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On one hand, it's cool that the clubs are starting earlier this year. On the other hand, it's not cool when the Duck Room and the Main Stage pit some of our cities' best bands against each other during the same time slots from 2-4. Also, why does Riddle of Steel never play these things anymore?

Then again, it's pretty lame to complain when you've given us this sweet of a lineup at this bargain price yet again. I love this festival.

it's cool that the clubs are starting earlier this year.

It's good for old-timers like me who need to get to bed early (or get up early the next morning).

I don't get it !with so many great bands in this city why is the lineup so weak? And does not reflect the talent in St.louis. I moved here from new orleans and each year i attend this event and the lineup has not gotten any stronger. There are so many good bands here in this city to bad the folks who pick the acts for this showcase don't get it either!!! Make the music scene stronger you have the POWER!!!!

What bands would you have included/excluded had you made the list Mike?

1. riddle of steel is on tour and will be somewhere between california and oregon on june 1.

2. yes, seconded: if this lineup is "weak," then i'd like to know where all of the "talent" is hiding. remember that not everyone is available/able/has the desire to play the showcase, due to gigs/family commitments/jobs.

honestly, I can't believe my band didn't get booked at this thing (AGAIN)...quite frankly, the RFT has always been snide and biased towards keytar players and i'm getting sick of it

Wooh this is a terrible lineup. i thought st. louis music scene was making a comeback a few years ago but bands like these indicate real step backwards. what did the first 20 bands you guys ask say no? at least gentleman auction house is playing (one good band). Hopefully the Playback festival has a better lineup. Btw, i dont get the whole riddle of steel thing. i guess you got to know them to like their music.

People! PLEASE list these bands that are so good but not nominated/playing!

I LOVE MUSIC.

I WANT TO HEAR/SEE THESE GOOD BANDS.

TELL ME.

Until you actually name some bands, (so far you've only mentioned Gentleman Auction House, who are actually *playing* the damned thing) I will have to write off your comments as eminating from the mouth of a whiny titty-baby.

I don't want you to be a whiny titty-baby.

I WANT YOU TO TELL ME WHO THE GOODS BANDS ARE SO I CAN GO ENJOY THEM.

I LIKE MUSIC. TELL ME WHO IS MAKING THE GOOD MUSIC.

Please?

p.s. : That's My Daughter & Stella Mora are not nominated but I already know they rule. So don't use them as examples, plzkdiethx.

-jwjwjwwjwwww

The only problem with the lineup are the conflicts. AJS - I wrote your band in - Scotty and the Keytardoids.

Yeah, I realized pretty soon after I wrote that they were on tour. Whoops

Yo, I might not like everyone on the bill, but to call it weak is a total cop-out.

There's some sweeeeet bands : the 75s, gentleman auction house, wooden kites, the livers, the feed, john hardy, bunnygrunt...

but i guess haters are gonna hate no matter what, you can't change ppl, etc.

I'd also like to express my interest in what awesome bands that I've never heard of are wrongfully not booked for this thing.

you want a list of good bands you wouldnt ask here you go bitches -

Dozemary Pool
Geoff Koch
Rob Steele
The Orbz
Troubadour Dali
The Mirror Stage
The Ten Thousand
Chapters
Stella Mora
Wake Up Report

RFT ...you guys suck!

Greg - most of those ARE great bands and HAVE been covered by the RFT and have performed at past Showcases. What is your point?

I would recommend that you create a festival featuring all of those bands. It would do well, and I would be there.

Please report back here when you get it lined up.

Thanks.

Take The Orbz's name off your list. I appreciate what you're saying, but i don't want to be associated with saying the RFT sucks.

That's very un-cool of you. I want to believe that you have the best interests of those bands in mind, but they might not agree with you.

Don't speak for me or my band.

We don't feel that way, as I'm sure Stella Mora, Troubador Dali and Mirror Stage don't either.

Greg, you have your opinion, and I'm glad it includes my band.

However, if you're upset with the selection of bands this year, go vote in the poll, write in your candidates, take some other action besides spewing out "RFT sucks"

If i've lost you as a fan, I'm sorry, but I have to put my foot down about bad-mouthing a great crew and throwing our name around when you're insulting someone.

