MONDAY MORNING ROCK

MON: The Donkeys/Orange Peel Sunshine/The League of Fucking Decency (the Lounge)
WED: Deleted Scenes/Deep Snapper/Darktown Strutters/Cocky Americans (Rubber Gloves)
THU: Damaged Good$/Prince William/Scuba Team Go/Johnny Moog (Granada)
FRI: Yo Majesty/Natalie Stewart (Hailey's)
SAT: Baptist Generals/Doug Burr/Dust Congress/Robert Gomez (Sons of Hermann Hall)

SR helped put this thing together and DL basically wrote it. Sorry it's a little short, and a little late.




FRIDAY

Uptown Fridays with Select (Zubar)
I have always been impressed with Select's live sets, and his birthday party last Saturday was no exception. Most people can't even stay conscious during their own birthday party, and he was able to put on a brilliant set. This is easily the best thing going on in Dallas tonight.

Jubilee | Zwounds | Sarah and the Octopuss (1919 Hemphill)

Johnny Lloyd Rollins | Bridges and Blinking Lights | RTB2 (Doublewide)
See above.

SATURDAY

High Life | Dios Mio | Negaduck (Rubber Gloves)
NOTE: This extremely early show starts at 4 PM.

Byron House | Small Pox | Haves & Thirds | Slackbeat | Wounded Infidel (House of Tinnitus)
You may not realize it from the usual overdose of hyperbolic fuck-speak that always accompanies news of a HOT show, but this will apparently be tamer, or at least less harsh, than one of their usual events. There's supposed to be a huge live collaboration featuring members of SDS, Lychgate, and Mistress, which leads me to doubt the potential lack of harshness at this show.

Tunneldigger | Language of Light | Echo-Toll (Knight House)
I can't believe I live near a place where you have the option of choosing between a show like this and the Tinnitus show above. Makes Denton seem a lot farther than it really is.

Vega | Genova | Disqo Disco | Billingham's Defense System (The Cavern)
This might get The Cavern a little crowded, and though I'm glad Vega has stayed in town, I'm a little confused as to which of these shows are a live set with vocals, and which are straight-DJ.




Blixaboy | Xenos | Farah | Tommy L33JON3Z (Fallout Lounge)
Farah at Fallout Lounge is a no-brainer. The smaller the venue, the less likely you are to be comfortable, the more you'll enjoy this show. To quote a classic children's book character, "I'm not locked up in here with you. You're locked up in here with me."

The Angelus | History at Our Disposal | Dust Congress | Timeline Post (Rubber Gloves)


Fight to Die | Unit 21 | DCOI | Raging Boner (1919 Hemphill)

So I know this is what you would consider "late" as far as year-end summaries are concerned, but do you know which other completely respectable music-writing entity NEVER puts a year-end list together until after the new year? The Wire. It's most likely because they're waiting on that last New Zealand hand-made cassette release to be mailed to them in the waning days of any year, and I can certainly respect that more than the salivating hype-monster that starts listing stuff in late August.

Wanz Dover/Blixaboy

Best albums of 2008:
1.Portishead - Third
2.Bruno Pronsato - Why Can't We Be Like Us?
3.Anja Schneider - Beyond The Valley
4.Millie & Andrea - Black Hammer/Gunshot
5.Fall - Imperial Wax Solvent
6.Andy Stott - Bad Landing
7.Murcof - The Versailles Sessions
8. Shackleton & Appleblim - Soundboy's Gravestone Gets Desecrated By Vandals9. Scuba - A Mutual Antipathy
10.Arthur Russell - Love Is Overtaking Me
11.Benga - Diary of an Afro Warrior
12. Ricardo Villalobos - Vasco
13.Hercules & Love Affair - s/t
14.Ricardo Villalobos - Vasco
15.Matmos - Supreme Ballon
16.Ellen Allien - Sool
17. 2562 - Aerial
18. Anthony Braxton,Milford Graves, William Parker - Beyond Quantum
19. Shed - Shedding the Past
20. Quiet Village - Silent Village

Best Shows of 2008:

1.Glen Branca 100 guitar ensemble/St.Louis Symphony Orchestra -The St.louis Symphony played Frank Zappa's G-spot tornado, Edgar Varese's Arcana and debuted Branca's Symphony 14. The 100 guitar ensemble was a strange ensemble featuring players from a wide variety of backgrounds. 15 year old kids, guitar enthusiasts that did not know who Branca even was, Jazz fusion legend Joh Patitucci and of course 4 lucky individuals from Dallas all coming together to play on the most intense and cutting edge guitar music of the 21st century. Probably the best show I have seen ever.

2.Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings - You can't fuck with a top notch soul band and they are the best soul band on the planet right now. I took my parents for there anniversary present. My pop said he had not seen anything like that since he was a young lad going to see shows on the chitlin circuit. I have never seen them smile that big.

3.Melodica 2008 - It was a bad ass array of all of my favorite local bands and a few acts from other places. Despite the fallout afterwards, I'm glad it happened.

