It List: Wednesday

Sextape | FUR | Fizzy Dino Pop | Hai Hello | Lovelife (Hailey's)

As resident pop music defender around here I am going to reserve any final judgment toward Sextape until after tonight's performance. I know SR totally shat on them and my initial listen didn't blow me away but sometimes this stuff works better live anyway. I will admit this style of electro-pop seems to have hit a wall in the past year or two (or with Yellow Magic Orchestra) but I hope Sextape has enough there to hold my attention, or more importantly get my assshaking. Tonight will be the first time newly appointed FUR member Gray St. Germain Gideon (Ghosthustler, Cosmic Cat Nip) will take the stage alongside founding member Bryce Isbell and I believe they will be playing all new material they collaborated on. I enjoyed FUR's last release Witches. The album is full of crisp - you might even say lovely - abstract sound collages that hold their own as songs as well as apart of the bigger album. The songs were definitely lacking in some direction though which hopefully will have been discovered with the aide of another like minded artist with a stronger structural approach like Gideon. I think that dude wrote the music for a song about parking lots or something? Lovelife seem to be very influenced by Neon Indian and Elliot Smith in equal measure, like an electro-Daniel Folmer. God help us.

Gun Outfit (Cavern)

Gun Outfit played a solid set this week even if the majority of the crowd was just waiting around to hear some big booty jams. The vocal male/female vocal interplay is similar to that found in The Aislers Set or Yo La Tengo. The delivery is reminiscent to The Silver Jews minus the clever wordplay. This is some solid indie rock that sounds pretty far removed from what is chic these days. Have no idea about the rest of the line-up, no information listed anywhere. Do they not want people to go to this show?

It List: Tuesday and Sextape

After all the talk about Denton's Sextape in the comments section the other day, as well as a discussion I had with another WSJR writer today at our virtual HQ, I felt like I had to take a listen so that I could tell all you people what to think about them before you catch one of the many shows they'll be playing around town over the next few weeks. It makes perfect sense that Sextape features one of the founders of the once infamous (and now dormant) We Made Out Once, because their music can best be described as an appropriate soundtrack for posing in Denton party pictures-- it's poppy, "stylish" electro produced by purportedly good looking people with the kind of hipster fashion sense that almost guarantees glowing coverage in the "hey me too guys" pages of the Dallas Observer's music section.

The group's sound is fairly standard as these things go-- taking cues from many of the better known hip electro groups of the decade, including Crystal Castles, Peaches, Ladytron, Sally Shapiro and Glass Candy among others, the group's music is a competent and polished amalgamation of all these sounds, and for what it is, it's fairly solid, if a little bit heavy on neon and nostalgia.

But that doesn't mean it's any good. In fact, I had planned on ranting about Sextape-- how they're late to the party by many years, how we've heard all of this before, how their tracks seem like empty, vacant fashion music for people who don't really give a shit about music anyway, but what would be the point in that? To do all of that would be to operate from the position that I'm somehow supposed to enjoy this music but don't, and thats just not the case-- at the end of the day, this music just wasn't made for me, and it doesn't seem to be asking for critical approval or underground credibility, but rather for mass appeal and cool points, so what do I care? Would I rant if Drake or Lady Gaga released a shitty single? Of course not, I don't give a shit. If some dance pop song comes off as calculated and overly reliant on image and gimmick, would I get offended? Not at all, its just par for the course, and you can either accept it or not. I suppose the only thing that listening to Sextape did for me was make me way less curious about Sextape-- we've heard this stuff over and over again, and its neither offensive (as some of the commentators here have stated) nor amazing (as I'm sure a lot of UNT freshman will soon be lead to believe). Instead, its just easily digestible pop utilizing techniques and influences that have pervaded the mainstream for years, leaving lots of room for accessibility but very little for surprise. This is music that borrows from borrowers and comes across as more "bottle service" than substantive, and thats fine. Again, Sextape does what it does, and I can see the appeal-- I guess the only thing that bothers me is the fact that I felt the need to address this group at all.

Julian Lynch/Sundress/Soft Healer/Goldilocks and The Rock (J&J's): Solid show at J&Js tonight sponsored by local website WeDentondoit, which apparently has some sort of lose affiliation with Spune Productions (sharing staff members or something to that effect). Anyway, Madison, WI based Julian Lynch is an artist I've been paying attention to for a while now, ever since he made an appearance on the free compilation from Underwater Peoples last year. Now, after releasing a rather underrated record on Olde English Spelling Bee, "indie rock" seems to be catching up with Julian Lynch, who's fresh off a "Best New Music" review in Pitchfork yesterday. Lynch's music is a bit difficult to describe since it pulls from such a wide array of influences (from funk to cool jazz to psychedelic rock to ambient and a lot in between), but it's probably safe to say that Lynch's work can be classified as hazy and dreamlike, with the charm and warmth of lo-fi bedroom recordings and an ear for soothing pop gems that sort of seems to embody the new approach to psychedelic that seems to have emerged in recent years. The great thing about Lynch is his ability to hit all of these notes at the same time, remaining equally appealing to fans of "chill wave" as well as more abstract groups like Blues Control and Sun Araw. The work feels isolated and submerged, but its humanity shines through, which is truly a rare thing in American underground music these days.

Adam Arcuragi/The County Lines/The England Ramaband/Hard Times (Rubber Gloves): Adam Arcuragi has the approval of both Paste Magazine and NPR, so stay as far away as possible.

Live Feed: Fergus & Geronimo | Gun Outfit 6/28/10

It List: Monday

Gun Outfit | Final Club | Fergus & Geronimo (Hailey's)

Gun Outfit hail from Boca Roton and are being supported tonight by two solid local openers. We'll see how line-up changes affect Final Club's live performance. I couldn't find out too much about Gun Outfit with their meager 76 Myspace friends. They did just release a single on PPM Records whose roster includes Abe Vigoda, Wavves and Mika Miko among others. Quite the indie hit parade is it not? I expect we will hear more from them in the future so be sure to check out this show tonight, then 4 months from now you can say you remember way back when.

Calculator | Carry Your Weight | The Pajammas | Innards | Burn Idols (1919 Hemphill)

The Horse Museum | New Science Projects | Sean Kirkpatrick | Delmore Pilcrow (Hydrant)

It looks like other countries are starting to run out of band names too. I do tip my hat to performers like The Horse Museum that come from far away lands like Canada to perform at places like The Hydrant.

