Fine Line: July, 2008

Brilliant Brilliant…

Artwork Courtesy of the Boy-Child

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Surely there’s at least ONE SHOW that looks good below. Do yourself a favor and get outta the house and go see one (or all) of our amazing bands/musicians/artists.

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Where you’ll find The Fine Line – Live Webcasting, of course… Perhaps not…car is in the shop and the mechanics are acting as though I can’t get her back until tomorrow…sigh…

The Melissas are throwin’ a shindig, and it’s going to be so dang fun that you’ll still be talking about it next year…

Friday, July 11th
SPACE
Mount Righteous / The Unbearables / Magicfly
Doors at 9 pm – $5.00 – BYOB
Live Webcast on The Fine Line

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Adair’s
Friday – Speedtrucker
Saturday – Speedtrucker

AllGood Cafe
Friday – Tommy Hale Band / Boys Named Sue
Saturday – porterdavis

Bar of Soap
Thursday – Name / Rise of Caligula / The Dajjal Persona
Friday – The Ray Gradys / Rats in the Attic
Saturday – Rob Chop’s European Tour Return Party

Club Dada
Thursday – The Frenz / The Flying Eyes / Sean Kirkpatrick
Friday – Forgotten Space / Escort Service / RTB2 / The Slack
Saturday – The Lashouts / Kansas City Faggots / The Dead City Shakers / The Advance

The Door
Saturday – Dance Gavin Dance / A Static Lullaby / Four Letter Lie / Secrets & Whisper / Lower Definition

Live at Mokah
Friday _ Katie Mariah / Leah Marr

The Prophet Bar
Thursday – The Pin Show – It’s very fashionable
Friday – mewithoutYou / Maps & Atlases / Gasoline Heart (in the Big Room) – The Atlantic Messenger / Delta / The Property of Steve / Leatherwood / Melodic Calamity (small room)
Saturday – The Orange / Wonderfool / Stavely / Aftertraces

Double Wide
Friday – Hellgoat / SuperHeavyGoatAss / Blood of the Sun
Saturday – Rose County Fair / 500 Miles to Memphis / Kasey Musgrave

Fallout Lounge
Thursday – Lost Generation w/Wanz Dover
Friday – The Fever w/DJ El Macho & DJ C MacPhie
Saturday – HOT FLASH w/DJ SCHWA, KILLTRONIX & GUESTS

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Thrift Store Cowboys – Photo by Becca Elliot

Oh baby, oh baby, oh baby….nice weekend at City Tavern. Most ‘specially Friday night with my darling Thrift Store Cowboys and friends! Siiiiigh…these kids, along with The Lonelies, made me wanna jump in to this music thang, fully clothed and head-first…in fact, cuz I’m go’n be elsewhere on Friday night, I’m thinkin’ ’bout driving to Austin to see ‘em live tonight. Yeah. They’s that good.

City Tavern
Thursday – Jones
Friday – Austin Collins / Sleepy Horses / Thrift Store Cowboys
Saturday – Somebody’s Darling / Tim Miller / Band & Hymns

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Opening Bell
Thursday – Chris McGuire Band
Friday – Tim Miller / Demi Human / Jordan Martin
Saturday – Kristy Kruger / The Beaten Sea

Poor David’s
Friday – Patrice Pike / Ginger Leigh
Saturday – Brave Combo

Lee Harvey’s
Thursday – DJ Sista Whitenoise
Friday – DJ Chikki G / Shibboleth
Saturday – DJ Sista Whitenoise / Big Guns
Sunday – DJ EZ Eddie D

The Cavern
Thursday – The Dirty Sound / The White Walls / Sammy Strittmatter – ZOO: The Video DJ Upstairs
Friday – Viva L’American Death Ray Music / Golden Bear / It’s Unamerican to be Sad – DJ Red Eye Upstairs
Saturday – Blue Tortillas / DJ Wolf / Clint Brown – ZOO: The Video DJ Upstairs
Sunday – Ricki Derek Upstairs

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Lemme hip you kiddies to somethin’…if you ain’t done experienced a live Junior Brown show, then ain’t done experienced his greatness. Seriously, even if you ain’t much of a Country music lover, a Junior Brown show will change all that…add in Blacktop Gypsy and The King Bucks…well, just go.

Granada Theater
Thursday – Bob Log III / Scott H. Biram
Friday – Kill Hannah / The Medic Droid / Innerpartysystem / White Tie Affair – All Ages
Saturday – Junior Brown / Blacktop Gypsy / The King Bucks
Sunday – Bryce Isbell / The Drams / Macon Greyson (also highly recommended)

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Green Elephant
Thursday – C&W night with Brian Hughes and Friends

Barley House
Friday – American Werewolf Academy / The Cut*Off
Saturday – Calhoun / Smile Smile
Sunday – Calamity Magnet

White Rock Coffee
Thursday – Christopher Ames / Tim Miller
Friday – Bo Armstrong
Saturday – Michael Earhart

Obzeet
Friday – Drop-Top Rockets
Saturday – Pete Barbeck & the 7th Son

Hank’s
Friday – Back Porch Mary
Saturday – Gary Kyle

Andy’s
Saturday – Veloura / The Paper Moon / Joey Kendall

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Hell to the yeah! Pinebox Serenade offers-up another gem (I’m assuming, I haven’t heard all of it yet, but they’ve never, ever let me down to date). You simply must attend the CD Release Extravaganza for Pinebox Serenade’s, Let the River Take Them Home. You can take a sneak-hear over on their MySpace page.

