Fine Line: 'Interviews' Section

I’m so so so waaaaay behind on gettin’ my Paul Slavens on. Moving. Looking for a job. Nagging a 17-year old. Ya know, the usual stuff has kept my attention away from the ‘puter.

I was quite pleased to log on to Art & Seek late last night to find some fantabulous “Track by Track” chats with the brilliant likes of Danny Balis, Telegraph Canyon, Matthew & the Arrogant Sea, Dust Congress, Fight Bite, Brave Combo, Rhett Miller, Shiny Around the Edges and a few others I’ve neglected these past several weeks. I suck sometimes.

However, my mission for the rest of the week is to listen to every darn one of ‘em. You should too. Paul only invites the best of the best on his magnificent Podcast. He, quite literally, rocks.

Me‘n’Hunter‘n’Jason‘n’Danny‘n’Trey‘n’Dave‘n’Erv spent a perfect evening together recently. First run on Quick, now run on The Fine Line.

Petey was on the Pugs and Kelly Show today on 1360 AM, talkin’ ’bout the Dallas Observer Music Awards shindig this weekend and next Tuesday night. I must say, the boy did me proud. Kudos for talkin’ up the local scene and even ol’ Deep Ellum.

I just left a job that kinda, sorta meant the world to me. Living and working in the same building in Deep Ellum just don’t do it for me no’mo’. I’m tired of looking out the window and seeing a highway and trashed-up alleys. I pick it up, others pick it up, yet every morning there’s a whole new batch of broken bottles, empty chip bags and goodness knows what else. Unfortunately, the lack of change of scenery, many many overtime hours and stress at work…I’m up and leaving it all for destinations unknown. (kinda, I’m moving back out to Richardson so the boy-child can finish his senior year)

Do I still love Deep Ellum? Yes. But it’s just too hard on an old broad like me, and 10-year old pooch who has had his own backyard since birth, and a 17-year old boy, wanting to hang out at Starbuck’s in Richardson.

What the hell am I going to do now? I have no idea. I went from barely making ends meet, to…well…the ends still need to be met, therefore I’m laying awake most nights trying to figure out how I’m going to make that happen.

Inspiration.

I need inspiration. I need an idea. I need a job that pays more than $?.00 an hour. So I often turn to the places that inspire me on a regular basis, or to those folks who do the same. Thank GAWD for Art & Seek. Truly. Thanks.

Art & Seek is my little hideaway, where I go to read, see and hear wonderful things. Wonderful things in a positive way. So it was no surprise that my little oasis on the web featured two other people who always inspire me and make me smile. Camille Cortinas and Eric Neal, two of the loveliest people I know.

Please click. It’ll make your day too.

Lance Lester Interviews Matthew & the Arrogant Sea from Cindy Chaffin on Vimeo.

I never get to hang with my Denton folk much, no’mo’….but I got to see Matthew and the boys, last night for…like…30-seconds…got chased off….I miss that darling boy…gotta hit little D sooner than later….

Chelsea and I decided to visit and tour the brilliant Zounds Sounds. The kiddos are performing at M2S2 on Saturday, April 25th from noon until 4 PM. They are performing songs by local bands. It should be a total blast. The rest of the shindig is going to be fabby too. Check it out.

Music, “Sweet Pea Pie” is by Chris Holt, who also happens to be a teacher at Z.S.’s.

My utter adoration for Quick is certainly no secret. This week put me in a whole new level of head-over-heels. You simply must pick up a hardcopy for the creamy goodness inside….and out.

The divine Robert Gomez graces the cover, as well as the interview inside with darling Hunter. Pine Sticks and Phosphorus (Nova Posta Vinyl) drops Tuesday, April 14th and things kick-off on Sunday, April 12th at Good Records with an in-store you really shouldn’t miss. 4 PM. Free. Greatness.

If you turn to page 7, you’ll find a delightful interview with our beloved Scotty Mankoff. I actually learned a few new things about Scotty that I didn’t know before. But I ain’t tellin’, you’ll just have to read it for yourself.

