Indie Rock and Indie Pop

Dealing With the Devil: Making the Conversion From Christian Rock to Heathenistic Indie Rock

Are you a musician? Is your group having issues? Ask Fan Landers! Critic Jessica Hopper has played in and managed bands, toured internationally, booked shows, produced records, worked as a publicist, and is the author of The Girls' Guide to Rocking, a how-to for teen ladies. She is here to help you ... More >>

Yo La Tengo - The Pageant - 1/31/13

While Georgia Hubley sang "Cornelia & Jane," last night at the Pageant I thought about her band's Twitter handle, @therealYLT, and wondered if I expected to see the real Yo La Tengo or my imaginary "best live band ever" version of the group constructed of only the most exciting scraps of its 29-year ... More >>

The Best and Worst of LouFest 2012, According to the Fans

LouFest 2012 has come and gone, and we have spilled one or two thousand words in the service of telling you our thoughts. But we are but one editorial entity, and there are no shortage of opinions out there. So we collected a few from the locals and visitors alike spending their weekends in Forest P ... More >>

Out Every Night: The Best Shows From May 7 to May 13

This week's Most Triumphant Beard of the Week award goes unequivocally to Map's and Atlases' Dave Davison, whose facial hair would be worthy of IFC's cut-throat Whisker Wars competitions -- if that show is still a thing, anyway (I sure hope so, but doubt it). Jack Passion would be proud. Maps and At ... More >>

Cursive's Tim Kasher Talks About Playing the Early Stuff and Where the Band is Now

Cursive's newest album I Am Gemini is the band's ninth since its 1997 debut. Far be it from the Omaha band to get comfortable at this point in its career; Gemini is the most complex, interwoven and ambitious Cursive record yet, complete with a booklet that lays out the album's lyrics as a Shakespea ... More >>

Astronautalis with Busdriver

8:30 p.m. Thursday, March 22. The Firebird, 2706 Olive Street.

Born Ruffians

8 p.m. Thursday, December 1. The Gargoyle, 1 Brookings Drive.

RIP Parasol Records: The Changing World of Independent Music Retail

When Champaign/Urbana, Illinois' Parasol Records announced this week that it was closing its retail store and suspending its mailorder operation, the general reaction seemed sad but not surprising. On Facebook, some former customers reminisced about ordering records through Parasol's service, and th ... More >>

Ume

8:45 p.m. Thursday, October 27. The Firebird, 2706 Olive Street.

Bon Iver At The Pageant, 9/11/11: Review, Photos and Setlist

Photo by Jason Stoff​Bon Iver The Pageant September 11, 2011 Let's take some responsibility for the Bon Iver emerges from a cabin mythmaking. It does not belong in the vacuum we have assigned it -- Justin Vernon is considerably more complicated and less exciting than that. And while he may h ... More >>

LouFest Interviews: Lost In The Trees' Ari Picker On Classical Music And More

​ Ari Picker is as genuine and unfailingly heartfelt as his music would have you believe. His folk orchestra project Lost in the Trees is winsome and soft, but imbued with wrenching emotion and cathartic release. Picker composes symphonic ballads out of pure necessity, to deal with the tragedi ... More >>

Bon Iver is Coming to the Pageant

​Woodsy folkster/hook man Justin Vernon (a.k.a. Bon Iver) is coming to the Pageant on September 11th. Tickets go on sale this Friday, the 24th, at 5 p.m. It's $32.50 for general admission and $35 for reserved balcony seats. You can buy them through the box office or Ticketmaster, as per usual. ... More >>

Homespun: Ptarmigan, The Forest Darling

LouFest 2011 Schedule Announced, Tickets On Sale Now

​LouFest is back. We already told you about this year's steller lineup, which features TV on the Radio, the Roots, Cat Power, Deerhunter, the Hold Steady, and plenty more, including a solid batch of locals. Today, LouFest released its 2011 schedule; you can take a look at that below. You can a ... More >>

Win Arcade Fire Tickets on Our Facebook Page!

