61revised.com

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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.

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For those of you who couldn’t make it out to our Blog Party last Friday, our condolences.  We thought it’d be nice to let in on our fun with this slideshow, of which individual pictures can be inspected on a FlickR photoset.  If you have any pictures from the event yourself, might we suggest using the appropriate Flickr tag or at least adding it to the event page on Facebook?

Although I must admit that attendance was lower than expected, the blog party was a definite success.  On what turned into one of the busiest social nights of the year, we finagled just enough friends and well-wishers to eat through a couple pizzas.  Thanks everyone.

Since we first announced the Blog Party we’ve generated quite a bit of interest (or at least conversations) on the Meetup (remember those) ideas.  And we agree: a blog party should be more like a block party, celebrating the neighborhood with our neighbors.  Consider this the alpha preview, and any potential follow-up a beta release.

With a bulletin board that looks like this, no wonder this blog might fall behind in sharing the best shows, events, and nouns around town (see previous post for details).  It’s hard enough to filter through the flyers to find something worthwhile, much less stumble across the right dead-tree media.  It’s easy to understand why kids in the county don’t know what’s going on in the city, and vice versa.  To say nothing about the uselessness that MySpace has become in spite of it’s ubiquity (browsing through the same profiles with the same regularity of routine around your neighborhood).

Fortunately this medium gives us the opportunity to do something about it ourselves.  Thanks to technology we can cast the widest net, while delivering the specific content people are searching for.  For instance, if I wanted to announce an event, let’s say a Blog Party, I could publish an article, list an event others can add to their calendar, and let people invite their friends within my control.  In that same process, I have created driving directions, made a collective photo album, and helped set up the next activity.  And we can’t say enough about The Circuit, which gives us the local community connection that other Social Networks have lost.  Which helps make sure people don’t just hear about your event, but actually helping you make sure they show up for it.  Oh, and then published pieces like this are made after we find out about your concert/show/venue/store/blog/etc…

Highway 61 (revised) is not just a blog, so much as it is a community that brings attention to worthwhile people and places.  We use social bookmarks to share the news we find, pool photos that inspire us, tune each other in to good tunes, keep each other up to date on events, and put Saint Louis back on the map.  Occasionally, we publicly post articles to make sure that word is spread, but with your help it could be much more…

If you are interested in becoming a contributor/author to Highway 61 (revised), we’re interested in helping your voice be heard.  So far we’ve used our multiple contributor format share different perspectives and earn readers with regular updates.  Since you’re appearantly among that audience, you probably have a good idea what we’re about.  So if you’re still interested in becoming a contributor to our blog, please contact us either via The Circuit or myself directly @ skewgee at yahoo dot com.  And check back here soon for an announcement you’d probably expect as the first thing we’d be working on…

Full disclosure: I used one of those kids mumbling that “there’s nothing to do in this town”.  I am proud I can now be counted among the cheerleaders of this city and give dirty looks to its detractors.  In the short span of time I’ve been writing this blog, I have collected a list of things to do long enough that I cannot attend so much as half of the events I recommend, much less write about them.  As a result I have collected a backlog of Upcoming events in the calendar, which I am now compelled to list in a digest format to make sure you know about them too.  Each of them still warrant a post of their own, but this will have to suffice.  So if you find the time to make it out this weekend, here’s some cool shit to do:

• It’s Fashion Week in St. Louis!  Finally St. Louis gets the credit it deserves for it’s achievements downtown.  When we’re not busy poking fun at local publications, we’ll actually give them props for making things happen.  There are a ton of shows (read: after parties) yet to take place, and some interesting multimedia (*cough*mayor slay interview*cough*) pieces+blog action.  Really though, we were going to write about this show before it sold out.
• The Ditty Bops (and Maid Rite) play Mad Art Gallery on Thursday August 25th @ 7 and 10 pm.  They’ll be “Takin’ it fast takin it slow, Don’t take it at all just get up and go, Come on let’s go” and possibly wearing vegetable bikinis while playing their vaudeville-style bluegrass tunes.  It’s only their second time playing Saint Louis, but we’re sure you’ll give them reason to come back while they give you a reason to pay; a portion of your ticket price will go towards Farm Aid.  Also, they have a tour blog.
• We’re making time between work this Saturday afternoon for the Festival of Nations, and the Moonlight Ramble on Saturday night.  The Moonlight Ramble now on it’s upteenth year of bicycle reclamation of our city’s streets shouldn’t need an introduction, so here’s a little more information.  We’re glad that the celebrated second annual Festival of Nations will also take place this Sunday afternoon, after our coffee break.