4.Meat Beat Manifesto @ The Granada - bad ass drummer. All of the movie samples in the set actually came the video they were projecting.Dub, techno, krautrock like explorations and innovative video work. A decent turnout, but a lot of people missed out on this one.

5. Juan Maclean @ The Loft - I turned 35 at this show. I danced my ass off at the front the stage for the entire show. The live version of Happy House was like Can playing Chicago House. I normally don't get into much house music, but on this night they made me a believer. The drummer was bad ass and they played the fuck out of their synths and sequencers. Unfortunately there were only 20 to 30 people at the show guaranteeing that they will probably never come back.

6.Dub Assembly - Mad props go out to Dub assembly for bringing so many top notch producers like Hatcha, Scuba, Martyn and Caspa(I actually mised Caspa). I could list 6 different dub events for best shows so I will just bundle them up into one. They consistently showcase the most cutting edge dance music around town.

7.Corima @ Red Blood Club -3 young guys who play magma influenced zeuhl music. They renewed my faith in live music. They played a 15 minute set and it was one of the most magical moments I experienced from a live band all year.

8.Venetian Snares/Otto von Shirach/Cyrus Rego @ Elysium

trends I hate:

*Cliques and Politics - I hate to be an old guy, but it did not used to be as bad as it is now. People need to wake up and unite before it is too late.

*People not going to live shows. Not just my shows, but any shows. I am often one of 10 people at a good show. Local or roadshows.

*People relying on blogs to tell them what is cool instead getting out their and finding and buying music for themselves. Blogs are a good source for new music, but it should not be the defining source. (This is not directed at weshotjr)

CJ Davis (Pancakes For Mattie Records)

My memory fades...

Records:
1. Samamidon - All is Well
2. Stars Like Fleas - The Ken Burns Effect
3. Emeralds - Solar Bridge
4. Koen Holtkamp - Field Rituals
5. Haunted Graffiti - Live in Pacific Palisades
6. Pattern is Movement - All Together
7. Quinn Walker - Laughter's an Asshole/Lion Land
8. Tape - Luminarium
9. Juana Molina - Un Dia
10. School of Language - Sea from Shore

Shows:
Samamidon/Mom/Voices & Organs at Glasslands in Brooklyn.
Steve Reich showcase (he ran lights) at St. David's Church...SXSW.
Akron/Family at Emo's...SXSW.
Mika Miko and No Age in a parking garage at SXSW.

Memories good and one bad:
Phosphorescent shutting down a showcase in Austin after jumping into the pool.

'Little Brite' being released in Japan.

Me- "Excuse me, Sir. Sir. Mr. Reich. Sigh. Mr. Reich! Oh, Hi. Could we take just a minute of your time for a photo?"
S.Reich- After looking at wife for approval..."OK, I suppose. Let's just make it snappy."

Finding a copy of The Feelies 'The Good Earth' LP for 25 cents at a garage sale in Oak Cliff.

Leaving Good Records for the last time.

Congrats to everyone who released records this year, especially MATAS and Fight Bite (though that 7" was my idea. Wink.)
-C.J.D.

Hunter Hauk (Quick/DMN)

ON THE MENU IN 2008

Local and national flavors included.

WINE and BEER (Loosens you up)

— Black Tie Dynasty, Down Like Anyone
— Toadies, No Deliverance
— Collin Herring, Past Life Crashing
— Ne-Yo, Year of the Gentleman
— Madonna, “4 Minutes”
— Lil’ Wayne, The Carter III
— MGMT, Oracular Spectacular
— Hercules and Love Affair, “Blind”

APPETIZERS (Small, savory bites)

— Mount Righteous, When the Music Starts
— Sorta, Sorta
— The O’s, The O’s
— Faux Fox, All That Remains
— Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend
— James Morrison, Songs for You, Truths for Me
— Santogold, Santogold

SOUPS (A concoction made from many ingredients)

— Hot Chip, Made in the Dark
— Of Montreal, Skeletal Lamping
— Girl Talk, Feed the Animals
— My Morning Jacket, Evil Urges
— PPT, Denglish
— Astronautalis, Pomegranate
— Matthew and the Arrogant Sea, Family Family Family Meets the Magic Christian

SALADS (Raw, nutritious)

— Ryan Adams and the Cardinals, Cardinology
— Nada Surf, Lucky
— The Black Keys, Attack & Release
— Metallica, Death Magnetic
— Record Hop, Record Hop
— Stumptone, Gravity Suddenly Released
— Pinebox Serenade, Let the River Take Them Home

MAIN COURSE (Tastes good, sustains)

— The New Year, The New Year
— Dove Hunter, The Southern Unknown
— Erykah Badu, New Amerykah Pt. One: 4th World War
— Centro-matic/South San Gabriel, Dual Hawks
— Death Cab for Cutie, Narrow Stairs
— Sia, Some People Have Real Problems
— TV on the Radio, Dear Science
— Q-Tip, The Renaissance

DESSERT (Sweet, addictive, rots your teeth)

— Roy G and the Biv, self-titled EP
— Ghosthustler, “Only Me to Trust”
— B-Hamp, “Do the Ricky Bobby”
— Danity Kane, “Damaged”
— Beyoncé, I Am … Sasha Fierce
— Chris Brown, “Forever”
— Lady Gaga, The Fame
— Britney Spears, “Womanizer”
— Miley Cyrus, “Fly on the Wall”

