The Lucky Thirteen: 8/30/10 (And a Day Late)

Standard disclaimer: any artists, record labels, etc. who do not wish to be on the playlist for any reason whatsoever, email me at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com and I will gladly remove the track. And if you'd actually like to be on the playlist, you can use the same email addy to email me mp3's, and if I like the song then odds are it'll wind up on a playlist. Also, if you just want to upload your songs to Grooveshark, that works too.

1. "City of Hate", Toadies
   On the Weekend Plans post Friday, there was one minor show I left out. Some band called Toadies playing out in New Braunsfel. Hey, it's an easy show to overlook... NOT! My bad.


2. "A Long Time", Trey Johnson
   Tuesday: new Trey Johnson (Where the East Ends) out on iTunes and in stores. I promise I'll share some more tracks off the album, but I've just been enjoying this track too much not to share it again.


3. "Accomplice", Nervous Curtains
   The folks at Gutterth are sponsoring Free Week at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio. There will be free shows all week there; you can go to the Rubber Gloves website for more info. My personal favorite pick? Nervous Curtains on Friday night. I thought "All Yesterday's Parties" was a nice enough song and all, but "Accomplice" is getting under my skin a lot deeper. For those keeping score, that's a good thing.


4. "Katie", Ray Johnston Band
   It would be easy for me to be skeptical of Ray Johnston. Athletes as musicians usually sound as good as actors trying to be musicians. Ray Johnston is the exception to that rule. He might get extra publicity for playing with the Mavericks, but the music stands firmly on its merits.


5. "Her First Party", The Deathray Davies
   DRD is supposed to have finished an album, but no telling when it will be released. The fact that DRD mastermind John Dufilho is touring with Apples in Stereo this fall suggests we'll have to wait longer.


6. "I'm Immune", Chris Holt
   I have to confess I'm only halfway thru Mr. Holt's new album, A Cosmic Joke. Still, if the second half is as good as the first half, this album could be Holt's piece de resistance.


7. "Will You Be There", Pale Horse
   Warning, BAcksliders, Warning!!! Pale Horse is trying to steal the title of "Best Live Band in Dallas" from you! They haven't done it yet, but they're working on it. Don't let this mellow, introspective song fool you: their lives shows rock with an intensity shared only by the best in town.


8. "Emulate", Spector 45
   Sometimes it takes several viewings of a band to finally "get" them. Although I've always thought Spector 45 was good, their EP release at LaGrange was what turned me from a casual fan to fully understanding the talent that Frankie 45 and the gang possess. I see many more Spector 45 shows in my future.


9. "Unicorn $", Clay Pendergrass
   As promised last week, here's a new tune from Mr. Pendergrass.


10. "Devil's Nest", Lalagray
    Ashley Myrick (aka Lalagray) will release her debut album, sharing a name with the above song. Also on the bill is my favorite Austin singer-songwriter, David Ramirez. I hear he used to live in Dallas. Does that qualify him as a "local artist"? Let the debate begin.


11. "Virtue and Vice", The Virgin Wolves
    Do you hate music that really rocks? If so, then do not, I repeat, DO NOT listen to this song and stick with your Michael Bolton. For the rest of you, I offer this song up to again because, well, it rocks.


12. "Pusherman", Nemesis
    While scrolling Facebook statuses, I found the video for this song posted by Pikahsso (PPT, AwkQuaruis). I had heard of Nemesis, not even being aware of the fact that they were from Dallas. The beat is admittedly repetitive, yet that works in the songs favor, as it hypnotizes the listener as opposed to boring the listener. Thanks, Pikahsso.


13. "Star Girl", Katie Carroll
    This beautiful final track from Ms. Carroll's debut album seemed the perfect way to wrap up this playlist.

