Tonight, there is a splendid event goin’ down at Bill’s Records. In support of independent record stores, like Bill’s Records, Erykah Badu, along with filmmaker Jeff Liles, are throwin’ an old school record release and listening party.

Not only will you have the chance to pick up a copy of both Nu Amerykah Part 1: The Fourth World War and the LRS DVD, you’ll also have the chance to meet Erykah and Jeff in person. Nifty eh!?! Erykah will be signing beginning at midnight. The first 50 folks through the door get a free copy of The Last Record Store.

If you draft Erykah’s MySpace into your top 8 friends, print it out and show it at the door tonight, the first 100 peeps will getcherselves free tickets to her listening party at Ghostbar on Tuesday, February 26th.

Come on out and join us. Support Bill’s Records, as he’s supported the local music community for decades. If your babysitter is booked or you just can’t make it tonight, not to worry love, The Fine Line will be there webcasting (video streaming) the entire thing live.

Bill’s Records is a legendary independent record store in Erykah Badu’s hometown of Dallas, Texas.

Located in the South Side Lamar district of South Dallas, this amazing record store has been in business for almost thirty years. Bill’s Records has always been ahead of the curve aesthetically, as evidenced by instore appearances by the legendary Eazy E, Geto Boys and Beastie Boys. The walls are covered with astonishing works of rural folk art, and the rare grooves are stacked to the ceiling.

Even as retail trends shifted and transition to new business models, Bill’s Records has managed to survive and remain an intregal part of the Dallas music community. The store still features live instore performances every Saturday afternoon, with free beer for adults and free ice cream for kids.

Owner Bill Wisener is the subject of “The Last Record Store”, a 2007 independent documentary film by writer Jeffrey Liles (aka spoken word artist Cottonmouth, Texas).

TONIGHT! Monday, February 25th
Bill’s Records
Control FreaQ Records and MySpace.com Presents – Erykah Badu In-Store
Lovely Listening – Autographs – General Adoring – FerRealFun
Copies of The Last Record Store will be up for the taking, too.
10 PM Sharp
Live Video Stream on The Fine Line

Below is a flashback from about a year ago, when Reid and I got to pick at the brain of Jeff Liles in the back of the old Bill’s Records’ location…also below is more scoopage about tonight’s festivities.

Reid and I met over at Bill’s Records on Sunday to go Inside the Mind of the one—-the only—Jeff Liles.

We sat amongst the moving boxes and cassette tapes, a store in which Jeff spent many happy hours, as did we – very apropo joint to chat.

Jeff booked and managed such places at the Theatre Gallery, Trees, Longhorn Ballroom, Club Dada and more back in the late 80′s/early 90′s. An artist, musician, director, writer and producer – the man is divine.

About Cottonmouth, Texas
Cottonmouth, Texas is a music-driven spoken word project. Three CD/album releases so far: “white trash receptacle” (One Ton Records), “anti-social butterfly” (Virgin Records) and “the right to remain silent” (Heiress-aesthetic). Did the Lollapalooza Tour 1997 and EndFest/Seattle 1998. First spoken word performance was at Vidiots in Santa Monica as part of the “Man in the Moon Poetry Circus” with DJ Liza Richardson, Smokey Hormel (Beck’s guitarist) and Viggo Mortensen. Since then cm, tex has performed almost everywhere. House of Blues (LA), Fenix Underground (Seattle), Viper Room and Troubador (LA), Trees and Gypsy Tea Room (Dallas), Nell’s, Knitting Factory and Brownie’s (NYC) and First Ave (Minneapolis) were all great. Just finished a documentary film called “The Last Record Store” about Bill’s Records in Dallas. Decadent Dub Team had a song called “Six Gun” that was on the soundtrack to the 1988 LA gang movie “Colors”, remixed for the album by Dr. Dre of NWA. Since then DDT has kind of mutated into a revolving-door collective of Dallas-based musicians who have created the music for cm, tex. Currently bassist Dave Monsey is touring with Fiona Apple, drummer Mike Jerome is playing with John Cale, guitarist Kenny Withrow is playing with Edie Brickell and New Bohemians, and keyboardist Zac Baird is playing with Korn.

About “The Last Record Store”
Jeff Liles is the writer/Director of “The Last Record Store”, a documentary film about the legendary Dallas indie record store Bill’s Records. The project focuses on the life of store owner Bill Wisener and his ongoing struggle to stay open after 26 years in the business. Includes live instore acoustic performances by Daniel Johnston, 1100 Springs and James Hall, music by Hydroponic Sound System, The Spores, Maimou, Decadent Dub Team, Chomsky, Halls of the Machine, Centro-matic, Test Shot Starfish and others, as well as interviews with a number of customers, DJs, employees and weirdos. Liles’ history: Booked and DJ’d a number of live music venues in Dallas, Texas. Formed a rap group called Decadent Dub Team and contributed the song “Six Gun” (remixed by Dr. Dre) to the soundtrack of the Dennis Hopper-directed film “Colors”. Released three spoken word albums/short films under the name “cottonmouth, texas”. Now working at The Roxy Theatre in Los Angeles and for MarsGolf in Colombus, Ohio.

The interview includes tracks from Decadent Dub Team (“Makin’ Funky Money”) and Cottonmouth, Texas (“Life Support”)

Inside the Mind – Jeff Liles

Trailer for The Last Record Store

Erykah Badu – “Honey”

If there is one artist, from DdFW, who turned her fame and fortune right back around to do good for her ‘hood, her neighbors and her fans, it’s Erykah Badu. Revitalizing the Black Forest Theater, to her formation of B.L.I.N.D. (Beautiful Love Incorporated Non-profit Development), to coming home to share with us her new album, Nu Amerykah Part 1: The Fourth World War, along with her single “Honey.”. If you ask me, this divine woman deserves a damn key to the city.

So it’s no surprise that, with all the hub-bub surrounding her new album, Nu Amerykah Part 1: The Fourth World War, that Badu insisted on an in-store appearance and record release party at our hometown, Bill’s Records. She. So. Cool. Once again showing her never-ending integrity and support for her hometown, as well as the independent “mom-and-pop” record stores.

Let’s all get out our No. 2 Pencils and take notes:

Monday, February 25th
Bill’s Records
Control FreaQ Records and MySpace.com Presents – Erykah Badu In-Store
Lovely Listening – Autographs – General Adoring – FerRealFun
Copies of The Last Record Store will be up for the taking, too.
10 PM Sharp
Live Video Stream on The Fine Line

Tuesday, February 26th
House of Blues
Control FreaQ Records presents the Official Erykah Badu Record Release
Special Guest Appearances by: ?uestlove / Bilal / Jay Electronica / 9th Wonder / Karriem Riggins / Sa-Ra (Taz, Om’Mas, ShafiQ) / Pharoahe Monch / James Poyser / N’Dambi / Madlib / Doyle Bramhall II / Bun B. / Nayrok / The Strange Fruit Project and more!
Doors at 8 PM for Listening Party
Purchase Tickets – QUICK!

Wednesday, February 27th
The Ghostbar
Paul Levatino / Control FreaQ Records / N9NE Group Presents: Erykah Badu with special guests DJ Q-Tip / 9th Wonder
Fundraiser for B.L.I.N.D.