Fairly slow Friday night, but a few good things happening this weekend:
FRIDAY
Stereo on Strike Party (Minc) Minc is one of those places that can either be a real blast or a real drag, depending on what's happening there on a given night. And although I have no idea what kind of crowd will show up there this evening (or for any event at that place), Stereo on Strike apparently attracted almost 300 people to their last party, and frankly, you'd be hard pressed to find more variety in a local electronic music show than what you'll get this evening. This event will include DJ performances from CTRL ALT DEL of Central Booking as well at Robert Taylor and Sean Vargas. You'll also be able to catch laptop deathmatch performances between DJ sets as part of their two year anniversary.
SATURDAY
Silver Apples | One Cut Kill | Zanzibar Snails (Hailey's) What a cool show, particularly for psyche heads, stoners, avant garde enthusiasts and record collector dorks. You'll probably see a lot of people representing each category at this show, but I bet you'll be happy you went. Founder Simeon will be in the house, and I honestly have no idea what kind of show this will be, other than to say that you can check out a bunch of Silver Apples live stuff over at One Cut Kill's Myspace page. Serving as a major influence on pretty much every genre of popular music to have emerged since the 1960's, Silver Apples influence cannot be understated. But fortunately, they aren't one of those bands that are more fun to read about than to listen to, and frankly, I find their relative pop accessibility as amazing and interesting as their musical and compositional innovations. Needless to say, I can't wait for this show.
Hogpig | Red Monroe | The Angelus (Rubber Gloves) This is NOT the last Angelus show necessarily, but it will be the last for a couple of their band members (not leader Emil Rapstine of course), so this WILL be your last chance to see this incarnation of the band if you're a fan. Also Red Monroe's CD release show for Denton. We'll have that review Monday, promise.
SUNDAY
Kites | Russian Tsarlang | Judascow | Voyant | Dromez | Aunt's Analog (House of Tinnitus) Kites is the name taken by Christopher Forgues, who started producing noise music in Providence, RI in 1999 as part of the Fort Thunder scene that also included names such as Lightning Bolt and Load Records. Forgues utilizes homemade electronic instruments in his sets as a one man band, and from all accounts I've seen around the web (dude), his live show is truly a unique experience. Not that there will be any shortage of unique music to be heard at HOT this weekend, with more harsh noise than you could ever wish for swirling around the living room. Another raw as fuck show for one of the most respectable new institutions in local music.
Maker Maker with Prince William, Kingdom, Sober (Palladium Loft) Prince William's new monthly kicks off this weekend with the much hyped DJ Kingdom from Brooklyn. After seeing several of PW's performances over the years, as well as listening to his fantastic We Shot A Mix several times over the past few weeks, I think I can safely say that there aren't too many other DJs in the area that approach PW's knowledge of the history of electronic music or the stylish eclecticism of his sets. And you know what? He gives enough of a nod to silly top 40 to make his sets one of the best combos of mindless fun and tasteful selections that you'll find around here.
Interpol | Liars (Palladium) FYI for anyone who is going to this show in order to catch Liars-- they'll be taking the stage at 730 according to Palladium's Nancy Shelton, so plan accordingly. I know that there are probably a lot of people like me who really want to see Liars but don't have much of an interest in either Interpol or the price of their concert tickets, but if you can afford to part with the change, you'll probably be really glad that you took the time to check out Liars on such a huge stage. Their new album, though not the coherent conceptual masterpiece that Drums Not Dead might have been, is still highly enjoyable, and contains enough really great songs and moments to keep these guys high on my list of favorite current rock bands. The main difference between their latest album and those previous is that it seems to lack the stylistic and conceptual focus that the other albums had, but by all accounts this was done on purpose, and in many ways it's a good thing. I wouldn't have believed you if you had told me that the new Liars record would sound like Beck on one track, This Heat on another and Jesus and Mary Chain on a third, but that is exactly the way it is, and I can't wait to see what they do with it live.
Atmosphere | Mac Lethal | Grayskul | Lucky Jam (Palladium Loft) I'm not the biggest fan of Atmosphere's stuff, but I guess you're allowed to be if you want. Seems weak and too intentionally "intellectual" for my taste, but then I pretty much can't tolerate 90% of "alternative" hip hop. Yuck.
Stereo on Strike presents Lost Generation (Fallout Lounge) Wanz, Ineka and Pretty Vacant DJs will all be spinning tonight.
Shaolin Death Squad | The Great Tyrant | Addnerim (Wreck Room in Ft. Worth) Yeah, Shaolin Death Squad is pretty bad, but The Great Tyrant is playing and I hear the show is actually free... but don't quote me on that.
Denton's Secret Headquarters, which has obviously become one of the longer lasting and most viable DIY spots in the area, needs a little help to get though the month. And fortunately for you, they aren't asking you to give them charity out of the kindness of your hearts (which most of you bastards probably wouldn't do anyway), but are instead offering you a nice little deal--
Starting today and going through the weekend, SHQ will be selling "Show Cards" for $10. The cards will get you into any four shows you want (a $20 value) at any time, and will provide them with the money they need to keep going over the next couple of weeks. Look at it as an investment, and a good one at that, because they have some pretty good shows coming up this this year:
- 2 Eighth Continent Arts Council shows
- 2 Ghosthustler DJ/dance party shows
- Clipd Beaks show December 6th
- Dust Congress show December 1st
And plenty of other stuff that (trust me) you'll be into.
You can buy these things at SHQ this weekend, and I bet you can contact them via their Myspace pageif you can't make it up to Denton this weekend.
