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Thanks to some late-night blog reading yesterday evening, I ran across a nice namecheck on VanishingSTL. There, a first piece on Gaslight Square's been loaded up, with some really memorable photos of the Square, taken in 1993. From the blog, you can also follow a link to further shots stored at flickr.

After seeing the first half of tonight's Fragile Porcelain Mice show at The Playhouse at Westport Plaza, the blog reading and running across a namecheck this quickly, I decided to post up the playlist of today's Underworld show. It was my second shot at filling in for Doug Morgan on Thanksgiving and was a nice opportunity to showcase some STL rock for two-hours. Even some interesting phone calls!

Hour one: Somerville-Scorfina Band, "Your Eyes," KSHE Seeds, Vol. 2; Bill Boll, "36 Minors," 20 Years of Musical Irony; Solarcane, "Less Ordinary," Book of Alibis; The Incurables, "Lucky 7's," Songs for a Blackout; The Boorays, "Pickup Truck," Faye Records 45; Corporate Humour, "Maximum Satisfaction," unreleased; Treeweasels, "South Wind," Head Cheese & Blood Sausage; E.J. Quit, "It'll be Alright," unreleased; Stranded Lads, "Beat Society," Resevoir I & II; The Bishops, "Coming in Color," The Bishops; Three Merry Widows, "Which Dreamed It?," Which Dreamed It; The Painkillers, "The Oracle," The Painkillers; The Urge, "Know What They Say," Bust Me Dat Forty; The Eyes, "The Closet," Freedom in a Cage; The Unconsicous, "Captain Blye," live at the Pageant, 12/23/00.

Hour two: Judge Nothing, "I'm Aware of You," A Cheese Sampler (committed to a wonderful CD compilation via Jim Utz); Fragile Porcelain Mice, "Concept of Grief," Amigo de Fuego; Sinister Dane, "48 Months," Sinister Dane; Small Ball Paul, "Like Swallows," You in Flames; Uncle Tupelo, "Gun," Still Feel Gone; Phonocaptors, "Devil," Call it What You Want; Finn's Motel, "Alright Tonight," Escape Velocity; Ded Bugs, "Slugs are in My House," We Ended Up Having to Eat Each Other; Nov. 9th, "Woolworth Ring," Waiting Like Witch Doctors; Bunnygrunt, "River Song," Standing Hampton 45; Julia Sets, "Disco Flowers," Yes-Wave; Sullen, "War Forges On," Paint the Moon; The Nukes, "464," Why Things Burn.

I need to fill some gaps in my collection, with a visit to a friend's scheduled to exhume an old chunk of CD treasure. Also, I need to find a way to spin this stuff more often. Didn't touch several pieces today, inc. Ultraman, Great Crusades, The Movement, on-and-on.

Lucky enough, I am, to have two fun opportunities this weekend to spin some records live, after spending a chunk of Thursday on KDHX. As noted earlier this week, I'll be playing local rock of the last 25 years on The Underworld, from 2-4 on Thanksgiving.

On Friday, I'll be spinning at the Royale, from 10 - 1:30. It's the nightclub weekend of the entire year, so this should be fun.

On Saturday, it's the same venue, but something a little bit more... interesting. That night, I'll take part in the second DJ Scramble, facing off with: Robert Griffin, the founder of both Scat Records and the band Prisonshake; Mark Early, a regular Royale/Upstairs DJ and an electronic musician under the guise Marko Meltdown; and Toby Hicks, another Royale regular, and an electronic promoter under the banner of Fly.

All of us are bringing about 25 records. We'll rotate through the night, playing three songs apiece, with everyone playing from the crates of the other DJs.

The first time this went off, I enjoyed the experience thoroughly, sharing that little Royale DJ booth with Mark and Barbara Cliffe. Knowing some of the personalities and record collections involved in this second Scramble, I can only imagine that Saturday night will have a little bit of kick. I'm just pleased as can be to be on the inside looking out, as the sparks fly. Been looking forward to this for a good month, seriously!

Happy to have the remaining recipients of the 4th Annual Kick Ass Awards confirmed. Celebrating with us at Duff's on Monday, November 26th will be these 2007 winners:

* Hamiet Bluiett: renowned baritone saxophonist and co-founder of the Black Artist Group

* Center for Women in Transition: providing mentoring and support services to non-violent female offenders and their children

* Bill Christman: artist and owner of Joe's Cafe

* The Dock Ellis Band: purveyors of classic country music

* Marti Frumhoff (posthumous): real estate agent, urban activist, and founder of the St. Louis Rehabber's Club

* Great Rivers Environmental Law Center: providing public interest legal services to individuals and organizations working to protect and preserve Missouri's environment

* Bernie Hayes: author, professor, radio vet and all-around great guy

* Local Harvest Grocery: South City's hip new spot to shop and nosh

* Lyndsey Scott: artist and community activist

* Dana Smith: artist, found online at www.asbestossister.com

* Jay Swoboda: project manager of EcoUrban Homes, committed to health and sustainable construction

* Josh Weinstein: jazz advocate and host of KDHX's "All Soul, No Borders"

* And a Mystery Winner!

