Weekender

First things first-- I know we've been a bit light on features over the past 10 days or so, but we have a number of things in the works that you'll see next week, including local record reviews and various other features. But we won't spoil the surprise. We're taking Monday off, but we'll be back Tuesday morning. Things to do in Dallas when you're hipster:

FRIDAY

Strawberry Fields' Denton Deluxe Vol. 1 with Nouns Group/Fight Bite/J Gray/Florene/Verulf/Violent Squid/Peach Street Gang/RTB2 (Rubber Gloves): Man, what a show.  It should be said first and foremost that it is sad to see Strawberry Fields dissolve as a live music venue.  After the end of what seemed to be the most recent golden age of Denton DIY with the demise of Secret Headquarters, Strawberry Fields really stepped up and became a great spot to see show, as well as functioning as a community center of sorts.  But I suppose if the place has to go, they couldn't do so more appropriately, with three solid local shows starting tonight.  Featuring quite a bit of musical diversity, tonight's show should give a little something to everyone.  Lately, I've been particularly interested to see where Florene goes, as the solo work of Gavin Guthrie has indicated that the band might be taking a more adventurous yet accessible IDM/synth oriented route to wherever it is they are trying to go.  Be sure to get there early to see what Violent Squid might cook up as well. 

Age of Disinformation (Bath House Cultural Center): The highlight of the 2008 Bath House music fest, Age of Disinformation is a local improv supergroup of sorts, featuring members of Akkolyte, The Great Tyrant, Zanzibar Snails, Vorvadoss, Aphonic Curtains, and the Tidbits.  The Bath House Cultural Center is located at 521 E. Lawther Dr. near White Rock Lake.  The "suggested" donation is $5, but if you ain't got it man, it's all good.  No one will bug you about it.  I've never been to this place before, and I'm interested to check it out.  Should be a fun show... is this thing BYOB I wonder?  I'll try to find out.

The Utah Saints (Lizard Lounge): The Utah Saints come back to town for the second time in about a year.  The Saints were probably the most important precursor to 90's English "Big Beat" like Prodigy and Chemical Brothers, bringing a big stadium, almost rock band approach to house music that, for better or worse, served as an indicator that dance music could be mass marketed in a manner similar to rock music.  This isn't to imply that there is anything inherently pandering, commercial, or compromised in their sound, however, and if you're interested in that semi-progressive late 80's/early 90's pop oriented house sound, then seeing them at Lizard Lounge will probably be fantastic if you can somehow make the douche bags and 90's rave cultural burn-outs disappear from your field of vision for the duration of the show.  Otherwise, you might want to be prepared for some gross outs.

Bavu Blakes and the Extra Plairs/D Madness/Verbal Seed/Element 7D (Liquid Lounge): You know how when Antony sings, especially on the new Hercules and Love Affair disc, he tries to sound like a black house diva?  Well Bavu Blakes' main background singer sort of sounds like that, and it's pretty sweet.  Neva Dug Disco and Vigilante have been hyping this show for a couple weeks now, and I'm sure their crews will be out in full force like usual.  Bavu is certainly an adequate MC, and his beats are fairly tight as well, if a bit been there done that.  Some of Austin's Element 7D's funk/electro fueled beats are pretty worth checking out too.  Pretty chill show overall, although I'm not sure if it's worth going to Liquid Lounge to experience.    

Yanari / Mirror People / Dirty Water Disease (Red Blood Club): OMG don't bring the kids to this one LOL :-) !!

SATURDAY

Ladyhawk/Neva Dinova/Thrift Store Cowboys (Hailey's): Jagjaguar's Ladyhawk sort of sounds like what happens when a term like "indie" rock becomes... oh Christ, I'm just too tired.  Let me state it another way: just go watch an episode of 120 Minutes from 10 years ago and imagine what would happen if American "indie" rock hadn't progressed one bit for an entire decade other than the fact that people now equate having an organ and a few whirls and screeches to "being a little experimental" and kind of sounding like Spoon.  Repeat this process until you fall asleep or start listening to Band of Horses or something.  Neva Dinova, an Uncle Tupelo raiding alt country band from Omaha sounds exciting in comparison.  Get it?

Skate Jam with the Party, Tommy Boy and DJ Lissa Monet (Red Bird Skate Land): Pretty interesting idea from Central Booking, as they bring their party to a skating rink and invite Toronto's Lissa Monet, who will be playing a lot of 90's stuff apparently.  Oh, and if you are completely uncool and still haven't checked out one of the best local dance mixes I've heard during my entire time doing this blog, click here and discover Tommy Boy, as he'll be doing videos and such for this show.  The rink is located at 1206 N. Duncanville Rd. in Duncanville, and shit goes down until 330AM.  

Strawberry Fields' Denton Deluxe 2 with Kaboom/Street Hassle/Deep Snapper/Eat Avery's Bones/Delphi/Zanzibar Snails/The International (Rubber Gloves): Another solid line up for Strawberry Fields.  I've actually been digging a couple Street Hassle songs lately too, and I haven't had the chance to check them out live.   

Silver Pines/Tonite Tonite/ Rival Gang (Swiss House, 3114 Swiss Ave): Starts at 11 and bands play on the hour.  BYOB and $5, usually a keg at the beginning of the night.  Rival Gang goes on at 1, so I guess I posted this backwards.  Oops. And PS-- is that REALLY what Tonight Tonight sounds like?  Ouch.  UPDATE:  Ouch indeed.  I was just informed that I linked to Tonight Tonight instead of Tonite Tonite.  Thank God.  Fixed.

Nouns Group/The Angelus/Darktown Strutters (Chat Room): Darktown Strutters don't have a Myspace page, but they are apparently a duo that combines minor key organs with live electronic drums played by Wes from Faux Fox.  They have a new release out on Asex Tapes as well.  

Fleas and Lice/Mouth Sewn Shut/Human Struggle/Warcola (Red Blood Club)

SUNDAY

The Kills/Dax Riggs (House of Blues): Dear House of Blues, please don't make me walk through your gift shop to get to a show.  Thanks ya'll!  

Positive Education with DJ G/Walter Jones/Luke Sardello (Minc): Positive Education is a monthly event in which groups of DJs get together to spin tunes that they describe as not adhering to dance music's rather rigorous dictates as to what happens to be "in" and "out" of style during a given season. The even numbered months bring in one group of DJs and focus on techo, house and italo, while the odd months, such as May, feature DJ G and company spinning disco, funk, soul and jazz. Luckily, disco and funk happen to be all the rage in hip dance circles these days, so this should be a good evening whether you follow the latest trends in electronic music or not, particularly since this ISN'T a school night.

Silk Stocking/Violent Squid/The Mad Scientists (Dan's Silverleaf)