September 30, 2006
On Irish Anarchy and Social Ecology (and such)
It's been noted recently that this site has (intentionally or not) been consistently free of information on anarchist writings in the Irish milieu. In attempting to correct this problem, we note the recent penwork of CD Stelzer, longtime Riverfront Times staff writer and freelancer to many other publications, who's recently crafted a piece on the CIA, Irish airports and military prisons around the world. 'Tis here:
September 29, 2006
Carson Minow on MayorSlay.com
MayorSlay.com's newest add is Carson Minow, a filmmaker I happen to know through Webster University connections (along with the 48 Hour Film Project and maybe a trip, or two, to Mangia Italiano...). Her vlog will begin in October, according to a note posted to the site late this week:
Carson Minow is MayorSlay.com’s newest contributor.
Minow, a film maker who primarily directs and photographs independent documentary and narrative film, has lived in St. Louis for four years. She has also lived in California, the Netherlands and traveled extensively in Ethiopia while directing and recording her experimental music documentary, Ethiopia: Tesfay Alem. She will receive her BA in film production from Webster University in May 2007. She is twenty-five years old.
Her on-going video project for MayorSlay.com, St. Louis Traffic, will begin in October 2006.
September 26, 2006
Veruca Salt @ Pop's
Since someone asked me to tell them how the Veruca Salt show went, I thought I'd jot down some written notes. What with this new "information sharing" technology and all.
Arriving with Fred H. at St. Louis' best concert venue, Pop's, I noticed the entire crew of AMP heading for their cars. On-hand only to see Bitch Slap Barbie, they were booking during the set of the third opening band, a nice enough neo-new wave act of no particular impact.
With the requisite half-hour break out of the way, the Verucas tooke the stage, with homegirl Louise Post surrounded by three backing musicians supplied by central casting: the cute-as-a-button bassist and harmony vocalist, a cleaned-up version of female bass mercs like Melissa auf der Maur; a lean, lanky (but short) drummer, shirtless and tatted; and a lean, lanky (but tall) second guitarist, whose theatrics would eventually transcend all sense of proportion and venue.
Alas. Picking songs from all four VS albums - the two with Nina Gordon and the two without, including the brand-new "Veruca Salt IV" - Post and company mixed-in enough of the old hits and cult faves to keep the crowd happy, as folks were nodding along to the likes of "Seether" and "Volcano Girls," while remaining respectful to the new, less time-tested material. Post even serenaded her mom with a "happy birthday," not long after telling the crowd that "fucking St. Louis fucking rocks." Nice sentiments, on both counts.
In all, a good show, and a bargain at twice the $5 ticket price.
Should also note that the crowd veered towards the 30-up crowd, though some collegians were there, too, though they couldn't have been at the shows of yore at the Hi-Pointe and Mississippi Nights... could they? It was amusing to hear conversation after conversation of people trying to place exactly when they saw the band, since the group never embraced STL as a primary concert home. Also, we commented on the fact that business at MoKaBe's and Novak's was surely way off last night, at least until 30-minutes after the final Veruca Salt cut.
September 24, 2006
Firecracker Press on "Living St. Louis"
Missed the original broadcast, but caught the webcast. Our publication's cover designer, The Firecracker Press, was recently on KETC's "Living St. Louis," with a piece by producer Jim Kirchherr.
Not only is the Firecracker piece found in the Channel 9 archives, so are dozens of interesting new pieces.
Find 'em here:
http://www.ketc.org/productions/productions_livingSTL_videoArchive.asp
Good stuff.
September 22, 2006
Bettie Serveert @ Vintage Vinyl
Though they're on of my favorite indie acts of the early-mid-'90s (and, obviously living beyond that timeframe), I've never had the opportunity or luck to catch the Dutch band Bettie Serveert live. This despite the fact that group regularly plays St. Louis, good for about a date a year here. Gonna try to change that next month. Here's the announcement from our pals at VV, of an in-store in October:
October 7th
1:30PM
Exclusive St. Louis appearance - Bettie Serveert live at Vintage Vinyl
The instore appearances good karma keeps flowing St. Louis' way as Vintage Vinyl is extremely happy to announce that we will be hosting an exclusive St. Louis appearance with our favorite Dutch indie rockers, Bettie Serveert.
On tour promoting the brand new acoustic disc "Bare Stripped Naked", Bettie Serveert are on tour and without a proper club show in St. Louis. Unable to grasp the idea of passing through St. Louis without stopping, Minty Fresh Records and the band decided a free instore performance at Vintage Vinyl was a perfect solution for everyone.
Having captured the hearts of American indie rockers in 1992 with their brilliant debut "Palomine", Bettie Serveert has regained their positive commercial and critical momentum which has arced perfectly with them releasing some of the best music of their career as well.
Catch Bettie Serveert's only 2006 appearance in St. Louis on October 7th beginning at 1:30PM. Since there is no club gig later that night expect the unexpected as the band will be performing electric and acoustic.
September 21, 2006
Cherokee This Weekend
An update from us's main man, David Early. (By the way, recently saw "How to Draw a Bunny" and it's fab.) Enjoy your time in our city:
friday night, 8pm, THE TIN CEILING (3159 cherokee)
will be screening "HOW TO DRAW A BUNNY". This feature
length documentary is a look into the hilarious and
sad life of correspondence/performance artist RAY
JOHNSON. q and a with filmmaker/producer JOHN WALTER
will follow. for more info on the SUNDANCE award
winning film check
www.metacritic.com/film/titles/howtodrawabunny
$5 with student i.d. $10 with out.
doors 7:30 film 8pm
pre screening? cross the street to SNOWFLAKE/CITY
STOCK (3156 cherokee)! S/CS features second hand
furniture ranging from contemporary modern design
(HELLER), to mid century blond. in addition, S/CS
features local and regional artists. currently on
display: mix media, 2-D work by GINA ALVAREZ and
c-prints by JAMIE KREHER.
wed.- sat 7am-5pm, stop into the newly opened TYPO
CAFE (3159 cherokee) the fine folks from the tin
ceiling bring you tasty free trade coffee, atmosphere,
and the true wireless, TYPEWRITERS.
September 19, 2006
She Wants Revenge
Thought the thought still confuses me, my favorite concert venue in town may be Pop's, the longstanding bastion of all-night carousing, located on that hideous Sauget parking lot, 'twixt two randy grindhouses and across the way from puff-puff-puffing smokestacks. Ah, Pop's, full of connotations for the oldsters, who remember the place as solely a waystation of the night, a place of brawls and beer and (cover)bands.
Last night, Pop's played host to She Wants Revenge, an LA group of dubious lineage, who have, critics are correct, perfectly co-opted the look-and-feel of bands old (Joy Division) and new (Interpol). There's nothing particularly original about She Wants Revenge, but damned if the act hasn't mastered the aggregated sound. Forgive me, but: they rock.
There were two notable things about the show, and I simply must pass them along.
First (well, second). At the end of the show, singer/guitarist Justin Warfield gave the most hilarious, "please don't make us play here" request I'd ever heard at a venue, all but begging for a date on the other side of the river, away from the industrial plants, pavement and stripbars. He said the comments meant no offense to the room, but the guess here is that management won't be booking the group back for show #3 any time soon. If brat-tish, it was very, very funny.
Second (second). You can go to many, many shows in St. Louis and unless you're a fan of jam bands, you can go to many, many shows without seeing people dance. She Wants Revenge was able to coax virtually everyone in the room to the foot of the stage by show's end, with, literally, 70-odd-% of the venue's audience in motion. Damndest thing I've ever seen.
Next Monday, Veruca Salt. See you back at... hmm... Pop's.
September 17, 2006
King & Esser & Hall (& Russell & Lyle &...)
At his most recent Observable Reading, Aaron Belz joked that the preview in that day's Post-Dispatch was most surprising in that he didn't know the author. Maybe you had to be there, but the comment was both apt and a hoot. I know most of the folks involved in an event coming up this Thursday and hope that doesn't lend any less impatct to the idea posited here that this will be one of the most interesting readings of the season. See you there.
From C. King, participant, the details:
Reminder: Book party for me and Joe Esser at 8 p.m. next Thursday, Sept. 21
upstairs at the Tap Room. Star-studded supporting cast. Free to get in, $10
each if you want the books. Pictures of book covers and sample poems at:
http://www.skuntry.com/home.cfm
More complete event info follows. Hope to see you there! Chris
Book Party for Joe Esser and Chris King
Fellow Hoobellatoo poets to read with them Sept. 21 at Tap Room
On Thursday, September 21, two local* writers – Joe Esser and Chris
King – will celebrate the release of their new books of poetry at the St.
