Fine Line: September, 2006

Be sure and tune in tonight (and every Saturday night) for DJ Eddie D’s Knowledge Dropped Lessons Taught II
5:00 – 7:00 PM

DJ EZ Eddie D has cultivated a career as a DJ, remixer and producer for over 24 years. Being the closest thing to a hip-hop historian that Dallas has ever known, he has worked with the early pioneers as well as many of the current up and comers in the Dallas hip-hop scene. From his early days growing up in Finneytown(a mostly caucasion suburb in Cincinnati, Oh.) to his 23 years in dallas it’s no surprise to find his influences are all over the musical map. With a collction containing everthing from R&B to Classic Rock, Funk to Retro and Blues to Hip-Hop his studio is the Mecca record collectors dream of.

His main focus today is fusing all of these genres with hip-hop beats creating a distinctive sound all his own. In 1982, Dallas DJ The Master Mixer taught Eddie how to blend records and also introduced him to the radio station KNON 89.3 “The Voice of the People”. He interned and moved his way up the ranks, working with DJ Cisco Soul & the Party Patrol and Nippy Jones of the “Fresh & Freaky Friday Show”(later KKDA). Nippy helped groom him for his own time slot. In 1987 station manager Craig Taylor gave him that chance with his first show airing Thursday nights 9-11. The show moved a few times finally landing on Saturdays 5-7pm where you can still tune in weekly for “Knowledge Dropped-Lessons Taught(Vol.2)”. It is the only source Dallas has for true underground hip-hop and being a public radio station is a perfect forum for his philosophies on politics, religion, racism and social responsibility…

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Stick around tonight, and every Saturday night, for the Dirty South Block Party from 10 PM until Midnight.

The krunkest radio show in the south hosted by Bobo Luchiano, DJ Fish, DJ Drop, Pikahssablanca, David and Kita Khat on KNON 89.3 FM Every Saturday night from 10pm to 12am Call the request line 214.637.1893

You won’t be disappointed…

Tonight, Saturday, September 30th, a fundraiser shall commence at the Barley House for our future Mayor Zac Crain.

The line-up is splendid – The Happy Bullets / Here, in Arms

I suspect 9ish is the time to be seen, and please think about donating to Zac’s campaign…you’ll sleep better for at least 4 whole years.

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The Urban Street Bazaar looks like another fun thang to do too!

Where:
2632 Thomas Avenue @ Boll
Dallas, TX 75204

When:
Friday – Saturday – Sunday 9/29 – 10/1 2006
Friday 5:30 – 9pm
Saturday 10am – 9pm
Sunday 11am – 4pm

What:
55 Crafters & Designers – 15 Local Bands including – Christen Cross / Chica y Los Gatos / Inner Frequency / Melanie Gruben / Colin Boyd & Lauren Addelle / Maren Morris / Bandmates / Superstring / Annie Benjamin / Karen Naomi / Mosaic Minds and of course one of your hosts for this shindig Eden Automatic and more!

How Much?
FREE!!!

Live Auctions & Raffles
Each of our vendors has generously donated one or more items to our Auction and Raffle.
Bright Spot Studios
(our Sound Sponsor for Friday)
has just donated 8 Hours of Recording time at his studio to the Live Auction!
Be there Saturday at 1:30pm to get in on the bidding for this!

Other Items you can find in the Auctions:
Baby Clothing & Accessories
Jewelry
Canvas Art
Photography
Pottery
Gift Certificates
Spa Treatments
Etc!

Auction Times:
(between live performances)
Saturday 12:15 – 8:00 pm
Sunday 12:15 – 4pm

More info., maps and stuff can be found here.

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Spune’s Back to School Special-Bash-Jam-Blah-Blah-Blah
18+ / NO COVER 21+ / $5 under 21
Saturday, September 30 / Hailey’s (Denton)
12:40 – 2:00 After Show Dance Party Hosted by DJ G & The Flashlight Party
12:00 – 12:40 Black Tie Dynasty
11:00 – 11:40 Sorta
10:00 – 10:40 Deadman
9:00 – 9:40 Doug Burr
8:00 – 8:40 Comrade
7:00 – 7:40 The Paper South
6:00 – 6:40 Sabotuer
5:00 – 5:40 Blood on the Moors
4:00 – 4:40 Warren Jackson Hearne
3:00 – 3:40 Electric Mountain Rotten Apple Gang
2:00 – 2:40 Glen Farris

DJ G & The Flashlight Party Spin Between Sets & Host Dance Party After Show

Doors at 1pm – The First 50 People receive special treats.
*This show has something for everybody regardless what style of music you like. Come out early, grab a frosty, pace yourself and stay late! We’ll have Pizza at the show as well so you can eat, drink, sleep, watch bands, dance or catch up on some homework. Hell, bring your professors! This will be an all day P-A-R-T-Y! Plus, it’s FREE if you are over 21.

