Fine Line: June, 2007

Phil Lee has more outstanding stuff coming soon….

Thanks to my “helpful” mother-in-law and her unplugging, packing and general messofmesses jumbled wires, missing jacks, routers and wireless devices tangled together in a heap on the floor and missing cords and…sigh…sigh…now the loss of neighbor cling-ons – I’m forced to sit here at Cowboy Chicken stealing WiFi from Rock House Live (next door).

Did I say..sigh…already?

C-R-A-P…

Lemme tell you kiddies sumthin’ real important-like. You never, ever wanna miss Wall of Sound. If there’s one cat ’round this country that knows how to put on one helluva shindig, it’s Lance Yocom.

ABOUT: Wall Of Sound Festival is a music and arts gathering dedicated to the expression of independence and creative quality that can be found in today’s mainstream pop culture. Whether it is noise-pop, indie-country, experimental/advent-garde, punk, electro-pop, neu-wave, or the next genre the New York scenester decides to coin, it is all celebrated here! Wall Of Sound Festival is best described as a pop-art experience and cultural affair!

PURPOSE: In a continued effort to support, develop and expose new talent in today’s overly saturated radio-rock and dull music scene, Spune created Wall Of Sound Festival to serve as a meeting place for independent music fans in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, throughout Texas and across the Midwest. Our hope is to shed new light on emerging local and regional unsigned bands by giving them the opportunity to be showcased along with higher profile national artists on the same stage.

WHERE: In keeping with a non-traditional approach, the 2007 festival will be held at the highly respected and historic ballpark, LaGrave Field in Fort Worth, Texas. LaGrave Field has been the home of the Fort Worth Cats during two different baseball eras, 1926-1964 and 2002 to the present day. Home plate is exactly where it was in 1926 when the old facility opened. In 2003, the park was named one of the Top 10 Independent Ballparks in the nation by Baseball America. Located just north of downtown, LaGrave allows fans to enjoy a look at the towering skyscrapers and historic Tarrant County Courthouse shimmering in the setting sun. We hope to bring a respected independent music and arts culture to the city of Fort Worth by producing a quality and innovative pop music festival in one of the cities most celebrated and multipurpose venues.

WHEN: The festival will take place on Saturday, September 22 and feature an eclectic mix of 40 local, regional and national bands.

EXPERIENCE: WOSF ‘07 is an event designed to cater to the festival patrons. An event-filled day of high-profile national bands, emerging local/regional talent, plenty of festive food and beverage options, excellent outdoor atmosphere and much more, all conveniently available on the outfield of LaGrave Field. For the performers, the festival is a promotional platform designed to generate awareness and offer an attentive audience of like-minded music fans. For the attendees, it’s a unique social gathering amongst friendly fans and lovers of similar musical tastes, who can, for one day, break away from corporate America music and media standards and breathe in several hours of fresh air! This will be an event that you place on your calendar for years to come.

WOSF06 HEADLINING ARTISTS INCLUDED: LOW, Okkervil River, Pedro the Lion’s David Bazan, Starlight Mints, The New Year, Starflyer 59, Octopus Project, Midlake, The Lassie Foundation, The Czars, Single Frame.

I’ve been to every single one of Lance’s WoSF, and each year they get bigger and bigger and better and better. This year is superfantabulous:

Just Some of the Greatnessn Performing this Year:
Explosions in the Sky
Spectrum featuring Sonic Boom (Spaceman 3, E.A.R)
Ghostland Observatory
Midlake
Pinback
The Books
Bobby Bare Jr.
Om (ex Sleep)
Peter and the Wolf
Lymbyc Systym
The Timeout Drawer
The Sword
The Baptist Generals
The Paper Chase
Ian Moore
Black Tie Dynasty
Eleven Hundred Springs
Pleasant Grove
Record Hop
Brothers and Sisters
Red Monroe
Doug Burr
Dove Hunter
Current Leaves
Ghosthustler
White Denim
Hogpig
Oliver Future
Spitfire Tumbleweeds
Lions
…and more bands to be announced.

So you can see where I’m a’comin’ from, right? Right.

