Benefit for Tommy Atkins: Final Schedule And Lineup

A final reminder, along with some new details:

Parking and entrance in the back of The Kessler Theater, which is located at 1230 W Davis St. in Oak Cliff. Cost is ten dollars with all proceeds being donated.

Also: DJ Travis Box and visuals by Jonah Lange.

The Black Dots -4:00)

Tre Orsi -4:45)

Hentai Improvising Orchestra -5:30)

Nervous Curtains -6:15)

NAXAT -7:00)

Orange Coax -7:30)

Darktown Strutters -7:45)

Corporate Park -8:30)

Drug Mountain -9:00)

PVC Street Gang -9:30)

Akkolyte -10:00)

Yells at Eels -10:30)

Weekender

FRIDAY

Electric Vengeance | Hood Rat | Tattered Flag | Freedom Club | Hogbat (1919 Hemphill)


The Timeline Post | Dust Congress | Drink To Victory (Hailey's): CD release for The Timeline Post.

Playdough | Fab Deuce | Vortexas | Flotation | DJ Sean P | Yeah Def (Absinthe Lounge)


Yesterdays Gold with Tommyboy and DJG (Trade Winds)


Eaton Lake Tonics (The Chat Room)

BlackFridays (Fallout Lounge)

SATURDAY


Bosque Brown | Tre Orsi | Sabra Laval (Majestic Dwelling of Doom): Very solid lineup at one of the most consistent DIY spaces in the area over the past couple of years. Say what you want about Bosque Brown's latest record, but I've always thought they were one of the few truly solid indie folk groups in the area. Tre Orsi's national profile has also just increased quite a bit thanks to their inclusion in Matador's mostly Austin compilation Casual Victim Pile. And this is no way directed at Tre Orsi's music, but man-- is that the best Austin has to offer these days? This mostly brainless lifestyle garage music? I've said it before and I'll say it again-- Denton has more solid bands that Austin right now. Hands down, actually.


Unit 21 | Caddis | Life Erased | Raging Boner | Mass Sterilization (Phoenix Project)



Florene /Curvette Givers (Rubber Gloves)


PVC Street Gang/The Black Dots/Cocky Americans/Orange Peel Sunshine Band (Bryan Street Tavern)

Shiny Around the Edges | Manned Missiles | The River Mouth | Giggle Party | Young 7 Brave | Kampfgrounds | Caleb Ian Campbell | Roy Robertson | Here Holy Spain Claire Morales | OK Sweetheart | Early Birds (Dan's Silverleaf): Congratulations to Day Bow Bow who are celebrating their one year anniversary. This all day show is celebrating said anniversary with performances from some of the bands the site has championed throughout its existence.

SUNDAY

Corporate Park/Naxat/Darktown Strutters/The Black Dots/Akkolyte/PVC Street Gang/Drug Mountain/Nervous Curtains (The Kessler Theater): This is a fundraiser for The Great Tyrant's Tommy Atkins. The show begins at 4pm and is $10. We will update with more info as it is available.


The Clientele/Vetiver/This Old House (Granada): The Clientele are a band we interviewed here several years ago, back when they were getting ready to play in front of about 30 people at Hailey's. Now they're headlining the much larger Granada Theater after several very consistent and enjoyable records. I still don't think anything touches "Suburban Light," their early singles compilation, but that's only because its one of my favorite records of the past ten years or so. Highly recommended.

Lesile and the Ly's | Christopher the Concord (Hailey's)

It List: Thursday

Nervous Curtains | Darktown Strutters (Good Records)

Never was a fan of The Paper Chase, the band or the movie. In fact anytime I hear The Paper Chase or see one of their shirts I kinda want to throw up. Nervous Curtains seems to be much more up my ally after sampling the myspace tracks. Hope it's good cause the album cover is pretty cool. So Darktown Strutters, when is your album release going to be? Word on the street says it will definitely drop before summer. We are all waiting.

Akron/Family | Warpaint | Matthew and the Arrogant Sea (Granada)

Akron/Family sound alot like Matthew and the Arrogant Sea but I think MATAS sound much better. And lookey here they are on the same bill so you can decide for yourself. Also might be a good show to go to if you are working on picture book about long unkept beards.

RTB2 | Spooky Folk | Red 100s | Tellevators (The Boiler Room)

RIP Tommy Atkins of Yeti/Great Tyrant

Very, very sorry to hear this. More info as it's available. (We had originally disabled comments on this post but I figured that some friends, etc. might want to share stories and information, so comments are back on for now. Anything disrespectful will be deleted. Thanks)--SR

It List: Wednesday

Look, we're planning cool events and working hard on features, so here's this:

A Storm of Light/Via Vengeance/Akkolyte (Rubber Gloves)

VIDEO REHAB PRESENTS: C A T F I G H T: WOMEN IN CAGES (Featuring Sexploitation CLIPS, DIPS, CHAINS, WHIPS //MAIN FEATURE: "REFORM SCHOOL GIRLS(Tradewinds, Oak Cliff): Starts at 9pm.

