Part Two: Local Music Recommendations
If jazz is more your thing, local sax player and singer Jessica Butler (of Linn, the Ralph Butler Band, and a lot of previous super-cool projects in jazz and ska) recommends Jesse Gannon’s The Truth. There’s some swingy piano that’s pretty cool. In a slightly different direction, Jessica also recommends the Earthworms, for some funky white boy old school hip-hop (member Matt Fournier was formerly of the band Jive Turkey, which used to make me very happy). Both their CD’s are available at Vintage Vinyl.
The Truth
Earthworms
Last year, quite a few people I know received Jon Hardy and the Public’s CD. Jon’s CD’s are a little harder to find. They are available at shows, or through him if you know him. Otherwise, you gotta hit iTunes and download. Still local, still cool.
Jon Hardy and the Public
Brett Underwood recommends the band Wooden Kites. Their folksy/indie mix makes me want to throw this in the CD player and read books while curled on the couch in the rain. I am particularly fond of the track "Suicide Weather"; despite the morbid name, it's actually quite bouncy, reminiscent of classic country lyrics filled with longing. (Thus, the connection to rain for me.) Their album is called The Orchard and is available at Amazon, or locally at Vintage Vinyl.
Wooden Kites on MySpace
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
STL Holiday Gifts: Music
Part One, in which the reader (you) gets insights into the best music St. Louis has to offer. Made in St. Louis, so try to buy in St. Louis. Today's recommendations are courtesy of Thomas Crone, Brett Underwood, and Don Beasley.
The local music recommendations have been rolling into my inbox, and I am excited. So, if any of you need to find me a gift this holiday season, take note. I was trying to figure out how to organize all these great suggestions, and then it occurred to me that pretty much everyone has varied taste in music, so I am just gonna hit you with what people passed along to me.
Gentleman Auction House
Quite a few folks, including KDHX spinner Thomas Crone and Brett Underwood, formerly of the No Show, are digging Gentleman Auction House, which Crone cites as pleasing pop that’s a pretty good bet for anyone on your holiday list.
Listen to them here. They are releasing a Christmas album on Emergency Umbrella Records. They also have other releases and all are available at Euclid Records
.
On a tangential note, while looking into some stuff I thought was cool for these posts, I stumbled upon the work of graphic artist and designer John Vogl. Unfortunately, his work is not in stores at the moment, and his new site is under construction. That being said, when his stuff is available, I want this. And you might be wondering why I am bringing John into this discussion of music, well... While looking at his work, I also discovered that he did some album covers for Gentleman Auction House and other local bands. So, he’s doubly cool. Check out his stuff here.
Another local music hero, Eric Hall, is also on a few people’s list, including Don Beasley (formerly of punk band Corbeta Corbata and recent STL ex-pat to be dispatched to KC). Eric Hall has long done some really cool things with sound, dating back to eerie recordings he used to do with friends in Dunaway Books on S. Grand.
For more on Eric and his Echolocation Recordings, have a look here. Underwood forwarded the following info: "Eric Hall and Echolocation Recordings continue to release CDs of various electro-acoustic material. All are available at Vintage Vinyl and Apop Records."
Part Two: Forthcoming recs from Jessica Butler on jazz, more local rock and punk, as well as other STL media that should be please the folks you love. (Hint: there will be sex in a book title, rock n' roll is implied in design, and some products can be purchased at bars.)
The local music recommendations have been rolling into my inbox, and I am excited. So, if any of you need to find me a gift this holiday season, take note. I was trying to figure out how to organize all these great suggestions, and then it occurred to me that pretty much everyone has varied taste in music, so I am just gonna hit you with what people passed along to me.
Gentleman Auction House
Quite a few folks, including KDHX spinner Thomas Crone and Brett Underwood, formerly of the No Show, are digging Gentleman Auction House, which Crone cites as pleasing pop that’s a pretty good bet for anyone on your holiday list.
Listen to them here. They are releasing a Christmas album on Emergency Umbrella Records. They also have other releases and all are available at Euclid Records
.
On a tangential note, while looking into some stuff I thought was cool for these posts, I stumbled upon the work of graphic artist and designer John Vogl. Unfortunately, his work is not in stores at the moment, and his new site is under construction. That being said, when his stuff is available, I want this. And you might be wondering why I am bringing John into this discussion of music, well... While looking at his work, I also discovered that he did some album covers for Gentleman Auction House and other local bands. So, he’s doubly cool. Check out his stuff here.