Tickets went on sale this a.m. and they’s goin’ out the window as fast as meownself at a free happy hour. Go getcher tickets now. Go on now…

“Roscoe” by Midlake

“Dead Skunk” by Spitfire Tumbleweeds

“We Know Where You Sleep” by The Paper Chase

“Promenade” by Doug Burr

“Raw” by The Baptist Generals

“Luzern” by Pleasant Grove

“Strange Machines” by Peter and the Wolf

“Tender” by Black Tie Dynasty

“Raise Hell Drink Beer” by Eleven Hundred Springs

“What Turns Inside” by Dove Hunter

“13 Hours” by Current Leaves

Red Monroe Live at Good Records – Recorded by The Fine Line

“The Stranger” by Oliver Future

If’n you wanna cut out the middle man when it comes to trailing funny-lady Andrea Grimes ’round town on her comedy tours, then bookmark this…um…now…

Photo by Hal Samples

Tim DeLaughter made the Guest List in Pitchfork…

Welcome to the latest edition of Pitchfork’s Guest List. Each week, we ask one of our favorite artists to fill us in on what they’ve been up to lately: which tracks they can’t stop spinning, what books they can’t put down, and what new bands they’ve caught on tour. This week, it’s the Polyphonic Spree frontman Tim DeLaughter, who tries to choose a favorite instrument from his band’s orchestra, confesses his love for Percy Faith’s “elevator music,” and explains why the only good radio station in Dallas is run by a high school…Read it all.

This little exhibit looks interesting, most ’specially since I gots me a real live boy-child skate-boarder under my roof (he just purchased a “long board” to add to his ever-increasing collection of skateboards).

“The visual interpretation of short stories and poems put to blank skate decks.”

Where, you ask? Kettle Art, but of course.

Saturday, June 30th
Kettle Art
Story Boards Art Show *One Night Only!*
6 – 10 PM – 18+

TRANSMISSION ENTERTAINMENT LAUNCHES IN AUSTIN, TEXAS:
Independent Venues, Booking Agents, and Filmmakers Announce Collaborative Agreement to Produce New Approach to Live Music & Events
T.E. CONTACT:
Graham Williams
t: 512.762.5690
e: grahambooking@gmail.com
w: www.transmissionentertainment.com (coming soon)

Austin, Texas – June 27, 2007: First-of-its kind collaboration among music industry professionals in Austin is announced today. As the independent alternative to booking in Austin, Transmission Entertainment plans to coordinate the talents of great musicians, venue owners, talent buyers, filmmakers, and industry experts to produce unique live music events and content in independent venues of all sizes in Austin.

Inspired by progressive east and west coast organizations with a similar approach (Golden Voice, Bowery Presents), Transmission Entertainment was formed to connect musicians and their fans in a similar way: to book emerging artists, to put them in pioneering venues, to do it at a fair price, and to capture the experience for those that couldn’t be there. As musicians continue to look for inspiring venues to play and original ways to promote their talent, T.E. will be geared to provide both.

Transmission Entertainment is composed of a group of Austinites and local business owners with extensive and diverse experience in the live music business. This group includes Graham Williams (Formerly Head Talent Buyer for Emo’s, Fun Fun Fun Fest), Chris Butler (Super! Alright! Media), James Moody (The Mohawk, motorhead media), and Michael Terrazas (Club de Ville, Starlite, The Woodland, Lamberts), which was formed to create and expand this idea to progressive venues in Central Texas. Transmission Entertainment will be booking and has access to over ten different premier rooms in Austin’ s independent live music scene.

As Downtown Austin and the Red River district continue to experience dramatic growth and shifts in the landscape of the music business, both The Mohawk and Club deVille are expanding their capacities to accommodate larger shows, while still catering to local talent. “…building on the Club de Ville’s history as the place where music goers and musicians themselves would go to relax with a cocktail before or after the show….our plan is to expand into the parking lot, enlarge the stage viewing area, add bathrooms, and add a new bar” says Terrazas when asked about Club de Ville’s future.

Next door, The Mohawk is completing its construction on a Green Room for musicians, audio/video upgrades, and a 1,000 square foot observation deck which would allow for an even larger capacity room. Around the corner, on the edge of Austin’s East Side music scene, The Scoot Inn has also begun work on an expansion that will eventually accommodate over 1000 music fans.

Additionally, Lamberts has emerged as one of Austin’s most unique and special rooms for live music, serving as the home for a state-of-the-art sound system. “Will Bridges has taken a brand new room in an emerging downtown area and really started to make something of it”, Terrazas said, “we look forward to working with him to take it to the next level”.