We're all in this together, me, you, every band on your list, every band on the RFT Music Showcase, everyone. Unite or die, dogg. Congratulate the showcase people and work hard to get the names out of bands you want in next year.

/soapbox

I don't think he was speaking for you so much as about you...

oh man, you guys. you know what?

i totally kissed john mayer in a dream a few days ago.

true story.

tell me more...

wait. what?

lord, will the whining ever stop?

seriously- i thought the whole point of the showcase was to highlight new and old talent in the area. unfortunately, sometimes it doesn't include the bands you want. big fucking deal. do touring festivals, other showcases- are they always the perfect deal for you? probably not. you can't always get what you want, and there is no reason- NONE- to absolutely terrorize the people putting the showcase together simply because they can't answer to your every whim. personally, i see a lot of bands i've seen that i'd like to see again, and some bands i've heard of and have never had the chance to see, and still others that i have no idea about.

i'd also like to add that, most likely, these folks playing music do not make their living by playing the showcase or other shows, and thus make money by having a *gasp* day job. conflicts and obligations happen. get over it, and quit your whining.

my advice- go anyway and experience some live music. you might be surprised.

not every nominated band is invited to play either. How does the RFT decide which nominated bands get to perform?

Hahaha! ok now i know why i am getting emails about my "sounding off" against the rft.

lol, i love the rft, and the fact that there are magazines/newspapers in the st. louis area that support not only the kinds of music i love, but regional and local music as well. This is a benifit i havn't seen in some other cities i have lived in. I dont always agree with what the rft says but for the most part i feel they make huge efforts at trying to be balanced and encouraging to what ever scene almost exists here.

any how, i just wanted to dispell the rumors that i am out trolling annie's blog.

i also want to say that Gregs list of bands is pretty damned Right On! I love most of those bands and are friends with a lot of them.

weird day (shakes head)
greg

I appreciate the first 'Greg's' comment.

Greg - give it up man. everyone on here knows the bullshit politics and arse kissing that needs to go on in order to get the RFTs love (Exhibit A: See previous comment from Jro of the Orbz. I'm not sure whether he wants to support the RFT or have sex with them).

No one is gonna attend this lame shit to see these lame bands play again. if you really like them its better to see them play their regular shitty set than 15 - 20 minutes of the shitty set they will play at the rft self love fest.

PS - Hey JRO, the Orbz ever gonna play the Bluebird. Dont hold your breath

so, i thought those were tornado sirens outside my window today in U. City.

but apparently it was just the city's music scene collectively calling the wahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhmbulance.

I don't even know how having sex with the RFT is even possible.

someone, draw me a diagram.

also : JP, i don't believe that the Bluebird is the only game in town as far as venues go. Not getting to play there is not the end of the world.

No good bands playing? You folks are cracked. I'm not for sure how I'm going to be able to fit in foodz. Conact me if you need me to hold your hand and walk you to each (imho) ass kicking show.

bluebird=only venue in town...that nobody can find on the first try...

It's surprising the Bluebird isn't hosting the RFT showcase this year.

music showcase is, has and always will be in the Loop. it's not a one-venue thing.

all of you who always complain about the bluebird are funny, especially since they (and 2 cents plain and off broadway -- look at their upcoming schedule -- and now hopefully FUBAR) are bringing stuff to town that wouldn't otherwise stop by here. and if all of these venues didn't exist, everyone would be whining about how these bands never come to town.

boggles the mind. it's amazing to me how folks in this town like to shit on things that try to do something different/better the community.

many things boggle this angry little preacher's mind...

it's no secret I have my opinions about the music scene, venues, even the RFT and (some of) its writers...we all do in one direction or another....if we didn't love and hate each other, all we'd have left is ourselves...

and self loathing is for those awkward highschool years...self loving, for the privacy of one's home...

...

if you don't like the lineup in the loop, go find out where your favorite bands are playing and support them...

or check out bands you've never heard (but probably should by now) at the showcase...it's a lot of option for a fairly low price, sans bar tabs (if you drink like me)

Me, I could give a rat's arse about the politics (be they present or imagined)behind the music awards/showcase/RFT Music section...