Now flip over to page 18 for Hunter Hauk’s music news and concert picks aka Hot and Fresh Week, Johnny Lloyd Rollins, the Orbans, Nicholas Altobelli, Salim Nourallah, Eric Neal, the Nervebreakers and more.

Even on page 29, there’s some House of Dang luvin’….which is exactly where I’m heading as soon as I hit the publish button.

Read it.

You can always come on over to the coffeehouse and getcherself a copy of Quick and if you mention the secret phrase “Hot and Fresh,” it’ll getcha a free drink!

It’s like 11 PM, way past a time I usually can (or sometimes even wanna) stay awake, due to work and other… like, life stuff.

However, I couldn’t help but pull the covers over my head, click on my flashlight and put an ear to this absolutely breathtaking Podcast with Mara Lee Miller.

if you love brilliant music, songwriting and the absolutely magnificent artists who gift us with it…there’s nothing better than this…..

Tonight, I sleep well, with good dreams….

My only excuse is that I’ve been swamped with work, kiddies and life in general. That’s my excuse for falling behind on Paul Slavens’ SUPERB Podcast, Track by Track.

I’ve got to catch up with the newer ones with Mara Lee Miller, Matthew & the Arrogant Sea and Robert Gomez. The man knows how to pick his guests.

Check it out. NOW!

Between SXSW and AFI, Hunter is going to need about a 3-week nap.

Lucky for us, however, he’s doing one hella great job covering AFI. Just sneak over to NightLife and take a gander.

Just as soon as TFG finishes up loading the divine new graphics, my music/art/culture blather will be housed back here. My LOtB blog will chronicle my personal adventures living life in Deep Ellum.

I’ve debated and debated over what my first post back here would contain. Paul Slavens and Doug Burr made it an easy decision. Two of my favorite people. Two of my favorite musicians. Two beautiful souls.

I give you the first Podcast of (hopefully) many many to come, Paul Slavens “Track by Track.” The Podcast will be featured over at the splendid Art & Seek, a place I spend much of my time perusing.

Art&Seek is launching a new podcast! ‘Track By Track” will appear every other week on Art&Seek and features KERA 90.1 at Night host Paul Slavens talking with musical artists about the creation process of their latest releases. Listeners will then hear excerpts from those releases.

The inaugural podcast features singer/songwriter Doug Burr, whose latest album is The Shawl.

It’s a FANTASTIC Podcast. Doug and Paul go “track by track” discussing the stories behind each beautiful song on Doug’s latest release, The Shawl. It’s utterly mesmerizing…both the Podcast and the album.

This ain’t gonna be like the old FineLineLive, nor my old TexasGigs doin’s. Rather, lots more video and fly-by-the-seat-of-my-granny-panties type stuff with loads of contributing guests.

Now off you go to listen to the first installment of “Track by Track,” with the fabulous Doug Burr.

I still ain’t decided just what I plan to do wit’dis site…if anything. But what I’d like to do is more stuff like below…I need one Tiffany Kieran one Jeffrey Liles to make my dreams come true…more on that later…

DJ Nature hips us to the fact that DJ EZ Eddie D hits his 25th year mark on the air this year…so I went up to the attic and dusted off this amazing experience from a couple years back…audio interview with Eddie D circa January 10, 2007…

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Originally recorded for QuickDFW.com
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Pikahsso Allen Poe calls legendary DJ EZ Eddie D “the Godfather of DFW underground hip-hop.” You should always listen to Pikahsso, he know of what he speaketh…

DJ EZ Eddie D has cultivated a career as a DJ, remixer and producer for more than 24 years. Being the closest thing to a hip-hop historian that Dallas has ever known, he has worked with the early pioneers as well as many of the current up-and-comers. From his early days growing up in Finneytown (a suburb in Cincinnati) to his 23 years in Dallas, it’s no surprise to find his influences are all over the musical map. With a collection containing everthing from R&B to classic rock, funk to retro and blues to hip-hop, his studio is the Mecca record collectors dream of.”