Powertrip/Mongoloids/Human Error (1919 Hemphill)

Free Tickets to A Storm of Light

For those who don't know, A Storm of Light is a Neurot Recordings band from Brooklyn, NY fronted by Josh Graham of the terrifyingly powerful Neurosis, and although I hadn't had a chance to listen to them until recently, I've been digging what I've heard from them so far. In any event, they'll be playing at Rubber Gloves this evening (Wednesday the 24th), and our friends at RGRS were nice enough to give us a pair of tickets to give away to one of you. If you'd like to win them, simply email us at weshotjrtix@yahoo.com or re-tweet for your chance to win before 3pm today. We'll pick a winner at random. So I guess there's at least one venue in town that doesn't h8 us after all....

It List: Tuesday

Later on today Twin Cheeks will be dropping Not New Music Tuesday and I will be posting my first local record review. Which one of you lucky souls might it be? Find out later.

ADD: Evan Dando (Prophet Bar): My favorite thing about The Lemonheads is probably the fact that 1992's It's a Shame About Ray is a mostly quiet indie folkpop album that happens to be about smoking crack with a supermodel. Sounds like a good movie roll for Joe Dallesandro or something, doesn't it? Anyway, I like that record a lot more than I probably should, although it might be mostly for nostalgic reasons considering how dated it sounds every time I put it on, which is at least a few times a year. Oh well, its better than Alice in Chains and a bunch of the other shit that was on the "college charts" at the time. (SR)

Yes (House of Blues)

no

Pretty & Nice / Title Tracks / Ella Minnow (Rubber Gloves)

Pretty & Nice are a jittery power pop trio from Boston. Lighthearted fun but a little too youthful for my taste. Title Tracks is the project of former Q and Not U drummer John Davis .

90's Night (Hailey's)

Tonight will feature guest DJ Matthew from The Arrogant Sea and Writer.

It List: Monday

Zanzibar Snails/Horaflora/Peace,Loving also Barton Carroll/Will E. Lee (J&J's): There seems to have been a confusing situation regarding the booking at J&J's tonight, but anyways, you have a couple of singer songwriters that will open the show, one from Seattle and one from Denton, followed by three willfully "weird" acts, albeit in different ways, and depending on the crowd you run with, not very weird at all.

Peace, Loving is from Massachusetts and they sound like a bastardized Gamelan project started by some art school buddies, mixed in with drone along with some other little rhythmic ornaments. They've put out a live tape (pictured above), so maybe you can pick one up and let me know how wrong I am in this description.

Jucifer/Vaste Burai/One Wolf/Stew! (Rubber Gloves): LOUD. Did you know that?


Cool Out (The Cavern)

Monday Morning Rock

MON: Zanzibar Snails/Horaflora/Peace,Loving (J&J's)
MON: Jucifer/Vaste Burai/One Wolf/Stew! (Rubber Gloves)
TUE: Yes (House of Blues)
WED: A Storm of Light/Via Vengeance/Akkolyte (Rubber Gloves)
WED: Powertrip/Mongoloids (1919 Hemphill)
THR: Nervous Curtains/Darktown Strutters (Good Records)
THR Akron/Family/Warpaint/Matthew and the Arrogant Sea (Granada)
FRI: Electric Vengeance, Hood Rat, Tattered Flag, King Ivy, Hogbat (1919 Hemphill)
SAT: Bosque Brown/Tre Orsi/Sabra Laval (Majestic Dwelling of Doom)
SAT: Florene/Motion Turns it on/Curvette/Givers (Rubber Gloves)
SAT: PVC Streetgang/The Black Dots/Cocky Americans/Orange Peel Sunshine Band (bryan Street Tavern)
SUN: The Clientele/Vetiver/This Old House (Granada)
SUN: Lesile Ly's/Christopher the Concord (Hailey's)

Weekender

I don't really know who wrote this. -We Shot JR








































FRIDAY

True Widow/On After Dark/Kijoto/Oh Lewis (Rubber Gloves)

The Separation/Division of Power/Chest Pain/Lockstep/Collick (1919 Hemphill): Austin's excellent Chest Pain makes this show for me, but I'm a little biased. Whatever.

Astroblaque's Soular Power:Debut Live set from The Black Dots (Fallout Lounge): The Black Dots are Wanz Dover's latest group, and I honestly haven't had a chance to listen to them yet, so for now I'll just have to go by the very positive word of mouth I've heard regarding the group and advise you to check them out.

This Old House/The River Mouth/Land Mammals/Final Club (Hailey's)

DJ Sista Whitenoise (Tradewinds)

SATURDAY

Vulgar Fashion/Orange Coax/Corporate Park/After Hours with George Quartz/DJ G (Rubber Gloves): Completely solid lineup from DJ to opening band, and you can't say that very often, that's for sure. One of two shows in one night for George Quartz? Pimpin' ain't EZ.

Hentai Improvising Orchestra/Yells at Eels/Aunt's Analog/Vexed UK (J&J's): Pretty good lineup including one of the best noise acts in the state (Aunt's Analog), and one of the best free jazz groups in the state (Yells At Eels).