Back to School Preview Podcast

Playlist:
Glen Farris – “Don’t Fail Me Now”
Electric Mountain Rotten Apple Gang – “Cluck Ol’ Hen”
Warren Jackson Hearne – “Ain’t You An Evil One”
Blood on the Moors – “Blood on the Moors”
Saboteur – “Bitchin’”
Doug Burr – “Should’ve Known”
Deadman – “Storms”
Sorta – “85 Feet and Falling”
Black Tie Dynasty – “Tender”

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Secret HeadquartersTODAY, Saturday, September 30th, SHQ shall swing their doors open for any and all in hopes that you music/art lovers might assist them in reaching their goal in making the joint into the arts and music resource in Denton.

Saturday evening at 6 PM free hotdogs will take the grill, and entertainment shall commence and you are invited. If you’ve got some spare coin and want to help make this worthy cause into a living breathing thriving reality, they are taking cash donations as well.

Other things you can donate:
Books
Magazines
Sofa
Chairs
Shelves/Bookcases
Music/Mic Cords
Extension Cords
Lamps
PA Equipment (working or not)
Painting/Cleaning Supplies

If you’ve got some stuff to donate and you live in Denton area, they’ll gladly pick ut up from ya.

Contact them via their MySpace page about donations (monetary or otherwise). You can also donate via PayPal on their official website.

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In celebration of his latest controversial, yet critically acclaimed new album, The Outsider, California-based super-duper-star DJ Shadow shall grace our fair city tomorrow (Saturday, September 30th) performing at Good Records ’round 2:30. It’ll be the closest you’ll ever get to him, and by far the least you’ll ever pay (free). Later tomorrow night, beat a path to the Gypsy Tea Room for a bigger-bad-ass performance as Shadow gets hyphy wit’ it on-stage just after Lateef the Truth Speaker.

Saturday, September 30th
Gypsy Tea Room
Lateef the Truth Speaker / DJ Shadow
$25.00 – 17+ – Doors at 8 PM

Hold up, hold up, hold up! Yo’ night ain’t over yet.

Our boy, DJ Stephen R. is throwin’ down at the Bell House the same night with Mad Happy / Wanz Dover / Beauregard / DJ Stephen R. There shall be kegs – and all this for the low low price of 3-bucks.

You’ll wanna contact Stephen for directions and more info.

“Enuff” by DJ Shadow

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Also… (Click on venue links for more info)

Avenue Arts – The Smoke
Double Wide – Browningham / The Butcher / DJ Sexcidillionaire vs Mattmatics
The Cavern – Zoo: The Video DJ Upstairs / The Stock Market Crash / Exeter / Modico Downstairs
Granada Theater – Weary Boys / Reverend Horton Heat
Dan’s Silverleaf – The Derailers
Rubber Gloves – Magnolia Electric Co. / Bottomless Pit / Tre Orsi
Black Dog Tavern – HOlland K. Smith
Woody’s Tavern – Brandon Rhyder / Austin Collins
Wreck Room – Queen for a Day / House of Harkonnen

Some show suggestions for this eve…less you wanna come bring me some chicken soup…and…vodka…

Dallas

Adair’s
John Evans Band
John Evans Band is Houston-based and those boys have taken home armloads full of awards every year including “Best Rockabilly Band” – “Best Male Vocalist” – “Best Traditional Rock” – “Album of the Year” – “Songwriter of the Year” and move EVERY year for the Houston Press Music Awards.
Free – Cold Beer – To-die-for Burgers

AllGood Cafe
7-9 PM – Will T. Massey / Will Sexton
9 PM – Scott Miller
Singer-Songwriter Alt.Country Americana

Amsterdam Bar
Paul Slavens / The Parish Freeman Project / Hogpig / Sean Kirkpatrick
9 PM
“No Offense, My Defense” by Sean Kirkpatrick

Club Dada
Cocktails with Hard Night’s Day Should Kick off your evening
Flying Machine / Zapruder Sequence
“Mason Jar” by Zapruder Sequence

Club Clearview
Shadow Reichenstein / Dead City Shakers (CD Release) / Sidekick Mafia / Last of the Interceptors