Weekend Plans: 8/27/10 - 8/28/10

Before I get into any weekend plans, let me share some good news with you, my readers. If you haven't heard about it thru the DC9 at Night article or my Facebook posts, Club Dada will be reopening its doors. Josh Florence, who runs City Tavern, will be the new head guy at Dada. The game plan is to re-open Dada by year's end. I had the privilege of hosting the 2nd anniversary showcase for my blog at City Tavern, and it was truly a pleasure to work with Mr. Florence. He is that rare breed that knows how to blend an intelligent business design with a genuine caring for the musicians that play there. I've heard some horror stories about club owners from musicians, but I have never heard any musician say anything but the kindest things about Josh. If anyone can bring Dada back to its glory days, it would be Josh.

Since Club Dada isn't back yet, you still need to plan this weekend. Here are some suggestions:


FRIDAY:
Pale Horse/Little Black Dress/Charlie Shafter and the Gnomes (Double-Wide)
Hopefully you've read the Pale Horse interview by now. I'm not sure what else I have left to say about the band that I haven't said already. It is worth mentioning, however, that the band has allowed me to adopt their EP release party as a "post-birthday celebration." Oh, and Little Black Dress always puts on a solid show, so don't miss their set either.
Ruby Jane/Luna Matto/Trinity River Folk (Kessler Theater)
The only thing disappointing in regards to Luna Mattto is that they haven't hit the big time... yet. Ms. Matto's voice is somewhat reminiscent of Neko Case, though melodically her music rests in power of a Cat Power sort of vein. And the songs? I'm gonna say it: it's as good as anything Cat Power has ever released. That's the straight up truth.

SATURDAY:
Spector 45/The Phuss (LaGrange)
What, is this the weekend for EP releases? This show celebrates the release of Break Me. Spector 45 is never lacking in energy, and this performance will probably be even more intense than is usual for the band. One request though: keep all glass bottles away from bassist Adam Carter. And no, Adam, I'm not going to let you live that down.
The Burning Hotels/Ishi/Shapes Stars Make (Lola's 6th)
Burning Hotels are long time favorites in Fort Worth, but this show marks Ishi's Funkytown debut. Admittedly, the indie rock stylings of Burning Hotels may seem an odd pairing with Ishi's self-proclaimed "folktronica." I suspect, however, that both bands will wind up with a whole new set of fans by night's end.
Holy Moly/The Orbans/Bravo, Max!/Leland Williams (The Aardvark)
It's not often where I find two shows in FW to recommend, so this is kind of a shocker for me. While I'm not familiar with Mr. Williams, every other band gets a thumbs up from me.
Nicholas Altobelli (Roots Coffeehouse)
Actually, if you count North Richland Hills as part of Fort Worth, there are three shows to choose from. I'm inclined to say that Mr. Altobelli is the area's most underrated and underappreciated singer-songwriter. In the past almost three years since his debut EP Streetcar Visions, Nicholas has steadily grown as a musician. His latest, The Regulator, is filled with song that possess a simple beauty and that will linger in your head.
Anna Thomas (Landon Winery)
At a mere fourteen years old, Anna Thomas possesses a vocal talent that many local artists twice her age would kill to have. My only complaint? Let's have some shows in Dallas for a change instead of always playing in McKinney. Then again, McKinney people need good shows too.
THe BAcksliders/Sideshow Tragedy/Not in the Face!/JBe (City Tavern)
THe BAcksliders have become quite a predictable band. You can predict, with 100% certainty, that their shows will be a massively rocking experience. I'm sure this show will not change the above statistic.
El Cento/Orange Peel Sunshine/Les Americains/Diamond Age (Kessler Theater)
Word is that Les Americains will finally be releasing an album by year's end, which is welcome news. Also, Don Cento's new project, El Cento, sounds quite promising based on the one track ("Citizen") that I've heard.
Allgood Cafe Block Party
There are too many good acts to mention, so I'm just going to hit a few highlights. On the outdoor stage, catch Trey Johnson & Chris Holt at 2 PM, King Bucks at 4 PM, The O's at 6, and Boys Named Sue at 8 PM. Make your way indoors at 10 to catch New Bohemians. Proceeds will go to several charities, including the Carter Albrecht Music Foundation.

