Merle Haggard

Tim McGraw Gets Sober, Kills Only Chance of Revitalizing Country Music

Country music has always mystified me. On the one hand, the songs always seem to focus on alcohol, failed relationships, and poverty - subjects that have spawned fantastic art for years. On the other hand, popular country music has been virtually unlistenable for at least the last twenty years.

Dale Watson

8 p.m. Thursday, December 20. Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp Avenue.

Out Every Night: The Best Shows From December 17 to 23

Plenty of excellent shows this week; particularly as we enter the weekend -- local releases galore. We'll get into that in more detail on the weekend post though. Supposedly, the world is ending this weekend as well. I know what you are thinking, and I don't really buy it either, but then again the ... More >>

Happy 86th Birthday, Chuck Berry!

A one Chuck Berry was born on this day in 1926. Last night he played a show at the Duck Room, wearing an ensemble remarkably similar to the one he's got on in that photo above, taken at Keiner Plaza a few years back. And somewhere in the middle, between 1926 and 2012, the man invented rock & roll. I ... More >>

Merle Haggard and Marty Stuart

7:30 p.m. Sunday, June 24. Family Arena, 2002 Arena Parkway, St. Charles.

Out Every Night: The Best Shows From June 18 to 24

According to my new calendar, the word of the day is "volant," and it is defined as "moving lightly" or "nimble." I'm not really sure how to incorporate that into a post recommending shows for this week, but I'll do my damnedest. Legendary metal monsters Corrosion of Conformity play the Firebird to ... More >>

Chuck Mead

8 p.m. Thursday, May 3. Old Rock House, 1200 South Seventh Street.

Out Every Night: The Best Shows From April 30 to May 6

This week is another of those extra-packed ones, so this list is a bit longer than usual -- hooray for St. Louis music! If anything remains of your vehicles after Saturday's ridiculous hailstorm (mine only lost a window or two, no biggie) make sure hit the town or else you'll be missing some excelle ... More >>

Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band at the Scottrade Center, 12/9/11: Review, Photos, Setlist

Jon Gitchoff​Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band Scottrade Center December 9, 2011 There's something to be said for reinventions and longevity, but as Bob Seger proved on Friday, getting it right the first time is still the best way to go. At 66, Bob Seger is no longer a young man, but he's go ... More >>

Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt

8 p.m. Tuesday, June 21. The Fox Theatre, 527 North Grand Boulevard.

Review Setlist: Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, Wednesday, March 9

Image via​At 9:30 p.m. or so on Wednesday evening at the Fabulous Fox, the band was playing the crowd out with an instrumental reprise of "Okie From Muskogee." The house lights came up, the singers had gone and the stagehands were making their move. There would be no encore for Merle Haggard a ... More >>

Country-music legend Kris Kristofferson talks about touring with his "hero," Merle Haggard

Merle Haggard and Kris Kristofferson Coming to the Fabulous Fox

This concert announcement coincidentally came a few hours after we posted our list of musicians who turn back time: Merle Haggard (age 73) and Kris Kristofferson (age 74) will be playing at the Fabulous Fox on March 9 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $48, $58 and $68, and are on sale Friday, January 14, at 10 ... More >>

Foo Fighters guitarist Chris Shiflett steps out of the band's shadow with an excellent new solo album

The Dive Bomber's Worlds Collide at Stan's Bar

"When are you going to Keith's? Keith's is perfect for 'Dive Bomber!'" Except it's no longer Keith's. Now it's Stan's Bar, as of January 1, anyhow, when bartender Stan took over ownership. Such is the nature of neighborhood bars, being bought by patrons or employees to continue the lineage when the ... More >>

The Dive Bomber Gets Rocked at Rockin' Gators Bar & Grill

Robin WheelerRockin' Gators Bar & Grill​There are three customers at Rockin' Gators Bar & Grill, not counting the inflatable alligator that hangs from the ceiling. The Cardinals game plays with the sound off in a bar that's silent -- save for one patron loudly talking bugs. She's named one ... More >>

Show Review: John Doe of X at Off Broadway, Tuesday, March 16

Founding member of X, a benchmark Los Angeles band that redefined punk in the 1980s. A solo career that has stood astride country and rockabilly and folk rock. In person, an ideal combination of sweetness and light. And, as a working Hollywood actor, bartender at the Double Deuce in Jasper, Missour ... More >>

Review Setlists: Phosphorescent, Will Dailey, Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses, Lukas Nelson, Jamey Johnson at Farm Aid, Sunday, October 4

The 24th annual Farm Aid started with the old-school gospel quartet harmonies of the Blackwood Brothers and enough warm sunshine to persuade all the family farms in Missouri -- the Show Me State has the second highest number of farms in the Union -- that their summer work is far from over. What Will ... More >>

St. Louis Art Capsules: Jessica Baran encapsulates the St. Louis art scene

St. Louis Art Capsules

Jessica Baran encapsulates the St. Louis arts scene

St. Louis Art Capsules

Jessica Baran encapsulates the St. Louis arts scene

St. Louis Art Capsules

Jessica Baran encapsulates the St. Louis arts scene

St. Louis Art Capsules

Jessica Baran encapsulates the St. Louis art scene

Second Spin: Tommy Cash, Rise and Shine

Amos Lee

8 p.m. Tuesday, August 12. The Pageant, 6161 Delmar Boulevard

Southern Accents: The Waco Brothers and Caleb Travers bring their stories to Twangfest

Maylene and the Sons of Disaster

7 p.m. Tuesday, July 17. Pop’s, 1403 Mississippi Avenue, Sauget, Illinois.

Hank Williams Jr.

7 p.m. Saturday, June 16. Family Arena, 2002 Arena Parkway, St. Charles.

Beep Beep, Yeah!

B-Sides explores the van woes of Cars Can Be Blue, talks to Split Lip Rayfield's Kirk Rundstrom about conquering cancer for one last tour and downloads some screaming Sleater-Kinney.

Dave Alvin

9 p.m. Wednesday, July 19. Off Broadway (3509 Lemp Avenue).

Blowhard in the Wind

Bob Dylan's Fox show leaves something to be desired

Haggard Glory

Country’s hardcore hard-ass is still bringin’ it.

Second Time Around

A look at the sophomore efforts from a few local bands

The Meat Purveyors and Rough Shop

Friday, September 3; Frederick's Music Lounge

Dale Watson

Saturday, May 29; Off Broadway

Shania Twain

Friday, November 28; Savvis Center

Darryl Worley

Have You Forgotten? (DreamWorks)

Rex Hobart and the Misery Boys

Friday, September 27; Off Broadway

Cowboy Shooter

Kamikaze Cowboy's Bob Reuter shows off his work behind the camera

Michael Friedman with Nadine, Bob Reuter and Chris Grabau

Friday, April 5; Frederick's Music Lounge

Iris DeMent

Thursday, Nov. 8; Sheldon

Twangbangers

Wednesday, Oct. 3; Off Broadway

Twang Time

The fifth annual Twangfest offers the best in alt-country (whatever that means)

Merle Haggard

Friday, Oct. 13; Mississippi Nights

VARIOUS ARTISTS

Poor Little Knitter on the Road (Bloodshot)

Fred J. Eaglesmith and the Flying Squirrels

Friday, Oct. 15; Off Broadway

DAYS OF FUTURE PAST

Visiting the future with local iconoclast Tory Z. Starbuck

Making the Scene

1998: The Year in Music

Best Electric Guitarist: John Horton