Anton Corbijn​Arcade Fire plays its first headlining show in St. Louis this Thursday at the Scottrade Center. The National will open -- both bands are renowned for their live shows. Arcade Fire, in particular, has always seemed too big for whatever venue it's playing, so it will be interestin ... More >>

Tim Kingsbury of Arcade Fire on Finding Practical Uses for that Big, Heavy Grammy

Image via​Who is Arcade Fire? Well, it's a Canadian indie band on Merge records that's known for its incredibly energetic live shows. Its latest record, Suburbs, debuted at number one on the Billboard charts last August. Oh yeah, they won one of those Grammy Awards for 2010 -- what was it? Alb ... More >>

Fleet Foxes Coming to the Pageant

Sean Pecknold​Bearded folkers Fleet Foxes have just been confirmed for a July 19th appearance at the Pageant. This will be the outfit's first headlining show in St. Louis. Last time Robin Pecknold, Skyler Skjelset and friends were in our fair city was in the fall of 2008, when they opened fo ... More >>

Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three to Play the Newport Folk Festival in 2011

For the second year in a row, Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three will be playing the prestigious Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island. Pokey and co. will be performing on Saturday, July 30, the same day that the Decemberists headline. (Other acts performing that day include Gillian Welch, Gogol ... More >>

Ra Ra Riot

9 p.m. Tuesday, March 15. The Firebird, 2706 Olive Street.

LouFest Wants You to Guess Its Lineup, Win Passes

​First, here's some good news on this Day of Snow Reckoning: According to organizer Brian Cohen, LouFest is looking to announce its lineup in late March. Hooray! In the meantime, 'Fest will be presenting shows at several venues around the city, starting with February 8's Tokyo Police Club show ... More >>

Oberhofer/Flaming Death Trap/Dubb Nubb

9 p.m. Wednesday, January 26. The Billiken Club, 20 North Grand Boulevard in the Busch Student Center at Saint Louis University.

Black Friday Record Store Sales Hit Vintage Vinyl, Euclid Records and Apop Records

recordstoreday.com​April's annual Record Store Day has been such a rousing success, a semi-sequel is happening on Black Friday. Indie record stores all around the country will have exclusives, special releases, deluxe editions and other rare, limited-run goodies for sale. Vintage Vinyl and Euc ... More >>

Review Setlist Photos: Wolf Parade Pummels the Pageant, Saturday, November 20

Todd OwyoungWolf Parade at the Pageant, November 20, 2010​Let's be honest: Wolf Parade's latest album, Expo 86, doesn't quite pack the punch of its predecessors, Apologies to the Queen Mary and At Mount Zoomer. It has all the ingredients of the band's recipe for sonic success: Spencer Krug's ... More >>

Bettie Serveert/Salvation

9 p.m. Friday, October 22. Blueberry Hill's Duck Room, 6504 Delmar Boulevard, University City.

Watch and Enjoy: An Insane Treasure Trove of Rare Flaming Lips Videos

So, yes, the Flaming Lips is performing tonight at the Pageant. Expect spectacle, confetti, joy, psych-pop and other such shenanigans -- and look for a review and photos tomorrow. To pump yourself up -- or to console yourself if you don't have a ticket -- please enjoy this mind-boggling treasure tro ... More >>

Top Sellers at Area Record Stores: Week of August 23

* = coming to town, = local ​Euclid Records 1. JJ Grey & Mofro - Georgia Warhorse* 2. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs 3. Eels - Tomorrow Morning 4. Black Crowes - Croweology 5. Black Keys - Brothers 6. Best Coast - Crazy For You* 7. Ra Ra Riot - The Orchard 8. Jimmie Vaughan - Plays Blue ... More >>

New Release Highlights for August 24: The Sword, Usher and Everyone's Favorite "California Gurl"

(New albums are typically released on Tuesdays, i.e., today. What can you spend your hard-earned pennies on this week? Find out below. Post delayed a day due to server issues!) Apocalyptica 7th Symphony​*Apocalyptica, 7th Symphony Stream Apocalyptica's seventh album, which features guest voca ... More >>

Lower Dens

9 p.m. Saturday, August 21. 2720 Cherokee, 2720 Cherokee Street.

Top Sellers at Area Record Stores: Week of August 9

* = coming to town, = local ​ Euclid Records 1. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs 2. Black Crowes - Croweology* 3. Mumford & Sons - Sigh No More 4. Black Keys - Brothers 5. Wolf Parade - Expo 86* 6. Jack Johnson - To The Sea 7. Tom Petty - Mojo 8. Devo - Something For Everybody 9. Sher ... More >>

Islands

8:30 p.m. Friday, July 9. The Firebird, 2706 Olive Street.

