Giddyup, y’all – Memorial Day 2013 is chock full of cool shows to attend over 4 days, and while Obama’s Weather Machine might throw us an isolated thunderstorm here and there in STL this weekend, it’ll be glorious and pleasant otherwise. Get out yo houses, people, and use IWTAS’ Show Roundup to guide you along the way:

FRIDAY, MAY 24TH

Our pick: 

The Itch, Thee Fine Lines, & Kimi and the Underwires at CBGB – $FREE (donations encouraged)

Thee Fine Lines, have been an enticing garage rock staple in Missouri for over a decade. The Springfield, MO band includes Kevin Schneider, bassist extraordinaire for St. Louis pop princes The Blind Eyes. Along for the ride? The Itch out of Joplin, MO and new-to-me Kimi & the Underwires from right here. K & tU appears to be a five-piece , female-fronted garage outfit. Do we like female-fronted garage bands here at IWTAS? Indeed we do…

Other winners:

Drive-by Truckers and Old 97’s at The Pageant – $25/$27.50 dos

Skillful Americana in a town that just goes bonkers over Americana. And that Rhett Miller always seems to get the ladies’ (and dudes) hearts all aflutter.

The Potomac Accord w/ JR Rudd at The Livery Company – $FREE

SATURDAY, MAY 25TH

Our Pick:

5th Annual Crawfish Boil feat. The Monads, Fattback, & The Deadstring Brothers at Off Broadway – $12, 21+/$15, -21

Jason Monad wants you to ask him about his crawfish. Well, even if he doesn’t, you should, because each year the story of gettin’ the hundreds of pounds of those things from the coast to the Midwest for this event is a hoot and everyone should hear it. His band, The Monads, along with the Deadstring Brothers and Fattback will entertain us as we stain our clothes with secret sauce and douse the fire with Stag tallboys.

A couple of things to sweeten the pot: Not too many years ago the St. Louis music scene lost one of its coolest and kindest guys, Fattback’s Dave Hagerty. Today, there’s a memorial garden in his name outside of OB and there’s a Fattback reunion on deck for this Saturday. Also, Matt Monad just informed us that they’ll be selling a bunch of special merch and donated items (good stuff like Cardinals tickets, bottles of booze, vinyl, crafts) with 100% of proceeds going to their pal Emily Stum, who’s battling cancer. The fifth year of “The Boil” will have certainly include an extra dose of South City heart.

Other winners:

The Brainstems Goodbye Tour at Blank Space – $5

The deal was always that if one member of The Brainstems moved away or quit the band, that would be the end of the group as they/we know it. Sure as shit, one of the dudes is heading toward greener pastures (and out of state), so the guys are throwing one last party to send him out in high style.

Post Performances hosted by The Luminary  – $FREE

Another innovative season of Post Performances begins on Saturday evening, with musical sets by DJ Nune, Mikey Wehling, and Thelonius Kryptonite in front of an art installation backdrop. These things take place in Old Post Office Plaza Downtown, and speaking from experience, it’s one of the most laid back and coolest recurring events in the city. Stop by or stay all night.

Tower Groove Records 7″ Release for Kisser and Tone Rodent w/ Black James and Hoonbag Moonswag – $7

I haven’t ever heard of a Tower Groove Records show that wasn’t a total blast. If you’re unfamiliar with the collective, get to know ’em on Saturday at Heavy Anchor. Expect rad tunes and radder company, whether you choose the “loud” side of the house or if you sidle up to the bar and order one of H.A.’s signature mason jar cocktails.  Things kick off a bit early (around 7) with Tower Groove singles art displays and videos from Bill Streeter.

The Pat Sajak Assasins w/ Other People and Triceratops at the Tap Room – $FREE

SUNDAY, MAY 26TH

Our pick:

Rockabration III feat. The Ottomen, Aquitaine, and Picture Day at Off Broadway – $7-$15, w/ ticket package options available.

This show gets an IWTAS nod for a double stage set-up (the aforementioned bands inside, three acoustic artists outside on ‘The Smoking Porch’). The Ottomen, Aquitaine, and Picture Day are each local acts that, while great, you can’t go out and see every weekend, and six bands for seven bucks is always going to be a hell of a deal. Bonus points to the die-hards who show up Sunday and drink off their crawfish hangovers.

Other winners:

Memorial Day BBQ feat. Shooter Jennings w/ Lions of Hazelwood, Blackwater 64, High Fashion Kings, The Bob Band, and Trophy Mules at The Bootleg (Atomic Cowboy) – $20-$25

Ain’t nothing more ‘merican than an BBQ with a guy named Shooter. Atomic Cowboy has you covered on Sunday afternoon and evening with a stacked line-up of rock ‘n roll and twang. The stage is outside; the bar is outside; and the snacks are outside. This one has all the makings of a true Sunday Funday. Heehaw.

Something intense, as always, at Apop – $5 and 8pm SHARP(!)

MONDAY, MAY 27TH

Our pick:

Memorial Day Weekend BBQ (Part II!) feat. Big Boi and D?M-FunK and a monster local hip-hop line-up, Presented by Connector + Loyal Family + Leisure Studies at Atomic Cowboy – $30/$100 (VIP, Meet n’ Greet)

Some of you all are going to be saving up all weekend for this one (including a couple IWTAS-ers), and you can get your party on starting at noon. “I can go to work well-rested/sober every Tuesday until death, but seeing Big Boi in my own city could be a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” you’ll reason, and wander into Atomic’s new and improved outdoor concert space. Just like the Shooter show at Atomic Cowboy mentioned above, the hosts of the event will be catering to all your traditional Memorial Day Weekend needs with friends, food, and booze all at the ready.

Other winner:

Pretty & Nice w/ Aquitaine, Media Ghost, & Fiona Wild and the Midnight Lights – $10/$12

HAVE FUN AND BE SAFE OUT THERE, EVERYONE, AND RETURN TO US ON TUESDAY. XO.