Email Author Christian Schaeffer

2009 Stories by Christian Schaeffer

• We Built This City: Two new music documentaries on local classic-rock legends rock SLIFF

  published November 18, 2009

  Although the annual St. Louis International Film Festival highlights the work of filmmakers from all around the world, the showcase also... More >>

• Review + Setlist: Brendan Benson & Cory Chisel at the Duck Room at Blueberry Hill, Friday November 13

  published Nov 14, 2009

  In the middle of his song "Spit It Out," Brendan Benson declared "for every bubble you blow, I'm gonna pop it." The line offered a pretty good insight into the singer-songwriter's methods. For all his... More >>

• Homespun: The Helium Tapes

  published November 12, 2009

  The Helium Tapes isn't wasting any time. The band released its self-titled debut last fall and now, a mere fourteen months later, the excellent... More >>

• Feel the Illinoise: Stace England and the Salt Kings educates SLIFF attendees about forgotten filmmaker Oscar Micheaux

  published November 12, 2009

  With all due respect to Sufjan Stevens, Stace England's 2005 album, Greetings from Cairo, Illinois, is the definitive record/history lesson... More >>

• Homespun: HUMDRUM

  published November 4, 2009

  If you were to break a certain folksy dictum and judge HUMDRUM's CD by its cover, you'd be right to assume that space is the place for this... More >>

• Neko Case

  published November 4, 2009

  To call Neko Case a force of nature is hardly a cliché; the singer-songwriter knows a few things about where the wild... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  One on One: Outtakes from the RFT Interview with John Oates

  published Oct 29, 2009

  In this week's issue, I spoke with Hall & Oates' guitarist and songwriter, John Oates. Oates will be in town on Friday night to play the annual American Mustache Institute 'Stache Bash at the Roberts ... More >>

• The Marrying Kind

  published October 28, 2009

  It's no secret that London is an epicenter of live theater, home to some of the finest dramatic troupes and big-budget productions in the Western... More >>

• Stiff Upper Lip: Things get hairy when John Oates talks about performing at the 'Stache Bash, his Web cartoon and famous facial hair

  published October 28, 2009

  Go ahead. Poke fun at the bristly mustache, the schlocky "Private Eyes" video or his status as pop music's most famous second-banana. Laugh all... More >>

• Homespun: Strawfoot

  published October 28, 2009

  From the start of Strawfoot's second full-length, How We Prospered, it's clear that the ramped-up bluegrass band has lightened its mood.... More >>

• 

  FEATURED STORY

  Review + Setlist + Photos: Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band at Scottrade Center, Sunday, October 25

  published Oct 26, 2009

  For the second time in fourteen months, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played a non-stop, sweat-soaked, guitar-tossing, request-taking concert at the Scottrade Center. Springsteen's mission w... More >>

• Homespun: Pretty Little Empire

  published October 21, 2009

  Pretty Little Empire trades in sweet acoustic melancholy, a kind of slow-drip dream-folk that skirts the edges of twang and pop. Singer and... More >>

• Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band

  published October 21, 2009

  Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band have their work cut out for them. Last August's Scottrade Center concert was... More >>

• Tribute to Warren Zevon

  published October 21, 2009

  When Warren Zevon died prematurely in 2003 at the age of 56, he left his listeners with a sheaf of funny, poignant and memorable rock & roll... More >>

• Homespun: Abi Robins

  published October 14, 2009

  Rock & roll fans tend to favor bands that can light up a dark, smoky rock club. But what about those songwriters who can quiet a room with... More >>

• Mike Doughty

  published October 14, 2009

  In the '90s, Mike Doughty led the New York City quartet Soul Coughing with streetwise slang, mutated metaphors and a cocksure voice that... More >>

• Mirah

  published October 14, 2009

  To some the idea of a remixed indie-rock record makes as much sense as a twelve-inch dance version of a Bach fugue. However, folk-pop singer... More >>

• Light My Way: Old Lights' David Beeman gets by with a little help from his friends

  published October 14, 2009

  Most musicians cut their teeth the old-fashioned way: They start a group in high school, play an endless string of "Battle of the Bands"-type... More >>

• Who Did It?

  published October 7, 2009

  Pablo Picasso said that a good artist borrows and a great artist steals. Or, at least, he might have said that. Thing is, when it comes to... More >>

• Homespun Syna So Pro make two people happy

  published October 7, 2009

  Syna So Pro is the solo project from Syrhea Conaway, a musician best known as the bassist/vocalist for local shoegazers Stella Mora. On her... More >>

• Local Harvest: For the first time ever, Farm Aid comes to St. Louis.

  published October 7, 2009

  Verizon Wireless Amphitheater closed out its 2009 season by hosting the 24th annual Farm Aid concert, the first time the event has been held in... More >>

• Show Review + Setlist: Willie Nelson at Farm Aid, Sunday, October 4

  published Oct 05, 2009

  As he took the stage for the festival-closing set, Willie Nelson was introduced over the loudspeaker as the "President of Farm Aid." Sure enough, he is the president of the board of directors. But if ... More >>

• Show Review + Setlist: Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds at Farm Aid, Sunday, October 4

  published Oct 05, 2009

  This has been noted before, but Dave Matthews fans are a funny bunch. Funny, but dedicated. Upon arriving at the Verizon Wireless Ampitheater parking lot, I traipsed by several tail-gaters blaring DMB... More >>

• Show Review + Setlist: Jason Mraz at Farm Aid, Sunday, October 4

  published Oct 05, 2009

  It's not a stretch to call Jason Mraz the hottest act at Farm Aid 2009. He may not have the legacy of Willie or the hipster cachet of Wilco, but Mraz's star is still on the rise and seems to show no s... More >>

• Show Review + Setlist: Ernie Isley & the Jam Band at Farm Aid, Sunday, October 4

  published Oct 05, 2009

  Ernie Isley's appearance at Farm Aid was a coup on two fronts: Not only was he the only current St. Louis resident to take the stage, he was the only African-American to headline a set. Indeed, Isley ... More >>