Friday, June 02, 2006

Eat Avery's Bones and Skybox at J&J's (by Defensive Listening)



If I could moonlight anywhere in DFW right now, it would be as a pizza cook at J&J's. Judging from the diversity of bands they've hosted there lately, it must stay pretty interesting on a nightly basis. From straight-ahead hardcore to straight-ahead pop music, and from free jazz influenced ensembles to the truly indescribable, this creaky pizza joint provides one of your best chances to witnessing something unique in the metroplex. The shows are set up by the bands most of the time, thus resulting in haphazardly organized and jumbled mixes of groups and people. The traditional kind of "Who are you here to see?" shit and the overemphasis on beer sales and head counts that you get at other places are nowhere to be found at J&Js. But let me be clear, this is not some cool D.I.Y. venue. They are there to sell you pizza, beer, and soft drinks. However, the place does SEEM like a cool D.I.Y. venue at least, and thats not an easy task when you're trying to pull an actual profit. Because of the looseness and variety of the place, there are bound to be some misses mixed in with the hits. Last night had both. It was our very own Eat Avery's Bones opening for Chicago's Skybox. Wasn't Skybox a baseball card manufacturer? Figures. I've always hated baseball cards, even as a child.

Why do local bands always open up for bands simply because they're from out of town? This is a mistake made by small time touring bands time and time again. If you're in a band and you're reading this, please take this advice: Touring bands should open. I know what you're thinking. "But, dude, you don't understand, they're my friends from Rhode Island and they drove alllll the way to Dallas and shouldn't have to open for anyone." If they want people to see them, they should open. All your local fans, friends, and family will have to suffer through them to wait for you to play. And if you touring bands don't take this advice, you will watch an army of the local bands coworkers and ex-girlfriends hi-fiving them on their way out the door. This will take place just about the time you're taping your shitty Bossdigital delay to the concrete. There are exceptions, of course, but you'll know it when you've reached true "National Act/We open for no one" status. My fingers are crossed for you. All I'm getting at is that Eat Avery's Bones definitely shouldn't have opened this show. They were the headliner in my world.

Eat Avery's Bones has it's roots in a Texas town called Rowlett, a lakeside community east of Dallas. When you drive through Rowlett, you pass this gigantic (800 ft. long I believe) mural as you cross Lake Ray Hubbard. It's this cheesy kind of lakeside landscape done up in primary pastels. Ever since I've heard Eat Avery's Bones, I always picture that mural dripping, smearing, and distorting it's pretty lakeside scene into the band's horrifically scribbled fliers and the magic marker mess featured on drummerMatt's bass drum. EAB's artwork is always instantly recognizable on the web or otherwise. It looks like a collaboration between a badly behaved six year old and a Meth addict, and the band applies this visual aesthetic towards everything else around them too. Last night they appeared with their faces smeared in paint. This was no professional new wave makeup job... it just looked insane. Clearly the band doesn't necessarily apply this same chaos to their music. To my ears they sound somewhere between Brix-era Fall and the obscure British band Rancid Hell Spawn. Bad name for a band, but their distorted keyboard attack made Jesus and Mary Chain sound like Iron and Wine. As out of control as Eat Avery's Bones initially sound, upon careful listening you'll hear a very calculated attack and approach to every song. Drummer Matt also sings, which is impressive since most drummers can't even really drum. The guitar and bass playing in this band is frighteningly precise, too, as Jason and Meggie sound like two machines stabbing away with every time change thrown their way. I wouldn't usually mention gender when discussing a band, but it was brought up on WSJR recently, so I'll just tell you this: Male bass players of DFW, Meggie of Eat Avery's Bones could chew you all up and spit you out. It's the truth. And in addition to her solid rhythmic low end, the band has another secret weapon, possessed by their keyboard player Robbie. It's... a Muppet Babies Keyboard. Sounds completely stupid right? Wrong. It's exactly what this local music scene needs. Just the right kind of artwork, instruments, and band to make it collectively say,"What. The. Fuck." When I see that look on a crowd's face, all I can think is that they must be doing something right.

