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The moment of rejoice is at hand for those who like to spend time in social settings!  If scenesters are looking for events they might actually enjoy taking part in besides the social recognition of their exploits, there are any number of ongoings this weekend that would gladly occupy the time of even the casual hipster.  And for everyone else, it’s just going to be a fun weekend.  Here are a few highlights:

• All the popular kids will be at the Atomic Cowboy tonight, September 12th to attend worship services of Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers.  Or at least the STL blogeratti will be there from the look of the guest list online, who apparently dig this blues-rooted trashy goth rock (or some permutation like that).
• Why try to be hip when you can just buy your indie-cred this week? PubDef.net reports that STL Collector of Revenue Gregory Daly will host a jazz-themed fundraiser tonight at Steinberg Rink in Forest Park.  At each donation level the contributor earns a new status in the social hierarchy, starting with Hipster, Daddy-O, Cool Cat, and even 18 karat.  No word yet on what level of donation includes a tote bag gift…
• Balloon Glow.  Forest Park. Friday.  Just because.
• Bloc Party is only 2 years removed from being at the pinnacle of indie-rock’s then obsession.  Wouldn’t that make it ironic to see them this Friday night @ The Pageant?  We’re not sure, but it will impress your favorite rock critic @ at least.
• Invite your sweetie to the Hop in the City this Saturday September 15th, but make sure she’s of age first since there will be plenty of beer tasting (albeit without PBR).  Instead raise a glass of Schlafly pumpkin beer (probably the closest thing to liquid pumpkin pie ever) and dozens of other varieties at the Schlafly Tap Room.  Scenesters will be seen stumbling, not sure exactly who is seeing them.
• Be an OB (Original Beatnik) this Sunday September 18th @ the Royale, where you can Get Born Reading.  There you can *ahem* keep warm in your short pants, and maybe find romance, in the same sort of setting Bob Dylan rose from his Subteranean Homesick Blues; listening to readings from some of Saint Louis’ finest poets.  Look at kids, they keep it all hid; in this case hidden in the mire of metaphor and written word.

We hope to get past the bouncers since I’m not nearly as hip as I wish I were; until then we’ll list our future disapointments for the kids on our Upcoming page (including a few not listed here).

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It’s been nearly a week since The Lot festival took place in front of the Schlafly Tap Room, but in that week that started with our post of a video from the festival has ended with the posting of more videos from the music performances.  In breakneck turn around time, our friend Bill Streeter has edited together (at least) 2 performances from two of our favorite local bands - Jumbling Towers and the 7 Shot Screamers.  Of course that wasn’t easy, considering that he had four cameras to sync and edit together, one of which was my angle.

Music performances weren’t the only festivities drawing such a thick crowd to the festival, so I thought I’d share some additional perspectives of The Lot with this photo essay.  Individual shots, tagged bands, and larger versions of the photos shown above are available in our FlickR Photoset.

Make sure not to get too hung up in the past though, as the Big Muddy Blues Festival enters its second night this Sunday.  The streets were packed and the drinks were full when we were there last night, and the Landing was once again filled with sweet sound reverberating through the brick alleys and down the stone roads.  We suggest paying your respect to the blues highway this weekend.

So we may be thousands of miles from the annual International Ska Circus, but tonight St. Louis will be receiving a touring ska show that may be just as good in my book. Reel Big Fish will be joining up with Less Than Jake, Streetlight Manifesto, and Against All Authority for the Shout It Loud tour.

While I anticipate tonight’s crowd to don their checkers, I’m not so sure whether the music will reflect that same vibe (sans Streetlight Manifesto, who will always play with the most upstroke beats and horn solos). I’m curious to see whether Less Than Jake will bring along a horn section, as their sound has taken quite a different direction since I swooned over them in the Pezcore era.

Despite how the years have changed the bands (between member lineups and styles), the show will bring together some fun bands and even more fun music. The tour has sold out in other cities, so expect it to be crowded here as well - even with just RBF or LTJ headlining alone, The Pageant has been full of kids, with barely room to move on the floor. Doors are 6:30, show starts at 7:30.