Don’t miss the fun. We are keeping introductions shorter this year. For more information on the event and a list of past winners, see 52ndCity.com for details.

For the second year in a row, I'm lucky enough to be filling in for the inimitable Doug Morgan on his Thursday afternoon staple, "The Underworld." Next week, from 2-4 p.m, I'll reprise last year's concept of playing STL rock from the 1980s and '90s, a T-day musical treat for the 30- and 40-somethings in the listening audience.

Expect Judge Nothing, the Nukes, Sinister Dane.

Fragile Porcelain Mice, the Urge, the Finns.

The Bishops, Enormous Richard, Something Brothers.

Ultraman, Nov. 9th, Treeweasels.

Load up dem requests.

What fun. Whee.

After time apart, I have reconciled with cable. Got a good deal, what can I say?

I am currently watching "The Addams Family." Which I don't even like.

Please don't write, don't call, don't invite me, don't bother. It's all over.

Long story short, I'm standing on the parking lot of my local parochial school, waiting for some autographs.

Spotting a few of my soccer players, I assign them a simple task: signing some extra soccer balls, which'll be forwarded to kids in an Iraqi village.

While waiting, more than a bit impatiently, one of them begins to move in a way that I've never quite seen before.

"Brian, what are you doing?"

"I'm crumping."

"You're crumping?"

"Yeah."

"Can I get a shot of that?"

"Aw, me? No way!"

"C'mon. One snap."

"Okay!"

Snap.

Come out to SLIFF. Say "hello." Buy a ticket. Watch a movie.

Tonight: Webster University for Aaron Mathews' "The Paper," plus a panel discussion.

Friday: TBD.

Saturday: Webster University for "Tuya's Wedding," then off to Plaza Frontenac for two screens of SLIFF action.

Sunday: COCA for "On Each Side," "Another Man's Garden" and "Fine Dead Girls."

At one point, I worked in a true cubicle farm. But it's been some time since I've known the joys of three-sided walls and flo lighting.

If someone out there has access to a McCorporation office space and can get me access for about 60-75 minutes of photography, it'd be hugely appreciated. Since I'm asking for things, the closer to the city limits, the better, for transportation's sake.

Rap at me here: thomas @ 52ndcity.com.

Thanks.

Happy Nov. 9th!

Two suggested options for today, people.

1. As noted in past entries, I'm in the temporary employ of Cinema St. Louis, working as the volunteer coordinator of the 16th annual SLIFF. It began with a really enjoyable showing of "Honeydripper" last night, followed by a Q/A with director John Sayles and producer Maggie Renzi. Today, though, the fest starts in earnest. Today, I'll be positioned at one of my favorite local shopping destinations, Plaza Frontenac, home to a fine art house theater. The run today: 2:30, Global Lens Shorts; 4:30, The Collector; 7:00, Getting Home; 9:30, The Melon Route. If by, say "hello."

2. Plotting how I can make a quick jaunt to Hoffman LaChance Contemporary in Maplewood, where the Poetry Scores CD "Go South for Animal Index" will be released. The CD is centered on a long-form of the same name, written by my 52nd City cohort, STL Magazine editor and neighbor Stefene Russell. She'll be on-hand, as will the musicians that set her words to music. Rounding out the night is an art invitational, with proceeds from the work going to support the mission of Poetry Scores.

After a good, long run co-hosting the KDHX talk show "The Wire," Amanda Doyle and I have decided to change the program's direction. Even the name.

Tonight, the show "Topic A" will be debut, featuring the same two co-hosts/producers, but a somewhat new approach to our, well, topics. Instead of a hyper-local guest schedule, with emphases on both civics and culture, we're moving to a themed, monthly format. For November, that theme will be "new media." And while the show will have a new, more nationalized format, tonight's guest will be local: Elie Gardner, the multi-media guru at STLtoday.com/multimedia, who'll discuss both her paper's move towards new media and the best practitioners in the industry.

Booking this new experiment has been interesting; instead of calling across town for someone to join us that evening, or the next week, we're now looking at guests for several months down the road. So far? Some intriguing guests are booked. (One name for December, our "columnists" month? No less than Howard Zinn, famed author and historian and monthly contributor to The Progressive.) We hope to keep listeners informed of those additions to the lineup with a new blog, coming shortly. Plus some new features will be rolled alongside the recurring "Barroom Bob"; that one we'd never change.

In the meantime, we hope you give the new show a listen: live tonight, at 7:30 p.m. CST, or streaming at KDHX.org.

Here.

She is also guesting as a first-time DJ at the Royale tomorrow evening, which I especially note because it will allow me a chance to kick my feet up at the fire during my otherwise marathon set of e-z listening: 6-10, Friday, November 2, Roayle, 3132 So. Kingshighway.