The musicians of St. Louis don't just love performing; they love seeing others perform. And the year 2012 offered hundreds of opportunities to do just that.

They're writing great songs, releasing albums and playing shows all the time. 2012 brought some fantastic releases from local St. Louis artists -- some brand new to the scene and others sounding better than ever.

When St. Louis noisy-folk provocateurs Theodore broke up a year ago, Demonlover and Water Liars rose from the shards and refracted their old mainstay's vibe in new directions.

A sense of timing is imperative to the success of launching a record label, playing a good show and throwing a party.