Allison Babka

Chamber Pop: Meet the 2013 RFT Music Award Nominees

The 2013 Riverfront Times Music Showcase is a week and a half away! Think of it as St. Louis music's own official holiday and consider this the season. Throughout May we at RFT Music have been working hard to make our cases for all 130 bands and artists nominated for an RFT Music Award this year in ... More >>

Americana: Meet the 2013 RFT Music Award Nominees

The 2013 Riverfront Times Music Showcase is a week and a half away! Think of it as St. Louis Music's own official holiday, and consider this the season. Throughout May we at RFT Music have been working hard to make our cases for all 130 bands and artists nominated for a Music Award this year, introd ... More >>

Out Every Night: The Best Shows in St. Louis from May 20 to 26

Next weekend looks pretty awesome, though anything does when an extended weekend awaits most of us thanks to Memorial Day. Keep that extra sleep time in mind while slogging through the work week and affording yourself some time to enjoy visits from acts like Andrew W.K., Soundgarden and El Ten Eleve ... More >>

Out Every Night: The Best Shows in St. Louis from April 15 to 21

Record Store Day approacheth! I won't say much this week. I have to reserve as much energy as possible with these vinyl-skimming digits, after all. Outside of all the events and after parties revolving around dear RSD, there's plenty to get out and see all week. Click ahead for our recommendations, ... More >>

Todd Akin's "Legitimate Rape" on Law & Order: SVU (Recap)

We realize that we're supposed to be impartial journalists who report news and events without bias...but holy frickin' mother of dog, that was one intense hour of television. Last night, we watched the Law & Order: SVU episode that was based around some infamous word vomit from former Representativ ... More >>

Fat Lady Sings: Karaoke Columnist Hopes You've Had the Time of Your Life

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

Taylor Swift Red Tour at the Scottrade Center 3/18/13: Review, Photos and Setlist

Taylor Swift | Ed Sheeran Scottrade Center March 18, 2013 When music editor Daniel Hill assigned me to review Taylor Swift's Red tour at Scottrade Center, I assumed I'd have to pull his Bieber shenanigans to live through it. Thousands of screeching teenagers? No Serious-Musicians-In-Capital-Letters ... More >>

Karaoke Night Sucks; What Do You Do?

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

Ian Fisher and the Present in This Week's Print Feature: Interview Outtakes

In our music feature this week, we dive into the nomadic existence of Ian Fisher and the Present, a duo comprised of Ste. Genevieve native Ian Fisher and St. Louisan Ryan Carpenter. Fisher has carved out a living in Europe as a traveling minstrel, booking shows with Carpenter and other friends in Au ... More >>

You've Been Had: The Bar Is Using Karaoke to Get to Your Wallet

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

What Is Even the Point of Karaoke, Anyway?

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

Punching Out the Overhead Lights During a Karaoke Song: What to Do Next

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

No, Playing Guitar While Singing 'Renegade' Isn't Karaoke

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

Karaoke Songs to Put Your Significant Other In the Mood

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

The Ten Best Shows in St. Louis This Weekend: January 25 to 27

If I had a quarter for every Jell-O shot I've been offered since I started this job, I'd probably have enough change to get a couple beers out of the boozy vending machine downstairs. I've never been much of a lush, but it just seems un-American to turn down a dessert with such high regard from the ... More >>

2013 RFT Web Awards

Everyone Has the Flu: Will Karaoke Give Me a Disease?

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

5 Helpful Tips for Doing Karaoke with Your Co-Workers

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

"Memories of Elvis" By the Numbers: Pelvic Thrust Count and Other Highlights

"Memories of Elvis" featuring Steve Davis and the Mid-South Revival The Pageant Jan. 12, 2013 Dead for more than fifteen years, Elvis Presley's ghost returns to St. Louis every January to throw himself a big ol' birthday bash. But there are no party hats and peanut butter-and-banana sandwiches -- i ... More >>

Meet Your 2013 RFT Web Awards Judges

"Nothing demonstrates what a critical asshole I am more than judging the RFT Web Awards." -- Anonymous So said one of our esteemed judges during a marathon session this week to determine this year's RFT Web Awards winner and finalists. It's true. Our judges are a discerning bunch for good reason. A ... More >>

How Do I Take Care of My Suave Karaoke Voice?

