We're preparing a little something that will provide you with a little more information on these guys next week, but for now we just wanted to give everyone a heads up on Ghosthustler before their debut performance at Rubber Gloves on Saturday, where they will be opening one of the weekend's biggest shows with Cry Blood Apache, Eat Avery's Bones, and the recently resurrected Undoing of David Wright. What a line up.

Anyway, some of you may recognize one of their two tracks from our Myspace page, and there is a reason we posted it: we're smart, and we only like good shit. But even if you don't believe that, you might want to stop by their Myspace page and hear a couple rough but highly accessible and addictive blip/synth tracks that pack quite a dancefloor punch. The band, which consists of Shane English (of Undoing and Chief Death Rage), Alan Palomo and Gray St. Germain Gideon, promise an Alan Vega cover for Saturday night... if you want to catch it, I'd get to Rubber Gloves around ten since they're going on first. More to come on these guys soon...

MC Router | Farah Holly | The Forbes and Young Trio (Rubber Gloves)
Smart lineup with three dramatically different acts. MC Router is actually very good at what she does even if I'm way too much of a Luddite to always understand the techie terms and gamer references she's making. Farah Holly put on a dramatic and intense show at Avenue Arts last Saturday and I'm sure she'll deliver more of the same tonight. Her CD single made waiting in the 2:00 am Whataburger drive-thru afterwards more glammed out than usual. The Forbes and Young Trio features the hard working Mike Forbes and bassist Andrew Scott Young. I wasn't clear on whether or not Stefan Gonzalez (of Unconscious Collective/Akkolyte) is playing this show but that would only be a huge plus. I've seen Gonzalez and Forbes with various projects and they are probably two of the most gifted musicians that I've ever witnessed in North Texas. The samples of music I've heard from Andrew Young have all been really engaging, bubbling improv that's reminiscent of various late 60's ESP records releases. A show worth going to.

Tonight at Hailey's the people from Denton-based counter culture experts, Strawberry Fields, will be playing video clips of drunken (and worse) celebrity TV appearances. Sounds good. This will be from 10 PM to 12 am And Flashlight Party will be playing records from midnight to two.

Boogdish | Galuc Dadu | Oberlm (1919 Hemphill)

ADD:

TV On The Radio at The Granada is sold out.

Tuesday April 3rd marks the date of two new releases featuring two different members of former Texas band Windsor for the Derby. In the late nineties, I tended to lump Windsor in with other Texas groups such as Bedhead, Transona 5, and American Analog Set. For me, the minimalism and repetition common with these bands captured a slacker-like ethic more attuned to apathy than, say, the class clownishness and sarcasm of slacker prototypes Pavement— who were too interested in having fun to be considered slack in a truly apathetic sense. At the same time, there were aesthetic elements of Windsor et al. that were implicit: vocals were typically diminished, lyrics were deemphasized, and musicianship was understated without ever being self-consciously elementary. Those elements addressed the apathy of the scene, and what I've found to be a distinctly Texan adherance to a code of stoicism that suppresses emotional expression: they provided an opportunity to emote vicariously through their songs, or offered introspection as a substitute. Good examples are Bedhead’s “Inhume” from the Dark Ages EP, and Windsor’s “Stasis” from their album Minnie Greutzfeldt.

Adam Wiltzie has worked extensively with Windsor for the Derby, and his band, Stars of the Lid, releases their first album in six years with Stars of the Lid and Their Refinement of the Decline. The band was formed in Austin in 1990, though Wiltzie now lives in Belgium and founding partner Brian McBride is based in L.A. Stars are named after the visuals you experience when you close your eyes, and if you imagine what a band so-named might sound like, you’re probably not far off from what Stars of the Lid actually do, um, sound like. I find that a little indulgence in the symphonic/ambient/drone niche goes a long way, and considering that “…Their Refinement…” is a double LP, I’m inclined to wait this one out.

Garnering lofty comparisons to New Order and Kraftwerk, Future Conditional boast a more commercially ambitious offering with their debut, “We Don’t Just Disappear.” With myriad contributors, Future Conditional is primarily the project of Cedric Pin and Glen Johnson of the ambivalence inducing Piano Magic. Principal Windsor for the Derby member Dan Matz graces the album with his characteristic lazy, almost half-a-note flat voice on the very good opening track, "Bright Lights & Wandering". In his appearance here, as elsewhere, his voice operates as if it was recorded in slow-motion and then played back at normal speed. "Crying's What You Need", sung by Angele David-Guillou of Klima, nearly has me waiting for the guitar hook in New Order’s “Regret.” Another one, "Volunteer", is very catchy and sung by Bobby Wratten of Trembling Blue Stars fame.

