Fine Line: January, 2008

Scotty is usually pictured with gorgeous gals, but I’m sort of partial to this one…gorgeous guys.

Scott “the crazy picture guy” Mankoff is every-freakin’-where. Literally. I used to think I covered the music/art scene somewhat well, but I was wrong. I’m convinced this dude is like a super-hero, and the camera is his utility belt! He makes my life here, on a local music blog, incredibly easy, cuz I can post the pictures he shot throughout his nightly adventures…and…..shhhhhh…don’t tell him this, but I might start claiming them as my own. teehee.

There are others who took note of the greatness that is, Scotty Mankoff, therefore something was done to give this man a voice, something on top of his pictorial view of the bestest of best happ’nin’s ’round town.

I give you….*drum roll please*….BizRadio 1360 – Innovation@Work Hosted by Winston Edmondson…

What is there to do in Dallas? Plenty! But why limit yourself to Dallas? We’ve got Fort Worth, Denton, and tons of places in between. So what’s going on tonight? What big events are taking place this weekend? I’ll be honest with you, I don’t know. But if I don’t know the answer to a question, I’ll always find someone that does. That’s why you love me. So who is the Dallas/Fort Worth expert on important happenings and events? It’s gotta be Scotty Mankoff, the Crazy Picture Guy. I don’t know when this guy sleeps. He’s at every concert, every art gallery opening, and every VIP party, taking thousands upon thousands of pictures for his historical photo documentary. Tune in to the Innovation@Work! radio show every Saturday at 1 pm on BizRadio 1360 to catch the Crazy Picture Guy DFW events report. It’s the only way to find out where you need to be, and when. If you’d like to let us know about an event, you can email crazypictureguy@projectinnovation.net.

Tune in now!

I just tuned over to 105.3 and lo and behold, my ears met with Mike Schoder live on the show. He’s introducing Pugs and Kelly to…well…good music.

Caller: “Man I love the Granada. You never have to worry about walking through puke or nuthin’”

Beautiful….

Listen Live… Mike is playing some local stuff too, (Centro-matic/South San Gabriel (Pugs compared to Snow Patrol, but asked to keep the CD)

On another strange but true radio note, I heard a commercial for the Sara Bareilles in-store at Good Records tonight on…gasp…106.1 KISS-FM. I’m sure it had something to do with her label. I’m sure Good Records will be filled to capacity. I hope these KISS kiddies might thumb through the greatness filling the shelves at Good Records and find that there is, indeed, life outside of Lifehouse, Daughtry and that Fergie song they play a solid 2500 times a day

You are Invited to SPACE:

Friday, January 25th
Aton CD release and world premiere of “We Are All” video!
We’ll also be shooting another video, so look good and get in a scene!
Reggae Feast – Photo Booth – Music – Madness – Glorious
Clay Pendergrass DJ at 9 PM
Aton – 10 PM until Midnight
$5.00 entrance – $5.00 for Feast
Doors at 9 PM

*Live Video Feed Starting This Afternoon – Check Back Later*

The Making of “We are All” by Aton

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Tonight is going to be a busy, busy night for we, here, at The Fine Line. For you see, we’s a’gonna be at Space for the Aton shindig, then we’s a’gonna be at Barley House for, quite possibly, one of the finest shows ever in the history of the universe…at least that’s how we feel. You may be asking yourself, “self,” you say aloud, “why is she speaking as if there’s a “we” at The Fine Line when there’s really only a “she?” I’ve decided to take on an invisible friend. Her name is Sally.

Tonight at Barley House, things will be downright magnificent. First we’ve got ex-The Lonelies drummer, Kelly Upshaw’s newish project, The Hope Trust. They freakin’ rock…and roll.

Then we have one of my all-time favorite bands, Deadman. Dead-freakin’-man. Will I miss this show? No way. No how.

Let’s add some divine details like the fact that Todd Pertll is performing with Deadman tonight. That fact alone is worth the trip. Plus, another ex-The Lonelies band member, Andy Odom is in The Hope Trust. This is like some kinda lottery win for me personally. Meet me there, m’kay?

Friday, January 25th
Barley House
9ish I’m assuming
*Possible Live Video Stream Here too.* (I’m feeling quite amibtious today)

“Ghost Story by Deadman (Steve is going to kill me for posting such an old song, but my stupid server is on the blink, so this is all I gots)

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Sigh. Why the hell are all the good shows on the same dang night? WHY, I ASK?

I’ve been claiming to go to more Fort Worth shows for-like-ever. I tend to get lost on my way there, and on my way back, but with the opening of Lola’s, and the brilliant shows Lance Yocom has already booked this far…Lola’s will eventually be my destination of choice, lost or no lost. I’ll drop breadcrumbs or something.

