Photo by Sara Finke

This Thanksgiving I find myself thankful for the people and the ideas that will hopefully bring us closer to the peace and prosperity we pray for every holiday. There are many people all over the area who have been working tirelessly to make their communities the best that they can be.

Tracy Panus, Media Relations Officer for the St. Louis County Police Department, spoke with me to address current worries about crime rates and the violence between the police and members of the public.

“[It's a] matter of respect going both ways. We’re trying to keep people safe. People are generally good. [There needs to be] a measure of respect that people are trying to go about their business,” said Panus.

According to Officer Panus, communication is a key element to law enforcement. She has spent time interacting with the public as an officer.

“Communication is one of the most important skills we have as police officers,” says Panus. “Most interactions are very brief, and people tend to make quick assessments of the police because of those interactions…that affects whether [they say something when they] see something that they should report. Our communication skills are essential to our job.”

Another initiative is the slate of reports compiled from law enforcement statistics on who officers stop and the results from those stops. The most recent reports, monitored by the Attorney General’s office, say that the number of stops has gone up overall from 2007-2008, from 1.5 million to 1.6 million, and the disparity index has grown for both African-American drivers and Hispanics.

Alderman Charles Quincy Troupe is working to end such disparities.

“In African American neighborhoods [crime's] looked at differently,” says Troupe. “When you look at the police department, it doesn’t reflect the community at large. The police have more power than [other institutions.] It’s all about taking care of the police. I have people that call the police and say that there is a drive-by shooting and the police don’t come. There are a lot of crooked cops and good police get killed. You can make a thousand arrests and not pass the test and not get a promotion and pass tests, and make one arrest and get the promotion.”

Charles Bryson, Director of the City of St. Louis Department of Public Safety, has been working with all levels of city government to address a good deal of these concerns.

“I am thankful for all city employees who work hard everyday sometimes under thankless conditions,” says Bryson. “They really are what make city government. We’ve handled a number of extremely successful events that have been recognized, nationally and internationally, like the All-Star Game. All city departments worked at some part of that, to make it successful. We handle big events every week.”

Daniel Isom, the new City of St. Louis Police Chief, is working to build on the successful measures of the past and search for new initiatives. The department plans to launch some of these initiatives in the coming months. The department is also continuing and expanding the police bike program, which was enacted to help the officers interact with and serve the public even better. Bikes allow the police to get to know the people within the neighborhoods they work in and respond more rapidly.

Community leaders have done other things this year to improve public health, safety and quality of life in the greater St. Louis Area. They have expanded the access to green spaces and farmers’ markets all over the area. Vegetarians, die-hard BBQers, and everyone in between can come to the table for Thanksgiving and celebrate organically and locally.

Thanks to many of our leaders we have health and health care as a topic of discussion, with major changes on the table. One of these leaders would be State Senator Rita Days, who serves the Ferguson/Jennings area and has made healthcare a priority for herself in state government this term.

I’m also thankful for Alderman Troupe’s efforts to improve housing options in the near-North County. The neighborhood has become a whole new experience.

And finally, I’m thankful for MetroLink, which has expanded to Webster and Clayton, and for the Galleria’s low-cost sushi!

There really is a lot to be thankful for.

There is programming for everyone — whether you are a hardcore film buff or a casual fan. In addition to over 100 feature films, shorts and documentaries, SLIFF is offering children’s programming, animation, awards, film criticism, as well as special appearances from Jason Reitman, Connie Stevens and the cast of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Tickets for films and events may be purchased at the screening venue. It is a good idea to purchase tickets in advance, as many films will sell out.

The primary venues for this year include Webster University, the Hi-Pointe Theatre, the St. Louis Art Museum, Tivoli Theatre and Plaza Frontenac.

This past Wednesday, November 4, on my show Juxtaposition on KDHX, I chatted with Chris Clark from Cinema St. Louis. Listen to and download the podcast:

Interview with Chris Clark of Cinema St. Louis

Here are some programming highlights.

An Education

With a screenplay by author Nick Hornby and a buzz-worthy turn from star on the rise Cary Mulligan, An Education is the perfect opening night selection for the Festival. Belleville’s Peter Sarsgaard stars in this coming of age film set during the onset of swinging Sixties London.