Life Death Continuum | Best Fwends | Burning Brides (Double Wide) I'm not the biggest fan of Burning Brides' near parody of rock history, but I think it's impressive that Parade Of Flesh snagged them for this bill tonight. Life Death Continuum recall some of the more complicated styles of the 70's prog movement, but they temper it with healthy doses of hardcore and punk influenced outbursts and screaming. WARNING: They are not afraid to use that "Rick Wakeman" sound. Best Fwends are willfully ridiculous DayGlo rap who sometimes incorporate crowd harassment as part of the show. An excellently mixed bag tonight.
High On Fire | Mono | Coliseum | Panthers (Granada) A local music journalist once described Mono as Husker Du finding common ground with Kronos Quartet, and I was really let down to find out that they did not live up to that description. They are yet another "buildup" band, with the rising tension and the obligatory volume climax like all the bands who got name dropped when everyone was arguing about Explosions In The Sky recently. Well, Mono is definitely better than Explosions In The Sky and you'll probably enjoy them if you like that group. Coliseum and High On Fire are two of the best working metal bands today and I hope the Granada's sound system can push this as hard as it needs to go to be convincing. That goes double for Mono.
Taxi Fare with DJ Nature and special guest DJ Queen Majesty (Zubar) DJ Nature will be playing his reggae set in the backroom of Zubar tonight along with Queen Majesty, who is part of the venerable archivists, Deadly Dragon Sound System, a group that boasts a collection of over 150,000 slabs of Reggae, dancehall, rocksteady and various splinter genres. There is a very good interview with Queen Majesty over at Central Booking. Ya know, that is much more than a party blog. It's educational and shit.
1. The Polyphonic Spree - Live from Austin, TX (DVD) 2. Mom - Little Brite 3. The Polyphonic Spree - The Fragile Army 4. Red Monroe - ¡Policia! ¡Policia! 5. St. Vincent - Marry Me
OVERALL TOP 20
1. The Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam 2. Akron/Family - Love is Simple (+DVD) 3. The Polyphonic Spree - Live from Austin, TX (DVD) 4. Mom - Little Brite 5. Pinback - Autumn of the Seraphs 6. Ghostland Observatory - Paparazzi Lightning 7. Kevin Drew - Spirit If... 8. Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends 9. Go! Team - Proof of Youth 10. The Polyphonic Spree - The Fragile Army 11. Liars - Liars 12. Red Monroe - ¡Policia! ¡Policia! 13. Jamie T. - Panic Prevention 14. Ghostland Observatory - Delete.Delete.I.Eat.Meat 15. Simian Mobile Disco - Attack Decay Sustain Release 16. Department of Eagles - Cold Nose 17. New Pornographers - Challengers 18. High On Fire - Death is This Communion 19. St. Vincent - Marry Me 20. Sorta - Strange & Sad but True
Record Hop | Sham 69 | Flametrick Subs (The Granada) Record Hop will probably suffer from sore thumb syndrome tonight. Even Austin institution/punchline Flametrick Subs are somewhat of a mismatch to open for British punk legends, Sham 69. Flametrick Subs are a psychobilly band that's so weighted down with schtick, they probably can't tell where the pompadours and fuzzy die end and reality begins. They are known for their backup dancers called Satan's Cheerleaders, that make the average roller derby girl seem like Jackie Onassis. Sham 69 are actually one of the worst of the famous British punk bands. Record Hop is great and I've really wanted to hear more of the new material live, but tonight they'll standout simply by not completely sucking. I have my doubts about the crowd for these two acts sharing that sentiment, however.
The Wax Museums | Eddy Current Suppression Ring | Cococoma | The Hipshakes | Stymie (Secret Headquarters) Much younger bands and a much better show for those who are into garage and punk in Denton tonight. I can usually take or leave bands in the garage punk genre unless they completely rock out and are fucked up enough, and these acts seem like they won't disappoint. I've been trying to catch a Wax Museums show for a little while now, they sound really minimal and cool and at least a couple of their songs reminded me of "I'm A Bug" by The Urinals. Eddy Current Suppression Ring is from Australia and they have an international reputation for their engergetic live shows that recall some of Billy Childish's wilder moments, and even Fast Records-era Mekons. The Hipshakes are from England, soak everything with distortion, and hopefully they capture the overloaded fuzz attack live that I've heard online. The Farfisa makes Cococoma sound slightly more antiquated, but not necessarily in a negative way. Most of the groups here have an over-the-top approach that Teengenerate employed, and they certainly were a credit to this style of punk rock. Secret Headquarters once again saves the day by absorbing a five band bill when The City Of Denton said local recording studio Black Bottle Recording couldn't hold this show without a permit. What would we do without you, SHQ?
Other than the normal Cool Out at the Cavern and Bad Azz Jazz at Amsterdam, don't see much happening today unless you're interested in checking out critically acclaimed hardcore band Modern Life is Warat Red Blood Club.
Expect some locally oriented content this week.
And honestly, can you believe the way various political figures and candidates are reacting to the appearance of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at Columbia University? Are we at a point in this society where we can't even HEAR the opinions of someone else? What happened to the concepts of intellectual and academic freedom? And why are our presidential candidates required to respond to the lowest common denominator in this country every time something even the least bit offensive to ANYONE occurs (such as the Moveon.org ad for example)? Can most adults not distinguish between agreeing with someone and simply providing them a forum to speak? The Iranian government is probably one of the last in the world that I would support, but for fuck's sake, I can at least tolerate knowing that it's leader is speaking to a group of people in my country. I hope you guys can too.
