Weekender 7/20/07-7/22/07

Goddamn it Friday night. Why do you have to let so many things happen tonight? Would it kill you to give one or two shows to Saturday night so that I don't have to make the Denton or Dallas decision again? I guess I could try to be one of those overly ambitious people who hits both cities in the same night, but I'm just too lazy for such things. Have you ever been carrying something, dropped it, and then kicked it the rest of the way because you were too lazy to bend over and pick it up? Yeah, I just did that. So obviously I'm not going to have the energy to go Zubar/House of Tinnitus/Fra House/Monkey Bar all in the same night. Oh well. I'll live. Here we go:

FRIDAY

The Party One Year Anniversary (Zubar): It's really hard to believe what a big deal these guys have become over the past year. Whether it's packing the Zubar for their monthly party, enticing the SMU kids to dance to that new house at Green Elephant, showing up at every party around town or bringing in critically acclaimed touring acts, these guys have been everywhere and done everything this year. And although some people might dismiss their fans as misguided fashionistas, The Party would be a success in any major cosmopolitan city in the world right now, and their sets lists are the proof. And you know what, it's pretty hard to not have a good time at these things, no matter who you are.

Dead Echoes Fest (House of Tinnitus): Another anniversary of sorts is happening here as House of Tinnitus hosts the second annual Dead Echoes drone fest. You can click on the Dead Echoes link above for the full line upset times, and Myspace links, but Sports, Shiny Around the Edges, Yellow Crystal Star, Mike McGuire and Shortwave Death System are the highlights in my mind, exposing the kind of musical diversity that most people don't seem to notice within what is popularly called "drone." Expect a friendly and enthusiastic crowd of people coming and going from a house that has really made a name for itself as a prestigious center for anything not-pop. Oh, and it's free.

Night Wounds/Modern History Duet/Red Faced Laughter (Fra House): Denton's other big show of the night is also a house show and also free. What do you think of that? Night Wounds sort of play a rhythm focused post-punk/hardcore thing that seems to draw inspiration from the likes of Fugazi, The Raincoats, the Slits and New York no-wave. Whitehouse,Tx band Red Faced Laughter sounds like a very good reason to show up around the official start time of 10pm, packing a punch with a similarly abstract but aggressive freak out peppered with a demonstrable sense of shoegaze-like atmosphere all over the place, sounding at times like a marriage between Slowdive and Extreme Animals. A really interesting band from a strange place. Those are usually good, aren't they?

The Wrens/Get Him Eat Him/Midgetmen (Hailey's): I'm not the biggest Wrens dude in the world, but I certainly respect them and enjoy their music whenever I happen to hear it.

Eat Avery's Bones/She-Dick/Prince William (Monkey Bar): Parade of Flesh put this thing together to celebrate one of their birthdays. It's too bad it's happening on the same night as the big Party event, but I bet it's fun. I'm just curious to see what Eat Avery's Bones are like at the damn Monkey Bar.

DMA Late Nights (Dallas Museum of Art): Tonight's DMA Latenight sounds like one of the better ones they've had, with a focus on the "dawn of Modernism" that will feature a screening of Fritz Lang's Metropolis and lectures on Marcel Duchamp, as well as drinks and food and all the other stuff they usually have. Good times.

White Drugs are playing at Doublewide with a couple bands I don't care about.

SATURDAY

Jandek (Rose Marine Theater-Ft. Worth): We've already talked this show up enough, but we should say that this very well could be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see this guy in person. Sounds like he'll have some great backing musicians as well.

Broadcast Sea/Nouns Group/J Versus K (Hailey's):

Pre-New Sabbath Fest feat. Matthew and the Arrogant Sea/Fishboy/Ben Fleming/New Science Projects/Eli Brown/Daniel Folmer/Stanton Meadowdale/Sarah Reddington 6-12 (J&Js): As a preview to the exciting folk festival happening in August, stop by J&Js all afternoon to check out a variety of acts. As for the organizers, the dudes involved with Gashcat and Matthew and the Arrogant Sea, we'll have more on them early next week. I've gotta go, so I just linked to the bands I know off the top of my head. Sorry.

SUNDAY

Mothfight/Ghosthustler/Mom/Instruments (The Cavern): This Party Ends sponsored show has the makings for a good one: whether it's the spellbound electro-acoustic Mom, the strange electro indiepop of Mothfight or Ghosthustler, the only worthy recipient of the "new band" award in the Observer Music Awards, Party Ends is providing a good look at a lot of different sounds that are getting attention right now. And you know what? "Ride the White Horse" DOES sound like it could be a Ghosthustler song. Last time I checked, that was good.

Wild in the Streets (Hailey's)