Darkside Lounge
Smile for Society

Gypsy Tea Room
A-Teem Presents Final Friday With:
Cletus Blackfoot / Rubba Rode / Thesis / Sivion / Original Soul
Special Guests: Wap 1 / Black Page / Dreak / DJ Nature
21+ $10.00 / Under 21 $13.00 – Doors at 9 PM

The Double-Wide
THe Hundred Inevitables / Stag Film
$5.00

Lee Harvey’s
DJ Chikki D / Nathan Hamilton

Bend Studio
Emile Millan / Billy Harvey
8 PM the doors open – 8:30 PM the Show starts
No shoes – BYOBeerandWine – Don’t come to talk, come to hear great music up-close-and-personal

Standard & Pours
Matthew & the Arrogant Sea / Bryce Isbell / Verulf / Steve Wilson CD Release

Sambuca Uptown
Shanghai 5
7 PM

The Cavern
Maritime / Bridges & Blinking Lights
$8.00 Starts at 9 PM
Gorilla vs Bear spinnin’ up-top and that, my friends, is free.
10 PM until 2 AM
“Blackwater” by Bridges & Blinking Lights

Barley House
Travis Hopper / Telegraph Canyon / JD Whittenburg & Trainwreck
“Golden” by Telegraph Canyon

Randy White’s BBQ
Cowboys and Indians
Good ol’ Honky-Tonk, Country Swing at its Finest
8 PM

Obzeet
Drop Top Rockets
Rockin’ Rockabilly

Denton

Hailey’s
Legions of Asteroth / Dagon / Forever Mourne / Hyperion
All Ages
$5.00 – All Ages – Doors at 8 PM

J&J’s Pizza
The Daily Beat / Paper Airplanes

Rubber Gloves
Zest of Yore / Invitation to Failure / ZipZipZapZap / Nathan Brown
$5.00 – Doors at 9 PM

Fort Worth

The Aardvark
Black Tie Dynasty / Stock Market Crash / Burning Hotels / Joshua Distacne / John Bourke
“Tender” by Black Tie Dynasty

The Moon Bar
Sunday Drive / Eaton Lake Tonics

Whte Elephant Saloon
Darren Kozelsky
9 PM

Woody’s
Steve Tenpenny / Ben Smith Band

Wreck Room
Dixie Witch

What a crap month. Seriously, there have been firings, divorce, death and disease running rampant, and 2 outta 4 of those going on with yours truly. WTF? September is supposed to be a good month…sigh…oh well, it was nice to see my girls taking over the Dallas Observer music section this final week of hell month.

Since lil’ Miss Boot-Scootin’ Cupcake Andrea Grimes thinks she’s all that with our future Mayor, then it was only fitting that she cover the upcoming political shindigs…

…First off, it’s the Crain for Mayor show at the Barley House on Saturday. Zac Crain, former Dallas Observer music editor and man about town, may not have the big bucks behind him, but he does have the kids. And he knows what the kids like: indie rock and roll.

As of press time, the Happy Bullets were the only confirmed band for the Barley show, with a tentative set from Here, In Arms. Last minute much, Zac?

“This is the start of many such concerts,” Crain writes in an e-mail interview, “so we’re not looking to break the bank in terms of money or exposure.” There will be the option of a $10 campaign donation at the door, but for those who scoff at paying for entry to the Barley House, you can feel free to parade on through. If you warm up to the guy, Crain will have a tip jar on his table in the back. The main thing, says Crain, is just that you get there, you young voter, you…

Read it.

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When I was a kid, we lived on a ranch. I had a horse. His name was Zan. We barrel-raced, Zan and I did, and I won trophies that woulda been really cool to an 8-year old tomboy, if the “trophies” weren’t things you’d find on your grandma’s coffee table (candy dishes, chip and dip sets…). My younger brother was a’scared of horses, so my dad got him a goat instead. The goat’s name was William. William the goat scared the sh*t outta my brother. That always made me laugh.

Merritt Martin is trying to convince us that Karaoke is “cool” at some digs called The Goat…

…As soon as we walk in the Goat’s weary door, Gene Warren, a regular performer our group has dubbed our “karaoke concierge,” welcomes us and guides us to a book of songs. Periodically throughout the night–between serenades, dances and anecdotes–he prods us to select a song already. The decision is always difficult. We pore over the page-protected sheets and simultaneously take in the smoky scene.

Sherri Aldridge’s night is somewhat of an institution, as is The Goat itself. “It’s a musician’s hangout, a place for them to get away to,” Aldridge says between her patented introductions. She comes off half-auctioneer, half-strip club DJ–capturing patrons’ attention with a husky growl, her quirky sense of humor (and dancing) is well-received.