Another local music hero, Eric Hall, is also on a few people’s list, including Don Beasley (formerly of punk band Corbeta Corbata and recent STL ex-pat to be dispatched to KC). Eric Hall has long done some really cool things with sound, dating back to eerie recordings he used to do with friends in Dunaway Books on S. Grand.
For more on Eric and his Echolocation Recordings, have a look here. Underwood forwarded the following info: "Eric Hall and Echolocation Recordings continue to release CDs of various electro-acoustic material. All are available at Vintage Vinyl and Apop Records."
Part Two: Forthcoming recs from Jessica Butler on jazz, more local rock and punk, as well as other STL media that should be please the folks you love. (Hint: there will be sex in a book title, rock n' roll is implied in design, and some products can be purchased at bars.)
STL Holiday Guide: Music, a Kickoff
I've spent the majority of my adult life chained behind a bar on weekends, which has prevented me from becoming the musical genius that runs in my bloodlines. When I go see shows in St Louis, I always enjoy myself, but I usually only know about them because it's a friend's band, or because I am dating one of the musicians. Luckily, I have friends who run the gamut from jazz bands to funk, punk to rock, and a little americana thrown in for good measure.
This past weekend I stepped out to go hear The Funky Butt Brass Band and Gumbohead at the Gramophone in the Grove. Typically, I fear the Grove, as I am skeptical of any neighborhood that invents a name for itself. But the Gramophone might have changed my opinion. I did have some mild panic upon arrival because I was alone and it was crowded, but as the crowd thinned, I grew into the place.
Basically two old storefronts, there's a beautiful long bar on one side (with laminate countertops on the back bar, which I can forgive because I know it's prudent)... and a huge stage along the other side. The middle ground is all open space. Amen. The Gramophone carried a lot of beer-- easily 20 bottles or so, at decent prices, and five or so on draft. They had wines, and the regular selection of spirits, and service was quick and pretty good. The sound was good, the bands didn't seem squeezed onto the stage, and everyone seemed to have a great time. The best part for me-- and this might have been because of the specific bands playing-- was that the average age was easily 30-something. Thank you. It was a chill crowd having a good time. And I vowed to be more open minded about future dealings in the Grove. And the horns from the Funky Butt Brass Band were pretty hot.
So all this got me thinking about the various things that STL has to offer, and how limited I am in my knowledge of some of it. So I went to people who know way more than me. I plumbed my friends, ex-boyfriends, and former co-workers who are in bands or in-the-know for their suggestions of local music. I figured with the holidays, some of you folks might be looking for cool local gifts. Plus, in these economic times, we might as well keep our hard-earned money in our own fair city. I still have recommendations coming into my inbox, but look for suggestions this week from jazz artist Jessica Butler, Corbeta Corbata's Don Beasley, and KDHX's Silver Tray host Thomas Crone.
And if you have suggestions, add 'em here. That's how we get things done.
Gramophone
This past weekend I stepped out to go hear The Funky Butt Brass Band and Gumbohead at the Gramophone in the Grove. Typically, I fear the Grove, as I am skeptical of any neighborhood that invents a name for itself. But the Gramophone might have changed my opinion. I did have some mild panic upon arrival because I was alone and it was crowded, but as the crowd thinned, I grew into the place.
Basically two old storefronts, there's a beautiful long bar on one side (with laminate countertops on the back bar, which I can forgive because I know it's prudent)... and a huge stage along the other side. The middle ground is all open space. Amen. The Gramophone carried a lot of beer-- easily 20 bottles or so, at decent prices, and five or so on draft. They had wines, and the regular selection of spirits, and service was quick and pretty good. The sound was good, the bands didn't seem squeezed onto the stage, and everyone seemed to have a great time. The best part for me-- and this might have been because of the specific bands playing-- was that the average age was easily 30-something. Thank you. It was a chill crowd having a good time. And I vowed to be more open minded about future dealings in the Grove. And the horns from the Funky Butt Brass Band were pretty hot.
So all this got me thinking about the various things that STL has to offer, and how limited I am in my knowledge of some of it. So I went to people who know way more than me. I plumbed my friends, ex-boyfriends, and former co-workers who are in bands or in-the-know for their suggestions of local music. I figured with the holidays, some of you folks might be looking for cool local gifts. Plus, in these economic times, we might as well keep our hard-earned money in our own fair city. I still have recommendations coming into my inbox, but look for suggestions this week from jazz artist Jessica Butler, Corbeta Corbata's Don Beasley, and KDHX's Silver Tray host Thomas Crone.
And if you have suggestions, add 'em here. That's how we get things done.
Gramophone
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