What they write/blog/preview/review/nominate doesn't make any difference when it comes down to the bottom line:

bands are playing every night somewhere in this town, and you'll either like them or you won't....but it's going to have to boil down to your personal tastes and motivation to see them play, not whether or not miss z and her crew deems it worthy...

...if that were the case, I'd be a much bigger Radiohead fan by now...and trust me, I'm not...

Look folks, they aren't the only source in town, and if you don't like what they write about, or how they operate, it's okay...you don't have to read it...there's other publications and resources abound if this hain't the fire yer looking fer...

(pssst...there's this thing called the internet)

I used to beat my head against the wall about this shit all the time...

but...what's the point? Isn't that the great thing about the world in which we live? The choices available? Don't like it, don't read it...done...

Or do we all just like to start arguments?

I know I do sometimes, simply for the sport of heated discourse...for sport of watching someone lose it over something small and irrelevant to life...

but I'm kind of an asshole...

I don't come round too much*, but every time I do, it's the same broken record; besides fighting and stroking one another's ego, there's very little productive conversation about the one thing that really matters: the local music scene...

Like I said, I could give 2 shits about what's behind the showcase, or who set it up...I'm looking forward to seeing the Monads tear it up (as they shall) and Bad Folk blow my mind with poignant words beneath unbelievable live energy (as they always do)...

and I'm looking forward to seeing some folks I've never seen, like the band Theodore...my banjo player (Bauer) tells me they were unbelievable at Stag Nite**, and a band I should check out...so this is a good opportunity to see them all in one location (more or less)...

so quit yer bitching and lap up the kick-ass music in and around town...

*where has the Rev been all these months? go here: http://www.viciousbooks.com

**Stag Nite is held at Off Broadway, perhaps the finest venue in all the world, with a killer bourbon selection and great out of town acts rolling through...like Curtis Eller from NYC...Stag Nite, I hear, is going away for a while, so you better enjoy it whilst you can...

Hey, are all the clubs 21+ for this event? My 16-year old brother wants to see Jumbling Towers at Cicero's, where there normal age limit is conveniently 16. Are you going to make all participating venues scale it up to 21?

cicero's will be 16+ as usual. outdoor stages are all-ages, as is vintage vinyl and pi. everything else is 21+.

and just to clarify: "i" and the paper do not have any control over individual venues and their age limits.

when i was a kid, my mom taught me that if i had the address of a place that i wanted to go, i would have a relatively easy time finding it - i guess we all had different moms

mt - well if you are so smart why dont you use your super genius to build a large fucking neon sign that says Bluebird! Then again that would still cost the venue money.

the bluebird (aka RFT venue) is a shithole!

The Bluebird=Overpriced VFW hall. Are they still charging $8 to get in and $5 for a mixed drink?

Jesus, all this over some silly award we didn't even ask for.

Thanks RFT, and thank you St. Louis!

man, we had some great vfw parties when i was in college. that's why i like the bluebird so much because it's always such a nostalgia trip for me. of course, national touring acts like mates of state never played nor did nada surf, a place to bury strangers, adam franklin, thee silver mt. zion or black mountain. but that one guy who lived down the hall from me in dorms (who also sold me crappy weed from time to time) would usually set up his peavey practice amp and play some jack johnson songs on his knock of stratocaster while his hippy girlfriend pounded out some tribal goodness on her jimbe. there wasn't a great sounding 1000 watt PA system with knowledgable sound guys like at the bluebird but sometimes we would borrow the "10's" from the back of my roomate's escort hatchback so we could have a mic for vocals. it was pretty sweet. and drinks were cheap as hell. like two whole kegs of milwaukee's best! $5 for a cup! of course, it usually ran out by about 11pm which is about time the frat guys would start picking fights. but anyway, it was a lot like the bluebird.

i have a crush on norm macdonald.
seriously.

i have a crush on jaime lees.
srsly.

Now. srsly:

Rev! : Missed, you bambino! If I run into you on RFT day I owe you one shotski of some varietyski.

AZ : Yr wahhhhmbulance made my yestreeday afternune.

shae : wowsers. nice ramble! (lo-5!)

MikeBureau : Can't win for losin', can we?!

evad + greg'a'mora : We get to kick it
Sunderz! Swieeezzt!