Monday Morning Rock

MON: Final Club/Gun Outfit/Fergus & Geronimo (Hailey's)
MON: Calculator/Carry Your Weight/The Pajammas/Innards/Burn Idols (1919 Hemphill)
MON: New Science Projects/The Horse Museum/Sean Kirkpatrick/Delmore Pilcrow (Hydrant)
TUE: Julian Lynch/Sundress/Soft Healer/Goldilocks and The Rock (J&J's)
TUE: Adam Arcuragi/The County Lines/The England Ramaband/Hard Times (Rubber Gloves)
WED: Sextape/FUR/Fizzy Dino Pop/Hai Hello/Lovelife (Hailey's)
WED: Gun Outfit (Cavern)
THR: Psychedelic Furs (Granada)
THR: Ryan Thomas Becker/Caleb Ian Campbell (Kessler)
FRI: Hyena/Man Factory/Esteban Silva (1919 Hemphill)
FRI: Voetsek/Akkolyte/Dark Forces/Mass Sterilization (Rubber Gloves)
FRI: Red Eye/Blixaboy/Yeah Def/Fuzionmuse/Five Easy Pieces (Hailey's)
FRI: Lords/Big Fiction/Hat Talk (The Nightmare)
SAT: Kashioboy/Florene/Fur (Hailey's)
SAT: Perfect Future/Innards (1919 Hemphill)
SAT: The Bright Light Social Hour/Fizzy Dino Pop/Binary Sunrise (Granada)

Weekender

In honor of Femme Fest...


Friday

Ishi | PVC Street Gang | White Mountain (Rubber Gloves)

This is a CD release show for Ishi's new album Through the Trees. How about someone send us a copy and I'll review it. I'll probably end up buying a copy tonight anyways because that is just how much I love local music you guys.


Sundress | Land Mammals | Retro Run | The Clouds are Ghosts (Hailey's)

Hey remember when I said I was going to review that Sundress album? Well, I have determined at this stage is my analytical career I am having trouble pontificating on works that I have find, for lack of a better word, mediocre. I am working on it though.

Prizzy Prizzy Please | Genius Party | Those Damn Kids | The People Men (1919 Hemphill)

Naxat | Sir Name and the Janes | Sally Glass (Pasttime Tavern)

RTB2 | Leatherbag | Tony Ferraro (Chat Room)

Chat Room doing shows again? Good to hear.


add: The Angelus duo |Hotel Hotel | Summer of Glaciers | Monasery (Bryan Street tavern)

Saturday

Museum Creatures | Blixaboy | Sextape (Nightmare -old Lounge-)

I like Museum Creatures alot. Just the kind of abstract pop cacophony that gets my blood boiling. Fans of Max Tundra, Múm or Tigerbeat 6 artist should keep these guys on your radar.

J. Paul Slavens (Dan's)

Another CD release this weekend, this time J.Paul Slaven's 'Alphabet Girls Volume I'. I have heard nothing from the new album so far but I am sure it is pretty wacky and original, things we have come to expect from one of the more eccentric acts in the neighborhood. Regardless of his music, Slaven will forever be number one in my book for his job hosting 90.1 at Night which got me through many tough weekends in the past. I can't pick up that new station in my pent house so I haven't heard it since the move. Hope it is still good; I miss it.

B3 | The Adventures Of... | K.MC | John Stewart (Hailey's)

I could not find any information on any of these artist, maybe a little help Yeah Def? The tag line for this show is Flinch Face : Bands that are Shocking so I am expecting some extreme violence metal or some sort of Donny and Marie type incest act. I mean really what is shocking these days?

Dead Meadow | Sans Soleil (Rubber Gloves)

Dead Meadow and Sans Soleil share alot of the same attributes that I don't like but alot of other people seem to love.

Femme Fest (Phoenix Project)

Sunday

Femme Fest (Phoenix Project)

Secret Cities | Melting Season | Abacus | Goldilocks and The Rock (Hailey's)

Interview: FEMME FEST

This weekend Dallas's Phoenix Project will be putting on Femme Fest, a two day festival focusing on the fairest of all sexes. I sat down for a few questions with Jessica, member of Phoenix Collective and also one of many presenters you will encounter this weekend. -FP

What is the concept behind Femme Fest?

Femme Fest is designed to show respect for the female artists/musicians within our community. We hope to empower and encourage women to pursue their dreams of success, whatever they may be.

How does this festival coincide with the Phoenix Project mission?

This is about diversity and community, bringing progressive groups together for one common mission, radical change in our East Dallas community through cooperation, trust and solidarity.

In addition to musicians there will be workshops, speakers and other informative treats on the program. How has organizing this compared to one of the more traditional shows that PP puts on?

This has certainly put my organizational and promoting skills to the test. I have literally been eating, breathing and sleeping Femme Fest for the past month. It has taken so many people and groups coming together to makes this happen. Special thanks to Clandestine Project and Chris for helping us out with shirts. Spiral Diner for helping us out with promotion and food for the event. The Labyrinth for their generous donations, Mercy for Animals for their promotion help and Recycle Revolution for donating recycling receptacles.

What do you want the audience to take away from Femme Fest?

That there are many options available as to how you want to live your life.. You create your own reality. Life does not have to be a constant struggle. Through perseverance, family and community we can all find ways to live and work together to create sustainability within our communities and families. We hope men and women alike will feel empowered by the experience this weekend and that they will take that home with them and spread within their own community , workplaces and schools.

Can you tell us a little about DIY birth control?


Here is the intro to the workshop which is the one I will personally be presenting...

Since the 1960’s, when birth control pills were first introduced, millions
of women worldwide have taken them, believing they were safe and effective
for contraception. Unfortunately, that’s only a half-truth. Birth
control pills are indeed very effective at contraception. But the downside
is they’re extremely hazardous. Since the introduction of the Pill,
there’s been an explosion of women’s diseases and maladies in a scope
never experienced before in the history of medicine, including migraine
headaches, pms, breast cancer, heart disease, strokes, anxiety disorders,
blood clots, high blood pressure, uterine cancer, depression, the list
goes on and on.

