popwreckoning

Puscifer is currently touring their new album Conditions of My Parole.  As the tour made their way to the midwest, Puscifer played a show at the Peabody Opera House in St. Louis.  Puscifer lit up the opera house with their unique mix of sound and the audience stood at their seats awed by the amazing theatrical show that put on before them.

The members of Puscifer are as follows, Maynard James Keenan, Mat Mitchell, Carina Round, Matt McJunkins, Jeff Friedl, and many others.  Mat Mitchell took some time between shows to answer a few questions.

Elicia Nichols, Popwreckoning: What bands have the members of Puscifer been involved with?

Mat Mitchell, Puscifer: Carina Round has several solo albums as well as a band Early Winters, which was a little more folk.  Matt McJunkins came from Ashes Divide, Jeff Friedl also plays with Devo and both Matt and Jeff did the latest A Perfect Circle tour.  My history is with punk rock bands in the late 80’s early 90’s then I got off that bid. I was doing more soundtrack work and video game kind of stuff, then I got into more behind the scenes work I worked with Nine Inch Nails, Tool and Katy Perry.

PW: How did the members meet and end up forming Puscifer?

MM: Maynard had the skit on Mr. Show and he and Danny Lonard had done one off things for soundtracks, and then when they were ready I was working with him quite a bit we started building the first full length record.  Danny worked with us on the Mission.

PW: What brings this range of music together to create such a sound that Puscier possess?

MM:  I think what brought us all together as musicians are the range of music and the style we like and similar influences.  We enjoy the style of super high tech electronic programming and then bringing a banjo and things like that.

PW: When the idea of Puscifer started was this dynamic range of musical talents planed of did it just fall into place?

MM: I’d say it was planned out we wanted to do something that was not the guitar based drum kind of rock thing.  We experimented with different orchestra.  We try to deconstruct what rock music is, we deconstruct it to reconstruct it to what we want.

PW: In the song “Conditions of My Parole” was Maynard experimenting with a rap type sound with the lyrics in the sound?

MM: I don’t know if he was looking for that style but he is notorious for being able to give you vocals that will hit you out of left field.  When you are working on a song you hear what you think the vocals are going to be he takes it to the next level and he has mastered that.

 PW:  Since Puscifer formed only three years ago, you are still pretty fresh.  Have you experienced any hard ships that a new band tends to face?

MM:  Well I think we are in a unique situation where Maynard has such a following that we have been fortunate to not deal with those situations.  Something we set early on that this is supposed to be fun so if something is causing stress we try to defuse it right out of the gate it out of the gate.

PW: You listed the Verde Valley as a place of inspiration, how did Puscifer pull the inspiration out the Valley?

MM:  Well most of us live in LA, and while I love LA it’s very fast paced it’s hard to focus but there is so much going on the energy is different from the Valley.  The Valley is in the Valley you don’t get cell phone reception so there is far fewer distractions. The landscape is amazing, so it’s like when you grow up in the city and then go camping and the shift you get your body that allows you to mellow out. It’s really inspirational and it allows you to be focus on being creative.

PW: Did you write the entire album in the desert?

MM: We did some pick up stuff in LA.  We definitely did 99% of it in the AZ and we got together separately and then in a group and put it all together.

MM: The live aspect of things is where we like to push ourselves to be untraditional just like our music.  We are not trying to reinvent rock we are trying to push ourselves to have you come to a rock show we want you to not expect a rock show.

Interview and photos by Elicia Nichols

St. Louis favorites Ludo head out for a summer tour with 20+ dates including both the east and west coast. The tour, called Space Dracula’s Basketball Expo, will also include Sparks The Rescue, Tommy and the High Pilots, Stamps (featuring Bob from The Hush Sound) and select dates with Without A Face.

Check out tour dates here: www.ludosummertour.com

And watch the video below:

Sacremento’s legendary nu-metal experimental rockers Deftones are currently on tour with the Dillinger Escape Plan.

Photographer Jon Gitchoff caught up with the show during its St. Louis stop at the Pageant and shares these photos chronicling the event:

Deftones

The Dillinger Escape Plan

Due to personal reasons, Electric Six has been forced to cancel its shows from October 25-October 30. This affects Seattle, Portland, Boise, Salt Lake City, Denver and Kansas City.

The band plans to reschedule these dates.

The tour resumes in St. Louis on Halloween.

