Weekender

This weekend appears to be about as thin as any we've seen in a while around here, at least as far as live music. Things do start to pick up next week however, so don't be sad (and sorry, we had to republish and I guess the earlier comments were erased. Feel free to add them again!). A few things:

FRIDAY

Matthew and the Arrogant Sea/Ryan Thomas Becker/Amo Joy/Hardin Sweaty and the Ready to Go/New Science Projects (J&Js Pizza): Despite what you might think about their online marketing tactics, MATAS are a downright prolific band, releasing several new songs online seemingly every week while playing a steady stream of local shows all over town. The best part is that much of their new material is quite interesting and very well done, with a wide variety of styles and influences ranging from avant tribal chants a la Sunburned Hand to sad, ambient infused tracks that remind me of the first Panda Bear album except with lyrics. And of course, that doesn't even begin to account for all the sounds contained in the many other projects of MATAS associates.

Brick Fight/Louis Tully/Mad Swirl (1919 Hemphill): Mad Swirl feature a classic pop influenced hardcore sound, while Louis Tully sounds like Seals and Croft roadie started a Rancid cover band.

Raised by Tigers/Mic the Tiger (Doublewide)

Kinky Friedman (Bill's Records and Tapes): This Kinky guy is a fucking bozo. Starts at 6pm. And guess what Bill? If I ever do go back to your record store, I won't be falling for your "this Misfits record is $30 because it's a rare import" stories anymore. The current me thinks that the 14 year old me sucked.

SATURDAY

Pleasant Grove (All Good Cafe): Starts at 9pm, $10 cover.

Deep Ellum Film Retrospective (Kettle Art): This film event, which begins at 7pm, features several different short pieces that depict life in Deep Ellum during various eras of the neighborhood's existence. Although I'm not one of those "Save Deep Ellum" people by any stretch of the imagination, it might be interesting to check some of this stuff out, even if nothing says "dying entertainment district" more than a weekend in which the main event in said district is a retrospective about how cool it used to be.


Andrea Grimes Farewell Show with Dove Hunter/The Happy Bullets/JD Whittenburg/Travis Hopper/The Felons/Amo Joy (Club Dada): I should thank Andrea Grimes for the inspiration she's provided during her very noticeable tenure as one of the most ubiquitous and outspoken writers at The Observer in recent memory. Her comments on our blog were often a complete dismissal of "toaster-banging" as well as electronic music, and I know she voiced a lot of the frustration, confusion, and disgust that many DFW readers have felt about our tastes and interests. By personifying that, I think she helped WSJR's focus to be more clear and precise. So thank you, Andrea. But a word of warning from a former Austin resident that I'd like to present to you in the form of analogy: Think of Dallas as the kind of war that was fought in the first part of the 20th Century: This is our country VS your country, this is our flag against your flag, clear-cut and defined. Though this type of warfare is by no means easy, it's simple since your enemy presents itself in a forward manner, uniform and all. Austin is much more like modern insurgent warfare (i.e. Vietnam-Iraq) where you'll be surrounded at all times by the enemy. Imagine a Stonedranger lurking behind every corner. Frat guys that have hip record collections. Cowboys that go to discos. Record stores filled with heartless, bloodsucking vampires that will make fun of you if you even mention living in Dallas. Alternative Weekly Editors that fact-check. We Shot Jr will seem downright nice in comparison. Good luck. (DL)

SUNDAY

Liquid Couage (Zubar): DJ's Redeye, Robert Taylor and Wanz will be spinning a variety of dance music from twitch to minimal to old school house to whatever. Happens weekly.

Wild In the Streets (Hailey's)