Dan’s Silverleaf
Thursday – Band of Heathens
Friday – Allmost Brothers
Saturday – The Allmost Brothers / Pinebox Serenade
Monday – Paul Slavens

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Hailey’s
Friday – Ender / N2nth Cloud / Reflect and Fishr Together / Day Blues / Rehab / Poet
Saturday – The Demigs / Titanmoon / The Watermarks

Rubber Gloves
Thursday – Homegrown Theater w/Enemies
Friday – Broadcast Sea / Exit the King / Cleric / Pools
Saturday – Old Skool Skate Vids

8.0
Thursday – Maren Morris / Malt Country / JZ & Dirty Pool / Dylan Sneed

1919 Hemphill
Saturday – Romans / Royals / Syrens / My America is Watching Tigers Die / You Need New Glasses / Thief Thief

The Fairmount
Friday – Billy Joe Shaver / The Hawkes
Saturday – Back Porch Mary / Whiskey Jack

Fred’s
Thursday – Darrin Kobetich
Friday – Champa
Sunday – T-Richard & The Zydeco Stingrays

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Holy moley do we gots some good albums comin’ out this weekend. I’d gush ’til I puke over Dove Hunter’s first album, The Southern Unknown, but come on….you already know their brilliance, right?

Lola’s
Thursday – Black Tie Dynasty / The Cut*Off / Grassfight
Friday – Josh Weathers Band / Oso Closo / Alpha Rev
Saturday – Dove Hunter CD Release / Telegraph Canyon / Talking Tiger Mountain

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The Moon Bar
Friday – Roustabouts / Cody Spain / The Sideburns
Saturday – Petty Theft

Scat Lounge
Thursday – Johnny Reno
Friday – Ricki Derek & the Vegas Six
Saturday – Jay Clayton
Sunday – Trio Cubano

White Elephant
Thursday – Greg Schroeder
Friday – Owen Temple
Saturday – Don McRay – 2 pm – Rodney Hayden
Sunday – Don Burke / Rachel Stacy / Clubhouse Concerts w/Stephen Pointer / Austin Allsup

Woody’s Tavern
Friday – Zach Huckabee / 500 Miles to Memphis
Saturday – Kurt South / Larry Hooper

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In-Stores

Bill’s Records
Saturday
2:30pm – North Pole Bombers
3:15pm – Trainwreck
4:00pm – Tommy Alverson
4:45pm – Seth Walker
5:30pm – Texas History – Lee Powell – “A Tribute to Roy Rogers”
Free

Good Records
Saturday
Transona Five – 3 pm – Free
Dove Hunter – 4 pm – Free

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Radio…

Friday

89.3 KNON – Rocket Radio – “underground electronic and dark music from the North Texas area and around the world”
Midnight ’til 4 am

Saturday

KTCU 88.7 – Radio Sputnik
Tune in at noon!

89.3 KNON – The Dungeon – hard rock, punk, metal and lots from our local unsigned bands
Midnight ’til 4 am

Sunday

The Adventure Club with the always incomparable Josh Venable. Don’t miss it fool. 8-11 pm.

The Local Show on KDGE 102.1 The Edge our own Ayo – Tune in at 11 pm

The Front Porch on 99.5 The Wolf with the better ‘n buttah Justin Frazell – 6:00 PM

The Good Show on KTCU – 88.7 FM with my fave 3 2 stooges Tom U. Tony Diaz – starts at 9:00 PM.

90.1 at Night with my mentor Paul Slavens – 8-10 PM

Uncut with DJ Steve Nice – The absolute best in local Rap/Hip-hop/R&B 11 PM – K104 FM

89.3 KNON – Pagan Holiday- Open playlist, call in your requests! Lots of Indi and local rock.
Midnight ’til 4 am

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Artsy-Fartsy

Lost/Found: A Collection of Visual Fragments
Where: The Gallery at Reel FX Creative Studios
301 N. Crowdus
Dallas, Texas 75226
www.thegalleryatreelfx.com

Press Release:
~Gallery at Award Winning Reel FX Creative Studios Set to Unveil New July Exhibit,
Lost/Found, Featuring the Work of Danny DelPurgatorio and Limbert Fabian~

DALLAS, TX – June 17, 2008 – The Gallery at Reel FX Creative Studios proudly presents its latest offering, Lost/Found: A Collection of Visual Fragments, featuring the work of Dallas artists Danny DelPurgatorio and Limbert Fabian. The exhibit will open July 10, 2008 with a reception in honor of the work from 7:00-10:00 p.m. Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served. Lost/Found will include illustrations, fine art pieces and interactive installations. All pieces, except for the installations, will be offered for sale during and after the event. The exhibit is scheduled to remain in place through August 31, 2008.
When: Thursday, July 10, 2008
7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Friday, July 11th
HCG Gallery
2 Nights, 2 Openings, 2 Artists

This summer, HCG Gallery is proud to bring Dallas 2 Nights, 2 Artists, 2 Openings, featuring two established Texas artists: Michael Ledoux and Shane Pennington. Both artists’ pieces will hang simultaneously the duration of the exhibit, and we will celebrate each man’s work with two special, individual receptions!

