I was lucky enough to catch Yells At Eels and Blixaboy at The Cavern last night, and it was definitely the best show I've seen there in well...probably years. Yells at Eels was as solid as always, but this time the soft refrain/chaos/soft refrain switching-off brought to mind records like Sun Ra'sLanquidity, or Art Ensemble Of Chicago'sLes Stances à Sophie which are a couple of personal favorites as far as "out-there" Jazz goes. Stefan Gonzalez is moving to Austin soon, and will be sorely missed, but something tells me we will still continue to hear great things from this legendary local family.
As far as Wanz' Blixaboy set, I'll be the first to tell you that I've heard plenty of hyperbole from Dover over the years about his various projects, and I understand that it's a mix of civic frustration and an almost impossible and borderline insane determination that keeps him so on-edge. Just a guess. Maybe I recognize it in the very reasons that started this whole website. All guessing aside, I have to say that it was by far the best set I've ever seen Wanz play, thanks in no small part to his excellent drummer. I'm the first guy to get nervous when I see the laptop/theremin combo, but Wanz really, really pulled off the various styles of electronic sounds he's into with more confidence and success than I've previously seen. Keep in mind that this is a guy I've watched since I was sixteen. That's much longer ago than I even want to admit, but I'll give you a hint: Chris Farley was still alive.
FRIDAY
George Quartz | Darktown Strutters | Future Blondes | DJG (Pastime Tavern) Dallas debut for Future Blondes, which is yet another avant-leaning Houston group that doesn't suck, and just lends more substance to my theory that the city has always been a dark horse in the never-ending discussion on Texas music. After all, this state is as big as Afghanistan, remember? The group is led by one particularly prolific Houstonian, simply named Domokos, who has ties to other respectable acts like Rusted Shut and has even written (and quite well, I might add) for Houston Press, interviewing such underground luminaries as Psychic TV cohort and Genesis P-Orridge's manager Ryan Martin as well as WFMU musical director Brian Turner. It's important to let people who actually deal with music firsthand to have a say in things, as the content of these interviews proves.
Houston also has some forward thinking venues like Notsouh and Super Happy Fun Land which has regularly hosted noise fests and other under-the-radar events, yet still receives regular coverage in the city's alternative weekly.
Not only that, but the best show I've probably ever attended was in Houston: The Ex playing in a high school cafeteria with The Aislers Set, which was sponsored by the non-profit group, MECA. It was at this show that I realized what a strongly supportive underground, free jazz, and noise scene Houston had, and I started to understand why the city's dealers always have the best selection at every record convention. There were little tables set up with all sorts of activist pamphlets and the atmosphere was extremely friendly and utopian. Finally if you're ever naming names, don't forget Jandek, Red Krayola, DJ Screw, and the entire International Artists roster.
In short, don't sleep on this show and don't talk shit about a place you know very little about. You know what other city is cool? LA.
Sextape | Museum Creatures | Vulgar Fashion | Prince William (Fallout Lounge): Great lineup with various forms of synth aesthetic, both poppy (Sextape, Museum Creatures) and creepy (Vulgar Fashion). Last time I saw Vulgar Fashion here they only performed one song, which was a complete drag, but it was the best one-song set I've ever seen. It's good to see Prince William out and about. I know someone was saying on some comment this week that we only ever covered "hipster" dance music, but I'd like to see someone claim that the work that Prince William did with local rapper Hawatha in particular is hipster. Can we finally abolish that stupid term anyway? We're all guilty. Trust me, when you're hanging out at Gloria's or whatever and you're not the polo-necked men and mannequin women actually enjoying themselves, but instead arguing with your friends over "Who got what?" and "Who's getting the tip?" then you're definitely not anyone that should be calling anyone else a "hipster."