The crowd howls at her next bit, “That was brought to you by Sherri’s Karaoke and Clairol 57. Now we got Homer up next for the first time tonight!” The Homer she refers to is Homer Henderson, Dallas’ legendary one-man band known for hits such as “Lee Harvey Was a Friend of Mine.” He rallies the crowd with his rendition of “Wichita Lineman” before Gene, a retired piano player at an elite Dallas hotel, contributes his hybrid style of Barry White and Lou Rawls for the dark dive’s bizarre mixture of haggard barflies and 20- and 30-somethings…

There’s More. Oh yes, so much more.

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#237 why I love Jesse Hughey. He “gets” music stuff.

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More Merritt

More Jesse

More Music

Wholly-Crappioli – I just flipped over to Girl on Top and had, yet another, bizarre psyche moment…Zan? Is that you?

Historian Mike Cochran was a recent guest columnist for the Denton Record Chronicle, and shared information in answer to some of the historical concerns towards the future of the Fry Street/Hickory Street buildings…

…Simply put, preservation of historic structures is good for the community because it provides a stable link between the past and the future. It provides a bond between generations and in doing so strengthens the sense of community we all share. It means something to me that my own mother used to shop in those buildings in the 1940s; that I did in the 60s and that my own children did in the 1990s. I have one octogenarian friend who fondly remembers her father stopping off at a butchers shop on Hickory every single day and buying 25 cents worth of meat for dinner. Others recall Lou Marini of the Blues Brothers fame, playing his sax in the same building in the 1960s…

Read the rest either in the Denton Record Chronicle or preferably on the Central Denton Preservation Blog.

SaMach is back (complete with Astronautalis pics to boot) and he’s spruced-up his freshly launched music blog, bigDlittled.com.

After spending time in Seattle with the ever-lovely Beth, Sam makes note of a few comparisons between our respective music scenes, and some thoughts on the Deep Ellum Tunnel readying to get all-blowed-up. Read it.

Welcome home my roaming surrogate red-headed child…soon as I’m not a sickie no mo’, I’ll plow you with liquor and demand to hear about your Uganda adventures in full detail.

PS: Sam promises a big-ass review of PPT’s new baby next week…

I’ve been rather intrigued with the rise of the DJ/electronica scene both locally and (thanks to Stephen Ruiz) nationally. Upon discovering new (to me) talent lately, I’ve become more and more enthralled over the whole “scene” (both DJ and electronica).

In my opinion, if you are a true music lover and remain open, excited and enthusiastic about hearing all types of music (genres) from all over the world, then these DJ shindigs are a no-brainer. It offers the listener a chance to hear music he/she might not normally ever hear, most certainly not on the radio (outside of some college radio shows like KTCU, Radio UTD, etc.), and hands you back the hours and hours you’d have to spend at the listening stations and pouring over albums at Good Records, CD World, et al. Take a few and go read JR’s take on Central Booking which houses some of our best (Sober / DJ Nature / DJ Select), and they are putting on some parties to contend with my darlings…oops, I did that digressin’ thang again.

In celebration of his latest controversial, yet critically acclaimed new album, The Outsider, California-based super-duper-star DJ Shadow shall grace our fair city tomorrow (Saturday, September 30th) performing at Good Records ’round 2:30. It’ll be the closest you’ll ever get to him, and by far the least you’ll ever pay (free). Later tomorrow night, beat a path to the Gypsy Tea Room for a bigger-bad-ass performance as Shadow gets hyphy wit’ it on-stage just after Lateef the Truth Speaker.

Saturday, September 30th
Gypsy Tea Room
Lateef the Truth Speaker / DJ Shadow
$25.00 – 17+ – Doors at 8 PM

Hold up, hold up, hold up! Yo’ night ain’t over yet.

Our boy, DJ Stephen R. is throwin’ down at the Bell House the same night with Mad Happy / Wanz Dover / Beauregard / DJ Stephen R. There shall be kegs – and all this for the low low price of 3-bucks.

You’ll wanna contact Stephen for directions and more info.

“Enuff” by DJ Shadow

I’m tellin’ ya…there ain’t a dull moment in DFW this weekend. The Urban Street Bazaar looks like another fun thang to do too!