Shane Pennington is a Dallas artist who works with many different types of media.

From large expressionistic acrylic on canvas paintings, to video projected onto paintings, to sculpture, to photography mixed with installation, Shane Pennington is a man of many talents.

Barry Whistler Gallery
June 13 – July 26
Robert Wilhite The Bomb – Kirsten Macy New Paintings

Lots more over at Glasstire.

I’m going to defer to my dear friend over at the Sub-Rosa for all your art-going needs. The chick knows her sh*t. Use her site often.

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I met this divine young woman at another gig a few weeks back. I’m working on doing more stuff with her…patience…

Friday, July 11th
Live at Mokah
Leah Marr / Katie Mariah
8 pm – $10 – BYOB – All Ages

DALLAS – Frozen Fire Films has launched a new music video for Katie Mariah, “Thunder Coming On” in Deep Ellum on June 9th in hopes of Katie becoming the Next Great American Country Star (GAC). The music video is currently being voted on in the GAC contest which lasts over the next five weeks before it moves into the semi-finalist round. The finalists will perform in a televised competition on the Great American Country cable network. During the televised portion, viewers can text to vote for their favorites. The grand prize winner will earn a recording contract with Original Signal/Epic. http://musicnation.com/music/katiemariah

“Thunder Coming On,” Katie’s first video release, promises great success. The video collaboration began by Frozen Fire Films contacting Katie via her MySpace where several of her songs are available. The video was shot in a small Oklahoma town where the scenery gave it a unique “hometown” feel. It describes the plight of a girl who feels trapped in her daily life and wants to break loose. “I like simple rhythms and lyrics that tell a story,” Katie said, adding she listened to Johnny Cash while growing up.

The chorus scenes were shot in a wheat field, she said, and shorter vignettes were filmed in a local home and in a burger joint on Route 66 in rural Oklahoma. Katie said they made the video as unique as possible, drawing on her theater training. She studied for a year in New York City with David Layton, who operates an opera studio.

“After meeting Katie, I knew we were in for an adventure,” says Director, Travis Petty. “She told us about her vision and we utilized every aspect of creativity between our team to really produce something unique and captivating. We are all extremely happy and proud of the end result.” The production is a “one of a kind music video,” says Executive Producer and Principal, Brad Davis. “We wanted something different to enter into the contest and show our creativity, use of light and film, and create something magnificent with high-end quality. Katie, who is working on her first album, due to be released this fall, said she’s “pumped” about entering the contest. “We’re just hometown folks, trying to make it big,” she said. To listen to Katie’s music, go to www.myspace.com/katiemariahmusic

Everything written below was penned by Jeff Liles. Read it. Yeah, it’s a day or 20 late, but I already toldya, I’ve been sick and doing some feeling sorry for myself time..sheeeeesh…

When you finish up readin’ below, then click here for an AMAZING short film, Dopamine, with the glorious Cottonmouth, Texas on the soundtrack. It’s beeeaaauuutiful.

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A History of Dallas Music by Jeffrey Liles *read it often – look at the photos – learn*

There was a very inspirational brainstorming session last night at the Prophet Bar.

A large number of dedicated gallery owners, artists, residents, public relations execs, photographers and committed visionaries gathered together to cut through all the distorted perception and begin the process of reclaiming Deep Ellum.

Fact: nobody, including Beck Ventures, is going to change the face of this neighborhood for the worse. The deal hasn’t gone through yet, and when/if it does, many of the properties they are interested in are protected by a no-tear-down clause. Unless a building is simply beyond salvage or repair, it isn’t going anywhere.

Fact: the creative/artistic legacy of the neighborhood is simply priceless. Much in the same way small business owners came together to deal with the SUP issues, we are going to continue to reach out to the North Texas creative community in the effort to protect and restore this neighborhood.

Fact: as many of you have already pointed out, there are literally dozens of interesting and inspirational destinations within the neighborhood. Deep Ellum is anything but dead. In actuality, during this difficult economy, the neighborhood is currently providing the best overall value for your entertainment dollar.

This isn’t a veiled pitch or advertisement, it’s simply the truth.

Fact: if you’ve never been to an art gallery opening, you should know they’re free. It’s a great place to take a date. Many of the galleries in the neighborhood all have art openings on the same night, and they are all within walking distance of each other.

You don’t have to spend five or ten bucks to park in a lot, just bring a handful of change and you can park on the street the whole night for less than three bucks.

If you’d rather go drop 60 bucks a person at the House of Blues to see a show that ends before midnight, spend six or seven dollars for a single beer at the Palladium, then go for it. Just know that drink prices in Deep Ellum are WAY less than that.

You won’t go broke by seeing a show or dining in this neighborhood.

You can’t destroy or diminish Deep Ellum. It was here long before all of the shiny shopping malls, the overpriced corporate live music venues and trendy “red velvet rope” clubs with their snooty bottle service. As was referenced time and time again last night, the area is the cradle of this city’s creative sensibility.

If you’re content to live in a vacuous, benign existence with little sense of purpose or meaning, then stay at home and jerk off your X-Box.