Embolization | Akkolyte | The Body (Pastime Tavern): I was surprised to see that crazy, costumed duos that play loud and heavy music still come from Providence and that people are still into it. I genuinely think that's cool. It may not be as shocking as it was in 2000, but isn't it kind of reassuring that the world isn't as different as you thought it was? Some of their tracks take themselves more seriously than I was expecting. One track in particular had me worried because it kind of sounded as simultaneously grandiose and somber as something by Dirty Three or Mono. But then I hear this ridiculous cover of Black Flag's "Police Story" and the nasty desperate screams that passed for a vocal made the other slow song so much better. Know what I mean? DIVERSITY. The classic metal of Embolization along with the politico-grind of Akkolyte make this a perfect, fucked up beast of a show.
Blixaboy | Yells At Eels | New Fumes (The Cavern) I was glad to hear that Wanz is calling his newest record Kliks and Politiks since that happens to be one of his most-often made comments that we have quoted endlessly over the years. He will be joined by a drummer tonight, who I would have to imagine is pretty good in order to keep up with the staggeringly wild mess that Dover concocts live, no pun or insult intended. There is usually nothing "minimal" about what Wanz does, let's just get that out of the way right now. Speaking of good drummers, and good at everything really, Yells At Eels is also playing.
White Drugs | Puffy Areolas | Kaboom (Rubber Gloves) I have heard quite a bit about Ohio's Puffy Areolas and it looks like they will be playing with a much more suitable lineup than the last time they were and performed at Mable Peabody's. One of their labels likens them to the screeching and overdriven sound of Raw Power and who doesn't like that? White Drugs is playing not only a rare show, but an even rarer record release show for the limited edition run they have of their second album Gold Magic. It's cool that they released a record with AmRep, but I can't believe they did a split with Halo Of Flies more than anything. Here's an old review SR did on them from 2007. Remember that year? It was awesome.
Sometimes we like to kick little shout outs to the people who make all this possible-- the bands? Oh hell no, THE FANS! This week we're showing our appreciation for one of our most avid readers, the Dallas Observer's own Rodrigo Diaz. Why? Well we've never spoken with Rodrigo so we can't be 100% sure how often he reads WeShotJR, but we're pretty sure he must check out the site, at least from time to time, based on the two latest stories he's filed for the Observer.
You see, a couple weeks ago we posted a short story on Denton's White Drugs releasing a full length album on Amphetamine Reptile, and a few days after we did so, Rodrigo went ahead and did his own story on the exact same thing after reading our post (he basically admitted this in the comments section of his story). Was his article just a copy of our post? Well, not exactly. After all, he did make the shocking revelation that the band hadn't "technically signed" with the label, and instead had only come to some kind of agreement on releasing one full length and a couple of tracks on AmRep compilations (altough written or not, any agreement like this could be considered a contract of some kind and thus render the band "signed" with the label, even if they didn't literally pick up a pen). We kind of wish our pal Rodrigo would have let his readers know where he first got wind of this story, but its ok, we won't hold something like that against one of our fans.
Next, we did a short post last week previewing a performance from Italo Disco legend Alexander Robotnick, and several days later, Rodrigo did his very own post previewing the same show, this time adding an interview that was quite enjoyable to read. Again, Rodrigo didn't plagiarize us, but we're pretty sure that we must have served as an inspiration for him yet again, and we're very pround to be able to influence a writer for and thus the reporting of a paper with a large circulation like the Dallas Observer, even if we don't get credit for it.
So thanks for reading, Rodrigo, and keep up the good work! You're welcome to come work directly for us any time you like!
"Under a tight deadline, composer Laurie Spiegel slept in the labs of Bell Telephone while the final components for the Alles synthesizer were being completed. The final composition, commissioned by Bell and the Motion Picture Academy, is seen here in the only existing footage of the first real-time synthesizer being played."
