Sloss Fest is back in just over a week, and we couldn’t be happier.
In advance of this year’s festival, we connected with our client, our friend, and local superstar Paul Janeway—lead singer for St. Paul and the Broken Bones—to get his take on a few must-see acts.
For the inaugural festival last year, Janeway and company brought down the house with a stunning performance. They drew one of the biggest crowds of the weekend too. Not bad for some local boys with only one album.
Even though they’re in the middle of an European Tour and unable to join us at Sloss, Paul spoke highly of this year’s lineup. In no particular order, here are Paul’s Sloss Fest recommendations for your listening pleasure.
The Burning Peppermints
“I think they are one of the best bands in Birmingham. I’m glad they are playing this festival.”
What would the cast of Reservoir Dogs sound like if they traded the guns and bank robbing for guitars and punk rock? The world may never know, but we’d like to think they would sound a little like the Burning Peppermints.
We’re proud of the success these guys are having, and we throw our support in for this high-energy hometown band.
Watch the video for “Ned Schneeblee”:
The Flaming Lips
“Always a fun show. Any show with that many inflatable objects is going to win me over.”
Where do we even start? Since producing their first album in 1983, The Flaming Lips have been on the pioneering edge of the ever-changing psychedelic indie rock scene. In case you need further corroboration that Paul is a man of impeccable taste, Q Magazine once named The Flaming Lips as one of the “50 Bands to See Before You Die.”
Life is short. Don’t miss out.
In the meantime, enjoy this video for “The Yeah Yeah Yeah Song”:
Seratones
“They have opened up a few shows for us and we’re taking them with us in the Fall as well. Just love them. Great music and great people.”
No joke. These Shreveport natives—who opened for St. Paul & The Broken Bones at one of their Alabama Theatre shows in November after a Secret Stages performance last summer—are making a name for themselves across the country with their powerful sound and killer performances. We’re proud to welcome Seratones back to Birmingham, and suggest you listen to Paul’s advice.
Check out their Tiny Desk Concert live from NPR:
Shovels & Rope
“We have the same booking agent and like to think he has great taste. Shovels & Rope are always a good show and great singing.”
They also have a damn good song called “Birmingham.” ‘Nuff said.
Turn up the speakers and enjoy this video for “Birmingham”:
Danny Brown
“Danny played the same stage as us at Bonnaroo and it was a crazy good show. Love the tunes as well.”
Good tunes, indeed. We think that good music helps make the world go ‘round here at Big, and we like to think Danny Brown feels the same. Why else would he bring such originality to the creation of his art?
Hip-hop is alive and well, and we’re thankful Danny Brown will be able to grab the mic and enliven the Sloss crowd with his imported-from-Detroit sound.
Check out his performance from SoundSet in Minneapolis earlier this year (R.I.P. Prince):
And, because we can, enjoy a lagniappe performance from St. Paul and the Broken Bones live on KEXP in Seattle: