Mötley Crüe
5 p.m. Sunday, July 20. Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, 14141 Riverport Drive, Maryland Height
By Jaime Lees
Published on July 16, 2008

The dudes of Mötley Crüe have become rich and famous by basically being douchebags — and what’s not to love about that? Sure, the band members are hair-metal-inventing, Hollywood-promoting, Grade-A misogynists, but, damn, they do it so well. In the early ’80s the band found a musical formula that worked, and it’s never strayed from it since. The new album, Saints of Los Angeles, sounds like classic Crüe (and even includes a tribute to the glory days of boneheaded cock rock, “Down at the Whisky”). Following along the well-worn path of previous hits “Girls, Girls, Girls,” new songs such as “This Ain’t a Love Song” and “Chicks = Trouble” continue to, uh, applaud the female form (”I really thought that pussy was gold.”). Oh, Crüe. You’re so naughty. It’s comforting to know that some things never change.

• article - link
• Motley Crue - website

Snoop Dogg
7 p.m. Saturday, July 12. Verizon Wireless Ampitheater, 14141 Riverport Drive, Maryland Heights
By Jaime Lees
Published on July 09, 2008

A’ight, here’s the dizzle: The d-o-double gizzle is in the Lou this Saturdizzle. Snoop Dogg is guarantizzled to pull out his sweet summer jams (”Drop It Like It’s Hot,” “Who Am I (What’s My Name?”)) at this show, fo’ shizzle. Though he’s known for smoking lots of marijuizzle, Snoopizzle is far from a stoned slackizzle. He’s even improved his shizzle from the early days of Cali-collaborating with Dr. Dreizzle. Quite the entreprenizzle, Tha Doggfather also knows how to get paid lots of bizzles. From directing pornizzles to pimping out poonizzles, he’s got all kinds of businizzles. C’mon, maybe it’s about tizzle to take a break from grilling outside of your red brick hizzle. Don’t stay home and watch another Cardinizzles game on the televizzle — roll out to the Verizon Wireless Ampivizzle ’cause this show is sure to be off the hizzle.

• article - link
• Snoop Dogg - website
• 07-09-08 reprint in the Pitch (Kansas City) - article link

The Dials
10 p.m. Saturday, July 12. Way Out Club, 2525 South Jefferson
By Jaime Lees
Published on July 09, 2008

The Dials have a history of creating hooked-out, grooving pop tunes. The Chicago quartet’s debut full-length, 2005’s Flex Time, was a pop revelation. However, the band members’ combined talent was never as apparent as it is on the new album, Amoeba Amore. Amore takes the band’s trademark sound — girl-group sugar on top of dirty garage spice — and layers on tighter thumps and speedy riffs. Add to that buzzes, pops and bouncy hiccuping, and the results feel like the band took only the best parts out of pop music history (’60s harmonizing vocals, ’70s blaring guitars, ’80s new wave synth licks) and squished them all together. And while the albums are impressive, the live show is where the band proves its worth: The Dials make it look disgustingly easy (and fun) with an energetic show that gets heads boppin’, feet tappin’ and even a few devil horns thrown.

• article - link
• The Dials - MySpace
• The Dials - website
• photo credit - Jim Newberry

Show Review: Stevie Nicks at the Chaifetz Arena, Friday, June 13, St. Louis, MO
Sat Jun 14, 2008 at 11:30:08 AM

I’m just going to come right out and say it: Stevie Nicks must have a magical coochie. That’s all I could think about last night while watching her perform at the new Chaifetz Arena. That isn’t to discredit her ample musical talent, but her feminine gravitational pull is apparent, even in a large music venue. She’s got that something. And whatever it is, it’s magnetic and irresistible.

Over the years her lady parts have served her well: the source of most of her song writing material has come from her love affairs. Most of these episodes were well documented, even in the pre-paparazzi days of 1970s celebrity. Successful rock-and-rollers lined up around the block back in the day for a crack at Miss Nicks. She supposedly gave quite a few of them a spin, from Don Henley to Mick Fleetwood to Jimmy Iovine, and her long relationship with uber-sexy band mate Lindsey Buckingham was a main topic in Rumours, the classic Fleetwood Mac album.

Even now, at the age that most people retire, Nicks still knows how to work it. She’s still all high-heeled platform boots, gothic Lolita dresses, long blond mane and sparking shawls. Her static, uncompromising image is shockingly stubborn. Imagine a ’70s punk who still sports a mohawk as an old man on the golf course. Still, Nick’s image doesn’t feel contrived- it’s just as if she found a good thing an stuck with it.

