This week Hands and Feet releases an album, and plenty of touring artists make way through the Lou. Check out the Black Lips at the Ready Room, Die Antwoord at the Pageant, Lee Fields & the Expressions at 2720 Cherokee and much more. Read on for this week's picks from our critics.
Black Lips Monday, September 15 w/ The King Khan & BBQ Show @ The Ready Room 8:30 p.m. | $20 By Daniel Hill From this 2014 review: It was just after 10 p.m. when the fog machine began belching clouds and the house music was cut. As the members of Atlanta, Georgia's Black Lips took the stage, cheers erupted from the near-capacity crowd at the Firebird. Lead guitarist Ian Saint Pé was the first to speak. "Remember now," he began. "If it's perfect, it's not rock & roll. Let's go!" The statement proved prophetic and made clear where the band's priorities lie.
Die Antwoord Tuesday, September 16 w/ DJ Billy Brown @ The Pageant 8 p.m. | $29.59-$34 By Cassie Kohler Prepare yourself for a huge dose of "What the hell just happened?" as Die Antwoord's surreal experience shocks you out of the dull existence you call life. The South African bizarre-hop duo of Ninja and Yolandi Vi$$er meld hip-hop, heavy beats, English and Afrikaan into the twisted creation of "zef" culture. Fermented and fed for years in a search for self-expression, zef is the culmination of Ninja's journey, a culture of screaming visuals, boisterous and abrasive attitudes, hip style and gold chains. It is being poor but looking fly. Zef is Ninja's artistic voice. Plus, you're bound to see Yolandi's ass and Ninja's phallic windmill, so that will be fun too.
Iron & Wine Wednesday, September 17 w/ Jesca Hoop @ The Pageant 8 p.m. | $25 By Christian Schaeffer Fans of Iron & Wine's earliest releases -- spare, fingerpicked folks songs that showcased Sam Beam's heavenly self-harmonies -- have had to contend with many evolutions of the outfit. In the ten-plus years since he found an audience, Beam has pushed his folk roots to encompass ethereal jazz and Southern soul sounds as well. But if listeners felt mild anxiety at the pop sheen of 2011's major-label debut Kiss Each Other Clean, all was forgiven when the slinky verve of last year's Ghost on Ghost paired Beam's always-evocative lyrics with a backwoods groove. Jesca Hoop, whose latest LP Undress features a duet with Sam Beam, will open the show.
NOiSE Thursday, September 18 w/ Alex Cunningham, Beauty Pageant, Dave Stone, Eric Hall, Stone Hen, Willis @ Blank Space 8 p.m. | $ free By Joseph Hess From "The Best St. Louis Noise/Experimental Concerts: September 2014": Shows with the designation "NOiSE" (the lowercase "i" is a distinguishing feature) have more of an "anything goes" vibe than typical experimental outings. Starting in 2012 as a year-long installation at the old Mushmaus warehouse/art space, the series returned midway through 2014 with much of its former glory: Late nights, lots of bands and insane live video art by Chad Eivins of Chizmo.TV.... Local artist Mr. Ben conceived the series in 2012 as a way for one large pool of people to congregate and collaborate monthly. Watch the progression, or regression, depending on your outlook.