If you wanna break out of a routine that offers little or no spiritual or creative inspiration, then know you will be embraced and made to feel part of this very eclectic creative community.

We’re here. We’re not going anywhere. There’s nothing to be afraid of.

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UPDATE: via Liles – The Bar of Soap blog was actually written by Jessicka, who works at BOS. I just reposted it for her on the HoDM page.

As I’m sure everyone has heard by now, on Tuesday morning the landlord locked us out of Bar of Soap.

As many people know, BOS has gone through some hard times over the past couple of years. I personally came on about 4 months ago to help book and manage and try to bring it back.

In the past 4 months we have made a lot of improvements, booked some amazing shows, and come a long way; including catching up with the bills. But not everything happens overnight — and in the business world, 4 months of catching up isnt much compared to 2 years of business slowing down.

We have had a good relationship with the owners of the building and management company, and they have worked with us a lot over the past few months as we have been catching up. However, over the last weekend some changes took place in the management company [owner Lou Reese passed away -ed.] and a certain individual decided that our time at the Bar of Soap was up.

Hence came the lock out.

We were told we had to come up with an impossible amount of money basically overnight to get back in.

Finally, after much dismay, we realized it was over.

So we broke in, I blacked out the windows w/ trashbags, and we sent a text to about 50 people on my phone. “Come say your goodbyes”, and I promised everyone I would stay and serve until i ran out of everything — which we did.

Little did we know, those 50 people spread the word like fire, and by 2 am I’m sure a good 300 folks had been in and out of BOS by the end of the night.

I didn’t do this to try and save the bar, as I never even thought it possible with the amount of money that we needed. HOWEVER!!! We actually made enough money. We were able to meet with the powers that be on Wednesday and they actually worked with us!

EVERYONE THAT CAME OUT SAVED BOS!!! Even more importantly, I would like to point out that even those that didn’t come but told others all someone helped.

Now, I have heard rumor that some people think this was a hoax or stunt. Let me assure everyone that it was not !!!

Anyone here Tuesday night can tell you by my demeanor alone that it was nothing of the sort. The point I’m making here is, if everyone did all the time what they did on Tuesday night then we could assure that venues like ours will always be around.

Even if you cant make a show, because no one can make em all, tell someone about it!

When you pass by your pal in the grocery store… instead of gossiping about who is fucking who, or who got into a fight with who, if you know about a show that’s going on and think they might be interested in it, fucking spread the word! Pass out some flyers for a venue. If you work somewhere you can lay some out, pick some up and do it!

This goes for all places, not just the BOS. Tuesday has proven how well this can work. Most importantly — I just want to thank everyone and tell them how grateful I am we are still here.

Also, we have shows starting this Friday and then everynight after up until Tuesday of next week and many more all month. Please take a look at our calendar and spread the word!!

THANK YOU AGAIN!!!

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Bar of Soap Concert Calendar

10 Jul 2008 – NAME, RISE OF CALIGULA, & THE DAJJAL PERSONA :Sponsors by Peta &Ladies of Metal
11 Jul 2008 – THE RAY GRADYS (PHILLY) W/ RATS IN THE ATTIC
12 Jul 2008 – ROB CHOP’S EUROPEAN TOUR RETURN PARTY!!!!!!! PLAYING YOUR FAVORITES ALL NIGHT
14 Jul 2008 – THE REZUREX!!! HORROR PUNK FROM CALI! W/ SUBCITY VAMP! SPECIAL SHOW $10 COVER
16 Jul 2008 – HOT ROD CARL(Portland), DISASTER US(New Jersey), W/ TBA
18 Jul 2008 – THE FACTORY PARTY, THE FELLOW AMERICANS, THRASHING ASHLEY & BLACK RIVER CROW
19 Jul 2008 – SADDLE TRAMP & TENNESSEE GEORGE W/ TRUCKSTOP JUNKIES!
22 Jul 2008 – BOLTH W/ TBA
23 Jul 2008 – KTP W/ RESPONSIBLE JOHNNY & BEERGNOMES!!!
25 Jul 2008 – ROTTEN YOUTH (from AZ), THE ROLLER, & BLOOD OV
26 Jul 2008 – BLUE EYED SON W/ ROME IS BURNING AND TBA
1 Aug 2008 – THRASHING ASHLEY (SAN ANTONIO), SCREAMING RED W/ TBA
2 Aug 2008 – D.I.H.Y.F. (COLORADO) W/ TBA
4 Aug 2008 – GREEN ROOM ROCKERS W/ PENGUIN AND TBA
15 Aug 2008 – GUNS ON THE RUN (PHILLY), SQUARED OFF (CHICAGO) W/ THE BROADSIDERS & DCS
16 Aug 2008 – CHECK THE LIST W/ TBA
17 Aug 2008 – MURDER PRACTICE W/ TBA
11 Sep 2008 – SOMATHRACE, VORVADOSS, & BLOOD OV
20 Sep 2008 – SHUTDOWN SEQUENCE GO (Tulsa) W/ TBA
4 Oct 2008 – STREETLIGHT FIGHT (Tulsa) W/ TBA

