Japanadroids, | The Coathangers | Tober Omi (The Cavern): Trying to figure out what Japandroids is going for, versus what they actually do, is a real head-scratcher. On their page, they claim that they are play Garage Rock." I've even read a couple of reviews that supported that description. Now, there a lot of times when I'm told about some "crazy," "noisy," "completely fucked up" band that gets a lot of attention from Terminal Boredom or Art For Spastics, and I'll hear it and say, "Oh, that's just Garage Rock." Or "That's pretty good, but yeah, it's Garage Rock." Or even "Yes that whirring sound might make a passing sonic reference to Chrome, but it's still basically Garage Rock." But Japandroids, I would never, ever call Garage Rock. There are way too many 90's Indie Rock melodies and even anthemic emo-sounding tracks for that. Okay, so I've heard one one sludgy riff and maybe a slightly tough tom-heavy drumbeat, but that's it and still nothing remotely resembling anything "Garage-y." The songwriting is all of the super sensitive variety and seems to be mostly about relationships. This band also described themselves as such: "Imagine Guns N Roses meets Iggy & The Stooges meets The Sonics meets the Rolling Stones!!!!. That's the band we wish we were."
Hate to break it to you fellas, but I'm pretty sure if all those bands met, it wouldn't sound anything like Hey Mercedes, not even for five seconds.
I think The Coathangers are a very good band and definitely make this show worth seeing, all misleading critical and band-generated attempts at categorization aside.
Cool Out (The Cavern) Tonight is a "Cool Out Appreciation Party," AKA COAP, and the first 100 people in the door get a free drink. Um, excuse me, excuse me, um, Schwa, can I uh, um, get a Shirley Temple with extra Grenadine? Thanks.
Alice Cooper's Theater Of Death (The Palladium) According to the press release for this show, Bob Dylan 'publicly proclaimed in a January 26, 1978, Rolling Stone cover story: "I think Alice Cooper is an overlooked songwriter."' That's a pretty eyebrow raising bit of information, but I find it to be a completely supportable opinion if you're familiar with Cooper's work beyond the surface-level theatrics for which he is mostly known. At the opposite end of the popular music spectrum, apparently John Lydon thinks that the "Killer" record from 1971 is the best rock album of all time, at least according to the always entertaining "Superbligged 84" blog, and there is a great post and show preview here. I think it's a drag that Alice is actually a golf-playing Republican, but I actually think most shock rockers are Republicans when you really break down the fascist and misogynist imagery.
U2 | Muse (American Airlines Center) I heard parking at Cowboys Stadium is something along the lines of thirty dollars, which is not only absurd, but makes you think twice about complaining about a twelve dollar show. I am really glad that Glenn Beck likes Muse, and I really wish he would become a fan of more bands I can't stand, because I know it's very damaging to a group's credibility.
U2. Hmm. What is left to say about them, except that I support the assessment that they have the "worst rhythm section in the history of Rock," and that R.E.M. once totally showed them up on their own song. In fact the only terrible part of that video is U2 drummer Larry Mullen Jr's annoying bongo playing. Not surprising.
MON: Alice Cooper's Theater Of Death (Palladium) TUE: Japanadroids, The Coathangers, Tober Omi (The Cavern) WED: Railcars (Majestic Dwelling Of Doom/Good Records) THU: Vivian Girls, True Widow, The Uptown Bums (The Cavern) FRI: Javelina/Kill The Client/Vorvadoss/Maleveller (Phoenix Project) FRI: Mono, Maserati (Haileys) FRI: Har Mar Superstar, Best Fwends (The Lounge) FRI: The Paperchase/Great Tyrant/Personal Victories With George Quartz (Lola's Sixth) SAT: Theater Fire/City Center/Outliner Trio/Sunset (Mable Peabody's) SAT: Wu Fru De Lu/The Decency Project/New Fumes/AFTV/Zwounds/Blunt Force Crew/Pain Free & Relapx (Arlington Info Shop located at 1127 S. Davis In Arlington) SUN: Screening: Three On Sunday With Martin Iles (Dan's Silverleaf)
Again, here are the shows for tonight. Not much time to write because I will be going to every single one of these events. Thanks. Muhammadali | The Sleepies | Big Fiction | Legsweeper (Phoenix Project)
This Old House | Dust Congress | Bosque Brown | My Gold Mask (Rubber Gloves): Almost saw Bosque Brown at Smoke last week, but had to leave because the ribs were so sweet they tasted like French toast sticks, so I immediately had to go out and get some actual French toast sticks.