Where:
2632 Thomas Avenue @ Boll
Dallas, TX 75204

When:
Friday – Saturday – Sunday 9/29 – 10/1 2006
Friday 5:30 – 9pm
Saturday 10am – 9pm
Sunday 11am – 4pm

What:
55 Crafters & Designers – 15 Local Bands including – Christen Cross / Chica y Los Gatos / Inner Frequency / Melanie Gruben / Colin Boyd & Lauren Addelle / Maren Morris / Bandmates / Superstring / Annie Benjamin / Karen Naomi / Mosaic Minds and of course one of your hosts for this shindig Eden Automatic and more!

How Much?
FREE!!!

Live Auctions & Raffles
Each of our vendors has generously donated one or more items to our Auction and Raffle.
Bright Spot Studios
(our Sound Sponsor for Friday)
has just donated 8 Hours of Recording time at his studio to the Live Auction!
Be there Saturday at 1:30pm to get in on the bidding for this!

Other Items you can find in the Auctions:
Baby Clothing & Accessories
Jewelry
Canvas Art
Photography
Pottery
Gift Certificates
Spa Treatments
Etc!

Auction Times:
(between live performances)
Saturday 12:15 – 8:00 pm
Sunday 12:15 – 4pm

More info., maps and stuff can be found here.

By the great James Bland

Wow. It’s already State Fair time again. I ‘member back in like elementary and junior high school riding the bus to the Fair on “Fair Day” and spending the entire day there eating, riding rides, spraying water into a clowns mouth and looking for cute boys. The big thing if you got lost was to “meet at Big Tex.” Times have most definitely changed.

So you kids know all the stuff about turkey legs and corny dogs and car shows and the rest, right? Let’s just focus on the entertainment…or music, to be more specific.

Here’s a link to the bands/times/stages/et al. Just a few local/regional acts who shall get a chance to rub elbows with the carnies:
Django Walker / Cross Canadian Ragweed / Stoney LaRue, Jerry Jeff Walker / Beatlegras / Billy Harvey / Lucky Pierres / Matt Wertz and more.

You can get all the info you can stand by clicking here.

Song that will forever remind me of the Texas State Fair – Humpty Dance by Digital Underground (Video)

Artwork by Frank Campagna

Some FineLineLive.com show suggestions for a Thursday night. I prolly missed a good ‘un or 2, but that’s where you come in and use the comments…

Dallas

Adair’s
Lost Immigrants
No Cover – Good Burgers – $6.00 Pitchers

Bar of Soap
Blues Jam w/Anthony Gomes

Club Dada
Listening To: Party
Dave Little / Telegraph Canyon / Airline / Eaton Lake Tonics
Doors at 7 PM – Show Starts at 8 PM – $5.00 Cover
The place to be tonight.

Absinthe
Soulbol / Michael Lington
Jazz / Soul / R&B

Lee Harvey’s
DeeJay CeePee

Lakewood Bar & Grill
Chris Dempsey w/Moonlight Mile / Christen Cross / Stone Drunk Cowboys

The Cavern
(Upstairs) ZOO: The Video DJ – (Downstairs) Sunday Drive / The Backsliders / Stitch
$6.00 Cover – Doors at 9 PM – 21+

Love & War in Plano
The Dedringers

Denton

Andy’s
Dixie Witch / Secret Devil Sign / Mescalero
Prepare to rock
Doors at 9 PM

Dan’s Silverleaf
Scott Miller

Hailey’s
80’s Party with DJ G
No Cover 21+ – $5.00 Under 21

J&J’s Pizza
Romp Almighty

Rubber Gloves
Serena Maneesh / Wovenhand / Evangelicals
$12.00 – Doors at 9 PM

Texas Jive
The Mad Scientists / The Violent Squid / IDi*amin
9 PM

Fort Worth

7th Haven
Carey Wolff

Black Dog Tavern
Stoogeaphilia

Jacks Off the Wall
3 Fools on 3 Stools
Good ol’ Texas Country Singer/Songwriter Entertaining Dudes

The Moon Bar
Josh Weathers

White Elephant
Jay Johnson
Greatness

This week’s QuickDFW.com brings my darlings in Shanghai 5 into the spotlight thanks to that damn interview stealin’ Paul Salfen (Hunter we gotta get on the ball)…

Shanghai 5 doesn’t belong here. Not in this city, not in this time. While the fiercely original jazz/rock/vaudeville act may have some modern influences, the members would be as much at home playing a Depression-era traveling circus.

The band not only calls Dallas home, but it is active in the music and arts community. The group has been asked to design a jacket for the next DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) fundraiser. Their songs also are featured on the PBS show Roadtrip Nation, which airs in November.

The group is waiting to record a follow up to its last album, Under A Tent, Under The Full Moon, and playing local shows. Here’s more from its frontwoman, tattooed chanteuse Amy Curnow:

Read it fool.