Earlier I mentioned wanting to be a pizza cook atJ&J's. Actually, last night I should have worked security, because if I had seen Skybox trying to sneak in their assortment of contraband, I would have been all over them. If I had the chance to catch these guys with such rock no-no's as a wah-wah pedal,bongo drums, cowbell, and trombone (!), they wouldn't even have been allowed in J&J's. Skybox tortured me from the start, and I knew I was in trouble when only two songs in, I was reminded of Santana. They had a deep bag of instrument oriented tricks, and sitting here today, I can't remember a single song. For all of the indie rockers that worship Pet Sounds, Van DykeParks, Lambchop etc., please remember something: If most bands can't even come up with decent songs using three instruments, what makes you think you can do it with twenty? Remember, Brian Wilson was a genius. You, my friend, are not a genius. The band couldn't make up its mind between ragtimey pop, prog rock, riffrock, or a really bad mixture of the three. The lead singer's vocal antics bordered on novelty, with his voice plotted somewhere between Jack White and Joanna Newsom. Maybe that sounds good to you, but I thought it was a mix of the two most obnoxious vocalists in modern music. I'd like to say I enjoyed the group's obvious proficiency with their instruments, but unfortunately they played with all the smugness of Berklee dropouts, and I wanted to dropout of their unbelievably long set. Another rule for smaller touring bands should be that you can't play more minutes than twice the number of people in the crowd. So fifteen fans=no longer than a thirty minute set. Please hear me out. The other band's members don't count, and there is no reason that any band except pretentious neo proggers like Mogwai or Mono should ever play for over an hour.

Eat Avery's Bones smashed a guitar. I know they were probably buddies with Skybox, but I wish they had been down for smashing a bongo or two as well. It was still one of the cooler local shows I've seen in a while.

67 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Excuse me, but what touring band wants to OPEN all the time? I just really wonder about your perspective, Defensive Listening.

You should try being in a band, and then tell me if you want to tour around the country OPENING for random people at every juncture of your trip. At pizza places and shit - Not that it's a big deal or anything, but why do you think people would actually WANT that?

uh, fuck that?

3:24 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dear uh, fuck that:

You're right, I should try being in a band. Especially a touring band. What makes you think I've never tried that? I'm not saying I have, but what makes you think I haven't? If you think touring should be anything other than playing random places (pizza joints and otherwise) opening for bands who may or may not have people there to see you, what do you think touring is? Do you think it's all established rock clubs? WIth riders, guarantees, tons of screaming fans, and everyone there to kiss your unknown yet headlining ass just because you're from out of town?
LIsten to the wisdom of James from the Metrognome. Sounds like they're one of the only places that knows how to treat bands and patrons alike. They have the touring band open because they actually give a shit about them. Not because they're trying to damage their fragile rock ego. Which it sounds like you might have. How dare you OPEN for anyone, right?

9:50 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I would also like to make a correction:

They were congas. Not bongos.

9:55 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

While advice is being handed out, here is some for Defensive Listening : Look up 'brevity' in the dictionary.

9:57 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Edward James Priesner said...

"Defensive Listening: (While I agree with 90% of what you wrote) Way to be a pompous ass. I've never seen anyone dilerbately try to insult the reader so much."

Deliberately insult or bore? Trying to read that gave me the same feeling I get when I see soccer mom bumperstickers that read "My son is an honor student at...". I want to look at the person and say "Would you please shut up...please.".

10:08 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

More bang for you internet buck.

10:13 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I mean "your".

10:17 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

1) Middle-slot is always the best
2) Boss digital delay pedals are the industry standard
3) Dirk

10:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah, it was a bit long winded- but whatever. I know it's easy to get lost in a rant when you're in the middle of a stoned writing session.

I was at this show and took note of just about every single thing Defensive Listening did. I just feel like a lot of the shit he/she was spouting out at the reader (who apparently, just doesn't have a clue) wasn't necessary at all.

That's just my 2 cents though. It's not my blog.

10:21 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

edward said:

Yeah, it was a bit long winded- but whatever. I know it's easy to get lost in a rant when you're in the middle of a stoned writing session.

I was at this show and took note of just about every single thing Defensive Listening did. I just feel like a lot of the shit he/she was spouting out at the reader (who apparently, just doesn't have a clue) wasn't necessary at all.

That's just my 2 cents though. It's not my blog.

Hey edward james priesner:

I don't get stoned. So I don't relate. I'm straight as an arrow. Believe it or not, this is really how I am on a normal sober day. A drag, I know.

You took note of every single thing I did? Maybe you should write a review on me. Then you can insult me instead of the reader.

Lighten up. I'm joking most of the time.

