Here’s a complete lineup for this year’s party! Check out band bios here.

1st Floor Whale Stage

Bob Reuter’s Alley Ghost 7:00-7:45
Javier Mendoza 8:15-9:00
Aaron Kamm & the One Drops 9:30-10:15
Little Rachel 10:30-11:30

Mezzanine Stage
Cat and Steve Pick 7:45-8:15
Andrea 9:00-9:30
John Wendland and Roy Kasten 10:15-10:45

2nd Floor Vault Room Stage
Née 7:15-8:00
Tight Pants Syndrome 8:45-9:30
Warm Jets USA 10:15-11:00

3rd Floor Skate Park Stage
Darren Snow 7:00-7:40
Kate 8:20-9:00
DJ Needles 9:40-10:20

3rd Floor Architecture Room Stage
Five and Dimers 7:45-8:30
KDHX Blues Band 9:15-10:00
Funky Butt Brass Band 10:45-11:30

3rd Floor Burlesque in Skate Park Room
Set 1 7:40-8:20
Set 2 9:00-9:40
Set 3 10:20-11:00

4th Floor Bale Out Stage
Louisiana Purchase 7:15-8:00
Gateway Ramblers 8:30-9:15
Boss Hall 10:00-10:45

Scan the Mobile Commander Code and take the Mayhem schedule with you!

At Midwest Mayhem, there’s a photo-op around ever corner: from high-energy bands, to burlesque beauties, to wandering performers and costumed guests. The returning Photomaton Fauxto Booth is another way to take some of the craziest pictures of your life. We mean, just look at last year’s gallery, ya bunch of fun-lovin’ nuts, you.

We’re going to give away 3 pairs of tickets to Midwest Mayhem 2012: the party of the year at the City Museum on May 10. And winning them is really easy. We’re looking for pictures that represent the most Mayhem-laced fun you’ve ever encountered. A picture of a time in your life when something absolutely bananas was going on. The kind of picture that people see and wonder what the context could possibly be (“Bob…is that you on Mr. T’s shoulders wearing a wolf mask???”). Keep it super fun and you’ll be in the running!

You can email your pictures to Contest AT KDHX.org to be co-judged by KDHX and St. Louis’ one and only Photomaton.

This contest ends at 2pm CST on Tuesday, May 1.

THE SIMPLE RULES

2. This contest runs from now until Tuesday, May 1 at 2 p.m. CST. Winners will be contacted via your email shortly after.

3. Enter as many times as you’d like, but only one picture entry will be eligible.

4. Maybe you were in a naked bike race once, or in yet-another nude Flaming Lips video. Please censor those pics before posting or emailing. You know, for the kiddies

photos by Photomaton

Brought to you by Anti-Agency and All Along Press!

The Funky Butt Brass Band blow the roof off.

The Mayans predicted the world would end this year. We don’t believe it either, but we’ll use it as another excuse to party at the City Museum for the 7th year in a row: Midwest Mayhem 2012 blasts off on May 10!

You can see what you’re in for at the Riverfront Times photo gallery (some photos not safe for work, kids).

From 6:30 p.m. until Midnight—sprawling across 600,000 square feet of the famed City Museum—Midwest Mayhem is KDHX’s way of thanking everyone who supported commercial-free, independent radio in Saint Louis during their recent Spring Membership Drive.

13 local bands are scheduled to perform including: Little Rachel • Née • Five and Dimers • Aaron Kamm and the One Drops • Warm Jets USA • Bob Reuter’s Alley Ghost • Javier Mendoza • The KDHX Blues Band • Tight Pants Syndrome • Funky Butt Brass Band • The Folk School of St. Louis Showcase (featuring Louisiana Purchase, the Gateway Ramblers and Boss Hall). We’ll even have KDHX DJs spinning throughout the night, so look for Steve Pick of Sound Salvation & Cat Pick of Emotional Rescue, Roy Kasten of Feel Like Going Home & John Wendland of Memphis to Manchester

Andrea of Radio Rio, Kate of Beep Beep Boop Boop, Darren Snow of Rocket 88 and DJ Needles of Rawthentic.