And the fans? They love it. When she opened with “Stand Back” one would have never known that the arena was only about half full, as every older lady in the place got up out of her seat and cheered while mentally reliving her glory days.

What followed was a string of hits (including “Dreams,” “Rhiannon,” “If Anyone Falls in Love,” “Sorcerer,” Gold Dust Woman” and “Landslide”) and a couple of surprising covers (Bob Seger’s “Face the Promise” and a torturous version of Dave Matthews Band’s “Crash”).

To her credit, Nicks basically excused these covers by explaining that she and her band need to do something fun every now and then. By “fun,” I’m guessing she means “sing a song that I haven’t already sang 873,421 times in my life.” It’s cool. She’s forgiven for that. She is still under the gun, however, for one part in her stage show.

There was a huge video screen behind the stage that showed mostly innocuous, appropriate swirling art (a rain shot during “Dreams,” a yellow haze during “Gold Dust Woman,” etc.) but during “Rhiannon” it featured a pair of cheesy white unicorns frolicking in the freaking forest. I shit you not. It was distracting and I laughed for nearly the whole song with sympathetic embarrassment for everyone on that stage. Lest you think I am a cynical party-pooper, those unicorns garnered snickers from quite a few people near me and pretty much ruined the song for us all. Lose the unicorns, Stevie, that’s pushing the “mystical” and “enchanting” thing just a little too far.

This was the first “rock concert” hosted at the Chaifetz, and aside from the poor attendance (due, no doubt, to the high ticket cost), the management can certainly call it a success. The place is much smaller than an average arena, creating a cozy feeling even at a big show. It’s a clean white space accented with SLU blue, but it doesn’t feel cold, just new. There were helpful ushers, food and drink and a kind employee even offered to escort me to my car. Yes, the parking situation is kind of wack, but you’ve dealt with worse. There’s just nowhere to park that feels close. I paid $10 and went for the SLU garage. It was a bit of a hike from the garage to the arena, but it’s nice scenery with small ponds, bridges and sports fields to watch along the way.

• article - link

Stevie Nicks
8 p.m. Friday, June 13. Chaifetz Arena, One South Compton Avenue
By Jaime Lees
Published on June 11, 2008

During her time as a member of Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks filled many roles: singer, songwriter, muse, tambourine player and main hottie. As a contributor to the Mac’s legendary Rumours album, Nicks sealed her place in history as one of the great original rock & roll heroines. After penning some of the band’s biggest tunes (including otherworldly classics such as “Dreams,” “Rhiannon” and “Landslide”), the 60-year-old went on to enjoy a successful solo career, scoring hits with songs like “Edge of Seventeen” and “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around”. These days Nicks is still working the witchy hippie thing, what with her suede boots, shimmery scarves, untamed mane and trademark twirling dance moves. Her infrequent tours command top dollar, as Miss Nicks is still a powerful performer who has grown into her delightfully distinctive voice.

• article - link

Wooden Kites
7 p.m. Friday, June 6. Vintage Vinyl, 6610 Delmar Boulevard.
By Jaime Lees
Published on June 04, 2008

Between playing shows, recording an album and keeping commitments to various other musical projects, it’s a wonder that any of the Wooden Kites have had time to sleep, much less weather life’s other tedious obligations. The band plays out relentlessly, earning fans night after night with its combination of earnest emotion and a stormy (yet controlled) musical presentation. All of this practice has solidified the songs on the band’s debut album, The Orchard — which is a fusion of bold, swinging compositions (”Miranda Avery”), pirate-inspired anthems (”Sailin’ Song”), drinking ditties (”You and Me and the Bottle Makes Three”) and climactic, transcendent indie rock (”Bumble”). Think local folk-punks Rats and People mixed with Bright Eyes — only better.

• article - link
• Wooden Kites - MySpace

RFT Music Awards Nominees: St. Louis’ Best and Brightest
Published on May 28, 2008

Please follow this link to read about the nominees listed below.

Best Americana/Folk - Rum Drum Ramblers
Best Untraditional Americana/Folk - Rats & People
Best Funk/Soul/R&B - Kim Massie
Best Hard Rock/Metal - Head On Collision
Best Local Release (self-released) -
Rats & People’s The City of Passersby
Best New Artist - The Livers + Wooden Kites
Best Pop Band - Sex Robots
Best Punk/Hardcore - The Humanoids

• article - link
• Head On Collision - MySpace
• Humanoids - MySpace
• The Livers - MySpace
• Kim Massie - website
• Rats & People - MySpace
• Rum Drum Ramblers - MySpace
• Sex Robots - MySpace
• Wooden Kites - MySpace