Top Sellers at Area Record Stores: Week of June 28-July 5

= local, * = coming to town Wolf Parade's latest album, Expo 86​ Euclid Records 1. Wolf Parade -- Expo 86 2. Black Keys -- Brothers 3. Rolling Stones -- Exile on Main St. 4. Robert Randolph & the Family Band -- We Walk This Road 5. Band of Horses -- Infinite Arms 6. ... More >>

Interview: Blitzen Trapper's Eric Earley on Timeless Music, His Dream Opening Slot and Describing The Band's Tunes

Todd Reoth​Eric Earley started Blitzen Trapper with just a guitar, his Portland basement studio and an insatiable desire to create. After its 2007 breakthrough, Wild Mountain Nation, the band jumped into a life of vans, planes, festivals, and opening slots for Wilco, Fleet Foxes and Iron & Win ... More >>

New Album Release Highlights: Tuesday, June 8

(New albums are typically released on Tuesdays, i.e., today. What can you spend your hard-earned pennies on this week? Find out below.) Culturebully.comAgainst Me!'s latest release, White Crosses​*Against Me!, White Crosses Pick up Against Me!'s latest release to prepare for its upcoming free ... More >>

2010 Music Showcase: 1 night, 50+ bands, 5 bucks this Saturday on Wash. Ave.

Top Sellers at Area Record Stores: Week of May 10

​* = a band coming to town, = signifies a local act Vintage Vinyl 1. NATIONAL---High Violet 2. DEAD WEATHER---Sea Of Cowards 3. NEW PORNOGRAPHERS---Together* 4. OZOMATLI---Fire Away 5. GOGOL BORDELLO---Trans-Continental Hustle* 6. USHER---Raymond V. Raymond 7. CARIBOU---Swim* 8. FLYING LOTU ... More >>

Silversun Pickups, Against Me!, Common Highlight Live on the Levee Performers for 2010

Silversun Pickups​LA rockers Silversun Pickups, neo-punks Against Me! and rapper/actor Common are set to perform as part of the Live on the Levee concert series this summer, joining previously announced Fair St. Louis entertainment John Legend and the B-52's. The series of shows begins on Frid ... More >>

Review Setlist: Owl City Sweetens Up the Pageant, May 5, 2010

Pamela LittkyOwl City's Adam Young​There was not a computer to be found on the stage at Owl City's Pageant performance last night. That may come as a surprise to those who think of the band's singer and mastermind Adam Young as a "laptop artist," one who creates his music without much input fr ... More >>

Show Review Photos Setlist: A Well-Mannered Riot Hails Arctic Monkeys at the Pageant

Last night's Arctic Monkeys show proved the kids still have spirit. This post-punk band from northern England debuted in 2006 with the fastest-selling album in British music history, while band members were still 19 and 20 years old. Four years and two more albums later, the band is cleaned up but s ... More >>

Lollapalooza Announces Its 2010 Lineup. What Does It Mean for St. Louis? Besides a Phoenix Show...

A reunited Soundgarden headlines Lollapalooza​ Lollapalooza announced its 2010 lineup this morning, after building suspense with a Wheel of Fortune-style puzzle game revealing clues about the performers. As expected, the headliners are a reunited Soundgarden, Lady Gaga, Green Day, the Strokes, ... More >>

Sleepy Sun

9 p.m. Thursday, March 25. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Avenue.

SXSW Day Two: KDHX/Twangfest Day Party, Ray Davies, John Hiatt, Morning Benders, Roky Erickson/Okkervil River -- and More

Hating on South By Southwest is too easy. Just look around: Shit-faced lawyers waxing bizness gobbledygook to shit-faced salesmen of exercise bikes, members of psych-metal bands (probably called Red Octopus or Purple Cobra) barely remaining vertical for all their unbathed rock studiousness, the endl ... More >>

Animal Collective Once Played at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center

Electronic musician Raglani has been keeping busy in non-performance ways lately: He's been uploading video after video of vintage St. Louis performance videos to a Vimeo account. The result is a treasure trove of experimental, noise, punk and indie videos: The collection features acts such as Hair ... More >>

Owl City/Lights

8 p.m. Saturday, January 23. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Boulevard.

Top Sellers at Area Record Stores: Week of January 11 to 17

Although Vampire Weekend dominated both stores this week, I would just like to note that Dr. Dre's The Chronic was a top seller at Vintage Vinyl last week. Proof that it's always Dre Day. Euclid Records 1. Vampire Weekend - Contra 2. Animal Collective - Fall Be Kind 3. Tom Waits - Glitter & Doom L ... More >>

Interview: Lou Barlow

Eric Fermin Perez​ Lou Barlow has indie cred out the ass. As the bass player for Dinosaur Jr (which is playing at the Pageant on Wednesday, October 14), Barlow (alongside guitarist J Mascis and drummer Murph) has been at the forefront of the "alternative" scene since the early '80s. And if p ... More >>

Top Sellers at Area Record Stores: Week of June 29-July 5

Every Monday, A to Z publishes the best-selling releases from area independent record stores from the preceding week. An asterisk after an album name indicates that the act is coming to town. And so without further ado: Vintage Vinyl 1. WILCO: Wilco (The Album) 2. MICHAEL JACKSON: Thriller 3. MICHA ... More >>