We meant to have some stuff for you this week that we couldn't get done, so you people will just have to wait. For now, read this post and get ready for a busy week around here next week. Cool points:
FRIDAYAriel Pink | Chairlift (Hailey's)
I've seen Ariel Pink play live several different times, and he's put on quite a different show each time. The first one was during SXSW 2004, and he basically improved a bunch of noise and irritated the living shit out of pretty much everyone in the room. The second time he played an immaculate solo set at Hailey's with a lot of pre-recorded material and some charming visuals. The third time he played with a full band and somehow managed to sound exactly like his records, which as any fan would know, is quite an impressive feat. Anyway, I'm not sure what we'll get from him tonight, but it will be entertaining for sure. Howard Bob Johnson asked me whether I thought the show would be crowded considering that Pink has basically "spent the past year farting around," and I'm guessing it will, because most people who listen to Ariel Pink are totally in favor of farting around at all times. By the way, Ariel Pink> R. Stevie Moore. Sorry. Openers Chairlift are a pretty interesting group from Brooklyn who sort of sound like a slow song on the Top Gun soundtrack, but like way better and not all ironic-- influences range from Grace Jones to Til Tuesday to Cocteau Twins with a decidedly darker and more psychedelic streak throughout. And yes, that's them in the picture to the right, and yes, they look like jerks. Great stuff though.
Vorvadoss | Kill the Client | Warcola | Lychgate (Bar of Soap)
Punishing show at a venue that is perfect for punishment. While everyone roots for the Deep Ellum comeback, I'm going to root for the Bar of Soap comeback.... can I have a shitty place to watch scuzzy punk shows in Dallas again, please? Anyway, Kill the Client is a fucking intense grindcore group that shouldn't be missed, so you might want to get there in time to check them out. And I didn't find Lychgate's Myspace page, but I did find out via Wikipedia that a Lychgate is "a gateway covered with a roof found at the entrance of a traditional British church yard." Do these guy know how to party or what?
The Frenz | Yells at Eels | Rocket for Ethiopia (Lola's)
You should really keep your eyes pealed for the mid cities group Rocket for Ethiopia, as they play a sloppy and ferocious version of American hardcore that combines tasteful influences with fuck all energy and aggression while managing to never take themselves too seriously. It's quite good, dudes. Interesting line up all around.
Schwa | Violent Squid | Small White Door (907 Denton St.)
Nice free BYOB dance party house show that I really hope is going on after the Ariel Pink show gets out. Make it happen dudes! It's great to see Schwa playing a party like this too-- I've always thought that Cool Out could kick ass in Denton.
The Theater Fire | Ralph White (Lee Harvey's)
Free show.
Valient Thor | Early Man | Skeletonwitch | Golden Axe (Club Dada)
Valient Thor sort of sounds like early 80's Hollywood and Vine heavy metal mixed with an obvious Motorhead influence and nods to punk rock (turns out they are playing with Motorhead and the Melvins later this year). It's solid hipster metal with sufficient doses of irony to ensure that you don't feel like a shitbag when you're watching them, and I'm sure its a lot of fun live if you get wasted. Early Man is a much more satisfying thrash group with Ozzy vocals that actually rocks quite a bit harder than the headliners. All of this shit is pretty derivative, obviously, but people considering going to this probably don't give a shit about such things, and I suppose you could enjoy all the groups if you can take as many solos as they'll be dishing out. Early Man has a song about Aqua Teen Hunger Force too, and that actually really sucks.
Uptown Fridays with Select (Zubar)
Pikahsso and Tahiti w. Headkrack (The Cavern)
SATURDAYDFW Synth DIY Meet Up (2 PM, Bar of Soap)
The first meeting of a group of people interested in constructing their own synths. Musicians from all over will be discussing this construction and probably demonstrating some of their creations (Lars from Undoing of David Wright will be showing some of his and Shane English's handmade synths I believe). If you are as big of a dork as we are, you'll like this.
The Points | Unrestrained | Secret Bangs | Run Riot | Guilty Faces | TV Dads | ANS (715 Panhandle)
Big show with a lot of nationally touring acts followed by a midnight projection screening of Wet Hot American Summer, which rules. The Points are a very solid garage punk group that you should check out for sure. ANS starts things off I believe, and the start time is 7pm sharp. OH, ANS rules.
ADD: Hotflash Party with
Schwa |
Genova | Killtronix (Fallout Lounge)
Heartstring Stranglers | White Drugs | Eric of Fishboy (Rubber Gloves)
The Theater Fire | Ralph White | The Places (Dan's Silverleaf)Titus Andronicus | Death is Not a Joyride | Tiger Moth (The Lounge)
This is a free show that serves as a pre-opening party for the Lounge, a new Deep Ellum venture that has opened in the space that formerly housed the Darkside Lounge.
Gun Gun | Rival Gang | Ribelle Scaltro | Rocket For Ethiopia (Wisconsin)
SUNDAYLa Quiete | Trifle Tower | Phoenix Bodies | Hoop Dreamz | Pools (715 Panhandle)
The last show of the Phat Camp festival. I really wish Hoop Dreamz' Myspace page was
this instead.
Dead Child | The Spectacle | Magnum Octopus (Rubber Gloves)
Metal project from Slint's David Pajo... and I just can't dig it for some reason. I never liked Slint either, so go figure. I actually think Arlington's the Spectacle is a lot better.
