columbia: moonrunner and ha ha tonka

i had the privilege to see ha ha tonka friday with a bunch of friends and it was absolutely incredible. i missed them last time they were in town which means it had been quite some time since i'd seen them. but before i get too far ahead of myself, i'll start at the beginning.

it was a late show, not starting until nine-thirty so i took my time and arrived around ten. i had never heard of the first opener so i wasn't too disappointed in missing them, and the second opener, moonrunner, is a local columbia band in which i know a handful of the seven members. they've improved by leaps and bounds since i'd seen them last and i really enjoyed their set. i found some friends that i worked with two summers ago midway through the set and we chatted while we waited for tonka to set up. there was a great crowd there; every time i see them they have a bigger fan base which is really neat. the blue note is the biggest venue in columbia and they had it pretty filled. the crowd was absolutely wild by the time they started playing and i can't remember the last time i danced so much at a show. they played a good mix of new and old songs, and seemed so humble and appreciative. every person in the crowd was clapping, stomping their feet and singing along and it's no surprise they got called back for an encore. what was surprising though, was the second encore that the crowd absolutely insisted on. i've been to my fair share of shows and that was definitely a first. very cool.

it was really late by the time the show was over so i didn't stick around; i probably should at some point. i've seen them a dozen times and i have yet to really introduce myself. oh well.

www.hahatonkamusic.com

taste of st. louis: civil twilight and fitz & the tantrums

taste of st. louis! the real reason i went home to st. louis for the weekend, with paper route being the added surprise bonus. abby, katie and i made a weekend of it and had carpooled home together, and our friend lizette drove up a bit later to hang out. it was a great time with great friends, and did i mention the heavenly food? 'taste' certainly lived up to its name. we arrived in perfect time to wander a little bit, and make our way to the main stage. and there was nobody there! we literally walked right up to the barricade! civil twilight is so damn underrated and it makes me so sad. they're so talented. so. talented. i've seen them quite a few times now and every show gives me goosebumps. they played for close to an hour and there were quite a few new songs in the mix, with a couple covers. they slowly gained a crowd by the end of their set, and though no one else was really singing along, it looked like they had the attention of some new fans. we had a really great spot, but decided to leave and get some dinner before fitz and the tantrums played.

after stuffing oursleves with various foods from multiple different st. louis restaurants (i had a pulled pork sandwich, a philly cheesesteak with cheese fries, and white chocolate raspberry gooey butter cake. yumba.) we headed back to take our places for fitz and the tantrums. the crowd wasn't too bad and we managed to weasel our way to the front without too much of a fuss. and it was so worth it. fitz and the tantrums seemed to come out of nowhere and shoot straight to fame. and it seems that way besides it's precisely what happened! they played for a solid hour and had the hour crowd singing and dancing. and it was a good thing, because without that crowd to keep us warm it would have been really cold and uncomfortable. such a great night!

st. louis: paper route

i almost forgot about this show. i almost. fucking. forgot. i'll blame it on the copious amount of cold medicine i was taking the entire week beforehand. but holy shit. you know something's up when i almost forget about a show. also interesting to note is how terrible my luck is in regards to seeing paper route perform. i've been trying to see them for TWO YEARS. the first time they played the same night as incubus. as hard as i tried to sell my ticket, nobody would buy it and i didn't want to waste thirty bucks on top of paying to go to another show. so i missed it. the second time i tried to see paper route was at middle west fest in kansas city. i was driving over from columbia and according to the website paper route played second. well the website was wrong, because they played first. i walked in as they were loading out. i literally cried i was so upset. so when i heard they were playing at teeny tiny cicero's in st. louis, i snatched up a ticket as quick as i could. and that was precisely the problem. i bought the ticket online and so far in advance, that i totally forgot about it. i almost always pay at the door for shows at cicero's because there's no way in the hell shows i see there would sell out. but i wasn't so sure with paper route, so i made sure to buy in advance. the fact that the tickets were will call gave me no reminder whatsoever of when the show was since no tickets came in the mail. so it was the day of, when paper route tweeted about driving into st. louis, that i remembered the show. (thank god for twitter.)

