KWUR 90.3 FM Blog

New blog location. Update your feeds!

2010-10-08T17:04:00.002-06:00

Hey all you KWUR fans, In case you haven't noticed, http://blog.kwur.com/ hasn't been updated in awhile. That's because we have a new website and now you will be able to find our blog on our homepage, kwur.com. So, now is the time to update the feed address for your Google Reader or any other blog compilers that you may use. Our new feed address is http://kwur.com/feed/Thanks, and we'll see you

Paul White: An Englishman with strange dreams and sick psychedelic beats

2010-09-17T10:48:00.007-06:00

Long story short: if you like hip-hop along the lines of J Dilla's Donuts, listen to the 2009 album The Strange Dreams of Paul White, by Paul White. It's out in the US on Stone's Throw Records, the label Donuts was released on. You can put it on when you're chilling out alone or with a few friends and it will make you happy.Now. Who is Paul White and why haven't we all heard about him? He's a

Go Back In Time: Stack Sessions

2010-09-16T14:55:00.003-06:00

I've just delved deep into the KWUR computers and finally posted many of our past Stack Sessions online. Some were posted previously, but this is the first appearance for several bands such as Pirate Fucking Radio, Jon Hardy & the Public, Hermit Thrushes, and Electric Tickle Machine. You may freely stream all sessions or download them at your leisure. Scan down the list on the right side of your

Stack Sessions: Art Majors

2010-08-26T16:44:00.002-06:00

We had the pleasure to feature St. Louis band Art Majors at our station on the evening of August 16. They played three songs, including 2 brand new ones. We will have the complete session posted shortly, but until then, please enjoy two videos that we shot. They have a new EP out, so check it out if you like what you hear.

Album Review: Beth Bombara and the Robotic Foundation

2010-08-25T17:19:00.003-06:00

St. Louisian Beth Bombara has a new band and a new sound on her recent self titled EP Beth Bombara and the Robotic Foundation. With the addition of bass and drums, her sound has matured considerably from her last EP. Expect tight bass lines, smooth drumming, and soaring vocals on every song. On "Not the World" the group proves they can do rocking pop songs as well as they can do mellow

STACK SESSIONS: Ava, Wait

2010-08-24T14:17:00.003-06:00

Tune in tonight at 9:30ish pm to hear an in-studio with Ava, Wait, a St. Louis-based quartet!

Classical new releases at KWUR, 8/2010 edition

2010-08-14T11:05:00.003-06:00

More good (actually, much better than good) new classical CD releases have arrived at KWUR, from which I am happy to broadcast for your listening pleasure:* The Songs of Johannes Brahms - 1, with mezzo-soprano Angelika Kirchschlager and pianist Graham Johnson (Hyperion CDJ33121), the newest "compleat" song series masterminded by Graham Johnson, Hyperion's resident lieder scholar/pianist

Stack Sessions: The Blind Nils

2010-08-10T15:43:00.002-06:00

St. Louis band the Blind Nils joined us in the lounge at the station the other day for a short live performance on the air. They played 5 of their original tunes with eclectic instrumentation including banjo, slide guitar, and xylophone. Take a look the videos below for a peek into their set. Their entire set will be rebroadcast this Thursday at 3:30pm, so don't forget to tune in at www.kwur.com.

Album Review: Kentucky Knife Fight's "We're All Nameless Here"

2010-07-31T12:58:00.003-06:00

Kentucky Knife Fight has been running their garage blues rock all over St. Louis for several years now, and I think it's almost time for the revolution. With the release of their second LP We're All Nameless Here, KKF shows themselves to be the rock n' roll force that it deserves to be. Neither on their new album nor in their live show do KKF mess around. They get straight to the music with

Album Review: Fattback's "EEE PEE"

2010-07-28T17:19:00.004-06:00

Fattback is a band with a great sense of humor. Lyrical content ranges from taco stands to dinosaurs, and they are equally diverse in their musical ability. On their new EP cleverly titled "EEE PEE," they are adept at rip roaring country-rock, blues, and finger blistering straight rock numbers. Guitarist Dave Hagerty and drummer John Joern share the lead vocal duties, but it is Dave's songs based

Some Quick 2010 Favorites

2010-07-25T12:55:00.011-06:00

A Lost PeopleSo we're a little past mid-2010 by now. I just hastily put together this list of some of my favorite releases so far. Without a doubt, I've forgotten some good ones. Hopefully, I'll fix this with a more detailed list in about six months. Anyway if you've read my lists in the past, there shouldn't be too many surprises here...Thee Oh Sees - Quadrospazzed '09 (Castle Face)Thee Oh Sees

Classical new releases at KWUR, 7/2010 edition

2010-07-25T12:26:00.007-06:00

So it's now come to this: as of July 7, 2010, thanks to actions by the leaders of the Lutheran Church-MO Synod and Joy-FM best summarized by the ghost of Hamlet's father in line 27 of Act I, Scene 5 of Shakespeare's play, one station remains in St. Louis that broadcasts a locally hosted classical music show to any extent. For as long as I can, to recycle the cliche from my earlier KWUR blog post

Album Review: Pokey LaFarge's "Riverboat Soul"

