Aircheck (MP3)

As if there’s ever been any doubt, this will once and for all prove that I’m as big a dork as you will find anywhere on the planet.

Now would be a good time to become a fan of the band on Facebook and follow them on Twitter.

Download “I Lost Lenore” here!

So the Nevermores CD is officially “OUT” now, and I’ll be posting it on the TIRC Store here sometime today (hopefully). In the meantime, you should be able to find it locally at Vintage Vinyl, Euclid Records and Apop Records. If you don’t see it at any of those locations, be sure to post a comment and let me know so we can get it restocked. And be sure and call your favorite KDHX radio hosts and request that they play something from it! It wouldn’t hurt to do this on KPNT (The Point), either… especially on their local music show (Sunday nights, right?). 

By the way, I shot some video of the bands Saturday night, up until the point where the low-battery indicator was going off (I don’t think I was able to shoot any of Left Arm, who played last, unfortunately), but I haven’t had a chance to review any of it to see if it’s worthy of posting online. If it is, you’ll see it here before too long, I promise. I also snapped a few photos and the same goes for those. I realize I’ve been sort of neglecting this blog lately and I hope to correct that and start posting here more regularly soon… although I’ve got a vacation coming up in a couple of weeks so don’t look for much until after June 1 or so.

Anyway, thanks again to all of you that came out Saturday night and made it such a fun night of St. Louis-style rock’n'roll.

The Greenhornes Live at KDHX (April 7, 2001)

The Greenhornes were in town on tour almost eight years ago now, and were kind enough to drop by the station to record this short live set before heading down to the Rocket Bar for their show with the Swag and Holy Infants. This recording was featured on episode #279 of The Wayback Machine the next day. Enjoy!

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The Geargrinders – Weather (MP3)
The Geargrinders – Fuzz Grinder (MP3)
The Geargrinders – My Nerves Are Exploding (MP3)
The Geargrinders – Why Now (MP3)
The Geargrinders – Maggots on My Brain (MP3)
The Geargrinders – She’s a Bully (MP3)
The Geargrinders – What Do You Know? (MP3)

The 75s - Stereo EP

The newest TIRC Records release is out now and ready for you to download. It’s a 3-song EP by local St. Louis girlie garage-pop sensations The 75s! Please head over to the TIRC Store for more info. And, if you’re looking for the live music hookup this coming weekend, be sure to make plans to attend the 75s’ EP Release Party for Stereo this Saturday night (Feb. 28) at Lemmons. Also appearing will be the Helium Tapes and That’s My Daughter. Plenty of girl-on-girl rock’n'roll action… don’t miss it!

Enjoy this hot rockin’ set from the Flat Duo Jets from Chapel Hill, NC, featuring Dex Romweber and Crow. Thanks again to Jim Utz for providing this one!

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As you can probably tell from the video above, the band was great, despite this being their first show in over 12 years! But I’m really looking forward to hearing some originals in the future, as an entire set of covers wore a bit thin on me after a while (despite the fact that they were all pretty choice ’60s garage nuggets that they were covering, I still like to hear what a band can do on their own). Looking forward to their next gig.

APPEAL FOR FUNDS

Hello, this might be a bit of a strange e-mail. I have treated bands very fairly since I’ve started Voodoo Rhythm and have given them their records for cost price so that they could make a solid profit when selling their records on tour (we all know payouts are lousy nowadays). I did approach the SUISA (Copyright Company, musicians’ union) and informed them of the nature of my agreement with the bands.

Unfortunately I never put it in writing.

Now that is exactly the problem: The SUISA demands payback of a total of 42,500 Swiss Franks (roughly $38,000 US). Basically they want money for productions that had long been settled. The bitter irony is that bands of course prefer free copies of their album, yet the SUISA is oblivious to this fact and demand the money within 30 days. If we cannot meet their demands we might have to shut down business, since it is completely impossible for us to raise that kind of money. Therefore we kindly ask for your support. Even if we can pay we will not be able to offer the bands the same deal as before, in spite of the fact that they would much rather get free copies from us as opposed to SUISA money (especially American bands since they don’t get any SUISA money at all).

