Lebanon | Tame...Tame and Quiet | Jetscreamer | Handbrake
(Club Dada)
A strong lineup heavy on locals and including a touring band that I've heard many good things about in the past year. I've never heard a single negative review of Lebanon, spoken or otherwise. It's a rare chance to see two bands from Tel Aviv in the same week if you caught the Monotonix on Sunday at The Eighth Continent. If you didn't, then you completely missed out. All of the bands tonight communicate their ideas mostly through guitar effect trickery, whether by pedals, complex fret work or both. Lebanon has some serious sounding instrumental passages that are probably impressive live. Tame...Tame and Quiet have their new full length ready and the word on the street is that it's excellent. We'll let you know if that's the case as soon as we score a copy. Old Denton favorites Jetscreamer have shattered the silence of their long hiatus by playing out much more frequently as of late which is good since they have always been much more likable than a lot of their veteran peers. I don't know much about Handbrake except that the songs on their page sound promising with some stop/start rhythms, interesting guitar playing and agitated vocals.

Lost Film Fest (1919 Hemphill)
This is a collection of short films with far left/activist overtones, "culture jamming" themes, banned clips, and riot footage. This mini fest prides itself on being "the only film fest with an FBI file". I'm sure this will be anything but boring. Remember: shows at 1919 start early so get there at 6.


Matt Bauer | The Naptime Shake | Garret Pierce (SHQ Denton)
There will be two nights of predominantly singer/songwriter stuff at SHQ. I'm glad to see more weeknight activity here. The incredibly well attended shows I've seen at all of the DIY venues lately are just another indicator of the increasingly negative state of the traditional venue in the area. Unfortunately, many times you're the only one fluffing the pillow in your casket.

"Anonymous said...

Thanks for the book you arrogant bitch.

2:07 AM "

you're welcome! you know, i drink too much coffee then get bored and type. i am sooo glad you understand ;);)

Rubber Gloves used to be cool. It's pretty much been a joke (to almost all bands spare a few who seem to have an ok experience) for the past four years or so.
The sound is crap, the atmosphere is stale, and the "music of the future" that seemed to be the staple the has long since left that hole.
I heard it'll be turned into a parking lot soon.
Kudos to cement!
It's a shame they're re-opening in Dallas instead of going out with class...it's just looking like the forty-five year old punk who is clueless to his uselessness.
The Dallas/Denton scene is fucked.
It's going to take better music, fewer bands, and fewer fuck-off-booking agents who think their job is to simply pencil a band in.

Thanks for the book you arrogant bitch.

mr. c, why don't you set up that fest, sir?! you're the perfect one to do it.

interesting that you say that, javelinn, because many of us in denton see it the same way

in general, just typing words off the top of my head after reading some of these comments-

i love playing in dallas (i almost always don't want to leave by the end of the night!), but usually bands end up getting one drink ticket per person (!!!!!!!!!!!, one! and we end up paying 3.75 or more for shiners or lone stars at the bottom end of the price range or else you get three drink tickets that are worth something crappy like miller lite), paying for their own parking plus gas cost with no pay from the clubs whatsoever - doublewide is the exception to almost all of these rules in my admittedly limited experience. oh, and bar of soap was always a great place to play with three drink tix that worked for anything as well as a percentage of bar (they don't have door people, sound guys and all that to pay)

in denton, at RGRS for example, you get free, good parking (you are king of the lot with specific parking spots unspokenly reserved for bands to load in and park), you get at least three free drinks and there are always generous drink specials such as $1.75 lonestar, $2.50 shiner drafts and such. we've received more of a cut there, regardless of turnout, than at any dallas club, once again, with exception of dwide.

and you know what, i appreciate seeing the percentages. they started doing that at rgrs first around here, and it's the only way that you absolutely know where the money is going. i also find it mindboggling when i realize how expensive it is to keep up a venue that is not run on volunteer work (like shq - and i know it kills them financially, too).

regardless, i think it's always easiest on your home turf when you're not worrying about gas money and travel,extraneous expenses like food, parking, etc.

____________________________

on a different note, Lebanon was incredible! too bad that only dentonites saw them (only dallasites were in the bands on Tuesday)!! there were a bunch of denton people at the jnjs show naturally, and they were really kind to stay for us as they were there mainly for L'il Tedly and Lebanon.

denton ex pats at the dada show. carlin booked an incredible night. i can't believe NONE of you dallas peeps came out! i was told by several people that night that dallasites do not under any circumstances go out during the week. is this true? i must admit i am guilty of that most of the time myself.
anyway, Lebanon is coming back in sept, i believe, so please make it out to see them when you can.

Here, here. It's usually not even worth the gas money for bands in Dallas or Fort Worth to drive to RGRS.

Rubber Gloves definitely has the worst pay for bands in D/FW

i also think rubber gloves pays bands less than most places. then they give you an itemized breakdown so you can see how they screw you over.

And I can expound, Josh.