You can getcher Shanghai 5 on this Saturday, September 30th at Club Dada for the big big FineLineLive Dallas Observer Losers Extravaganza.

Click here for some tuneage. “Dead Man in a Motel” is my fave…

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Local Tracks, which hips us to the “Top Local Releases” each week tells a tale of things that are Strange and Sad But True, as well as a reminder that we’ll have to Wait to remember There’s No Place Like Home. Go here.

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Hunter Hauk and his Liner Notes make mention of Midlake and Rock Lottery and Hourly Radio and (where the hell have they been) Radiant* and We Shot JR and best of all he said Wee Demon. It really is a must read.

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Go here for more.

Secret Headquarters in Denton is quickly becoming the exact kind of entity I’d like to start up here in Big D. Course, I’ve actually been tossing around the idea of up-and-moving to Denton…but I digress.

This Saturday, September 30th, SHQ shall swing their doors open for any and all in hopes that you music/art lovers might assist them in reaching their goal in making the joint into the arts and music resource in Denton.

Saturday evening at 6 PM free hotdogs will take the grill, and entertainment shall commence and you are invited. If you’ve got some spare coin and want to help make this worthy cause into a living breathing thriving reality, they are taking cash donations as well.

Other things you can donate:
Books
Magazines
Sofa
Chairs
Shelves/Bookcases
Music/Mic Cords
Extension Cords
Lamps
PA Equipment (working or not)
Painting/Cleaning Supplies

If you’ve got some stuff to donate and you live in Denton area, they’ll gladly pick ut up from ya.

Contact them via their MySpace page about donations (monetary or otherwise). You can also donate via PayPal on their official website.

It’s no secret that I love the The Backstreet Boys. Yes. ‘Tis true. In fact, at a concert about 8 years ago at Reunion Arena, Brian (my favorite) waved at me. wheeeeeeeeee. Anyhoo, before you cast your stones, listen to this cool little shindig tonight in Austin…

Thursday, September 28th
Boy Band Hoot Night
The Mohawk Austin
Featuring: Single Frame / Golden Bear and more performing your…okay…my…favorite boy band songs.

So sweet…

My darling children done went and laid a copy of this week’s Dallas Observer on my pillow before departing for school this morning with a note – “we thought you might like something to read. Don’t get up unless you have to go potty.” God luv ‘em.

The “Best of 2006″ fancy, shiny inserted whole other Observer within the Observer is muy entertaining – much more fun than just reading it online…which it ain’t at this writing anyway.

Just a few nods I’m pleased to plug (music oriented):

Best Fired DJ – Why Frank Hejl of course.

Best Radio DJ – Why Tom Urquhart of The Good Show of course.

Best Club DJ – Why DJ Nature of course.

Best Local CD Release – Critics Pick The Theater Fire Everybody Has a Dark Side
Reader’s Pick – Sorta – Strange and Sad But True

Best Live Band – Polyphonic Spree

Best Art Gallery – Critics Pick – Metrognome Collective
Reader’s Pick – Kettle Art

Best Hipster Art – Art Prostitute

Best Soul Glow – Hal Samples who is a genius and could make even ugly naked guy look good.

Best Blog – Frontburner which is like being a fly on the wall over at DMagazine whilst the writers, editors and such banter back and forth from their respective cubicles.

Best Skatepark – Eisenberg’s Skatepark – cuz I’ve spent prolly a gazillion hours in this place with my boy-child and cuz they continue to book all-ages shows with all-ages bands.

Best Scene Heard – Kris Youmans and his Tactics Productions

Best CD Store – CD World took both Critic’s and Reader’s Picks

Best Live Music Venue – This one was a Critic’s Pick Tie, and I couldn’t be more proud of whomever those critic’s are who did the choosin’ – Sons of Hermann Hall and Dan’s Silverleaf

Best Night Out of the City – Denton Town Square Damn Straight!

Best Music Venue for Mom – Granada Theater (it’s true!)

Best Reason to Still Go to Deep Ellum – Darkside Lounge – Wonderful joint if I say so myself….and I do

Best Adventure Club – Thomas & Leggitt on Sunday nights when Josh Venable spins creamy goodness

Best Honky-Tonk – Adair’s took both Critic’s and Reader’s Picks

Best Alternative Club – Critic’s Pick R.L. Griffin’s Blues Palace No. 2
Reader’s Pick – Curtain Club

Best Record Store Employee – CJ at Good Records (I couldn’t agree more)

Best Intimate Evening – Intimate Evenings at Bend Studio

Best Outdoor Bar – Monkey Bar – DJ Rob Viktum spins every Wednesday night

Best Booking in a Shoebox – The Cavern thanks to Lance and Robin and Carlin

Best Schizophrenic Video Show – Zoo: The Visual Menagerie at The Cavern on Thursdays and Saturdays

Best Rock Bar – Critic’s Pick Club Dada (what did you expect?)
Reader’s Pick – The Double Wide (oh yeah baby!)