JPayne : "arse kissing" = good to see yr still a Senor D. Baggington!

JaimeL33z : yanks for the mammareez and the boss-ome birthday prezzie!

Kids! Just a few days! Then it's time to par-tee down! Man I love showcase day! So much whining! So much beef! So much booze! So much rock! Everything I love rolled up into 7 hours of stupidity!

MNAGOGOGOG.

I'd like to hereby thank James for making the internet well worth a perusal now and then.

um... seriously, jerks, I don't go to thrash-metal blogs and get pissed at them because i thought their "top records of 2007" list sucked.

I don't agree with everything the rft says/does, but that makes them pretty much like everyone else I know.

except mike cracchiolo. I hate his guts because he got mad at me because I wanted to make a poopy at the bluebird.

wango tango.

PS-my biggest complaint (about the showcase) is that it wasn't last Sunday, when I could wake up the following Monday with both a hangover, and a day off...now I'll have to go to work and maintain a professional demeanor while angry midgets play a rousing game of squash inside my skull...

but then, I suppose it's like the prolific Mr. Swayze once said* in a little movie called Road House...

Pain Don't Hurt
-the book of Dalton

or as the Tao te Ching says...

Who recognizes his limitations is healthy;
Who ignores his limitations is sick.
The sage recognizes this sickness as a limitation.
And so becomes immune.
-七十四

Sunday, sunday sunday...

*for more Tao of Swayze go to www.viciousbooks.com

While I think the RFT is cool and pic it up every week. It is nice to know that others including many musicians have started posting their opinions on this.

If you really want the music scene to grow you should be more supportive of all the shows in the area. Believe me there are decent bands out there apart from the ones mentioned every week in the RFT.

If you really want to help the music scene listen to some of what people like me say, instead of just attacking them. That Joe payne maybe extreme, but there is some truth to what he is saying and he seems to know the local scene.

looking forward to this Sunday - attack away

The Hibernauts are playing at Ciceros!! Can't wait..they're awesome!

Vinny B. Who are these bands? I'd like to check 'em out.

o.k. so I just have to say this line up is fuckin rad.I'm not sure what the hell these people are talkin about because I follow the music scene in saint louis of bands that are doing something different and interesting and you know what? There's a shit ton playing.I look forward to this thing every year and have the upmost respect for the line-up EVERY year. Why do I have a feeling that these people saying this just don't know who most these fucking bands are! Don't get me wrong I've had my own issues with the RFT at one time or another but the showecase has NEVER been one of them. come on guys, you need a list of bands worth checking out? I know i only have a 2 hour break from music i HAVE to see the whole day.
need a list?here you go rumdrum ramblers,monads,livers,bad folk,sex robots,nerve parade,dead bugs,theadore,7 shot screamers,trip daddies,bunnygrunt.there.and the rest i'm sure i just haven't seen them therfore i won't make an opinion.

Vinny B. - Thanks for the kind words. I take my work here at the A to Z blog seriously and with the utmost professionalism.

PS - Hibernauts = Milk Drinkers!

J. 'Extreme' P. For A to Z

vinny b.'s ip address = one of many joe payne uses.

most of these incoherent negative comments belong to some variation on the troll, guys. don't even bother.

Okay lets preface this by saying that I will be in attendance at the rft showcase. I love so many of the bands playing. I love St. Louis. I even love the in-fighting and shit talking that goes on around this time. That said, here are my complaints...researched, fact-based complaints.

1. Love my peeps at vintage vinyl, but Bunnygrunt don't equal Matt and Museum Mutters don't equal James. If you wanna stop people thinking that people have an "in" at the rft (uhm, bluebird) don't just focus on the record store jerks/club owners/people you know socially.

2. Christian-Ded Bugs and Bug are two different bands. Didn't you review that cd? I guess I can cut you a little slack cause of that awesome femme fatality review, but come on.

3. Annie-You've gone on about how the showcase was just the tip of the iceberg of St. Louis talent, and someone above even pointed out how a lot of the non-showcase bands have received rft coverage before, but would it kill you to return an email from a predominantly girl band, who's not the 75's (***note: love the 75's). People gonna talk.