I know I shouldn’t post the whole list, rather direct you to Mariani’s column…but daaayuuum is that site a freakin’ beating to read….not the content, rather the ?????????????????????’s everywhere…here’s the l?nk? f?or the ?ehash…it’s a cut’n'paste so lookout for ?hese ?hings…

ROCK
Black Tie Dynasty

HARD ROCK
Spoonfed Tribe

HEAVY METAL
Addnerim

DJ/BEATSMITH
Buddah

LIVE BAND
Pablo and the Hemphill 7

AVANT-GARDE/EXPERIMENTAL
The Underground Railroad

ALT-COUNTRY
Collin Herring

TEXAS MUSIC
Maren Morris

C&W
100 Damned Guns

ACOUSTIC/FOLK
Daniel Kats�k

JAZZ/WORLD
Fort Worth Jazz Orchestra
w/Adonis Rose

BLUES/FUNK
Holland K. Smith

R&B/RAP
Rivercrest Yacht Club

FEMALE VOCALIST
Maren Morris

MALE VOCALIST
Cory Watson (Black Tie Dynasty)

SONGWRITER
Tim Locke (Calhoun)

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Texas, PlayRadioPlay!

ROCK ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Public Service Announcement,
Spoonfed Tribe

SONG OF THE YEAR
�Elephants as Big as Whales,� PlayRadioPlay!

ROCK SONG OF THE YEAR
�Breathe,� Calhoun

ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Green River Ordinance

COVER/TRIBUTE BAND
Velvet Love Box

MVP
Dave Karnes

VENUE
Ridglea Theater

NEW ARTIST
Whiskey Folk Ramblers

I just got an interesting email about an interesting book coming out (or out now)…

I am a publicist for the University of Minnesota Press. We recently published The Dallas Myth: The Making and Unmaking of an American City by Harvey J. Graff.

A critical urban biography of Dallas, an iconic American city, this unconventional – and critical – examination of “the city with no past” challenges the rampant denial or revision of Dallas history and culture. Graff looks at the creation of the Dallas myth through examples such as the Dallas Cowboys, “Dallas” the television program, the Kennedy assassination, racial segregation, and the built environment. Graff begins by telling us that living in Dallas challenged all that he knew about cities. His book will challenge all that its readers know about Dallas. The Dallas Myth is a provocative critique of the ninth largest city in the U.S. that offers an alternative history, and raises questions about the city’s cultural and historical identity, or lack thereof.

Here is a link to the book’s web page:
http://www.upress.umn.edu/Books/G/graff_dallas.html

…the link above finds…

An unconventional-and critical-examination of “the city with no past”

The ninth largest city in the United States, Dallas is exceptional among American cities for the claims of its elites and boosters that it is a “city with no limits” and a “city with no history.” Home to the Dallas Cowboys, self-styled as “America’s Team,” setting for the television series that glamorized its values of self-invention and success, and site of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, Dallas looms disproportionately large in the American imagination. Yet it lacks an identity of its own.

In The Dallas Myth, Harvey J. Graff presents a novel interpretation of a city that has proudly declared its freedom from the past. He scrutinizes the city’s origin myth and its governance ideology, known as the “Dallas Way,” looking at how these elements have shaped Dallas and served to limit democratic participation and exacerbate inequality. Advancing beyond a traditional historical perspective, Graff proposes an original, integrative understanding of the city’s urban fabric and offers an explicit critique of the reactionary political foundations of modern Dallas: its tolerance for right-wing political violence, the endemic racism and xenophobia, and a planning model that privileges growth and monumental architecture at the expense of the environment and social justice.

Revealing the power of myths that have defined the city for so long, Graff presents a new interpretation of Dallas that both deepens our understanding of America’s urban landscape and enables its residents to envision a more equitable, humane, and democratic future for all.

Harvey J. Graff is Ohio Eminent Scholar in Literacy Studies and professor of English and history at Ohio State University. Among his books are The Literacy Myth and Conflicting Paths: Growing Up in America.

400 pages | 51 b&w photos, 2 maps, 1 table | 6 x 9 | 2008

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface: Finding Myself in Dallas
Acknowledgments

Introduction

Part I. Searching for Dallas
1. Locating the City: Three Icons and Images of “Big D”
2. Constructing a City with No Limits
3. Revising Dallas’s Histories

Part II. Understanding Dallas
4. The Dallas Way
5. Tales of Two Cities, North and South, in White, Black, and Brown
6. Mimetic and Monumental Development: Memories Lost and Images Found
7. A City at the Crossroads: Dallas at the Tipping Point

Appendix A. Dallas’s Historical Development
Appendix B. Chronology of Dallas History
Notes
Index

Being a born’n'bred Dallas gal, I have lots of thoughts on the subject. I’ll reserve those thoughts until after I read the book. Order.

“Midnight on the M Streets” by Rose County Fair

Dave Little is performing at the Addison Improv tonight. I’m working on gettin’ in with cameras for some live stuff…cuz…well…cuz Dave is the funniest SOB in town…or out of town, for that matter.

Even if I don’t get in to bring Dave into your homes tonight, you should just come out to the show. There’s a pretty cool little MySpace deal goin’ down too…go here. Be their friend. Score free tickets for tonight’s show.