Accounts of herbal birth control were first described by Hippocrates over
2,000 years ago. Native women of both North and South America made use of
more than 200 plants, roots and other medicines as means of birth control.

Controlling women's ability to decide when and how many children are
conceived is an historical type of economic control. After the plague in
Europe, the Church, which was by far the largest land owner and tax
collector, had lost a huge majority of its indentured servants. The feudal
system was lost due to great decline in population. The church
categorically set out to abolish any means of controlling birth rates to
regain its income in the form of serfs. The Church Inquisitors proclaimed,
"no one is more dangerous and harmful than the midwives," the wise women
that understood how to stop pregnancy and ease the pains of childbirth.
They knew methods of abortions as well as contraceptive herbs. The
knowledge was passed from woman to woman as men did not treat women. The
witch hunts virtually wiped out the knowledge.

I will be going into a detailed examination of the woman's cycle,
providing women with basic forgotten knowledge of how their body's work
and also providing information on herbal birth control options. The focus
is to empower women by helping them realize that their ability to produce
life is not a handicap that needs to be controlled with harmful
pharmaceuticals. With the right information it is a blessing that we can
control and regulate.

It List: Thursday

Reviver/Caravels/Raging Boner (1919 Hemphill)

Dear Human/Hotel Hotel/Summer of Glaciers/Monastery (Rubber Gloves)

Soular Power with Wanz Dover (the Cavern): Wanz will be spinning dub, soul, afrobeat and more at this bi-weekly event.

Delmore Pilcrow/Sir Name and the Janes (The Hydrant): I know DL said something about this yesterday, but whats with all the stupid fucking band names in Denton lately? I don't even want to find out what Sir Name and the Janes is, much less watch them play.

80's Night with Yeahdef (Hailey's)

Local Review

(In an effort to keep Dick Insulator off the street we sent him/her one of the numerous albums submitted to us for review that we haven't had time to get to. You can catch The Caterpillars live tomorrow night at The Door-FP)

Caterpillars - Self Titled EP

A Dick Insulation about Nothing Special

This was a handoff. Someone at the office got handed a case. It smelled bad. They could tell it was dirty work. It got slid across the desk to me. Goddammit. I sat on this for the better part of a month and a half. Resented it. Knew it had to be done. It’s okay, girls. Dick’s on it.

The thing is, they asked for it. Caterpillars are ready for the mainstream. They have their Sonic Bids account. They can’t wait for your venue to give them an opportunity for which their paid monies have qualified them. Maybe this will help land them a choice spot at Boiler Room for next year’s NX35 Wank-Around Conferette. They have an artist bio, lyrics, and carefully chosen, standard issue press pictures. They even spent the big bucks on “legendary” producer “Ed Rose”. Caterpillars are begging you to make them the next big thing from the “legendary” Frisco scene, though they fail to make a convincing argument.

It could be said that their songs themselves are an argument. On the opener “One Thousand Times Before,” I thought perhaps the argument was in favor of nature. Lots of really earthy, yet otherworldly descriptive similes. You’ve got your full moons, whispery winds, waves of the ocean, light and fire both lingering; it’s like a fucking bowl of Lucky Charms. Unfortunately, these amount to no real point. From what this reporter can gather, these analogies only serve to help the listener understand that the narrator (Christopher Robinson) was right, and “she” was wrong. That bitch. CR did indicate that he had plans to overcome his non-specific struggle. These ambitions are further (vaguely) outlined with an allusion to “the looming day’s adventure.” I hope it went well. She can’t wait around forever. Or can she? It should be clear at this point to discerning readers that there is nothing new or original here, and therefore I can imagine some people liking it.

The puzzling lyrics and sophomoric insight continue throughout the record. On the second track, CR expresses his death wish. He regrets this boldness immediately, and in the next line admits that, underneath a “Lifetime of Pretense”, he merely wishes to escape people talkin’ that BS. CR feels like a “trapped form in a corporate world” and any number (five, so far) of repetitive, trite breakdowns have not managed to liberate him from his existential bondage. This reporter finds it more than unfortunate that CR admits abandoning a time-honored method of escapism: getting high. Let this EP serve as a reminder to everyone about the potential merits of recreational drug use by musicians. But Dick, tell a brotha how it sound like. Caterpillars fall somewhere between Linkin Park and Brand New, given that they make extensive use of electronic shtick, woeful angst, and uninspiring song structures.

Stylistically speaking, it took until about track 4 for me to realize that the subtle atmospheric electro-ambience was not merely a defining characteristic, it seems an unhealthy fixation. This reminds me of a debate between myself and one ||| on the comments boards last week. What happens when you have glossy, meaningless, use of both sequencing AND guitars? Well, this EP is a prime example. I found their guitar licks to be full of shimmer, glimmer, delay, and safety. Quite similar to The Apple seed Cast, in fact (see legendary producer “Ed Rose”). However, it failed to instill the same kind of longing and 9th grade faux nostalgia which “The ‘Cast” seem to be content with dishing out, years ago, and now re-issuing to get more royalties and tour dates. Drums and bass seem to serve the purpose of just being there like the shit Goldilocks thought was just right. No one will notice. That’s the idea. Then the hungry critics come home, notice that all the mediocre shit has been gobbled up, and proceed to wreck shop.

If you like the guitar stylee put forth by many of today’s rock millionaires, pointless but not utterly terrible vocals, all in front of a mild-porridge rhythm section, Caterpillars might be for you. If overly serious ballads and untapped youthful energy get your box wet, you might want to check out handsome white boy Christopher Robinson and his Caterpillars. Dick, however, has discovered that the lyrics actually contain the antidote for this Caterpillar’s venom:

“I almost fell to the ruined/ But then I learned to cover my ears”


Verdickt: 2/5

Art List

I apologize for not doing an Art List the last two weeks, but I've been extremely busy making IT directors' wildest data center virtualization dreams come with a major beta software release signifying the end of about eight months of my work life. There wasn't much going on really, except Nevada Hill's goings on, as documented by Defensive Listening. But there's more going on this weekend. See for yourself.