You don't know me and vice versa.

10:34 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey edward james priesner:

I don't get stoned. So I don't relate. I'm straight as an arrow. Believe it or not, this is really how I am on a normal sober day. A drag, I know.

- Sorry, I was kidding around with that.




You took note of every single thing I did? Maybe you should write a review on me. Then you can insult me instead of the reader.

- I did.




Lighten up. I'm joking most of the time. You don't know me and vice versa.

- You're right about us not knowing each other, and I think that's exactly what you should take into consideration next time. How fuck are any of us supposed to know you're joking? I'm not at all trying to pick a fight or anything. The weshotjr crew seems like a pretty level-headed group of people. I just think you sounded like a prick throughout this write-up.

10:50 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ed:

See I didn't know you were joking about the stoned thing and you don't know when I'm joking about anything. The thing is, I don't really give a shit either way. How do you know if the WSJR folks are level headed? I don't even know that. You're claiming a lot of insight today.

11:19 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The sexual tension is KILLING me. Ed and that little drawing of the indie rock chick need to GET IT ON!
YOW!

And they can! Tomorrow!
And YOU can watch! WHERE YOU ASK?

Secret Headquarters
210 E. Hickory,
Denton, TX 76201

7pm to 10pm - $3
B.Y.O.B.

9:00 The Angelus
8:00 shiny around the edges
7:00 Fra Pandolf

11:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I know you don't give a shit. It's real cool.

11:45 AM  
Blogger Eric Edward Fishboy said...

I was one of 15 at the show and yeah, they should have opened and played a short set...but they also made the huge mistake of thinking that just because there weren't a lot of people in the audience they could "try out something new" and "jam out," as they announced before their first song. Sure playing the same set every night gets boring but if you stray too far from it you run the risk of one of the few attendees writing a really harsh anonymous review that might cause no one to come and see you next time.

Honestly, had I seen them play their very best songs for 25-30 minutes, I probably would have loved it. You also couldn't hear the congas or the juno6 or half the stuff the guy in the back was doing simply because there weren't enough mics or a sound guy.

11:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I agree too, unknown or hardly known touring acts should open or play middle if more than two bands are present. No one but the rare few are there to see that touring act. Opening could suck if no one is there, but same thing with closing... better to take the chance with opening.

Nope, not in a band, never toured. But I will say that touring as a barely known act means playing a lot of crap venues to tiny or non-existent crowds where hopefully you play your ass off night after night and convert 1-5 people a night if you are lucky and they spread the word to their friends.

It sounds like that sucks and it is no gaurantee, but that may be the best way to build your name up short of releasing some amazing album that the indie world eats up like crack.

11:46 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

BUT HOW WAS THE PIZZA?

11:51 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

The drawing that represents me is soooo not indie rock. Way more 'core than that. Mostly Human Remains and Los Crudos but wrapped up in a librarian sweater vest. She looks just like me!

Bands should be glad anyone writes anything about them. Most die painful unnoticed deaths.

This review might make more people go next time. They've had a positive write-up on here before. I didn't notice until after this was written.

P.S. The pizza is always good.

12:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

adub, you're right.

12:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

:'(

12:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

DL-
Librarian Sweaters are hot, but I bet you're totally a dude.

12:12 PM  
Blogger complete tool said...

ED! did you figure out who STONEDRANGER IS????!

12:41 PM  
Blogger complete tool said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

12:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

NO DUDEZOR! I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING!!1

12:48 PM  
Blogger stonedranger said...

anyone else having trouble posting comments today? I've had to load the page several times.

1:16 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yeah, blogger is kinda hosed

1:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

aw sweet, i love muppet babies.

2:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I enjoyed reading the review of EAB as while the simply deranged aspect of their music is striking, their songs and delivery are great as well. This was one of the best reviews I've read of their whole vibe.

As far as the other band, I wasn't at the show, but it is ludicrous when a band feels they will just "try out" stuff since there isn't a big audience!? WTF!? Arrogance at its best. All good disco dancing should always end in broken bones... in a good way (yes, I paraphrase). I mean, if the simple act of playing music means that little to you, just get a part time job or something.

Blah.

I will now go get a slice of pizza at JnJ's.

2:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

ya.. good God.. I love the energy of noise rock, but it just plain sucks as far as an actual musical offering. I mean, shit.. I could grab two friends and dress up in weird fucking costumes - one of us be Paul Revere, the other his horse, and get a really fat guy to put on a red wig and be a female version of Ghallager, his fat ass smashing watermelons while we "rock the fuck out". All we'd need is a beat processor, a REALLY shitty guitar and a couple Peavey practice amps to make this happen. OH.. and a casio or two. Shit - we might be the next "It" band in Denton and get a whole spread on We shot Jr!!! YahooO!!! We shall be named "Thegofuckmes"

enjoy.

4:03 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Some of us in Denton are still bothering to write songs.

4:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

dude that is a sweet idea. paul revere era costumes might be a little costly if you want them to be authentic though. watermelons are good too. everyone loved gallaghheredredrer.

4:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

shitty as shit is such an awesome word combo!

4:12 PM  
Blogger stonedranger said...

no, we only give full spreads to people that "put their heart and soul into the music, man."

4:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

to 2:06:

don't bother

be rational

that's not the answer

4:23 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"don't bother

be rational

that's not the answer"

Man, your spacing makes that really deep. Are you in an "experimental" band?

Wait, let me art it up a bit...

Man, your spacing makes
that
really deep.
[hits delay pedal and plays one not for an hour with a gerbil]

Are you in

an


"experimental"


b##d?

4:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

[Lay gerbil down. pisses in a target snack bar cup]

THANK YOU!

[Insults sound guy, plays the lute with a dildo]

CAN YOU


FEEEEEEL


IT?

4:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Stoned Ranger - there are MANY bands who "put their heart and soul into their music" that you openly ridicule as being "douche bags" so don't get on a soap box..

4:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

2:40:

I think he was being sarcastic.

You're in the soapbox.

5:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

2:30/2:32:

Dude, send me your band's myspace. Are you guys playing tonight at that one place? I heard it's dollar wells and three dollar you call it shots!

5:05 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

the assumption that anybody can be Albert Ayler is preposterous

7:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

To 2:03:
You could, but you won't. It is easier to stay home and mope.

8:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Careful DL, edddd knows where you live

9:13 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm still amazed that there are pretty much fights on every single post on this blog.

and i was at the show too and totally enjoyed EAB and their blackface antics, but I didn't stay for the shitty touring bands (cause i hate touring bands).

and i think that Ed actually is one of the weshotjr dudes, but he's trying to trick us.

9:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

shhh..

9:59 PM  
Blogger complete tool said...

"The highest purpose is to have no purpose at all. This puts one in accord with nature, in her manner of operation."

11:15 PM  
Blogger Defensive Listening said...

testing

2:51 AM  
Blogger Defensive Listening said...

I didn't want to register with blogspot, but I guess I have to since someone pretended to be me at 7:59. I know it was a joke, but I can't afford to have a bunch of people pretending to be me and posting God knows what. I will admit that I've laughed at that kind of dumb shit on here before, but I also know that it can be damaging. I don't care if Ed knows where I live or if he thinks he knows who I am. I don't know who he is and I don't care. He obviously cares who I am since he was supposedly watching "every little thing I did", assuming he knows who I am. And he obviously cares that everyone knows his full name and what his band's website is. Ed, please find a better past time than going to shows and trying to figure out who all the anonymous bloggers are, studying their every move as if they were a rare species of bird. The sentence I just wrote is one of the most embarrassing things I have had to tell someone in my adult life.

The review I wrote was about two bands who played a show, it wasn't about me.

All the Harriet the Spies (skulkies are okay), Nancy Drews, Hardy Boys and other characters that speak in hushed tones around here, I commend you for your amazing ability to waste time and for trying to make everything personal on a website about music and yet you try to focus on anything but.

For those of you that like this website, why don't you respect the fact that the authors are anonymous; something you've known since day one?

As it's been stated here before: Keep guessing and we'll keep denying. And hopefully the rising din of your own guesses will drown all of you out and suddenly it will occur to you: These people actually care about discussing music with you. They don't want you to focus on the cult of personality problems that plague other music writers and music writing.

The less time we talk about ourselves, the more time we have to discuss your fucking band. Or venue. Or festival. Or shitty sound job. Or the assortment of things that you don't see discussed at length elsewhere. Because elsewhere it's presented with the focus always burdened by who's who.
If you take that away, the larger issues are easier to put in perspective.

