Friday, June 09, 2006

It List: Friday 6/9/06

For the first time in a couple of days, it looks like we will be able to post an "It" list. I really hate blogger.

The New Year/Shellac show was pretty great last night by the way. I personally am not the biggest New Year fan (although I do like Bedhead quite a bit, particularly the first record), but I was pretty blown away by their set. I found their last album to be pretty boring, but this was the first time I had seen them live, and I thought there were some pretty powerful moments. Like one of the comment posters below said, "18" was incredible, and although they didn't exactly have a memorable stage presence, I thought the quiet noise guitar attack was pretty intense and more than made up for the lack of movement on stage. And by the way, I dissed the New Year back during WOS because I wasn't crazy about their newer stuff. Defensive Listening, a different writer, thinks differently. And after seeing them live, I think I might give them another shot.

I also have to give some props to the poster that said Shellac was just as guilty of being "repetitive" as the New Year, but in a completely different way. I agree, but I guess I like repetitive music because I really liked their set too. It was great to see Steve Albini here in Dallas, and the set was tight, energetic, and just plain rockin' most of the time. I actually really enjoyed some of the moments when they got very quiet and minimal, with Albini whispering over some feedback and guitar clanking before absolutely exploding and going back into their rhythmic assault. They're no Big Black, but who is?

Actually, I missed some of the New Year set because I was busy running up and down the stairs watching the Mavs win a huge ballgame last night. Shit, when Dirk and Josh shoot for a combined 25% and we still win, I think we're in really good shape. It was kind of surreal seeing the Mavericks in the NBA finals, and judging by their nervous first quarter performance, they agreed with me. Its like it took them a while to realize that they were actually playing in the finals. They didn't get much better at any point in the game, but they improved enough to take the lead in the last second of the first half (great shot, Dirk) and hang on to win it in the second. The only thing that worries me is that Miami seemed to get a good number of open shots at the end of the game... they just missed them. I think we played a pretty shitty game overall, but we're up 1-0 and thats what counts. If Dirk and Josh have big game 2s (and Jet continues his hot streak), I think we are going to fly into Miami with every reason to think we can finish em off.

And oh man, the Denton beards were in full effect at the show last night.


Tonight:

If you wanna go "Out" out tonight, as in dance and stuff, then I think you would be dumb if you didn't head over to Zubar (yeah yeah, I know, its Zubar) to check out Dj Nature with his friend $elect. Its completely free, and if the house crowd comes out for this like they did at Ave Arts the other week, it should be a blast. You know you wanna.

On the rock tip, Voot Cha Index is playing over at the Darkside Lounge.

Radio 4 kinda blows.

We'll have some good MP3s and stuff for you later as well.

37 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

BRING ON THE HAIR HATE!

4:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

As a Dentonite, let me say that it was very nice to see all of my Dallas friends. Last nights show felt almost like an invitation only affair, with so many familiar faces from all across the metroplex. Not a single dirty look, no scene politics, no gladhanding, just pretty much every single musicdork in the 214/972/817/940 area having a good time, caught up in the buzz of an odd venue, rare bands, a mavs win, surprisingly cheapish beer, and new and old friends.

And there, in the darkness, probably at arms length, The Stonedranger, skulking about.

4:16 PM  
Blogger stonedranger said...

Oh I was just kidding, sheesh. I completely agree, great vibes last night. I had a very similar experience, running into people I hadn't seen in a while, etc., and seeing enough familiar faces to make it seem as though we all live in a small town.

4:21 PM  
Blogger stonedranger said...

and just for the record, there were more people with beards at that show than pretty much any I've been to in a really long time in Dallas OR Denton.

4:24 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Not the fucking beard talk again!

Anyway, since that was the worst It List I've ever read on here, I thought I'd expand it further. I know you're mad at Blogger, but don't take it out on us. Some people actually use your It List to figure out what to do nightly.

(Here are you hipster events for the night.)

Gypsy Tea Room: Riverboat Gamblers, Max Cady, Strange Boys

Radio 4 cancelled

Darkside Lounge: Voot Cha Index, Pegasus Now, Ashburne Glen

Hailey's: Dance music with DJ Leeds

Rubber Gloves: Pine hill Haints, 100 Damned Guns, Lomita (Andy from Lift to Experience's new band), and Can Kickers

5:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Busted.

5:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Guitarbelt!

5:25 PM  
Blogger tania said...

andy is not in lomita anymore...

5:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

you know, beards are sexy. when they are kept well trimmed and placed upon tyler's face. yummy.

i used to not get the beard thing, but i have become a changed woman.

6:23 PM  
Blogger stonedranger said...

today was a bad day.

7:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

im not sure if anyone else was under this impression -- but i was told it was impossible to find the Lift to Experience album anywhere -- but today at Recycled in Denton I came across 4 sealed copies -- picked one up so theres 3 more!

8:10 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

what if you have a beard and are from Dallas?

8:13 PM  
Blogger stonedranger said...

I think there is an ordinance in the Dallas City Code against it.

8:15 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've always seen Lift To Experience stuff at Recycled. There's copies of Jerusalem Crossroads on the local section, but I've seen the EP and shit in the used section as well.

ROCK!

9:11 PM  
Blogger stonedranger said...

yeah, same here.

9:19 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i bought lift to experience's texas/jerusalem crossroads at cd world new. i think it's still findable (although now i'm missing one of the disks)

10:29 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

uhh... evidentily no one ever goes to Good Records because they've had the EP and Jerusa :(lem Crossroads album there for almost a year.


ALSO has anyone heard Josh P.'s new stuff over in england!

It's so mopey :(

SOMEONE GET THAT MAN SOME VODKA!

12:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

yeah,that one is full of himself.
can't bieleive the uk would fall for such a thing.i think there is no genius in developing a schtick,embellishing facts about yourself..I think that guy is probably just a stinky couch surfer that can get away with using people by batting his eyes and pretending to be sincere.

12:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

don't get me started on those big beautiful eyes..... ahhhhhhh (sigh, not scream)

1:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

About the Darkside Lounge:

Every club in Dallas could learn something from the Darkside. They treat the bands VERY well. Brian (The Soundman) is super nice and quite skilled at his job! It's definitely the best in D-town right now.

Voot Cha: was super cool/energetic live. I like the record as well. Can't wait to play w/ you guys again!

Ashburn Glen: It's good to see that there's a straight up and ahead rock-n-roll band out there. nice bass.

To reiterate: IF YOU HAVEN'T PLAYED @ THE DARKSIDE LOUNGE - DO IT!!!!!!!

2:59 PM  
Blogger stonedranger said...

yeah, Darkside does have pretty good sound. And a lot of people hate the space, but I actually kind of like it.

3:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think the stage is cool where it is. Although it's kinda' small up there, we were having such a good time that it just felt cozy. Also, not only do you NOT have to pay for water - but they actually buy beer for the bands!!! Imagine that! Best club in Dallas.

3:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i was at the darkside show last night, and here's my mini-review.

ashburne glen: i listened to their songs on myspace and was expecting lighter, more singer-songwriter stuff. their live show is totally different. as bub says, in the previous comment, they're more rock-n-roll, loud with a slight bite to the guitars. it's nice to hear lead guitar parts in the indie world. they're definitely doing something unique in the area.

voot cha index: i loved their onstage energy and they're songs are very pop-oriented. after awhile though, i got the feeling that i'd heard it all before (elephant 6 bands, flaming lips, etc.). still, give them a year, and they'll be tops. the indie world will eat it up. i'd see them again, based on their energy alone.

pegasus now: sam m. finally got something right--they're good. my friend said they sounded breezy, and i agree. actually, they're more of a fast breeze. the song structures were good and the lead singer can actually sing. they were very tight and seemed to be comfortable on stage. like ashburne glen, they're not easy to pigeon hole, like a lot of locals bands are around here.

i'm glad i went out and took a chance on some new local bands. and the darkside is like a denton club in the middle of dallas. overall, the night was very cool.

6:04 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

the only problem with darkside is that they never communicated with the bands.

about two or three of my friends couldn't get in because darkside never posted the age requirement.

plus they never told us the cover charge. (even though it ended up wayyyy better for us because we got a great pay off.)

the sound is fucking great. loud as shit!

i still think rubber gloves is the best venue overall.


pegasus now was so much better than i expected! everyone should come see us on the 23rd at the doublewide.