Tonight is a perfect example of the greatness to expect at Lola’s…

Friday, January 25th
Lola’s – Fort Worth
The Sword / The High Cost of Living / Record Hop
10 PM – All Ages
Purchase Tickets
*Ed. Note: Prepare to rock.

“Giant Babies” by Record Hop

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More Creamy Goodness aka The Fine Line Highly Recommended Shows: (Click on venue links (or flyers) for additional information)

Adair’s – The Tejas Brothers
Club Dada – d Numbers / Sunward / Hendrick
Darkside Lounge – Dallas Derby Devils’ Fundraiser
AllGood Cafe – Malcolm Holcombe / Yo Gadjo
Sons of Hermann – Bubba Hernandez y Los Super Vatos / Pinebox Serenade
The Double Wide – Lonesome Losers / The Jaguars
Granada Theater – Rocky Athas
Hailey’s – Rudder / Snarky Puppy
Rubber Gloves – White Drugs / The Brewers / Melba Toast / Kijoto
The Scat Lounge – The Dave Monsch Quartet
White Elephant – Tommy Alverson
Woody’s Tavern Ryan Turner / Magee Payne

My life, at present, is rife with turmoil…case in point, the below dishwasher doin’s this morning…

…but that’s for another place and time, eh? Actually, it ain’t all that bad, but when things do get a little crazy, I tend to have really really full-blown surround-sound-technicolor dreams.

My dreams have been crazy vivid this week. One in which I was told that I was pregnant, by my doctor…ahem…who turned out to be, Britney Spears. She was wearing a soft-pink Juicy Couture Terry Track Suit, and her hair had grown back about an inch-and-a-half with sort of a strawberry blond hue. Not too clear on the meaning behind this dream, but I can assure you, I ain’t pregnant…and I’m fairly certain Britney needs a doctor more than she might be a doctor.

Last night I had a dream about Carissa Byers. I have no idea why. In the dream she was throwing a lavish party to celebrate something of importance. She began to clink a small, shiny silver spoon against her champagne glass to hush the crowd and announce the big news…and I woke-up.

My dreams usually come back to me throughout the day, and I just remembered last night’s theatrical slumber, so I logged on to Carissa’s blog...

Daniel Miller is an exceptional, amazing and talented man and we are about to join forces outside of the mushy realm of Absolute Perfection and enter into the professional world. Together. We are launching exciting things on Valentines Day. It is our gift to Each other and our gift to You…there’s more.

hmmmm….

I dunno what those two crazy kids are cookin’ up, nor do I know why I had a sudden semi-psychic dream, but what I do know is that the video below really put me in an amazingly good mood. Thanks for that C & D.

“After All” by Sondra Lerche – Photos by Carissa Byers & Daniel Miller

Yesterday I concocted somewhat of an agreement with Rebecca Johnson, wife of the GREAT Jay Johnson. Jay’s got, yet another, song under his belt that is sure to go platinum. I’ve been asked to do some work with them, and since Jay is one of most brilliant singer/songwriters around, and I love them both dearly, I agreed. Plus, it’s income. I like income. I’ll spill more about all this scoop later, meantime I need a favor…

…in order to accomplish some of the work I’ve been asked to do, for pay, is that I need to invest in a decent camcorder. Here’s a bit of what I need:

~good video AND audio capability
~XLR ports to hook up mics and mixers
~Able to stream from camera to laptop for live video streaming
~relatively easy to use and/or learn to use
~easy editing and uploading to computer/internet
~decent in low light and/or capable to attach light

I’m sure there’s more, but that’s the gist now. If youse guys have any suggestions, send ‘em my way. I’ve researched to the point that my head is pounding and my eyes are crossed. Any help from you in-the-know types will be most appreciated. Time is of the essence…

“In the Flash of the Storm.mp3″ by Jay Johnson

“Love in the Wasteland.mp3″ by Jay Johnson

Artwork Courtesy of the Boy-Child

Dude, there are a plethora of good shows tonight…a veritable smorgasbord of fantastical goin’s-on…Check it:

Club Dada
Nick Luca / Sean Kirkpatrick / Telegraph Canyon
8 PM

Barley House
The King Bucks with a big ass feature on Joe Butcher
10ish – no cover – FineLineLive guaranteed great show.

The Cavern
Audio Overdose / Dustin Morris Greenstar Band / Icarus Crane
9 PM – No Cover

City Tavern
Anna Proctor / Amber Farris / Mike Mathis / Chris Gonzalez
8 PM

House of Blues
Lupe Fiasco / Optimus
7 PM – $23.50-$75.00

Love & War in Texas (Plano)
Ed Burleson
7 PM – $7.00 Cover

Rubber Gloves
Cartright / Paleo / Audrey Lapraik
9 PM – $6.00 Cover

Skat Jazz Lounge
Ricki Derek & His Big Band
8 PM

White Elephant Saloon
Bruce Robison
8 PM – $18.00 Cover

Click

Clay Pendergrass puts out good albums. Clay – East Dallas Mix Tape is still a total hit ’round FineLineLive headquarters. So I’m simply giddy about his forthcoming album, Clay – Long Ear DJ Blues. Quite giddy, indeed.