Ishi/Missile/Dirty Little Mouth/Saboteur/Leg Sweeper/George Quartz (Trees): Did you guys know Ishi invented "folktronica?" Neither did I. You can still learn so much on Myspace.

The Orbans/the Lonely H/The Room Sounds (Double Wide)

SUNDAY

We Were Promised Jetpacks/Bad Veins (Hailey's)

The Soundtrack of our Lives/Nico Vega/Seryn (Granada)

Nick Oliveri/The Aquaholics/Pure Luck (Double Wide)

It List: Thursday

Top Notch with DJ Sober (The Cavern): So Sober emailed us last night to let us know that this would be his last weekly Top Notch performance before heading off for a month long paid gig DJing on a cruise ship, which inspired visions of Big L taking over the dance floor at Club Med. When he gets back he'll be re-starting Top Notch as a monthly thing, and we wish him luck on his journey.

Billingham's Defense System/Bangs (Fallout Lounge)

D.R.I./Hit and Run/Warcola/Electric Vengeance/Maleveller/Screaming Red (Trees): Remeber when the re-opening of Trees was supposed to be a big deal? Well I don't know if people are actually hanging out there or if the club is making any money, and I don't really care-- one look at the schedule reveals that the best show they have booked for the next month or so is Ying Yang Twins, so that should probably tell you all you need to know about how relevant this place really is these days. Anyway, thrash punk legends and gutter idols DRI invade the space this evening, which actually makes this one of the better shows Trees has hosted since its re-opening. A notable band that I'm not all that interested in.

Dim Locator (Tradewinds Social Club)

80's Night with Yeahdef (Hailey's)

Take a picture, it'll last longer

In order to provide you with more photo coverage of all different kinds of music/art events, we've added a few new photographers to our arsenal so that Steph doesn't have to be in eight places at the same time.


The prodigal son Sally Glass returned from her far off adventures in Israel some time ago, and luckily for her she's finally passed all necessary WSJR Homeland Security checks and will now be permitted to once again do a bunch of work for free:

http://www.flickr.com/blackmarketfunnelcakes

And we're happy to announce that Dentonite Ally Hoffmann will be shooting shows for us too:

http://www.flickr.com/allyjayne

You can always find the work of all our photographers here.

Art List

Maybe look at some art?

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2010

John Hathorn, Harry Ally, and Bill Fegan (samples)
Craighead Green Gallery
1011 Dragon Street, Dallas, TX 75207
Reception 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

James Sullivan and Al Souza
Conduit Gallery
1626 Hi Line Drive, #c, Dallas, TX 75207
Reception 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM

I Fell 37 Miles to Earth 100 Years Ago
Wayne White (interesting bio!)
Marty Walker Gallery
2135 Farrington Street, Dallas, TX 75207
Reception 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

This looks potentially titillating:

MODERN RUIN
February 20-21, 2010
Reception: 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM

On Thursday, September 25, 2008 the U.S. Government took over Washington Mutual, selling most of it to JPMorgan Chase.

Roughly a year earlier, at the height of a frenzied economic bubble, Washington Mutual began building a new 1 million dollar branch at 5030 Greenville Avenue, just south of Lovers Lane. Just after its completion, the government seized WaMu, and JPMorgan Chase decided not to occupy the building.

The new building was never opened, never used, and has sat as an empty shell for more than a year.

On February 20, 2010, Modern Ruin-a two-day exhibition organized by Christina Rees and Thomas Feulmer-will open. The two-day exhibition will be the only use for the million-dollar building before the demolition process begins the following week. The bank building is a truly modern ruin - a building that never met its purpose, and only existed as potential activity, potential economy, and hoped-for growth.

Seeking to take advantage of the space-its social and cultural connotations, its materials, and its presence as direct and immediate evidence of the current economic condition-15 artists will create work inspired by and in dialogue with the building. Some artists will alter the building's materials and corporate interior, while others will stage actions and interventions within, and still others will use the background of the space as context for their work.

It List: Wednesday

Spooky Folk/Fox and the Bird/Stephen Gordon/Baruch the Scribe (The Hydrant)

Detour presents...Museum Creatures/Billingham Defense System/Erica Alicea (The Cavern)

Soundclash (Zubar)

Jack's Mannequin (House of Blues)

Horrible MOR music from a former horrible alt-rock artist.

Merle Haggard (Bass Performance Hall)

Also wanted to point out that the Thin Line Film Festival begins this week in Denton. This is the second year for the documentary film festival. You might see me at the screening of Beaches of Agnes an autobiographical documentary by one of my favorite film makers Agnes Varda. Other highlight include The Most Dangerous Man in America, Burma VJ and the archival footage mash-up Clandestine.

not new music

Sonic's Rendezvous Band - Second Chance, Ann Arbor, 4 October 1978

I realize that this is the third or fourth live recording that I've posted in a row, but there isn't much else to work with when it comes to Sonic's Rendezvous Band. During their five year existence, the band managed to record and release a lone 45, and conflict within the group limited that release to only one song, their signature tune (and a goddamn barn-burner if I've ever heard one) 'City Slang' in mono on one side and in stereo on the other. Thankfully several of their live shows have seen bootleg releases over the last 30 years and a few have even been released officially.

