​Just in case you haven't nearly wrecked your car staring at Lumiere Place's toweringly monolithic billboard off I-70 recently, we'll start out by informing you that yes, the legendary Australian wuss-rock powerhouse known as Air Supply will be playing in town this weekend. Hard core soft-rockers Russell Hitchcock and Graham Russell will be making music out of nothing at all at some point in time over the next three days -- it's impossible to be sure when, exactly, as those details were overlooked as I crossed haphazardly across three lanes of traffic, mesmerized by Russell's focused, emotional gaze. Also no, I do not know which "Russell" is which.

Luckily, The Supply isn't the only game in town, and we at the RFT have the details for several other great shows this weekend.

George Strait and Martina McBride will play Scottrade Center on Friday night for fans of big-arena contemporary country; Austin Texas's Jon Dee Graham will offer his big, throaty ballads in the decidedly smaller Off Broadway on the same night. Several other artists not from Texas will also play other variably sized venues throughout the weekend, including Florida's rap "Bawse" Rick Ross at the Ambassador, Israeli jazz clarinetist Anat Cohen at Jazz at the Bistro, and St. Louis's own youthful blues trio The Rum Drum Ramblers at the Gargoyle. More still after the break:

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Courtesy of Bass Amp & Dan-O

Funny-smelling punks, doubtless wishing they'd slapped a different tossed off title on their fantastic show at Off Broadway this weekend.

​It may not be picnic weather, but it's still pretty damn nice for the first weekend in February. And yes, we realize the ice caps are melting and polar bears are frowning, which is why it is imperative that we not spend nights thinking about the possibility of maybe going to a show instead of actually going to one. There's plenty to draw you from the couch this weekend, including the Firebird's Three-Year Anniversary shindig featuring a mess of local rock all-stars (plus Chicago's Mutts) and a punk show at Off Broadway with a lineup that includes Black for a Second, the Haddonfields, the Chill Dawgs and Bass Amp & Dan-O (pictured). Organist Lonnie Smith continues a string of excellent shows at Jazz at the Bistro, N'Dambi has the biggest show at new-kid-on-the-block Plush to date and more:

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Courtesy of the Lemonheads

​Happy Friday Party People. It's the last weekend in January already, and don't let the spring show announcements trick you into planning for the future. Because then you'd miss the Lemonheads tomorrow at Old Rock House and Rats & People Motion Picture Orchestra playing a new score in Edwardsville tonight and a whole slew of other things. Eight more of them are listed below -- if you are involved with or know of something fantastic we've missed, please, please, please let us know in the comments. It's a debate, people, not an ultimatum.

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Gucci Mane

​Gucci Mane is playing a recently announced show tonight in East St. Louis at Posh Nightclub (657 E. Broadway, East St. Louis), which has also hosted Lil Kim and Young Jeezy in the past year. Tickets are $30 for general admission and $50 for VIP, and doors open at 11 p.m. So not exactly an early start.

Gucci's been keeping busy of late, releasing collaboration albums with Waka Flocka Flame and Kreayshawn cohort V-Nasty. He also put out his fifth solo album, The Return of Mr. Zone 6, last March.

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Ricky Middlesworth

A benefit to offset Matt Grayson's medical bills will be held tomorrow at Fubar.

​This weekend we're excited about some unusual shows, including collective FarFetched's launch party and Prologue release at 2720 Cherokee and KDHX's benefit on Sunday at Saratoga Lanes. Matt Grayson was involved in a motorcycle accident last fall, and his friends have put together a benefit at Fubar featuring a truly monstrous lineup of local punk and metal mainstays. New records from Superhero Killer and the Vondrukes come out this weekend at Cicero's and Off Broadway, respectively.

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Emperor X

​This was the first week of torrential show announcements for 2012, and we've got a weekend to match. The Civil Wars play a sold-out Pageant on Sunday, Eric Johnson's at Old Rock House and you're forgiven for missing Emperor X at the Billiken Club -- he's playing the Firebird this weekend. On the local front, the biggest news is the SLUM Fest Awards on Saturday and Troubadour Dali's continuing Sunday residency at Off Broadway, where attendees will get some bonus Tower Groove action. Say hi when you see us around.

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Cameron Wittig

The Bad Plus is in town for four more shows.

​What will 2012 bring us? To start, the finale of the Bad Plus' residency at Jazz at the Bistro. Then there's David Lowery wearing two hats tonight in Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven at the Pageant. Comedian Rob Delaney had to add a second show tomorrow night at the Firebird after the first one sold out, and Old Rock House brings the Goddamn Gallows on Sunday. Plus, local psych-rockers Troubadour Dali kick off a monthlong residency at Off Broadway this Sunday. Zero dollars gets you in the door.

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​The main event is Saturday night, obviously, and if you still don't have your New Year's Eve plans in order, we've got you covered:

New Year's Eve in St. Louis: Ten Best Things to Do Under $10
New Year's Eve in St. Louis: Ten Best Things to Do Under $35

But don't let that blind you to the weekend's other offerings -- tonight's schedule is highlighted by a free hip-hop show at the Gramophone we strongly advise you not miss. Ransom Note will also release its steller album this evening at Off Broadway.

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Courtesy of the artist.

​All RFT Music wants for Christmas is little Phaseone, and since we buy our weed from Santa Claus in the off-season, he hooked it up. St. Louis ex-pat Andrew Jernigan is leaving Brooklyn behind for the holidays and playing Christmas eve at Atomic Cowboy (4140 Manchester Avenue, 314-775-0775) with a based crew: Billy Brown, Matt Leach and DJ EJ. In keeping with the Crimbus spirit, the show is free, but 21 and up.

The producer has been busy since we last saw him; His "Sugar" video -- directed by former St. Louisians Ryan Powell and Vadim Gershman -- beat out M83, Com Truise and John Maus and was named XLR8's number two video of the year. He's been laying down tracks for his upcoming album on Williams Street, and we caught up with him via email to get an update. He won't tell us about the collab with Freddie Gibbs, but he does drop a hint or two about the new record.

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Bhob Rainey

​Bhob Rainey digs at the secret corners of your brain, wielding a soprano saxophone to invoke aural anomalies. Rainey is sure to peel the paint off the walls with the unconventional means he uses to create otherworldly sound. For fans of experimental composition, his name recalls short days and cold weather, as Rainey usually descends upon the Lemp Arts Center (3301 Lemp Avenue, 314-771-1096) during the brisk days leading up to Christmas. His honest style of free playing provides a unique performance, making every concert a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

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