THURSDAY

Snow White Tan (Aaron Parazette)
Floor Plan (Tara Donovan, Vernon Fisher, Joseph Havel, Annette Lawrence, Amy Myers, Nic Nicosia, Matthew Sontheimer, and Erick Swenson)
Dunn and Brown Contemporary Gallery
5020 Tracy Street, Dallas, TX 75205
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

FRIDAY

Cosmetic Plague (Caitlin Barrett Ray)
Distorted Memory (T.J. Griffin)
University of Texas at Dallas
800 West Campbell Road, Richardson, TX 75080
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

ARTSHOWTEN (James Patrick Sasso, Gert Johan Manschot, Glenn Comtois, and Shannon Niehus)
Ross Akard Gallery
1717 North Akard Street, Dallas, TX 75204
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

SATURDAY

Old School
F6 Gallery
2800 W. Division Street, Arlington, TX 76001, Suite F-6
One night only!
7:00 - 11:00 PM

Katherine Strause
Mighty Fine Arts Gallery
419 North Tyler, Dallas, TX 75208
6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

It List: Wednesday

Smiling at the Ceiling/Mouse Fire/Peopleodian (Hailey's): I had no idea that Peopleodian had a member of Boy Division, and that their music sounded anything like it does. Their minimal synth-pop was not what I was expecting at all, and perhaps, it's just their name that always throws (or turns) me off. WHAT IS WITH THAT NAME?!

Detour with Wild in the Streets, Republic of Texas and art by Bubba of Elm St Tattoo (The Cavern)

ADD: Ash Wednesday with Keith P/Anthony Social (Pastime Tavern)

It List: Tuesday

Burn Idols | Life Erased | Electric Vengeance |Rotundus (1919 Hemphill)

Bad Mouth were originally on this bill but had to drop. Must be something in the air.

More Ariel Pink Recordings with The Gonzalez Family To Be Released

As we have previously mentioned, Ariel Pink recorded more music in Mesquite-based Klearlight Studios than has seen the light of day on both his new record, Before Today as well as the Shits And Giggles LP.

His newest limited-quantity EP, simply titled, Ariel Pink With Added Pizzazz will be released on 12-inch vinyl on July 9th. Added Pizzazz ,of course features local father and sons virtuosos, Aaron, Stefan, and Dennis Gonzalez, as well as production by Vas Deferens Organization. The first track from the Before Today record, "Hot Body Rub," will be featured on the EP in its entirety. More information available on the always wonderful Mutant Sounds blog, and I can't wait to hear more of this excellent collaboration.

It List: Monday

Passion Pit | Tokyo Police Club (Palladium)

As some of you may already know in addition to my critical musings here at WSJR I am also an active member in the Friday Night Lights fan fiction community. Most of the time these two sides of the complex coin that is Frank Phosphate rarely crossover, but Passion Pit did make an appearance in a little side story I threw together a couple of months ago. So instead of going into great depth about why I think Passion Pit are lame I will just let the scene play out for you. In case you are somehow unfamiliar with the dynamic and groundbreaking television drama Friday Night Lights let me briefly describe the two characters in the following passage. Matt Saracen is the quarterback with a heart of gold and tough family life, after high school he pursues his dreams of being an artist in Chicago. Julie, Matt's girlfriend AND the coach's daughter, is a smart young girl with a big heart and a good head on her shoulders, she is often ahead of the rest of her classmates in terms of style and the arts. In the following scene Julie has come to visit Matt in Chicago and they are out for a night on the town...

The marquee above the theater pulsates with hallogenic fever as Julie drags a playfully hesitant Matt into the bar. "Why are we goin' to this stupid show anyways?" Matt inquires in his Texas drawl. Julie often dragged Matt to shows that he had no interest in seeing, he was more into things like Led Zepplin and Death Cab for Cutie. Julie insist that Matt will love this band, she read an article about them in Jane magazine and Julie's Habitat for Humanity co-worker Linda said they were the best new band around. As the couple enter the club they are surrounded by hip young twenty somethings swaying back and forth in no particular rhythm to the music. Skinny Jeans, skinnier t-shirts and knit sweaters are all the fashions of the night. Matt's face begins to sour as he pays closer attention to the music coming from the band on stage. Julie points to the stage and exclaims "That's them! That's Passion Pit! I can tell by their beards"

Matt drops his chin to chest and lets out a sigh. "Julie" Matt begins to giggle "You can't tell me that you are going to deny the derivative nature of this bland indie pop rock trite, I mean this is almost as bad as The Postal Service" Julie snarls at Matt as she continues to bob her head to the music, more out of pride than genuine enjoyment. "and these airy synths sound like something from a bad Prince cover band. I mean I understand that this geeky euro sounding indie dance music is all the rage, and don't get me wrong I do dig some of it. Like Hot Chip, that stuff is really good and has an original sound." Matt looks around at the crowd, "How can these people even pretend to dance to this beat? Cut Copy. It sounds like second rate Cut Copy as well."

Even though Julie hates to admit defeat, she realizes that she must fess up to the undeniable truth. "You're right Matt, that is the last time I take music advise from Linda!" They both have a good laugh as they walk out on to the cold Chicago streets. "Oh hey" Matt suddenly interjects "My friend is playing a solo acoustic singer songwriter set at a coffee shop, wanna go to that?" Julie nods as they embrace and skip down the street.

Cold Mold | Marriage Material | Dharma | Shane English (Rubber Gloves)

Really nice line-up here with DJ sets by Shane English. Two acts on this show, Dharma and Cold Mold, that I have not had a chance to catch live yet. I don't know too much about either but Austin's Dharma sound like the love child of Florene and Darktown Strutters while Cold Mold share the dark and jittery guitar/vocal assault similar to Marriage Material. The duo features Anna Wingfield from Colour Club and Bobby Missile from Attractive and Popular.

