The Billiken Club Fall Calendar announced today!

Yo yo yo! When we aren’t blogging we are working on booking bands for The Billiken Club, St. Louis University’s on-campus music venue!

We are pleased to announce that the first show is on Wednesday, September 10 and features These United States.

These United States – First Sight (from their Daytrotter Session) [MP3] [Insound]

The rest of the developing Fall Schedule is as follows:

9.3.2008 These United States with TBA
9.11.2008 Liam Finn with The Veils and TBA
9.12.2008 James Jackson Toth with TBA
9.13.2008 Centro-matic with Ohtis and TBA
9.18.2008 Pattern Is Movement with TBA
9.20.2008 Dark Meat with TBA
9.24.2008 The Felice Brothers with AA Bondy
9.25.2008 Darker My Love with TBA
9.26.2008 Damien Jurado with Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
9.30.2008 Awesome Color with Intelligence
10.25.2008 Parts & Labor with TBA
11.8.2008 Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin with TBA

[Note: Our bad, SSLYBY will not be playing this show.]

So as you can see, many more regional and local bands will be filling in the blanks and soon everything will be running quite smoothly! Don’t forget, all of these here shows are FREE, all-ages, and open to the public. Doors are at 8pm and shows start at 9pm unless noted otherwise.

The Billiken Club (located in the bottom of the Busch Student Center)
20 N. Grand Blvd.
Saint Louis, MO 63103

Let’s Go To A Show!

Well this weekend I will be making my way to Grant Park for Lollapalooza, but that doesn’t mean that St. Louis won’t be seeing it’s fair share of great shows. Today alone, July 31st you can check out

The Tings Tings at The Bluebird

This electro pop duo are making all kinds of headlines with their catchy beats.

Ted Nugent at The Pageant

Simply just because he’s awesome and had two reality tv shows on Vh1 (one featuring Tila Tequila).

What Made Milwaukee Famous at Off Broadway

Originally named Beer, this rock band knows how to bring it!

More weekend updates after the click!

The Octopus Project kick off West Coast Tour, first stop: Lolla

Although my chances of going to this year’s Lollapalooza are looking kinda grim these days (i.e. lack of fundz+high travel costs=one poor lady), all those in attendance have the chance to see one of the fest’s most underrated/underhyped bandz on the bill: The Octopus Project. Let’s hope you didn’t forget about them!

The Austin four-piece is going on tour yet again in support of their amazing 2007 full-length, Hello, Avalanche, right after their gig at Lollapalooza on 8/03.

In addition, UK-based label Too Pure (Stereolab, Scout Nibblet, Electrelane) recently released an Octopus Project 7-inch as part of the label’s “Singles Club”.  It features two new joints, “Wet Gold” and “Moon Broil”, and will be available soon on iTunes.

The Octopus Project Live:
* w/ Diagonals

08/02 Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s
08/03 Chicago, IL @ Lollapalooza
08/04 Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
08/05 Norman, OK @ Opolis
08/06 Lubbock, TX @ Tequila Station
08/11 Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room*
08/12 Tucson, AZ @ Congress Theater*
08/13 San Diego, CA @ The Cashbash*
08/14 Los Angeles, CA @ Knitting Factory*
08/15 Visalia, CA @ Cellar Door*
08/16 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom Of The Hill*
08/18 Portland, OR @ Satyricon*
08/19 Seattle, WA @ Nectar Lounge*
08/20 Vancouver, BC @ Richard’s
08/22 Edmonton, AL @ Velvet Lounge
08/23 Calgary, AL @ Hi Fi
08/25 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
08/26 Denver, CO @ Hi Dive
08/28 Dallas, TX @ Lola’s*
08/29 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live*
09/28 Austin, TX @ Austin City Limits Festival

While they won’t be hitting St. Louis on this tour, Kansas City isn’t too far away!