We hope you can help us. We don’t want to quit, we want to resume or work and our journey. Please transfer funds to the following account and forward this message.

Sincerely,
Reverend Beat-Man
Voodoo Rhythm Records

Voodoo Rhythm is not only one of the few remaining truly KICK-ASS trash-punk-blues-rock’n'roll labels left on the planet, but I also consider Beat-Man a personal friend of mine, so please, if you can help out, do so. Send PayPal payments to info (at) voodoorhythm (dot) com. Thanks!

The Argonauts are a 60’s style garage punk band in St. Louis, Missouri. Although all members are from St. Louis, the band originally formed in Columbia, Missouri back in the mid 90’s. The Argonauts consist of Jason Kohner (lead vocals, guitar), Nate Reeves (lead guitar), Tim Hopmeier (bass, vocals), and Dave Devine (drums). Kohner and Reeves, fresh out of The Fabulous Hustlers (a garage combo including Steve Mace and Steve Rager of The Untamed Youth), were old friends with Hopmeier (then with The Neanderthals) and hooked up with Devine (formerly with Erector Set). The rest is history. Opening for acts such as Southern Culture On The Skids and Rocket From The Crypt, The Argonauts quickly became one of Columbia’s most popular garage bands of the 1990s. For a brief stint Dave Devine left the group and was replaced by Chris Raymond on drums before they finally disbanded. Devine and Hopmeier would go on to form The Cripplers, which Raymond would later join on guitar. However, all the members eventually moved back to St. Louis and are now back together playing some ferocious garage rock and love songs for bastards. Maximum Garage R&R!!!

Jason & The Argonauts in the early days.

Listen to the blistering covers of some of your garage-rock favorites on their Myspace page. Trust me, you won’t want to miss this show.

Oh yeah, and John Ebert made a flyer, too. Pass it on…

Flyer by John Ebert.

I Wanna Be Your Dog – Live (MP3)

Thanks to Tim Jamison for this one!

December 6-8, 2008
20% off all orders over $30.00, shipping costs do not apply

December 9-11, 2008
15% off all orders orders over $30.00, shipping costs do not apply

December 12-15, 2008
10% off all orders over $30.00, shipping costs do not apply

Coupon codes:
USD$: NOW1
CAD$: CADNOW1

Here are the links to the stores I have up and running:

GaragePunk Store
Trouble in River City (TIRC) Store
St. Louie Louie Store
South Side for Obama Store

Thanks!

Poster by Potter

Kaiser Records recording artistes Thee Crucials are coming to Lemmons on Friday December 12! These Altanta cats really know how to throw down so don’t miss out!! They gonna shake it up! They gonna ball it up! Appearing with them on stage will be (you know ‘em, you love ‘em) Thee Fine Lines from Springfield, Mo., and The Nevermores from right here in St. Louis. We’re talking one fun night of wild-ass garage R&B punk mayhem!! And don’t forget Lemmons’ excellent PIZZA and HOT WINGS… and, of course… BEEEEEERRR!!! See you’s there.

Enjoy these MP3s from Thee Crucials’ forthcoming LP:
Doe Eyes
Downtown
Squares Beware

The location of Lee Shelton's whorehouse is still standing.