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

Reid Robinson and I met up at Gachet Coffee recently to go Inside the Mind of EZ Eddie D and had ourselves a delightful time. Did we catch the whole thing on audio? But of course, darlings.
Be sure and tune in to 89.3 KNON every Saturday night for DJ Eddie D’s Knowledge Dropped Lessons Taught – 5-7 p.m.

The interview includes tracks from P.P.T. and Pikahsso.

Inside the Mind – DJ EZ Eddie D

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Inside the Mind Series:
~George Gimarc
~Josh Venable
~DJ EZ Eddie D
~Jeff Liles

Finally! The Night of the White Pants has returned home again. Big ups to the Double Wide, D.E.E.P., Premiere Video, Amy Talkington. Tiffany Kieran and the rest for giving us this very special evening.

Tonight, Wednesday, October 15th at the Double Wide – 3510 Commerce Street
8pm – Lifeoutsidethebubble.com goes live at Double Wide – Log on here for Chelsea Callahan’s Live Video Stream from the Red Carpet!
10pm – FREE Screening
Can’t make it? No problem, order the DVD on Amazon.

1/2 Price Drafts and T-shirt give-aways!

Director Amy Talkington will call in for a phone interview, pending baby news. (She’s due this month. Congrats to Amy!) Come join us for a great time!

Starring: Selma Blair (Kath and Kim, Legally Blond), Tom Wilkinson (In the Bedroom, Michael Clayton), Nick Stahl (Carnivale, Sin City, In the Bedroom), Frances Fisher (Titanic), Janine Turner (Friday Night Lights, Northern Exposure).

Directed by Amy Talkington (Dallas native). Produced by Anne Harrison. Director of Photography – Jim Denault. Thanks to all the cast and crew for an amazing time filming in Dallas.

Night of the White Pants Trailer!

The film was shot in and around DFW (mostly Swiss Ave./Exposition Park areas) and includes tuneage from local and regional musical faves such as Record Hop, Riverboat Gamblers, Max Cady, Young Heart Attack, Spoon, The Golden Falcons, Earl Harvin Trio, Peter Schmidt and his Gentlemen Scholars and more, including a live performance by 25% Toby.

Check out the website for the film here.

Tonight please join us live at The Double-Wide for the first in a series of live video streaming webcasts.

“Make Mine a Double” hosted by the divine Chelsea Callahan shall commence tonight at 7 pm. Among other surprises, our special guests for this eve are the fabtacular RTB2, and our very own Dallas Observer Music Editor, Pete Freedman. Cuz, ya know, like that whole Dallas Observer Music Awards showcase(s) all goes down tomorrow night on Lower Greenville. Careful where you park.

Pete will talk D.O. awards’n'stuff. RTB2 will talk about any damn thing they wanna.

We’d love to have you there hoisting a few with us, otherwise, please just come on back to The Fine Line and enjoy it wherever the hell you have a computer screen.

Details:

Make Mine a Double – A Live Webcast On The Fine Line
Friday, July 18th – 7 pm
The Double-Wide
Performing Live at The Double Wide:
The Breakfast Show / Nathan Singleton & his Sideshow Tragedy / RTB2
9 pm

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Speaking of the Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase(s)

Saturday, July 19th
Billiard Bar
1920 Greenville Ave
7:00 – Holy Diver
8:00 – Carmen Rodgers
9:00 – Yells at Eels
10:00 – Spector 45
11:00 – Akkolyte
12:00 – Whiskey Folk Ramblers

The Cavern
1914 Greenville Ave
7:00 – The Frenz
8:00 – Hawatha Hurd
9:00 – Mitra
10:00 – Sean Kirkpatrick
11:00 – Florene
12:00 – Bridges & Blinking Lights

Gezellig
2010 Greenville Ave
7:00 – The Naptime Shake
8:00 – Snarky Puppy
9:00 – Inner City All-Stars
10:00 – Stumptone
11:00 – RTB2
12:00 – Big J & Schwa Cool Out
1:00 – Blixaboy

Stout
1924 Greenville Ave
7:00 – Vortexas
8:00 – Glen Reynolds
9:00 – Shibboleth
10:00 – The Slack
11:00 – Matthew & The Arrogant Sea
12:00 – Salim Nourallah & The Noise

Sugar Shack
1909 Greenville Ave
7:00 – 100 Damned Guns
8:00 – The BAcksliders
9:00 – Sydney Confirm
10:00 – Dove Hunter
11:00 – PPT
12:00 – Wild in The Streets

“Severe Mercy”

Hunter Hauk has a nice interview with one of my musical heroes, Steven Collins in today’s Quick. I love Quick. I know when I go there it’ll be upbeat, positive and entertaining…not so easy to find these days.

