Last year's RFT Music Showcase conjures no memories for either Mr. Night (he was visiting Kansas City, the Newark of the Midwest, at the time) or Ms. Day (she was physically present, but visiting the Land of 40 Martinis left her with no recollection of anything). This year, both promise to do better. More clubs (pretty much everything along Delmar Boulevard between Kingsland Avenue and the Pageant) will be visited. More bands will be shouted at and encouraged to "rock harder." More drinks will be imbibed. But most important, more fun will be had by all.
Mr. Night: Fun will be had by all who get their skulls punched by the Conformists (8 p.m. at Blueberry Hill's Duck Room)! They'll reset your central nervous system!
Ms. Day: You think 40 martinis aren't fun? You think that much booze won't reset something? I'll be at Pin-Up Bowl looking to repeat last year, kicking off the shaken-not-stirred evening at 7 p.m. with Velocity dude Rob Lemon.
You want velocity, check out Yowie (10 p.m. at the Delmar Restaurant & Lounge). I played their album Cryptooology ten times in a row one night, and when it was over, all my cats were kittens again.
How cute! Speaking of cute, people should totally check out the lead singer of Bunnygrunt instead at 10 p.m. at the Pageant's Halo Bar.
Agreed: Matt Harnish is hot like a light bulb. When and where are we meeting for this tour of duty?
How about 6 p.m. at the main outdoor stage? Kim "Whole-Lotta-Love" Massie & the Solid Senders are rockin' it then.
The RFT Music Showcase begins at 1 p.m. More than 40 bands play before it's all over, and all-access wristbands cost $5. Remember to vote once (and only once) for your favorite performers on an official ballot before you call it a night. -- Mr. Night and Ms. Day
Boxing Day
THUR 6/2
You know how you get around crowds; you know the intoxication of bloodsport. Face it: You'd be better off with a peaceful evening and a good night's sleep. So don't give in. Don't listen to primal instincts. Stay at home. Think of nice things. Watch TV. But whatever you do, please don't go to "Rumble by the River" at 7 p.m. at the Family Arena in St. Charles (2002 Arena Parkway; 636-896-4200 or www.familyarena.com). 'Cause if you go, chances are you'll keep going back. With both local and world-renowned boxers and seven professional fights packed into one night, how could you resist the next event in this five-part boxing series? You couldn't. You're going. Aren't you? Tickets are $27 to $62; to purchase go to www.metrotix .com or call 314-534-1111. -- Jedidiah Ayres
Lucky Number Seven
FRI 6/3
What the ruck? If you've always been baffled by the rules and raucousness of rugby, join the club -- that would be the St. Louis Ramblers (www.ramblers.org) -- for its demonstration rugby match at the Family Arena (2002 Arena Parkway, St. Charles; 636-896-4200 or www.familyarena.com). This exhibition game of Sevens (rugbyspeak for seven-on-seven) takes place during the halftime of the River City Rage's indoor-football face-off against Nebraska's Lincoln Capitols, which will allow you to ease into your rugby crash-course via some more-familiar gridiron action.
The game begins at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $13 to $20 and can be purchased by visiting www.metrotix.com or calling 314-534-1111. -- Rose Martelli
Witch Way
Maybe we should label this the education edition of Night & Day, what with circus school ("Cirque du Science"), philosophy ("Discuss, You Will"), Saved by the Bell's Dustin Diamond ("Saved by the Bell?") and now Witch School. This educational institution is a part of the thirteenth annual Pagan Picnic, sponsored by Yarrow Coven and held in the northeast corner of Tower Grove Park (4256 Magnolia Avenue; www.paganpicnic.com) from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday (June 4 and 5). Other entities participating are Eclectic Unicorn, Gemini Spirit and Joia world-beat percussion ensemble, just to name a few. Admission to the picnic is free, but bring a blood-pumping vein for the blood drive, plus canned goods and pet donations (not actual pets, stuff like leashes and collars -- shame on you) to contribute. -- Alison Sieloff