“Bad Ass” by Dave Little

Wednesday, July 9th
Addison Improv
Dave Little
Doors at 6:30 – Show starts at 8 pm

san jose hotel. may 2008. austin, texas. ©allison v. smith

I’ve been totally mesmerized with the Hotel San Jose in Austin for a really long time. It all started a few years back when I shot video at the SXSJ during SXSW. The shindig takes place every year in the lot behind Jo’s Coffee on Congress, which is also the lot for Hotel San Jose. I went into the hotel several times to purchase wine, and found myself more and more intrigued, relaxed and wanting to just rent a room and never leave. Problem is, the damn place is always booked. I’ve tried numerous times when going to visit the girl-child. I can’t afford the joint, but I’ve got a secret stash that I keep tucked-away in hopes that one day, I’ll get at least one glorious night there…and now this…

One of my favorite assignments this year was shooting details of the San Jose Hotel in Austin for their website and hotel postcards . The site is finally up and it’s pretty rad! They made my photos into 8mm film footage. There’s a prize for whoever finds Bucks on the site. Check it out the cool new site designed by the talented boys at Coloring Book Studio here.

Now at least I can hang out on the site and stare longingly and adoringly at Allison’s photos…sort of pretend to be there…like I pretend to be 29…heh…cough…

PS – Check out those folks at Coloring Book Studio. They are doing some pretty durn exciting things.

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Vlog, Vlog, Vlog, Vlog, I Vlog Around…

Yup, there’s a lotta live and recorded Vloggin’ goin’ down starting this month, yours truly behind the camera on a couple or more.

1. Friday Night Happy Hour at The Double-Wide “Make Mine a Double” – no, not really, we don’t have an official name yet. But here’s the deal, Ex-Radio Diva and Booking Agent/Local Music Advocate Chelsea Callahan shall host this fabulous affair during the late Happy Hours (7 PM – ?) with all sorts of crazed, quirky, interesting, entertaining content and guests. It’ll be live – you are invited to come on over to the Double-Wide and join in the fun…you can say hey to your mom in East Texas or somethin’.
First Live Webcast/Vlog (it’ll be recorded and posted too) begins Friday, July 18th – 7 pm.

2. This is super-secret, so don’t tell anyone just yet, but Ex-and current Dallas Observer contributor Rich Lopez is hosting a swank new show, “Hint of Mint” all over Oak Lawn, Cedar Springs and beyond. As I’m sure you’ve already guessed, I’ll be the straight broad behind the camera. The show(s) will focus on the Gay/Lesbian Community with lots of emphasis on art/culture/nightlife and so on and so on. It’s gon’ be so fun. Website and schedule forthcoming.

3. As mentioned earlier, The Fine Line is bringing back the “Inside the Mind” series, only now, it’ll be on Video – sometimes live, sometimes not. I gotta rustle me up some Reid post haste. Lots more on that later.

4. Me thinks me has a deal going with a local media outlet doing a series called “The Confessional.” (if not there, then here) Let’s just say that we lock persons in the local rock-star/artist/photographer/blogger/whatnot world in a room with a timer and a video camera. It’s during this 10-minutes that they can pretty much do pretty much any damn thing they want (sing, talk shop, sleep, eat lunch, do shooters, whatever). I’ve got one under my belt, just waiting for a boss to return to work. More on that later too.

5. Just in from camp Smile Smile…

Just wanted to let you know that we (Smile Smile) are starting a Brand New Video Blog. Our first post will go up on Thursday (we are yet to agree on a name for the blog, big surprise, haha).

Our thinking is, when you play in a band with your ex (which if for some unknown reason you didn’t know, we do), you fight and argue all the time and it’s continuously awkward (strangely enough, I don’t think it would work any other way), so why not share all of those FUN things with the rest of the world. YAY!

Though this is a work in progress, the plan is to record new video every Wednesday night at our rehearsal space/studio. I’m sure everyone will get to witness the fights and insults during rehearsal, as well some “acoustic” performances (since we will be there with our instruments anyway). The two of us will definitely be sitting down for a few minutes every Wed. to look into the camera and let people know what’s going on in the world of Smile Smile. . . . . . . which will probably result in arguments and fighting.

Fasten your seat belt, this could be a disaster.

The Male 1/2 of Smile Smile,
Ryan
myspace.com/smilesmilemusic
smilesmilemusic.com

I’m so loving this one. I’m still feeling the awkwardness I felt at the Quick Music Awards when Ryan broke the broken-up news to me…I’m still a little weepy about it too.

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I know this is really old news, but what the hell, Josh is (sorta) back, and I’m rather psyched…

The Adventure Club on 102.1 The Edge this last Sunday night. The show will be broadcast weekly on The Edge from 8p-11p.

You know the history and the circumstances leading to the return so there’s no point in telling you again. Still three hours, still Josh, still KDGE, still all the music you don’t normally hear on the radio.

Zac‘n’Josh are longtime pals. So of course there was a bunch of IM’ing going down…click fool.

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Photo by Jason Janik for Quick – Cover, 2008

A real long time ago I fell in love with Jason Janik. Then I met him and the deal was closed. He’s talented AND cute. Heh. Too bad I’m old enough to be his…like…really old auntie and he’s like all married or somethin’. Anyway, Jason has been bizzy, bizzy, bizzy working on a HUGE exhibit sometime soon, at someplace awesome with really rad music to go along wit’it…can’t say much more now…but later…later you’ll thank me profusely…

Bio: Jason Janik is a professional photographer with a focus on music and performance photography. His images have appeared in Spin Magazine, The Dallas Morning News, The New York Times, Quick Magazine, F!D Luxe, American Profile Magazine, USA Today, Rolling Stone Magazine, and countless other publications.