AFTER-DINNER SMOKE (Calms you down)

— Sarah Jaffe, Even Born Again
— Fight Bite, Emerald Eyes
— Elkhart, The Moon
— Daniel Folmer, A Leaf
— Menkena, “Rocketships”
— Scarlett Johansson, Anywhere I Lay My Head
— Adele, 19
— Nine Inch Nails, Ghosts I-IV

Tommy Boy

I must admit, I was hard-pressed to come up with my list for 2008. Seems there's an elasticity to my record appreciation. After years of scouring for the best, new release of each year, I've found I tend to go back in time more and more. Most of the tracks I've collected this year came out 20-30 years ago.

That said, my selection contains current 2008 releases which focus on the nostalgic, retrofuturistic aesthetic with a heavy leaning towards disco production. I hope people are able to find a few more gems in this list to add to their '08 iPod.

1. Medio Mutante - Inestable [Cititrax]
Blending Hip-hop, Jazz, Latin Freestyle and New Wave records from Europe, America and Japan, Medio Mutante released an album that sounds like none other this year. A mutated blend of raw and propulsive energy emanates from their retro analogue gear. They've created a classic "Third Wave" recording that will fit nicely into anyones cold/new/no wave collection. Like Flexipop for the 21st Century. Not to mention the fact that this release came from our neighbors in Austin, TX. Crazy!

2. Quiet Village - Silent Movie [Studio !K7]
Silent Movie is the soundtrack to an imaginary movie that is yet to be filmed. The stand-out track, "Pillow Talk", is a slow and sensual scorcher utilizing samples from Alan Parson's Project "Voyager". From the Spaghetti Western mood of "Circus of Horror" to the almost eerie 70's soft porn "Broken Promises" this is a record that floats like water from start to finish. It's the best late night, chillout record your money can buy this year.

3. The Time And Space Machine [5D Recordings]
1/2 of the brilliant outfit "Beyond The Wizards Sleeve" (another honorable mention for best of 2008), have crafted an album of reworked obscure 60's and 70's psych pop tracks that are a million miles away from their usual remixing duties. Like some long lost "Nuggets" compilation, the album meanders between Psych Pop, Freakbeat, and Kraut effortlessly. The perfect soundtrack to smoke dank and watch "Holy Mountain" to. Best psychedelic record to come out in 2008.

4. El Bum - Bumrocks [Bumrocks]
Compilation LP from my favorite blog of 2008(bumrocks.com). Enlisting the "Indiana Jones'" of the disco crate digging community, Tako and the Beat Broker, the compilation serves up some of the rarest holy relics of Discodom. Bumrocks has released the best "must have" compilation for any Baleric/Cosmic Disco enthusiast. Ultra limited and completely collectible, this record is my personal favorite of the year.

5. Cosmic Balearic Beats Vol. 1 [Eskimo Recordings]
The Eskimo label presents the first volume in a series dedicated to Cosmic Balearic beats featuring tracks from up'n'coming nu-disco producers like Coyoyte, and Lovelock(1/2 of Zombi). This trans-global intergalactic funk odyssey blends '70s disco, early '80s electro, and horror-disco making for a very rewarding journey. Roll down the windows, turn the stereo up and let the cosmic Balearic beats flood in.

6. Black Devil Disco Club - Eight Oh Eight [Lo Recordings]
The third and supposedly final part of a trilogy of releases in the last four years, Black Devil Disco Club has proved yet again that disco can be just as dark and brooding as any genre. Black Devil Disco Club is a mysterious fella. His first album Disco Club, supposedly produced in the seventies, was anointed an underground disco classic though no one seemed to know much about it until its reissue in 2004. Ignoring the mystery that remains around the origination of this group/sound, the album speaks for itself. Mystical, Tribal, Dark, Dissonant, Horrific, billed as "Salvador Dali meets Cerrone" and sounding like some hybrid of Fela Kuti and Claudio Simmonetti, BDDC maintains their enigmatic creative originality with this release. There just aren't enough analogies or descriptive words which can qualify the brilliance of this series.

7. Elaste Volume 2 - Space Disco [Compost Records]
Eskimo has yet another stellar release. This label has really set the bar for quality year after year. The compilation selected by Tom Wieland is simultaneously sultry and extra-terrestrial. Each track comes off sounding like some divine offspring of a Cerrone-Moroder marriage. This compilation remains a crucial cosmic/space disco to keep even the most insatiable crate digger satisfied.

8. Arthur Russell - Love Is Overtaking Me [Rough Trade]
I'm not going to spend much time describing this since it's on alot of top 10s already. Needless to say, genius. Heaven sent. Ahead of it's time... all that. Not just a best of 2008, but in the "all time" category. A must have for any audiophile.

9. Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue Reissue [Legacy]
I was one of those stubborn, angry, anti-Beach Boy, Brian/Dennis Wilson haters a few years back when bands like Vietnam, Spiritualized, and Polyphonic Spree were getting a lot of attention. For some reason, their music didn't resonate with me. Fast forward a few years, allow life to beat you down a bit and see peers drop off one by one, and then reintroduce Dennis Wilson's brilliant opus "Pacific Ocean Blues" and it all makes sense. Years of hard living and lack of exposure due to the huge shadow his more successful brother Brian, left this emotionally raw, grandiose psych-soul masterpiece in a black hole of anonymity. Thank god someone saw fit to remaster and release this gem along with some amazing songs from Dennis's unfinished "Bambu" recordings. A true classic.

10. Gang Gang Dance - Saint Dymphna [Warp]
Again, this is in most "heads" top tens for 2008 for all the same reasons. Not to belabor the point, GGD is most of the most intriguing, brilliant groups of this or any era. It's great to have another quality release from this group.

Sober (The Party/Central Booking)

1. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
2. A.B.N. - Assholes By Nature
3. Santogold - Santogold
4. Hercules And Love Affair - Hercules And Love Affair
5. Q-Tip - Renaissance
6. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
7. Gang Gang Dance - Saint Dymphna
8. Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It
9. Hot Chip - Made In The Dark
10. Lykke Li - Youth Novels

Anthony Mariani (Fort Worth Weekly)

Kenny Garrett ‘Sketches of MD: Live At The Iridium’

Boredoms -‘Super Roots 9’

Orchestre Poly-Rythmo de Cotonou ‘Volume 1: The Vodoun Effect 1973-1975’

Foals- ‘Antidotes’

Coconot -‘Cosa Astral’

Calhoun -‘Falter.Waver.Cultivate’

Collin Herring -‘Past Life Crashing’

ES -‘Sateenkaarisuudelma’

Taylor Eigsti - ‘Let It Come To You’

Jose Gonzalez -‘Live at Park Avenue’

Ulaan Khol -‘I’

Fujiya & Miyagi -‘Lightbulbs’

Zac Crain (Frontburner)

Here are Top 10 new records (in no certain order, except WAVVES, because that would be No. 1 in every iteration of my list)

WAVVES, s/t
The New Year, s/t
Jay Reatard, Matador Singles '08/Singles 06-07
Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III
No Age, Nouns
Deerhoof, Offend Maggie
Cool Kids, The Bake Sale
Fight Bite, Emerald Eyes
TV on the Radio, Dear Science
Jay-Z, unreleased tracks from The Blueprint III

Rick V. (1919 Hemphill)

Top 4 shows that nobody came to at 1919.

4. Best Fwends Tour Kick Off Show: It was advertised the wrong day in the weekly papers. All the other bands that were supposed to play (Akkolyte and Orange Cokes) canceled. Best Fwends played to five people and two giant blow up gargoyles.

3. Ippur, Bolth and a band that canceled: Somebody brought a fog machine and the whole upstairs looked like a Slaughter music video. The three people and the guys in Ippur chanted "Dads" over and over again while Bolth was playing. Inbetween every song somebody would say something about their dad. After the Bolth set, the singer called his dentist dad up and asked about my wisdom tooth pain. His dad wasn't too pleased that people were applauding him on our side of the line.

2. Mose Giganticus, Death to the Doomriders, The Emotron and others: You missed Death to the Doomriders least sloppiest set, a one man freakshow that lifted weights with his eyes and lit a firecracker in a bucket where his testicles were also residing and Mose Giganticus playing Temple of the Dog's "Hunger Strike". You also missed the Emotron which was probably the most insane visual and most terrible musical act in the world.

1. Tattered Flag, TBA: Not even the bands showed up. I closed up 1919 at 7:pm and drove to Austin to see Underground Railroad to Candyland and Japanther. Best 1919 show ever.

Payton Green (Wax Museums)

BEST TOURING BANDS I SAW IN 2008

- SEX/VID@ 715 Panhandle - First time in a long time that I saw a band that was actually really good AND so loud it hurt

- HUMAN EYE @ 715 Panhandle - Same as Sex/Vid but EVEN LOUDER + weirdest punk I saw in '08

- THE OH SEES @ the Lounge - I've always liked this band but I never really GOT IT till this show, I was completely blown away.

- THOMAS FUNCTION @ 715 Panhandle - One of my favorite bands of the year overall, it was triumphant to see them actually pull off playing in the same room where they failed miserably to last year

- MARKED MEN'S LAST SHOW @ Rubber Gloves - Hopefully not actually the last forever, but they played almost every song and it still felt like it flew by

- MY 21ST BIRTHDAY @ 715 Panhandle - Marked Men and Total Abuse totally ripped it up and made the best birthday of my life

- PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT/FABULOUS DIAMONDS @ the Chatroom - First and only time I've been there, had an incredible time.

- TERRIBLE TWOS @ 818 Hickory - This band sounds so much like they're from the future that this might should go on best of 2009

- TIMES NEW VIKING/PSYCHEDELIC HORSESHIT @ Strawberry Fields - both bands pretty much at the top of their game, one of my favorite TNV sets ever, Psych Horseshit was a little better in Ft. Worth I think but they were still great.

