LOUNGE LIFE: After the passing of Fred Boettcher, owner of Frederick's Music Lounge on Chippewa Street, the future of the vaunted establishment was in doubt, though all assumed that somehow, some way, Fred Jr., a.k.a. Fred Friction, would inherit and run the place. The assumption was correct: He, along with St. Louis ska kingpin Paul Stark, has not only reopened the place but is offering incentives other than the ever-present bumper pool, conversation and Thursday-night hootenanny. To wit, "Monday Movies," a weekly gathering, will, throughout the summer, feature viewings of original episodes of Twin Peaks, Pee Wee's Playhouse, St. Louis Decades and various other offerings. Says Friction of the success so far, in his usual deadpan delivery: "It's been going over wonderfully. People like the idea of going to a theater where they can drink and smoke. 

"I want to be truer to what the sign says outside -- Frederick's Music Lounge," he adds. In the past, patrons had to either hit the lounge on a Thursday or humbly request Fred Sr.'s presence at the piano. But, says Friction, he and Stark willl be adding live music on alternating Tuesdays, as well as on Fridays: Last night, Nadine played. Tuesday, Aug. 8, will feature a performance by the Bottle Rockets. "Their drummer can't make it," he adds, "so they've invited me to sit in on drums with them. But I told them that since they've got such a shitty drummer with them, I can't pay them, except in beer. And they said that was OK. So I've got to listen to all the Bottle Rockets I can between now and then, or just fake it." 

Friction and Stark have gussied the place up a bit and are working on the patio outside -- some folks didn't even know of the existence of a patio. "You need to get lost on the way to the bathroom," Friction says, "and go through the wrong door. You'll end up outside. There's a little wishing well, subdued lighting, tables, chairs, a picnic table, a lot of overgrowth and bugs. And we might have a bug-stomping contest coming up soon, because it's cheaper than hiring an exterminator."