After spinnng at the Royale on a fill-in basis last night, my third shift in less than a week, I realized I need to pep up my musical supplies. For the past year, I’ve been plotting a seasonal mix, to give out to people whose tastes in music I enjoy. With winter break at hand, I’m thinking of putting those songs to disc in the next 48-hours. So, the deal: if anyone would like to trade an annotated mix CD, any genre accepted, drop me a line: thomas@52ndcity.com.

After the extremely lukewarm nature of the “Silver Tray” offer, I imagine a thoroughly tepid response to this, as well! At any rate, even one disc in return would be welcomed.

Whereby, it is the season of giving,
Whereby, my basement needs cleaning,
Whereby, the Unconscious play on Xmas,

I am making this one-time, low-dough offer of “Silver Tray” zines, a three-edition cycle of fanzines printed in St. Louis in the late ’90s. These rare gems contain articles (and artwork) by and about: the Urge, the Boorays, Enormous Richard, Corporate Humour, Tim McAvin, the Eyes, the Nukes, Sinister Dane and other STL bands of the 1980s and 1990s. For superfans, the title of mag was a nod to an Unconscious song of the same name.

Two dollars US for shipping and handling. Or free, if we live close and can arrange a handoff.

I would love to move the remaining, yes, 49 sets of this three-headed release.

Peace (and zines) be with you.

At the Royale: Friday, December 22 (10:01 p.m.-1:18 a.m.) & Monday, December 25 (8:33 p.m.-1:16 a.m.).

Thinking that Viva Voce, Giant Drag and the Sounds will be liberally dosed.

At last night’s Observable Readings event, organizer Aaron Belz gifted me with a DVD of the second-version “The Thomas Crown Affair.” (I.e. the one with Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo, rather than Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway.) The fact that he had found the DVD, box-and-all, in a trash can was actually a nice touch, as recycling/reuse should take many forms.

Now, that said, there’s not a week that goes by in which someone doesn’t reference “The Thomas Crown Affair.” Local sports personalities Bill McDermott, Bob Ramsey and Brian McKenna, in fact, never say “Hello, Thomas,” opting for a shouted “The Thomas Crone Affair!” With them it’s clockwork. With others, it’s a less-regular name-drop, but when added together, these occasional uses begin to add up. Dozens of times, I’ve heard the name of this twice-produced film. Hundreds of times would not be an exaggeration. Perhaps not yet thousands, but I’m only reaching middle age and I’m sure that the tally will grow in time.

In fact, it’s possible that some folks have never made the connection, but now will. Shame on me for a potentially adding to this mania. Still, it’s a topic on which I’d long felt the need to address, to put on the table, to take ownership of, to hash out.

Aaron, thanks again.

Fantastic, high-quality art is here just in time for the holiday season. The 2006 holiday sale by Independent Art Market is Friday, December 8 through Sunday, December 10 at the beautifully renovated Shaw’s Gallery, just two blocks East of the Missouri Botanical Garden on Shaw Avenue. The artists organizing this terrific event are excited about a weekend filled with a diverse lineup of new artists; a sake, sushi and fashion cocktail reception, poetry readings organized by Observable Books; a variety show organized by 52nd City, and a broad range of musical performances.

This year marks the third annual Independent Art Market holiday sale. The sale will run 6 p.m.-12 a.m. on Friday, 12 p.m.-12 a.m. on Saturday, and 12-6 p.m. on Sunday. Independent Art Market is a St. Louis, Missouri based artists cooperative. Participating artists work in traditional and non-traditional media with an emphasis on quality. Each studio is self-represented and Independent Art Market is artist organized.

There is a wonderful assortment of performances this year. On the evening of Friday, December 8 the editors of St. Louis-centric art, literature and culture magazine 52nd City are putting on one of their fantastic variety shows from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., followed by the musical stylings of DJ Play from 10 p.m. to midnight. Saturday evening begins with a sake, sushi and fashion cocktail reception 6-8 p.m. The evening continues with a alternating line-up of poetry readings organized by Observable Books and live music including Bernadette, Farm Team, Jonas Lyn, and Bravo Company. Sunday afternoon features a mellow coffee house environment, with light musical accompaniment provided by various musicians, including Celia, Eric Enger of Gentleman Auction House, the jazz music of Dizzy Atmosphere.