- COLA FREAKS/BLACK TIME @ Muscle Beach - So much fun, successful doubly international show, unfortunately the beginning of neighbor problems at MB.

- The Intelligence @ Club Dada - It's a shame that no one was there, blew me away.

- Vivian Girls @ Exploding House - Sounded impressively like the records, funny how much huger this show would be now, only a little more than 6 months later.

- The Dutchess and the Duke @ the Loft - Touched my heart! So good in contrast to Fleet Foxes, who introduced me to a whole new level of boring. Also the fact that Jesse from D&D repeatedly walked across the stage during the FF set to grab beers was a highlight of my year in and of itself.

Dave (Muscle Beach)

Because I am lame I don't think I listened to even close to ten albums that came out in 2008. I really enjoyed Beaks to the Moon by The Shivers, though. Pretty sure that came out in '08. Oh, and that Mount Eerie and Julie Doiron record. I played that one a lot, too.

top five shows
1. Dynasty
2. Falcon Crest
3. How I Met Your Mother
4. Silver Spoons
5. Byron Allen's Entertainment Studios. com

Music I hated in 2008 and why

Teenage Cool Kids: Jerks
Wax Museums: Pill poppers
Orange Coax: Motherfuckers
Trifle Tower: Also motherfuckers
Mom: Misogynists

And finally my number one moment for 2008 was when I was named president of the marzipan club. I can promise big things in 2009*

*As long as they have something to do with marzipan.

Fungi Girls

Our top 15 albums of the year in alphabetical order:

Abe Vigoda - Skeleton
A very, very fun album that's a huge step up from their older stuff.

Crystal Stilts - Alight Of Night
Beautiful pop songs with Joy Division-esque vocals that's nice for laying in your bed on a rainy day.

Deerhoof - Offend Maggie
Pretty straightforward album that’s not nearly as experimental as their older albums. Somehow it turned out great, though.

Deerhunter - Microcastles
Even more gorgeous pop songs that's nice for laying in your bed on a rainy day, like the aforementioned Crystal Stilts.

Ducktails - Point Pleasant Beach [7”]
Tropical psychedelic pop tunes from a guy from New Jersey that’ll keep you warm on these current, cool winter days.

Fantastic Magic - Sea Of Gold [7”]
Summery psychedelic folk that also has the guy from Wavves in the band. It’s a shame they split up after this 7”.

James Ferraro - Clear
Very interesting and almost indescribable album (just like the rest of his stuff). Kind of like alien arcade game music or something.

Pocahaunted - Peyote Road
A haunting psychedelic drone release.

Religious Knives - The Door
Lovely, chilled-out psychedelic rock that, we think, has a very desert-y feel to it. Don’t ask us how, though, because we’re not entirely sure.

Sun Araw - Boat Trip
Creepy yet beautiful tropical-psych-drone tunes. The song “Canopy” is practically flawless.

Thee Oh Sees - The Master's Bedroom Is Worth Spending A Night In
Probably Thee Oh Sees’ greatest stuff yet. Fun garage rock that is really fucking kickass live.

Times New Viking - Rip It Off
Lo-lo-lo-fi noise pop tunes from Columbus’ finest.

U.S. Girls - Introducing...U.S. Girls
A noisy, avant-garde pop masterpiece.

Wavves - Wavves
A beach-y punk-tinged noise pop album that has been the latest phenomenon amongst blogs and the independent music scene in general.

Women - Women
Wikipedia says their sound is like "sunny Beach Boys pop was dragged into a dark alley and gleefully mutilated". We think that’s an appropriate description.

We were going to only do a top 10, but there were too many we liked.

Defensive Listening (We Shot JR)

This was a rather uninteresting year for actual record releases, though shows were a different story. I felt like I listened to more publicist-speak than music. Judging by a lot of lists (present company excluded), it looks like we all did. But, here's mine in no particular order, because I'm sick of looking at music like the BCS:

Harry Pussy, You'll Never Play This Town Again
Medio Mutante, Inestable
Kool Keith, Dr. Dooom 2
Tommy Boy, Automatic Loverboy Mix
The New Year, s/t
Flipper, Gone Fishin' Reissue
Wax Museums, s/t
The New Bloods, The Secret Life
Girlfren, Dem08 cassette
Nisennenmondai, Tori/Noji
Fight Bite, Emerald Eyes
AIDS Wolf, Cities Of Glass
The Organ, Thieves

That Organ EP is really unbelievable, especially since it's from a band that has been broken up for quite some time, and it's nothing more than their last demo. They somehow manage to put their most diverse group of songs on a little EP, and Katie Sketch goes a long way toward proving she really is the female Morrissey. I would even recommend this record to total morons, and friends of mine that have no taste.

And one more thing: writing these down made 2008 seem better than it actually was. Don't be fooled.

