The 2013 Riverfront Times Music Showcase is tomorrow! 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 26 categories.
Read on and get yourself acquainted, and we'll see you at the showcase! Check out this post for the full schedule. Then, create your own showcase schedule with this handy custom scheduler, courtesy of the fine folks at Do314.com.
At present the forecast is looking a little ominous, but we have plans in the works to deal with Mother Nature's wrath -- don't let a little rain scare you away.
Vote for all categories at the official 2013 RFT Music Showcase Readers' Poll. You can also use your phone to vote via text. Check out this handy guide with instructions how!
Previously: - Punk - Post Hardcore - Rock - Soul/Funk - Jazz - Hard Rock - Hardcore - R&B - Singer/Songwriter - Pop - Indie Rock - Psych - Folk - Electronic/Dance - Experimental - Cover - Country - Blues - Chamber Pop - Metal - Americana
Acorns to Oaks
The twisted mind of Chris Ward, which already brought us St. Louis' funniest Twitter of the year, is the same brain behind the strange folk/synth hybrid Acorns to Oaks. Sitting behind and stomping on a tiny bass drum while practically bursting out of his skin with his singing and guitar strumming, Ward is a sight to behold in concert. His absurdist, impassioned comedic voice shines through on songs like "Every Day Gets A Little Bit Worse," and his ballad about Patrick Swayze, but a heartbreakingly sincere song about a dog and death proves that this is not a joke band. Ward's lyrical idiosyncrasies and Win Butler-esque yelp will be matched one last time at the RFT Music Showcase by Kate Peterson's operatic voice and arsenal of instruments (keyboards, accordions and Theremins, oh my!), and Matt Champion's impressive vocals are not to be discounted. -Bob McMahon
https://www.facebook.com/AcornsToOaksSTL
Good Luck at the Hog Slaughter
Jim Fitzpatrick leads with bright, angular guitar and throaty vocals. His band's lyrics read like poetry while six strings complement with melodic upheaval. Good Luck at the Hog Slaughter plays on nostalgia by recalling bands like Pavement and Fugazi. Drummer Chris Gorka tears through the kit, moving from powered jazz to twitchy punk. Every member does their fair share of heavy lifting as each song moves in flux through heady sections. Punchy bass keeps the affair grounded with solid rhythm, and it works as an extension of Gorka's percussion. Good Luck at the Hog Slaughter reaches for a middle ground between progressive rock and punk, and it thankfully grips its songs with tight precision. -Joseph Hess
https://www.facebook.com/GoodLuckAtTheHogSlaughter http://goodluckatthehogslaughter.bandcamp.com
Lumpy and the Dumpers
This one-man band from Belleville, Illinois, turned overnight punk-blog sensation plays more local shows that almost any band in the city's history. (Besides, of course, when a philharmonic comes to town for a couple-month run.) Lumpy & the Dumpers creeps and gurgles its way into your brain with slime-covered catchiness. In the past year two tapes have been released, and Lumpy is in negotiations with various labels to put out a full-length as the band continues to leave a smelly trail between St. Louis DIY spots and the best basements/skate parks America has to offer. One, two, fuck you; face the meat! -Jimmy Eberle