William Lyons, 25, colored, a levee hand, living at 1410 Morgan Street, was shot in the abdomen yesterday evening at 10 o’clock in the saloon of Bill Curtis, at Eleventh and Morgan Streets, by Lee Sheldon, also colored. Both parties, it seems, had been drinking and were feeling in exuberant spirits. Lyons and Sheldon were friends and were talking together. The discussion drifted to politics and an argument was started, the conclusion of which was that Lyons snatched Sheldon’s hat from his head. The latter indignantly demanded its return. Lyons refused, and Sheldon withdrew his revolver and shot Lyons in the abdomen. Lyons was taken to the Dispensary, where his wounds were pronounced serious. He was removed to the City Hospital. At the time of the shooting the saloon was crowded with negroes. Sheldon is a carriage driver and lives at 911 North Twelfth Street. When his victim fell to the floor Sheldon took his hat from the hand of the wounded man and coolly walked away. He was subsequently arrested and locked up at the Chestnut Street Station. Sheldon is also known as ‘Stag’ Lee.

-Saint Louis Globe-Democrat, December 28, 1895

That, in a nutshell, is the story of Lee Shelton (the name had been misspelled in the newspaper), both known as “Stag” and “Stack” Lee. The Bill Curtis Saloon was located in the epicenter of what was then St. Louis’ thriving vice district. The saloon was located at 1101 Morgan Street (now Delmar and at this location, Convention Plaza), at the corner of 13th Street, a few blocks away from a notorious bordello called The Bucket of Blood. Incidentally, this is also just a few blocks from where I work, at 10th and Washington.

Lee Shelton may have earned himself the nickname of “Stag” from his reputation as a pimp and a loner. But there’s also evidence that he called himself “Stack” after the riverboat Stack Lee, part of the Lee Line of riverboats, known as Cecil Brown relates in Stagolee Shot Billy, “…for speed, sumptuous cabins, elaborate cuisine—and prostitution.”

At the bar, Shelton asked “Who’s treating?” Someone pointed to Billy Lyons. Shelton sat at his table, where, according to several witnesses, they drank companionably until the talk turned to politics. They started throwing blows at each other’s hats, Shelton eventually breaking the brim of Lyon’s derby.

In turn, Lyons grabbed Shelton’s Stetson, saying he wouldn’t give it back until Shelton paid him for his damaged hat.

Instead, Shelton pulled a .44 Smith & Wesson revolver, shot Lyons, snatched his hat, and, without a word, walked out of the bar and back to his boarding house on 6th Street. He was arrested early the next morning after police, following a tip, found him asleep in bed.

Billy Lyons died from his wounds, and Stag Lee was put on trial for murder—twice. The first trial ended in a hung jury amidst a lot of political controversy. In the second trial, Shelton was convicted and sentenced to 25 years at the state penitentiary. He was released early, but went right back to a life of crime. He ended up pistol-whipping a thug and was sent right back to prison where he died, at age 46, in 1912.

The story and, subsequently, the song traveled down the Mississippi River from St. Louis to New Orleans, where it took on a life of its own. The scoundrel’s name variously became “Stag” Lee, Stagger Lee, Stag-O-Lee, Stagolee, Stackolee, Stack-A-Lee, and even Stack-O-Dollars, and the song traveled around the country. The words to the song were first published in 1910 by folklorist John Lomax under the title “Stagolee.” In most versions of the song, the dispute involves gambling and the Stetson hat. One of the first recordings was by Frank Hutchison in 1927. Blues singer and guitarist Mississippi John Hurt recorded the song in 1928 under the title “Stack O’Lee Blues.” Stack O’Lee is hanged in Hurt’s version. The tune became well known throughout the South and has been immortalized in song over the last century, performed by the likes of Mississippi John Hurt, Bob Dylan, Jerry Lee Lewis, Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Ike and Tina Turner, Wilson Pickett, PJ Proby, Pat Boone, The Grateful Dead, Champion Jack Dupree and Lloyd Price, amongst many others. There are hundreds of different versions of the song, variously called Stagger Lee, Stagolee, Stackerlee, Stack O’Lee, Stack-a-Lee and several other spellings, sung by musicians as far apart in style as W.C. Handy (“Stack O’Lee”) and The Clash (“Wrong ‘Em Boyo”).