11:41 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Glad to hear that the darkside is pretty good. We ben thinking bout getting a show. Josh Pearson is the real deal, so fuck right off naysayer.

3:01 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Is the Darkside Lounge soundguy Brian the same Brian "weaselboy" that used to work at TJs in Denton? I hope they can keep his mitts off of the cash box.

7:23 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Friday night in Deep Ellum: 11 people wounded in a spray of gunshots on Main St. I'm all for supporting local music but will not die for it. Those thug dance clubs need to go. Stolen vehicles, gunshots, gang activity, over amped policemen.......I'll pass.

9:10 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

does rubbergloves let people under the age of 17 in?

11:40 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"Friday night in Deep Ellum: 11 people wounded in a spray of gunshots on Main St. I'm all for supporting local music but will not die for it. Those thug dance clubs need to go. Stolen vehicles, gunshots, gang activity, over amped policemen.......I'll pass."

Wuss... who's afraid of a little ol' 9mm round or two when ROCK is on the line?!?!?!

12:06 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

i don't know if a city/place like deep elum can look good if they just go around and shut down every hip-hop oriented "thug club" in the area. not saying something shouldn't be done but good luck looking like anything less than a bigot.

...i think the cool clubs in deep elum just need to think about what they can do, and it may involve getting the hell outta deep elum before the whole place collapses.

i have a worse time every time i get out to deep elum. The Fall concert being one exception.... but any time i enter the heart of deep elum (dada, going to random bars around there w/ friends, etc) it seems like i can expect a progressively worse atmosphere.

...maybe the cops will beat someone
...maybe the bar won't be able to aford air conditioning in 90 degree heat
..maybe i'll be harassed by groups of people bumping rap music in the middle of the streat w/ their cars stopped and girls hopping out to do a little "rumpshaker" action
...or, people get shot

all that plus the obvious fact that the cops often outnumber the patrons in deep elum, and pan handlers out number the cops.... it's not for hip kids anymore, folks. time to find somewhere else.

12:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

did i just spell it "streat"

...that's awesome.... street

12:22 PM  
Blogger stonedranger said...

yeah, I'd have to agree 1021. I just really don't like being down there at all. There have been so many times when I've wanted to see a show @ darkside or something, and didn't go because I thought, "man, its going to suck having to go down to deep ellum." the only time I go down there any more is for big shows at Gypsy, and I think that is about all I can handle.

The problem is that there aren't too many other places to go in Big D.

1:40 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

See, I'm from the days when you couldn't walk around deep ellum without being threatened by Skinheads or Crackheads. Did it stop me? Nope, just made the adventure a bit more ,well adventurous. Deep Ellum reached it's most boring elitist point in the mid 90's when they closed another roadside attraction -"safened" it up and turned the whole damned place into a yuppie biker hang out. uggggh.

I'm by no means a tough guy, in fact I abhor violence in every instance - but I walk around Downtown, Deep Ellum, Columbia/Munger, all over and I'm still kickin' (now that I said that I'll get shot on the way home tonight).

I think that sometimes just by thinking that everyone around you has evil intentions creates a situation where evil will ensue. Not to say that the eleven victims were at fault - that would be insane. Sometimes bad shit happens, and I can't think of a single area in Dtown, or any other cool city where bad shit doesn't happen. Closing down "thug" clubs as you call them will only compound the problem, plus what's the matter with having clubs where people can get crunk!

Deep Ellum has died, and is in the proccess of reanimation. It'll be cool again. You'll see.

3:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

process. sorry.

3:44 PM  
Blogger stonedranger said...

Yeah, I don't really think its particularly frightening most of the time (although this weekend made me a little more nervous about it), but I just don't like the vibes down there. I hardly like any of the clubs or bars, and the vast majority of the shows down there really really suck. There is also expensive parking, traffic, and the possibility of violence to deal with. I'm actually hoping that the Expo park area will get better and provide an alternative that is similar to Deep Ellum minus some of the bad stuff, but we'll see what happens.

4:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Expo Park definitely has the potential.

8:59 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

actually i think that particular shooting was from a private party at a residency with a domestic fight and not even in deep ellum it was down by Niemn's i think...

Oh and Darkside is a cool room but everytime i've been the sound has been horrible and not just a bad mix, but constand hissing and feedback. It is cool so hopefully the got it figured out now.

10:49 PM  

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