Up In the Air

In case you hadn’t heard, George Clooney spent a lot of time here earlier this year filming this movie about a corporate downsizer whose life is being turned asunder. Director Jason Reitman’s film has generated a strong Oscar buzz on the festival circuit. St. Louisan Kevin Renick is featured on the soundtrack, and you can listen to or download my interview with Kevin and his performance of the song “Up In the Air,” recorded live at KDHX on November 4.

Kevin Renick Interview

Kevin Renick, “Up In the Air” Live at KDHX

The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassuss

Heath Ledger died during principle filming. Good thing Jude Law and Johnny Depp stepped in to replace him. This mythical fantasy also features Tom Waits as the Devil. Terry Gilliam always makes interesting films and this one is not to be missed.

Each year SLIFF presents a diverse array of sidebars that focus on films from a specific region or particular topic. This year’s selection of sidebars is particularly strong. A few worth noting are:

Argentina Sidebar

A terrific collection of films from Argentina, a burgeoning and refreshing hot bed for contemporary cinema. Films in this sidebar include: The Headless Woman, Liverpool, Possible Lives, and XXY.

Asian Film Sidebar

Once again SLIFF has an amazing block of Asian films, from such different Pan-Asian locales as Iran, India, China, and Indonesia. Films include: 24 City, Adele, Beetle Queen Conquers Tokyo, The Drummer, Operation Babylift, Tahaah, Those Three and The Photograph.

Eastern European Sidebar

Romania is another “it” spot for world cinema. SLIFF 2009 features two films from Romania in its Eastern European sidebar. These include: First of All Felicia and Hooked. Bosnia is also represented with three stunning films: Grbavica, Snow, and Storm. As part of the Bosnian Cinema Program (November 17-18) Faruk Sabanovic will be on hand to discuss his career and show clips of his work. A program of Edward Serotta documentaries is also being offered.

Noir/Crime Thriller Sidebar

From all regions of the globe it appears that the Film Noir genre is alive and well. The meatiest sidebar of the 2009 festival features a selection of works from the USA and around the world. Films include: 2:22, Cat City, Desdemona: A Love Story, Formosa Betrayed, The Headless Woman, and Yella, among many others.

Documentary Films

Once again SLIFF has gone out of its way to present a stellar selection of documentary films. KDHX’s Thomas Crone has two documentaries in this year’s fest. Both of them follow up on the 1970s River City Music scene. Old Dog New Trick follows the career of Steve Scorfina of Pavlov’s Dog & REO Speedwagon. The Pride of St. Louis centers on Danny Liston and the rise of Mama’s Pride. Crone’s films also explore the vital role KSHE Radio had in helping these bands break. As a bonus, Scorfina and Liston will perform together at the Duck Room on November 20.

Cinema St. Louis has mounted an ambitious selection of films for the 18^th Annual Festival. It’s impossible to highlight it all here. The best way to get the low down on the Festival is to visit the Cinema St. Louis Web site or grab a program book at one of the venues.

Dum Dum Girls at Music Hall of Williamsburg:

Hercules and Love Affair at “The Fillmore” at Irving Plaza:

VEGA at the Studio at Webster Hall:

Also, the KDHX Membership Drive begins Thursday, November 5 and lasts through Sunday, November 15. The Beep Beep Boop Boop edition will occur on Wednesday, November 11 from 10 p.m. to Midnight CST. Show your support by calling 314-664-3688 during this time or by visiting KDHX.org to keep community radio alive and well in Saint Louis.

beep!

Photo by Sara Finke

This past Friday, nine Saint Louis bands got together for a KDHX benefit at Off Broadway and paid tribute to the late Warren Zevon, a songwriter who doesn’t get near the props he deserves. I can’t think of a genuinely funnier or smarter writer in American music.