Due to some domain issues, our friends over at 52nd City are unable to get the word out about two of their upcoming events. It’s time now for Highway 61 to do its civic duty.

Go to these events:

52nd City “Sporty” Release Party
Where: Riley’s, 3458 Arsenal, 314-664-7474
When: Saturday, July 28, 3-6 p.m.
No cover, free food and drinks, all ages

This afternoon will mark the release of our fifth print issue, along with our previous effort, the CD “Sound.” The new mag features a variety of St. Louis writers, illustrators and photographers musing on the topic of “Sporty” and will be on sale for $8, with all previous issues available, as well. Expect a few sporting events to be held in-and-out of Riley’s on Saturday. Owner Bill Kapes is generously offering some free food and drink… while supplies last. Our new web issue will also go live on this day.

Chippewa Chapel BBQ Benefit
Where: Off Broadway, 3509 Lemp, 314-773-3363
When: Thursday, August 2, 8-10 p.m.
No cover, BBQ for sale, 21-up after 10 p.m.

The hosts of the Chippewa Chapel and Off Broadway have generously offered to host a BBQ benefit for 52nd City. Bring a few dollars for BBQ and your guitar: enjoy a bite, then sign up for the Chippewa Chapel’s open mic, the most-popular open mic and jam in South City. The open mic ordinarily kicks off at 9 p.m., but we’ll have music on the gorgeous Off Broadway stage beginning at 8 p.m. this evening. Some 52nd City giveaways will be peppered through the evening.

…are not in this post. Because I don’t know any of them, or really feel like searching around for them. I could make some up if you’d like. But with the hype of the last book, and the hush-hush matter that the die hard fans tried to keep quiet, I thought it would be fun to check up on some of my favorites of the spoiler “moments” that people posted last year:

YTMND AIM Spoiler

Tom Hanks really gets into it

And if you are excited about the book release, you probably already know about the pre-parties going on at book stores and libraries all around town. In my opinion, the events at Left Bank Books sound the most promising to me, so that’s where I’ll be heading with the rest of my Pot-terhead fans (plus, the butterbeers and ice creams were calling my name). They’re having a whole street festival, turning North Euclid into a virtual Diagon Alley.

Because we’ll probably check out every event we’re officially invited to, we printed up our tickets and made a trip to a special open house @ the Bluebird.  As St. Louis’ newest concert venue, you’ve probably already heard about their Grand Opening this Saturday July 14th, 2007.

Instead of waiting for a more appropriate showcase of local acts, which the venue already showcases via framed poster art (albeit for other venues thus far), we thought we’d share the sneak peak at the venue for you.  And while a majority of our Flickr photoset involves an empty floor and/or Beffa’s (which is adjacent to the venue), we can say that the venue was pretty packed for a casual DJ set by the time we were on our way out the door.  Quite frankly, I was surprised not to see booties shaking to the sounds of LCD Soundsystem playing.

And don’t be fooled by the adjacent parking just because the venue lacks clear signage leading you in, because we already heard murmurs from staff on our way in (from the back entrance) that such indicators are on their way.  In the meantime, the venue has a spacious dancefloor, an adjacent bar, and even a little couch to crash on with as many of your buddies you can fit on it.  Clearly the Bluebird is poised to fill the void left among local music venues drawing national acts in place of the Hi-Pointe, etc.  Hope to see you there sometime soon…

While I’m usually happy as a pea in pod to share some of my favorite upcoming films every weekend, there comes a time that an entire weekend or evening must be put aside for special screenings.  These festival screenings of films separate those who are merely interested in showcase from the die hard film geeks.  It is for the latter’s sake that I simply must post this notice, lest they miss another film fest.  While each one of these festivals warrants their own blog posts, for now please mark your calendars.

• 2007 St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase (presented by Cinema St. Louis)
  July 21-26, 2007 @ the Tivoli Theater, Centene Center for Arts & Education, and Blueberry Hill (check schedule for show times)

  This seventh annual showcase of local films of national quality features a special compilation screening of “This is Lo-Fi Saint Louis”, including a discussion of videography and blogging with Bill Streeter. In fact most films in the showcase will feature a Q&A with their creators, all of whom are supposed to have strong ties to the area and many for whom this screening might be the only one of their works. That alone can justify the $10 ticket price (or $8 for students), which are available ONLY through the Tivoli Theater’s box office in advance, and on a first-come, first-serve basis during the festival (no internet or phone sales).

