grand center | KDHX community radio was the big news on and off the FM dial when it debuted at 88.1 on Oct. 14, 1987. It was like college radio all day long. For example, in designated time slots volunteer DJs spun reggae and ska for two full hours, perhaps followed by a bluegrass show for the next two and a British Invasion slot after that. Tom ‘Papa’ Ray, owner of U. City’s iconic Vintage Vinyl indie record store in the Delmar Loop, had his own evening stint as ‘The Soul Selector.’ The station operated for nearly four decades as one of the metro’s beloved public stations, and enough listeners responded to periodic membership drives to keep the station and its format, including in-studio performances, afloat. But in recent years KDHX, housed in a cool, muraled building almost directly across Grand Boulevard from the Fabulous Fox, has fallen on hard times, abandoning live broadcasts and shedding most of its on-air personalities. Reportedly, the station is close to bankruptcy, with less than 10 grand in cash to spare and the board has considered selling off assets. But many of the station’s injuries, listeners and former volunteers contend, are self-inflicted. For more than 30 years Ray’s unique perspective, selections both of soul chestnuts and obscure tracks and encyclopedic musical knowledge were a welcome respite from corporate controlled, algorithmic formats. Ray’s disagreements with executive director Kelly Wells are well-documented. The station “let him go” from his volunteer position in February 2023. In any event, as of Jan. 31, about 120 volunteers have been dismissed. Today, 10 new volunteers are profiled on the website. Wells’ own long-running 10 a.m. to noon Americana show on Wednesdays, ‘Steam-Powered Radio,’ ran only until 10:45 a.m. on Feb. 26. Interesting. And the listener line, 314.664.3688, rang off the hook until disconnecting with a beep. You can see, hear and stream much of this for yourself at kdhx.org.
chesterfield
The drummer wears his hat to the back, as did the late Neil Peart of progressive rockers Rush. The bassist doesn’t look half as nerdy as Geddy Lee, another of the three Canadian rockers. And the guitarist bears little resemblance to Alex Lifeson. But fans will tell you that the Rush Tribute Project (RTP), an homage to one of the most popular bands ever to hit the Real Rock Radio airwaves on KSHE 95—and a tribute band returning to Chesterfield Valley’s concert scene—isn’t half bad. (Maybe not as eerily accurate as El Monstero, the Pink Floyd tribute players, who will soon play the Hollywood Casino Amphitheater in Maryland Heights with the one and only Blue Oyster Cult, but that’s another story.) RTP returns to the metro June 12 at 7:30 p.m. at The Factory concert venue at The District. RTP labors painstakingly to deliver the magic and muscle of Rush’s legendary live concerts. Covering all 40-plus years of Rush’s deep catalog, RTP aims to recreate the energy that has made Rush one of the top-selling rock bands of all time. With a three-piece lineup performing Rush tributes for over a decade across North America and around the world, the band stands out as one of the premier tributes to this legendary power trio. But fans of vintage Rush won’t really care what they look like nearly as much as whether they sound totally awesome. Using vintage instruments, multi-camera projections, dazzling—and dizzying—lighting, RTP is said to deliver a satisfying experience for the casual fan as well as the most discerning Rush loyalist, who could tell you whether the vocalist can hit anywhere close to the high notes that Geddy Lee manages on “Closer to the Heart,” a classic Rush single from 1977. For more, visit thefactorystl.com.
downtown
To certain record collectors who’d worked downtown and could see the now-vacant Millennium Hotel from their company offices, the once-luxurious building looked kind of like the spindle for 45-RPM vinyl singles on a record-changing turntable. You’d have to be somewhat advanced in age to have used a record-changer for listening to 45’s. Presently the Cordish Cos., developers of Ballpark Village who also now have the Millennium in their portfolio, have big plans for the site to complement and enhance the experience for Cardinals fans and other local visitors to downtown. Plus, the out-of-towners. Despite fears both real and amplified by social media and word-of-mouth, the StL still attracts plenty of those. The $670 million redevelopment plans mean Cordish will demolish the hotel to then build a 41-story residential tower, Class A office space, an amphitheater and food hall—in fact, plenty of kitchen sinks, but apparently no new hotel. City officials are getting on board, with the Land Clearance for Development Authority (LCRA) giving Cordish a thumbs up; the Board of Aldermen will consider the plans at its April meeting. Although plans don’t explicitly include a direct connector to the Gateway Arch grounds, they refer to pedestrian-friendly design for access to nearby landmarks. A landmark in its own right, the Millennium has sat vacant since 2014. The iconic cylindrical tower is 28 stories tall, while another portion of the complex is 11 stories. The proposed redevelopment could have been the complicated superstructure dreamed up by a cruise-ship designer.
notable neighbors
oakville
Magic Amanda pulls a box of Bicycle playing cards out of her pink jacket pocket, shows a red four and a black seven, tears each into six pieces, folds a corner of the red four into your intrepid reporter’s palm and keeps a corner of the black seven to herself. Without an ‘abracadabra,’ she instructs the reporter to open his palm, whereupon he views… a corner of the black seven, to which she displays a corner of the red four and a winning smile. Color the journalist startled—and completely fooled. When Amanda Lindsey isn’t working her day job as a school counselor for a diverse group of K-8 kids with special needs, employing her skills to build rapport, she fools audiences as only a seasoned magician and comedic performer can. However, she didn’t come to our interview in the lounge of the Ronnie’s cinema complex on South Lindbergh Boulevard completely prepared. Pancakes, her sidekick, wasn’t with her. Pancakes is a bunny who appears with Magic Amanda already half out of a top hat. But she couldn’t have fooled even the dumbest writer with that schtick: Pancakes is a hand puppet, you see. He can play the straight man, however, as Teller is in the dynamic comedy/magic duo of Penn & Teller. Speaking of, Lindsey appears March 7 at 8 p.m. on the comedians’ cable show, Fool Us, which is in its 11th season on the CW network. She’s one of several magicians who perform a trick for the stars, trying to fool them. It’s not easy, because the pair is celebrating 50 years working together. There’ll be a watch party at the Luvwoo Bar in Creve Coeur, where she already performs monthly, one of her two residencies, the other being Magic Mini Golf in U. City. When did she start working on her craft? She was 8. And why? “I wanted to be David Copperfield!” she exclaims. A major disappointment early on was when her mom wouldn’t buy her the magic kit she saw at Scholastic Book Fairs. “So, I took the expensive route,” she quips, with a sly grin. As a young woman, she attended a convention as well as caught magic shows in Vegas, where Penn & Teller are based now, and she’ll have the opportunity to perform with them at the Rio Hotel if she fools them just this once. A 2005 Oakville High School grad, Lindsey took a double major in communications and psychology in college, then went on to complete a master’s in counseling. Magic has been essential to her ‘real’ job. “I don’t know of any other art that uses empathy as magic does,” she says. “We’re trying to build tension, but not anxiety.” (Pancakes is a big plus here.) Lindsey credits one of the Spice Girls, Mel B. aka Scary Spice, with boosting her confidence. A fan since adolescence, she went to a book signing by Scary Spice, who’s very British but not in the least intimidating. “She complimented me on my accent!” Lindsey was over the moon, and ready for almost anything. Alas, you won’t be. Her skill is nonpareil. Go ahead—try and see whether there’s anything up Magic Amanda’s pink jacket sleeves at magicamanda.com, where you’ll find her schedule and plenty of other fun stuff. &