Recorded with the help of Jimi Bowman over at Klearlight Studio, this new gem features new music and collaborations with the likes of DJ EZ Eddie D, Camille Cortinas, Cottonmouth, Texas, Brad Houser, Earl Darling and is currently in mix-mode with the fabulous Danny Kadar at Echo Mountain Studio. So it’s just a matter of a little time before this album can find a home in my house, and yours.

Check out Clay Live:

Friday, January 25th
SPACE
DJ Pendergrass Sets celebrating and supporting the Aton CD Release

Saturday, February 2nd
City Tavern

Saturday, February 9th
White Rock Coffee

More stuff, dates and musica here.

“The Dubliner” by Clay Pendergrass

Tonight, January 23rd Sixth Street Live officially becomes Lola’s…let the party begin!

Brian Forella already has a stupendous reputation for great shows and great venues, but he upped the ante even more when he hired Lance Yocom (Spune Productions) to book shows at Lola’s. Talk about street cred…and shows he’s a’booking. Not good, not great, but magnificant shows.

Says them: LOLA’S IS COMING TO FORT WORTH! GRAND OPENING PARTY – WED, JAN 23 – STARTS AT 8 PM!
featuring TEJAS BROTHERS, TEN HIGH TRIO (members of Eleven Hundred Springs) and DJ Burlap. NO COVER!

*Win tickets to upcoming Lola’s shows such as The Sword, The Redwalls, Trampled By Turtles, Nina Nastasia, Xiu Xiu, Wayne Hancock, The Drams and more.

Just a few of the shows you can look forward to attending include: Doug Burr / Dove Hunter / Pleasant Grove / Stumptone / Spitfire Tumbleweeds / The Cut*Off / Budapest One / Telegraph Canyon / Nina Nastasia / Tre Orsi / Burnt Sienna Trio / Astronautalis / Black Tie Dynasty / Wayne Hancock / Oliver Future / The Devil Dolls/ The Drams / The Theater Fire and tons more.

Check the calendar here and go ahead and purchase tickets!

Check out what the FW Weekly has to say. I’ll see ya there on January 23rd.

I’m moving my personal blather to this page to keep this joint about art and music. There’s a link up-top on the menu bar. I’m calling the page “Dimestore of Love” after a song by Doug Burr. ‘Twas a bonus track on his (The Lonelies) EP, and it irritates the hell out of him when I yell out the request for him to sing it at his shows. Dougie is fun to irritate….

I love it when the past comes back. As long as it’s good past. Today I ran across my old pals, The Wendel Brothers. Their EP is still among my favorites. I used to hit a ton of their gigs. They’s just a 3-piece Bluegrass/Hillbilly band, one of the best ever. Listening to those tunes, I loved so much years ago kinda brought a tear to my eye.

I miss those boys…I need to get ‘em back on stage…yeah, that’s precisely what I’ll do…

Meantime, check out their tuneage on their MySpace Page.

Knox Street Pub
AcousticKnox Series
Lauren Woods / Ryan Edgar / Reggie Scott
8:30 PM – No Cover

Elbow Room
D.E.E.P. Meeting
9 PM – No Cover

Granada Theater
Tiger Army
Punkabilly Greatness
Doors at 7 PM – $13 Cover

Dan’s Silverleaf
Bill Frisell Trio w/Kenny Wollesen & Tony Sherr
Jazzy Good Times
Probably 9ish

White Elephant Saloon
Brad Hines
Good Ol’ Texas Country
7 PM – No Cover

Okay, first of all, I had no idea that this Dustin Morris kid was so…um…hooooooot. Whew! I fell in love with his music first, and just caught a glimpse of the rest of him this morning. Dayum, if only I was 20-years younger..or…. Okay, ’nuff.

So like I stumbled upon the Knox Street Pub, AcousticKnox Series, days back, and found myself quite intrigued. That’s how I came across Dustin Morris. I took a stroll over to his MySpace page…and…well…the rest shall become history.

Dustin sent me a fresh new copy of his debut solo album, Balance. I always feel a tug of dread upon receipt of CDs from artists, new to me. I want the albums to be good. I want to love each and every one. But let’s face it, some suck. Not the case with Balance. Not the case whatsoever.

First thing to reach my ears was track one, “Had to Try,” a quirky, exceptionally fun tune chock full of handclaps and shakers and horns and Dustin’s addictive voice. I knew right away that this was a CD that would get a lot of attention from me, and hopefully the rest of the world.