Pathetic attempt, but there were a lot of problems today. These are the shows just for tonight. We'll try to be back tomorrow with the rest of the weekend. Thanks.
Old Snack | Jail | Bad Sports (Double Wide) I've been hearing good things about Milwaukee, Wisconsin's Jail, for a little while now, and so far I've found their somewhat psychedelic, mostly poppy, garage rock pretty good, especially for the stabs at varying the tempos and tackling slower numbers along with the outright rock songs. It's not just a constant pummeling, and it sounds like there is a lot of thought put into the songwriting even if it comes off as haphazard and spontaneous; something that many rock bands try to achieve but fail miserably at. Sometimes they come off like The Reigning Sound with Late Seventies New York Punk, man-bitch vocals. I mean that in the best way possible. Top it all off with two of the most reliable garage pop bands in the area, and this is a solid show.
The Soft Pack | Hymns | Cocky Americans (The Cavern): The Soft Pack are formerly known as The Muslims. Can't imagine why that name would cause controversy. Here's a really depressing video of the beloved Czech Stop that might shed a little light.
Top Notch Thursdays with DJ Sober (The Cavern Upstairs) Sober will also be putting on Top Notch at Boondocks in Houston, the last Saturday of every month.
David Bazan | Say Hi (Dan's Silverleaf): Does anyone seriously care whether or not Li'l Davey believes in God? Journalists, man. They always have to have their narrative, though I don't doubt musicians milk it for their own purposes as well. Another thing: see how many groups you can name where the "mysterious" lead singer is presented, along with ample help from the the media and/or his publicist, as having a tortured childhood with an overbearing Pentecostal/Baptist/preacher father. Wait, stop the presses! Your childhood sucked? Your parents believed in God? You had a strict upbringing? WELCOME TO EARTH, SINGER SONGWRITER.
As for his music, he peaked at the first two tracks off of "The Only Reason I Feel Secure." He once moonlighted with Starflyer 59, who I find to be fairly superior as far as Spiritual Slowcore goes. What a drag of a genre. Fox And The Bird | Hand Combine | Seryn (The Lounge) I had a long description here that included references to whittling and making soap from lye, but I decided to hold back. You're welcome.
Lazy Magnet | Nothingberry Plasma | Welby | Evil Spirits | Whore Hair (Wasted Words house located at 2404 S. Fielder Rd. in Arlington): Lazy Magnet began as the solo project of Jeremy Harris, who released stylistically diverse records for fifteen years, and eventually invited others to join him, turning the project into a collective effort, though I don't know if that's still the case. His material has been available through Providence's respectable Corleone Records, a label that has worked with many noteworthy acts including Night Wounds, Black Pus, and Landed. This should be really good show for Wasted Words. Also, has anyone ever heard of Drugs Bunny? Are there some great band names in the underground or what? I recently heard a band called Butt Simpson, and it was the best thing I have heard in six months to a year. But how do I tell people that with a straight face?
Lucky 13 John Gonzales Magnolia Theatre West Village, 3699 McKinney Avenue in Dallas Thursday, October 8th, from 8-10pm
"Born and raised in Dallas, John started making art in high school, and continued at the Art Institute of Dallas. Growing up around screen printing and poster creation, John incorporated the individual style of those hand skills through a digital talent with computers, to form a non traditional style."
Check out the artist sites. Limon's got some good-creepy Brueghelesque figurative work and Brown's got some slightly-more-kid-friendly-but-creepy work. Both artists seem supremely talented.
FRIDAY
Poetry Happening And/Or Gallery Friday, October 9th, 7-8 PM
"The phrase and/or indicates that you can either choose between two alternatives or choose both of them. This Friday evening the choice will offer up a reading by local poets Alexander Etheridge and Joe Milazzo with a side order of viewing The Way Things Go, a video by Swiss artists Peter Fischli and David Weiss. The evening is organized around a request made by Karen Weiner. If you like words with your images or can't decide, come be surprised."
SATURDAY
Open Show: Landscapes 500X Gallery Opens Saturday, October 10, 7-10 pm
500X is shifting their annual open show to the Fall (used to be in May). This show's theme: landscape. "...landscape offers participating artists a focus and allows viewers an opportunity to see how numerous artists explore one of art history's most traditional genres." This show includes a painting by unsung Dallas master Rob Polivka (artwork for Early Lines, among others).
Through the Lens mod.shop gallery Opens Saturday, October 10, 6-9 pm
"Six colored prints by Julie Barnofski, six colored prints by Angela Patterson and 20x30 inches archival inkjet prints by Tom Leininger address melancholia, ambiguity and death."