And did we mention our party this Friday evening, August 24th?  Oh yeah, we posted about that already.  Well since “nothing is going on around here these days”, we’re sure you’ll drop by.  Or at least for the after-party.

Yes, we know it’s back to school season (*cough*mixtape*cough*) because some of our contributors went to class and some moved in this weekend.  Others of us are looking for jobs, while some of us made student films.  But just because summer is drawing to a close doesn’t mean we won’t be your loyal bloggers, since this started with a class.  Links with your Coffee Sunday will resume, sometime shortly after we help film The Lot this Saturday (see you there).

• Won’t you be a neighbor? Subterranean Books (who just renovated their blog) raised our hopes with City Faces,  only to break our hearts and now needs to raise money.  The Urban Studio is also getting great press (and updates, finally), but needs tutors.  Brick City suggests we can help by taking a city recycling survey, which is really helping yourself.  If you can this week, give yourself (and others) a hand.
• If you missed Film Geek Friday last week (hint: there wasn’t one), it’s because our post about the Int’l Student Film Festival was more than a suggestion since that feature’s original name was Film Student Fridays.
• Actual coffee link provided via 52nd City; Mississippi Mud House, where you can use the wi-fi to read PubDef, Webster Bloggers, and all of our other friends (along with us) in the Show-Me Progress feed.
• (more…)

Although you wouldn’t have learned about it reading their blog, we just got notice that Star Clipper is having a one-day 20% sale today, August 14th.  Why?  They seem to think it’s because it’s too damn hot to get us customers in there doors; according to their message -

Come in to Star Clipper today, August 14th, and get 20% off books, comics and magazines! Finally, global warming is paying off!!
There’s no better way to keep cool than with great savings. Just be sure to mention this message! Sorry, not combinable with any other offer.

Could be a good way beat the heat as their site suggests, but those less interested in comics, graphic art, manga, etc available at this UCity mainstay might still try our previous tips out instead.  But for those of you brave enough to fight off a heat index over 100 degrees, we suggest you keep your cool this afternoon inside the store as long as possible.

Mark your social calendars now (if you haven’t already): August 25th is bound to become the busiest weekend of your year.  Between international festivals, bike rides/flash mob, and the glorious return of the Webster Film Series, you probably would have trouble dropping existing commitments.  Fortunately for us @ Highway 61, the choice has been made exceedingly simple - we’ll be helping Bill Streeter make documentary video of The Lot.

If you haven’t heard about The Lot already, you will soon from your favorite bands (or at least in a note slipped in recent Schlafly 6-pack deliveries).  This 9th annual, one-day festival promises to deliver the best in local music in less than 24 hours.  And for FREE.  We’ll trust that you can find out for yourself all the reasons you’ll want to make plans to attend the show, although we’ll mention a few of our faves: Jumbling Towers, 7 shot screamers, and belly dancing.  But we’re obligated to mention (for calendar marking purposes) that the show will take place in the parking lot of the Schlafly Tap Room on 21st & Locust from 5:00 pm-1:30 am on August 25th.

And if for some reason you are unable to attend the Lot (or are just as impatient as us), you can attend a preview/pre-party this Wednesday August 15th.  Taking place in the Lucas School House on 1200 Allen Ave. between 8 pm and midnight, this set will include local band favorites Sex Robots, Upright Animals, and Grand Beauty, for a cover of $5 that includes a specialty drink.  Of course that free drink means the show will be 21+, but don’t let that get in the way of helping support the free show taking place 10 days later.  We suspect that if you’ve read this far, we’ll see you there, but if now you can’t say we didn’t tell you so.

