It List: Tuesday

Man, Denton's jumpin' with that hot shit tonight, yo. Respect:

We Shot J.R. Presents- Times New Viking/Psychedelic Horseshit/Fight Bite/Wax Museums (Strawberry Fields): I'm really impressed with our blog yet again. Some time last November, I heard two new records on the same day, and both of them completely blew me away. That NEVER happens. One was Times New Viking's Present the Paisley Reich, and the other was Psychedelic Horseshit's Magic Flowers Droned. Both instantly swept me off my feet, and I couldn't decide which one I liked more. But luckily I won't have to make such a decision tonight, because I'll be able to see both bands at one of my favorite venues in the metroplex. I'm certainly glad we nabbed this show too, because after receiving Pitchfork's Best New Music tag in addition to tons of other positive press all over the blogosphere, Times New Viking could have totally big timed us. But they didn't. TNV's sound is simultaneously innocent pop and harsh, destructive noise, featuring the rare combo of sing-a-long lyrics and ear piercing feedback that gives the music a power that you don't often find in pop or avant rock. Taking cues from lo-fi and punk, TNV will probably please Guided by Voices and Shaggs fans alike. Psychedelic Horseshit takes this pop/noise combo to an even greater extreme in my mind, and the results are quite thrilling too. Their most recent full length is honestly one of the most adventurous yet cohesive rock records I've heard in a very long time, and I'm really excited to see how loud these people get. Our local openers are no slouches either, so get to this by 830 to catch them both. Oh yeah, it's $5, BYOB and All Ages, so bring the kids*. AND PS- PLEASE TREAT STRAWBERRY FIELDS WITH RESPECT. THROW YOUR DAMN TRASH AWAY, SMOKE OUTSIDE, AND DON'T PUKE INSIDE PLEASE. ANYONE CAUGHT STEALING WILL GET THE SHIT KICKED OUT OF THEM BY SALLY GLASS AND HER CAMERA.

Woods/Blues Control/Teenage Cool Kids (715 Panhandle): If I didn't have my own totally sweet shit happening tonight, this is the place I would be for sure. For me, the highlight here is Blues Control. I first encountered Blues Control a few months ago when I downloaded the two most recent releases, Puff and Blues Control. Both are extremely captivating in a highly hypnotizing manner, as blues leaning psychedelic rock riffs float rather quietly in a background of dreamy haze, distant percussion, krautrock ambience and an array of samples. It's sort of like what it would sound like to fall asleep with video games and Physical Grafitti playing in the background at the same time. Very unique and a lot of fun, Blues Control's music seems to exist in a world of its own creation. Woods, featuring members of Meneguar, is a jangly, acoustic psyche-folk influenced band that does quite a bit with a fairly familiar set of influences, pulling from artists such as Six Organs of Admittance, Feathers, and even Sandy Bull, all with a rough around the edges and loose approach that really seems to work as pop music.

BLK JKS/PPT/The Party (Green Elephant): You know what totally blows balls about SMU? The fact that you could put this show (featuring this month's Fader cover artists BLK JKS and a bunch free booze) at a college bar near pretty much any large campus in the country, and you'd be guaranteed a good party and a huge crowd. Stick it at a college bar near SMU, however, and you're forced to wonder a) how many young republicans have ever heard of Fader, and b) whether the ones who have are willing to park their cars on the east side of 75. But I guess if anyone could inspire such things in Dallas, it's Central Booking and Gorilla vs Bear, both of whom are sponsors of this show. Johannesburg's BLK JKS are a pretty unusual group to say the least, and I'm having a little trouble finding reference points to describe them. Ok, here's a try: take little bits of late 60's and early 70's African High Life pop, mix with Jeff Buckley (I know, whatever, right?), add a dash of really strange Ska, a touch of some guitar heavy traditional African music and blues, and a pinch of avant punk, and you'd be pretty close... to sounding like an idiot. Whatever, I tried. Interesting stuff though, and if you're kickin' cans around Dallas tonight, you might want to think about taking this opportunity to see some truly experimental and captivating music while drinking free booze and trying not to appear in a DON'T, as Vice Magazine will apparently be in the house as well. Do they still do those?

Neptune/Geistheistler (Fra House, Oak St., Denton): Geistheistler is David and Justin, formerly of Notes from Underground, doing a two piece noise improv beginning at 930 this evening. Neptune will go on at 1030, and unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to hear them. However, you can use the miracle of technology to click on the damn link above and listen yourself.

Why?/Cryptacize/Sunburned Hand of the Man/Astronautalis/Bangs (Rubber Gloves): I really can't get into Why? for a number of reasons that I don't have time to detail here, but I would definitely be interesting in checking out Sunburned, whose recent release Fire Escape (produced by Four Tet) is easily one of the best things they've ever done. The album focuses much more on rhythm and groove than most of their previous material, and a lot of it reminds me of some ungodly combination of Liquid Liquid, Can, and Miles Davis' On the Corner.

Sorry, No time for links on these:

Blue Cheer/ Blood of the Sun (Granada)

Evangelicals/Headlights/Gentleman Auction House (The Cavern)

And Check the Monday Morning Rock comments sections for the massive line up at 1919 hemphill

Disqo Disco (Fallout Lounge): New underground and classic disco night featuring members of Syndney Confirm and Pretty Vacant spinning records.

* don't