Meanwhile, Windsor for the Derby, now based in Philadelphia, have supposedly reconvened and are planning a new album, "How We Lost". Secretly Canadian has recently re-released some of the band’s Trance Syndicate records from their days in Austin, and this past fall their song “Melody of a Fallen Tree” was included on the rather decent Marie Antoinette soundtrack.

Peter And The Wolf | Deep Snapper | Artless Fiction | Cory Derden (Club Dada)
Tonight's show with headliner Peter and The Wolf find's singer-songwriter Red Hunter in the beginning stages of a six week tour. So he'll finally be living up to the "nomadic" image we've heard so much about. I was starting to think being a nomad just entailed hanging out in Austin. In that case, I know a lot of nomads. Expect a set with exotic instruments he may or may not know how to play. Cory Derden hails from Houston and I was surprised by the refreshing simplicity of some of the banjo and accordion on his sample tracks. Some of it was memorable and well written enough to not appear just tossed in for faux-rustic Americana accents that people usually throw at you to cover up the fact that they can't really write one damn song. The sped-up outro section to the track "On My Own" is especially good as is the song in general. The other two groups playing tonight couldn't be any more different from the rest of the bill, which is a concept I usually support but this might be pushing it. Artless Fiction is a screamy, tough-sounding group that's described themselves as experimental hardcore, though I don't know if that's the first thing I would blurt out upon hearing them. I won't blurt out the first thing I thought when I heard them because that would be unprofessional. Their screaming style and super-serious attitude might be a little too dude-rock for me, but maybe it's better live. Deep Snapper is a very tight, concise rock group with influences ranging from the articulate shout of Mike Watt to the cutting, distorted rudeness of Shooting At Unarmed Men. Very good.

Explosions in the Sky | The Paper Chase (Granada Theater)- If you want to go to this show and don't have tickets, you happen to be out of luck because the show is sold out. I've never seen EIS live, and although I'm sure its a unique and perhaps even exciting experience at times, I have never really been too into these guys. Don't know why, but none of their stuff really ever does it for me, like its just too damn stiff for what they're trying to get at, you know what I mean? I can only take so many emotional instrumental build-ups in one sitting, especially when it feels like there often isn't a payoff, or the conclusions of each song get a bit formulaic. Not saying they suck or anything, but I also can't say that I'm down in the dumps about not having a ticket for tonight.

There is also Bad Ass Jazz at the Amsterdam tonight as well, or you could go see a film.

1. Voot Cha Index - The Talking House/Cradle 7"
2. Dr. Dog - We All Belong
3. Andrew Bird - Armchair Apocrypha
4. Explosions in the Sky - All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
5. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
6. Peter Bjorn & John - Writer's Block
7. Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Ever Sank
8. Shins - Wincing the Night Away
9. Do Make Say Think - You, You're a History in Rust
10. LCD Soudsystem - Sound of Silver
11. I'm From Barcelona - Let Me Introduce My Friends
12. Grizzly Bear - Yellow House
13. Apostle of Hustle - National Anthem of Nowhere
14. Menomena - Friend and Foe
15. Field Music - Tones of Town
16. Klaxons - Myths of the Near Future
17. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Broom
18. The Blow - Paper Television
19. Loney, Dear - Loney, Noir
20. Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Living with the Living

The new Dr. Dog is a bit disappointing for me. And the new Modest Mouse? Laughable... is it just me, or is that first single almost completely unlistenable? It honestly makes the new Shins album sound like Pet Sounds in comparison.

And what about Klaxons? Better than you wanted them to be? Yep. And Field Music? Most boring band since the last time I said a band was the most boring band since some other band? Right again.

The Blow has managed to grow on me, however, and I always give Ted Leo a chance, don't you?

This should get you ready to start your day:

Lots of stuff going on this weekend. Forget the intro, lets just see if I can make it through typing all this without crying. I bet I can't:

FRIDAY

Sneaker Pimps Release Party with DJ A One and Genie G (7-11pm Passport Exhibit Gallery)
Passport Exhibit Gallery, if you didn't already know, is a boutique shoe and clothing store (located at 3112 Swiss Avenue) that seems to have already acquired a national reputation amongst shoe people. I don't know if I know any shoe people. Anyway, the colorful clothes, pleasant setting, attractive people and typically reliable flow of free beer always make these parties a lot of fun, but what really holds things together are the DJs that P.E.G. books for these things. I don't know anything about the two DJs they've got for tonight, but I've never seen a DJ at P.E.G. thats been even just o.k... they've all been great. Go watch a shoe store turn into a dance party.

Peeping Tom feat. Mike Patton | Dan the Automator (Granda Theater)
Goddamn it, Mike Patton. What are we supposed to do with you, anyway? Peeping Tom is a hip hop influenced project that Patton put together with the likes of Dan the Automator, Norah Jones, Massive Attack and Kool Keith among others. Like everything Patton does, its strange, often stupid, and sometimes brilliant, but its certainly good enough for any old school Faith No More fan like myself to check out.