i dragged abby and katie to the show with me and it was one of the best decisions. they were amazing. so, so amazing. all of my pain and frustration was now being released; my plans had come to fruition and so many emotions came spilling out that night. paper route holds a lot of memories and deeply rooted emotions and the show was a giant celebration of all those things. so awesome. i highly recommend you pick up a copy of their new album when it drops.

www.paperrouteonline.com

album review: jack's mannequin - people and things

I’ve always been a huge Jack’s Mannequin fan and if I had to pick one word to describe Andrew McMahon’s music throughout the years it would have to be this: consistent. McMahon is no stranger to the world of music, first making it big with Something Corporate, then Jack’s Mannequin. And every single record he’s released has been one hundred percent solid. Of course I’m probably biased because Jack’s is one of my favorite bands and I’ve seen them countless times, but People and Things is great. It’s poppy, catchy and each song is one earworm after another. I recognized a fair amount of them upon first listen; the band  has played a few songs live in recent months, including the previously released single “My Racing Thoughts,” “Amy, I,” “Hey Hey Hey (We’re All Gonna Die),” and “Hostage.” Read more...

st. louis: lucky boys confusion and state & madison

as if two shows in one night were enough to supress my musical appetite. psh. my chicago boys were in town and i was way more excited than i care to admit to see them. molly came to the show with me and we had a wonderful time. this was state and madison show number twenty-something and it was just as good as all the others. they're damn consistent, if not better each time i see them. i also got to meet their new bassist travis so that was fun.

there was quite a large crowd forming by the time lucky boys confusion played, and with good reason. lucky boys has been around for a good decade and all the members have multiple notable projects under their belts: am taxi, super happy fun club, the insecurities, and shock stars to name a few. while i didn't grow up listening to their music and probably can't appreciate it like some of the longtime fans in attendance, i really enjoyed myself. they put on a great show and stubhy really knows how to capture an audience.

album review: mutemath - odd soul

Mutemath has always struck me as overwhelmingly talented for how underwhelmingly popular they are.  They had that awesome backwards music video for “Typical” on MTV quite a few years ago; what happened after that? They seemed to fall off the map completely. Of course that’s according to the average music listener, and I would not consider myself to be the latter. The minute I saw that video I was hooked, and the minute I saw them perform at St. Louis’ Pointfest in September 2007 I was floored. I’ve kept tabs on them ever since and am always speechless after their shows. Read more...

st. louis: without a face || margot & the nuclear so and so's

it was a wild friday night of venue hopping a couple weeks back! my friend henry of without a face was playing an early show at cicero's so of course i had to pop in and say hey. there was a really great crowd there to see him, especially seeing as how early the show was. he's definitely made some fans from opening for ludo so much. he debuted his new twisted sexual assault which he'd sung for me over the summer and it was a huge hit. his new ep dropped about a week ago and while i haven't had the chance to get myself a copy yet, i definitely plan to come next paycheck and you should too.

it was only eight or so when the show ended which gave me plenty of time to drive the couple blocks to the firebird to see margot and the nuclear so and so's. i've been a fan for quite a few years and have only managed to catch them once at a street festival. i was pretty stoked to finally see them in a venue with good sound. and they certainly didn't disappoint. maybe it was the rum and coke, but i was dancing and singing along and having an awesome time. definitely glad to see them and definitely worth the multiple trips on a friday night.

album review: thrice - major/minor

Thrice has always been a band full of surprises, with each album sounding radically different from the one before it. Just when you think you have their sound pinned down and figured out, they find a way to go above and beyond your expectations. While their bold shifts in style may have alienated a handful of fans, if you’ve stuck around over the last decade it’s something to marvel at. Their early work is more punk while Vheissu takes an experimental turn. And then there’s The Alchemy Index, a rather lofty project that in my opinion is a true showcase of the band’s talent and one of my favorites.Beggars just didn’t do it for me and seemed rather forgettable, so I was really excited to see what the band would come up with next. Read more...