What it comes down to is that lately, the best three shows i've seen in the entire D/FW/Denton "proper" have been at The House of Tinnitus, The 8th Continent, and Secret Headquarters. I think it's safe to say that all of these places are what one might definantly call d.i.y. venues. Most of the other clubs in the area simply aren't any fun, whereas places like H.O.T., The 8th, and SHQ are not only booking great shows, but even if they weren't having shows they are fun places to go to just hang out with your friends. For the most part, if you don't have cash for their shows, the people who live/work at these places are more likely to cut you some slack, and if all else fails you can probably just find a friend out front to chill with, drink a beer with, blow a doober....whatever your preference.

Josh Baish is just afraid that these house party's are stealing his fire. And he should be. Because they are. What a greedy motherfucker by the way. Complete douchebag, by the way. If you can't tell from what he wrote on here then I dare you to hang out with the fucker for an evening. Jesus. As much as you guys and girls might like the SHOWS at Rubber Gloves, just remember where your hard earned money is going. Straight into the pockets of Josh Fucking Baish.

I agree. Someone should set up a Denton-esque fest at Amsterdam Bar. That place is very cool. Angelus/Shiny/Jetscreamer or Mom or something?

Do they book shows like that?

I can't disagree with that, but I still think Dallas gets snubbed a little harder than it should. There are just as many people trying to do interesting stuff in the Big D as the little D. It's just more spread out. Expostion Park seems to be shaping up to be a good spot to be. A bit overpriced at times, but the dipshits that took over Deep Ellum have not discovered it yet.
hmmmmmmmmm

good use of the phrase "music industry." It kind of sums up the vibe of Dallas rock pretty well.

i would like to go to a place like h.o.t. in dallas not another drab club with people still trying to make money in the "music industry"

that whole process though often takes away any soul and just inflates the thing into a play version of wall street with guitars....

In most cases the promoter sets up a few shows where they handpick the bill, but for the most part The bands approach the promoter. This works best when the bands come to promoter with a complete bill.

not knowing how booking a club works, i'm curious, does someone let bands contact them to set up shows or do they ever seek out bands?

A booking agent books what the bands that are available. I just tried to book a band that has gotten much praise on this blog and they refused to play because the venue is 21 and up. I really don't think that many are trying to play Dallas. If they won't even try to play shows in Dallas the battle is already lost.

here goes the old man stance(hehehe):

Back in the 90's The Argo in Denton would send Denton bands to The Orbit Room in Dallas and vice versa. Denton bands played in the Big D a lot more often and Dallas bands would play in Denton a lot more often. Denton people in general actually drove to Dallas fairly often to see shows in dallas and vice versa. After The Orbit Room closed this kind of stopped. Chelsea is into a lot of Denton bands and would probably book them more often if they tried to put together shows that make sense. In other words an all an Denton band bill in Dallas really relies of Denton people driving down to see the show. What is the point of that? If an effort was made by the bands to do more show exchanges it would solve this problem.

For example:
Denton Band asks Dallas band to come up north and play a show at Rubber Gloves. In exchange The Dallas band sets up a show with the Denton band at The cavern or Doublewide. Over time both bands develop a draw in both cities. Problem solved.

We have booking agents in Dallas that are willing to book better shows. It lies on the shoulders of the bands to communicate and make those shows happen. Don't blame Chelsea. She does a good job with what she has to work with.

In the next few weeks they have:

Young Heart Attack 3/22
The Sword 3/23
Hogpig & Dovehunter 3/24
The Great Tyrant, War Wizards Bexarametric & Cygnus(2 laptop deathmatch champions) 2/31
Dixie Witch 4/14
The Ugly Beats 4/21

a few of those shows are a perfect example of cross pollinating audiences. That is not that bad of a schedule. Granite if you don't like stoner metal or garage rock it may not all be up your alley, but a lot people(myself included) enjoy that stuff.

Venues that feature nothing but avant noise indie skronk are rare anywhere you go in the country. In Los Angeles the noise shows happen at museums mostly. New York is an exception with venues like Tonic and Cakeshop, but even most of those shows happen at warehouse events thrown by toddp.

So if the bands are so much better in Denton. Contact me personally. I will be more than happy to help you get gigs in the Big D. I live here and I just don't have the time to make the trek to Denton like I used to. I would like to see all of these bands more often though. So would other people that live here.

sloppyworld is the venue that john freeman is opening any old day now.

http://www.sloppyworld.com/

he explains it better than i can. it's gonna be on exposition along that strip with amsterdam and fallout.

Doublewide may be a cool place with good sound, but the booking agent there was no fucking taste at all. I'd say less than a quarter of their shows are good. The rest is pure shit.

Someone tell us what sloppworld is. Where is it?

i think sloppyworld may answer a few of our prayers here in dallas.

I like Doublewide too, but a lot of the stuff they book is complete crap. And yes, I do realize that they have to do what they have to do to run a business, but I still can't say I dig even half of their shows. Maybe 1/4 at best. Anyway, I do love the sound in that room, and whoever runs the sound there is far above average for Dallas most of the time.

So sure, there are a couple good venues in Dallas, but when you consider Dallas' size relative to Denton's, you really start to see how pathetic this town is right now. We don't have a single DIY venue, and even the best bar venues aren't very consistent at all (and out best venues still don't book as many good shows as Rubber Gloves or Haileys). I live in Dallas, and I'm certainly not afraid of hanging out in my town. Its just that I do happen to be afraid of wasting my money and my time, and Dallas seems to be good at sucking up both.