2010-07-15T13:29:00.005-06:00

Pokey LaFarge has come a long way since I first saw him 5 years ago playing on street corners and in dirty bars for tips. Now he is playing international tours across the US and Europe. His newest album Riverboat Soul still features his surprisingly authentic old-time blues and dixieland, but now he has a fantastic backing band, the South City Three, to fill out his sound with upright bass,

STACK SESSIONS: Bear Ceuse

2010-07-15T09:17:00.004-06:00

Last Friday we were joined in the studio by Bear Ceuse, aka Cameron Matthews. He played a few songs for us, and we discussed awesome St. Louis bands and his plans for moving to NYC. My two favorite songs ("O-K-L-A-EE-OHMA" and "I Saw It Beating") are posted below for your viewing pleasure. Cameron has also decided that he'd like to host a show on KWUR this summer, so keep your ears open for his

STACK SESSIONS: Flaming Death Trap

2010-07-13T12:30:00.006-06:00

Local boys Flaming Death Trap stopped in at KWUR to perform a few songs for the Stack Session series. We were lucky enough to capture some video. Don't miss a gig by these guys!Featured below are three tunes recorded in the KWUR lounge with our new recording setup.

STACK SESSIONS: Joe Stickley and Sean Canan

2010-07-12T16:29:00.005-06:00

Last Friday we had the pleasure to have Joe Stickley and Sean Canan in the station for a live set on-the-air. They played a few songs off their new album Loaded to the Gunwales as well as an old favorite and a brand new Levellers cover. As always, you can see them on Sunday nights at McGurk's in Soulard. The whole session will be rebroadcast this Thursday at 4:30pm! A few clips are below.

STACK SESSIONS - FEMALE DEMAND

2010-07-09T20:24:00.002-06:00

Female Demand is a two piece out of Houston, and they play loud loud loud rock and roll music. Like, when we were recording their session, shit-was-falling-out-of-the-ceiling-loud. How do two people make so much noise? While you contemplate that mystery, go ahead and download three tracks below. If the link doesn't work or the file won't open, leave a comment and I'll fix it.Female Demand

Album Review: Joe Stickley and Sean Canan's "Loaded to the Gunwales"

2010-07-08T23:01:00.003-06:00

Joe Stickley and Sean Canan have been around the St. Louis scene for years as members of Blueprint and Bockman, but in the last year they have become known for their rousing sets every Sunday night at John D. McGurk's Pub in Soulard. The pub's influence shows as Joe and Sean fill Loaded to the Gunwales with Irish songs filtered through's their americana style. Most songs are traditional, but you

Album Review: Bunnygrunt's "Matt Harnish and Other Delights"

2010-07-08T13:09:00.006-06:00

On Matt Harnish and Other Delights these veterans of St. Louis rock music are still pumping out their jangle pop twee punk hits. Maybe "hits" isn't the right word to use, but their songs are so damn catchy that they should be. The male and female twin attack vocals lead the way in every song and are backed expertly by loud guitars and catchy power chords. The title and album reference the classic

Recent classical new releases at KWUR

2010-06-12T12:41:00.005-06:00

With the pending (and thoroughly unwarranted and corrupt) demise of KFUO, 99.1 FM next month, that will leave one station left in St. Louis that will have any locally hosted classical music radio programming (both terrestial radio and internet[#]), namely this one. Classical music radio from KWUR has been a somewhat under-the-radar situation for quite a while, but with this turn of events, it is

Primavera Sound Review - Saturday

2010-06-11T03:46:00.008-06:00

SaturdayThe sun was really shining Saturday and I made my way to the forum by way of bike along the Barceloneta beach. I arrived to Real Estate's set that took me back to another kind of paradise...my hometown of Ridgewood, NJ. Real Estate has the beachy summer sounds that made a perfect pair to the sunny saturday in Barcelona. The afternoon crowd responded to the good feel jams and lyrics "

Primavera Sound Review - Friday

2010-06-11T02:53:00.005-06:00

FridayOn Friday the venue swelled with many more people flocking to the Forum to see The Pixies headling show. I started the afternoon at Spoon's set on San Miguel. It was the first time I saw Spoon and while their was mixed reaction in the crowd, the funky grooves that Britt Daniel and the gang deployed made Spoon was the perfect catalyst to get me revved up again after a late Thursday night.

RFT Music Showcase

2010-06-09T23:47:00.003-06:00

Every summer the River Front Times hosts a local music showcase. It's a big one day festival featuring 2 big outdoor stages during the day and 12 smaller indoor venues in the evening. There were 50 bands for $5. I consider that a challenge to see as many new bands as possible. At first I was disappointed that the showcase was not on the Delmar Loop this year, but it turned out that the Washington

Album Review: The Hooten Hallers, "The Epic Battle of Good and Evil"

2010-06-09T22:27:00.004-06:00

Bluesy duo the Hooten Hallers hail from Columbia, MO. With just drums and guitar they play a mixture of blues, honky tonk, and rockabilly. Their debut album "The Epic Battle of Good and Evil" hits a lot of different styles ranging from rocking Black Keys-esque blues to weird distorted country that might come from Hank Williams on acid. They even have a great little song about driving down Hwy 55

Primavera Sound 2010 Review

2010-06-04T02:28:00.007-06:00