Photo credit: Marya Zoya Here in Saint Louis we are currently experiencing what I like to call “Summer (Reprised).” With temperatures in the eighties during the day, the cozy autumn sweaters have been shelved for the time being. And even though this weather technically calls for a functioning air conditioner, it is almost the middle … Read more
The last time Sufjan Stevens released a proper record, the world, for me at least, was a very different place. In 2005, my son had yet to enter this world, and my best friend had yet to leave it. Katrina was just a pleasant sounding woman’s name. Bennifer was still a term, Beiber was still … Read more
If you’re anything like us at Speakers in Code, the music tips you take most seriously are the ones that come from musicians themselves. That’s why we started this here new feature, 10 to Spin, which includes a carefully crafted mix of songs by our (and your) favorite artists. We’re giving bands free reign to … Read more
Photo by Donald Lee Last year, Boston indie rock staples Big Dipper released their first record in 22 years, Big Dipper Crashes On the Platinum Planet; I discovered them when one of my music podcasts featured “Robert Pollard” a few weeks ago. A tongue-in-cheek cheerful pop song about the travails of being a songwriter, it … Read more
The initial list of names for Raleigh’s Hopscotch Music Festival was announced this morning, and holy shiz, we are excited! The Flaming Lips, GBV, and DBT lead the pack for the main stage, but there is a solid list of small-club headlining bands as well. And if things work they way they did last year, … Read more
Photo by Graham Tolbert “Baby Missiles” perfectly illustrates everything I adore about musical juxtaposition. ’80s synth pop mixed with country-rock? Yes, please. I’ll have that. The War On Drugs frontman, Adam Granduciel, has a purposefully wobbly delivery on “Baby Missiles” that reminds me a little bit of Mark Knopfler on Dire Straits’ “Walk of Life.” … Read more
Goooood Lawd! This little blog cannot BELIEVE it is almost the start of September – that means the 2011 Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina is quickly approaching! Two out of the four of us just celebrated the dawning of LouFest II in Saint Louis. Now, it’s time to start doing liver calisthenics, training … Read more
Robert Pollard of Guided by Voices | Photo by Aggie Donkar Much, much more coming, but here is a taste of what we’ve seen thus far at the 2011 Hopscotch Music Festival. It’s been a blast thus far, and even though our heads hurt, our ears are still ringing, and our feet are KILLING us, … Read more