Weekender

Solid weekend of shows. And be sure to check our MP3 section as we slowly but surely start to add more and more to it. Within the next couple of weeks, we hope to be posting multiple tracks a day. Shows:

FRIDAY

Night Game Cult/White Bitch/Violent Squid (Rubber Gloves): We've seen various squabbles in the comments sections concerning whether or not Silk Stocking will be playing this show, so for now, we're just going to assume that they aren't. But in more important news, Kyle Cheatham's Night Game Cult comes back to town sounding just as insane as ever but probably a bit more ahead of its time than many people gave the guy credit for when he was here. Seeing artists like John Maus, Kelley Polar, Strategy, Jeremy Jay and others blow up around blog land over the past year really makes me thing that Night Game Cult could have enjoyed some of the same success if it weren't for the fact that his music is, in many ways, quite a bit more daring than that of the aforementioned artists. Not to say that Night Game sounds much like Strategy or anything, but part of that same ingredient is present-- you know, the one where it is ok to take Pet Shop Boys and Naked Eyes seriously. Night Game adds a twisted lyrical innocence and an unbalanced outlook that is particularly nervous, especially in a live setting. The respected Matin Iles will also be doing some rather interesting video work for this show. Apparently he and Mr. Cheatham have been working together to prepare a video presentation designed to match every song in tonight's Night Game set. Based on some of Iles' previous work, I'm excited to see this.

The Party (Zubar): Will feature the Cultura Fina dudes in some capacity.

Centro-matic/South San Gabriel (Dan's Silverleaf): Expect a packed house of devoted fans at a venue with a climate that seems tailor made for any project involving Will Johnson. Dan's devotees should feel fortunate tonight because they will get to see not one but two of Johnson's bands this evening, both of which are preparing to release new albums. In fact, they are both about to release the same album, or the same double album, entitled Dual Hawks, with each band given their own disk. I hear rumors that there might be some copies at the show, but I can't confirm this.

Marked Men/Teenage Cool Kids/Total Abuse/Back Stabbath (715 Panhandle): Fun, crowded, and sweaty show not to mention one of your last chances to catch The Marked Men in Denton for a very long time. The band is just coming off of a triumphant set at Chaos In Tejas that took place in Austin a couple of weeks ago, and I've been meaning to mention what a good time that event was. Bands as different as the spookily melodic Vivian Girls to the truly punishing Los Crudos played to packed crowds and there were better spirits and attitudes around the Red River area than I've experienced in some time. My only complaint was having to deal with after hours shows getting shut down or finding out about impromptu sets on my way back to Dallas, causing me to miss Limp Wrist. Oh, well.Back to the 715 business, even though Teenage Cool Kids and The Marked Men are the better known bands around here and they're certainly worth watching, I would wholeheartedly recommend the recently reunited Back Stabbath as well as as Austin's Total Abuse. The eleven seconds of Back Stabbath's "Hi Fives and Dumpster Dives" is exactly the kind of fucked up thrash I seek at shows like this, and there is nothing like the sight and sound of people losing it between every short burst. Total Abuse includes one half of Best Fwends (which might explain a review in Fader), but the hoarse fury of their Reagan Era hardcore replicas couldn't be more different. Barbecue at six. Show starts at seven sharp. Get there early.

Treasure Fingers/Kill the Noise/Keith P (The Loft)

Sarah Jaffe/The Heartstring Stranglers/Alan James (Chat Room)

SATURDAY

Final Strawberry Fields Oak St. Concert (Strawberry Fields): The final concert to take place at Strawberry Fields' Oak Street location will be an all day, free affair starting at 1pm. Highlights include White Drugs at 7:30, Fight Bite at 10:30, and Drink to victory at 11:15. Check this thread on Denton Rock City for the complete schedule. It's sad to see this place go, but it always seems that just as one era of Denton DIY ends, another begins. We'll see what happens next.

Dub Assembly (Green Elephant)

Female Snake/Division of Power/Rocket for Ethiopia/Bad Sports/Without Thought (Exploding House): This show is three bucks and starts at 8pm. Go early for bad Sports please.

Convextion/Total Vengeance/DJ G (Hailey's): This is going to be right up the alley of anyone who knows anything about good dance music. Convextion is perhaps the most underappreciated electronic artist in north Texas these days, evidenced by the fact that he just returned from a Eurpean tour which included a performance at London's legendary Fabric Club (not to mention write ups in highly respected publications such as Boomkat and Wire, among others). But dude doesn't sound like Black Tie Dyansty or PPT, so I wouldn't expect a write up in most of the major local music media outlets any time soon. Convextion will be focusing his set on 4AD and Detroit techno, while Total Vengeance, a part of That's What's Hot Productions, will be spinning acid house and Dutch electro cuts after a set of post punk and other rarities from DJ G. This is probably the most tasteful and exciting dance line up I've seen around here in months. Highly recommended.

Existence is Elsewhere featuring Yells at Eels/SUBkommander (Avenue Arts): The musical performances begin at 9pm, and this is one you aren't going to want to miss. Looks like this will be a very solid art show as well.

Baptist Generals/Band of Annuals/Matthew and the Arrogant Sea (Chat Room)

Lumberjack (Dan's Silverleaf): Check the schedule here, highlights include Gun Gun, Birth To Burial and Deep Snapper.

Margot and the Nuclear So and So's/Matthew and the Arrogant Sea/Red Monroe (Rubber Gloves): You know, someone in one of the comments sections (I know, I'm bringing them up a lot today) remarked that Margot and the Nuclear So and Sos might have THE dumbest band name in the world, and the more I say it to myself in my head, the more I think I agree. It's the kind of name that the quirky bff in My So Called Life would come up with, and I think they might want to take a little naming advice from Linkin Park-- be strategic about it, people. Of course, the band's music sounds much better than their name would lead you to believe, but that isn't saying a whole hell of a lot. It kind of reminds me of Coldplay and Travis and various other Radiohead water downers hiding behind the aesthetic fashion sense of indie pop marquee names like The Shins, Rogue Wave and Arcade Fire (and possibly Starlight Mints). The lead singer refers to a girl in one of the songs as a "Calico queen." Does that tell you enough already? This is another example of a show where the local openers far outshine the headliner.

SUNDAY

Starhead/Dark Valley Harvesters/Fancy Fist (Dan's Silverleaf): Our friend Sally Glass will be performing on the biggest stage of her career this evening... don't screw up, Sally! Also, I hear rumors of a cool cover by Fancy Fist, and I kinda have the inside scoop on that shit, yo.