No Fold

We've been up to all sorts of things here within the cavernous halls of the DR-C. I had a lot of fun in Athens, most of it having to do with local restaurants - though I did get to drop in on the legendary 40 Watt. The short answer is it's about the size of RGRS and decorated a little like Hailey's. There was a band playing on the floor with way too many drummers & guitar players, and a dude with a chin-strap beard stood up and started playing sax. Sometimes no matter how far away you go you're still right at home.

Since my return to little d I've tried to get around and see as much as I can, and I'm pretty sure that'll be easier as the spring lineup of shows starts to warm up.
Just to get you started, in the next month or so you'll see Slobberbone return to Dan's Silverleaf for a reunion, along with Son Volt a few weeks later.. Hailey's will be hosting the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey - and if you're into that sort of thing you probably already know who they are... Don Caballero will return to rock Rubber Gloves in Feb, and it looks like even Andy's is cutting off a slice of awesome with one of my local favorites, the Demigs.

I'd link to all of those bands for you, but I'm betting you need something to do this afternoon, so go ahead & get to googling.

If I do everything for ya you won't never learn nothin'.

That's right, TWO made up words in the headline. But don't blame me, I didn't make 'em up. But it means just what it says - I'm taking a week off from work and pretty much spending as much time as possible either checking out bands or doing some music-related thing.
This past Friday I started off at the Dallas Scaregrounds, a haunted house/carnival/rock show hybrid that's been going on every weekend in October for the past few years. I'll be the first to admit I rarely venture outside of Denton for a show, but the entertainment is arranged by one of Denton's Own, Brook Ray. And that pretty much means our little musical family spends a lot of time in haunted houses when October rolls around. The crowds are generally friendly and just like most venues here in Denton the bands can range from terrible to amazing, and they usually do. I'm a fan of not knowing what to expect.

Day two was a busy day. First, the family and I headed down to Ft. Worth for
a little time at the Zoo. You might say "Hey, what's rock and roll about that?".
Two words, my friend: Drumming. Monkeys.
Afterwards we ended up downtown for a bite, and there was a huge country music concert on Sundance Square. We didn't stay.

Later that night I headed to Hailey's for Slackbeat, Dust Congress, and Zanzibar Snails.

I had originally gone for Dust Congress, but the surprise of the night was Slackbeat, a treble & gain drenched trio featuring drums, bass, and banjo. Hard rock banjo. You just can't make this stuff up. Once the doors were closed at Hailey's I moved on to House Of Tinnitus
for the last bit of a show that had taken place there. The band was already done when I got there and the night quickly devolved into a bunch of people half-dancing to records of what sounded like A Tribe Called Quest. Not a bad way to cross a Saturday off the calendar.

So today's day 3. Once I'm done here I'm heading to the edge of town to a friend's house to pick up a guitar. Just about every guitar I get my hands on gets a "custom" treatment in one way another, and he's usually the one that does the wiring. I guess it's the musical equivalent not being able to wear clothes "off the rack". I'm sure that's indicative of some underlying emotional issue or something, but the voices tell me it's nothing to worry about.

After that it's off to a friend's son's first birthday party. He's very rock and roll for a baby. And after that? Question mark. There's plenty going down for a sunday night, I think I'll just leave it to you to find out what. Maybe I'll see you there. Maybe tomorrow I'll blog about what I totally saw you doing after the show.

Or maybe my waning youth will catch up with me and I'll fall asleep on the couch at 8pm.

You never know.

I'm just that unpredictable.

Haven't had much time to post lately, I've been making a little music of my own these days. I've been recording with some friends, I may work up a little something about the experience once it's done, who knows.

In the meantime, check out the new digs for our little music blog...
I'm a little lost in the new posting process, but we'll work it out.

New stuff coming this week. Stay tuned.

Well, The New York Times has a Sunday travel piece on Denton's music community and the hotspots thereof. Got a few beefs with some extravagance in the writing, but it is good (or, uh, interesting) to see the exposure too.

Comment with your favorite parts. I like the tidbit about the sleepy highway dotted with peanut farms leading into town.