The addition of the Super! Alright! team to this model rounds out the new entity’s offerings. S!A! brings extensive experience in motion graphics, film, and music video production. “Our team brings not just the talent, but the technology component to help us create this progressive new model of music promotion; one that starts with a venue that is distinct and special, moves forward with people who are long-time professionals in the industry, infuses a technology component with a nearly infinite range of applications, and follows up with a level of customer service that the venues, bands, and their promoters have not yet seen in this market.” says Butler. Together, and under the direction of Graham Williams (National) and Rosa Madriz (Local), the principals of each will be working to ‘find the right stages for the right bands’ around Austin, for these venues and for many others. “We have been working with Rosa Madriz (Green Potato Ventures) since day one, and she has done such a great job of booking amazing shows and establishing a solid reputation for the Mohawk” Moody said, “we would like to take the GPV and Mohawk approach of supporting local and touring bands and their success, then apply that throughout the entirety of our operations.” In addition, Graham and Rosa will continue to book select shows at Emo’s, as well as have access to many other venues throughout Austin.

National and local agents will be able to contact one source in Austin for booking stages of all shapes and sizes, by people who know and love music. Transmission Entertainment is officially open for business and has begun working with independent musicians and bookers around the world. The results of this effort will begin to surface in the coming weeks and months, and TE plans to be in full swing by the Spring of 2008. “There is a lot of work left to do” said Terrazas. “but we are excited…there is something unique and special about this, and now, working with Graham, we feel we will be able to connect local emerging talent of all genres with
national touring acts and their distribution and promotion networks.”

For additional information on “First-of-its kind collaboration among music industry professionals in Austin is announced today”, contact Graham Williams or visit www.transmissionentertainment.com (coming soon).

ABOUT TRANSMISSION ENTERTAINMENT: Founded in 2007, Transmission Entertainment was built BY those who love music FOR those that love music in Austin, Texas. The Transmission commits to working everyday to place emerging artists with pioneering venues, to do that at a fair price, and to capture it for all to feel the Austin Music Experience.

Mark Searcy is moving to Portland?

Ellum Onstage is closing? Or has it already closed?

One of my favorite humans is in town. Todd Pertll is hangin’ in Big D to perform with the amazing Amanda Shires (aka Thrift Store Cowboys fiddlin’ hottie) at Sons tomorrow night, opening for Todd Snider. It seems this lovely and talented young star is touring as the Amanda Shires’ band! Sweeeeet.

Listen: http://amandashires.net/music/keepitclose.mp3

Wall of Sound tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. this coming Friday, June 29th. Click here.

WSJR wrote a riveting piece on the forthcoming venue, Sloppyworld, owned and operated by the wonderfully incomparable John Freeman. This new joint makes me long for a teeny apartment in Expo Park to rest me weary bones when in Dallas. Read it. It’s good stuff.

Gutterth Productions is hosting a my-tee-fine extravaganza this Saturday, June 30th at J&J’s Pizza in Denton. Check it:

I’ve totally fallen head over heels in love with stand-up comedy as of late. Last Comic Standing is set for Tivo each and every week. So I really need to get my ass out to see Ms. Andrea do her thang post haste.

You can catch the girl tonight at the Green Elephant, along with some other funny funny folks. 10 PM.

singletude

The girl-child on…sigh…yet another stop along I-35 to walk the dog.

It’s been a whirlwind 7 days. I loaded up boy-child, girl-child and Speck (the dog) last week to trek our way to Austin for the girl-child’s college orientation. Said orientation started in the wee hours of the a.m. on Thursday and ended in the evening hours on Friday. The college is perfect for girl-child and she had a blast over those 2 long days. I bid farewell to the little darling on Thursday morning and didn’t get a glimpse of her precious face again until Friday eve. The kids had their agenda and the parents had another. There was a moment when I felt a twinge of envy over her exciting future, college and all. But that quickly subsided after the 12th (of about 50) seminar we parents sat through. My A.D.D. was in high gear and made me remember why I’m no good in school – can’t – focus – nor – concentrate.

Friday was kinda fun though. We parents were “on our own” during the lunch hour, so I made a beeline over to Threadgill’s to catch part of Ruthie Foster’s set. I’ve been a longtime Ruthie fanatic, and I had hoped to maybe run into my pal Patrick…no luck. KGSR-107.1 was hosting FanFare with an all-star line-up performing all day long. I woulda loved to have stayed for all the performances, but there were dorms to tour and policies to review. I truly love Austin and have high hopes that the music scene there will pull me outta my funk.

From there we went to San Antonio. It was the first time the girl-child had even seen the new digs. She dug ‘em good. For the most part we played tourists the next few days. My new weekend love is Bussey’s Flea Market. The kiddies loved it as much as I did. I forced them to head over to Gruene to dine at the over-priced, not too tasty Gristmill so’s we could sit on the river and watch it roll by. There were doin’s next store at Gruene Hall, and sadly I didn’t look at the handout until we were in the car. Porterdavis was performing and I would liked to have seen them again live. Next time.