The dissolution of the Collins’ marriage was heartbreaking, even for me. They seemed to have been one of those couples that would just sorta stick for life. You can still hear the heartbreak and pain in Steven’s lyrics and even in the interview with Hunter. I feel his pain, I do indeed….

Things have changed for Steven Collins.

Three years ago, the Dallas-raised frontman for the band Deadman was living in McGregor, Texas, with his wife and bandmate Sherilyn. The couple was running a recording studio and enjoying critical acclaim for the haunting, rootsy folk of its second CD, Our Eternal Ghosts.

Today, the 35-year-old singer/songwriter lives in a two-story house in Austin. He still has his studio; he still has Deadman. But he doesn’t have Sherilyn. And while he won’t talk much about their split, new album Severe Mercy says enough.

Mercy, released last week to online music stores, is filled with stark, melodic stories of heartbreak and loss.

Collins says these songs will serve as a sonic link between what Deadman was when Sherilyn was involved and what it’ll be with a new lineup of musicians he’s found to work on the next album….READ IT ALL.

Look for more video and in-depth talk with Steven Collins towards the end of the month…

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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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PS- the New Science Projects’ new album, Crocodile is freakin’ AWESOME! —– much more on this video, the album, et al a bit later….

Hunter was just askin’ me what my weekend music plans were and I couldn’t remember the show I stuck in the back of my head, then promptly forgot. Thankfully, Geoff Johnston threw-down an interview (and reminded me of that show) with my long time love, American Werewolf Academy…I been wonderin’ where those boys be hidin’….

You’d be hard-pressed to find more viscerally efficient rock songs than those assembled by American Werewolf Academy.

A typical AWA song behaves like the ill-mannered mutant stepchild of a drunken bar band sing-along and a soaring arena rock anthem. It’s 1960s Texas psych-rock, ’70s guitar crunch and ’80s college-radio jangle compacted into commercial break-sized nuggets.

While singer-guitarist Aaron Thedford serves as head Werewolf in charge, it’s the sum of its parts that make AWA such a fun and ferocious group. The rhythm section boasts fine local-music pedigrees. Drummer Tony Harper (the Drams, Slobberbone) and bassist Jake Barnhart (Little Grizzly, Raised by Tigers) provide ample architecture for Thedford’s lumbering rock ‘n’ roll beast.

Currently at work recording the follow-up to 2005′s Tell Them Right Now!, Thedford brought us up to date on the state of the Academy in an e-mail interview. READ!

I really love this band. I used to end my webcasts with this song.

So like, come with me to the Double Wide on Saturday night, April 12th, to catch American Werewolf Academy. There’s some Bug Nasties and The Mullens in the mix too.

“The Good Time Kids” by American Werewolf Academy

Be sure to stop by and say hey to Hunter and check out his Liner Notes. ED. NOTE: The Mokah Summit Showcase Hunter mentions, has been moved to Sunday, April 20th so we can all enjoy and support the day at Good Records on Saturday.

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The Fine Line, Hal Samples and our ringleader, Cash wanna grant one wish for Mayor Mackey. We can’t exactly get him his own talk show, but we can (and have) ask him to guest-host the first FineLineLive.com weekly Webcast. More on that later….but for now, jot down the following:

Thursday, March 27, 2008
Location: SPACE (feel free to drop by!)
Live Video Webcast on The Fine Line
1 PM CST
Your Host: Mayor Mackey
Co-hosted by: Hal, Cindy, Greg, Gramma and of course Cash
Lots of musical Surprises and Special Guests