Lots to do tonight all around town. To kick things off, you can stop by Good Records to see a free instore with Sound Team and Record Hop (5pm). On to the main event(s)

1. Gorilla vs Bear Showcase- Tapes N' Tapes | Seventeen Evergreen | Birdmonster (the Cavern)
This is pretty much perfect timing for Chris from GVB, since he helped break Tapes N' Tapes, booked them to play his showcase, and then watched them get a "Best New Music" review from Pitchfork last week. Tapes are a really great band that will appeal to just about anyone that has ever liked "indie rock." Really, their first album is pretty great. Seventeen Evergreen also be good. Never heard Birdmonster. This show will probably sell out since Tapes N Tapes are a buzz band and the Cavern is small, so get there early. Here is the Pitchfork review.

2. Mates of State | Midlake | Sound Team (Gypsy Ball Room)
Not big Mates of State fans (sorry dudes), but Midlake will be playing shit off their new album, which already has more buzz around it than a naked picture of your mom on the internet. Sound Team is pretty good too.

3. 8th Continent: Strange Boys | Eat Avery's Bones | The Vietniks (Denton- 731 Texas St.)
This is a great DIY venue you need to check out if you haven't already. Some of our usual favorites are playing tonight for $5, along with the Vietniks... who have a New York late 70's thing going on. Should be a really fun time.

4. Metrognome: Bob White and the F electrics (1518 E. Lancaster Fort Worth)
You know the deal on this one.

No, its Drew Yeargen

Is that you, Cody Perkins?

MAN! midlake got them on-a them thur SPACE ORGANS? thems is fancy w/ all their keys and buttons and levers and such... if'n only i could get me on'a them space organs.

Im retarded.. one another..

yes.. agreed.. See wakka? We don't always have to "hate" one eachother...

Yeah, I agree with you (and most everyone else) on the Fleetwood Mac comparison. And your ambivalence about Fleetwood Mac.

Honestly, though, I don't think the song structures, tempo, or vocal melodies are too much different from the previous record. The major difference seems to be in instrumentation: more guitar and less space organ or whatever you call it.

true enough, true enough. The new Midlake stuff was good. Like everyone and their grandmother, I agree that a lot of it sounded eerily fleetwoodmac-ish, which is cool...kind of...

OK, but aren't you at least impressed by the fact they hired Sir John Gielgud to appear in their video presentation? I imagine that was pretty expensive, considering he's dead (and knighted).

yeah, what was some of the new stuff like?

Wakka, I thought the videos were a bit.. contrived.. I guess it just seems like every other band I see nowadays uses a "video presentation". Midlake did sound very good though, especially on the new stuff.

Caught the last couple of songs in the SOUND Team set, and yeah, the closer sounded a lot like a Walkmen song (or a composite of several Walkmen songs). Despite the perceived unoriginality, I took a $5 chance on their EP and am pretty impressed. Great tunes, with not a hint of Walkmen. Not that that's a bad thing, or anything.

And I like Mates of State, but now I'm convinced they're best in small doses. And their fans are pretty annoying and not as hot as I thought they'd be.

Whoever puts together Midlake's video presentation stole the show though. Other than the excitement generated by the premiere of songs from Van Occupanther, there was really nothing that interesting about Midlake's live act. Don't get me wrong, I love the Bamnan record. But it sounds better in my headphones. And the guys pretty much stand/sit still. But goddamn those videos had me, and most everyone around me, totally mesmerized. I guess that's what happens when you put something resembling a TV in front of a group of 20-30 year olds.

Oh, come on JonofDeath... thats harsh... I do hear the walkmen influence in there big time, but... shit, thats cool. They have some pretty addictive energy on stage and had a big sound.

I actually went to Matt Pond PA in the Tea Room. It was a really great show. I had a friend come from TN and he really wanted to go to the show. I was reluctant at first because I wanted to see Tapes, but man am I glad I saw Matt Pond. It also sold out, so I'm glad I actually got in.

And I'm probably going to get a lot of crap for this, but I saw Sound Team open up for Trail of Dead a while back and all I could think was "Who let the Walkmen cover band in?" I also saw them at ACL in passing and could have sworn they were a Killers cover band.

sorry, not "2 word SONGS' but Two word song TITLES that rhyme (such as "Sweater Petter")

The Strange Boys/ EAB show was great times.

8th continent is a great place.
EAB has gotten a lot better since i first saw them (how they play that fast and even get close to playing their parts @ the right time is beyond me.... and 2 word songs that rhyme? that's just funny shit)

The Strange Boys were on fire and i think Matt Hammer has my vote for best young drummer on the PLANET. that guy is INSANE! I'm wondering if he's able to get out of bed the day after shows

I was at both The Tapes show and Midlake... Best band I saw all night was Sound Team

I saw Tapes N Tapes. Review forthcoming on my blog.

Saw Eat Avery's Bones at 8th Continent... it was fun!

anyone go to any of these shows last night?