Louis Brewery & Tap Room, Schlafly’s downtown location at 2100 Locust St.
Reading along with them will be two other (better) local poets, K. Curtis Lyle
and Stefene Russell, with musical interludes by local acoustic bluesman Tom
Hall and a special performance by the Robert Goetz band.
Joe Esser’s book, titled “Pink Skunk Clownfish,” is a sheaf of pages
from the field guide of a vexed suburban nature poet. Chris King’s book,
titled “A Heart I Carved for a Girl I Knew,” is a collection of 31 poems about
23 years of intermittent, mostly self-inflicted heartache.
Local artist Andrea Day drew Joe’s cover art and Portland, Maine
tattooist Chris Dingwell (Sanctuary Tattoo) drew the art for Chris’ book. The
books are being published locally by Skuntry and printed locally (and
beautifully) by Firecracker Press. They will be on sale at the Tap Room for $10
each.
Stefene Russell will read poems from her CD “Radioactive Cat Radio,” and K. Curtis Lyle will read from his book “Electric Church.” Tom Hall plays National Steel Guitar. Robert Goetz will also lead a band that includes Adam Long (cello), Lindy Woracheck (saw) and Anne Tkach (drums) in playing a song he made from one of the poems in Chris’ book.
The reading at the Tap Room will kick off a miniature book tour that will
travel to Nashville the next night and Athens, Georgia the night after that,
with local musicians performing in those Southern towns.
The book party and reading begins at 8 p.m. Thursday, September 21, in
the upstairs Club Room, where Brett Underwood (producer of “The No Show” on KDHX) will be the bartender. It is a full-service bar with a specialty in diverse beers made on-premise. If you want to eat at the Tap Room that night, you’ll need to eat downstairs before the reading; no food upstairs, for logistical reasons. Brett gets very crabby about this.
Joe Esser, Chris King, Stefene Russell, K. Curtis Lyle, Andrea Day, Robert Goetz and Brett Underwood are all part of the arts collective Hoobellatoo.
For more information, email brodog@hoobellatoo.org or call (516) 314-7364.
The number at the Tap Room is (314) 241-BEER.
* NOTE * Joe Esser, technically, lives in employment and domestic exile in Wayne, New Jersey, though he studied at Washington University and spends as
much time in St. Louis as he possibly can.
September 15, 2006
September 14, 2006
Books Grow on my Tree
The Publishing Group, led by Wendy Surinsky and Nannette Vinson, received a Kick-Ass award last year. You may remember, if you attended the ceremony, Wendy and the group of kids who came to the event to accept their award. For those who were not there: the Publishing Group is a creative writing and photography after-school program in Hyde Park, created to give kids the opportunity to work with artists like K. Curtis Lyle, David Jackson and Mariah Richardson. Two years ago, they partnered with KDHX to produce an actual CD that features the kids' work -- "Books Grown on My Tree." Curtis (whose visionary work has graced the pages of 52nd City) and Mariah contributed poems, and David created the score. This Saturday, there will be a release party at Legacy Books and Cafe (5249 Delmar) at 6pm.
I filled in for Jane Ibur and Ann Haubrich tonight for "Literature for the Halibut," and in the studio were Wendy, Curtis, and David (by phone) along with six of the kids who participated, and their poems knocked me over. These kids are pretty straight-up and there was not a cliche to be found in their poems (which is more than I can say for most adult poets!) They were shy and putting on their cool act just a bit, and I did a fairly crappy job of keeping the chaos to a minimum, but by the end of the hour they were feeling comfortable enough to really talk and not just giggle and give a shout out to mom. And if you heard the show -- and their poems -- you know that there are some amazing stuff going on in their heads and hearts. If you can't make it out on Saturday, look for this amazing little project on the shelf at Left Bank Books.
Bob Kuban's Teen Town
Everybody loves a South City parish picnic, at least until the fighting starts and the darned thing gets shut down. Based on a coupld drop in's, it's safe to say that the St. James the Greater picnic on the City's west side usually draws a pretty good crowd, with a fine junk sale and without some of the side scuffles. And that picnic's reputation should only grow this Friday night, when the regular run of the event (6-11 p.m.) will be augmented by the appearance of Bob Kuban from 7-10.
