In this week's paper, I penned a short pick on the new band Hope and Therapy. Moody and introspective, the trio combines atmospheric jazz and
classical touches with sighing piano melodies and rainy-day lyrics.
Comparisons to Ben Folds Five, '90s obscurity Suddenly, Tammy! or Fiona
Apple (sans smoky pout) are inevitable -- but that's mainly because
vocalist/pianist Hope Gaines is an expressive vocalist whose emotion is
sincere, not overstated.Read the rest here. The band will be playing with Paul
The Singer: Bill Withers is an odd success story in the annals of soul music. His singing style is affecting but often understated, the instrumentation in his songs was often minimal, and his persona was so low-key that he often seemed to fade into the background of his own songs. His hits -- "Lean on Me," "Just the Two of Us," "Lovely Day" -- still stand as upbeat, uplifting soul songs, but he got funky and a little raw with 1972's "Use Me."
The Song: Slow jams often feature duplicitous param
In this week's paper, Christian Schaeffer reviews Sheila Shahpari's album, What Is Real. He had this to say:What Is Real never settles on one style, a few elements guide most of these songs: forceful acoustic guitars, exploratory piano-playing, intuitive tempo changes and, most of all, Shahpari's strong voice. At its best, it evokes Janis Joplin, Joanna Newsom and Nellie McKay -- and even though her upper-octave wanderings don't always hit the mark, her vocal control is exemplary. She can summon
Monday, Schmonday: Tonight's a great night for music in St. Louis, if you're feeling adventurous.First, at Off Broadway is a pretty dynamic quadruple bill featuring the Postmarks, Brookville, Pretty Little Empire and Caroline Smith and the Good Night Sleeps. The latter act hails from Minneapolis and is fantastic; I fully expect the band to be opening for someone at the Duck Room or Pageant within the year. Take a listen to its August Daytrotter session, where its literate lyrics, Smith's evocati