Videos: Smile Smile, The Orbans, Lauren Adelle

As reported on DC9atNight previously, Smile Smile recently released a video for the title track to Truth on Tape. Fans of the local music scene should recognize several faces in the video, including Chelsea Callahan, Pete Freedman, Sarah Jaffe, and several member of GOBL faves The Roomsounds. Noticably absent in the video? Yours truly. Go to Lochrann's in Frisco to see them perform tonight, and while you're there, ask them why I wasn't invited. Oh, and if you're at work, you might want to wait until you get home to watch the above video. I think it'd qualify as NSFW.



Last year, I said The Orbans were on the verge of hitting the big time. It seems as if my prediction is starting to come true. The band is not only charting on the College Music Charts (#74 to be exact), but NPR named "Like a Liar" as today's Song of the Day. You can click here to see what the NPR article has to say about the song as well as the band. And of course, feel free to watch the above video for "Like a Liar."



Finally, I had the privilege of seeing Lauren Adelle perform several months ago at LaGrange. Not many people know about her or her music, but that needs to change. Hopefully with the release of her new album Mi Amor, that will change. She has a gorgeous and sensual voice, and even when the lyrics are in Spanish (as is the case for half the album), the emotions behind the lyrics always translate. If you doubt me, watch this YouTube video for "Mi Amor." Oh, it's also worth noting that on the album, she is backed by local music veteran Colin Boyd. The CD release party happens September 24 at City Tavern, with The Brushlanders opening.

Pale Horse: The Interview

With so few posts over the course of this year, there have been far too many acts I've liked that have received far too little attention. The band Pale Horse most definitely falls into that category. For those who attended my GOBL showcase this past May at The Cavern, you should understand why I'm a fan of the band. This is a band that tackles subjects that most acts would dare not address. This is thanks largely to lead singer J.R. Denson, who vocally delivers every line with sincerity and passion.

The band is celebrating the release of its debut EP, Future Dimensions, this Friday at Double-Wide. I was fortunate enough to talk with the band's founding members, J.R. Denson and Aaron Carder, last week. J.R.'s wife, Sarah, videotaped the interview. She also wound up being a part of the interview.


I remember you guys from Greater Good, a band that was doing well for itself. You even got the opportunity to open for Blind Melon, and then... nothing. What happened?
J.R.: Basically, you had six guys who were all wanting to constantly be writing and doing all kinds of different music. Toby Pipes and Nolan Thies started Little Black Dress and had been working on that record when they got a deal to put that record out. When Aaron and I went out, the plan for Greater Good was to go out to this house in Celina and just be in the middle of nowhere to write a new record. Aaron and I were the only ones who showed up [laughs]. We started writing and we kind of figured out that what we were writing weren’t Greater Good tunes. It was really something new and different and very personal. With me and Aaron, every song was a story that had to do with one of us, and so we decided it was time to start something new and fresh.

Living in Celina, with the Dallas music scene being so tight knit and mostly centered around Deep Ellum/Lower Greenville areas, how do you think being up in Celina is affecting you as a band? Do you feel it’s helping you or hurting you, or possibly both?
Aaron: I think it’s really good. We’ve lived out there about a year together, I moved in with them. It was good to be out and away from the city and in the country. It was really peaceful. As far as writing songs, it was probably the best thing for us to be up there. On the other hand, the commute and the long drive, that’s probably the only downside.
J.R.: And you know, we were downtowners for five years too so we were in the middle of it. One of the benefits of being down there is that you’re hanging out at bars, you’re talking to people that live in the city. You’re making the fans that way and being a part of the local music scene. So I know, being out in Celina, it’s a little bit harder to be a part of that and support as many shows. Still, that’s something that we’ve taken upon ourselves to really try and support shows even though we’re up there. It’s kind of like a give and take, because being up there and away from everything, we get a fresh perspective on things. We get to do what we want. As long as we maintain our ties to the scene downtown and keep our old friends, I think we can balance it out.