Best Bar – Reader’s Pick Lee Harvey’s

Best History in the Making – Zounds Sounds

Best Vinyl Fetish – A&R Record and Tape

Best Gay Bar – Sue Ellen’s (they also book some great bands like Heather Knox, Darla, Shanghai 5)

Best Coffeehouse – Standard and Pours

I’ll betcha the D.O. sales staff lit some fat-ones and tossed back a few top-shelf libations after this issue cuz it’s chock full of ads. But not really annoyingly so….in fact, I’ve found a few places I plan to hit once I wipe out Strep and Bronchitis. Oh, and keep a copy of this Best of in your backseat – you’ll find lots of places you’ll wanna check out.

Now for a few winners that baffle my brain:

Best Radio Station – ’twas a tie between KHYI The Range and KTCK The Ticket – I get the Ticket. But I think KHYI has won every year for years as a critic’s pick. I find this rather odd since The Observer so rarely covers the type of music played on The Range. Some critic up at the D.O. must be a fan.

Best Taco Stand – Critic’s Pick Tacos y Mas – the critics are dead-on….now the readers…oy vay…
Reader’s Pick – Taco Bell (you have GOT to be kidding me)

Best Seafood Restaurant – …sigh…Reader’s Pick Big Shucks…they said “best” – doesn’t Dallas have like a million more restaurants per square foot than anywhere else in the world? Didn’t they catagorize these as “best?”

Best Pizza – Reader’s Pick Pizza freakin’ Hut – you are kidding, right?

My Favorite Best Of(s):

Best Place to Hear Poorly Played Riffs – Guitar Center – heh…

Best Repurposing of a Crap Mall – Olla Podrida Turns into Hebrew School – double heh…

Best Place to Troll for Tail – Lee Harvey’s

Biggest Surprise Best Of:

Best Local Music Website – um…us! I’m genuinely totally and utterly shocked and surprised….

I’m real sick-like and have been ordered to stay in bed…which normally would make me crazed, but there is so so so much good stuff goin’ on this weekend, therefore I’m hoping a couple of days under the covers and antibiotic poppin’ will cure. I’m feeling slightly better’n'yesterday, and thanks to the modern technological advancements – aka – the laptop, which is quite bed-sick friendly, I shall get to work on my long long list of music news, shows, commentary, et al to fight off boredom and keep my mind in denial as to how much cleaning and such this house could use….and awaaaaaaaaaaay we go….

While I get to work, amuse yourselves over at Matthew Barnhart’s crib, as he’s in NYC doing all kinds of cool music-type stuff with fabulous folk and fabulous food and fabulous fun…and quite apropo, his latest posts have “Strep Throat” in the titles which happens to be one of the sicknesses I’m battling. Go here and read.

Also, Paul posted some of Ceepe’s audio journal. Man that kid is missed…

Don’tcha ferget that Kettle Art is throwin’ down a new fabby exhibit beginning this Saturday, September 30th.

This show includes both digital and analog photography and features several pieces by each of the following…Sil Azevedo, Frank Lopez, Mouse Ramone, Kate Mackley, Robert Galindo, Hal Samples, Guy Reynolds, Luke Fritz, Courtney Heintz, Ty Rollins, Misty Maberry, Scott Alan Wilcox, Paige Moore, Judy Kyser, Crimson Allan, Kenneth Monroe Wirth, Kerrie Conover, Josh McKibben, Trish Cox, Erica Felicella, Summer Austin, Dan Mikkelson and Havi Frost.

Join us on Saturday at 7 PM to view (and purchase) these fine works, sip a cold one and mix and mingle.

The exhibit runs through Saturday, October 14th.

He so fine

Darling Frank Hejl shall appear on National Lampoon’s Eye for an Eye this Saturday morning at…yikes…3:30 AM on the new, poorly named, former WB, The CW in an episode entitled “Picky Eaters.” He’s a damn funny dude, so set yo’ Tivos.

The next Mix Tapes & Baby Fights is scheduled for November 10th…details forthcoming…

Saturday, September 30th, a fundraiser shall commence at the Barley House for our future Mayor Zac Crain.