If you were in some "secret band" like the Residents or some shit, and I thought I knew who you were, I wouldn't go patting myself on the back about it in public. Because for one thing, I could be wrong. And another, I would be mature enough to "get it" and leave you the fuck alone.

I understand curiosity, but I truly just want to talk about (mostly) local music and all that goes with it. I promise. I definitely have seen positive changes around here in the past few years. I want to talk about that. I want to talk about what could still use a lot of work. Or what should maybe go away forever. Whatever.

If anyone quotes that ubiquitous line, "dancing about architecture" one more time, I'm going to jump into the Trinity and get eaten by Nutria. The worst part is nobody knows whether it was Eno, Byrne, or Zappa who said it. And who gives a shit?

And I love Albert Ayler, did anyone get that hundred dollar box set on Revenant?

4:02 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

For all of the indie rockers that worship Pet Sounds, Van DykeParks, Lambchop etc., please remember something: If most bands can't even come up with decent songs using three instruments, what makes you think you can do it with twenty? Remember, Brian Wilson was a genius. You, my friend, are not a genius.


this is award winning shit here.
so funny it hurts. i'm in one of
those bands.

4:10 AM  
Blogger Defensive Listening said...

Thanks. I actually like a handful of these bands. But my goodness, there are so many bad ones.

4:14 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'd like to point out a simple misunderstanding here...

From Ed...

"I was at this show and took note of just about every single thing Defensive Listening did."

That was poor phrasing that has resulted in some crossed wires.

He didn't mean that he Watched Defensice Listening and took note of His/Her actions.

He clearly meant that he watched The Same Show and Saw and Pretty Much Agreed With Some/A lot of His/Her Observations.

Also, re-read the very last line of DL's reviw.

This is a misunderstanding.

6:01 AM  
Blogger complete tool said...

I think what ed found offensive about this is probably exactly what I didn't like about it either:

As a member of a "local band," when a national, or semi national or even just an austin band asks us to set up a show for them, we deliberately put them at the top of the bill as a gesture, not because we want to ride whatever small amount of fame they have, just as a gesture. Its polite. I actually tell any band that I set up a show for that they can have whatever slot they like. If they want to headline, great, if not, also great. ITS NOT LIKE MY BAND, FRA, OR EAB ARE LOCAL LEGENDS, WE DONT HAVE HUGE DRAWS. So none of us have quite the large ego that it takes to brand yourself "headliner."

10:50 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

DL-You are shooting yourself in the foot everytime you or anyone else makes a long post trying to take attention away from the anonymous aspect of wsjr. It only makes people more curious as to why your'e freaking out. There are already some people who know who you guys are and its not really a big deal. "oh it's some dude? ok." is the general reaction. It can't stay a total secret forever so I would reccomend chilling out.


Oh yeah, going to low attended shows where the audience all knows each other doesn't really help the cause either. But do what you gotta do.

Other than that, keep up the good work.

12:02 PM  
Blogger Defensive Listening said...

Ed,

I think it was a misunderstanding. I apologize. I think the post at 7:13 pm and having someone post as me was what got to me. So, I take back what I said about your "past time". I have, however, been in the same situation with other people. I will not stop going to sparsely attended shows where everyone knows each other. That's just how it is in Denton. It's way worse at sold out shows. If I stopped going to sparsely attended shows, I would probably stop seeing good bands altogether.

And Jamo, I understand the circumstances of this situation. I wasn't really even directing my comments at people in bands like yours. I understand that the Denton noise/rock people (most of them) probably don't have the kind of egos that would cause them to care about who plays before who. You guys aren't the only ones who might read this though, and the first comment to my post was from the exact kind of person that I knew would find having to open for someone insulting. These remarks were more about how I think touring bands get fucked a lot.

12:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Holy shit! This is why I don't have a comment section on TucsonScene. I loved what you said about people commenting on the person writing and not the music. I wish I would have gone anonymous a long time ago, cause I get beat up on message boards by ex girlfriends and bands that I've talked shit about. Oh well...The advantage, though, is I get in shows for free and get other free shit.

SO I commend you for trying to keep your identity secret. You're missing out on all the cool shit. I LOVED this article. Keeps me inspired. That shit about the audience-count/set-length was so dead-on.

I hope you don't mind I'm going to steal a bunch of this shit. Of course, you'll be sited and linked...but you've put a lot of thoughts in my head. Feel free to steal mine at will. (Not that they're worthy!) God, you guys make me want to actually visit Texas!