Dustin’s lyrics tell of his great sense of humor, even on the sadder of songs. I like that. I also like the fact that this kid put out a top-notch debut album, recorded on his roomate’s computer, performing all the parts/instruments, save for a couple of songs, “First Time,” in which his brother Derek Morris sat in (and co-wrote), and on “Shake All Around,” in which his pal Greg Baldia sat in (and co-wrote). The other thing I love about this album is the diverse mix of genres with each song. I’d say Dustin managed to cover pop, roots, soul, Americana and even one rap song. It was fun just anticipating what was coming with each new track, and even more fun when it was one great song after another.

I’m sort of embarrassed to admit that, while I don’t think I’ve actually met Dustin Morris, I do know that I’ve seen a half-a-dozen (or so) of his former project, Until They Arrive, performances. Hell, I still remember their performance at the Wall of Sound Festival at Hailey’s back in 2005. Tre magnifique. I was raving about Dustin to Kate Mackley this past weekend, and it turns out he had just played White Rock Coffee. He’s also played Opening Bell, City Tavern and had a freakin’ CD release party at Good Records. How the hell did this guy fly under my radar? I need to work on that a little harder, eh?

Check out more Morris music here.

Purchase Balance at CD Baby, or getcherself out in the world and get a copy at Good Records.

Dustin Morris’ Upcoming Performance:

Wednesday, January 23rd
The Cavern (Dallas)
Dustin Morris Greenstar Band (11 PM) w/ Audio Overdose / Icarus
Doors at 9 PM – No Cover

More Shows.

The Dallas Observer is catchin’ up with the times real nice like as of late. They just launched a new segment on DC-9 At Night, shot by D.O. videographer, Jonathan Finley. Jonathan goes out and gets footage of bands performing, then lets ‘em chat a bit too. Gee, wish we’d thought of that…heh..heh…REID!!!

First one outta the chute is with a huge FineLineLiveFave, Eleven Hundred Springs… Supah-cool…

It’s been a few months since I’ve seen my girl, Jenn Nabb. I hope to rectify that from here on out. Anyhoo, the girl looks damn fine, kick-ass great, if you will. She’s always been a breathtakingly beautiful girl, but, as of late, she’s made the commitment to get healthy, and it shows.

She’s my new inspiration. I just spent the last hour reading about her journey. She’s my new inspiration. I needed a new inspiration.

Thanks Jenn…

Jenn Live at Club Dada – Recorded by The Fine Line

Saturday night was so crazy fun, it almost seems surreal at this point. I pretended that it was my birthday party and that everyone I invited came in droves. People I adore like Danny Reid and Kate Mackley and Hunter Hauk and Bill Holston and Jeff Liles and Jenn Nabb and Chris and Adrienne Johnson and Camille Cortinas and Eric Neal and Doug Burr and Sarah Jaffe and Kelly Upshaw and Cas Haley and Glen Squibb and Noah Bailey and Sam Machkovech and Kris Youmans and Laura Harrell and Chris Mueller and new pal Scotty Mankoff and and and and…’twas fun, fun, fun, fun indeed.

SaMach shot one of Doug’s songs but the file is too big to load on YouTube. Once the boy-child arises from his slumber, I’ll put him on it.

AllGood Cafe was, literally, standing room only on Saturday night for Sarah Jaffe and Doug Burr. I was the first one there and thought I’d chosen a good table. As you can tell by my view, I though wrong.

…since my (literal) Sunday morning, today, began equally as freakin’ amazing as my (day before) Saturday began….it’s going to be an *end to the beginning* tale ’bout last night…last fun thing from this morning below…be afraid…be…very…afraid….front to back…below is the back…a back with back hair…and…no…eyes…

Yeah, so it was kinda smoky at Bar of Soap. Normally I wouldn’t mind it so much, but my eyes are all red and scratchy and burny in the cold weather already. However, I’m watching Lonesome Losers live at Bar of Soap anyway. Yeah. Das’ right. I’m watching the Bar of Soap stage from a cozy corner at AllGood Cafe.

Can I just say it? That Tanna rocks!

Watching/hearing Lonesome Losers made me hit myself square in the jaw for leaving. I mean come on! They’ve got an accordion player! I’ll be checkin’ them out further in the coming days, I think a long love affair is about to commence.

Doug Burr and Sarah Jaffe are performing tonight at AllGood, which is why I’m here and why Kate is coming and why Danny is coming and why Hunter is coming and why Bill is coming and why you should be coming…

Goodwin rocked our collective asses….but then again, they always do. Get here…like, now!

PS – that last pic, one I’m quite proud to say shows my unlimited talent as a photographer, is Kate Mackley’s hair and Muffy’s hair…it’s a hair thang.

PPS – If you can’t come, you can still come – check out the show live at this place. Live video. Cool, huh?

Up next, The Fellow Americans…