Below is the full message from the band on the cancellation:

For a long time, it seemed like St. Louis was only going to purport its stereotype of being a rap and hip hop town. Nelly was the most recognizable act from this gateway city. If a music fan wanted to listen to some indier acts, they’d have to traverse to Chicago or even Kansas City. Bands seemed to skip by this place unless they were of amphitheatre magnitude, and without anyone to step up and organize an event to draw these smaller indie acts, St. Louis seemed helpless as to how to change this.

But the people started speaking up – showing their musical tastes to be more diverse than just Top 40 radio. And guess what? The city answered. Slowly there has been a trend where these smaller rising bands and even more established, but not-quite-amphitheatre-status groups started visiting the Lou. And then the biggest boost: this year, St. Louis was presented with the first (hopefully annual) LouFest.

LouFest, a two-day music festival in the beautiful Forest Park, featured over 18 acts this past weekend with Canada collective Broken Social Scene headlining Saturday and the band crush of many, She & Him, on Sunday. Though the line-up seemed to focus more on indie folk or garage rock, it found its diversity in other ways: Jeff Tweedy and Built to Spill brought a classic touch, while Fruit Bats and So Many Dynamos brought a newer touch. Carolina Chocolate Drops gave a bit of a musical history lesson, while Gentleman Auction House, Kim Massie and others showed the range of local talents.

Bottle Rockets had the honor of being the first band to play at the first LouFest. Though their set was rocking for this established act, the crowd was sparse that early in the day. People were either trying to beat the heat or the steep ticket prices (lower cost is the number one suggestion for the 2nd LouFest!) because the crowd didn’t start filling out until around 5 p.m. Which is a shame because some of the best bands of the whole festival played that early afternoon.

Stephaniesid‘s music seemed to be unfamiliar to most everyone, but by the end of her set she had made everyone feel like old friends. She had a bit of a country alt rock thing but with the adornment of little, almost jazzy, freestyle yelps. This woman knows how to own a stage – she danced with the decorative drapings, sang her heart out and even got the crowd to singalong and participate, which wasn’t easy in that heat.

St. Louis’ own So Many Dynamos took over the blue stage after Stephaniesid and they had surprises in store for their hometown crowd. The boys invited out the Funky Brass Butt Band to amp up their set.

Adam Reichmann on the yellow stage had a harder time finding an audience for his slower jams, not to say he and his band were bad, but at least in this setting, the music and jokes fell flat.

But Titus Andronicus didn’t have any trouble finding enthusiasm for their brand of punk indie rock. Perhaps it was the contagious smile of violinist/guitarist Alexi Crawford or the New Jersey quips or catchy lyrics of frontman Patrick Stickles, but this was one of the best performances of the entire festival and that was evident by the crowd’s reaction.

That energy was set to carry over into Lucero’s set, but unfortunately the lead singer was ill and they had to call things short despite an admirable effort to play a rocking set even with his weary voice. St. Louis understands, but come back soon?

Word is that when LouFest organizers put out a survey to see what bands the city wanted them to bring – the number one response was Airborne Toxic Event. This is the viola-wielding, piano beating band that brought radio “Sometime Around Midnight” with a hushed intro that grows into a screaming, guitars blazing end. Yeah, they’re undoubtably good, but the number one request for the fest? Turns out Airborne Toxic Event had never played St. Louis in their 370 or so shows since their inception. So they were well overdue for an appearance. The band must have been feeling a little guilty for their extended performance absence and they spoiled St. Louis by debuting a bunch of new songs, which feature the same dynamic drive that powers their radio hits. You won’t have to worry about sophomore slump with this band.

Built to Spill as classic indie rock staples drew a huge crowd not just from LouFest attendees, but also from bands curious to see live one of their primary influences.

Broken Social Scene swamped the stage with their many collective members trading off vocals and instruments. There really couldn’t have been a better headliner for the night. Brass, double drums, great harmonies and tons of energy from staple Kevin Drew. While most bands save their big stunts for a big set closer, Drew showed by the second song that they weren’t holding anything back; he jumped off the stage and was embracing the audience. If you’ve never had the chance to experience this band live, you must. Their recordings don’t do the live show justice.

Sunday’s bands would have to really pull out all the stops to top what was delivered Saturday.