Monday Morning Rock

MON: Passion Pit/Tokyo Police Club (Palladium)
MON: Florene/Cold Mold/Marriage Material/Dharma/Shane English (Rubber Gloves)
TUE: Bad Mouth/Burn Idols/Life Erased/Electric Vengeance/Rotundus (1919 Hemphill)
WED: Smiling at the Ceiling/Mouse Fire/Peopleodian (Hailey's)
THR: Reviver/Caravels/Raging Boner (1919 Hemphill)
THR: Dear Human/Hotel Hotel/Summer of Glaciers/Monastery (Rubber Gloves)
FRI: Prizzy Prizzy Please/Genius Party/Those Damn Kids/The People Men (1919 Hemphill)
FRI: Ishi/PVC Street Gang/White Mountain (Rubber Gloves)
FRI: Sundress/Land Mammals/Retro Run/The Clouds are Ghosts (Hailey's)
FRI: Sally Glass/Sir Him/Naxat (Pasttime)
SAT: Nero's Day at Disneyland/Mincemeat or Tenspeed/Lavas Magmas/Yellow Crystal Star (Dwelling of Doom)
SAT: Museum creatures/Blixaboy/Sextape (Old Lounge)
SAT: J. Paul Stevens (Dan's)
SAT: B3/The Adventures Of.../K.MC/John Stewart (Hailey's)
SAT: Dead Meadow/Sans Soleil (Rubber Gloves)
SAT: Femme Fest (Phoenix Project)
SUN: Femme Fest (Phoenix Project)
SUN: Secret Cities/Sleep Whale/Goldilocks and The Rock (Hailey's)

I'm just going to go ahead and post this so that somebody actually sees it. I know it's an ongoing problem with the site. I have also decided to post this new video by George Quartz. I know it's been posted elsewhere, but people like to actually voice opinions on our site, so it's a lot more fun. -DL


FRIDAY

George Quartz/Psychic Violence/Darktown Strutters (City Tavern)

Till Were Blue Or Destroy/Menkena/Final Club (Hailey's)

The Slow Burners / American Werewolf Academy / Deep Snapper (Rubber Gloves)

Night Shift with Big J/Jack Flack (The Cavern)

Shiny Around the Edges/Sabra Laval/San Soleil/Little Birds/Sunnybrook (Schoolhouse)

Hentai Improvising Orchestra/Clear Spot/Doggebi (1919 Hemphill)

Black Tusk/Zoroaster/Dark Castle/Maleveller/Four Days To Burn (Trees)

Concrete Blonde (Granada)

Carolina/DJ Automatic/Joe Vega (Teddy's Room): For bottle service, call (214)808-7909. Or just tweet @twitter.com/hellox6.

Black Fridays with Anthony Social/Keith P/Ben White (Fallout Lounge)

SATURDAY

Pinkish Black/Atwa/Dust Congress (Rubber Gloves)

RTB2/Spooky Folk/The Fox & the Bird/Caleb Ian Campbell (Hailey's)

Luna Matto/Eyes Wings and Many other Things/The Diamond Age (Pastime Tavern)

Hentai Improv Orchestra/Clear Spot/Doggebi (Phoenix Project)

Starring/New Fumes/Florene (Old Lounge)

It List: Thursday

Bitter End | Mongoloids | Donnybrook | Venia (1919 Hemphill)

Farley Overdose | Infinite War (Phoenix Project)

Team Work | Manatee Tights | Shiny Around the Edges | Peopleodian (2311 Houston)

Christian Ross | Bryan Wakeland | Dave Prez (Kessler)

Art List Related Interview- Nevada Hill

Nevada Hill is a local artist that has worked in North Texas for years now, making his first splash with a memorable exhibition at The Art Prostitute, all the way back in 2005. His style is so unconventional that I often hear bands remark how confused they are at what their poster says, or is "supposed to be," and yet his work has been used in everything from the grimiest house show poster to the most sacred cow gig announcement. He is also a prolific musician, playing guitar and violin in improvisation-based projects like Zanzibar Snails and Idi Amin, as well as the more harshly defined act Drug Mountain. Hill has also been involved in the layout and occasional design work in each of the three records We Shot JR has put out over the last two years.

Hill has a showing this Saturday entitled, "For Sale: The Creative Droppings of Nevada Hill" at The MeMe Gallery, which is next door to Rubber Gloves. He will be selling his new 20 page "Mass 3" comix, as well as assorted other works. The show is to fund his first international show in Lisbon, Portugal at the Trem Azul gallery for an opening on June 24th, and he will perform music at the same gallery on June 26th. Quite an accomplishment for a DFW-based artist.

Saturday's show is at 9:00 pm and will also include music by Pinkish Black, Atwa, and Dust Congress. Totally loaded questions by Defensive Listening.

How did you get hooked up with your first overseas art show, and this show in Portugal specifically?

I did research about the underground comix scene when I made my first one and was obsessed with Fort Thunder. I found a website named Chili Com Carne and sent the owner comix. I immediately got a response which thus started my 4 year pen-pal relationship with Marcos Farrajota. He would write me every once in awhile to ask me if or when my next comix were coming, when I was not even thinking about it, or thought that no one cared. I had some vacation time and asked if I could come to Portugal just to hang out, and he offered me an art show. It is also during the biggest small publishing event in Europe to my knowledge called Feira Laica.

Your artwork has undergone some noticeable stylistic changes lately. There is more color, or rather a more blatant and bold use of color; whereas once you would have a scratchy-lined mound of dung appear subtly nauseating, it now practically screams at the viewer with a bright toxic intensity. Along the same lines, you are generally doing work that seems more obviously grabbing: big blocks of color instead of mere hints of it around the busy lines. It's almost as if the color has become the "thing." What caused the change and did you feel apprehensive about it so close to your first overseas show?

The change came in the middle of creating Mass 3. I have many theories about why an artist's style changes. It is not a departure from one style to another, but just a focus on a different path that I have not gone down before. The influence that sparked it was randomly finding this 60’s animation on YouTube by a Japanese artist named Tadanori Yokoo. His use of space and form, along with a unique color palate, triggered a sea change in me. I’m trying to use the flatness as just another tool in the box, to mix with the hairy poop style that I have been using since earlier on. I also like the idea of not trying to impress anybody and creating painfully simple pieces that are more about ideas than, "Look at how cool this looks."
At this point in the game I just want to get over there with everything in one piece. I’m also bringing my violin and some pedals to play. So I just hope I remember everything. I’m sure the audience will be accepting, but if not then, oh, well.

I heard that you recently had a comic project get botched due to a cowardly printing place choosing not to print your work based on some vague moral objection. I personally feel that this sort of censorship decision being made at the manufacturing and industry level is one of the worst hindrances an artist faces, even in 2010. What are your feelings about the situation and what do you feel caused the decision to not print your work?

