Yo La Tengo @ The Pageant 1/24/10
Photo by Andrew Dowd. More on Flickr
For the past 25 years, Yo La Tengo has produced genre-defying music that has received nearly universal critical praise yet little mainstream success. In the decades since guitarist Ira Kaplan and drummer Georgia Hubley formed the group, they have released 12 studio albums, including 2009’s Popular Songs. The back album art of that most recent album – a striking array of beautiful buttons- graced the enormous stage backdrop on Sunday night at the Pageant as Kaplan, Hubley, and bassist James McNew ventured through a perfectly paced exploration of Yo La Tengo’s impressive repertoire. (more…)
This entry was written by , posted on January 29, 2010 at 1:52 pm, filed under Live and tagged The Pageant, Yo La Tengo. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Photos: The Chicago Afrobeat Project @ Off Broadway, 1/23/10
Photo by Nathan Burrell. More on Flickr
This entry was written by , posted on January 27, 2010 at 6:06 pm, filed under Live and tagged Off Broadway, The Chicago Afrobeat Project. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Q+A: The Uglysuit
Oklahoma’s indie six-piece, the Uglysuit, are poised for a big 2010 break. The band has been lauded for its excellent live performances; lucky for us, they’re playing Off Broadway tomorrow night (Wednesday, January 27th). Eleven spoke with drummer Crosby Bray about the Uglysuit’s upcoming album and the records in his current rotation.
the Uglysuit – Iceland
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.
This entry was written by , posted on January 26, 2010 at 1:07 pm, filed under Q+A and tagged Off Broadway, The Uglysuit. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
“Swim (To Reach the End)” – Surfer Blood
This earnest anthem isn’t just for people that need to know how to swim. And Surfer Blood isn’t only for fun-in-the-sun pilgrims. Catapulting at the sound of the triple kick drum, the song delivers a trajectory that we all know as clean guitar jabs propel this perhaps inflated early single from Surfer Blood. Nothing to fret though, the rest of the album is how they earn a few gratuitous explosions.
Surfer Blood – Swim (To Reach the End)
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.
This entry was written by , posted on January 23, 2010 at 6:45 pm, filed under New Music and tagged Astro Coast, Surfer Blood, Swim. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Weekend Show Forecast: 1/21
Empty Pocket Music Feast & Swap Meet
Where: Cranky Yellow (on Cherokee St.)
When: 3 PM – 10 PM
What a good idea! Spend your Saturday afternoon, evening, and night listening to some of St. Louis’ best indie and experimental artists in an intimate, eclectic setting. Whether it’s the ethereal, grand melodies of Syna So Pro or the electro, glitched out wackiness of Hood Kicks – you’re gonna have a good time. And, save a few bucks if you bring pot-luck food - Oh yeah. (more…)
This entry was written by , posted on January 21, 2010 at 11:55 pm, filed under Live and tagged Cherokee Street, Empty Pocket Music Feast & Swap Meet, Last Train Home, Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles, the Deluxe. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Q+A: Alone in India
While Alone in India may never be a household name, the stellar arrangement and impressive lyricism demonstrated on their premier demo raises the question: Why not? Its members, currently pursuing degrees at UMSL and STLCOP, show a love of music that transcends the need for money or fame – though I’m sure they wouldn’t mind, thank you very much. ELEVEN recently got a chance to interview band leader Ben Venker.
Alone in India - Bullets
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.
This entry was written by , posted on January 19, 2010 at 4:34 pm, filed under Q+A and tagged Alone in India. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Neon Indian @ Schubas, Chicago, 1/15/10
Photo by Alex Menter. More on Flickr
Neon Indian’s last stop on their six-month tour landed them in front of an energetic and eager crowd (The Hood Internet had just played) at Schubas in Chicago for the Tomorrow Never Knows music festival. For such brightly colored music, Alan Palomo, front man of Neon Indian, wore a black shirt with white polka dots, a black leather vest, black skinny jeans and white canvas shoes that all screamed rock and roll. (more…)
This entry was written by , posted on January 18, 2010 at 3:48 pm, filed under Live and tagged Neon Indian, Schubas, Tomorrow Never Knows (TNK). Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
“Diplomat’s Son” – Vampire Weekend
Is that a M.I.A. vocal sample I hear? Vampire Weekend bury “Diplomat’s Son” late in their sophomore release, Contra, but this track is not to be passed over. Drum machine hits and sampler blips never meshed so well with Vampire Weekend’s relaxing, summer-in-the-Hamptons vibe. Listen to it at hypem.
This entry was written by , posted on January 15, 2010 at 12:00 pm, filed under New Music and tagged Contra, Diplomat's Son, Vampire Weekend. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
“The National Anthem”– Lupe Fiasco
Today, common hip-hop policy dictates that no genre or artist is free from crossover manipulation at the hands of subpar rappers–no, not even Radiohead. While most half-hearted attempts at the gloriously high bar set by Jaydiohead fall far far short, Lupe’s verses over The National Anthem nearly deserve the baseline and vocals they are set over. Having heard very little from the Chitown local in 2009–let’s not count that single for the Twilight soundtrack–the Enemy of the State mixtape was just the reassurance his fans needed. Lupe proves on this, the first track of the mixtape, that his mastery of metaphor, hyperbole, and personification are far and beyond the poetic ability of the current rap community at large. Perhaps the simple “verb like noun” line structure (e.g. kick it like judo) won’t prevail in 2010 after all.
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.
This entry was written by , posted on at 9:06 am, filed under New Music and tagged enemy of the state, lupe fiasco, radiohead, the national anthem. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.
Q+A: Fashawn
This entry was written by , posted on January 12, 2010 at 6:57 pm, filed under Q+A and tagged Boy Meets World, Fashawn. Leave a comment or view the discussion at the permalink.