Sally Glass (We Shot JR/Fancy Fist)

I will say that my We Shot JR "year in review" could be summarized by: road trips, sleeping on floors, Thurston Moore, bathing in clothes, drunken shows, sober shows, Ipod inspections, pancake houses, rickshaws, La Vista, pot lucks, heart-to-hearts, cynicism, blind optimism, good hugs, uncertainties, new friendships, Nouns Groups, nervousness, support, family dinners, Denton, Dallas, Cool Out, bad photos, good photos, lots of driving, couches, the fucking Loft, devastating encounters with waiters in Lewisville, anger, frustrations, dickhead commenters, sensitive photographers, appreciation, lots of work, Flickr, NO money, really incredible music, bridges, Fallout Lounge, Meridian Room, The Libertine, The Fucking Cavern (upstairs and down), Pete Freedman, Fucking Zubar, hipsters, block parties, and a family that I never would've had if you didn't take a chance on me. Love you guys.

Forever yours,

Sally

Photo By Corrine Day.

Steel Hook Prostheses | Awen | The Watchers (Good Records)
This totally un-Good Records birthday show kicks of at 9pm with the Watchers, a group consisting of Good Records' own Mark Church and two members of Zanzibar Snails. Arlington's SHP plays the kind of minimal, offensive, Whitehouse inspired power electronic noise that will scare loyal Dallas Observer readers almost as badly as your grandparents, and I really can't think of too many genres of music that scare anyone these days. It's pretty solid, truly evil stuff that mysteriously becomes somewhat serene and meditative the more you listen to it. And just as a bonus, it comes from one of the creepiest cities in the United States-- aside from being the largest US city without public transportation (everyone knows that already), Arlington is also the birthplace of the AMBER alert, and one of the best places to see the horrid results of dysfunctional, abandoned suburban sprawl post White Flight. Go south of 20 for a real city planning horror show. In this context, SHP's music makes a lot of sense. Not that I want to shit on Arlington all day, but I've earned the right to if I want. Trust me. Awen is another very interesting local group that I really haven't heard much about until today (somehow). However, I'd highly recommend stopping by their Myspace some of their strangely theatrical tracks. Good stuff.

Select | Billingham's Defense System (Fallout Lounge)
Select will be joining Billingham's tonight for their weekly.

80's Night with DJG (Hailey's)

So when we started this site almost exactly three years ago (sigh), one of the bands we seemed to talk about all the time was Bosque Brown, a folk/country influenced group fronted by singer/songwriter Mara Lee Miller. Unfortunately, after a while we didn't hear much from Bosque Brown after Miller decided to take a year long break from music almost entirely. The good news is that Bosque Brown is back with a new album, Baby, due out in March, and plans for more live shows and touring. We sent Mara Lee Miller a few questions via email, and here's what we talked about:


1. To me, you are one of the more interesting and compelling vocalists in Dallas, Fort Worth or Denton. Could you tell us a little bit some of your favorite vocalists, male or female, and how they might have influenced your singing?

I like any vocalist that sounds as if they are really singing from their soul...one whose voice is only theirs ....i like to hear a lot of "heart" ..when the singer just lets it all go....i guess i look for that spiritual element in a voice...one of my favorite singers is josh pearson....his voice is familiar and spiritual and there is no restraint....i also completely love hank williams, judy garland, win butler and cedric bixler-zavala....josh and hank probably have influenced me more on the "texas" side of things..embracing where your from instead of running from it....not to be afraid to be from nothing or nowhere...i grew up with old voices like judy garland...simple songs but so difficult to do well...and win and cedric influence the darker side and even almost somewhat bitter part of things for me..


2. So it seems like you took a fairly long break from performing over the past year or so. Were you writing songs during this time, or were you stepping a bit back from music all together for a while?

It does feel like i have been on a very long break...and i guess we have...i really have done almost no music since we stopped recording last december...i did a few things with different people here and there..but nothing of my own...i really have barely touched my guitar in almost a year...i haven't gone to shows at all either...so it is pretty weird stepping back into things...but i think i needed no music for a while and just to focus on getting things taken care of in my personal life..we have started to practice now for our first live shows..so writing will come soon for me..at least i hope...seems like i tend to either do music or not do it at all...guess i got to be hot or cold about it.

3. Tell us a little bit about the process of writing and recording this latest album. We read that you recorded with Chris Flemmons this time, meaning that you decided not to work with David Bazan and Damien Jurado again, right? Why the change?

Basically all the songs were written but we really did not have arrangements on many of the songs yet.....the few songs we did have arrangements on were older songs that i had just never recorded that i really felt should be on this record....so since the band did not know most of the record i did not think it would be a good idea to record the album out of state..i am tied down to a job and my sister has a child so if we would have gone out of state it would of had to have been for only a short time.....i had gotten to know chris flemmons because we had so much in common and i really loved his music and he expressed interest in doing the record...so since i was so into his taste we decided to go for it...i of course still love the people i worked with before..but it was just a perfect fit with chris this time around and i am completely pleased with what he did..he truly put his heart in the record..he was completely honest with us..if something was boring or not good he told us...so it was an intense process...but i am so glad we listened to the criticisms....i basically decided we were all so different musically that i really did want to work with someone who was going to take more of a producing role..which chris did...i mean i am not ashamed to say it...i am just still very inexperienced with coming up with arrangements and i really needed some help with ti....we had really gotten ourselves stuck in a box on every single song..and he helped us get out...