Since Sunday is the lord’s day, the bluesy, soulful voice of St. Louis’ miss Kim Massie delivered a special Gospel set to start the day before Magnolia Summer and then one of the more buzzed about bands: Carolina Chocolate Drops. They’re perhaps best known for their cover of “Hit ‘Em Up Style,” but the americana trio is more than just a novelty cover. Though the instruments are untraditional to what the typical guitar-based band, this act is all about the traditions: water jugs, fiddle and banjo. It was a fun lesson for what really is American’s musical history. But, of course, the fun cover made this set perfect.

Gentleman Auction House was another act representing St. Louis. Two drummers, two keyboardists and the enrichment of brass. St. Louis bands aren’t afraid to break out a little pomp to boost the volume of their sets.

Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons continued the trend of delivering feel good Americana songs, unfortunately, with such stand up acts before them, they didn’t stand out quite as much as they usually would have.

Fruit Bats continued the festival’s trend of delivering feel good folk music over on the Yellow Stage. It was a bit more lively than the preceding set and got people moving.

Alejandro Escovedo was an artist that I hadn’t really heard, but had heard a lot about. Everything from “classic” to “best guitarist” ever were some of the excited boasts I had heard. However, while the music was good, it was too laid back to really take a grip. Perhaps Alejandro was just a little overhyped.

Jeff Tweedy might be St. Louis’ favorite son. Actually, earlier that day, the mayor had proclaimed that day “Jeff Tweedy Day,” to which Tweedy responded in true rebellious son fashion, “That’s the dumbest thing I ever heard.” The Wilco front man appeared without his usual band mates, but that didn’t stop him from performing the Wilco hits with his acoustic guitar. This set really was a treat for the Tweedy/Wilco fan, but for first time listeners, they might have had a hard time getting into – be patient, keep giving the music a chance and start with Wilco recordings before returning to the solo stuff would be my advice to those people.

Jeff Tweedy

She & Him closed off the weekend, but honestly, I could have done with an encore performance from Broken Social Scene. Sure Zooey is the band crush of many, but she didn’t really engage with the audience. M. Ward tried and I have to admit, I liked his songs about more for their rocking edge. I really enjoyed the cover of “Roll Over Beethoven,” that they closed with. But with how much praise this indie duo gets, I have to say that it was a bit of a letdown to see them deliver their set with lackluster energy and then short the audience of 20 minutes of performance with an early departure. Bring back BSS, please!

Though I found some of the 2nd day a bit more dry in the quality of performance, LouFest still did a great job and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for next year.

St. Louis’ debut music festival, LouFest, is this weekend in Central Field at Forest Park. So what can you expect from the green friendly fest?

First off, if you procrastinated buying tickets, they have not sold out yet. You can get them without hidden service fees here. It’s $64 for two day passes and $38 for single day passes. Kids 10 and under are free with a ticketed adult (there’s even a kids stage and activity area!). Single day passes are not allowed re-entry. Another warning: it’s cash only at the box office should you wait.

Now like many other outdoor fests, Loufests has some rules. No flags, coolers, glass, food, laser pointers, pets, professional cameras, weapons or oversized umbrellas. However, you can bring in a sealed bottle of water (up to one liter), non-professional cameras, blankets and folding chairs.

Don’t sweat that they’re not letting you bring in food. LouFest has a “Nosh Pit,” a fun area of local foods that are even vegan and vegetarian friendly. They’ll have everything from the standard burgers and brats to the more unique options of sushi and crepes. Check out the full list of food and vendors here.

Another cool thing about LouFest? They got the Metro to add an additional stop at the fest and extend service for August 28-29. Just be sure to take the #3 Forest Park Shuttle.

Also, don’t be sure to miss out on the sweet after-parties. Honestly, what is a fest without an after-party? Some amazing DJs will be kicking it at the Gramophone Saturday night, so join Hey Champ and AcidKids celebration of LouFest and London Calling. Go here to buy tickets – they’re $8 in advanace and $10 at the door. Doors open at 9 p.m.

Then on Sunday, head to the Flamingo Bowl as DJ Clockwork spins with DJ TrashTalk, Nick O and more. There will also be art, an auction and prizes. Cover is $5. Head here to learn more.

Finally, the most important thing about LouFest: the music! Check out these videos below from some of the acts that you must not miss!