Sonic's Rendezvous Band was made up of Detroit scene veterans Scott Morgan, of The Rationals, on guitar, The Up's Gary Rasmussen on bass, former Stooges timekeeper Scott Asheton and the group's namesake, the late Fred 'Sonic' Smith, who cut his teeth as half of the MC5's monumental twin guitar attack. Smith and Morgan shared songwriting and singing duties. The fact that they rarely played outside of the Detroit area combined with a lack of recorded output and (half of) the band's undeniably legendary pedigree give the SRB the rare distinction of being a 'nearly forgotten supergroup.' I-94 Bar has an extensive history of the band with several first hand accounts from the surviving members and friends, including Deniz Tek, who is credited with taking the Detroit sound 'down under' as a founding member of Sydney's Radio Birdman.

The show featured here is actually disc 4 of Easy Action's SRB 6 disc set that was released in 2006. It is easily my favorite disc of the six, although it is an incomplete set. I'm pretty sure that a 2cd version of the entire show exists, but I haven't had any luck finding it. That small complaint aside, this recording is a defining example of a Rock and Roll band that REALLY has their shit together. I know that's a lame description, but big college words won't do this shit any justice-- just turn it up, push play and have a fucking great time!

It List: Tuesday

Damn, we're busy today guys-- we're working on album reviews and a couple other things that we think you'll like. And its a good thing too, because other than Fat Tuesday with Yeahdef and Ian Bangs at Hailey's tonight, I'm not seeing a whole lot to do out there this evening. Guess its just a "bar" night.

It List : Monday

Screaming Females/Jeff the Brotherhood/Teenage Cool Kids (The Lounge)

Pretty fantastic power pop/punk line-up here. Start your week off with a jolt. All ages if it matters to you.

Nouvelle Vague (Granada)

I feel like every time I go to the Granada there are at least 25 to 30 members of the audience that stand out. They are in their late 30's or 40's and dressed a little too uptown for the event that is taking place. Everything is cool with these folks who traditionally travel in couples until the 4th or 5th song of any given artist set when they look at one another in complete ambivalence. "Jeez Paul I can't believe you spent 60 bucks on this Resident's...band" "Uh my bad Suzy, let's go to the Oyster Bar instead."

I guess people who are rich can throw around 60 dollars here and there with the promise of a tolerable night of music. Tonight I believe they will go home with a sense of money well spent because Nouvelle Vague are a hard band not to like. Sexy Bossa Nova interpretations of punk and new wave classics. The sultry jazzy beats transport Suzy to a bistro in France talking with her imaginary best friend Natalie Portman. Paul really digs hearing some of those underground songs from back in his TCU days. Totally inoffensive , but really fun music. What's not to like? Then again I also enjoyed this when it first came out so take what I say with a grain of salt.

Monday Morning Rock

MON: Nouvelle Vague (Granada)
FRI: True Widow/On After Dark/Kijoto/Oh Lewis (Rubber Gloves)
FRI: The Separation/Division of Power/Chest Pain/Lockstep/Collick (1919 Hemphill)
FRI: This Old House/The River Mouth/Land Mammals/Final Club (Hailey's)
SAT: Vulgar Fashion/Orange Coax/Corporate Park (Rubber Gloves)
SAT: Hentai Improvising Orchestra/Yells at Eels/Aunt's Analog/Vexed UK (J&J's)
SUN: We Were Promised Jetpacks (Hailey's)
SUN: The Soundtrack of our Lives (Granada)

Weekender

By Defensive Listening...

Look, I know it's not indie or art school, but I am really excited about going to the NBA All Star Game on Sunday. You can think I'm a sellout, or "not punk," or lame, or old or whatever, but I'm just going to enjoy myself and buy a fifty dollar pizza, because that's part of the fun. I like stupid things. I like buying a forty dollar seven inch, or going all the way to Europe just to watch a group of grumpy, middle-aged midwesterners play "noise rock," or even better: drive way too far to see some RISD co-ed dropouts bang on things and throw up with the synth keys taped down.

I like trying to go toe-to-toe with life and match its absurdity, every silly overpriced step of the way. I know this is annoying to many of you, especially my friends. Some of this is written as if it were being said by Mark Followill or Bob Ortegel or Norm Hitzges.

Did anyone watch NBC last night? Looks like SA's zippy little foreign-born player, Alan Palomo, was traded to New York. Already doing the rounds on the late night talk shows. Bummer. I wish he'd come back and run for fucking governor.

FRIDAY

Dennis Gonzalez Yells At Eels/Louis Moholo-Moholo/Scott Marsrow (Phoenix Project): Before I get into character here, I want to say that is a show well-worth your time; how often do you get to see a "South African Master Drummer" play in a punk space in Dallas? Get out in the slush and make your way there, starts at 8 PM. Admission is eight bucks, or five for members.