Well you certainly have some good connections through your former bandmate Toby, and his band Little Black Dress that will be playing at your upcoming CD release show. I’m just curious; do you have any other favorite acts from the scene that the two of you are getting into right now?
Aaron: I like what Burning Hotels did with their last record. Air Review is really great. I really like Sarah Jaffe. Her record has really blown me away. And there’s Ishi, but you know, I mean, you pick a band and they’re our friends and we like them.
J.R.: The Roomsounds are coming into their own. I just realized, we played with them for your showcase. We’re playing another show with them and like what they’re doing. (Editor’s note: I didn’t prompt them to say this. Really, I didn’t)

Instead of discussing other people’s music, let’s talk about yours now. Certainly the track of yours that’s gotten the most exposure would have to be “Will You Be There?” Why don’t you share what the story behind the song is?
J.R.: Well basically my wife Sarah is my partner in crime and Aaron, you know, we’re almost like a tripod here. We’ve lived together and done and experienced so much together. Sarah’s been a huge part of Pale Horse, and in 2007 her brother, 2nd Lt. Peter Burks, was killed in Iraq. It brought home to me a personal connection to the war and to what the troops and their families go through all the time. The song came from the idea that all these guys are coming home and they’re wondering, “Do we back here really understand the sacrifices that they’re making and understand what’s going on over there. Are we going to be able to accept them coming back maybe not the same people?” I mean, going through war is like being involved in some traumatic event. It’s going to change you. I think “Will You Be There?” is a song that asks that question. Are you thinking about this? Are you thinking about this disconnect that is about to be here with about 1.7 million troops that have gone over there and they’re going to be coming back.

I know you’ve also used the song to help promote an organization to help the troops.
J.R.: Yeah, Aaron and I got the opportunity to go down to the Democratic National Convention when it was in Denver a few years ago. We met Paul Reikhoff there, founder of IAVA (Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America). They’re the largest supporter of troops and they do so much to get legislation passed and get medical benefits for the troops. We wanted to help to point people to IAVA and Unsung Hero Fund, my brother in law Peter’s foundation. Organizations like that are working on a daily basis to make life better for soldiers and their families.
Aaron: Also, the suicide rate is the highest among returning vets that it’s ever been. A lot of them are dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
J.R.: The benefits really aren’t really there to treat the PTSD. It’s the same thing as Vietnam. When the guys came back, they didn’t have the therapy or medical help to really help them transition back into civilian life. That’s one of the big things that we and IAVA are fighting for is to make sure that every single of these guys is taken care of when they come back. No matter what the troops or their families need, they have that, and it’s provided because they provided and served for us.

I’m going to switch gears a little from “Will You Be There?” to “You’re No Good”, a song that also has a very interesting story, or so I hear. What exactly was the inspiration for the song?
J.R.: Well [laughs] it’s funny because it’s about my mother-in-law. Everything in the song is true and whole thing is, you know, I came from two parents who were married and pretty much your typical upbringing, and Aaron did too. Being with Sarah and being a part of her family, her parents are divorced. It’s a sad situation. It’s something I’ve seen first hand, where people have taken that whole side of religion or whatever it is and used it to their advantage and maybe turned a dark eye to something that’s supposed to be good. “You’re No Good” was just an angry cry, calling them out.

If I may for a second go behind the camera to ask a question. After all, you did refer to yourselves as a tripod so I think it’s only fair that I ask you, Sarah, especially on this song, how it feels to have a part of your personal life documented on CD?
Sarah: I think it’s awesome. For me, it’s liberating. My mother hasn’t heard that song, but once she does, it’s going be kind of a slap in the face. Like, “Hey, look at all these terrible things you’ve done to us.” But it’s been a really amazing experience to be with these boys for the past two years. We are like a family. I consider Aaron like my brother; I love him so much. Having this record to chronicle the whole shit of a year that we had to go through is something that many people don’t get to have or experience. I’m so excited that in twenty years, we can tell our little boys, “Hey, this is what Mom and Dad and Uncle Aaron did back in 2009-10 and this is what was happening in our lives.”
J.R.: It’s always awkward at shows because I always say, “This is about my mother-in-law,” so just in case she ever shows up, she’ll know.
Sarah: It is awkward at shows though, because on so many songs they are about me and JR. Especially at the beginning of “Kind So Insecure” when he sings “I took your diamond ring into a pawn shop yesterday.” I feel like everyone’s looking at me and I’m like, “it’s all cool man.”