The veteran area bandleader will be playing the same gym that he called home for a good chunk of the 1960s, performing for a crowd that certainly will date back to that time period, as well.
For anyone who missed the bobby-sox era, this opportunity is just too much to pass up. Too much.
Bring a few bucks, a wry grin and a camera.
September 12, 2006
The Last Hurrah of Rock Star Rags
One of my most striking memories from last winter was a two day trash bag stuffing marathon at Rock Star Rags. If I recall correctly, the total take for our family was six full Hefties-allowing me to sit out our weekly thrift store trips for several months.
This unusual shopping experience was previously written about here at 52nd City. Shortly thereafter, it was reported that RSR would be closing this late summer or early fall. The grief in the hipster, emo, punk, artist and plain ol' broke communities is understandable and real.
As with all disappointments, there is a silver lining to the closing of this incredible clothing and costume resource. For the next three weekends, Rock Star Rags will be open to the public and trash bags are provided! Be there the next three Saturdays and Sundays through the first weekend in October. Hours are 10 am to 3 pm.
On Saturday, should you see someone hunched over a blue barrel and using a vintage hankie from Japan to dab her weeping eyes, well, that'll be me. Just keep shopping, I'll collect myself in good time.
Rock Star Rags
2820 North Ninth Street
Corner of Ninth and St. Louis Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63147
September 11, 2006
Another Cherokee Opening
First the Black Bear and now Typo Cafe... pinch me. Two spots seems to be opening on Cherokee, 'least according to an e-mail from Tim Rakel of Bad Folk, who recently hosted an art show at the space, the one-time home of the Way Out Club:
"This Wednesday marks the opening of the Typo Cafe at the Tin Ceiling Theatre. Located at 3159 Cherokee (at Compton), where the Bad Folk Art show was held, Typo will be open Wednesdays through Saturdays, 7 am to 5 pm. Please stop by some time for some fair trade coffee or tea. Typo will also have used books for sale."
If anyone hits the wi-fi free, typewriter-aplenty coffeehouse this week, please report in.
September 09, 2006
September 08, 2006
The Winners' Circle
The inagural night of Art Outside was excellent. Just returned from strolling the booths and had the honor of watching some certificates getting passed around. The winners this year are:
-First place: Caroline Huth
-Second Place: Daniel Shown
-Third Place: Firecracker Press/Eric Woods
-Most Evocative: Jane Linders
-Work Least Likely to be shown at an Art Fair: "Typewiter" Tim Jordan
Looking forward to more beer, more art and some excellent show of talent tomorrow, including our wee showcase in the Crown Room. Don't be afraid to come by and say hallo...
52nd City Sells Out
Well, we certainly hope to. Buy issues at the Firecracker Press booth both tonight at tomorrow night, at the Schlafly Bottleworks "Art Outside" festival; it's booth #9 for you organized folks. This is apt, because everyone that's picked up the mag has commented on the lovely covers, executed by the Firecracker.
Now, we also should note a couple more sign-on's for the 52nd City Variety Show, including: Tom Weber, who'll be dramatically reading the lyrics of popular television shows (really); and the performance art of Typewriter Tim, who'll be performing in-and-out of a bodybag, with his slot a more firm 8 p.m. Other talented acts will rotate in as the evening progresses.
The potential for a beautiful trainwreck! Gotta love it!
Also, we should note that slam poets would consider the room "blessed," now that Eugene Redmond and Michael Castro have spoken in the Crown Room, part of last night's Observable Readings series. Our friends at Observable kicked things off with two local legends and an attentive crowd was on-hand for some entertaining and evocative work. We'll note, too, that Aaron Belz will have poetry at the Crown Room of the Bottleworks just prior to our event, at 5 p.m. with some new emerging poets taking the mic and stage.
That is all.
September 07, 2006
Black Bear Bakery to Open on Saturday
Okay, it took a bit of time, but the Cherokee neighborhood's long-awaited new arrival, Black Bear Bakery, is set to open on Saturday, per a press-release sent via e-mail mere moments ago. While the entire post is eye-opening, the "dance party" component is particularly compelling.