The boarding house at 911 N. 12th Street (now known as Tucker Blvd.), where, according to the St. Louis Globe-Democrat story above, “Stag” Lee Shelton lived, is still standing; it’s the only house remaining on the block (directly across from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch building). But, according to Cecil Brown, this was actually the location of Shelton’s “Lid” club (whorehouse), since police arrested him at his residence on 6th Street… but I am not sure if this “Lid” club was the same nightclub as his infamous “Modern Horseshoe Club.” While it once housed a restaurant (the Sommer House) in the early 1990s, it now appears to be a private residence. I snapped the photo above last week.

Lee Shelton is buried in an unmarked grave in Greenwood Cemetery in Hillsdale, Mo., and William Lyons’ grave is also unmarked. He is buried in St. Peter’s Cemetery in Normandy.

ATTACHED MP3: Stagger Lee Podcast

Featuring the following songs:
Mississippi John Hurt – Stack O’Lee Blues
Lloyd Price – Stagger Lee
Bob Dylan – Stack a Lee
Don & the Goodtimes – Stagger Lee
PJ Proby – Stagger Lee 1965
Bassholes – Stack O Lee
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Stagger Lee
The Clash – Wrong ‘Em Boyo

(A tip of the cap to the Riverfront Times, Harry’s Blues Lyrics Online, Dreamtime Podcast, the Ill Folks blog and Associated Content for information contributing to this article.)

Lola van Ella is bringing her fantastic burlesque show to The Wedge tonight for the premier of a fun show with a very South City vibe that will combine punk/rock’n'roll with a grittier, edgier burlesque act. This monthly event will feature guest performers along with a special guest band. Screw U Burly-Q debuts tonight, featuring Siren (glam rock drag queen), Foxy la Feelion (sultry but with a real rock’n'roll edge), Sturdy Gurlesque (a totally hot and awesome fire performer), Gravity Plays Favorites (an amazing pole acrobatic duo), plus the music of TIRC Records’ own LEFT ARM. The Wedge is a new rock n’ roll bar/pizza joint now open at the intersection of Virginia, Compton and Bates in South St. Louis. Admission is $12. Doors open at 8:00 p.m., show is at 9:00. 21 & up only.

LOUD Technologies, the company that purchased St. Louis Music in 2005, has closed this long-time (since 1922) locally based company, a designer and distributor of Ampeg, Crate, Dan Armstrong, and other top brands of musicians gear. In May 2007, Loud closed the Ampeg and Crate engineering department in St. Louis, preferring to have new models designed by their own engineers, as well as an Asian engineering group. This followed Loud ceasing manufacturing of Ampeg and Crate at the Yellville, AR, manufacturing facility, outsourcing the manufacturing to contract manufacturers in Asia, and firing the entire sales staff. As if all of this wasn’t bad enough, Loud has also decided to put the final nail in the SLM coffin by eliminating the distribution facility.

Hence, some of the former employees of St. Louis Music are throwing a funeral/party on Saturday December 13 at the Kat Club, 1440 North Broadway, next to Shady Jack’s. Doors open at 7:00 p.m., the cover is $5 and is restricted to 21 & up. The event will feature bands whose employees are part of the SLM family, featuring The Trip Daddys, Giants in the Sky and TBA. Steve Dachroeden is leading the eulogy as well as putting together some pretty cool shit to give away, rumored to be Ampeg and Dan Armstrong shtuff and maybe some of the platinum records that have been given to the company by sponsored artists. There will be two tattoo artists and a mobile soul food unit and I believe PBR is donating beer. Hopefully I’ll have more details to come.

ANYONE can come to this; this event is for past and (until recently) present employees of St. Louis Music/Loud Technologies, as well as SLME. It is ALSO for anyone who has worked with SLM, used or admired Crate, Ampeg, Dan Armstrong, etc., as well as ANYONE who is sad to see a St. Louis company that started eighty-six years ago die.