Calvin Cox

Out Every Night: The Best Shows in St. Louis from June 10-16

Happy Monday, everybody! We like to think of the start of each week as a new slate. Which shows will you go see? Some options include Canadian Rifle, Lord Huron and Kittypalooza. Read about these recommendations and more after the jump, and make this week a good one.

The 20 Best Concerts That Happened in St. Louis in 2012, According to Us

It's been another steller year for live music in St. Louis, whether you were looking for the most legendary living pop artist or the quiet birth of a powerful local band. We've racked our brans and come up with our twenty favorite shows (they're listed below), but what tops your list? Was it The Ur ... More >>

Wild Bill Young: The Country Artist Who Must be Seen to be Believed

In this week's music feature, Calvin Cox explains the unlikely rise of Wild Bill Young, whose country music career is approaching a tipping point. He's dealt with mismatched expectations based on his race since he started singing, but he told us he doesn't want that to be his defining characteristic ... More >>

Out Every Night: The Best Shows From October 22 to 28

This week's list is a bonus-deluxe-super edition, with TEN shows instead of the usual nine, on account of this Tuesday getting twice its usual attention. There's good reason: Tuesday night features separate appearances by both ska legend the Skatalites and nihilistic post-punk pioneer Swans. They're ... More >>

Out Every Night: The Best Shows From October 1 to 7

Uh....I got nothin'. This little mouse cursor icon has been blinking at me for a couple minutes now while I've been just staring vacantly at my keyboard, unable to think of anything amusing to write in this little show-post introductory paragraph. It's not my fault. When I came in this morning I cam ... More >>

Out Every Night: The Best Shows From July 30 to August 5

Time constraints occasionally preclude us from being able to preview every single great show in town. There's only so many hours in the week, and we have to keep the trains running on time in addition to writing up these recommendational blurbs. That said, a couple of shows early this week warrant y ... More >>

Out Every Night: The Best Shows From July 23 to 29

Attention cheap and poor folks in St. Louis: Four of the ten shows listed here this week won't cost you a dime! Tenacious D at Vintage vinyl (better show up early to ensure entry though -- big band, small venue), David Beeman & Kit Hamon of Old Lights playing a more intimate set at Plush, then back ... More >>

The 2012 RFT Music Showcase Lineup for June 2

R&B: Meet the 2012 RFT Music Award Nominees

The 2012 Riverfront Times Music Showcase is a week away. And if that is our own St. Louis Music holiday, then consider this the season: Throughout May, we've been making our cases for all 125 bands and artists nominated for an RFT Music Award this year, introducing the nominees from one or more of o ... More >>

DJ: Meet the 2012 RFT Music Award Nominees

The 2012 Riverfront Times Music Showcase is a month away. And if that is our own St. Louis Music holiday, then consider this the season: Over the next month, we'll be making our cases for all 125 bands and artists nominated for an RFT Music Award this year. Each weekday between now and the showcase ... More >>

Kool & the Gang proves a successful, if unlikely, opener for Van Halen

Out Every Night: The Best Shows From April 23 to 29

Did everyone survive Record Store Day weekend? Between the deluge of live music and the generous amounts of free beer -- not to mention the throngs of people -- we can understand how one might be tempted to take it easy this week. Please remember, though, that taking it easy is for square nerd loser ... More >>

Out Every Night: The Best Shows From April 2 to 8

Well Spring has sprung, or whatever, though the 90 degree temperatures belie the notion. Flowers, cool breezes, light jacket weather? Nay: air-conditioner-in-April, sweating in the shade, when-the-hell-do-the-pools-open weather -- you'd think we skipped to summer already. This week's list of shows h ... More >>

Nelly's Ex'treme Institute: Photos from Last Night's Webcast Party

Contrary to what you might think, local legend Nelly's latest collaboration isn't with some up-and-coming rapper or hot-shot producer; it's with St. Louis-based Vatterott College. Located on Laclede's Landing, Ex'treme Institute (800 North Third Street, 888-669-0633) by Nelly opened its doors last ... More >>