st. louis: bon iver

there are favorite bands, and there are bands that have truly stolen my heart. bon iver is most definitely the latter. justin vernon has gotten me through many a despairing and lonely night, and i can only attempt to explain the amount of emotion that i feel when listening to his music. for emma, forever ago has been a favorite of mine for many years and even to this day it doesn't get old. by the time i started listening to bon iver, the possibility of seeing a live show had already come and gone. so when i heard there was going to be a new album, i was equally as excited since this meant a supporting tour. i snatched up my ticket mere hours after they went on sale and didn't even flinch while dropping forty bucks.

abby was excited to come with me and i was grateful for the company, though i warned her about the flood of tears that may come. while they didn't flow freely, there were definitely a couple that slid out here and there throughout the night. there was a good mix of old and new music, and a full band with nine members made for some powerful sound. we watched from the balcony which was a neat experience. we had a great view of the two drum sets and multiple brass instruments. justin was so humble and awkward on stage, it was quite endearing. it was a sunday night show which made for a late night drive back to columbia, but man was it worth it. it was truly a spiritual experience.

columbia: hey penny, stamps, and tommy & the high pilots

what better way to celebrate my last first day of school than with a show?! abby and i went to see stamps and the high pilots with katelyn on our first monday back and it was oh so worth it. there was a decent crowd considering the circumstances and all the bands were great, starting with the opener called hey penny. they were so great and they're from nashville so what's not to love? stamps played next and were wonderfully charming as always. they had a seven hour drive + a flight to catch so they packed up and left as soon as they could. i didn't have a chance to talk to everyone, but i did say hi to andy and my bff robert morris. tommy and the high pilots were up next and as much as i enjoy them in a large venue, it was nice to finally see them in a more intimate setting. tommy has this voice that is just spectacular, i can't even explain it. but it gives you goosebumps and makes your eyes well up. for the love of all things good, go listen to their music. seriously. they're so good. so so good. we didn't stick around long since it was, after all, a monday night and we all had early mornings, but it was a great way to start the semester off with a bang.

album review: blitzen trapper - american goldwing

Blitzen Trapper, with three previous Sub-Pop albums under their belt, have produced quite the wide array of sounds. 2007′s Wild Mountain Nationsounds as if it was thrown together with reckless abandon, a giant mish-mash of sounds and passions. There were indie-rock melodies and folky boot-stomping tunes with a healthy dose of country twang. 2008′sFurr leaned more to the pop-rock side of the spectrum with Americana intertwined through and through. And next was Destroyer of the Void which took on a new sound altogether with prog-rock guitar sounds and a mellower tone. So who could really predict what would be next? At first listen, American Goldwing is a nice homage to Furr with influences of traditional Southern rock. It’s blatantly alternative-country and maybe a little bit indie. If anything, it showcases the band’s versatility to record whatever they want and turn it into an album. And it sounds great. Read more...

chicago: super happy fun club

day two of me and abby's mini trip to chicago: super happy fun club!

we trekked out to bottom lounge after a long day in the rain at northalsted market days for darren criss, and after a delicious meal at taco bell. met up with meesh! and nick! and sir vinci and kristen and lots of friends. we watched the aesthetic play, we ate some garlic fries that easily changed my life, we talked and caught up and laughed and watched a really weird show that was playing on the tv, and we finally watched super happy fun club play. it was great to finally see them. such talented gentlemen. we hung around for a bit, met various people, chatted with various others, drove around for a bit, almost went to house party, then decided not to. probably a good choice since abby and i had a seven hour drive ahead of us the next morning. short and sweet trip!

chicago: am taxi

this little trip actually came into effect because of darren criss. yes, that dude from glee. abby was hellbent on going to chicago to see him play at a street festival, so naturally i found a couple of shows i'd be interested in surrounding the festival, and we made a trip out of it. perfect! we drove straight to metro to catch am taxi which was wonderful. we hung out with sam for the night, and ran into nick and mark outside promoting. we ended up getting some dinner at a nearby bar with them and had some excellent hangs. turns out the entire band and their posse of friends, wives, and girlfriends ended up there as well so sam ash the chicago 'it girl' spent some time introducing us to everyone and taking shots of jameson. what a bad ass. we eventually headed back to her place and crashed hard. good times.