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

Win Tickets to Reel Big Fish at the Pageant

Reel Big Fish is coming to the Pageant on Tuesday, January 15, and we have a pair of tickets right here at RFT Music headquarters just waiting for you. The band will be joined on stage by the Pilfers and Dan Potthast of hometown ska heroes MU330. See also: - The Six Best Cover Songs By Ska Bands - ... More >>

How to Cheat the High Notes in Karaoke

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

New Year's Eve Karaoke Hell: Surviving The Company Party

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

2012: The Year in St. Louis Music

Is Karaoke an Appropriate Response to a Tragedy?

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

Five Surefire Moves for Karaoke

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

War on Christmas: The Ten Best Songs for the Fight

The War on Christmas is upon us! Time to take sides! Did you know there was a War on Christmas? There is! Us Godless heathens are burning all the mangers, or at least politely asking that they not be forcibly erected (oh, I said it) in public spaces. But you know what? Fine. You want a War on Chri ... More >>

Getting Over Your Fear of Karaoke

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

Karaoke as Aphrodisiac?

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

Why Go to Therapy When you Can Go to Karaoke?

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

Never Do "Freebird" or Frampton Comes Alive at Karaoke

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

Yes, Your Karaoke DJ Will Turn Down the Mic Volume if You Suck

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

Metal Costume Tips and Cubs Trash Talk from the Dropkick Murphys' Matt Kelly

After sixteen years of growl, music lovers can't help but think of Dropkick Murphys when someone mentions Boston. The band with equal parts swagger and bagpipes is as much a part of the fabric of Beantown as the brownstones that dominate the city. Despite the Murphys' undying love for the Red Sox, S ... More >>

Romantic Misadventures and Song Selections for Karaoke Virgins

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

Can I Strip And/Or Use Offensive Language During a Karaoke Performance?

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

How to Get the Party Started and the Problem with Sick Kids

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in "Ask a Karaoke Host," RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodio ... More >>

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah Wants to Bond with You, Personally

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah has had quite a year. Still riding high on 2011's release of Hysterical, the band has toured almost nonstop in 2012, had a few bandmates call it quits, recorded a video in an Australian drainpipe and visited South Africa. And even after all of that, CYHSY still wants to play ... More >>

What Songs will Make My Karaoke DJ Hate Me?

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week in Ask a Karaoke Host, RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodious ... More >>

Boring Friends, Silly Drunks and Wedded Un-bliss

Karaoke can be a dangerous endeavor. What can you sing that won't make friends shun you? How can you go balls-out during your next performance? Each week, RFT Music writer and professional karaoke host Allison Babka answers your burning questions about maximizing your melodies and minimizing your fr ... More >>

Out Every Night: The Best Shows From September 10 to 16

Under normal circumstances I despise inane small talk and "how's the weather" chatter, but for the purposes of filling these show-pick-posts' opening paragraphs with content, its a consistent fallback. That said, I wore a jacket outside this weekend! WHOA HOLY SHIT. Sometimes I think I could write ... More >>

Gregg Gillis on Pittsburgh pride and what Grandma thinks

Will Hoge on Coronations, Stonehenge and Getting Tattooed in St. Louis

Will Hoge may be the hardest-working musician you've never heard of. A Nashville guitarist who traded his teaching dreams for songwriting, Hoge tried his hand in minor bands before getting noticed as a solo artist at the turn of the century. Despite not having his own hit song (and, oddly, watching ... More >>

The Gaslight Anthem at the Firebird, 7/13/12: Highlights

The Gaslight Anthem, with Dave Hause The Firebird July 13, 2012 By Allison Babka In a huge win for St. Louis, Jersey rockers The Gaslight Anthem played an intimate, sold-out show at The Firebird. Supported by friend and collaborator Dave Hause, the band brought humor and energy to the hungry audie ... More >>

Point and Clique: The 2012 RFT St. Louis Web Awards

Introducing the 2012 RFT Web Awards Finalists

​The good news? The St. Louis online community is alive and well. The bad news? There's so much great content out there, it's extremely difficult to come up with a list of the best of the best. But, hey, this is the Internet. People love them some lists. We'd hate to disappoint. So, then, the ... More >>