“Based on Holling C. Holling’s beloved Caldecott-awarded children’s book, William Mason’s stunning film follows the adventures of a tiny, wood-carved canoe as it forges its own path from Lake Superior through the Great Lakes and down to the Atlantic Ocean. Buoyed by beautiful photography and a sense of true wonder about the sun, Earth, and water, the Academy Award–nominated Paddle to the Sea is an unforgettable tribute to the forces of the natural world, as well as a thrilling journey across the waves and rapids of North America.”
"Masks and outfits made of coconut husks, rice steamers, shredded rags and clanging bells transform participants of Thailand’s PHI TA KHON festival into ghosts, devils, demons, and spirits unleashed for a bacchanal. Outrageous wooden phalluses and plenty of rice whiskey heighten licentious behavior as MO LAM--Thai country groove music--blasts from makeshift bands in the back of pickup trucks… Described as ‘The Mardi Gras from Hell’ and ‘Thai Halloween" PHI TA KHON is a ghost festival that takes place every year in the Isan province of Northern Thailand."
Filmed on location by Robert Millis and Richard Bishop (Sun City Girls) in June 2004.
Psychic Steel and Fielded are both visiting us from that great city of Chicago. Fielded sound like an Enyanized version of local favorites Fight Bite incorporating the same gloomy dream like pop-scapes but with more of a Renaissance Fair vibe than FB. While that may lead you to believe the sound is cheesy, the music still remains rather sophisticated yet down to Earth. Psychic Steel explores a more progressive take on the synthetic sound, more Moroder than Magnetic Fields. The band effectively breaks down the structures of some more popular indie music of today and deconstruct it almost to the point of critique. Think of The Residents covering The Beatles. Some of the songs can go on a little too long but the fresh approach more than makes up for it. Two out of town acts I have never heard before yesterday but both have me excited in the nether regions to see what their performances have in store. Orange Coax are fresh off their first second North American tour and I am sure they have some great battle scars which they will be more than happy to share as you buy a copy of their latest vinyl release. Happy Birthday to Dwelling of Doom Sergeant-at-Arms Natalie.
From Gallery Manager Scott Horn: "We hung Jonathan's new series last night and it is a BEAST! I mean this figuratively and literally; the work is visceral and engaging, and is also the biggest and heaviest set of art we've ever put on the wall. This piece in the photo was so big we had to keep it on the floor; come by and see for yourselves..."
Herb and Dorothy (film screening) Samuel Lynne Galleries 1105 Dragon Street, Dallas, TX 75207 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
A truly inspiring documentary about Herb and Dorothy Vogel: "He was a postal clerk. She was a librarian. With their modest means, the couple managed to build one of the most important contemporary art collections in history. Meet Herb and Dorothy Vogel, whose shared passion and disciplines and defied stereotypes and redefined what it means to be an art collector. 'You don't have to be a Rockefeller to collect art.'" More about the movie here.
New event location opening this week: "A new project space run by Karen Erxleben Weiner opens in Dallas, located at 3715 Parry Avenue between Exposition and Commerce! The Reading Room, through occasional readings, performances and installations, explores the many ways in which text and image interact. For the inaugural exhibition, a solo show of recent double portraits by Lanie DeLay are featured in the exhibition..."