I feel that the printer felt the content to be too much in the way of genitals and poop, along with all the other subversive things that I injected. I do not see these things as "a boob with legs" or "that thing is shitting on that other thing." I see it as just objects interacting, just as you would talk to someone or give someone a handshake. So I was surprised but not shocked when they told me that they were going to pass. These people are not that hard to offend. We are talking about elderly southern Alabama ultra-right-wing people. I just get the printing done cheaper than Kinko's. I felt frustrated at first. Then I said "fuck ’em" and got over it.

You yourself have worked in various jobs where you have to be mindful of social mores or what the mainstream finds to be acceptable. Now perhaps some of it is understandable depending on the setting; for instance, you might not want to have Batman in some of his less proud moments on a shirt made for a four-year-old. Or maybe you do? How important do you feel it is to subvert these sort of guidelines on what is suitable, even in the context of sneaking private parts or bodily fluids in an unsuspecting rock band's poster?

I design licensed billboards for specialty consumers. (I hate to break it to you but Urban Outfitters' and Wal-Mart's tastes are similar. They are not as cool as you thought they were). I make T-shirts for a merchandising company. I gave up on trying to inject any kind of personality in the designs, and leave that creativity for my own work that I will create later. I’m going to let Batman be Batman. As far as gig posters, things were getting way too fuckin’ cute for me, so I’m trying to push things a little by throwing something in to make people ask "What the fuck is that?"

You have participated in FLATSTOCK over the years, and yet you have also performed at SXSW as a musician on various occasions. What are the differences and similarities in playing the game at this yearly cultural meat market, as both a musician and a visual artist? Which do you prefer?

This is a tough question. My experiences at SXSW have been diminishing in excitement year after year. As far as FLATSTOCK goes, all the other what I might consider "weirdo artists" (Seripop, DNML, Sonnenzimmer, etc...) do not participate in the Texas FLATSTOCK because they do not feel it is for them, which I understand. I wouldn't do it either, except for the fact that it is only 3 hours away. So I feel like sometimes I’m the only one there without a Queens Of The Stone Age poster with a topless chick and pot leaves. There are some other great people there: Land Land, Young Monster, Jay Ryan, and Tim Doyle, though I do not feel stylistically similar to them. I always feel that when people get to my booth after seeing the million other posters they are either relieved that there is someone doing something dirty, or they are repulsed by my lack of craftsmanship.

As a musician I have only had one good day show for the past 2 years that I have played shows there. I would prefer not to play them, but I do. I have seen some amazing day shows though.

In continuing with the same subject, who "gets it" more? Music fans or art fans? Which do you find to be more informed, and who do you feel is just looking to party?

I have no idea if anyone gets it. I do not even get it and my interpretation is always different than the audiences'. I get the most requests for artwork from musicians though, and I guess that is why I started doing this in the first place: for music.


What are the advances, if any, that local art has made over your years as a working artist in North Texas? What do you feel causes the whole thing to just decline?

Well it is not as “advanced” as I want it to be. I was hoping that more shops would pop up and it would be a little like Chicago as far as a print community. Besides Pan Ector in Denton, I do not know of any other Independent art shops. What I wanted to happen was for me to make these shitty posters and to inspire someone to say "Fuck you, I can do this better," start their own shop, and put out their own packaging and posters. I do not think it is in decline by any means, because I have consistently met great artists from all over the DFW area.


What has been the most successful show or favorite memory in doing all of this? What has been the worst moment?

My favorite times are seeing people that I respect and being able to trade with them. One of my favorite moments was meeting Matt Brinkman at the Load Records showcase in Austin, and being able to tell him how much Fort Thunder affected my outlook. The worst moments are working forever on something and it comes out shitty. I feel like I’m about to have a nervous breakdown sometimes when that happens. Then going to the show to try to sell, and the venue does not have a merch area or they do and there is no light.


Why are musicians so stupid when it comes to doing the minimal research it takes to find out what they need to finish a t-shirt or poster design? Can you tell us a little bit about why a band should never submit its horrible logo in a Microsoft word file, or what vectoring is?

I do not think bands are stupid for focusing more on their “sound” than caring about how unique their album packaging is. I personally think that good album packaging is huge part of a good album. It will not make a shitty album good but it will boost the listening experience. People who listen to vinyl will stare at the cover while listening, so why not give them something great to stare at? Vector graphics are something that I plan to never use (I may one day?) in my personal work, but must use in my 9 to 5 and I do not have enough time to go off on a tangent about it. I just do not understand why everything has to be flat and clean. Lets just iron out the wrinkles in our brain shall we?


I recently attended the late-period Warhol show that just ended at the Modern and I understand you did as well. What do you think has changed about screen printing since the 80's? What did you find interesting about the prints there?

There are huge changes from the 80’s. Screen-printing posters did not really begin until the early 90’s, according to the "Art of Modern Rock" book, and has grown ever since. So now in 2010 it is a commoditized hobby with the Yudu [home screen-printing system]. In the 60’s, as opposed to today, it was used as another medium to facilitate High Art. It was looked at as avant-garde to use an industrial process to create fine artwork. The great thing about Warhol and his cronies is that they used screen-printing for its imperfections, not for the industrial use of trying to create exact replications for the private sector. The processes of creating the materials for printing were way too complicated for at-home screen-printing, or to print rock posters with. All the Avalon and Fillmore posters are lithography. Just like home recording, screen-printing has given the consumer the power to create what they want. Actually just watch the Yudu commercial.

What is the worst thing about working on layouts for We Shot JR projects, and are we the most incompetent outfit that you have ever been involved with?

The worst part about working for We Shot JR is that I just do not have enough room for all the money that the dump trucks bring to my house. No, We Shot JR is no different than any other client or job.

Live Feed: Cuckoo Byrds/Shearing Pinx/Nu Sensae/Orange Coax @ Doom PLUS Bastard Noise @ RGRS

It List: Wednesday

Bastard Noise/Hatred Surge/Lychgate/Mindhunter (Rubber Gloves): I would think that Bastard Noise would need no intro, but considering that nobody else has said anything about this rather significant show, I'll do what I can. Bastard Noise is the very effective offshoot of Man Is The Bastard, a widely loved group that truly redefined the limits of hardcore as an art form in the 90's, especially by tampering with the genre's formula and arsenal of equipment. The group combined stark bass-lines with homemade noise tools capable of emitting sounds that were completely unique and avoided the tired guitar distortion cliches that were already wearing thin in hardcore by the early 90's. This is all the more obvious when you hear their music today and realize that it has not aged a second; it still sounds completely devastating without even a hint of the silliness prevalent at the time.