Hugs and kisses on all (well some of you at least) your pink parts,
Sara Oberst
been rockin' St. Louis since '98
That's My Daughter new cd It Takes Tuna Tango
released to the world Saturday August 2nd @
Off Broadway w/
Bang! Bang! (from the hated cubs city)
& the "marriage act muffins" Sex Robots
That's My Daughter playing Chicago, Madison, Athens PopFest and more this summer, better recognize!!!! Suckers!

hmm annie - i suppose i am 'sara oberst' also. try as you might, you cant hide the truth.

sara - if it's any consolation you are not the only stl band that annie doesnt even email back.

JP

PS - I use two ip addresses only because the RFT locked me out of the other one - so much for free speech!

People here need to lighten up and BTW,
Keytar Players Rule!
And if there actually are keytar players nominated for an RFT Award, I wanna see those bands.

Its does suck that The Feed and So Many Dynamos are playing at the same time. I'll have to switch off songs..that'll be a good workout.

Rad show at The BLUEBIRD tonight (thats right haters) with Gentleman Auction House
The Feed
The Bureau
Blind Eyes

Awesome weekend for music.

People here need to lighten up and BTW,
Keytar Players Rule!
And if there actually are keytar players nominated for an RFT Award, I wanna see those bands.

Its does suck that The Feed and So Many Dynamos are playing at the same time. I'll have to switch off songs..that'll be a good workout.

Rad show at The BLUEBIRD tonight (thats right haters) with Gentleman Auction House
The Feed
The Bureau
Blind Eyes

Awesome weekend for music.

Sara - thanks for the correction.

Joe - will you be there tomorrow? It would be nice to hear this "truth" of yours in person instead of behind your usual message-board fake-name anonymity. We've all been waiting for your list of approved bands - we can wait no longer. Enlighten us.

And I'll be at the Bluebird tonight; if someone wants to buy me a $5 mixed drink, that'd be swell. Oh, nevermind - as an RFT writer, I'm entitled to free admission, unlimited High Lifes and a private lap dance from Cracchiolo.

actually, JP, you can say whatever you want about the RFT and such here. plenty of people hate; they aren't banned.

but it was the racist comment about sharon jones that got yr IP banned. cause i don't tolerate that shit here.

wait a second, chris -- i've never been offered a private lapdance from cracchiolo.

oh wait, that's right; he figures my gigantic ass wouldn't fit.

Racist comment???! are you serious. oh if you only knew! that is almost funny how you can turn that joke into a racist thing...perhaps you are the one with issues. I may come on here to stir the pot a little but don't pull that shit on me. That is not cool!

You'll be glad to know i am retiring from this blog. I will let the so called other 'Joe Payne's' carry on the good fight here. my work is done..But i will continue to see you around.

JP signing out for the last time!

Wherever a cop's beatin' up a kid, Joe Payne'll be there.
Whenever a show at the BloooUUUooobird gets a critic's pick, Joe Payne'll be there.
Whenever we vibrate, we do, Joe Payne'll be there.

Close your eyes & listen to the wind. Listen to it whisper...joe payne...joe payne...joe payne...

If I see ya out, I'll anonymously buy you a drink. Or if not anonymously, I'll buy it for you under a fake name. Or four.

Who am I even cracking on this time? Beats me, I'm just crackin'...

Cheers, clowns!

See ya all tomorrow at the Delmar Lounge at midnight. I will be stone cold sober. And monkeys will fly out of my butt.

Mattgo!

RFT Awards LIVE BLOGGING!

Shame Club: When the FUCK did you turn into Ram Jam?!!? Mind-blowin'! That's right, less Estelle Getty, more Black Betty!!

Wooden Kites: Killed it.

Tonight? All fun all the time.

If you're reading this, you're a jackass who should be in the Loop ballin' it up.

Woot!

-jw

Some people were asking about good music not playing. I'm not criticizing the selections at all, I just think we have a whole lot of talent in St. Louis. Here is a list:

Eric Hall
Ghost of the Forest
Matt Dill
Bird Baker
Malachi Constant
Beth Bombara
My Bicycle Emergency!
Ryne Watts and the Campfire Club
Muscle Brain
Fig Crosby
Cold Bear Scout
Torchlight Red
Thor Axe (but SMD is already playing)