Two things going on in Denton tonight that should be well worth everyone's time. I know for a fact that they will be worth you money because both of them are FREE.

The first is the show we talked about the other day at House of Tinnitus, which will feature the following bands in (we believe) the following order:

The New Flesh
Daniel Inhumn
A Fail Association (a harsh noise band from what we can gather)
Chief Death Rage

Maybe someone from the house crew can jump on the comments and fill us in on the exact times and set order, but we're pretty sure that things get started at 8 o'clock. Last time the show was free and they had free beer, and we're hoping this time will be the same. However, they do ask for small donations for the touring bands. And just as an FYI to people that might not be inclined to go to a noise show: this one is much more of a hard rock show than a noise show, so you might want to give it a try.

Also, DJ Nature will doing The Party as always at Rubber Gloves. If you know you can't make it to the Zubar party this Friday, you might want to head up.

Oh, and don't forget about Flashlight Party's Radio Clash, where they will be spinning post-punk, Italo disco, new wave and the like at Haileys. Guess thats THREE free things happening in Denton.

As I watched the election returns last night, CNN's Paul Begala made a comment that really stuck with me. When Wolf Blitzer asked him to explain the Democratic success in house and Senate races around the country, Begala discussed the changing face of the party and claimed that this year's crop of Democratic challengers "weren't your grandfather's Democrats." I guess he meant this as a compliment to those candidates, a sign of some sort of positive change or progress in the party as they gained power for the first time in a long while. I, however, took it as an omen of sorts.

Of course, I really don't want to be Mr. Negative on the morning after the Dems gained 28 seats in the House (enough to run the place) and a 1 vote majority in the Senate (most likely), and I also don't want to rain on the parade that I myself will be throwing today in response to the news that Donald Rumsfeld has stepped down as Secretary of Defense (Its about time!). But I do have to say that I had mixed feelings about the results last night.

For one thing, its true that this was an important victory for the Democrats considering that they've been the minority on the Hill for the past twelve years. However, it should be noted that anything BUT a big Democrat victory would have been crushing because historically, the party in the White House almost ALWAYS loses midterm elections during the 6th year of a presidency. In fact, George W. Bush is 3-1 in the past four elections, and most presidents don't even do THAT well. 4-0 would have been pretty much unheard of.

It should also be said that while the gains were big for the Dems last night, they still didn't come close to the landslide 54 seat pick up that the Republicans and their famous "Contract with America" enjoyed in 1994, meaning that while this might have been a big win in some respects, it will probably not be considered as important as the Republican revolution of the early 90's.

Its still a win, and I'm very happy to see the Republicans sweat it out. It was a also a sign that Merica might not be willing to turn complete control of the country over the Republicans just yet, which is a good thing. My only problem comes when I look around at many of the victorious Democrats and realize that I really don't have much in common with them from an ideological standpoint. There weren't very many Dems in the mix this year that support the invasion of Iraq, but there certainly were a good number of relatively hawkish candidates, as well as several that were pro-life, pro gun, pro Bush tax cuts, and simply middle ground on everything else. McCaskill in MO, Tester in MT and Webb in VA are all fairly conservative Democrats in most respects, and many of the victors in the key house races last night hold similarly right of center views. This country as a whole has swung quite far to the right over the past twenty five years, and the Democrats have gone with it. "Liberal" is still a four letter word to most Americans, and the term "progressive" hardly even exists anymore. Even the party's most iconic contemporary leader, Bill Clinton, was in most respects a conservative. He passed the legislation that allowed large media corporations to start running the world, he engaged in several unnecessary and costly military ventures around the world, and he supported a vision of free trade that helps multinational corporations and few others. The democratic party saw the success of Clinton and the Republicans as a sign that they had to move to the right in order to remain competitive, and thats exactly what they've done.

I'm very happy the Dems won last night, and I'm excited to see what they plan to do with their new power over the next two years. The need for change is clear, and I hope the Democrats deliver. I just worry that these days, a victory for the Democratic party doesn't necessarily mean a victory for those of us who are happy to be called "liberals."

Looks pretty dead tonight.

Social Distortion (Lakewood Theater)

I've never been a fan and I feel sorry for the people that love the band enough to pay $26.50 tonight. I can definitely relate to loving a band so much you'd go broke for them but I think punk is too expensive for me. I have to admit that one of life's little pleasures is that scene in the 80's punk documentary, Another State Of Mind, where you can't tell if Mike Ness is slam dancing on his back, having a drug induced seizure or both. If you aren't one of Social D's faithful fans my advice is to rent this documentary instead. It'll be cheaper and you'll enjoy it a hell of a lot more.

1. Because Jerry Falwell, James Dobson and the rest of the highly motivated Christian right will be out voting against anything that involves even the slightest bit of common sense. Their votes shouldn't count so disproportionately.

2. Because 3, 129 U.S. troops and an estimated 48,000 civilians have died in Iraq while the Bush Administration and its incompetent Republican congress have done nothing to improve the situation. In fact, they are blaming those that question their wisdom for many of the problems that THEY have created.

3. Because its a really nice day today

4. Because 81% of people with incomes over 100,000 a year voted in 2004, while just 58% of those with incomes less that 30,000 did.

5. Because only 46% of people between the ages of 18-24 voted in 2004, while 73% of 65-74 year olds vote. You probably don't have a lot in common with the latter demographic.

6. Because we should probably try to be as important to politicians as lobbyists and interest groups.

7. Because although a vote for anyone other than a Republican usually doesn't count in Texas, there is actually a small chance that Rick Perry might lose tonight. Wouldn't that be nice?