-------------------------------------
Visit Black Bear Bakery's new exciting location in the historic Vandora Theater: Renovated with a historic theme and adapted to a modern vision. Experience our much larger new storefront with table seating and expanded store hours.
Beginning Saturday September 9th:
Hours: Wed.-Fri: 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Saturday: 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Grand Opening!
September 16th
10am, 12pm, & 2pm: Green building and bakery history tour. View and understand how Black Bear Bakery renovated the historic theater using green building and ecological principles. Understand the history, baking process and ideas behind Black Bear Bakery.
4pm “Revolution & Diversity on Cherokee Street” a talk and discussion hosted by baker Mark. How do we get to a more just and fair world -- starting in our own neighborhood?
6-8pm Live jazz/blues/acoustic music performed by local artists
8-11pm Black Bear Dance Party
Black Bear Bakery
2639 Cherokee St.
St. Louis, MO 63118
314.771.2236
September 06, 2006
Playback STL Goes Web-Only
Local storestacks will look a bit less busy in coming months, as Playback St. Louis will scale down to a web-only publication. Responding to some local conversation about the future of the pub, Jim Dunn, in an e-mail today, confirmed what'd been floating around town in recent weeks.
After transitioning over recent months towards a run at national distribution, the husband-wife publishing team of art director Dunn and editor Laura Hamlett will bring the mag solely back to the web, with both working on other efforts, in addition to the online publication. Hamlett, for example, has been doing PR work for bands, including Lorenzo Goetz, while Dunn will focus on web and graphic design.
September 05, 2006
Variety Show Cometh
Taking the subtler approach of late, we've not bombarded you with announcements about the FREE 52nd City Variety Show taking place this weekend at Art Outside. We've not noted, as well, that the MAGAZINE will be SOLD at several of the vendors, or that our friends (and advertisers) at The Time will be hosting a fashion show on Friday evening.
But we must note today that the 52nd City Variety show, a FREE event on SATURDAY evening is right around the corner, with much merriment to be had, inside the Crown Room of the Schalfly Bottleworks, from 7-9 p.m. At least, it'll start at 7 and will run until our guests are out of top-notch material.
Though we've been subtle in booking our entertainment for the spectacular, earlier conversations suggest that:
Aaron Belz will read some words
Michael Allen will read some other words
Claire Nowak-Boyd will do the "banana dance"
Brian Marston will debut his human beatbox
Stefene Russell will serve as David Letterman, myself as Paul Schaeffer
And this, from Chris King:
I go on first with the following madness: “Goodnight, mother: Selected incest scenes from Hamlet, Prince of Denmark” by William Shakespeare, chopped & screwed and performed by Pickers & Stealers Players, which is me with five finger puppets on the fingers of my left hand (Hamlet described his fingers as “pickers and stealers” in Act III, Scene 2). As for the incest, blame Shakespeare! He wrote this filth!
Family entertainment, for certain.
Be a part of our show? Let me know.
September 04, 2006
As the Venice Turns 18
So I wind up at the Venice Cafe on Saturday night, the second (and much more entertaining) leg of a trip that also included an impromptu stop at Hammerstone's, which was enlivened only by the appearance of a loud, obnoxious bachelor party. Otherwise, it was the picture of a Soulard bar after a Cards game, with passable but lackluster blues, Bud Lights downed everywhere and sprawling parties locking up every nook-and-cranny.
A few blocks away, the mood was more simpatico. At the Venice, the three-piece band, Cowford Eddy, played a set heavy on the rockabilly and the crowd, neither large nor small, seemed to be enjoying their set.
Upstairs, though, the action was in place, as owner Jeff Lockheed dropped a mouse into Pablo's cage behind the bar. The rat snake, twice-escaped during the week prior, went right to work, hunting and eating the prey in a matter of minutes, to the varying states of shock, amusement and conversation of all assembled. And what a crew!
On the 18th birthday of the Venice, Lockheed was enjoying his customary Bud Selects while buying some shots for a group including venerable local entertainer Ralph Butler, Soulard/Benton Park gadfly Dick Pointer and the Mad Russian, who volunteered that his first broadcast on KDHX was the same night as the Venice's: September 2, 1988.
There are too many nights in life when you wind up at the wrong spot, at the wrong time. Makes the opposite happening that much sweeter.