The line-up is splendid – The Happy Bullets / Here, in Arms

More details to come…

Ed. Note: I ran into Brent Engel at CD World a couple of weeks back and inquired as to his forthcoming album…it’s coming along swimmingly and should be available soon.

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Secret Headquarters in Denton is buzzin’ about a fundraiser for Kinky Friedman this Saturday, September 30th…but I ain’t got no details, so stay tuned…

Art by Broose

Just a few recommendations for tonight’s earful-o-music…I picked a helluva week to get sick…dammit…

Club Dada
Grits & Gravy “Artist in Residency” spinnin’ tuneage similar to what they play on their criticially acclaimed show on Meat Radio.
Current Leaves also returns for their “Artist in Residency” month
I Love Math / Slider Pines
$5.00 – Doors at 6 PM

Gypsy Tea Room
Ratatat / Panther / Envelopes
$10.00 – Doors at 8 PM

Absinthe Lounge
Bandmates

Lee Harvey’s
DeeJay CeePee

The Cavern
The Black / DJ Gorilla vs Bear & DJ IndieInterviews / Ratatat Downstairs
Free with GTR Ticket – $5.00 w/o – Doors at 9 PM
The Metro Up Top
Free – 10 PM

Monkey Bar
DJ Rob Viktum
9 PM

Suede Bar
Brandon Jenkins
$5.00 – 9 PM

Love & War in Texas
Ed Burleson

Hailey’s
Xiu Xiu / Congs for Brums / Barr
$10.00 – Doors at 9 PM
Radio Clash w/The Flashlight Party
21+ No Cover – Under 21 $5.00

Rubber Gloves
The Party with DJ Nature
Doors at 10 PM – Free

8.0
95.9 The Ranch Presents:
Terry Rasor / Mike Mancy / Roger Creager
Free – 5:30 PM

White Elephant
Stephen Pointer / Bobby Duncan

Buy Me

It’s Wednesday, September 27th which means it’s a Midlake kinda day! The band is back in Denton taking a breather for a few then they head back across the pond for a headlining tour in such jet-setty type ports as Germany, Spain, Denmark, France, Holland, Belgium, UK, Ireland and who knows where else.

The band also just wrapped on the video for their new single, “Head Home” that should be up on YouTube, as well as on their MySpace page soon. The single will be released on November 6th.

More stuff for you to work on below…

Bella Union & World’s Fair present a 10-week long series of Midlake videos on YouTube and a music video contest.

The Video Series

Bella Union and World’s Fair are excited to announce a 10-week long marathon of Midlake music videos to celebrate the international online launch of Midlake’s new single and video, “Head Home”. This 1-of-a-kind campaign will be complimented by a contest to create a music video for Midlake’s “It Covers the Hillsides”, the only song from Midlake’s critically acclaimed The Trials of Van Occupanther album that is still without a music video.

The music video marathon will offer music lovers the chance to embrace the rich visual representations contributed by filmmakers and fans obsessed with the myths and secrets of Midlake’s critically acclaimed “The Trials of Van Occupanther”. This includes the videos used for visual backdrops during Midlake’s live set that have been discussed endlessly on blogs and messageboards, as well as never-before-seen videos from “The Trials of Van Occupanther” and the band’s debut release, “Bamnan & Silvercork”. Members of Midlake also share their thoughts on the making of the videos with commentaries accompanying each video.

The festivities kick off on Monday, September 25th with the international premiere of “Head Home” on Spin.com . Following videos will be premiered courtesy of long-time Midlake fans Pop Matters, Stereogum, Prefix Mag, and of course, Gorilla Vs. Bear.

All the videos will be permanently available on www.worlds-fair.net via World’s Fair’s YouTube Channel. We encourage everyone to post the video player on your blog, webzine or social network profile. Kick off your snow shoes, grab some popped corn polonaise and stay tuned for a fresh Midlake video every Monday!

The Contest

Via YouTube, fans and budding video directors are invited to submit their own video for Midlake’s “It Covers the Hillside”. The track will be available for download exclusively from www.worlds-fair.net and www.bellaunion.com until the submissions deadline of Nov. 13th.

A list of finalists will be made based on ratings and views from the YouTube community, and then the final winner will be selected by Bella Union and Midlake. The winning video will be featured for download on various websites including www.bellaunion.com and www.worlds-fair.net, and the winner director will receive a prize pack of autographed Midlake merchandise and memorabilia.

The YouTube Group for the contest is at: www.youtube.com/group/Midlake