Doublewide is a good club and they treat bands exceptionally well. You may not be into everything they book, but they service a lot of different crowds pretty equally. The bartenders are nice as hell, Jeff the sound guy is totally accomadating, their door guys are even nice and Chelsea is a good booking agent that actually attends and watches many of the shows she books. Not since the Argo days have I been treated as well as at that bar. I think a lot RAH RAH for Denton venues comes from people that are literally afraid to come to Dallas to see shows. Laptop Deathmatch could have never have lasted as long as it has without their help. Don't get me wrong. I like H.O.T. a lot. It has it's place and we need a place like that in the Big D since The sanctuary went down, but when you are trying to run a business and keep the TABC off of your back you have to do things a certain way which can be very limiting. Hence the very unfortunate 21 and up rule. Despite those limitations Doublewide does a great job of getting shows that would otherwise never happen in Dallas. I have tried to throw a Deathmatches in Denton since we started a year and a half ago keep getting the door slammed in my face.

Once Sloppyworld opens there will be 2 decent venues down the street from each other. Not to mention the occasional gigs at New Amsterdamn, Moinkey Bar, Arts Avenue and open mic at Fallout Lounge. It's not as bad down here as you think.

Cheers!!!!

Cycles are not that exciting. My wife's on her cycle, so no pussy tonight...but at least she's not pregnant again. I'm sure all of you blogsters can identify with a slow pussy night, though...am I right?

I think the concept of "cycles," at least in this context, is completely dead on. It seems that over the past year, a new crop of younger bands have risen in popularity and acclaim in DFWd, and the new DIY venues are rising along with them. It feels like this town is going through the beginning of a transition period with veunues, neighborhoods, bands and artists, and I find it exciting. These transition periods, or the beginnings of cycles, are probably the most exciting time in the musical community of any town because the possibilities are endless.

people buy

Nirvana is only proof that people will listen to and buy whatever is on the radio. That's all.

yeah, true. cycles. sorry.

Or, you know, what I said without boring everyone right before you.

Cycles.

It's kind of like when a band (let's use Nirvana out of laziness)comes along and they're kinda weird and different and underground but they're good enough that a lot of people start to like them. They're weird and different because they're a reaction against the bloated, money-grabbing soulless bands (Poison) that are popular at the time.

Then other bands start trying to be like them (Stone Temple Pilots, Bush, god this list could go on for years) and eventually the bands who emulate the original band are just as bad and bloated as the Poisions and Warrants and Enuff Znuffs. Then all those second and third wave bands overdose or make solo records or have car wrecks or just go away and you get to start off fresh with some new people with some new ideas.

DIY venues are always a reaction against bloated bullshit. Then someone opens a legit club with the DIY spirit that's fun and cheap and has good shows. Then many clubs open. Eventually they get bloated and bad and have to die. Then DIYs open again.

So I'm excited about the bloaters closing. Fresh blood.

Cycles, baby.

HOUSE OF TINNITUS Ruled THis past weekend!!! every night was so fucking good!!!!their shows are unbeatable!!!!

Gotcha.
I agree with you. With all the recent venue closings, it's encouraging to see the rise of the DIY...

Yup.

Dan's is pretty sweet, too.

What is there to expound on? I'm sure you've read the breaking news stories about the tragic club closings on other reputable local music blogs. I don't have much else to say about it except that Rubber Gloves is an exception. I have had nothing except a good time there since 1998. But it's the exception. I could go on about why I think pretty much every club from Dallas to Denton sucks but it would just be a somewhat pointless rant. The closings largely speak for themselves and I mourn them not in the least.

I really want to hear this discussion.

Thanks for your two cents anon(s), but my question was directed more towards "Defensive Listening":I'm geniunely interested in your take on the subject...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UcLdizqxrI

hey hot pantz

nobody said it was "new" smartass

That Andy Dick is funny. Look at him swiping that Golden Globe award intended for Forest Whitaker.

diy venue = house show.

nothing new about that whippersnappers.

saw lebanon with bob white at metrocoll sometime last year. those dudes know how to rock hard and smell bad.

oh i see--he means--yr booking agents dont know whats cool because they rely on others to tell them whats cool. so--the diyers are sticking their hand in the cookie jar and booking all the rad shows your venue is too ignorant to know about.

where did you get that quote?
because i was thinking the exact same thing!!

Yes, indeedly doodly:

Tue Mar 20 (Doors open at 9pm; $6)

Astronautalis
Bleubird
Filkoe
Babel Fish

RGRS
411 East Sycamore
Denton, TX 76205
(940) 387-7781
www.rubberglovesdentontx.com
www.myspace.com/rgrs

And from the home page:

"The incredibly well attended shows I've seen at all of the DIY venues lately are just another indicator of the increasingly negative state of the traditional venue in the area."

Please expound...

!

!!!

astronautilis/bleubird at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios tonight.

!!!

fluffer