Funky Butt Brass Band kicked off the series with The Music Man

​The Grand Center continues its efforts to become an arts community hangout with the Thursdays @ the Intersection series, which launched its second season last night.KDHX and Grand Center have joined forces on the series. This year's installment offers a ten-week stretch of live music that pairs local artists with movies that match their aesthetic or interests. Last night, for example, paired Funky Butt Brass Band with The Music Man for this year's kick-off.

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​There were so many things to drink about this year, from the oil bleeding into the Gulf to the earthquake in Haiti. But, despite having every reason to booze up, you still don't have New Year's plans. A few weeks ago, we suggested ten ideas for your year-end revelry. Below, here are five more options to help you put a drunken end to the shittastic twentydime.

Christmas got you bankrupt? We've got two choices for free revelry: Atomic Cowboy's Livin' 'Leven Large bash features a triple bill of STL's finest knob-twiddling turntablists: DJ Mahf, Matt Leach and DEADasDISCO. The trio provides the tunes, while the Cowboy provides a free breakfast buffet and a shot toast at midnight. Early birds, show up before 9:30 and get a two-for-one drink ticket.

And everyone's favorite German Mexican restaurant and venue, El Leñador, hosts DJ Lil' Daddy Reba McEntire New Year's Dance Party. The event is totally free, and kicks off at 9 p.m. Check out the video flyer below, courtesy of Eric Hall:

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​Tron: Legacy -- the sequel to the groundbreaking 1982 sci-fi film -- is in theaters on December 17. The Daft Punk-penned soundtrack, however, is in stores now. In honor of both these events, several local DJs are throwing a Countdown to Tron blacklight dance party at the Firebird tomorrow night. KDHX programmers Johnny Orr (The Love Mix) and Kate (Beep Beep Boop Boop) and DJ Cor(e)yography are your hosts; the event also promises "glow-in-the-dark, Tron-styled body art by Firecracker Press' Matty Kleinberg, giveaways (including copies of the graphic novel, Tron: Betrayal provided by Star Clipper), Tron video game, and of course some Daft Punk." Good enough! The event starts at 9 p.m., there's a $5 cover, and all proceeds go to KDHX.

It's too pristine to be glitch hop, it's too pretty to be dub, but the production duo Lazer Sword are hyphy as hell and have taken hip hop sample snobbery to new heights. The San Francisco via LA and Berlin team will undoubtedly bring their sickest to 2720 Cherokee on Thursday--it is 18andCounting's birthday after all.

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2720 Cherokee
*Lazer Sword, December 9

Blueberry Hill
*Fitz and the Tantrums, February 11

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In February, the Firebird is celebrating its second birthday -- with shows!

Flatfoot 56 is a frequent visitor to the club, but Tokyo Police Club hasn't played a club show (much less a headlining club show) in town since a Creepy Crawl gig a lonnnng time ago. (2005? 2006?) The band did open for Passion Pit in June, however. Ticket info for both shows TBA.

Interpol fans (and former fans turned skeptics) get a second Interpol date in 2010; you don't even have to sit through U2. At the Pageant with School of Seven Bells (!) February 11.

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BB's Jazz Blues and Soups
*Michael "Iron Man" Burks, December 4

Chaifetz Arena
*Mike Epps, April 1

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Be afraid: Tel Aviv's Monotonix bring their scuzzy garage rock and acrobatic antics to The Gargoyle on December 3.

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Billiken Club
*The Hood Internet, November 20

Blueberry Hill
*Chuck Berry, December 15
*The Noam Chomsky Band, December 4
*Rodney Crowell, February 28

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[Update, 6:50 p.m.: VV says that this in-store has been canceled. Thanks to commenter Dan for the heads-up.]

Tomorrow night, music fans have another hard choice: Sigur Ros front man Jonsi is performing at the Pageant, along with surreal-folk openers Mountain Man, while the Books and Black Heart Procession are playing at the Old Rock House. Tickets are still available for each. If you've opted for the former, but are crushed at missing BHP, fear not: The San Diego band is doing an in-store performance at Vintage Vinyl at 4 p.m. The ornate, macabre band rarely comes to St. Louis, and its gothic cabaret tunes are deliciously melancholic. In his preview, Roy Kasten says, "Nick Cave sounds like Debbie Gibson by comparison" to BHP. Good enough for me.

BHP, "A Cry for Love"

Psychobilly straight out of Motor City, the punktastic Koffin Kats play The Firebird on December 4.

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Argosy Casino Alton
*Max Weinberg and his Big Band, October 21

Cicero's
*Bridges and Powerlines, November 13
*Dan Hubbard and the Humadors, October 28
*Neighbor Kid, October 29

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Sol Lounge is kicking off its winter schedule in a big way, with a DJ set by Reuben Wu and Mira Aroyo of Ladytron. The event is on Saturday, November 6, and runs from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 regular admission. Expect a seamless, danceable set from the electropop early adopters -- judging by YouTube clips and 2003's stellar, DJ-mixed genre-bender Softcore Jukebox. On the band front, Ladytron is apparently in the studio mixing its fifth album, and is releasing a new single, "Ace of Hz," on November 30. Hear it below!

Ladytron, "Ace of Hz":