He has also worked with Jive Records, Toucan Cove/Universal Records, and several indie labels, providing artists with images for albums and promotion

The Feds circa 2004 by Jason Janik

He’s promising images from the likes of Peter Thomas, Todd Lewis, Willie Nelson, Will Johnson, Erykah Badu, Tripping Daisy, Shibboleth, Glen Reynolds, John Dufilho, Eisley, Fishboy, Record Hop, Salim Nourallah, Collin Herring, Red Monroe, Smile Smile, Wanz Dover, Dimebag Darrell , Carter Albrecht, and many, many, many more….I…can’t…wait. The dude’s got like a decade of amazing photographs of amazing artists and bands, so be sure to check back here for details. It’s a NOT-TO-MISS event.

Teeny-tiny hints: –
*Quick
*Kettle Art
*August 29 – September 6th
*Proceeds Benefiting Cystic Fibrosis

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Whew…now I gotta house to clean and a paying job to find…later kiddies…

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I’m so so so behind on so so so much music stuff…so…so…so…

The D.E.E.P. meeting tonight is at St. Pete’s – 9 pm – everyone is welcome.

Agenda

1. Art Walk (any galleries input would be highly appreciated for this meeting. If you can’t attend but are will to help or let us know what you have happening on Sept. 13, let me know)
* Time Line
o Next 2 weeks
o Next Month
o Two Months out
o Sept. 13 event
o Sept. 9, 2009 DART Line opens with 2009 Art Walk
* Break into Groups
o Galleries & Alternative Spaces
o Marketing & Promotions
o After Party
2. Discuss future meetings
* Locations
* Guest Speakers

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Have I mentioned Doug Burr lately? Oh yeah…well listen-up, again. I could not be more jealous of my girl, Chelsea Callahan, for getting to be a part of this little project. Seriously, I’m not sure I could resume my normal breathing standing in the same magnificant room with the same magnificent artists…so….freakin’…awesome…

Dave Sims writes:

…12:30 p.m.: It just so happens that Josh Pearson, the reclusive mastermind behind Lift to Experience, is getting married to his German fiancée in the very same auditorium. Thirty or so friends, many from the North Texas music community, attend the ceremony amid the cables and mics shuffled to various sides of the room. Doug Burr delivers an impromptu performance of his new song “Wedding Bells.”

1 p.m.: It is decided that a gospel-style choir is needed for one particular track. Pearson and wedding guests Emil Rapstine (from The Angelus) and Chelsea Callahan (who books for The Double Wide) are recruited, while Deadman’s Steven Collins arranges the parts and leads the choir on the dusty auditorium stage….

Read the entire column, North of the Dial…I luvs ya Dave!

The Righteous Will Rejoice.mp3

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Deadman aka Steve Collins has released his latest, Severe Mercy, and it’s so muy bueno that I fell to my knees and wept…well, not really…but it’s really really good. Check it out.

This here’s a great Podcast with a collaborative li’l musical group in Austin, called Phono Records. I can’t wait to move to Austin.

Look for an “Inside the Mind” with Steve Collins the end of this month…on video..but of course….be excited…be very excited…

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There’s a (relatively) new kid on the block and he’s come out real strong-like. I’m bringing back the “Inside the Mind” series. First off, featuring local music bloggers, and Lance Lester of Bonafide Darling will be my first prey…heh…check out his divine little part of the world wide web here.

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I kinda sorta totally already knew about this, but apparently ’twas officially announced during my time of sickyness and totally feeling sorry for myself….

Shanghai 5 is no more, ceased to be, expired, bereft of life, pushing up the daisies, and joined the choir invisible!

After 4 years of good times, 300+ shows, touring, a 2007 DOMA award, many wild parties, and awesome collaborative efforts from our oddball associates and fans, we’re officially calling it quits.
We’d like to send special thanks to our friends and partners including; Cindy Chaffin, Hal Samples, Paul Slavens, PPT, White Ghost Shivers, Lee Harvey’s, Alex Jones, Earl Harvin, EZ Eddie D, Mr. Rid, Sista Whitenoise, Double Wide, DMA, Quick, Dallas Observer, and many more.

Shanghai 5 was just nominated for a 2008 DOMA award, but check out other nominees in that category before you cast a ballot.

Amy Curnow was nominated for a 2008 DOMA ‘Best Female Vocalist’ award, and she’s working on solo and collaborative material as well, including PPT’s latest album Denglish. Be sure and vote for her at; http://dallasobserver.com/polls/musicpoll08/

Thanks for the good times and support!

I know I’ve played this tune ad nauseum over the years, deal with it…I love it.

“Dead Man in a Motel” by Shanghai 5

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Jordan Fein and Zach Stone are off and running with their new project, Thank You. Expect a big, big shindig complete with audio/visuals and more on July 26th at SPACE. More on that later…

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I missed Frank’s birthday…didn’t even know about it…’til today. I really need to get my sh*t together, eh?