Featured image used without permission of Lanie DeLay
Built to Spill | Finn Riggins | Telegraph Canyon (Granada) I've never been the kind of person to like or even be interested in something merely because its "local," which is probably why I've never really taken the time to sit down and listen to Telegraph Canyon. I mean, I'd heard them before today, but only briefly and passively, and frankly, they've left me largely indifferent over the years-- after all, they're an "Observer band," championed by people like Noah Bailey and Pete Freedman, which means they probably sound like some mixture of Arcade Fire and Wilco minus the prestige of actually being Wilco or Arcade Fire, right? Fair enough, but guilt by association doesn't always apply in music, and these guys deserve to be heard before I go shooting my mouth off any further, don't they? Well, I'm listening to them right now, and they actually DO sound a shitload like Arcade Fire and at least a little bit like Wilco (I promise I wrote that sentence before I listened), not to mention groups like Band of Horses (that one dude even looks like the other dude), My Morning Jacket and, uh, whats that one where they were tried to be like a southern version of the Strokes until they turned into a boyband? Oh yeah, Kings of Leon. But the older stuff, not the boy band stuff. There's also a song that sounds like Arcade Fire COVERING a Springsteen song, which could produce all kinds of post-modern angst if contemplated for too long. The thing is that although there seems to be hundreds of bands in North Texas doing this sort of folk/post-arcade fire/lil bit country indie rock sound, Telegraph Canyon is one of, if not the best of that bunch, and that fact becomes pretty clear after just a few minutes of listening to their music. I'm aware that the band has already been reviewed in Rolling Stone and received "Album of the Year" honors from almost every major media outlet in Dallas-Ft. Worth, but their music, although somewhat predictable and conveniently marketable, is quite proficient and not even close to being as boring as it might look on paper. Whether you disagree with me or not is up to you, but this little experiment sure beat having to come up with yet another thing to say about Built to Spill. Tonight is the Granada's 6th Anniversary celebration.
Paranoid Time | Being | Rusalka | Taskmaster | Godless Girl | So Boring (Majestic Dwelling of Doom) This show is presented by Rob Buttrum of House Of Tinnitus, and as always, he threw a few words on the Facebook invite to describe each performance to break down the style of noise each act plays, as only he could. What follows are his descriptions for each act, with some notes on each.
Paranoid Time - Rob says: "HARSH AS FUCK. BRUTAL LOWS AND PUNISHING HIGHS."
Aye yai yai, sounds like my last relationship!
Being - "HARSH AS FUCK. INTENSE STATIC WALLS."
Apparently, this act is going to be extremely harsh.
Rusalka - "HARSH AS FUCK. MINIMAL WALLS OF NOISE."
So is this one. Except minimally.
Taskmaster - "HARSH AS FUCK. CRUMBLING WALLS OF HARSH NOISE.
And this one. Except crumblingly.
Godless Girl - "HARSH AS FUCK. THICK WALLS."
Ok, and this one. Except thickly.
So Boring - "HARSH AS FUCK, FACE RIPPING, WEIRD NOISE."
Alright, finally, so will this one. Except weirdly. Beats "brutal," right?
One more thing: "So Boring" is a great name and they have an even better Myspace URL.
I don't know too much about this style of metal played by Mammoth Grinder but I will tell you about this one time I was in a museum having a delightful discussion about Mammoths native to the North American region when...nah I'm just joshing ya no personal story to go along with today's posting. This show is starting early, around 8:30, so if you want to catch it get there early. Evidently everyone is trying to get out early so they can go to Gamestop to pick up a John Madden football game at midnight. Seriously? I thought the genre peaked with Joe Montana Sports Talk Football.
special show alert: alexander robotnick is playing in dallas this week so don't be a moron and miss it
Italo Disco icon Alexander Robotnick (real name, Maurizio Dami) is playing for the first time ever in Dallas on Friday, and you should do what you can to make it out to this extremely rare performance. Robotnick's career began with the quirky "dance cabaret" act Avida, whose 1981 seven-inch is quite different from most of his work, but still worth checking out.
He first gained underground notoriety with the single "Problemes D'Amour" which became a set-staple at important New York spots such as The Loft and The Paradise Garage. After producing a number of Italo classics he went on to do collaborative multimedia work in art and theater productions, and eventually branched out into more world music territory.
Thankfully, his current performances seem to focus more on the era in which he made his name. Not only was I told by a friend that had the privilege of recently performing with him in London that he was amazing live (especially at his age), but I was impressed by this "live edit" take on Charlie's "Spacer Woman" at a recent performance in Russia.
This show show was originally at an art studio, but has since been moved to Brooklyn Jazz Cafe, located at 1701 South Lamar in Dallas. Event is presented by Fresco & Axel.
