OS 5: OUT ON THE TOWN

HEY OUTSTAGRS AND OUTTOWNERS!

ANOTHER THURSDAY IS HERE!!

LET'S GET TOWNED!!!

 

 YOURS TRULY getting settled at Pops Nightclub in Sauget, Ill.

Last weekend was quite interesting for my travels in that I did half traveling to either finding an event or spying on an event and the other half engulfed in an event.

Lets start with the one I had to find.....

From my understanding, Blues At The Arch Festival was supposed to start last Friday. Well, I drove all up and down east and west at The Arch to find it for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, a sea of Cardinals fans in a sea of red tees were all up and down walking and driving to get to the game at Busch Stadium. So I asked myself, "Maybe the festival was cancelled due to competition with the Cards game?" So, I am checking my event page on Facebook to be sure I had the right Friday and yes, it was to start last Friday. I went to a parking area on Walnut  where there was a car parked near the entrance and inside the car were two seniors, white, male and female (I assuem they were married) who I guess was guarding the parking area who immediately said "LOT IS CLOSED." I acknowledged that and just asked, "Do you know which area is the Blues event?" The lady in the passenger seat replied, "Its on the other side of the Arch." I was a bit puzzled on that because I drove all around Arch and the only things I saw were a few food vendors by the Riverboat area on Sullivan and down further some youngsters sitting in cars. I had an inkling she may have thought I asked where was the Blues Museum which is on Washington and is on the other side of the Arch. LOL.

So, I traveled back to the Maatspear Compound and chilled out.

On Saturday. I made some progress. 

After working out at the gym and running my usual Saturday errands, I was gearing toward Cherokee Street to check out its Second Saturday Festival. Again, trying to find where the vendors and festivities were. To no avail. Maybe everything was done inside in the businesses on that block  because it was hotter than fish grease under a skin peeling turned on stove! 

But, later that nite, I was invited by Atty Daniel Brown (Attorney on Wheels, literally, LOL)to check out a local music showcase to see one of the artists he met named NandoSTL at Pops Nightclub in Sauget, Ill. . He contacted me via Facebook a couple days prior to say that I must check out this young rising artist and that he hasnt been this excited about an artist in years !

So, I get there and was able to maneuver my way in without having to deal with a line of people  #MDDL (Maat Dont Do Lines.LOL) I saw Brown who was dressed quite down from how I am used to seeing him in a sharped out suit giving serious Kanye College Dropout vibe. LOL He introduced me to Nando and immediately saw the makeshift fishing vest we was wearing and knew immediately that he was creative and to the left of what anyone would be doing that night on stage.

There were other artists who were performing when I got there and  before Nando performed and the groupies were few who walked to the stage to cheer on who was on stage. But until Nando was introduced, the crowd went into a frenzy applauding and cheered. He walked out to the stage  with a COGIC choir robe, background singers, a live drummer and a violinist. 

I was quite surprised of his 20 minute stage set because going to local music showcases for years now it is rare that acts have an actual live set as opposed to a DJ playing a CD  OR mp3 track.

NandoSTL in choir robe starting off his set.

NandoSTL is a mix between 50 Cent swag and Raheem DeVaugn. He is a very energetic performer and had the audience was ready for every second of his moments onstage. 

"Music is my therapy," he said during his set. "I didnt have a mother or father, My Granny raised me."

Well, for the record (and to prevent confusion)....Nando knew his parents--he just wasnt RAISED by them.

He performed songs from his repertoire including his opener"Hit Me Up" (I think that was the name of the song LOL...UPDATE...The name of the song was "Cool Lil Sunday)"I Dont Even Smoke" and a new song "Outside" from his "Good Vibes" album.

 NandoSTL and his background singers catching a vibe.'

A standout of his set was the violinist (didnt get a name) who got the crowd amped making the violin sound almost like a guitar when he got a couple of times to shine.

 NandoSTL greets his fans after his set.

Overall, I can see why Brown was excited about NandoSTL. He is definitely a breath of fresh air for not just the St Louis scene but the R&B/soul scene in general. Based on his outer appearance one would think he was going to give some Lil Wayne mumble mouth bars, but after that nite, he definitely won over being typecast.

Outside of Tani Bistro

 Later on that nite, I decided to check out the Summer Series event Zen Saturdays at the grand opening of the Tani Bistro (that specializes in Japanese cuisine) in Clayton, Mo (a spot with a mezzaine). I was invited by Rhashad Whittier (aka Rhashadism)who put this series on with Close to Famous and Koncepts. I was invited a few weeks ago, but forgot to RSVP on eventbrite. But I knew I could have eased in without RSVPing when I pulled up and saw Brian Stemmons of Frontline manning the door (been homies with him since college dayz). But I decided to do more staking out than hanging out. I saw a few people outside lounging and some in line waiting to get in. From my observation from the glass panels it was packed and didnt have enough room for others until people exited (it lasted until 2am).  I stayed and watched for about 10 minutes, snapped a couple of shots from my Traveler and decided to call it a nite. Maybe I check a later one before the series ends.



In this blog post, we are introducing a segment called DRIVE THRU TALES where you see or have been in situations involving trying to get your food at a fast food drive through. Well, I have one for you--from me!

During my travels last Saturday, I decided to go to a fast food spot on Lindell. So while I pulled up to the drive thru, i noticed the car in front of me had expired temp tags that expired in MARCH.  Yes, as in five months ago. I am thinking, "How in the hell have they lasted this long without the police stopping them?" Then I thought, the driver likely just drive the scenic routes and during certain streets instead of hot areas and the highways. But FIVE MONTHS tho? And what is so crazy, the fast food spot is close to a  DMV!!! 

BY POPULAR DEMAND...
WE ARE RE-POSTING THE BLIND ITEM FROM LAST WEEK

Back in the hey day of this blog, what got this blog talking on the streets were the blind items and the in your face boldness of telling it like it is in St Louis celebritydom. Well, I have a blind item that I am sure will get you all talking about.

One of my sources was invited to a swanky pool party in downtown St Louis where the crowd was mainly Midwest porn stars. Yes, you heard me. P.O.R.N. S.T.A.R.S.  A local producer of adult films who lives in the STL had a private soiree last weekend where some of the popular white porn stars (gay and straight and in between LOL) gathered to mingle about. Well, I can't give you the names of who were there or the producer, and the specifics of what happened, but lets just say they were not playing checkers while they were there LOL.


If you have an event your business you would like to promote or a blind item or a DRIVE THRU TALE, email to maat.atkins@gmail.com