The evening captured the sweep of his work, from the wry and winsome opening song “My Ride Is Here,” wisely selected and sweetly harmonized by Auset and Brad, to the randy satire “Hula Hula Boys” of Jon Bonham and Friends, played with Tom-Waitsian growl and determination, to the acoustic blues punk of Bob Reuter (backed up by fellow KDHX programmer Fred Gumaer and Ryan Spearman on fiddle and mandolin), who did “Excitable Boys,” “Lawyers Guns and Money” and “My S**t Is F***ed Up.” Leave it to Bob to turn a potential train wreck of under rehearsal into a riveting bit of musical self-psychoanalysis. Tenement Ruth gave the songs — “Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner” and “Ain’t That Pretty At All” and a cover of a cover, “Jesus Was a Cross Maker” — a Velvet Undergroundish quality and Melody Den came out of semi-retirement for a harrowing “Keep Me in Your Heart,” “Carmelita,” “Mannish Boy” and “Things to Do in Denver When You’re Dead.” The band has rarely rocked so hard.

Photography, streaming audio and more after the jump.

Prairie Rehab, a new band featuring the core of the Linemen and new singer Lacie Mangles, covered the lovely “Mutineer,” “Mohammed’s Radio” and “I Was in the House When the House Burned Down.” The young Mangles was making her stage debut, and if she was a little nervous, she showed she has genuine Missouri twang and a lot of potential. Brothers Lazaroff followed with “Dirty Life and Times” and then a biting and genuinely howling “Werewolves of London” and “Disorder in the House.” Keyboardist Moe Egeston brought the noise and drummer Grover Stewart the funk.

Rough Shop, featuring KDHX’s John Wendland, more than held their own with “Splendid Isolation,” one of Zevon’s most overlooked and revealing songs, as well as a stormy “Play It All Night Long.”

The final act of the night, Bad Luck Streak In Dancing School,” with Steve Scariano and Steve Carosello of the Love Experts, John Ellis and Andy Ploof, as well as Fred Gumaer and Brian Smith on drums, tackled three lesser known Zevon tunes: “The Heartache,” “Searching For a Heart” and the great kiss-off “Finishing Touches.” Who knows if this band will ever play together again, but I’m very happy they did this Friday.

Zevon isn’t the most accessible songwriter. After all, one of his signature songs concerns a headless mercenary haunting Africa and internecine battlefields thereafter. He’s angry, political, prickly, vulnerable, and brutally honest. But Friday night reminded a packed room at Off Broadway just how much fun he can be as well.

Listen to selections from the tribute below and check out Sara Finke’s photography from the whole night. Time permitting, I may even get around to posting some videos.

Photo courtesy of chadandjeremy.net

Chad Stuart was in the British folk-rock duo Chad & Jeremy. The duo had 11 top 40 hits in that decade before splitting up, and while they’ve gotten together a couple times since then, nothing much ever came from those reunions — until the most recent one. Last year the duo re-recorded a number of their songs from each of their albums. It’s a strategy taken by many bands and artists with results that often make you wish they had just left well enough alone.

That’s not the case with Chad Stuart & Jeremy Clyde’s ARK-eology. The songs are close to the originals, but they don’t try to exactly reproduce them, nor do they attempt to update them using the style of the day. What they do is update the quality of the recordings and perform them with “respect for the song” as Chad explained in our interview. It’s obvious that the duo has a lot of respect for the songs and a real fondness for the material. On 88.1 KDHX’s Pop! The Beat Bubble Burst this week, I played a couple tracks side by side with the originals. The depth and warmth of the new rendition was remarkable: the vocals were as clear as the originals, with a bit of experience adding charm and character. The result is nice overview of the duo’s time together.

Now that they have our attention, Chad & Jeremy are planning a release of new material next year, as well as a DVD which will feature the history of the band through performance clips and many of the bits from ‘60s-era American television which featured the group’s music: Batman, The Dick Van Dyke Show and more will be highlighted.

Chad Stuart proved that he knows how to do an interview. He was very much at ease and funny, and he also went in-depth on a number of subjects regarding the duo’s tumultuous career. He and Jeremy Clyde were not just a couple of mop-top puppets. They were serious about entertaining and they did it with humor and charm, writing and arranging some great songs, and evolving effortlessly with the changing landscape of the ‘60s.