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Because sometimes console gaming is just a little too solitary, why not meet other local gamers at the No-Frills LAN party? Our friends @ Warfactory (the same folks behind the annual LANetarium at the Science Center) are planning another LAN party, this time a bit more focused playing with friends instead of competition ladder tournaments. For those of you who still consider computer gamers to be for the socially maladjusted, here comes another chance to prove your prejudice wrong.  According to the Warfactory website:

So what does this mean? Basically, we organize everything for you and give you a great place to LAN with all our equipment (including our fancy new core switch!) and we join you for a day of fun.
The best part … IT’S TOTALLY FREE!!!!!. To ensure that you’ll have a seat, however, we are accepting a $5 payment to “payments@warfactory.net” which we will refund or give you credit at the LAN for pizza/drinks.

So here’s your chance to pwn some n00bz and frag yr friends (as they say). It’ll all go down at the Banwidth Exchange Building in downtown St. Louis this August 18th, 2k7 edition.  Just bring your computer and add Bawls…

I love France, French, Français. When I visit big cities I can find Little Italy with ease or pass by Chinatown without a thought. Russian, Romanian, German, Dutch…it seems that the only city that has a decent French Quarter is the one and only Big Easy. Now, don’t get me wrong, we’ve got a rich French history here in the old Louis IX’s namesake city. I guess what I’m missing is the culture, the people…the opportunity to practice my French. I’d take residence in a true “Little France” area of town in an instant.

But maybe I’ve got hope this weekend in St. Louis’ Soulard district. Bastille Day* is on its way, complete with events all weekend set to project you into that angry French mob you’ve always wanted to be a part of. Off with his head!

Here’s the rundown from stlcamp.org:

21st ANNUAL SOULARD BASTILLE DAYS FESTIVAL
JULY 13TH - 15TH, 2007

FRIDAY, JULY 13TH
6:00 pm A farewell gathering at the corner of Russell and Menard for Queen Marie Antoinette & King Louis. Gather at Joanie’s, Johnny’s or The Bastille to send the King and Queen off to their dreaded fate. (more…)

You may have heard of my good buddy Chuck Klosterman. In fact, we’ve spent a lot of sleepless nights together. He’ll keep me up until the wee hours with bedtime stories - well, more like intellecutal essays - ranging from his life as a Sim or why he hates soccer so much. Each piece could serve well to spur your imagination and conversation.

Thursday, July 5th we’ll actually have a date together at the Mad Art Gallery, and I can’t wait.*

We share one distinguishing trait - overanalysis. Chuck (yes, I’d like to think we’re on a first name basis; and no, I’m not completely sure that I’ve been saying his last name correctly over the years) can turn something glanced over by many and construct it into a complicated and in depth analysis on culture or psychology. Through these ideas, his writing style is one to keep you interested. A firm chokehold on the neck of the English language forces it to scream “Uncle” in his wake, and scattered footnotes further his humorous commentaries. Not to mention that Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs is organized into a mixtape format, with chapter titles as playcount times and a bootleg CD title page.

So, all in all, vis a vie, this and that, I anticipate the reading to be one not to be missed. Give this guy the audience he deserves. I know I will.

Get to know Chuck Klosterman through his own words:
Fargo Rock City: A Heavy Metal Odyssey in Rural North Dakota
Sex Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto
Killing Yourself to Live: 85% of a True Story
and most recently
Chuck Klosterman IV: A Decade of Curious People and Dangerous Ideas
I imagine his next collection will be called Life as The Chuck: I Really Love Using Subtitles.

PS: If you pick ip IV at Left Bank Books, they’ll give you two tickets to the event! Cocoa puffs will be provided to snack on, and the man himself will judge a Jimmy Page look alike contest, so don’t forget to curl those locks and bring your best guitarist gleams.

*Granted, he’ll still have no idea who I am. He’s probably just here for the extra cash another tour date could bring rather than my own personal hopes and dreams.