What the Gladsome Tidings Be

Neon Memes • "Deck the Hall," "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen," Silent Night"―carols like these have long enlivened a traditional Christmas, and this evening, one of St. Louis' finest bands celebrates just such melodies and the season inspiring them at Rough Shop's Fifth Annual Holiday Music Extravaganza. The celebration, admission to which costs just $8, starts at 8 p.m. at Maplewood's cozy and acoustically wonderful Focal Point (2720 Sutton, 314.781.4200), with the door going to local radio oasis KDHX 88.1 FM. Headlining the festivities are members of Rough Shop both present (Spencer Marquart, Andy Ploof, Anne Tkach and John Wendland) and past (Sean Anglin and Mike Tiefenbrun). Joining them onstage, moreover, are local musical luminaries Kevin Butterfield, Kate Eddens, Chris Grabau, Adam Hesed, Greg Lamb, Jon Parsons, Adam Reichmann and Toby Weiss. Also guesting, supposedly: Love Experts frontman Steve Carosello. However, his listing on the bill likely reflects an error, inasmuch as it suggests Carosello, whose own band just graced Off Broadway in mid-November, will be performing live twice in the same geologic epoch. Highly improbable. In any event and in all sobriety, this gala hosted by Rough Shop typically makes a great way to welcome the season. See ya there? ―Bryan A. Hollerbach, Managing Editor