Joe Jack Talcum (The Dead Milkmen)/Lord Grunge/The Bassturd (Rubber Gloves)

Space is the Place Opening Party with Darktown Stutters/DJ Wild in the Streets (Webb Gallery Waxahachie): Whoa, looks like we have a road game here, the first of a back-to-back for the Strutters, which sees them playing Fort Worth tomorrow. Back to backs are tough, and often the best you can hope for is a split. Some people have complained that the fast-rising duo has seen too many minutes of floor time, but who else are you going to run to light it up in a gametime situation with a legendary Texas All Star (artist Esther Pearl Watson) looking on? Smile Smile? No! No! No! No! Never! Never! No! Never!

Black Fridays (Fallout Lounge): Tonight's starting lineup includes Anthony Social, Keith P, Red Sean, Young Adult Fiction, and Shane English: the Spud Webb of the bass dunking contest.

Tropical House With Prince William/Dubbel Dutch (Tradewinds): Prince William has long been thought of as a "low post presence," and someone that can "bang on those boards." However, he's changing it up a little with some "Tropical House," which is obviously less boom-ey and explosive. He can do that. This game is waaay down south in Oak Cliff, so watch yourself, Frisco, you have a long drive home.

Retribution Gospel Choir/The Rainhorses/New Science Projects (The Cavern): I don't know anything about Retribution Gospel Choir or , but I hope they don't give NSP's Dale Jones anything but trash minutes. Kid's an embarrassment to North Texas Sports. This reminds me of a related act, the WNBA's Spooky Folk, and they're somehow a much better team, even while toiling endlessly in the D-league.

Manned Missiles/The Polycorns/Roy Robertson (Dan's Silverleaf)

SATURDAY

True Widow/Great Tyrant/Darktown Strutters (The Chat Room): The other All Star game this weekend.

Dave Aude/Tritonal/Jeremy Word/Johnny Funk/Raydar/Shaolin/Andy Szontagh (Lizard Lounge)

Broadcast Sea/Swedish Teens/Last of the Interceptors/Stymie/Kanganomicon (Rubber Gloves)

The English Beat/Fishbone (Granada): "Hey, Little Rich Girl" is such a classic stadium anthem that even troubled track star Amy Winehouse couldn't fuck it up. I'm not really into Skaball, but I listen to that song on a pretty regular basis.

SUNDAY

RJD2/Kenan Bell/Happy Chichster (Hailey's): At some point in the nineties, the commissioner became very concerned that the league was becoming too "gangsta." So what do you know, the perfect solution: Squeaky clean players like RJD2 came onto the scene along with Team Definitive Jux and provided a safe alternative to the violent lifestyle being promoted in the game at the time. Unfortunately, this safe take on the game was never for me, and neither was the mandatory backpack dress code that the commissioner eventually enforced.

Baby Ruthless/Britni3/Isis (Campus Pub, located at 105 Ave. A in Denton)

Pointdexter/Moral Panic/Oneofus/DJ Metronome/Tomb (Retroplex located at 3001 Gaston C in Dallas)

Pearl Cup One Year Anniversary (The Pearl Cup, located at 1900 Henderson in Dallas):

Schedule/lineup:

4 PM: Bill Martin
5 PM: Sally Glass
6 PM: Jaimee Harris
7 PM: David Ramirez

Neon Indian's Performance on Jimmy Fallon

For those who didn't see, click here.

Art List

Looks like the best thing happening this weekend is Esther Pearl Watson's show titled Space is the Place. This is the finest local primitive art I've seen in a while. This is at Webb Gallery in Waxahachie, right about here. The reception is from 7-10 PM tonight, Friday the 12th. The image to the right is called 1985 Garland, Texas.

The other thing deserving mention is the group show opening at CentralTrak: Transitive Pairing: Body Object featuring Sharon Odum, James Gilbert, Gary Cunningham, Gabriel Dawe, Russell Buchanan and Sunny Sliger, and another show called Undercover of Kristen Cochran's work. The opening is tomorrow night, Saturday the 13th, from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM. That's at 800 Exposition Avenue, Dallas, TX 75226. It's pretty impressive that curator Charissa Terranova can keep coming up with titles like Transitive Pairing: Body Object -- it sure sounds like it's packed with meaning.

And finally, Art List readers and new contributors Mr. and Mrs. Rushmore were nice enough to send in a review of the recent 500x opening. I actually started to edit this for typos and contextual errors, but I think the raw text adds to the charm (what are "hugh heifers"?). Plus I want to get back to enjoying the 2010 Snowpocalypse while "working from home".

Here it is...