The Octopus Project – Truck [MP3] [Insound]

The Octopus Project – An Evening With Rthrtha [MP3] [Insound]

God Warrior(s) of the Week

This week’s God Warrior(s) of the Week is

Stars

This Montreal based indie pop group just posted a new track on their myspace entitled, “Why I Want To Save You” and it couldn’t be any more lovely. After releasing one of my favorite study albums of the 2007, In the Bedroom After The War, I’m actually surprised at how quick they got new material out. But this band will be making a stop at The Pageant in St. Louis September 25th. This is recommended for those of you if you like music along the lines of Broken Social Scene or any Montreal based indie band. Two tracks below–one a slow sad love song off of Do You Trust Your Friends? and a jazzier track from In The Bedroom After The War.

Stars – Your Ex Lover Is Dead (Final Fantasy Edit) [MP3] [Insound]

Stars – The Ghost of Genova Heights [MP3] [Itunes]

The New Frontiers take on St. Louis; cover Gillian Welch

Apologies for being a little dead-beat dad lately, I know you’re all mad but you’ll just have to deal with this thing called Summer. We’ll be fully back in the swing of things over the course of this month, so we hope to be seein’ y’alls at shows in STL in a few weeks.

Speaking of shows, if you are in the mood for what I can best describe as quaint, subdued Indie rock, head down to 2 Cents Plain tomorrow (7/26) to see Dallas’ own The New Frontiers. For fans of music that doesn’t have to be particularly challenging or conceptual, TNF crank out solid and blissful melodies similar to Ryan Adams and Wilco. Their album, Mending, dropped earlier this year via The Militia Group and has been mustering up quite the buzz in alt-country circles.

The New Frontiers are playing tomorrow night with The Honorary Title and Paper Rival, two bands I know absolutely nothing about. Either way, I am sure the show will be majestically splendid, if you’re into that sort of thing. If you are scoffing at The Militia Group roster, fear not. TNF are fairly legit country bumpkinz with beards. Don’t expect to see too many AA hoodies and v-necks at this show.

Czech out the Gillian Welch cover!

The New Frontiers – Look At Miss Ohio (Gillian Welch cover) [MP3] [Insound]

The New Frontiers – Man Down [MP3] [Insound]

Pitchfork Music Festival ’08 Recap: Sunday

Pitchfork really knows how to make a schedule that appeals to their hipsters. Not! I was running around like a chicken with it’s head cut off. Because of the crazy lineup I was only able to hear one song by Dirty Projectors!

Sunday:

So we started our day off early to check out Mahjongg, High Places, HEALTH, Les Savy Fav, The Dodos. Ghostface Killah & Raekwon, and Bon Iver.

Highlights

-Mahjongg definitely has one of my favorite albums of 2008 and I knew that they would not disappoint with this performance. It was scorching hot, and I probably sweat off 5 lbs dancing.

-After running to see one Dirty Projectors song, I ran back to see High Places. They were so cute and convinced me enough to go buy their album.

-This was my third time seeing HEALTH so I didn’t really know how their show could have improved or been any different. Alas I was amazed at how much these boys always give a top notch performance and like the rest of the crowd I was screaming with excitement.

-Les Savy Fav. What can I say about them? Absolutely great songs and great entertainment. I wonder where I can get a one legged red lame’ legging.

Lowlights

Pitchfork Music Festival ’08 Recap: Saturday

Well, we are back from super indie hipster music fest, Pitchfork and it was a blast. We tanned are sun deprived bodies, ate all kinds of delicious vegetarian foods and enjoyed numerous bands. Alison and I only were able to catch Saturday and Sunday of the music festival, but I heard that Public Enemy was pretty on point on Friday.

Saturday:

I was able to watch Caribou, Fleet Foxes, Fuck Buttons, Vampire Weekend, !!!, The Hold Steady, Atlas Sound, and Animal Collective

Highlights of my day were definitely Animal Collective, Atlas Sound, !!! and Fuck Buttons. I’ve seen all of these bands before with the exception of Atlas Sound (but I’ve seen Deerhunter!) so I basically knew what to expect which was pure aural pleasure.

-I didn’t get to check out all of Fleet Foxes, but I heard enough of their beautiful harmonies to make me feel like I was floating on air. They are my Grizzly Bear of this year.

-My day couldn’t get any better as the sun peeked out of the clouds as Fuck Buttons began “Bright Tomorrow.”

