While going through my day planner (read: Facebook events) recently, I realized something very special was happening at the end of this week: a plethora of shows featuring some of my most favorite local musicians. Let’s sit here together and browse what’s going on December 7th through 11th, while I make short arguments in favor of your attendance at each event:

Wednesday, 12/7: Stag Nite feat. Old Capital Square Dance Club, Paper Dolls, the Fab Foehners, and Hooten Hallers (COMO) at El Lenador – $5.
Leave it to Johnny Vegas to allow a bill wherein the only mutual characteristic among the bands is “Goes real good with whiskey”. For a fiver this Wednesday, enjoy a bunch of good songs in a seriously relaxed atmosphere (think chairs, chatting, and whimsically inaccurate start times) at this blog’s favorite German pub/Mexican restaurant/Concert venue. Also, get the tacos el pastor.

Thursday, 12/8: The Union Electric and Time & Time with Scouts (KC) at Heavy Anchor – $5. We’ve talked about UE several times before (in our last post even). I’ve yet to see Time & Time perform live (I’ll be there Thursday so chillax). From what I’ve heard, I like Scouts, and not just because my aunt owns a pug who shares the same name (albeit in the singular form).

Friday, 12/9: Bo & the Locomotive and Middle Class Fashion with Santah (CHI) at Jefferson Warehouse – $5. Bo, Andy, and Steven released the full-length On My Way this year, assuredly to critical acclaim. I didn’t take the time to find out how the album fared with the local news outlets as I was too busy plummeting out-of-town friends’ mailboxes and inboxes with mixtapes featuring tracks like this:

We’re also pretty sure that MCF just got done havin’ their debut record all mixed up, so show up on Friday for tunes from that forthcoming piece of work.

Friday, 12/9: last to show first to go’s “Farmer John” EP Release Show at the Sheldon – $10 (includes a hard copy of the EP!). The notoriously well-dressed dudes and lady of ltsftg have stacked their EP release line-up full of local treats. Jump Starts, who released a spark plug of a debut album in 2011, will support ltsftg along with Treehouse.

Last To Show First To Go – Farmer John (A Show Me Show) from Jarred Gastreich on Vimeo.

Friday, 12/9: Cassie Morgan & the Lonely Pine and Insomniac Folklore with the Daredevil Christopher Wright and Caroline Smith & the Goodnight Sleeps at Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center – $5. Disclosure: The next few sentences are full of friendship #nepotism and fangirldom. I goddamn love Caroline Smith & the Goodnight Sleeps. They’ve been to St. Louis like five times in two years (I made that number and time span up), and their shows are traditionally drastically under-attended. They’re a group of happy, gracious, and kind touring musicians. Moreover, their new album, Little Wind, is as simple and moving as your favorite childhood holiday memory. Cassie and Beth (aka the Lonely Pine) are good friends who happen to be talented musical collaborators. They will rock ya real gentle-like.

Friday, 12/9: The Mhurs CD Release with Scarlet Tanager, Navigator, Noise FM and O, Giant Man (KC) at The Firebird – $8. You might head to the Mhurs release if you’re looking for a good holiday gift for the local music lover or novice in your life. The headliner will obviously have brand new wares for purchase, but STL gems Navigator and Scarlet Tanager both released notable work in 2011.

Sunday, 12/11: Celia’s Yuletide Xpress Secular Holiday Family Sing-A-Long at Off Broadway – $8 adv/$10 dos. Not so much a family concert as it is a St. Louis institution, Celia’s Yuletide Express returns to Off Broadway this Sunday afternoon. Be a hero in your kid/niece/nephew/great-grandkid’s eyes and take them to the show. I’ll be attending childless, but in full secular holiday regalia. There will be multiple sing-a-longs.