Sheep, Sharks, and Nightlights----
Words, words, words---
Feb. 6-28

I like G Q, maybe esquire… i find gq a little more up on things than esquire, or maybe its that name… esquire… trying too hard to fit into something. maybe hugh heifers pocket… GQ is a way better of a name. Tim Best was the Esquire of this show, seemingly as good as GQ, but lagging on common sense, due ironically to having too much common sense. His photographs were printed and shot smartly. Tim Best is a smart artist, a vital thread in the fabric of a scene and makes spaces like the 500x thrive. punks like to go on about how these type are too manicured that they need some pain in the their life. Tim Best does ok.

notes(worthy?) on other artwork in the gallery:
trinkets tacked on the wall
magazine pictures from the 70's of mustached men with big members
'These here things make me glad' by:Matthew Clark and Kathy Webster: my girl and i walked into this room and she said 'this looks like something my cat made'

Flying Lotus has music like a stream that bubbles and flows in the valley of mars, you are looking at this one part and thats all you see, not the beginning of it, not the end. There is constant activity and evolution of life before you. Todd Camplin's work feels like this. This is a good thing. 15 50x38 inch ink on paper and 6 digital painted prints filling the entire upstairs floor of the 500x gallery. There are quiet, harmonious oranges, reds, blues and purples. It's a static picture realizing itself. at first view you wonder: is this improvised or specific design? He creates them by taking pieces from poems and greeting cards, putting them into the computer, printing out, re arranging, stenciling. deconstructing them. He told me he comes from a background in philosophy and read to much Derrida. i like that he said this. it reminds me of reading books by thinkers like him or ayn rand, where you become so engrossed in the philosophy that when
you exit their world you have to slowly re integrate yourself back into your own. The concept of Todd's wordscapes is to take phrases out of their framework until they no longer have the connotations once given to them. He said this and accomplishes this. He has a strong grasp on the emotional and abstract intention of his work, every question i asked was answered clearly, its rare that an artist will be able to speak so articulately on the subject of themselves. Todd says the words he takes from poems are used because of the great significance they have to so many people and then from greeting cards because, altho they go from trivial sentiment they become pertinent to the individuals that receive them from loved ones and lovers. lifted out of their context he rebuilds them, the love and meaning being realized in a new form.
This made me say i thought worship in church would have to change, that it had been processed to the point of being an origin less ritual. worship inevitably renewed in me because the soul is in it. This came to me after seeing Flying Lotus live some months ago. the bass frequencies moved thru the people in the room, i closed my eyes and felt the sounds, the music evoked the image of a thin unclothed woman with the deep black tone of african skin crawling towards me, she and I alone in the room, she reaches out and touches me with the tips of her fingers moving slowly over my clothes. After this. sitting in a church listening to a sermon that lacked reverence i felt as if Flying Lotus and physical bass frequencies represented the reconstruction of worship from the desert where it has dried up.
Words, words, words evokes this same idea, being a work that reincarnates into galactic designs echoing over whole sheets of drawing paper. Todd Camplin succeeds in energizing the love back into the word.

- Mr and Mrs Rushmore

It List : Thursday

Stew!/Drink to Victory/Captain Incredible (Rubber Gloves)

CANCELED!

Joe Jack Talcum (of The Dead Milkmen)/Lord Grunge (of Grand Buffet)/The Bassturd/DJ Jester The Filipino Fist (The Cavern)

Michael Ian Black (UNT)

POSTPONED!


CAMPUS SNOWSTEP! R4WR! - Dubstep/DnB/Glitch (Campus Pub, Denton)

NOPE THIS ONE IS A GONER TOO!

add: Sytmie/Unfun (Hot Box Pizza)


There was a show scheduled tonight at 1919 Hemphill but it is canceled. Tradewinds event is also canceled. Please stay tuned through out the night to weshotjr.com for any further developments concerning show cancellations or impromptu snowball fights.

It List: Wednesday

It's rare that a flier alone can sell me on a show, but look at that thing, man. →

Worn In Red/Decades/Dark Forces/Big Fiction (1919 Hemphill)


The ISH with Steve Aoki (Ghost Bar)

Dinner & B-Movie w/Video Rehab (Tradewinds, located at 2843 W Davis in Oak Cliff) Tonight's theme is the not-so-subtly titled "Yellow Fever," and an Indonesian horror film from 1981, Mystics In Bali, will be the main feature, as well as a 30 minute documentary on Indonesian horror films, trailers, and "best of" clips. There's also pizza and drinks involved, which I'm sure is good news to most of you.

House Of Tinnitus Presents "Fucked In The Basement" with Swamp Tease/Ancestral Diet/Taboo/Nite Shadez (J&J's Pizza): Pretty self explanatory: show is not at House Of Tinnitus, but presented by House Of Tinnitus, so don't go to House of Tinnitus; go to J&J's. At 8.

I couldn't track down any actual sounds for these acts, but Tinnitus has a better track record than pretty much any place around here, so I still recommend this confidently. Even if it's the worst thing ever, it's probably still awesome, know what I mean? One of these bands, Taboo, has been compared to Destroy All Monsters, which not only bodes well, but should be a life goal for anyone in just about any band.