See band bios and more at the lineup page!

In addition to some pretty amazing music, the Mayhem will continue throughout the museum with burlesque performances hosted by Lola Van Ella, roaming performances from Belle of the Ball and the Lawn Chair Brigade, an outrageous Photomaton photo booth, and plenty of food and drinks.

Thanks to our sponsors this year: New Belgium Brewing Company, Sailor Jerry Rum, Anti Agency, OnDBus Professional Audio, Gravity Strings, Photomaton, Belle of the Ball, Riverfront Times, Sounds Alive, and Triple Jam Live Production.

KDHX members who belong to the Radio Frequency Club or donated during the station’s recently completed Spring Membership Drive will receive tickets to Midwest Mayhem. But if you didn’t donate during the drive, it’s not too late to join now! Tickets will also be available at the door for $20.

For breaking news about Midwest Mayhem, make sure to follow us on Twitter and check by our Facebook page or to RSVP at the Events Page.

88.1 KDHX proudly presents Midwest Mayhem 2012, Thursday May 10 at the City Museum from 6:30 until Midnight. The 7th Annual party at the City Museum is KDHX’s way of thanking every one who supports independent radio in Saint Louis during our upcoming Spring Membership Drive from March 29 to April 8 on 88.1 KDHX.

Bands will be announced each day during the station’s Spring Membership Drive, with more information to follow at the right here at the blog and our Facebook and Twitter pages. Stay tuned!

Left to Right: Me, in a Big Dumb Suit. Steven Ley, retaining dignity.

I am always the one who ends up in a Big Dumb Mascot outfit. I’m not sure how this happens. It suddenly hit me as I was bounding across the City Museum at Midwest Mayhem last night—making it rain with KDHX stickers and whipping t-shirts through the air—a mere month or so into my job here at KDHX.

In fifth grade, I was chosen to walk around in a Big Dumb Frog outfit handing out anti-drug literature for a local D.A.R.E. chapter. For the record, I don’t think it did a lot of good to have a large, bug-eyed frog running up to people and making the case against drugs.

In high school, I was the Rushville Rocket. Which looked less like a rocket and more like a quilted, phallic nightmare of a thing. Great for crushing community morale at football games.

In college, I landed on the front page of the paper in a Big Dumb Rabbit Suit wearing a sandwich board that read “Y2K: The End is Here.” I’m glad that the world didn’t end. I’m glad that didn’t turn out to be my last known photo, either.

Post-college, as an intern at a nerd-culture magazine in New York, it just so turned out their mascot was a hammer wielding bunny. Oh, and what do we have here…an intern who is the right size and height for the suit.

This all occurs to me as I’m launching sticker-missiles and ninja-starring window clings at folks during a crazy Samba Bom set last night.

It also occurs to me that I am 30 years old.

30 may not seem old to some of you, but it is rapidly approaching the age when a man in a Big Dumb Mascot outfit goes from “kind of funny” to “call the police…he’s outside again.”

However, here’s the truth: I put myself up to this one. Because it seemed to be the perfect intersection of my long history with Big Dumb Costumes and what Midwest Mayhem is all about. I thought about not putting the Big Dumb Head and Zippered Cotton Uni for a bit. It was going to be 100 degrees in there, I had some actual behind-the-scenes responsibilities to manage, I might get punched a lot…the usual concerns. But then I ran into Wayne Coyne from the Flaming Lips just before the Mayhem started. And if that’s not a Divine Signal to get into a Big Dumb Costume, I don’t know what is.