The boy-child insisted on a trip to the mall. Me? Hate the mall. Really really really hate the mall. So we opted for the River Center Mall smack dab in tourist central. I don’t mind a mall that overlooks the river. While the boy-child shopped, the girl-child and I hit the IMAX. ‘Twas my first IMAX experience and I loved it. We got to wear 3-D glasses, the perfect tourist fashion statement.

The drive back to Dallas was, as always, miserable. 3 major wrecks on 35. Pouring rain the entire way. The dog whining, kids complaining…oy. But once we landed back at the house things got worse. It seems that during our little adventure my mother-in-law decided to do a little packing. For the most part, everything is pretty much moved to S.A. There are still boxes and one piece of furniture left to go, but nothing really huge. I had piled all the crap, the tons and tons of crap that won’t fit in the new house in one corner of the living room to either garage sale it away or have some charitable agency come haul it off. Mi Madre-in-law decided to go through all of it. Then she decided to mix in stuff that was going to the new house with it. Then she decided to pack up stuff we need to stay here like sheets and pillows and toothbrushes…sigh. She also unhooked and packed up the router and all Internet stuff. Thank goodness for neighbors with unsecured wireless networks from which to steal. So not only am I enduring the longest move in the history of the world, now I gotta go through all this packed crap to see what’s what. I’m about an inch away from torching this place and be done wit’it.

On another note, you musician types outta send your CDs to KTSW 89.9. I stumbled upon this great station and kept it tuned in the entire time. Although the station is based in San Marcos and it’s a college station, I can still pick it up loud and clear in both San Antonio and Austin.

I’m gonna hook up with Patrick over at This is Texas Music and see if we, together, can muster up some passion and excitement about continuing this music thang. Also, I’m hoping Reid will hang my way lots of times so’s we can continue our “Inside the Mind” series. Austin music scene inspires me. Getting the hell outta Dallas inspires me. San Antonio, not so much, but I have much to learn about their music community. We’ll see.

I’ll see you kiddies later. Gotta go find my damn toothbrush.

Below got released whilst I was away…you go Hal Samples…

The Polyphonic Spree “Running Away”

Here’s another little gem from darling Jeff Liles Cottonmouth, Texas. I’m thinkin’ by now, the boy is off on his Warped Tour adventure. Magnificent.

Bumpersticker Armaggedon” by Jeff Liles

crap. Everytime I decide to quit this stupid blog, something comes up that makes me smile and smile and smile. Thank you Michael Harberg for this tremendous performance by our own Cas Haley on America’s Got Talent. I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times, Cas has one of the best voices in the entire universe. Fingers-crossed the boy takes home that million-bucks….

I’ve been mulling around trying to figure out what to do with this site and me thinks me’s had a sign. Every freakin’ piece of audio/video I’ve already wrangled up this past year is now a wipe. Freakin’ Hipcast/Audioblog seems to have disappeared without so much as a smellyalater…an omen, me thinks…

Spune Presents the annual Wall of Sound Festival!

LAGRAVE FIELD IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
1 day. 3 stages. 40 BANDS

* * *

the first round of bands ANNOUNCED ARE:

EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY (Austin / Temporary Residence), MIDLAKE (Denton / Bella Union),
GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY (Austin / Trashy Moped), PINBACK (San Diego / Tough & Go),
THE BOOKS (New York / Tomlab), THE SWORD (Austin / Kemado), BOBBY BARE JR (TN / Bloodshot Records), BROTHERS AND SISTERS (Austin / Calla Lily), ELEVEN HUNDRED SPRINGS (Dallas /Palo Duro) & THE WEARY BOYS (Austin)
* * *

More bands announced Wednesday, June 20 & Friday, June 22
at wallofsoundfestival.com

tickets On-Sale FRIDAY, june 29th at 10:00 AM

FORT WORTH – June 18, 2007 – Spune Productions (pronounced “Spoon”) announces the first round of bands and ticketing information for Wall Of Sound Festival 2007. The festival will again be held in Fort Worth, Texas, but it has found a new home, LaGrave Field! LaGrave Field has been the home of the Fort Worth Cats during two different baseball eras, 1926-1964 and 2002 to the present day. In 2003, the park was named one of the Top 10 Independent Ballparks in the nation by Baseball America. Located just north of downtown, LaGrave allows fans to enjoy a look at the towering skyscrapers and historic Tarrant County Courthouse shimmering in the setting sun.

More bands will be announced on the official festival website at www.wallofsoundfestival.com on Wed, June 20 and again on Friday, June 22. As you can already see, the line up is proving to be a “must see” event!

