHX. And they didn’t even need an electric guitar to do it.

Listen to the complete Live at KDHX session from February 12, 2011.

Posted by | August 25, 2011 | Music, News | Comment 

Next Page →