8. Because if you vote, you'll at least be allowed to bitch about the results.

Since there doesn't appear to be much going on tonight other than Jazz at the Amsterdam Bar (a place that really seems to be on the up and up recently), I'll take this opportunity to tell you about a good show in Denton this Wednesday at House of Tinnitus, featuring a band called The New Flesh who sound like they are going to tear the roof off of the place. Really, the recordings on their Myspace page aren't the greatest as far as quality, but you should give them a listen and think about how they will sound in a packed living room. You might want to think about going, especially since another one of our Denton favorites, Chief Death Rage, will be opening.

the line up (NOT tonight, but Wednesday) which should get going around 8pm:

The New Flesh
Robert Inhuman
A Fail Association
Chief Death Rage

More posts coming today and this evening.

1. The Polyphonic Spree - Wait
2. The Blow - Paper Television
3. Beach House - Beach House
4. sunnO))) & Boris - Altar
5. Jeff Tweedy - Sunken Treasure Live (DVD)
6. Benoit Pioulard - Precis
7. Dosh - The Lost Take
8. Califone - Roots & Crowns
9. Clark - Body Riddle
10. Burden Brothers - Mercy
11. A Hawk And A Hacksaw - The Way the Wind Blows
12. Kasabian - Empire
13. Bob Dylan - Modern Times
14. Yo La Tengo - I am not afraid of you and I will beat your ass
15. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife
16. David Bazan - Fewer Moving Parts EP
17. John Legend - Once Again
18. Malajube - Trompe-L'oeil
19. Animal Collective - Hollinndagain
20. Tim Hecker - Harmony in Ultraviolet

Tim Hecker's Harmony in Ultraviolet is an incredible record that is slowly becoming one of my favorites this year. Its certainly not the easiest music to wrap your head around right away, but anyone that likes shoegaze or the darker side of ambient will dig it. In other news....

SCENE RULE #76: The Burden Brothers aren't allowed to wear eyeliner anymore, and any other Dallas band with an average age of 34 or greater must apply for a special eyeliner permit before wearing it in public. Thank you.

It looks to be sort of a slow weekend for live music, but there are still a few things going on that you might be interested in. We're doing this early today, so check back tonight and the rest of the weekend for updates if you wanna:

FRIDAY:

DJ G will be doing his Unknown Pleasures night at the Cavern, spinning underground and obscure 80's stuff.

Record Hop will be playing at Hailey's with mainstream rock/pseudo punk acts Baboon and Saboteur as part of Baboon's record release party. I don't particularly care for either Baboon or Saboteur, although I'll admit that I've heard a few decent Baboon songs over the years.... its just that they seem to be pretty bland run of the mill KDGE rock for the most part. However, Record Hop is playing and its a slow night, so what do you want?

Violent Squid will be playing a birthday party/ Dia De Los Muertos house show at 1001 Carrol Blvd. in Denton tonight. Keg will be available but Ty Stamp recommends bringing some of your own shit. Not sure what time they will play, but someone might be able to tell us in the comments section.

SATURDAY:

An art show featuring the work of painters April Pierce and Vanessa Michel will be taking place at Art Prostitute from 7-10pm. DJ Select from Central Booking will be spinning records all night, and Shiny Around the Edges will play live in the gallery at 8pm. Throw in the fact that its free and will probably have free alcohol, and you've got a great way to start the night.

Also going on early on Saturday, The Video Association of Dallas will present Resident: A Retrospective, a two hour series of videos produced by the San Francisco avant garde music/visual/performance art group The Residents. Here is a part of the press release:

"the Video Association of Dallas presents (eye), Resident, a retrospective of 35 years of works from San Francisco-based avant garde performance and multimedia art group, The Residents.The Residents are known for their anonymity and eccentricity. Originally from Louisiana, they they moved to San Francisco in the early 1970s and formed Ralph Records. The tour band members always appear masked, (most often in giant eyeballs with top hats), are not referred to by name or even pseudonym, never grant interviews, and communicate entirely through spokesmen at The Cryptic Corporation. Whether the band consists of tour members, or a rotating crews of performers is the subject of much speculation. Their work is sometimes obtuse, often playful, and always imaginative.The Residents' work spans decades, having embraced many cutting-edge media arts forms and modes of experimentation. Most recently, The Residents have produced internet-based work, such as 2006's The River of Crime, an online community art project and radio drama, and the Timmy videos on YouTube. In October 2006, they were the subject of a retrospective at the Museum of Modern Art in New York."

The event will take place at 7:30pm at The Magnolia Lounge at Fair Park (1121 1st Ave. at Grand, actually inside the Fair Grounds), and the association has suggested a $5 donation. The Residents' often short musical pieces and some of the concepts surrounding them are about all I know of them, but their story is an interesting one, and you can certainly say that they have been one of the more influential experimental/avant/performance groups in the U.S. They're probably a big deal to the strangest band you like. You can call 214-428-8700 for more info, or click here.

After going to either of those early events, you might want to check out the Lost Generation Make Out Party at The Amsterdam Bar in Expo Park. This edition of the party will feature DJ and electro performances from Wanz, Stephen R, Sean Vargas of High Society, Convextion, Cygnus and Alex Ander. The last Make Out Party at the Amsterdam was packed and it was a blast. You can expect this one to be the same.

Also, The Smoke will be going on next door at Avenue Arts.

SUNDAY

Trivium | The Sword | Protest the Hero | Seemless (Ridglea Theater)