I can say that cause I'm stuck in AZ.

jB

2:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

mmm. these little fights.

anyway. isnt music fun?!

3:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"All the Harriet the Spies (skulkies are okay), Nancy Drews, Hardy Boys and other characters that speak in hushed tones around here, I commend you for your amazing ability to waste time and for trying to make everything personal on a website about music and yet you try to focus on anything but."

i love this! people better not start taking my spy/nancy drew/etc... handles! those are mine all mine!

people are scared to say what they think because denton has become more of a social scene than an art scene. i think its sort of sad. everyone takes other people's opinions so personally.

of course, i no longer have an emotional investment in the scene. when i was booking, i was way more sensitive to criticism. obviously.

i never liked having unknown touring bands headline. its unfair to everyone involved. 2nd is always always the best spot.

3:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"people are scared to say what they think because denton has become more of a social scene than an art scene."

Exactley what is wrong with people not being mean to their friends? With the way that blogs, mags, zines, papers and all are covering and reporting on bands these days, why is it a crime to have a circle of edification? I'd rather just talk to you... Has the scene really changed, or have you? And I don't mean the Denton scene, I mean "The Scene". Have you not probably just grown out of standing around in smoky rooms while people try to MATTER? You know?

If you have 30 friens, and most are in bands, and you all drink together, and cook together... Why is not okay to pat your pal on the back for trying versus making great art? There's a handful of people in Denton. I want them to succeed and be happy. I will leave it to the billions of other people in the world to pick their lives apart. I'll be you a beer, because I can relate.

There are some pretty good bands in Denton. Just because you have moved on doesn't mean that these people are not trying their very best to make quality and meaningful art. We can't all afford Casio keyboards you know.

4:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sorry for all the typos. And my message to you was meant to be delivered with respect and zero hostility. I know the internet path of communication is lacking in tone and body language.

4:04 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah, go back 10 years to when Denton was cool, and furniture of the gods was sitting around telling monkeytowm. "man, hey, your art, it was good but you need to work on your message, man." nad then monkeytown would stay up outside of maxine's radiators house just so they could tell them they were shity, but hey, it's coold i really like where you art is coming from. but at least this isn't a social scene. you know? because god know that jr and joey and kyle and all those grat townies had zero inside jokes and didn't bbq together.

A more social than art scene? what the fuck does that even mean? sorry, we can't be friends because you might need me to critique youer art without asking me someday.

11:27 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

oh geez, i didnt mean to start some stupid war. i just meant that when someone starts anonymously blogging about denton, ppl seem to get defensive. perhaps if we all listened to what people who do not have an emotional investment in the scene have to say, then maybe we could get more than 100 ppl to a show, you know?

and really, i have changed alot and the scene has changed alot. thats good. things get really boring when they stay the same. im happy.

8:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

oh, and of course i want my friends to be successful and happy--i never implied that i didnt. having watched 1000 good bands come and go, i think you are more likely to be happy, though.

and now for tyler's joke:

whats the difference between a musician and a pizza?




a pizza can feed a family of four!

8:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yeah, I promise I didn't mean to come across so santimonious or pissy. No war, skulky. You hav some good points.

9:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

the world was a better place when you booked, skulkster. you are not forgotten.

10:39 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

if touring bands want the best spot they should open or play second. everyone seems to clear out by the last band.
so what's wrong with using a lot of instruments? i see the point about using them well but maybe you could cut people slack for trying to be different and creative. though, i am not defending skybox.

11:16 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I would pay Skulkie to start booking again.

12:28 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

these days, i don't think that the act of simply "using a lot of instruments" has much to do w/ creativity. it SEEMS like a creative idea, but really... when you think about it, CREATIVITY comes FROM the instruments and how they are used... it's not creative to use a lute just to proove that you know what one is.

...and i often find that seeing musicians constantly switching instruments and jumping all over the stage just to get to the gear they need for the next set is highly distracting from the show... it needs some continuity, and constantly taking 3 minutes to get the gear set up to play the next song is a bit silly. it's something that only looks and sounds good if it's done well... and a young band w/a lot of gear generally needs a lot more time (than they are willing to take, in most cases) to get to that point.

10:29 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Nice! Where you get this guestbook? I want the same script.. Awesome content. thankyou.
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11:53 AM  

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