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know it’s old news that the Dallas Observer Music Award nominees are out and about, and ready for your loving clicks. I know I shoulda mentioned it long before now, but the freakin’ ink wasn’t even dry before the hatin’ began in the DC-9 comments. It’s just so…tiresome. Like I’ve said a bazillion times before, music is subjective. Nobody knows better than anyone else. How’s about you just enjoy this 20-year annual tradition, a couple of nights of great music and a cocktail or 10.

Although I’m quite pleased with the list of nominees, I’ll also admit that I’m biased when it comes to one particular artist, no secret there *couDougBurrgh*, but he deserves all the love and praise, and at least one damn D.O. award.

Were there a couple of handfuls of bands that mightashouldacoulda been nominated? Sure. But I like the fact that Dove Hunter and Record Hop and The Crash that Took Me and Mom and Sarah Jaffe, and Sean Kirkpatrick and Glen Reynolds and Robert Gomez and Mount Righteous and Matthew and the Arrogant Sea and Whiskey Folk Ramblers and Calhoun and Treewave and Glen Farris and Collin Herring and Yells at Eels and The Baptist Generals and Emil Rapstine and Eric-Freakin’-Neal and Gutterth and Chelsea Callahan and Jeffrey Liles and Kris Youmans…and…hell, just the fact that so many gifted artists and bands are getting the attention.

I will tell you this, though, I’m not sure how to vote…too many excellent choices.

So go vote. Or don’t. But do make plans to attend the showcase extravaganza on July 19th, take a listen to the nominated bands, then I assure you, you’ll want to vote and vote and vote and vote.

Hang around DC-9 if you want lots of scoopage and tuneage from the nominated bands, plus any other music news. you might use.

Music Awards Showcase

Saturday, July 19th
Starts at 6pm
Lowest Greenville Ave

Purchase Wristbands at Dallas Observer HQ, 2501 Oak Lawn Ave, #700, M-F 9am – 5pm or at dallasobserver.com or at Participating Venues Day of the Event.

Pre-Sale Package Available for $10 Starting June 26th. Gets you a Showcase Wristband and a T-Shirt or Compilation CD!

For 2 Weeks ONLY (June 26 – July 10) Purchase 2 Pre-Sale Packages for only $15 here. (Enter coupon code: 111111)

Introducing…
100 Damned Guns • Akkolyte • The BAcksliders • Big J & Schwa • Bridges & Blinking Lights • Carmen Rodgers • DJ Wild in the Streets • Dove Hunter • The Frenz • Glen Reynolds • Hawatha Hurd • Holy Diver • Inner City All-Stars • Matthew and The Arrogant Sea • Mitra • The Naptime Shake • PPT • RTB2 • Salim Nourallah • Sean Kirkpatrick • Shibboleth • The Slack • Snarky Puppy • Spector 45 • Stumptone • Sydney Confirm • Vortexas • Wanz Dover • Whiskey Folk Ramblers • Yells at Eels .. & More

NEWSFLASH – Ssssshhhhhhhh…I ain’t s’possed to leak this just yet, but on Friday, July 18th, Chelsea Callahan hosts a brand spankin’ new LIVE WebCast at the Double-Wide. The Fine Line hosts the behind the scenes, and does the video thang, and the first show will feature nominees and other super-secret surprises….more on that later, dude…however, keep the date, you are invited to join us live…wheeeeeeee…

Me? Sick, sick, sick. Can’t seem to shake it. Others? Doing wicked awesome cool stuff at Hailey’s in Denton…just click the YouTube-thingy-above…

I’m still backin’ off the computer ’til after the weekend. Honestly, I have no idea what else is going on besides Sweet Grubes’ birthday bash….what else could there possibly be? Nuthin’. T’ain’t nuthin’ better than a Grubetacular.

Meet me there. I’ll delight you with stories about low-grain fevers and phlegm…heh…cocktails are in my future…

It’s been well over 18-years that I’ve been a mom. In all that time, I always had this little dreamy fantasy of a “family vacation,” complete with me, the mom, the (or a) dad and the kiddies, the dog and it all happened somewhere down a Texas highway. That never happened. It’ll never happen the way I originally wanted.

So I finally wiped away the dreamy fantasy and made real live plans and real live reservations and somewhat of an itinerary for a real-live vacation, with my family, who are me, the mom, and my young ‘un’s, and of course Speck, the dog, and Gus the new girl-child’s dog.

Lake Travis was the destination. Things went wrong from the get-go. Slowly, everything went wrong. I won’t go into boring detail, but I will say this….for about 3-hours, the kiddies, Speck and I spent quite the time on a rented ski boat on great Lake Travis. I spent every single second of those 3-hours thanking God, the universe, along with any and everyone/thing involved in giving me this perfect bliss with my 2 favorite people, my one favorite dog, surrounded by clear water, beautiful Hill Country and just the knowledge that my kids were happy, healthy and we were together. Nothing could have ruined that.

We got back on…um…Monday? I dunno, cuz I’ve been sick as a dog since. Who cares, though. I’ll have that 3-hours for the rest of my life…

…so what’s been goin’ on ’round here? Oh, and there’s no need to point out my run-on sentences…I’m pumped so full of Benedryl, I’ll never remember it in the morning.