Is this a true story?
J.R.: It is a true story. Now we have tattoos [she and J.R. point to the ring tattoos on their ring fingers]. This is way more of a commitment. I have her middle name on my finger.
Sarah: And now we have more people ask all the time “is that your wedding band?”, whereas no one would have asked before or even cared to; it’s just a stupid diamond and metal.

I’m about to ask what is probably the most clichéd of interview questions: What are the band’s influences?
Aaron: Well there’s so many. I guess if you started from my childhood, listened to a lot of Christian and gospel music growing up. Then in the 80’s and 90’s, I listened to the radio a lot. I couldn’t get a lot of CDs and stuff because all the music I liked had cuss words and my parents were really conservative. I listened to a lot of 90’s rock: Stone Temple Pilots, Nirvana, Radiohead, Rage Against The Machine. I also listened to a lot of classic rock: Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, The Beatles. All that stuff is just one big conglomeration of influences.
J.R.: I think that’s a good representation of the whole old meets new thing. For me, Lennon probably my favorite songwriter all time. And The Band, you know, I loved what they stood for, real honest songs and music and sounds. As far as newer bands, we’ve been getting into My Morning Jacket, MGMT, and Wilco. We’re been taking things from different periods of our lives, and Pale Horse is a way of trying to combine them.

I’ve certainly noticed some very eclectic influences. There’s one particular track, I don’t know its name, but it has a very Sublime feel to it. Do you think there’s a danger in the possibility of alienating listeners by having such eclectic tastes, and if so, what would you say to that?
Aaron: I don’t think so. I think having a more eclectic catalog works better than just sticking to one style. I think the song you’re referring to is “History.” That song is about some crazy things we’ve come to learn about in the past few years, what you’d call alternate or conspiracy theories, which in our point of view, aren’t conspiracy theories but rather things that are happening.
J.R.: On “History”, that song’s really musically three major parts. Using the different styles to break up those parts is something we thought was a new fresh way to do it. There’s this reggae part and then it stops and goes into this thing with a banjo. Somehow it comes together and maybe someone who doesn’t like Sublime can see the merit of that style or influence because of how it’s all put together as a whole. It’s interesting for us to go from one influence one style we like playing to another and it makes the song interesting all the way through. It may not be the best way to carve out an identity very quickly, but I think over time and over a period listening to the songs as a whole, you’ll be able to see the influences and also see the sound that we’re carving out on our own and hopefully it becomes its own thing.
Aaron: A lot of people say we have a southern gospel sound because of the keyboards and organ so I think adding that in gives it a dirty gospel sound.
J.R.: That’s another whole period of our lives because we were in Christian bands. Combined we’ve probably played 3000 churches. I mean, it’s insane how many church gigs we did over probably a five to six year period. Whether we like it or not, that was our start. I think the big thing to know about that and the gospel influence that comes from that is that music started for us by just a pure soul connection. Aaron and I both crave that in anything that we’re doing or any music we’re listening to. We want something to have that almost spiritual connection; it has nothing to do with religion or anything. It’s really that spiritual thing that music gives you. Music is spiritual. I think it’s something that’s not talked about a lot and sometimes people even look at it as a bad thing that this song is so emotional or moving, but to me that’s just what music’s about.

The Lucky Thirteen: 8/23/10

1. "You're No Good", Pale Horse
   J.R. Denson and the gang from Pale Horse were kind enough to let me adopt their EP release party this Friday at Double-Wide as a post birthday celebration. Speaking of Pale Horse, J.R. and Aaron Carder were the first victims of a GOBL interview. If you had witnessed the interview, you'd know why I call them my victims.


