Jam of the Day | Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - Morning Thought

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Photo by Jeff Snow

Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. first popped up on our musical map when the duo played the 2010 play:STL fest last September. They were a buzzy indie-pop band, riding high on a critically acclaimed EP, Horse Power, and a silly name. And let's not forget that sweet-as-pie cover of The Beach Boys' "God Only Knows" that will melt even the coldest o' hearts (by the by, that cover showed up on our 20 Best Covers of 2010 list).

Now the long-anticipated debut album has a release date, and the boys from Detroit have offered up the first track to fans, a bone on which to chew until It's a Corporate World drops.

"Morning Thought" is a grinding groove that tears up the gears, an indie-poppier version of The Black Keys' "Everlasting Light." Your shoulders wanna dance, but the somber lyrics make you think twice. Look up "dichotomous" in the dictionary, and there you will find "Morning Thought."

I'll leave you with this: it's one of my favorite jams of 2011 so far. Give it a listen below.

It's a Corporate World comes out June 7th on Quite Scientific.

The duo is also rolling through Saint Louis on March 23rd for a FREE show at The Billiken Club. Hip hop hooray! No need for tickets, obviously; just show up and look cute.

More Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr...

Check out the band's August Daytrotter session.

They remixed Junip's "In Every Direction." Give it a whirl.

Announcing: The LouFest High School Battle of the Bands

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Okay, we're so excited about the 2011 LouFest Music Festival that we could just pee our pants. Jason, Darren, and I had almost too much fun at last August's inaugural event in Forest Park. (We met Jeff Tweedy! And have pictures to prove it!)

Although the line-up hasn't been announced just yet (fingers crossed for mid-March), LouFest has been showing its pretty face around town, sponsoring shows at Off Broadway, The Billiken Club, and The Firebird. (Click here for full round-up of LouFest sponsored shows).

And just this morning, LouFest officially announced a brand new aspect of the two-day festival: The LouFest High School Battle of the Bands! Hoping to identify some of the best young talent in Saint Louis, festival organizers have created this competition to ultimately feature six bands to play sets on a side stage in Area K (formerly called the Kids Village) at this year's LouFest.

Jason and yours truly have been recruited as two of judges for this awesomely awesome Battle, and we can't wait to hear what the kids are throwin' down these days. A total of twelve finalists will be selected to perform in a showcase at Off Broadway either on May 7th and May 21st, and from there, the six winners will be picked.

Officially entry forms and more information can be found on the LouFest blog. Good luck to all the bands!

Pajammy Jam of the Day | Union Tree Review - Let Me Be

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Union Tree Review is Saint Louis' answer to genius indie folk.

Today's Pajammy Jam of the Day, "Let Me Be," instills a sense of longing in me that can't be undone. It's an chugging, acoustic train, reminiscent of Ryan Adams: brilliant lyricism, piano in all the right places, plenty o' references to booze and regret. The track is thoughtfully and intricately arranged, with a heap of employed instruments whose measured restraint never reaches the point of cacophony. In two words: it's good.

"Let Me Be" intrinsically feels like home, with all of its familiar comforts and inevitable pain. I am proud to say Union Tree Review is from my home.

Union Tree Review - Let Me Be

The band hits The Billiken Club this Saturday with Old Lights and Field Music. It's a FREE show, so you have no reason not to show up. Right?

If you absolutely feel you need more proof, check out the video for "Interstate":

Interstate from Matthew Ström on Vimeo.