album review: beirut - the rip tide

I've listened to Beirut’s  The Rip Tide several times through and I still feel as if I don’t have a strong opinion about it. I’ve enjoyed every listen, but it’s just not sticking with me and I can’t decide if it’s my own fault or the album’s. It’s good. I don’t have anything negative to say. But then again: it’s good – and that’s about all I can think to say. The Rip Tide is a solid, mediocre album that didn’t live up to  the fantasies I had constructed in my head after so many years of no new releases. Beirut evokes many happy memories and nostalgic feelings for me and the new album seems to have lost a little of the band’s old magic. With all of that said, it’s still an enjoyable album and you should definitely give it a listen. If anything, please prove me wrong and tell me it hits home with you. Because right now it’s just not quite sticking with me, and I really want it to. Read more...

columbia: without a face, stamps, tommy and the high pilots, and ludo

space dracula's basketball expo: take two!

sam and i saw henry off early in the afternoon, and we took our time getting ready and eventually headed to columbia as well. we had a nice late lunch with my family at casa gallardo though, which was awesome. love me some mexican food. we got to my apartment in time to meet up with a bunch of people, carpool to the venue, and just miss the epic storm that was brewing. (i cardinal literally hit my windshield on the drive downtown and no one will let me forget it. angry birds much?) i love the blue note because it's a decent sized venue so it has that 'big show' feel, but it's definitely intimate no matter how far away from the stage you are.

henry played first, stamps played second, tommy and the high pilots played third. we took a break to chat with friends while sparks the rescue played, and made our way back in the middle of the crowd for ludo. once again, it was a fantastic show. we chatted with friends, i said my goodbyes to sam, and left her (warily) in henry's care, as he was giving her a ride back to st. louis in the dead of night so she could catch her train in the morning. and i dragged myself back to my apartment and crashed. nothing like working at 7AM after a weekend full of show and no sleep!

st. louis: without a face, stamps, tommy & the high pilots, and ludo

bear with me, as i seem to have gotten so far behind that the mere thought of attempting to get caught up makes me cringe. but in a burst of creative mania, i'm ready to tackle this beast that has gotten really backed up in regards to show reviews. i've had a lot on my plate with school, work, and popwreckoning, but better late than never, right? here we go.

hometown ludo shows are always my favorite. hometown ludo shows with a bunch of friends in the middle of summer is even better. sam came in town for about a week and we scheduled in some great hangs with molly, claire, chris, tom, and a bunch of awesome people. we made a day of the loop and met for a late lunch at the noodle cafe, wandered around in vintage vinyl, and had some chats with convy and henry before the show. without a face opened and was insane and weird and hilarious and awesome as always. stamps played next and were really great. who doesn't love robert morris, ginger, and former member of the hush sound? i met him while sparks the rescue played (i'm not a big fan) and we pretty much became bffs. so much in fact, that i now refer to him as my bff robert morris. we're tight. after stamps was tommy and the high pilots who i have quickly fallen in love with. so. freaking. talented. sam and i unfortunately gave up our spot in the pit when we went to mingle with friends in the merch room, so we watched ludo from afar. it was a cool experience though; i'm always amidst a sea of hardcore fans so it was neat to see them from a distance. and let me tell you: space dracula's basketball expo is no fucking joke. the entire stage was decorated and every member was dressed head to toe as either an astronaut, dracula, or a basketball player. hilarious. they played a great set as they always do.

we mingled for quite some time afterwards, went to ihop and ate so much food that the waiter even commented, and eventually went home and waited for henry's arrival. he slept in his car outside the venue the night before. i took pity. totally worth it, as i got to hear his superior rapping skills and a new song entitled twisted sexual assault about the tsa.

fabulous.