2. "Just Wanna Try", Luna Matto
   Why, oh, why, Luna? Why do you have to play Friday night against Pale Horse? It's been too long since I've seen one of your shows. Let's change that. The sooner, the better.


3. "Teenage Dope Fiend", Flickerstick
   I got into a conversation about Flickerstick with a girl at the Airline Farewell show the previous weekend. Ever since that, the band's music has been on my mind. Here's one of my favorites from Tarantula.


4. "So in Love With You", Katie Carroll
   First of all, thanks to all who came to Opening Bell Saturday night for my birthday celebration, musicians and friends alike. And I say an extra special thanks to Ms. Carroll for tossing me the first flower during this song. It made me feel special and all.


5. "¿Dónde Está Mi Pantalones? ", Clay Pendergrass
   Mr. Pendergrass recently recorded a couple of new tracks, one of which ("Unicorn $") was originally going to be on this week's Lucky Thirteen. Alas, I couldn't download the track, so look for that track on an upcoming playlist. In the meantime, enjoy this song with the muy divertido title.
   


6. "German Chocolate Cake", Bravo Max
   I previously mentioned how John Keener from Lakewood Bar & Grill is quite the fan of this band. I'm sure he's thrilled that they'll be playing at the bar this Friday night.


7. "Turn Out Empty", The Beaten Sea
   After all the buzz that's been surrounding the band, I figured it was about time I give it a listen. I'm not going to lie; I'm not as in love with the band as many in the scene, but they do have some good tunes. "Turn Out Empty" definitely is a quite nice tune.


8. "Country Fried Quickie", Spector 45
   Pale Horse isn't the only band with an EP release show this weekend. Spector 45 will be at La Grange this weekend, and I'll be continuing post-birthday celebrations there.


9. "Shake Your Dandelion", Ishi
   After all, we all need to shake our dandelions from time to time.


10. "Tempo Bledsoe", Smile Smile
    I liked Blue Roses, but their new CD, Truth on Tape, shows that the band is growing in its songwriting abilities. The title track is easily one of the songs I've listened to the most this year, and "Tempo Bledsoe" is quite a catchy tune as well.


11. "Punchline Afternoon", Charming Gardeners
    Speaking of catchy, I just can't get enough of this tune.


12. "Alibi", The Orbans
    Here's a leftover from Peter Black's days as a Lifter that made it onto When We Were Wild. This is easily the most rocking song off the band's new album, and probably my favorite as well.


13. "Godot", Carter Albrecht
    Mike Snider and Allgood Cafe are throwing a little block party this Saturday that benefits the Carter Albrecht Music Foundation. There are too many good acts to list, so just click here to see the lineup. Sure, I could have posted a song by one of the performing artists, but it was the perfect excuse to post a Carter classic. Not that any excuse is needed.

The Lucky Thirteen: 8/16/10 + Bonus Video

(Standard disclaimer: any artists, record labels, etc. who do not wish to be on the playlist for any reason whatsoever, email me at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com and I will gladly remove the track. And if you'd actually like to be on the playlist, you can use the same email addy to email me mp3's, and if I like the song then odds are it'll wind up on a playlist.)

1. "Punchline Afternoon", Charming Gardeners
   Authors often obsess over the first sentence of a novel, knowing how it establishes the tone of the story. Musicians likewise have to create an opening hook to a song that will be memorable to the listener. "Punchline Afternoon" has a killer intro that sets the tone for this powerhouse of a power-pop song. My hats off to Marc Solomon, Amy Curnow, and the rest of the band.


2. "The Longest Winter's Gone", The Crash That Took Me
   The band plays an all too rare show this Friday at Granada Theater, playing with Speak and Radiant.