-The next highlight was !!! (chk chk chk) because you can’t get any better dance music as well as dance lessons at the same time. !!! always knows how to make you shake your groove thang and I was not one to disappoint them.

-I recently picked up the Atlas Sound album at the library and didn’t really get to thoroughly listen to the album because it was scaring my friends. So I decided to check out Bradford Cox’s side project regardless of hearing the whole album and I was very happy with my choice.

-Lastly, is the ever so wonderful, Animal Collective. I’m going to say that the crowd was lame because they were only familiar with Strawberry Jam. But my mind was blown away when Panda Bear performed a song off Person Pitch. That was probably the most epic moment of my life, it was probably caused by the lights. I was saddened by how short of a set they had, but what can you do?

Lowlights

This stuff is already probably known to why I didn’t enjoy the other bands that I saw on Saturday. The other bands that I was disappointed by were Caribou, Vampire Weekend and The Hold Steady.

Music Video Post – Pitchfork Festival Preview

Pitchfork is quickly approaching and Toe Taps and Spastic Claps will finally be reunited! So here’s a preview of what bands will be there and probably more likely which shows you will be able to find us at. Let’s play tag! You’re it.

Caribou – Irene

Animal Collective – Peacebone

Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal

More videos by The Dodos, Mahjongg, and Apples In Stereo, after the jump!

Hot N’ Spicy

My friend is departing for the great country of Chile pretty soon and I was working on Chilean Indie Artist mixtape. First problem is that I don’t have any Chilean indie music, but alas I researched on the great world of Myspace. So I thought, if the results are anything like the US then I’m screwed. Luckily enough, I found some pretty good ones and I simply can’t continue to let these cats be ignored. The first are

Teleradio Donoso

Pic taken from their myspace

These cute boys hail from Santiago, Chile and I am currently obsessed with them. Their music is a mixture of Strokes, Malujube, and Tally Hall. Their latest album is Gran Santiago and can easily be bought on Itunes or if you are afraid to take such a big leap they have the whole thing streaming on their website. The album utilizes precious lyrics, catchy guitar riffs and romantic acoustic medleys, what more could a girl ask for? The music is entirely in Spanish, but you’ve been listening to El Guincho regardless of knowing the language so that barrier shouldn’t stop you now. Check out track below.

Teleradio Donoso – Pitica [MP3] [Itunes] [Myspace]

The second band I wish I could find more music from is

Denver

Pic taken from their myspace

This to-die-for duo are making light indie pop surf rock music on the lines of Beach House, The Magnetic Fields and The Pragmatic. I wish I could find more information on them, but my Spanish skills can take me so far. They are signed on the Neurotyka label, but they have yet to release an album? But I think it’s going to come out sometime this year and it’s named Totalral. I’m not really sure so don’t take my word for it, but they are just so cute to not love. So if you guys find where I can buy their stuff then hit me up, but I guess I’ll just be listening to tracks off lastfm and myspace. Oh yeah, all songs are in Spanish once again. Check out the song below.

Denver – Anden 6 (Disco Version) [MP3]

God Warriors Of The Week

The God Warriors for the week of July 13 are The Tough Alliance!

My mind was at a stand-still while trying to come up with a good God Warrior this week.  Then I remembered The Tough Alliance, a duo I had sorta gotten into towards the last few months of school and thought, “Kells Yeah!”

The Tough Alliance are two Swedish pop artists with a unique performance-style (see: spinning their own record during live shows and singing along, dancing around crazily on stage, controversially swinging baseball bats at the audience). Members Henning Furst and Eric Berglund were friends since childhood and produce ambient electronica, often combining elements of reggae/dub and other worldly sounds.  Their name is a bit of a misnomer, though: the boys are known to cry during their song “Silly Crimes” during live performances because it means so much to them.

The duo has released a handful of EP’s since forming in 2003, but their latest full-length, A New Chance, was released in 2007 on their own label, Sincerely Yours.

The Tough Alliance – Silly Crimes [MP3] [Insound]

The Tough Alliance – First Class Riot [MP3] [Insound]