Listen to the interview podcast below, and go hear and see the duo for yourself. They’ll be displaying their knack for harmonies and well-constructed pop songs on Friday evening, October 23, at the venerable Sheldon Concert Hall in Saint Louis.

Download the interview.

Last night at Off Broadway I learned a few things about Toronto band the Wooden Sky: 1) They’ve been playing together since around 2003, starting out as Friday Morning’s Regret, a name no one regrets changing. 2) They’ve never played Saint Louis before, and their bass player has a tendency to confuse the city with Seattle. 3) When it comes to free PBR, they can hold their own. 4) Off Broadway is the “nicest club” they’ve played on a long, first US tour (they’ve opened a few dates for “death country band” Elliott Brood). 5) The Wooden Sky is louder than the RFT critic’s pick suggested. 6) That’s a good thing. 7) They have repressed “klezmer metal” tendencies, which may not be a good thing. 8) They have many more sturdy, memorable songs than a band this unknown should have. 9) They understand how to communicate those songs, sometimes quietly, sometimes manically, to an audience of only 20 people. 10) They won’t be unknown for long.

I wrote about the song below, “Something Hiding for Us in the Night,” in the Riverfront Times last week. I can’t fully explain what the song is about, though in lyrics and sound it captures a certain unconscious, almost Freudian dread, a dimly dawning realization that the uneasy dreams we all have mean more than we dare guess—but in the end we’re all in this dark dream together.

The Voyces’ song “Let Me Die In Southern California” reminds me of so much, most of which I shouldn’t say, lest you never listen to it for the first time or again.

But I’ll say it anyway.

The thick, opening guitar hook: Thin Lizzy’s “Wild One”
The melody: “Sister Golden Hair”
The whole damn thing: “Horse With No Name”
The guitar solo at 2:45: A mega-compressed “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” but not as awesome.
The voice: Auto-tuned Matthew Sweet, but auto-tuned well.

It’s classic rock red meat, sure, in a Hold Steady sort of vein (but not as jubilant), utterly without irony, nearly without self-consciousness.

The Voyces are mostly former Californian and now New Yorker Brian Wurschum, with Jude Kastle, Frank Carreno and Eric Puente backing him up. The band’s second full-length, Let Me Die in Southern California (released in September on the Planting Seeds label), is a song cycle devoted to the Golden State even when it’s not. It’s gentle and reflective at times, cool and boss at others, a little nostalgic, a little mythic, and always indebted to ‘70s California pop. It won’t change your life, but it will warm up your autumn wherever you are.

Visit the Voyces online for more free downloads.

Let Me Die in Southern California

“Big Dark Puddle” - Recorded live at KDHX 10/13/09

And if that isn’t enough fun in uniforms for you, check out photos and a track from the Los Angeles drum and bass duo Ninja Academy, who had an in-studio session on Spazztick last month.

“Your Kung Fu Sucks” - Recorded live at KDHX 9/22/09

Photo by Sara Finke.

I first heard of John Henry and the Engine about two, maybe three years ago, via a loose, somewhat lo-fi rock and roll EP called Charlie Baby. The sound and the songwriting had a serious Springsteen jones, with some contrapuntal alt-rock guitar hooks thrown against the dive bar band arrangements. I liked it. I heard promise.

The band’s first full-length, Under the Yellow Moon, released last year, built on that foundation, but took a harder blues turn at times, while skirting around the edges of country music in ways that surprised me. And now, on their new vinyl EP, I Don’t Wanna Know, the young Saint Louis band, has made a modest but more convincing country turn, with ripping and crying fiddles, spare acoustic strums, honky tonk piano, and some tight harmonies, especially on the title track. And the songwriting is sharper, more concise, more resonant.

Though I’ve often gone on record to voice my displeasure at shucks-and-grin country joke bands like Southern Culture on the Skids (who, to be clear, have transformed their approach), I do think country music should be fun to play, serious fun. And that’s just how John Henry and the Engine play it on this fine, new three-song slice of Americana life.

Catch the band at their vinyl release party tonight (Friday) at Off Broadway. They’ll be joined by Tom Schraeder, Mike Kendrick & The Blue Eyed Sons, and Matt Nichols.

I Don’t Wanna Know - John Henry and the Engine