Finally, I really love H.O.T. founder Rob Buttrum's description for the show, as always, but I was especially taken by the descriptive selling of his own Nite Shadez project, which involves "six tape decks, six televisions, one VCR, one reel to reel, two mics, two radios...total destruction etc.," but he finishes it off with "ARE YOU READY TO WATCH TV???" Why, yes. Yes, I am.

NBA ALL STAR EVENTS:

Tip Off with Roddy Beaubois (Lost Society, located at 2008 Greenville Ave.)

Welcome To Dallas Party With Jason Terry (Boardroom, located at 2990 Olive St in Dallas)

Neon Indian on Jimmy Fallon this Thursday

Our friends from Neon Indian called me today to make sure we received our monthly payola check, and after I told them that I was going to need some new scoops to keep their "buzz" going around these parts, they let me know that they will be playing live on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon this Thursday, February 11th at 11:35 on NBC. Keep buzzin', bros.

Photo by Kirstie Shanley

it list & not new music tuesday

Not a whole lot going tonight, Fair to Midland got into a crash and need money for a tow truck or something so people are playing at the Boiler Room. Yeah Def needs people to party like it's the 90's. As for me? There is only one thing I need, and that is Not New Music Tuesday.







Henry's Dress
Bust em Green
Slumberland 1996
If you like... Pains of Being Pure at Heart, My Bloody Valentine, The Vaselines, Fergus & Geronimo, Final Club

If I wanted to I could fill every week here with a different release from Slumberland Records. Luckily Slumberland has done a great job of keeping their stuff in print. One album that is currently out of print, with the cheapest used copy going for around $100 on Amazon, would be Henry’s Dress’s full length Bust 'em Green. The album is just barely over twenty five minutes, but packs in enough distorted indie pop to satisfy any Jesus and Mary Chain junkie.

Henry’s Dress remind me of some of the local bands around that are playing quick, punchy guitar pop with a foundation in 60’s pop hooks and medleys. The songs here are barely produced, very raw and short. Adhering to my favorite kind of pop, the band juxtaposes the raw distorted clang of a barely tuned guitar with the naivete shout/spoken lyrics covering loneliness and love lorn depravity. Plus you can dance to it!

Henry's Dress broke up shortly after this album was released. Lead singer and guitarist Amy Linton went on directly to form another Slumberland great The Aislers Set. That project has a very similar sound, but more refined and thought out. Aisler's Set is definitely the better band but they do not match Henry's Dress when it comes to pure pop brutality.

Again the link will go down after a week so if you want it get it. This will make a perfect match for your Valentines night alone with Adrian Tomine comics and a bottle of Merlot.

check it out

ADD: Just wanted to add that Joseph D. Ketner II,is speaking in the auditorium at the The Fort Worth Modern. Ketner is the organizer of the highly anticipated Andy Warhol: The Last Decade exhibition that's opening this Sunday. Seating begins at 630 pm, so leave now. If you aren't lucky enough to be one of the first 250 guests, they will broadcast the lecture live at the always excellent Café Modern. -(DL)

WSJR SXSW Day Party RSVP Map

I realized the other day that I've been to SXSW every year since 2003 (and a few before that as well), and literally every year, as I'm driving back to Dallas (I'm sure it'll happen flying home this time too), I tell myself "NEVER AGAIN," which is a phrase borrowed from the Jewish Defense League but is in this instance directed at institutions such as the "Fader Fort," the perenially overrated "Vice Party" and the bathrooms at Emo's.

No matter how crabby I get, however, I always go back for more each and every year, and for a good portion of the week, I manage to have a pretty great time. I imagine most of your attitudes about SXSW lie somewhere between mine and the overly excited fanboyisms you find on a lot of MP3 blogs, and I'd venture to say that the logistics of the whole thing are often the root of people's frustrations-- getting here and there, timing everything right and RSVPing to everything you might want to see.

Well here's something to make it all a little easier for you-- Just head over to our SXSW Day Party Map and start exploring. Eventually we'll have all of the unofficial SXSW parties, day AND night, listed on the map, complete with line ups, times, links to RSVP and more, and of course the location will be right there in front of you. You'll be also be able to create a schedule for yourself and send your RSVPs in all at once, thus reducing your party planning work load by quite a bit while allowing you to avoid a lot of the advertising and BS you'll see on other such lists. Anyway, thanks to Cliff Notes for putting this together, and check for constant updates over the next few weeks.

It List: Monday

So, Zac Crain is writing about music again; that should be welcome news to a certain type of local music fan that misses his agenda-free stance and biting wit. D Magazine just launched a new blog called FrontRow that is billed as "A Daily Review Of The Dallas Arts," and it takes a straight-forward approach towards ranking the various disciplines with a stoplight color-coded judgment of either: Green (Go See It), Yellow (Worth A Shot), or Red (Don't Bother).

Crain's first order of business is to engage the readers as participants (which we highly encourage, of course), by asking them to do show reviews via Twitter, with the culled results posted on the blog the next day. Sounds fun.