I’m glad I donned the costume one more time. For the insanity of Midwest Mayhem, it seemed right (and man…what a party it was). To promote Twangfest in June? Eh…probably not. KDHX is one of the coolest institutions I’ve ever been a part of and it’s been clear from the start—though my job is marketing the station—I don’t need gimmicks to do that. I get to talk and joke with KDHX fans every day at Facebook and on Twitter, and we’re the kind of people who see right through Big Dumb Mascots. I say “we” because I’m coming to the station as a fan first. Coming to it as a guy who sees the oversized caricatures of Morning Zoo DJs on interstate billboards and still winces. Who knows when a giant rabbit holding balloons for the kids outside a store can’t wait to tell mom and dad about a great new product from New Swiffer Brand Swiffing Products. Who has a love/hate relationship with Big Dumb Mascot outfits. Still…don’t be surprised if you see me in another 30 years, hopping through some crowd, handing out free tschotskes and making everyone uncomfortable. I’m telling you straight: this is what always ends up happening to me.

I want to thank everyone who came to Midwest Mayhem 2011: from those who pledged their support to keep KDHX independent in Saint Louis, to those who wandered in for the first time to see what we’re all about. The KDHX volunteers and staff are the greatest and most capable people to work with, and I was proud to be part of such a crew. Kevin and Ryan from Anti-Agency nailed the artwork for all the shirts and posters, and simply killed it again this year. Pablo, Joel, Yaunah, Kelly and Katherine were brilliant to work with and patient with the new guy. If I’ve left anyone out, and I’m sure I have, I want to thank them as well. We will see you next year, and keep an eye on KDHX.org this week for a whole series of crazy photos, articles and videos.

We’re counting down to Midwest Mayhem 2011, so here are a few things you need to know:

Get the schedule.

Go mobile with that schedule by using your smartphone to scan the QRC code at the top of this post. If you don’t know what a QRC code is or how to scan it, go here for iPhone and here for Android.

And now, without further ado, we present our top 10 reasons to not even think about missing Midwest Mayhem. Thursday, May 12. The City Museum. Doors at 6:30 p.m.

10. The City Museum is like Disneyland, Neverland Ranch, Jurassic Park and Lollapalooza rolled into one.

9. There will be lots of food and even more beverages, the intoxicating kind and the rehydrating kind, than ever. Plus, beer sponsor Fat Tire will be raffling off a sweet bike.

8. The musical lineup is brilliant.

7. Some very lovely ladies will be removing articles of clothing.

6. KDHX DJs will not.

5. If you’re a member of KDHX, you’ve got tickets. If you’re not, you can still get in for $20.

4. Kids are welcome; just stay out of their way when they come flying down the slides.

3. Bunnies rock. And they like to do the samba. Good thing Samba Bom will be giving free dance lessons this year.

2. Make out (or not) in the kissing booth: Kiss or Diss, presented by the Arch Rival Roller Girls.

1. The only thing cooler, crazier, louder and more fun than this party-to-end-all-parties is the KDHX community itself. And that means you. Go!

Music by The Dive Poets…appearing at 8:45 on the Vault Room Stage

A mere 2 days from today, Midwest Mayhem descends on the City Museum like a spinning UFO over a field of confused cattle! You can get tickets at the door for $20 and check out the entire band schedule below (click image for larger version).

Shown: Bonus Pin-Up!

Hips don’t lie! Show Me Burlesque show off their Midwest midsections May 12 at the City Museum. (photo by Sara Finke)

We want to see Midwest Mayhem through your lens! Bring your camera and upload your photos to your flickr stream or Facebook. Tag them “kdhx” and “midwestmayhem.” The winner of the selected photo will receive two tickets to opening night at Twangfest on June 8 and a free KDHX t-shirt!

And, for added picture-based fun and excitement, Photomaton will be on hand with a custom Midwest Mayhem photo installation booth so you can always remember the evening…even if you really don’t end up remembering the evening!

(Pictured): Guy who wants to win a bike, guy who is clearly on the fence about wanting to win a bike.

As if Hula Hoop girls, Burlesque dancers from all over the world and the best music St. Louis has to offer weren’t enough…

New Belgium Beer will also be raffling off one of their signature Fat Tire Bikes at Midwest Mayhem, May 12 at The City Museum! Tickets will be available at the event, and all proceeds will benefit KDHX: 1 ticket for $2, and 3 tickets for $5. Not too shabby.

So what do you stand to gain by winning a new bicycle? Well, we don’t think we need to tell you…