This December promises the biggest and best Independent Art Market holiday sale yet.

More information is available at http://www.independentartmarket.org/

Who: Independent Art Market
What: 2006 Holiday Sale
When: Friday, December 8, 6 p.m.-12 a.m.
Saturday, December 9, 12 p.m.-12 a.m.
Sunday, December 10, 12 p.m.-6 p.m.
Where: Shaw’s Gallery
4065 Shaw Ave., St. Louis MO, 63110
Why: Inependent Art Market, accept no substitutes.
Info: http://www.independentartmarket.org/
info@independentartmarket.org
Contact Eric Woods at The Firecracker Press, 314-776-7271.

Since I struggle to get enough self-referential posts into the blog, I was relieved to see this note from Chris King, re: Sunday’s art event at Hartford Coffee:

Long ago, Thomas Crone decided I was a world music critic, when I was nothing of the sort, and he assigned me a world music column for the Ray Hartmann-era Riverfront Times. That led to… not really very much of anything, except a boatload of amazing free CDs, a lot of $125 paychecks, and a dozen entries with my byline in the definitive tome on the subject, The Music Hound Guide to World Music. And that’s… something, I guess.

Now, Crone has decided I am an artist by inviting me to be in his ad hoc group show that opens this Sunday at 5 pm at Hartford Coffee, just before Free Candy (complete details follow). I expect this to lead… not very much of anywhere, either, except for maybe a few $50 checks, since that’s the price I’m putting on my sketches of the late Nymah Kumah, which are attached.Chrisp.s.

Three “Nephew Haiku” by my kid nephew Brendan Dulaney and I will no doubt come in another message, as “the unpromoted life is not worth living,” said the editor of the world music tome previously mentioned, one Adam McGovern of Mount Tabor, N.J.

Sunday, December 3
Free Candy, with Amanda & Julia
Hartford Coffee Company, 3974 Hartford (@ Roger)
Free, maturish audience only, 7 p.m., 314-772-5947, amanda@freecandy.net

Delightful show prequel, in the form of a new art show featuring the photography/artwork of Thomas Crone and friends (Dana Smith, Andrea Day, Tom Lampe, me and my kid nephew, Brendan Dulaney) from 5-7 p.m.

Specifically, 2-4 p.m., on KDHX with The Underworld. Doug Morgan’s familial commitments are my gain.

One hour of local music, with an in-studio appearance from Scott Randall of Fragile Porcelain Mice. One hour of shoegaze.

Two hours of fun. I love holidays.

(Scratch one note above: two hours of local rock today. Rockin’.)

Thanks to Sylvester Brown of the Post-Dispatch for a column on the site in today’s edition of the P-D, which is, of course, accessible via STLtoday.com. Our fingers are crossed for another short there in the near future.

Also, Stefene, Andrea and I will be guests on KMOX this Friday evening at 10:30 p.m., discussing the project with the Two Johns. Our thanks to producer Rachel Doyle (a former student of mine at Webster – aw, these kids are gittin’ all growed up!) for working on this discussion/visit.

The P-D and the Mighty ‘Mox in a week. ‘Salright.

Group Show
Showing: Hartford Community Cafe, 3974 Hartford @ Roger, 314-771-JAVA
Running: Friday, December 1 – Sunday, December 31
Opening Reception: Sunday, December 3, 5 – 7 p.m.

Participating artists:
Thomas Crone (photography, text, Xeroxes)
Andrea Day (photography)
Brendan Dulaney (spray paintings)
Chris King (sketches, haiku)
Tom Lampe (photography)
Dana Smith (paintings)

Following the reception, Free Candy (http://www.freecandy.net/), from 7 – 9 p.m.

As in the Independent Art Market. It’s official. And somewhat frightening.

Artists are announced for this winter’s IAM: http://www.independentartmarket.org/now.html.