4. I read that you grew up in Stephenville, which I thought was interesting because a good friend of mine from college grew up there too. Is it really as Varsity Bluesish as I've been told? My friend explained that he almost moved because the high school almost completely cut its arts program for additional football spending. Do you think that the near west Texas culture there had a big influence on you artistically in either a positive or negative way?

What's your friends name?.. that's all us Stephenville people do..talk about people that lived in stephenville..we just sit around and gripe about it..but love it..yes it is as varsity bluesish as you've been told..there are a couple of documentaries to prove it too...oh yeah..everything you hear is true..it's been in the national news quite a bit..especially in the last couple of years...it's a hole you drive in and then you can't see anything or hear anything other than stephenville...you are what's in that hole...and it is self sufficient enough that once you are there....you don't really have to go to the city for anything.....you have to live there to understand...otherwise it sounds like it's made up....it never changes...always stuck in the time...but it made me all that i am .....caused a lot of pain..but it made me search for something else...i knew i was not the people there...but i don't know if i would have searched so hard if i had not been forced to...for a long time i would say it was only negative for me....but now i feel very differently...when i was younger i was very angry at the town and all the people in it and how people were..but now i almost think it's funny....and i somewhat enjoy going back and reading the paper.....and in many ways i grew up very free...we could sleep in the driveway...take a walk at night...ride your bike across town....a trip to the store took a minute...and everyone knew everyone...like one big dysfunctional family....maybe i didn't like them..but it was safe and familiar...nothing to do ..nowhere to go...so you just sit around and talk...not much stimulation....and in a lot of ways..that's the best kind of place to be in to be creative and really think...it is the absence of materialism..now there are things i miss..and i am not angry at people for being backwards...i realize that i can't be offended that people don't understand..we can't all be the same...and i took it for granted but i did grow up with some of the nicest people on earth....my first record focuses more on the negative side of growing up there....took me a long time to "get over it".....this record embraces everything more and ironically a lot of frustrations i sing about now have a lot to do with the city..i guess that's how it goes..

5. We've noticed that you guys have been featured on some fairly influential music blogs lately, including Gorilla vs Bear. Does this excite you as an artist? Do you see it as a good opportunity to spread the word about your music, or do you think "blog buzz" is overrated as far as its ability to generate excitement and/or success for a band?

I mean it's always nice for people to say nice things about you...but i really try not to look at the press or blog stuff to much.....i am pretty sensitive because my music is so personal...and i don't know if i ever really got out of the mentality that i am just this nobody from nowhere who will never fit in anywhere..so it is pretty scary to read stuff...i think it is weird more than anything..i have not done anything in so long..and we are not yet ready to play shows...so it feels like oh yeah..i just remembered i play music....i better get busy. i feel like blogs have a huge influence on the success of bands if they are truly a good band... i mean...i feel the internet has completely changed music..it's anyone's game now...and the right mention can make a huge difference...i got a record before i even played my first show just because someone mentioned my name...i do feel like a lot of the blog buzz is overrated in the instances when the band mentioned is just a trend band...i mean yeah..they can be huge for a year or maybe few..but if it's a trend..then it won't last....but i mean i feel like the blogs have a lot to do with success...i do think who talks about you is important ...but ultimately i think if a band is really good..they will eventually get heard and be successful even if they are not a "blog buzz" band....it just might be a different kind of success...

6. Obviously much of the music that has influenced your song-writing is very traditional. What kind of connection do you feel with older Texas blues/country/folk artists, and why do you think this music continues to resonate with so many people today?

i just think love it or hate it..if you come from a small town in Texas it never leaves you....and when you hear other people singing about the same things you felt and knew then it draws you in...i think people are drawn to what is familiar and ultimately what reminds them of family..at least i am

7. Aside from releasing your upcoming record soon, what are your immediate plans for Bosque Brown?

we really don't have any concrete plans.....this year will be really interesting actually..i have a career outside of music..my sister has a child now and my drummer lives in Austin....none of us live in the same town...so just trying to practice is a chore....so honestly we are taking it a day at a time..of course we do have some shows coming up...and we will definitely be trying to have the record released in Europe as well..i would love to tour and God willing we'll do it....so we will just have to see....

THURSDAY
Artists talk with Daniel Rozenberg (DMA) 7:30pm
Rozenberg is the lead artist of Dadara, responsible for the show at Centraltrak on Saturday.

FRIDAY
Rusty Scruby (The MAC) 5:30-7:30 pm
I think that the MAC and Pan American shows are actually one exhibit, with the MAC housing Scruby's larger installations.

SATURDAY
Checkpoint Dreamyourtopia (Centraltrak) 5-10 pm (doors close at 9 pm)
This is a performance art installation from Dutch artist collective Dadara. I'm a little confused as to what exactly will happen, but you are supposed to bring a 2x2 passport photo and fill out "immigration forms." Also, bring $4 and get there by 9pm.

Vacant Spaces (Marty Walker) 6-8 pm
The work of Ted Kincaid, Barry Anderson, Lisa Grossman, and Casey Rae.