Sea Wolf
9 p.m. Thursday, May 22. The Bluebird, 2706 Olive Street
By Jaime Lees
Published on May 21, 2008

Playing under the name Sea Wolf, singer-songwriter Alex Brown Church performs with a steady cast of backup musicians that help his indie rock visions come alive. Church possesses storytelling skills in spades, and frequently rouses both regretful and hopeful emotions with heart-tugging lyrics — most of which revolve around relationship woes (”Black Leaf Falls”) or wasted time (”Winter Windows”). Many songwriters could spend their whole lives trying to write a song half as beautiful and complex as any on Sea Wolf’s debut LP Leaves in the River; there’s just something gorgeously creepy about the album’s gentle chord progressions and pretty, stirring melodies. Riding on the success of his devastatingly haunting single “You’re a Wolf,” Church is charming his way across the country with hypnotic performances in intimate spaces.

• article - link
• Sea Wolf - website
• Sea Wolf - MySpace
• photo credit - Mia Kirby

Rock & Roll Prom
9 p.m. Friday, May 23. The Way Out Club, 2525 South Jefferson Avenue
By Jaime Lees
Published on May 21, 2008

Aside from its New Years Eve celebration, the Rock & Roll Prom is one of the biggest annual events at the Way Out Club. This themed party nearly always fills the venue to capacity, as patrons come out from all corners of the city, all outfitted in their best prom dresses and suits and looking for a good time. This years sub-theme is “zombies,” so expect some extra bloody pageantry and pale-faced hilarity. The entertainment lineup includes favorites of the club, like the horn-heavy psychobilly of the Devil Baby Freakshow and the shambolic roots rock of Tijuana Hercules. Velcro Lewis & His 100 Proof Band and Alas, Poor Yorick round out the bill.

• article - link
• The Devil Baby Freakshow - MySpace

Concert Review: The Breeders in St. Louis
Saturday, May 10, 2008 - Pop’s

(Photos by Sarah Paradoski; setlist by RØB Severson, review by Jaime Lees)

It used to take a lot for me to drag my ass to the East Side. But after last weekend, good ol’ Sauget, Illinois, might be one of my favorite places to hang out or see a show. Saturday the Breeders played Pop’s, and the whole experience was just so damn pleasant. One would never know they were mere yards from the terrifying, toothless tranny hookers that congregate just on the other side of Route 3.

Before the show I was disappointed to hear that Pop’s was going to close off half of the venue (something the venue does at certain shows), but when everyone made it inside, it was clear that this was the right decision. Floor space was tight, but not smashed and the balcony was cozy.

Sure, drinks are always more expensive on that side of the Big Muddy, but the staff was helpful and laid back, showing no signs of the aggro tendencies I’ve witnessed there during other shows. The staff seemed to recognize that this was a show for sleepy indie folks and acted accordingly. I asked a bartender if he caught the sound check and he said, “I didn’t. And you know, I don’t know anything about the band. But I’ll tell you what: those sure are some nice people. Great smiles, too.”

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Watching the band is like catching up with old friends. Older songs (”I Just Wanna Get Along,” “Divine Hammer”) induced much heart-swelling and the newer songs from latest album Mountain Battles (”German Studies,” “It’s The Love”) blended perfectly into these live sets. On stage, Jose Medeles and Mando Lopez, also of pumped-up punkers Fear, kept the rhythm section bumpin’ and thumpin’ while remaining mostly heard and not seen. New kid Cheryl Lindsay hopped in where needed with extra vocals and instrumentation, and mostly stood calm and still on the side of the stage.

Predictably, Kim and Kelley Deal (and their mega-watt smiles) took center-stage. Both seemed at ease, happy and comfortable with the audience, sharing jokes and answering questions. In addition to Breeders jams, the Deals sang quite a few songs by the Amps (including “Empty Glasses,” a rarity), Kim’s other band. Kelley graciously stepped into the wings when she wasn’t needed during Amps songs, but could still be seen through a rip in the stage curtain rocking out and enthusiastically singing along as if she was a mega-fan.

1. Tipp City (Amps song)
2. Huffer
3. Bang On
4. Shocker in Gloomtown (Guided By Voices cover)
5. Divine Hammer
6. Night Of Joy
7. No Aloha
8. Pacer (Amps song)
9. We’re Gonna Rise
10. It’s The Love
11. Walk It Off
12. New Year
13. Cannonball
14. I Just Wanna Get Along
15. Happiness Is A Warm Gun (Beatles cover)
16. Iris
17. Safari
18. German Studies
19. Empty Glasses (Amps song)

ENCORE:
20. Overglazed
21. Fortunately Gone
22. Here No More
23. Saints

• article - link
• The Breeders - website