Tickets will be available to purchase on line at Spune.com, by calling 888.512.SHOW or at all Front Gate Ticket outlets (Dallas/Ft. Worth Outlets include Good Records, Bill’s Records and Tapes and all CD World locations).

ABOUT: Wall Of Sound Festival is a music and arts gathering dedicated to the expression of independence and creative quality that can be found in today’s mainstream pop culture. Whether it is noise-pop, indie-country, experimental/advent-garde, punk, electro-pop, neu-wave, or the next genre the New York scenester decides to coin, it is all celebrated here! Wall Of Sound Festival is best described as a pop-art experience and cultural affair!

PURPOSE: In a continued effort to support, develop and expose new talent in today’s overly saturated radio-rock and dull music scene, Spune created Wall of Sound Festival to serve as a meeting place for independent music fans in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, throughout Texas and across the Midwest. Our hope is to shed new light on emerging local and regional unsigned bands by giving them the opportunity to be showcased along with higher profile national artists on the same stage.

WHERE: In keeping with a non-traditional approach, the 2007 festival will be held at the highly respected and historic ballpark, LaGrave Field in Fort Worth, Texas. LaGrave Field has been the home of the Fort Worth Cats during two different baseball eras, 1926-1964 and 2002 to the present day. Home plate is exactly where it was in 1926 when the old facility opened. In 2003, the park was named one of the Top 10 Independent Ballparks in the nation by Baseball America. Located just north of downtown, LaGrave allows fans to enjoy a look at the towering skyscrapers and historic Tarrant County Courthouse shimmering in the setting sun. We hope to bring a respected independent music and arts culture to the city of Fort Worth by producing a quality and innovative pop music festival in one of the cities most celebrated and multipurpose venues.

EXPERIENCE: WOSF ‘07 is an event designed to cater to the festival patrons. An event-filled day of high-profile national bands, emerging local/regional talent, plenty of festive food and beverage options, excellent outdoor atmosphere and much more, all conveniently available on the outfield of LaGrave Field. For the performers, the festival is a promotional platform designed to generate awareness and offer an attentive audience of like-minded music fans. For the attendees, it’s a unique social gathering amongst friendly fans and lovers of similar musical tastes, who can, for one day, break away from corporate America music and media standards and breathe in several hours of fresh air! This will be an event that you place on your calendar for years to come.

WOSF06 HEADLINING ARTISTS INCLUDED: LOW, Okkervil River, Pedro the Lion’s David Bazan, Starlight Mints, The New Year, Starflyer 59, Octopus Project, Midlake, The Lassie Foundation, The Czars, Single Frame

HELPFUL RESOURCES:

Media, Sponsorship, Vendors & Other Junk: info@spune.com

More information on WALL OF SOUND FESTIVAL www.wallofsoundfestival.com

and SPUNE PRODUCTIONS: www.spune.com

I love Doug Burr. You will too…he’s my shining star and will be yours too.

“Come to My Senses” by Doug Burr

“Last Promenade” by Doug Burr

“Travel Light” by Doug Burr

Hunter Hauk is showin’ some Salim love over at Blah, Blah, Blah Blog, including a world premiere track from Salim’s forthcoming album. We do so love us some Salim.

Click here darlings.

I know things have sucked around here as of late. Kids graduating, moving to other cities, operations, and all the other crap life throwsatcha. However, look here for some big changes in the coming weeks. Reid and I are cookin’ up some good “Inside the Mind” sessions with some mighty fine folks, so don’t give up on me just yet. Meantime, here’s another one from the vault…enjoy…

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A couple of months ago Reid and I got to hang out at the KDGE 102.1 studio. The interview went up on QuickDFW.com, or at least part one did. After computer crashes, website crashes and other such technicalities, I’ve finally finished up part two and now I shall present both for your listening pleasure.

Josh Venable explains the hows and whys as to his reasons for entering the world of radio. He also fesses-up to a Sunday night meeting at Barley House in which our future mayor joins in the fun, as well as loads of band/music chat.

Reid Robinson co-hosts like the pro he be…

Josh Venable Part One

Josh Venable Part Two

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

You’ll always hear a gleeful squeal here at FineLineLive headquarters when I find another Jeff Liles (Cottonmouth, Texas) gem in my inbox. This morn there was a follow-up squeal upon learning that the brilliant Paul Slavens is featured on this track. This, my darlings, is going to be a good day. A really good day…

“Abstract Con Artist” by Jeff Liles Featuring Paul Slavens