Biggest St. Louis Music News Stories of 2011: Part Two

Tower Groove Records Formed Tower Groove Records aims to bring bands out of dingy south-city basements and into, well, other dingy south-city basements. The collective won't be funding the release of records but hopes to utilize the cumulative talents and experience of its members to make it easier ... More >>

Bowling, Gummy Punks And Blunt Flips: Your Guide To Method Man And Friends Tonight

Courtesy of Curren$y​Tonight, the Smoker's Club Tour (headlined by Method Man, Big KRIT and Curren$y) comes to the Pageant. Calvin Cox wrote about the show in this week's print edition, saying, "The Smoker's Club Tour returns to St. Louis this month, once again featuring two of the most popula ... More >>

Win Tickets To Curren$y, Method Man And Big KRIT At The Pageant

​The Smoker's Club tour returns to St. Louis for a stop at the big stage, headlined by Curren$y, Method Man and Big KRIT. A formidable lineup, to be sure -- and the bill's rounded out by Smoke DZA, Fiend, The Pricks, Corner Boy P and more. Tickets for this bad boy are $26 in advance or $31 day ... More >>

St. Louis' biggest hip-hop showcase turns two

Curren$y at the Old Rock House, 5/27/11

​Curren$y/Fiend/Nesby Philps Old Rock House May 28, 2011 After nearly a decade in the game, Curren$y Tha Spitta has become something of a hero on the underground rap scene. With three albums under his belt in the past 12 months (and a fourth, Weekend at Burnie's, due out in June), his fan ba ... More >>

StarStrukk Productions, the locals responsible for "Shy Ronnie" and "Like A Boss," are still rising

Dirty South author Ben Westhoff on his time covering St. Louis hip-hop and the new book

​What y'all really know about the Dirty South? Enough to write a book, apparently. Congratulations are in order to RFT alum Ben Westhoff, whose second book will be officially released on May 1. The book, entitled Dirty South: Outkast, Lil Wayne, Soulja Boy, and the Southern Rappers Who Reinven ... More >>

Interview: Sandra "Pepa" Denton of Salt-n-Pepa on Nicki Minaj, Telemarketing with Martin Lawrence and Breaking into the Music Business

Courtesy of It Is Done Communications​Following the success of last year's Fresh Fest concert tour, rap icons Salt-n-Pepa are making the rounds once again and bringing with them some of the finest names in vintage hip-hop. The Queens, New York, duo gained notoriety in the mid-'80s with its deb ... More >>

Eleven local bands and artists to watch in 2011

Murphy Lee, Steve Ewing: Local Musicians Dish on Food

Jennifer SilverbergSteve Ewing and his hot dog cart.​If you don't usually check out the music section of the RFT...well, what the hell is wrong with you?No, but, really, if you haven't seen it yet, the current issue features interviews with two St. Louis-based musicians also active in the local fo ... More >>

Interview Outtakes: Murphy Lee on Being an Independent Artist and the Fate of His Lost Tunes

Jennifer SilverbergMurphy Lee​In this week's paper, Calvin Cox spoke with Murphy Lee, who co-hosts a healthy cooking show called Good 4 U with fellow St. Lunatic Kyjuan. Although Murph's no longer on Universal Records as a solo artist, he's still signed to the label as part of the St. Lunatics ... More >>

Murphy Lee promotes a healthy-cooking show, while Steve Ewing finds success with a hot-dog cart

Interview: Nelly on Being a DJ, His New Album and Playing in Branson

Erin Kinsella​Starting yesterday, one of the city's most recognizable voices can be heard over the airwaves daily. Nelly is taking over as host for the afternoon-drive timeslot (from 3 to 7 p.m.) at Hot 104.1. The switch will only be a temporary arrangement, while regular host Staci Static is ... More >>

Nelly's ex-producer, Jay E, reflects on his road to success

The 2010 RFT Music Award winners

Ten Things to Do for $10 This Memorial Day Weekend: May 28-31, 2010

Looking for something to do this Memorial Day weekend? Here's a list of ten events around town that will cost you $10 or less. ​Homecoming: Fluxus and Visual Poetry by Regional Natives (Opens Friday) This new art exhibition opens Friday. Writes Paul Friswold: "Some people will tell you that F ... More >>