Susan Barnett, Matt Clark, and Jules Buck Jones (Conduit) 5-8 pm

Rusty Scruby (Pan American) 5-8 pm

Sarah Green: Right Between the Eyes (Artspace III) 6-9pm

Benito Huerta: Grand Illusion (William Campbell Contemporary) 6-8 pm

Kana Harada: Kodama-Spirit of the Trees (Mighty Fine Arts) 6-9 pm

Also check out Sarah Lucas at Goss-Michael, Vicious Pink at Centraltrak, and the multi-artist show at Public Trust, which all close by the end of the month.

Photo courtesy of Pan American.

El Paso Hot Button | The Black | Ume (The Lounge)
This is almost the tenth time in three years (Wow, three years, really?) that we have listed El Paso Hot Button on a show, so I'll spare you any redundancy, but at least mention that some of the tracks have a quieter 60's psych-sound I wasn't expecting, which is a welcome departure from the usual riff-focused material heard from this project. Ume is one of those bands that never quite does it for me, they are one of many bands that gets lost in this "sea of ordinary" where many bands find themselves; competent at their instruments and they seem tasteful enough, but somehow everything just comes out as the audio equivalent of Diet Sprite. These words are hard for me to type since they seem a little pointlessly harsh, but I'm what I'm supposed to say after hearing 40,000 bands like this? In any event, I wish them great success, because the odds are stacked against you when you're in a straight-forward rock band, and I mean that with all sincerity.

Mad Swirl | Swirve (Absinthe)
I first caught Swirve almost a decade ago, and they put on an impressive show in a rather unlikely place: The Bone in Deep Ellum. I saw them again this past month at The Lounge, and they were still good, mixing horns and drums in either an improvisation that sounded meticulously planned, or a meticulous plan that sounded improvised. In either case, the music is pretty good and even kept the meat-heads interested. Why are instrumental acts automatically considered "experimental?" I can name ten off the top of my head (Explosions In The Sky being the daddy of them all) that basically play children's music.

ADD: Yells At Eels | Billingham's Defense System (The Cavern)
One of Detour's best lineups yet.



ADD: Sun Club/Females | Yeah Def (Hailey's)
Sun Club will be spinning Chicago and French house, Detroit techno, microhouse and disco. Sorry, internet is acting a little strange today, so we can't add links at the moment.

I went to see the final show at Brooke Berman Gallery a couple of weekends ago without really putting a lot of forethought into what would be there. I was stunned by the greatness of this guy Josh Fletcher's work. His new web site isn't up and running yet so I'm interspersing a few images from his current show in this week's episode of Greatness...

Richardson Heights: What is your favorite color?

Josh Fletcher: I do not have one favorite color - I mainly enjoy they way colors interact in relationship to each other. If I had to seclude my self to one color I would still be stuck saying I like many different shades of green.

RH: What is your studio situation like right now?

JF: I bought a house in January of this year - so I have a lot of open space to work with - I mainly work in my garage, but I do have a separate room set aside for painting and storing of my artwork.

RH: What do you feel when you tell non-artists that you're an artist?

JF: I always enjoy running into new faces; artist and non-artist alike - I think my biggest reaction to telling someone I am artist would be the expectation from that individual to always have to explain my "style" or genre of art - where I show work - and then I normally have to hear a short story, of sorts, about their art past.

RH: How do you go about managing your inventory of completed works?

JF: As of now I have a stock pile of older paintings - they stay neatly packed away for reference and to be reused for frames or ideas. I use my home as my own private gallery most of the time, which tends to drive my wife a little crazy.

RH: I'd like to know how you did that crackly background job in some of the painting in your current show at Brooke Berman. It looks like the effect of varnish when put on oil paint before its dried. How did you do it with acrylics?

JF: I can't explain my way of making this happen, it is my little secret - let's just say if you really look into it and go to the right stores anyone could figure it out - it is just a matter of application after that point - and generally adds an extra 2 days to your timeline for that painting.

RH: Can you tell us about your process in developing the rich geometric background areas in your paintings?

JF: I started developing my backgrounds from suburban neighborhood schematics / blueprints - and actually the semicircle-like lines that are in a few of my pieces are taken from @ symbol, which initially developed from my concept of technology as a major influence in my work - Most of all I wish to display a static image juxtaposed in a vibrant color ground that makes my selected imagery jump off the canvas.

RH: Would you talk a bit about where you find the "illustrative influences" for the subject of your paintings?

JF: I scan through many unrelated picture books, comics, illustrated novels, and online library resources to narrow down my search. I am constantly exploring forgotten artist who may have never gained recognition in their own lifetime. These artists illustrated and conceptualized many great stories that reached out to many people throughout a multitude of generations, then later to me in my paintings. I really champion the illustrative work produced during the turn of the century in America, Germany and Holland. In saying this I mean that this style or type of illustration holds a certain sense of implication or meaning, portrayed from that time period that is weighted in its subject matter and can easily be relatable to happenings of our day to convey an overall message of unrest or discontent that I strive to bring out in my work.

Josh's work is currently on display at Brooke Berman Gallery through some time in January.