Bastard Noise, which has shared all of the same members, has pushed in arguably even more radical directions over the years, with a healthy amount of the music's explosiveness eventually disintegrating into formless static and chaos, largely devoid of rhythm and instead atmospherically manipulating its surroundings through a sustained and engulfing fog of sound.

But just when one suspects they understand the group's intentions, they always seem to return to their many abilities of rhythm and force, combining prog beats and intense vocals to snap the noise back into skeletal shape in an intimidatingly convincing manner. Make no mistake, Bastard Noise (as well as Man Is The Bastard and Geronimo) have one of the all-time immediately identifiable sounds in any genre of music. Countless are the times when it comes up on some mix cd or random Ipod track, and somebody excitedly exclaims one of the monikers on the multi-pronged list of groups that have spawned from this crowd. Pretty nerdy, I know. The dense and tough bass and drum parts mixed with the otherworldly squeals of their handmade equipment has become just as iconic in some circles as the characteristic shred of your average "favorite all-time guitarist." Except this never sucks. The fact that Austin's Hatred Surge is opening, as well as a couple of terrific locals would warrant even more type, but I want some people to actually read this before midnight. Highly recommended.

Shearing Pinx/Nu Sensae/Cuckoo Byrds/Orange Coax (Majestic Dwelling Of Doom): I saw the Shearing Pinx perform on the UTD campus of all places, and they reminded me a lot of another similar act that played tasteful noise rock from Canada: The Creeping Nobodies. I remember them being pretty good and I'm not making light of both groups being from Canada; I just honestly don't hear many bands like these two from the States anymore. Perhaps I'm not looking hard enough.

Nu Sensae are great fun and they combine a bratty "Juicy" Julia Cafritz/Free Kitten vocal sound with high-energy, bass-led rock rhythms. There is a distinct lack of guitar with most of the best bands playing tonight and that's no coincidence. I used to have this friend that mainly listened to house music who would openly fantasize about how she wished that some magic being (a DJ, duh) would swoop in and erase all of the bad guitar parts out of old disco tracks and even the good guitar parts out of dance-y post punk tracks like The Raincoats or The Delta Five. Really used to piss me off. Know what's weird? I kind of understand now. Maybe I'm finally old. Oh, Cuckoo Byrds is the wonderful duo that runs Time Bandits in Denton and I'm expecting good things since they played such wonderful records at our own show in September of last year. One more thing: Orange Coax has ten inch records being shipped from the Czech Republic to my fucking house as we speak.

Invincible Czars/Timeline Post/Old Snack (Hailey's): Hey, what does everyone think of the band name "Old Snack?" It seems to be pretty polarizing when it's brought up. I almost accidentally logged into Myspace today and posted a bulletin. Is that weird? Did you know there are bands on there? No, seriously. Like, a lot.

Florene Reviewed on Pitchfork

Dentonie Waaga Records signees Florene received a fairly critical review of their full length debut, Homemade Extacy, from Pitchfork today. The site rated the record a 5.4, which actually seems a bit high once you make it through the review itself. The author provides a few rather thin compliments, sure, but does so just before explaining that these bright spots:

"are just that-- small bits of something interesting that never manage to coalesce or build momentum."

Ouch. Furthermore, reviewer Larry Fitzmaurice is critical of the length of many of the tracks as well as the way the record itself sounds:

"All of these complaints are just minor quibbles, though, next to the album's greatest weakness: it sounds terrible. Every element of every song is mixed way, way into the red. Throughout, nuance and layering are discarded in favor of an annoying sonic antagonism."

Double ouch. But as a person who has spent time listening to this record quite a bit lately as I've attempted to prepare a full length review, I have to agree-- Homemade Extacy just isn't much fun to listen to. Yes, many of the songs are entirely too long, often clocking in at six minutes plus and giving the listener the feeling of running in place; and yes, the record is mixed terribly and is often physically difficult to listen to, but not in a good way. Unfortunately, however, I found the songs lacking even moreso than Pitchfork seemed to-- the truth is that Florene's debut sounds too harsh to be psychedelic and mesmirizing, not rough or interesting enough to be confrontational or challenging, and the whole thing puzzlingly lacks the beats needed to make it the least bit danceable. There are a lot of good influences to be found throughout, and the group seems to know its way around an XLR8R magazine, but it was tough to find much to like about their execution on record. You can buy it here if you want to hear it for yourself.

It List: Tuesday

Makeout Videotape | Walter TV | Sans Soleil | Goldilocks and The Rock (Lounge)

It List: Monday

Erykah Badu/B.o.B/Janelle Monae (Verizon Theater): Badu is playing to her hometown crowd, in support of her most recent release, New Amerykah Part Two: Return of the Ankh, but of course the conversation for months on end has been about almost anything but her music. Now a lot of people may groan about that, and with eyes rolled, talk about how "music is just sound" and if you "write good songs" that's all that matters etc., but that's never the entire story. Some people are just so interesting they can get away with music that isn't always well-written, or the catchiest, or contains the best beats, or any music-as-sports cliches about what makes any piece of art "the best" or better than any other.

Now with Badu, I think her music has definitely had different levels of successfully catching your attention; sometimes willfully unconventional and sometimes unabashedly destined-for-the-charts. When she's at her best, it's a little of both. However, I think the distinction between her and her peers is that there always seems to be this push, or effort to constantly reach outside of the often strict and rigid structure of what makes a hit record for someone having to worry about moving a ton of product every couple of years. That's something that most people just can't fathom even if they are trying to follow the hoary rules of showbiz.