Anyways, this was rather welcome news, as I was really starting to feel like the local media had just morphed into one giant and rather grotesque booking, promotions, and publicity entity for itself and the local narrative that they try desperately to espouse with their buddies in the biz. Of course, I have faith in you, dear readers. I know most of you are too smart to fall for that.

Bad Ass Jazz (Amsterdam)

Cool Out (The Cavern)

Paul Slavens (Dan's Silverleaf)

Monday Morning Rock

WED: H.O.T. Presents: Fucked in the Basement with Swamp Tease/Ancestral Diet/Taboo/Nite Shadez (J&J's Pizza)
WED: Worn In Red/Decades/Dark Forces/Big Fiction (1919 Hemphill)
THR: Stew!/Drink to Victory/Captain Incredible (Rubber Gloves)
THR: Unfun/Stymie/No Heroes/Serious Business (1919 Hemphill)
FRI: Nouvelle Vague/Shock of Pleasure/Chameleon Chamber Group (Granada)
FRI: Joe Jack Talcum (The Dead Milkmen)/Lord Grunge/The Bassturd (Rubber Gloves)
FRI: Retribution Gospel Choir/The Rainhorses/New Science Projects (The Cavern)
SAT: True Widow/Great Tyrant/Darktown Strutters (The Chat Room)
SAT: The English Beat/Fishbone (Granada)
SUN: RJD2/Kenan Bell/Happy Chichster (Hailey's)

Weekender

Pretty slow weekend, but thanks to FP for putting most of this together. Also want to give props to Cliff Notes for making some nice little design changes around here... there's more to come, so look out. Shows:

FRIDAY

ADD: Big J/Hot Britches (Plush Basement located at 1400 Main in Dallas): The seems to be the natural successor to replace the gaping nightlife void left by the shuttered Suite Basement. Austin's Hot Britches will be along to help out local favorite, Big J. -DL

Yellow Crystal Star/Jonathan Horne/Unprotected Sex/Rakasan, Colossi/Millinarl Expunger (Wasted Words, Arlington)

Cartright/Young and Brave/Pinebox Serenade/Dust Congress/No Heroes/Fire Nation (Rubber Gloves): Ahh, reminds me of the old Yellow House a little.

Julie Dorion/Bowerbirds/Fox and the Bird: Julie Dorion's latest album is really good and hearkens back to her work with Eric's Trip. I wish I would have picked it up earlier because it probably would have made it on my best of the year list. I don't know who the hell the Bowerbirds or why they are headlining this show and not Julie. After listening to a sampling of their music, they sound rather bland and uninteresting, riding the Beach House train to indie successville. Maybe it's because they have one of those band Myspace pages where their faces are really big at the top with all the fancy graphics.

Thank you to the NX35 blog for calling us out on our hate of the local folk scene when mentioning the Fox and the Bird in one of their recent features. You might remember a couple of weeks ago when I completely eviscerated Fox and The Bird with such quotes as " I was really captivated by The Fox's performance" and I bet the band had trouble getting on stage after I said they are "more exciting than the standard folk outfits" We don't hate folk music, just boring insipid folk music.

Astroblaque presents Soular Power (Fallout Lounge): Spinning dub, kraut, funk, garage, post punk, everything.

Congradulation/Funkotron (Hailey's)

Fizzy Dino Pop/Sore Losers (Cold Fusion Lounge): Cold what what?

RTB2/Orange Peel Sunshine/Cocky Americans (Rubber Gloves)

Keller Willams/That 1 Guy (Granada)

Saturday

Alec Ounsworth (Hailey's): What happens when Pitchfork buzz doesn't work out in the long term.

DUB ASSEMBLY with 16bit/Mundo/Royal Highnuss/LDFD (Green Elephant)

Away From The Numbers presents: Madchester, A Celebration of the Music of Mancheseter with Telegram Sam/Gabriel/DJ G (Fallout Lounge): Another great installment in the Away From the Numbers series which happens the first Saturday of every month. This month they are focusing on Manchester. Hopefully this is not one of those events where you dress up because I can't think of worst time/place for fashion. Luckily most of the music is pretty rad and danceable, featuring...

Buzzcocks, Martin Hannett, Joy Division, Stone Roses, FAC51, A Certain Ratio, Baggy Jeans, New Order, The Fall, So It Goes, Slaughter & the Dogs, The Smiths, Bez, Happy Mondays, Salford Lad's Club, Magazine, Devoto, The Factory, Ecstacy, Mike Pickering, Morrissey, James, Tony Wilson, 808 State, The Verve, Barney and Hooky, Monaco, Section 25, Voodoo Ray, The Charlatans UK, Acid House, Graeme Park, Electronic, Revenge, The Other Two, 24 Hour Party People, Quando Quango, Inspiral Carpets, The Durutti Column, The Chameleons, Warsaw, Ceremony, Shack Up, Greg Wilson's Funk Night, Black Grape, She's Lost Control, I Am the Resurrection, Ian Brown ,Mark E. Smith, Johnny Marr, and all things Manchester + Hacienda Classics!

RTB2/Orange Peel Sunshine/Cocky Americans (Double Wide)