Melissas' Party with Farah and DJ Select (Avenue Arts)
Well this is Farah's first show since the post heard round the world, and although she certainly didn't help herself in the comments section a few months ago, people were being at least a bit unfair to her throughout the whole thing too. Honestly, I've never seen a more substantial group of pointlessly nasty comments in the entire history of this blog, and thats really saying something. The repercussions of all that stuff will probably be nonexistent tonight, however, since I doubt anyone that really can't stand her music (or her) is actually going to go see her show, leaving only those who are either 1) indifferent or 2) interested in seeing what has to be one of the stranger performers in DFWd these days. I happen to like her Johnny Jewel produced material quite a bit, and I'm interested to see what she can pull off live. Add Select into the mix, and you you've got one of the best DJs in town to hold things down all night and into the after-hours realm, which is really when these Avenue Arts parties peak. This is why I enjoy not knowing very many people in the local "scene." We can largely ignore the personal politics and just listen. And watch.

The Lovely Sparrows | Eaton Lake Tonics | Warren Jackson Hearne | The Night Game Cult | Karrie Hopper (The Cavern)
A pretty solid line up most of the way through, but to me Night Game Cult is always a true highlight. I saw one of the best local performances I've seen all year a few weeks ago when Kyle played a short set in a completely dark 8th Continent in front of about 30 people. It was pretty dead on, and the audience was literally telling Kyle how much they loved him in between every song. I've seen good and bad shows from this guy, and when they're good, theres a certain feel to them that you just can't deny.

Current Leaves | Red Monroe | The Watchers (Secret Headquarters)

Jerry Lee Lewis/Leon Russel (Nokia Theater)
Do I really have to say anything about this show? This is one of those "we might not even be here talking about music if it wasn't for this guy" shows. It does cost like $50, however, so we can just appreciate its importance in theory or something.

Sean Lennon | Kamila Thompson | Women and Children (Gypsy Tea Room)
So this is pretty much the last show at Gypsy for all intents and purposes. These club closings have been been absolutely covered to death in other local publications so I won't even bother crying about it, but I think the Tea Room will be remembered as a solid venue, and its going to seem like the Hacienda or CBGBs in 1977 after a few months of House of Blues.

Happy Bullets (Lee Harvey's)

SATURDAY

Misshapes (Lizard Lounge)
Did you guys hear about this show? Well you should totally go! Just be sure to smoke a shitload of Camels once you get there, cuz Papa needs a new pair of shoes. The girl is hot and all and I'm sure this is going to be fun, but jesus those guys are a couple of cunts, aren't they? Anyway, you have to RSVP at Camelsmokes.com to go to this thing, but it is free.

The Great Tyrant/War Wizards | Bexarametric | Cygnus (Doublewide)
What a line up. I've heard that Wanz Dover was unfortunately involved in some kind of car accident on his way up to Lawrence, Kansas to finish recording an album. I don't know if the accident was serious, but I seriously hope he's ok. Anyway, I'm not sure at this point whether War Wizards will actually be playing this show, but the rest of the line up is so good that it doesn't matter. Bexarametric's cold, jittery percussive electro freak outs remind me a bit of Aphex Twin and a more gentle Kid 606 among other things, although I always feel uneasy even mentioning Aphex Twin since he seems to spark so much passion. Check out "matsumoto" on the Myspace page, or "scent of a rise" if you want to hear something more sprawling and poppy. Really good stuff. And unless I'm a dumbass, Cygnus' name is spelled wrong on everything I've seen about this show, which is a shame because he's put together some very dizzy, spaced out orchestral tracks here. And anyone that likes Yellow Magic Orchestra deserves more respect than that.

The Nouns Group | Angry Businessmen | Christian! Teenage Runaway (Rubber Gloves)
Angry Businessmen are officially nominated for funniest local Myspace URL. This will be a kick ass show, no question about it.

Hot Flash Party (Fallout Lounge)
A smaller version of what you'll see at Misshapes, but it probably won't be any more low key when its at its peak. Stephen R and Schwa are still finding their bearings a bit, but they've been putting together some great sets of acid house, funk, disco, new rave and everything in between. This night is starting to come together.

The Smoke Mod Club (Avenue Arts)
We've made a few shitty comments in the past about some of the cool dudes that go to The Smoke, but it was never about the DJs or the music, both of which are top notch. After all, this party has been going on for years now, and in Dallas (or anywhere else for that matter), thats a goddamn miracle.

Red Monroe | The Tah Dahs | Happy Bullets (Club Dada)

SUNDAY

I believe you'll be able to catch Wild in the Streets at Hailey's this evening.