Badu's video for "Window Seat" was such a local scandal that it became the leading story on the DFW nightly news for days. That's something that has pretty much never happened with any artist in Dallas music history as far as I can tell. If you have a better example, please let us know. You can call it a publicity stunt, exhibitionism, performance art, hey, dismiss it however you want but I will say this: Anytime I've been outside of Dallas since the video was made or talk to out-of-town friends, they are fascinated by this event, and want to know everything they can about how it was perceived around town. There was a certain amount of actual shock here. Somebody from Dallas actually made an artistic statement and people reacted. A lot of people reacted. The police got involved. Discussions were had. This wasn't the work of some overpaid hotshot publicist or a backroom label deal to get a video played on some hip website. This was an actual expression that evoked natural reactions: both good and bad, but passionate either way. And this wasn't from some underground metal or noise act or a performance art extremist, but someone with many eyes on her and everything to lose. Actual guts, actual feelings hurt, and a longtime local stigma shown with a brand new perspective by way of a pretty low-tech video and a few shed articles of clothing. Badu radically pushed much needed lofty and ambitious concepts back into pop music if even for a bit, and I gladly discuss the video she made over plenty of other things I'm sick of being associated with in the never-ending discussion of Dallas music.

Screening: El Laberinto Del Fauno AKA Pan's Labyrinth (Texas Theatre): Wow, and what do you know? An actual movie is playing at the Texas Theatre. What do you think Dallas? Are we still the "City Of Hate?" Or are we "over it?"


BROZ THAT WILL PROBZ ICE YOU (Hailey's)

Cool Out (The Cavern)

Monday Morning Rock

MON: Erykah Badu (Verizon Theater)
TUE: Makeout Videotape/Walter TV/Sans Soleil/Goldilocks and The Rock (Lounge)
WED: Makeout Videotape/Walter TV/Goldilocks and The Rock/Knoxville Dangerous (J&J's)
WED: Shearing Pinx/Orange Coax/Nu Sensae/Cuckoo Byrds (Majestic Dwelling of Doom)
WED: Bastard Noise/Hatred Surge/Lychgate/Mindhunter (Rubber Gloves)
WED: Invincible Czars/The Timeline Post/Old Snack (Hailey's)
THR: Bitter End/Mongoloids/Donnybrook/Venia (1919 Hemphill)
THR: Farley Overdose/Infinite War (Phoenix Project)
FRI: George Quartz/Psychic Violence/Darktown Strutters (City Tavern)
FRI: Till Were Blue Or Destroy/Menkena/Final Club (Hailey's)
FRI: The Slow Burners / American Werewolf Academy / Deep Snapper (Rubber Gloves)
FRI: Hentai Improvising Orchestra/Clear Spot/Doggebi (1919 Hemphill)
FRI: Concrete Blonde (Granada)
SAT: Pinkish Black/Atwa/Dust Congress (Rubber Gloves)
SAT: RTB2/Spooky Folk/The Fox & the Bird/Caleb Ian Campbell (Hailey's)
SAT: Hentai Improv Orchestra/ Clear Spot/Doggebi (Phoenix Project)
SAT: Starring/New Fumes/Florene (old Lounge)
SUN: Trio Tarana (Phoenix Project)
SUN: Johnny Winter (Granada)

Live Feed : //TENSE// @ Rubber Gloves

Weekender

Friday

The Buzzcocks |The Dollyrots (The Loft)

There are a couple things we know and don't know about this show. What we do know is that the line-up tonight features Pete Shelley / Steve Diggle / Danny Farrant / Chris Remington and they will be playing their first two albums in their entirety. The press release also says they will be playing "hits" which hopefully means all of Singles Going Steady. What we do not know is if the guys can reproduce the youthful punk blast of joy that so many of us love. If the double live album Driving You Insane from 2005 is any indication we should be in for quite the night. After party will be at Fallout Lounge with Soular Power.

Dead Politiks | Electric Vengeance | The Horrifics | Tatterd Flag (1919 Hemphill)

Yells at Eels (Kessler)

The Diamond Center | Shiny Around The Edges | Dust Congress (Hailey's)

Life Erased | Rotundus | Violent Messiah | Scavenger (Phoenix Project)

You can now follow Phoenix Project on twitter so you too can correct me when I forget to list one of their shows.

Yellow Fever | Bizzaro Kids | Peopleodian (Dan's)

Giggle Party | Here Holy Spain | Young and Brave | Backflap (Handsome Kitten)

This is going to be the last show for Giggle Party as Dallas residents, and since The Handsome Kitten is also the residence of Giggle Party this will also be the last show there as well.

Saturday

//TENSE//| Corporate Park | Vulgar Fashion | Tommyboy | DJG (Rubber Gloves)

Kaboom | Kampfgrounds | Stoned Men (Hailey's)

Solid line-up for bands that usually require the audience to stand in a basement or equally un-air conditioned setting. The show is free for 21+ so there is nothing holding you back from walking back and forth between Rubber Gloves and here.

Little Black Dress | Magnet School | Til We're Blue Or Destroy (Double Wide)

Little Black Dress is one of the worst names for a rock band since Deep Blue Something. Surprisingly enough Little Black Dress features members of Deep Blue Something. Get ready to be proud of your music scene again Dallas!

Sir Name | Aaron Barker | Dim Locator (Pastime Tavern)

Sir Name features members from one of my favorite local bands from previous times Street Hassle who then became Touch Tongues. After previewing the Myspace stuff this new incarnation seems to have retained the Exile on Mainstream-esque sludge that made Hassle so great but with a more direct pop approach. Reminds me in parts of New York Dolls and the similarly Stones influenced Royal Trux.

Yells at Eels (Tex Gallery)

Sunday

Babar Emic | Ops Esponja (Hailey's)

Not New Music Special World Cup Edition

Air Miami - World Cup Fever EP

I could give two shits about any kind of professional sport, especially one played predominately by foreign people, but this is a really fun song and might come in handy if you plan on hosting a World Cup party. Air Miami were not from Miami but from Washington D.C. and consisted of ex-Unrest band mates Mark Robinson and Bridget Cross. This EP features five remixes of the song World Cup Fever originally featured on the 1995 4AD release Fun, Fun, Fun. I might be wrong here but I do believe this is the only American born soccer pop song. So as a favor to me and all the other non-soccer fans can we keep all World Cup discussion to this thread. Thanks!

It List: Thursday

Adaje | Close To Me | Innards | Decades (1919 Hemphill)

Woodsman | Shellshag | Tjutjuna (Cavern)

Record Hop | The Gary | Deep Snapper (Dan's)