3. ""In Reach of Fame", R. Jason Bonner
   You've probably heard that Jason is no longer with THe BAcksliders, opting to focus on his solo career. The man is responsible for writing many of the band's song, such as this track. After seeing him at Lakewood Bar & Grill, it is apparent that he has plenty of good songs in him.


4. "New Dress", The Orbans
   I've said before that this band was on the verge of hitting it big. I'm obviously not their only fan, as their album When We Were Wild is at #74 on the College Music Charts. A forewarning to my readers: expect to see lots of Orbans songs on upcoming playlists.


5. "City of Hate", Toadies
   Kirtland Records has finally released Feeler, the album that was originally supposed to be the follow up to Rubberneck. Here's my question: is it fair to call this a "new Toadies" song?


6. "Harder Than It's Ever Been", Fergus & Geronimo
   Let me make this clear: I have no objection to the music of Fergus & Geronimo. This is catchy indie rock with a slight hint of 60's pop in the songs. I also think that Fergus & Geronimo are as much Funk/R&B as Cake are Rap/Hip-Hop. I do not feel Dallas Observer should have nominated the band in that category, much less let them take home the award. I know it's late to chime in on this, but it's been weighing on me. I feel better now, having gotten that off my chest.


7. "Long Live the Live Long Day", Western Giants
   The band sent me their EP of the same name earlier this year, and while I liked it at the time, it never got the full attention from me that it deserved. After having come up several times on iTunes shuffle, I'm finding that their dreamy alt-country style is really growing on me. Fans of Pleasant Grove and Elkhart will probably really dig this.


8. "A Long Time", Trey Johnson
   I'm not ready to render a final verdict on Mr. Johnson's new album, Where the East Ends, but I will dare say that this track is one of the catchiest songs Trey has ever written. Nice work.


9. "Romance Tried to Kill Me", Cocky Americans
   Cocky Americans are now being represented by Manhandler Booking. In case you're not familiar with Manhandler, it's run by Chelsea Callahan. I wish Ms. Callahan and all her bands much success.


10. "Where the Light Is", Emmeline


11. "Paper Girl", Katie Carroll


12. "Supernatural", Rahim Quazi
    Major announcement: "The Ghost" is turning 25 next week. Really, I am turning 25. Just like last year, and the year before that, and the year before that, and so on. Here's the point. I'm celebrating my birthday this Saturday at Opening Bell Coffee with the three aforementioned artists, as well as two out of town acts (Peter Janson and Corrine Chapman). The show starts at 6:00 with Emmeline, and cover is only $5. Don't miss this!


13. "Autumn Leaves", Danny Balis
    Since Opening Bell Coffee closes at midnight, don't be surprised if I drop by Adair's to check out Danny and the rest of the King Bucks. Oh yes, there will be fun.

As you may have heard already, Ace McNeeley passed away last Monday. My condolences and sympathies go out to his family and friends. In tribute, I offer this video of Ace's band, Grant Jones & The Pistol Grip Lassos. I think the song title sums everything up perfectly.

Ace McNeely

I don't have much in the way of details, so I'll share what little I know. Ace McNeeley is in the hospital, and in a tweet he is reportedly "in the fight of his life". Those in the music scene have most likely met Mr. McNeeley at some point. He has performed in multiple bands, including The Double Downs, Little Big Horn, and Grant Jones & The Pistol Grip Lassos. In addition, he teaches at Zounds Sounds and does sound at City Tavern.

Ace, our thoughts and prayers are with you. I'll update as I know more.

The Lucky Thirteen: 8/9/10

No promises here, but I'm going to try to get back to writing more. That, and of course, I'll be posting my playlists. I don't have time for commentary now; that will come later tonight. For now, I leave you with a new edition of The Lucky Thirteen. I'm moving the playlists to Monday. I encourage anyone who likes the playlist to retweet it as part of "Music Mondays", as tweeters like to call it. And if you're not following me on Twitter, do so!

(Standard disclaimer: any artists, record labels, etc. who do not wish to be on the playlist for any reason whatsoever, email me at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com and I will gladly remove the track. And if you'd actually like to be on the playlist, you can use the same email addy to email me mp3's, and if I like the song then odds are it'll wind up on a playlist.)

1. "German Chocolate Cake", Bravo, Max!
   This band came highly recommended to me by John Keener from Lakewood Bar & Grill. He compared their sound to The Waterboys, and while the comparison doesn't totally fit, it fits better than any that I can come up with. It's certainly a very enjoyable pop song, and I'm curious to see what else this band is capable of.


2. "Regular Nights", THe BAcksliders
   Do you know how I knew this song was going to be good before I even heard it? I knew because it was by THe BAcksliders. Duh. I have yet to be let down by the band, and this new song shows that they've still got the goods. They'll prove it this Friday night in Sachse... that's right, Sachse. The band will play at Monkey's Pub N Grub off Highway 78. Sachse, you don't know what you're in for.


3. "If My Heart Was A Car", Old 97's
   As you might have noticed, I've switched from Hypster to Grooveshark for my playlists. Grooveshark doesn't have a lot of local music on there, but it has a surprisingly respectable selection of songs from Slobberbone and Old 97's, even going all the way back to this, my favorite track from Hitchhike to Rhome.


4. "The Message", Dem Southernfolkz
   I had good intentions in regards to blogging about the Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase. I think there's some cliche about a road paved with good intentions. Anyways, back to the DOMA showcase. Of all the performances I saw that night, none could compare to Dem Southernfolkz. Their fusion of southern soul and thought provoking hip-hop was the highlight of my evening. At the very least, DSFZ has become my new favorite rap group. Judging by the band's victory at the Dallas Observer Music Awards, I'm not the only fan.


5. "The Queen Himself", Fate Lions
   Ever since KXT put Fate Lions into regular rotation, it seems their presence in the metroplex is looming larger. That's fine by me, as this band produces some really catchy tunes such as this one. They'll be at The Prophet Bar this Saturday as part of Deep Ellum's Second Saturday, where $10 cover gets you into several clubs.


6. "It's Over Now", Lovie
   One Deep Ellum club that's not participating in the aforementioned Second Saturday is Liquid Lounge. Instead, they'll be hosting an Acoustic Chaos Reunion show, which will include Moonshot Radio (featuring members of The Burgundys) and Lovie. The show is a benefit for Ultraviolet/Cystic Fibrosis.


7. "Farewell", Shaolin Death Squad
   Finally, a metal band I can sink my teeth into. Granted, this is not exactly a serious metal band. Perhaps it's their over the top sense of humor, wardrobe, and stage antics that won me over. This is one of those rare bands like Polyphonic Spree and Spoonfed Tribe where I would say everyone needs to attend a show regardless of what preconceived notions you might have regarding the music.


8. "Virtue and Vice", The Virgin Wolves
   Thanks again to all who sent their mp3s for my last playlist. I discovered many good new artists as a result. Of all the songs on that playlist, however, this particular track stood out as my favorite. The opening riff is quite killer, and this song is vying for the title of "Best Hard Rock Anthem of the Year". I challenge anyone to put out a more rocking song in the remaining months of 2010.


9. "Rocket Seance", Record Hop
   Speaking of bands that rock hard, Record Hop will be at Kessler Theater this Saturday.


10. "Swelling", Sarah Jaffe
    During the first year of my blog, this was possibly my favorite song. Finally, almost three years later, "Swelling" was properly released on Suburban Nature. It's about time.


11. "Burning Pictures", The Monco Poncho
    It's long overdue, but this week I am PROMISING my readers a review of the band's CD, Miserable Man. After you read the review, check out the band Friday Night at City Tavern. We'll compare notes later.


12. "New Dress Were Her", The Orbans


13. "Farewell Republica", Airline
    This weekend it's Farewell Airline. The band plays its final show Saturday at Double-Wide, with The Orbans opening. Speaking of The Orbans, a glitch prevented me from posting "New Dress", so you'll have to settle for "Were Her". And by settle, I mean really, really, enjoy.