A Brief But Important Note about the 2010 Music Award Nominees

​The nominees for the 2010 RFT music awards went live yesterday. It's been brought to my attention, however, that a few categories weren't quite as finished as they could be. And therefore, we've made a few changes to several of the categories. The Best Funk/Soul/R&B category has been split in ... More >>

Interview: Ex-American Idol Competitor Aloha Mischeaux Steps Out on Her Own

myspace.com/starringaloha​Some of the city's top female artists, including Ebony Eyez, Unladylike and June 5th, are gearing up to perform at tonight's "Divas of Da Lou" showcase at the Ambassador. Aloha Mischeaux, who earned national attention with her top 24 appearance on American Idol in 200 ... More >>

The Best of 2009 in Music

Over the Weekend: They Might Be Giants, Maxwell, Bottle Rockets, Riddle of Steel, Oktoberfest, "Invashion" at Lure Nightclub

Good morning, St. Louis! What a weekend. Los Angeles absolutely owned both our Blues and Cardinals on Saturday night, and the Rams were easily defeated (again) on Sunday. But there were plenty of opportunities to get one's mind off the sports losses this past weekend. Here's a recap of our coverage ... More >>

Tomorrow! The Beatnuts at the Old Rock House

(By Calvin Cox)Fans of '90s hip-hop should be happy to hear that the Queens, New York, duo the Beatnuts are performing as part of the Metrolive series tomorrow night at the Old Rock House. Known just as well (if not better) for their production than their rhymes, the Beatnuts are responsib ... More >>

Girl Talk's Gregg Gillis tells B-Sides how not to be a douchebag at his sold-out Pageant show, while hip-hop producer D Scorch'd of the Bakery Productions reveals what he's cooking up

Show Review: Bun B and Orgone at the Old Rock House, Thursday December 18

Last night's show at the Old Rock House was packed wall-to-wall, proving that the elements are no match for the Lou's hardcore hip-hop heads. Despite the ice, rain and thunder, fans showed up in droves to support UGK's surviving member Bun B. Since the accidental death of his long-time partner Pimp ... More >>

We made you a mixtape! 2008: The year in music.

Ear Burns: Our critics spew some haterade about 2008's bummer songs, albums and events

Over the Weekend: Thaxton Speakeasy Opens, Little Joy and Dead Trees at Blueberry Hill, Vic Chestnut, Elf Power at Off Broadway, Family Affair at Gramophone, Ludacris and Tim McGraw on SNL

Good morning, St. Louis.If you were caught up in the fever for Twilight, watching movies about carnies or pondering the settlement between KWMU and its fiery, fired boss Patty Wente, here's what you may have missed.

Show Review: Family Affair's Birthday Bash at the Gramophone, Friday, November 21

The crowd that came out to the Gramophone on Friday night for Family Affair's birthday celebration was eventually treated to an entertaining show. According to the flyer, the doors opened at 9 p.m.. I came in fashionably late at 10:15, at which time there was no sign of an MC or performer on the sta ... More >>

What to wear to a Dir En Grey show, as the Japanese band revolutionizes prog-metal-J-rock, while Scribble Jam local king Ben Bounce talks his collaboration with Konflik

Show Review: Tef Poe at Vintage Vinyl, Monday, October 27

The blues documentary M for Mississippi premieres this weekend, has St. Louis roots, while Black Spade sibling Tef Poe steps out from his brother's shadow with a new album, label and mixtape

Show Review: Royce da 5'9" at the Gramophone, Monday, September, 22

Show Review: Ill Bill, Strata-G, Sean Price at Pop's, Thursday, September 18

Show Review: Nas, Talib Kweli, Jay Electronica at the Pageant, Wednesday, 9/3/08

Show Review: Scribble Jam Preliminaries at Atomic Cowboy, Saturday, August 16

Show Review: Del tha Funkee Homosapien at the Pageant, Saturday, June 7

Over the Weekend: The Roots, New Pornographers, Vicars & Tarts, St. Louis Punks, Breakdancing