Porn stars and robots and country ghouls, oh my: Loopies always flock to Vintage Vinyl (6610 Delmar Boulevard, University City; 314-721-4096) for the eclectic musical selection, but this week they can double their pleasure when the independent record store staple rolls in a curious cadre of performers. On Friday, August 11, at 5 p.m., porn-star-turned-hip-hop-diva India will promote her first solo release, Role Play. For those who prefer to leave electronics to the robots, stick around until 7 p.m. for kitschy-fun electro-pop duo Hyperbubble. The anti-synth crew can wait until Wednesday, August 16, for a 6 p.m. performance by "country ghoul" outfit the Haints (www.myspace.com/haints) a band that includes members of the Groove Ghoulies. All shows are free.
Hardest working band in St. Louis: Synthrock band Nothing Still must be exhausted. The quartet just wrapped their latest CD, A Black Tie Affair, are producing an autobiographical documentary and launched bi-weekly video podcasts on iTunes all while wearing very, very tight jeans. Their '80s-influenced sound nimbly threads strings of new wave into a modern patchwork of emo and pop. Nothing Still releases Affair at Mississippi Nights (914 North First Street; 314-421-3853) on Friday, August 11, with openers Our First Summer, Rushmore Academy, Postcard and Say Goodbye. The show starts at 8 p.m.; tickets are $10 in advance, $12 day of show and the first 500 attendees get a free Nothing Still T-shirt with admission.