Monthly Archives: October 2010

by

October’s 13

Saw Jim Utz spin records for Rue 13 this past week, notable here for two reasons: we were sold a round moments before the lights were turned on; and Jim Utz is the only person reading this featurette and I wish to use his name repeatedly.

Events future, Kick Ass Awards: The seventh edition is coming up next week. Seating will be at a premium. (We hope.) See you there.

Events present, Kurt Groetsch: Happy 29th, Slats.

Events past, Dewes Chili Cookoff 10: Thanks to the charming Dewes family for allowing me to enjoy one of my favorite days of the year each fall.

UFC fighters, Johnathan Brookins: Kinda dig this cat’s zen approach to fighting. Looking forward to his next Ultimate Fighter bout. You, too? You don’t say!

Press clips that keep giving, Enormous Richard: Blessings be to rock groups that keep the flame alive, digital-style.

DJ’ing, Silver Tray: Very much looking forward to Dana Smith joining Silver Tray on Friday, November 5, as he discusses his newest art show – held that same night at Hoffman LaChance Contemporary – and as he programs the first hour. ‘Twill be much fun.

DJ’ing club, LucaBrasi CD release show: Opening, closing and otherwise entertaining during the hard rock band’s release set at the Duck Room on Saturday, November 20. Not looking much forward to this.

Books, “The Urban Hermit by Sam MacDonald”: Couldn’t make heads nor tails out of this memoir for the first 100 pages, then caught the spirit of the work and enjoyed every page of the rest. Can you eat lentils and tuna for an undetermined amount of time, lose 100-plus pounds, find your dream job, kick a beer habit and locate your wife in the span of a book. Apparently, yes.

Corner bars, Behrmann’s: You kind of have to experience it to fully understand. Ask for Rendy by name.

Energy drinks, Full Throttle Agave: Really need to kick this stuff.

Agitprop, signage: Had no real feelings about The Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, but I’m always amused by friends who crash a party.

Films, “Phantasm“: Should’ve watched it when I was 11.

Classic cuts, Angel’s “Tower”: So this fella at the Black Bear Bakery booth at Soulard Market sounds talking about Angel and their prog track “Tower.” Couldn’t recollect it, but it’s now a favorite and will be for the next couple weeks, until full burnout results.

by - 2 Comments

The 13 Series Special Edition: Projects, DOA

After punching up a few dead project ideas, I realized how depressing a concept that was. But I also started the process along, so here’re 13 more projects that are in the ditch, with wheels spinning. In a day/two, happier stuff, if that’s possible.

1. A book on O’Connell’s. (Not my idea, actually. Awaiting okay from money sources.)

2. A blog on Gaslight Square. (A new book is on the way this fall, negating need. I think I’ve picked these bones clean, from my needs/wants perspective.)

3. A Collinsville Road photo series on Flickr. (Too lazy to pack a camera, but this could still happen. Interesting road!)

4. Asummeratthetrack.wordpress.com. (This one was up, got six readers and the day I took it down, two people asked about the track. Let’s repeat: six readers, two questions on the day it was blown up. Oy.)

5. A Venice Cafe book/zine. (Interest was there, interest wasn’t there. From all parties. Alas.)

6. Some type of Silver Tray component online. (May resurrect this via the new, improved kdhx.org site. No point having all these orphan sites out there.)

7. A Way Out Club zine, in celebration of the 16th birthday of the club.  (See #5, above.)

8. A book on burlesque. (There’s this guy, he’s got lots of pictures and scrapbook-worthy content. But books cost a lot to make. And, honestly, I ain’t that into the burlesque scene.)

9. The Messhuggah Sessions. (Owner Patrick Liberto saw multiple reasons why this would annoy his already-highly-annoying clientele, at STL’s most-awesomest coffeeshop. And my principal interview subject got super rich and famous.)

10. 100 Untold Rock Stories of St. Louis. (Yeah, whatever. I agree. Had an artist lined up, who kills it. Something else, sometime.)

11. Lou Thesz for the Walk of Fame campaign. (Seriously, Lou Thesz should be on the Walk of Fame about 20x more than Nelly. And I’ll argue with you all day as to why.)

12. A soccer video on the last season of STL United. (Just a little documentary. Would’ve cost the US Soccer Federation a couple thousand dollars, for a vid that would demonstrate the challenges of inner-city ball. The USSF spends its money as it sees fit. Cool enough. And I hope the US National Team gets hammered every match from now ’til eternity.)

13. Political blogs for square candidates. (Connect with the youth and all, through the miracle of the WWW. Maybe still something here, but politicians don’t make decisions for themselves.)

Over, out. Something else soon.

by - 1 Comment

Temp Crib

As evidenced by the complete lack of content here – and the most-recent posts being dedicated to things not done – it’s possible that this site’s namesake is temporary stalled, in terms of creative output and inspiration. And as much as I love the hometown and much as I hate (and let me emphasize the word HATE) travel, it’s time to actually find myself in a place that’s not my own. So, to the wisdom of the crowd goes a request.

With one project majorly overdue for completion, I’d like to find a place to write. For parts of four days, specifically: Monday, October 18 – Thursday, October 21. This place needs to be within driving distance of St. Louis. (Can’t fly. Blood clots. Such is life.) And this place needs to be cheap. Expectations would be appropriately minimal. Just a place to lay my oversized melon. With some running water. And a cook-top would be nice. Even WiFi’s not essential, as paper-and-pen could do the trick.

If you’ve got a shack in the woods, please tell of it. If aware of a Children of the Corn-meets-Barton Fink roadside hotel ‘tween here and Ames, I’m all ears. On the other extreme, if your kid or cousin is a hotel manager with-hook-ups at a swank facility in Milwaukee (or Nashville, Detroit, Kansas City, Chicago, Madison, Little Rock, Memphis, Indy or Des Moines), your family is of great interest to me.

In exchange, I’ll write you a part in a web series. Or two. Deal?