We know that it’s not the heat (it’s the humidity), but there are certain limits to these things.  Then our favorite forecasters extended the excessive-heat warning for the St. Louis area.  Even the evening brings no relief to the day’s harsh rays - I measured nearly 90 degrees Fahrenheit at 1am this morning.

By now you’ve probably run through any of the heat beating activities we suggested earlier, so we thought we’d suggest a couple more activities to keep you cool in every sense of the terms.  As for another post related to the weather, we’re pretty sure even Ben Abell couldn’t rule it out.

• We know Ted Drew’s has bills to pay, but dairy products can make you sick in the heat.  And although the downtown sno-cone stand is only open on Tuesdays, Sauce Magazine has the hookup on all the hydrating shaved-ice products for the lactose-itinerant this summer.
• If you must spend time outside, make sure it’s reveling in the abundant, tasty resource that gives this city life whilst making our hot air unbearable - water.  Public pools are packed, but we hear they’re staying open a little later to help you cool off.  And don’t feel guilty taking advantage of your friend with pool access - they acquired access to become popular on days like these.
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Just as with the tornado sirens that woke us up this morning, with a Excessive Heat Warning in effect forecast the rest of the week in the St. Louis area, we’re proud to take advantage of your natural inclination to stay indoors this week.  As a matter of a fact, I might be considered somewhat of a savant at spending time indoors over summer.  But if you must head outside this week (like me), here’s our own take on a few less practical tips for staying cool this summer.

• Since it’s important to stay hydrated in the summer heat, we recommend you take advantage of the heat and brew Sun Tea.  Unlike Iced Tea (which owes its popular origin to Saint Louis), Sun Tea feeds off the summer heat despite being served ice cold.  It’s natural mellowing agents, like ketchup, should help you from panicking as the rise in temperature stresses your being.
• Eat more ice cream.
• (more…)

Every year we hear the same set of songs playing continuously between Thanksgiving Day until December 26th.  This July we decided to do something about it.

By offering a list of songs that includes entirely original Xmas tunes alongside the unique interpretations of holiday standards, we hope we’ll inspire you to explore holiday songs of all musical and religious traditions.  And while you needn’t any particular set of spiritual beliefs (or at all) to enjoy them, here’s our offering at the altar of seasonal music, hoping maybe it will prod on a new inclusion to the musical canon of the holiday season.

1. Bright Eyes - Blue Christmas (1)
2. The Walkmen - Christmas Party (2)
3. Magnet - Let It Snow (3)
4. Mike Nicolai - Christmas is for Losers (4)
5. Snowden - Happy Christmas (War is Over) (5)
6. Sufjan Stevens - That Was The Worst Christmas Ever! (6)
7. Death Cab for Cutie - Christmas (Baby Please come Home) (7)
8. The Next Door Neighbors - How to make Eggnog  (8)
9. Tom Lehrer - Hanukkah in Santa Monica (9)
10. Yukon and You - Marxist Christmas (10)
11. Arcade Fire - Winter for a Year (11)
12. James Brown - Santa Claus is Definitely Here to Stay (12) 
13. Beck - Chanukah Funk (13)
14. Steve Martin - 5 Christmas Wishes (14)
15. Arcade Fire - Jinglebell Rock (self-hosted)
16. DJ John - The Charlie Brown Christmas Massacre (15)
17. JoolsMF - Havana Good Christmas (16)
18. Darren Hanlon - Spend Christmas Day with Me (self-hosted)

Extra credit - Share your favorite holiday tunes in our last.fm group (like that John Denver and the Muppets Christmas Special we’re not supposed to share with you).  We’ll have another raffle among members our last.fm group in a week’s time to win a physical copy of our Xmas in July mixtape.  Sign up for your stocking stuffer now.