Carolina Chocolate Drops – “Hit Em Up Style” cover:

So Many Dynamos – “Search Party”

Airborne Toxic Event – “Sometime Around Midnight”

Fruit Bats – “The Ruminant Band”

Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco) – “Fake Plastic Trees”

Broken Social Scene – “Cause = Time”

Schedule:
Saturday
12 p.m.    Bottle Rockets
1 p.m.       Stephaniesid
2 p.m.       So Many Dynamos
3 p.m.       Adam Reichmann
4 p.m.       Titus Andronicus
5 p.m.        Lucero
6 p.m.        Airborne Toxic Event
7 p.m.        Built to Spill
8:30 p.m. Broken Social Scene

Sunday
12 p.m.      Kim Massie (special Gospel set)
1 p.m.         Magnolia Summer
2 p.m.         Carolina Chocolate Drops
3 p.m.         Gentleman Auction House
4 p.m.         Corey Chisel & the Wandering Sons
5 p.m.         Fruit Bats
6 p.m.         Alejandro Escovedo
7 p.m.        Jeff Tweedy
8:30 p.m. She & Him

A current headline on CNN reads: “Birds force Kings of Leon from St. Louis stage.”

Yes, that is a headline on CNN and not the Onion. Southern rockers Kings of Leon abandoned their set after three songs at a St. Louis, Missouri show. Why? Because pigeons were pooping on them. Guess the boys aren’t so “McFearless” after all.

The band tells CNN, they had every intention of powering through their set, but the excrement proved too much to deliver a 20 song set. They do say they’ll make it up to their St. Louis fans in the future.

Alas, no comment from these villainous pigeons. Maybe the birds agreed that “Sex on Fire” is overplayed, too?

Read CNN’s full story here.

It’s been nearly a year since “(500) Days of Summer” was in theaters with a soundtrack introducing a then little-known-Australian-band to America. The Temper Trap‘s “Sweet Disposition” was a stand out track with its soaring melodies and harmonies: it was a fitting title for such a beautiful and not to sound cliche, but “sweet” sounding track.

Throw in some radio play and an album filled with more fantastic and rich, harmonious tracks and the Temper Trap was ready for an American takeover. But can the live show live up to the high standards set forth by the recordings? Well, if you’re in the United States, you might be running out of time to find out.

The Temper Trap has two shows left in Missouri, followed by a performance at Bonnaroo, before they leave the States and go abroad. On Tuesday, June 8, they’ll be playing the Crossroads in Kansas City with Warpaint. Then on Thursday, they’ll be at the Pageant in Saint Louis.  These are there last stateside headlining gigs, though they will appear June 10 at Bonnaroo in Manchester, Tenn.

If you can’t make it to these last two shows, the band will be back briefly in August to appear at Lollapalooza and to play a mini-tour in Denver, Seattle and Portland.

Head to the thetempertrap.com for tickets and more information. You can check out “Sweet Disposition” live below:

Bear Ceuse, in our opinion, was the best thing about St. Louis. Now, it looks like we’re going to have to default to the Arch again as our favorite.

Bear Ceuse is moving to New York City, but before doing so, the band is bidding the Midwest adieu with a farewell tour.

Bear Ceuse began primarily as the Sonic Youth meets Pavement project of Cameron Matthews. Matthews earned a spot opening for The Shins after winning mtvU’s Best Music on Campus competition. Since, Matthews has expanded Bear Ceuse to include producer/bassist Patrick Crecelius and drummer Ben Majchrzak.

Tour Dates:
June 10, 2010 in Saint Louis, Missouri @ Lemp Arts Center
June 14, 2010 in Lexington, Kentucky @ Cosmic Charlies
June 18, 2010 in Saint Louis, Missouri @ Off Broadway
June 20,2010 in Chicago, Illinois @ Quencher’s

Rock trio Muse has canceled and rescheduled dates on their upcoming fall tour due to the expected arrival of a new member of the Muse family.

Bassist Chris Wolstenholme and his wife Kelly are expecting a child in November. Consequentially, the band has canceled the November 2nd show in Kansas City, MO and the November 3rd show in St. Louis, MO. The November 5th show in Columbus, Ohio will now be October 12 and the November 6th show in Cincinnati will be moved up to October 11.

Tickets previously purchased for the Ohio show will be honored at the new dates. Refunds for canceled/rescheduled shows can be obtained at point of purchase.

New tour schedule: