More Tickets for Rhett Miller/Ben Kweller/The O's!

You can still buy tickets for the event happening November 6th, which is a benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Obviously, it'll be worth every penny based on the level of talent that will be on stage.

Still, for those who want to see the show who are "financially challenged" (trust me, I know the feeling) then I can help. I have another pair of tickets to give away.

Here's the deal: did you read the article I did on Joe Scott's "Debut"? More importantly, did you watch the video at the end? In this video, he discusses another film made almost twenty years ago and points out some potential parallels between his film and this other film. Here's what you have to do: email me at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com and mention the name of the film in the subject line. First person to do so wins a pair of tickets. Good luck!!!

Joe Scott's "Debut"

A little over a year ago, I got an email from a guy named Joe Scott. He told me about this film project that he was working on called The Debut. I was particularly intrigued since Mr. Scott wanted to incorporate the local music scene very heavily into the film. Needless to say, I was 110% behind the idea.

Mr. Scott is currently trying to raise money and, well, I'm just going to let him speak in his own words:

Night & Day Films, a small Dallas-based production company, currently in
development on the feature film, “The Debut”, is entering the final stretch in a
Kickstarter campaign to help raise early funds for the movie.

“The Debut”, a movie set in and amongst the Dallas music scene and currently
featuring music from over a dozen local bands, is in the early development phase
and is seeking pledges and donations through Kickstarter to help set the project
in motion.

With less than a week to go, the project still needs just over $1,000 to meet their
goal of $5,000, which they must meet if they are to receive any of the money.

Filmmaker and producer Joe Scott says that the money from the Kickstarter
campaign will be used for upfront expenses such as creating an LLC and other
legalities that will prepare them to accept investor money.

In return for pledging on Kickstarter, pledgers receive rewards depending on
the amount of the pledge. For instance, $10 gets you a poster and a digital
download of the movie. The highest amount, $1,000, wins an Associate
Producer credit amongst other things.

With time running out, the filmmakers have sweetened the deal to include an
iPad for the person who pledges the most in the last 10 days. The final day to
pledge is October 31st.

Want to know even more? Watch this video, which goes beyond a description of his purpose and acts as a much needed rallying cry for the local music scene. Dallas and the surrounding areas need more people who care passionately about local music: people like Chelsea Callahan, Mark from The Local Edge, and now, I'm adding Mr. Scott to that list. Seriously, take about five minutes out from your busy day, and if you can afford now, show Mr. Scott some financial support.

Debut Movie Intro from Joe Scott on Vimeo.

Weekend Shows: Halloween Edition

I've got a few more things in the works today, including another chance at tickets to see Rhett Miller/Ben Kweller/The O's at Granada Theater next weekend. Comments on the shows will be kept to a minimum as a result. Besides, if you know my blog, you know my thoughts on most of these acts already.


FRIDAY:
The Black & Blues (House of Blues - Restaurant)
I know, you're probably wondering who on earth The Black & Blues are, and why are you writing so much about them today and not about the other acts? See, this is my real job as a blogger. It is to write about talented bands that need a break, and what I'm about to say I don't mean lightly. The Black & Blues, for now, is by far the best kept secret in the metroplex. The band delivers a blend of funk, R&B, blues and rock that is quite unlike anything else going on the metroplex. Easy to categorize? Not even close. But that's what makes the band so great. This is not a band following a trend, but that has the potential to create a trend. The band's two vocalists, Keite Young and Goldie Furnow, bring soul and passion to every word of every song. Ms. Furnow in fact reminds me a little of Emotion Brown in her vocal style, but if you're thinking this is another Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights, you're not quite on the mark. JT&NL certainly has more soul in their influences than they're usually credited with, but The Black & Blues dig deeper into the musical arena of soul, and combine it with a straight ahead rock sound. As for the live shows, there are only a handful of acts that are in the same league as Black & Blues. Simply put, this band deserves to be on the local music radar, and to be honest, the rest of the nation needs to follow suit. You can come tonight to HOB and thank me for introducing them to you.
Bad Brains/Spector 45/Here Holy Spain (Granada Theater)
I normally don't discuss national touring acts, but the two openers are too worthy for me to omit this listing. And yeah, Bad Brains are pretty damn legendary. Just sayin'...
Eleven Hundred Springs (Lola’s)
Darlington/The Loosies/The Crazy Ivans (Bryan Street Tavern)


SATURDAY:
80’s Band Squerade (La Grange)
For those who crave some 80's covers tonight, this will be the spot for you. Check out La Grange's site for more details. For my money, the most interesting act may be Andrew Delaney covering one of my all time favorite acts, INXS.
THe BAcksliders/Floramay Holiday/Trinity River Folk (Kessler Theater)
Bravo, Max!/Oliver’s Army (Lakewood Bar & Grill)
Darktown Strutters/Damaged Good$/Yeadef (Hailey’s)
The Orbans/Calhoun/The Criminal Mind/The Magic of Adams (Lola’s)
Phantom Caste/Black Taxi/Fate Lions/Spiral Sound (The Moon)
We Shot JR is Dead (Rubber Gloves)
One of the metroplex's most significant blogs is calling it quits, and is holding its own funeral. I'll have more thoughts on this to be shared later, but for now, goodbye will suffice.

Ticket Giveaway!!!

I'm keeping this short and sweet. I've been given several pairs of tickets to give away to the Cystic Fibrosis benefit show at Granada Theater Nov. 6th featuring Rhett Miller, Ben Kweller, and The O's.

Want tickets? Here's how to get them: I've featured lines from a song in this week's Lucky Thirteen. The first person to email me at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com with the name of that song in the subject line wins. Here are your lines:

"I think you're dope and I hope I'm makin' myself clear
I think you're fly and that's why I'm getting outta here"


UPDATE: Congratulations to Dan Bowman, who correctly identified the song as "Stoned". To all those with the correct answer who didn't win, fear not: I have more tickets to give away. Stay tuned for details...

Lucky Thirteen: 10/26/10 (Covers Edition)

With Halloween coming up next Sunday, I wanted to do something to celebrate the day without doing the ever cliched ghosts/goblins/monsters type playlist. So instead, I'm doing what I did last year: an all covers playlist. That may not seem so Halloweenish at first, but stop and think for a second. What do most people do to celebrate this holiday? They dress up in costume, trying on a different character. In a sense, the cover song is the musical equivalent of that.

Standard playlist 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. "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover", Clay Pendergrass
   I received this tune from Mr. Pendergrass at the same time as "Unicorn $", but I've been saving his reworking of the Paul Simon classic for this week.


2. "Stoned", Funland
   This is from the infamous split single released on Idol Records where Funland covers Old 97's, and Rhett and the gang return the favor.


3. "All The Pretty Girls", Lovie
   I'm not sure how well known this Judys song is known outside of Texas, but it's certainly a classic here. Lovie does quite a nice job with the song as well.


4. "Love Untold", Jayson Bales
   Thanks to Mr. Bales for sending me his cover of this Paul Westerberg song. I've been enjoying his cover at live shows, and am glad to have this to listen to whenever I feel like.


5. "Jump Into The Fire", Tripping Daisy
   Tim DeLaughter and the band remade this Harry Nilsson tune for the soundtrack to the 90's teen horror film The Craft.


6. "Love My Way", The Polyphonic Spree
   Here's another cover from Tim DeLaughter, this time reworking this 80's classic from The Psychedelic Furs. So I did two covers by DeLaughter. It beats covering "Something in the Air" three times in one night. Oh wait, Tim already did that. Open mouth, insert foot.


7. "Wicked Game", Sara Donaldson
   Sara, where have you been? Your gorgeous voice and haunting work on the cello are sorely missed around town. Whether it be covering this Chris Isaak song or playing your own music (I honestly prefer the latter), Dallas needs you.


8. "Damnit", Smile Smile
   Blink-182 has never sounded as good as when done by Smile Smile.


9. "You May Be Right", Holy Moly
   I like their cover of Billy Joel here, but I'd love to hear the band cover some Violent Femmes. The only potential problem is that with lead singer Jim Rose's voice, it might be hard to distinguish their cover from the original.


10. "Hot 'N Cold", Phoenix Hart
    I'm not the biggest Katy Perry fan (and that's putting it mildly), but Ms. Hart does a nice job with this cover. Her own material is even better than this. If you want to hear her and get new music from her, head to House of Blues Thursday night for her CD release with The Roomsounds. Don't hold me to this, but I believe that you get the CD with the price of the ticket.


11. "Keep-A-Knockin'", THe BAcksliders
    There's a good chance you'll hear their cover of this Little Richard tune this Saturday, when they perform at Kessler Theater with Floramay Holiday and Trinity River Folk.


12. "Summer Of '69", Bowling For Soup
    Oh yes I did.


13. "99 Luftballoons", Crushed Stars
    Who knew this 80's hit from Nena could sound so dreamy? As far as I'm concerned, this easily trumps the original.

Save the Date

For those awaiting this week's playlist, your wait will be just a little longer. It will be up tomorrow, and you're in for some real treats here. But since I have your attention, I wanted to bring something up:

December 10, 2010

Take a good look at the date. Memorize it. Check your daily planners and see what's happening that day. If you don't have plans, make them. If you already have plans, change them.

I have a showcase coming up that date. I'm not saying who or where just yet, but I will say this: in the three years that this Ghost has been doing showcases, I've never been as excited about a lineup as this one.

Curious? Well you're just going to have to wait. Remember, good things come to those who wait...

Weekend Plans: North of 635 Edition

I know many people who believe that nothing good happens north of 635. To those individuals, prepare to have your belief system shaken to the core this weekend. Many of the better shows are far north of the more traditional musical establishments. Granted, some of these northern shows are taking place in Denton; that's no shocker. Still, the fact that Frisco, McKinney, Addison, and Carrollton are putting on worthy shows is definitely not the normal. As a North Dallas guy myself, this makes me quite happy. Don't get me wrong; there are still options in Deep Ellum and North Oak Cliff this weekend. It's just that for once, north of 635 beats out south of 635. I'm savoring the moment while I can.

FRIDAY:
Old 97’s/The Polyphonic Spree/The Burning Hotels/Dovetail (Carrollton Festival at the Switchyard)
I'm not going to talk about how the Old 97's new CD is their best since Satellite Rides, or even possibly Too Far to Care. I'm also not going to talk about how long it's been since Polyphonic Spree has played, or even about the addition of Jason Garner (Deathray Davies, the pAper chAse) to the group. These bands will have no problems bringing droves of people to their sets (especially for the surprisingly low admission charge of $5). Instead, I'm encouraging those who can get to the show early to check out Burning Hotels and Dovetail. Dovetail starts at 5, and the band does a great job of playing indie music that is adventurous without ever stepping foot into pretentious waters. Fans of Radiant* and Air Review will definitely dig the band. Burning Hotels is best known for their blend of indie rock with a slight hint of punk, but their newest song "Allison" finds the band pursuing a more new wave style a la Black Tie Dynasty. It doesn't matter which side The Burning Hotels show tonight; it's all good.
Somebody’s Darling (Lochrann’s)
I was just at Lochrann's last night checking out Pale Horse and Virgin Wolves, and it's a really nice venue with good sound, a good menu, and an unusually large selection of beers and wines. Throw in alt-country faves Somebody's Darling into the mix, and a good time is sure to be had.
Western Giants/Darcy/Menkena/The Tontons (Hailey’s)
Although I'm not familiar with Darcy or Tontons, Western Giants and Menkena are both skilled at gorgeous, dreamy melodies. I've yet to see Western Giants live, but their Long Live the Live Long Day EP has steadily been going on me through the course of this year. As for Menkena, my only frustration with the band is that it is taking way too long for their debut full-length to be released.
The Phuss/Max Cady/Missile/Trebuchet (Curtain Club)
Wow, not only are my top three concert picks for Friday north of 635, but my top choice for a Deep Ellum show is Curtain Club? This surely must be one of the signs of the apocalypse. But seriously, The Phuss is one of the strongest hard rock bands in this town, possessing a sound sure to appeal to both fans of heavy indie rock as well as more mainstream hard rock fans. And for all the flack Curtain Club gets, this venue has a fabulous sound system, and I saw many a great show there back in the late 90's/early 00's. I'd love to see more worthy bands playing there.
The King Bucks/The Naptime Shake (Kessler Theater)
Whether your taste in country leans toward traditional (King Bucks)or alt-country (Naptime Shake), there's something to please both camps at tonight's Kessler show.


SATURDAY:
Pale Horse/Red 100’s/Lazy Natives (Cool Beans)
It's felt a little lonely out here in the local music blogosphere. The once crowded feel has been thinning out. Fortunately, Rock and Roll Blues is changing that. Not only are they posting some excellent entries about great bands in the metroplex, they're hosting this showcase in Denton. From what I've heard of Red 100's, they're competing against Violent Still Life as my favorite all instrumental band. As for Pale Horse, this band continues to blow me away with each performance. If you haven't seen them, you MUST check this show out. You can thank me later.
The Orbans (Carrollton Festival at the Switchyard)
The Saturday lineup isn't as big as Friday for local music fans, but it does feature one of my favorite cover bands, Petty Theft, as well as The Orbans, who are starting to make waves with polished blend of rock and country.
Anna Thomas (Landon Winery)
The young Ms. Thomas is flying under the radar of most of the local music community. Since most of her shows are in McKinney or Frisco, and has only played once at Opening Bell Coffee, that's not so surprising. What is surprising is the fact that this beautiful voices and heart-felt songs are coming of the mouth of this fourteen year old. If this is what she can do at such a young age, I foresee Anna as being a potential fountain of talent for many years (perhaps decades) to come.
Emmeline (Dunn Brothers Coffee)
With her Wednesday night residence at Lakewood Bar & Grill, regular appearances at open mics, and shows almost every weekend, Emmeline has to be one of the hardest working musicians in the area. And I bet you'd be hard pressed to find an individual who has seen her and not be won over by her personal charm and great songs. And if such a person does exist, I don't want to meet that individual.
Slobberbone (Dan’s Silverleaf)
Slobberbone and Dan's go together like peanut butter and jelly. This will be a party in a major way.
Bosque Brown/The Fox & The Bird/Paper Bird/Kristy Kruger (Kessler Theater)
Mara Lee Miller (lead vocalist of Bosque Brown) and Kristy Kruger are not only among Dallas' finest female vocalist, they have become two of the most elusive, rarely performing in town. You can catch both at Kessler, along with a double dose of "bird" bands. Too bad Dove Hunter isn't still around to add to the bird theme.
Taste of Greenville Avenue
Most people go for the food, but the music should be as big of an attraction as the edibles. So what are the tastiest treats of the day? I recommend starting with an appetizer of country tunes served by King Bucks at 1:45 pm. The main course will be a gourmet feast of classical melodies served with a twist of contemporary leaning courtesy of Chameleon Chamber Group at 3:00 pm. And for dessert, there's no sweeter tasting band than THe BAcksliders, going on at 5:00. I'm getting hungry for some good music just talking about this.
Art Conspiracy (511 W. Commerce)
The festival has been moved up from December to October this year, making for a less freezing event. For fans of both the art and music scene, this is certainly the equivalent of the Super Bowl for such people. Music will be provided by Ishi, Seryn, and Dem Southernfolkz, who as far as I'm concerned is the creme de la creme of local hip-hop. Oh, and there'll be art. Lots and lots of art.

The Lucky Thirteen: 10/18/10

Radio station KXT is approaching its one year anniversary, and they're currently doing their pledge drive. As far as I'm concerned, no other stations even comes close to playing the caliber of music that KXT does. There's certainly no other local station that has as much local music in regular rotation as KXT. This week, the Lucky Thirteen spotlights a small portion of the great tunes that can be heard on their station. If you like the station and what they do for local music, I would encourage you to donate whatever you can afford to.

Standard playlist 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. "Allison", The Burning Hotels
   This song is in regular rotation on both KXT and my iTunes. If you want to hear the song live, check them out Friday night at the Carrollton Festival at the Switchyards. If that isn't reason enough to head out to Carrollton Friday, Old 97's and Polyphonic Spree are performing the same night. Who'd have ever thought the place to be on a Friday night would be Carrollton?


2. "Clementine", Sarah Jaffe
   I was driving one day, listening to this song on KXT. I heard Ms. Jaffe sing "I wish I was a little more delicate/I wish my name was Clementine." I feel like I've heard another local artist sing about wishing their name was something different. I'm trying to think of who that might be...


3. "Doctor's Not Gonna Cure Our Ills", The Beaten Sea
   I'm finding myself liking this band a little more with each listen.


4. "Patricia Lynn", The Crash That Took Me
   This is definitely one of the more rocking numbers I've heard on the station.


5. "Borrowed Time", The Monco Poncho
   If I had to choose a favorite track from the band, this would be it.


6. "Talk To My Heart", THe BAcksliders
   THe BAcksliders have definitely gone even poppier than before with this song. By poppy, I mean that not in a Lady Gaga sort of way, but more in a Cheap Trick sort of way.


7. "Shivonne", Menkena
   I've never heard KXT play this song, but I've seen it listed on their playlist. Speaking of Menkena, when is the full length CD coming out? I'm getting impatient...


8. "Mine", Toadies
   Most of the Toadies' material is a bit too aggressive to fit in on KXT, but they've managed to sneak this track off of Feeler into regular rotation.


9. "We Will All Be Changed", Seryn
   This song is doing double duty. It's not only a representative of the fine music heard on KXT, but it also allows me the opportunity to hype Art Conspiracy, happening this Saturday. Seryn, Ishi, and Dem Southernfolkz will all be playing there. Click on the link for all the juicy details.


10. "Home", Deep Blue Something
    If I had a dollar for every time the Observer made fun of DBS, I'd never have to work again. Personally, I've always thought the band was severely underappreciated.
    Granted, "Breakfast at Tiffany's" got overplayed in a major way, but even that's a good song. Hearing KXT play this track, my favorite by the band, I felt like the station was validating my position on the band.


11. "Roscoe", Midlake
    You know how I was talking about how I felt another artist besides Ms. Jaffe sing about wishing their name was something different. I'm still trying to think of what song that might be.


12. "Like a Liar", The Orbans
    Not only has the band gotten love from KXT, NPR named this track the "song of the day" awhile back. You can give the band love this Saturday at the Carrolton Festival at the Switchyards. Carrollton, you're really rockin' right about now.


13. "For Keeps", Iris Leu
    Of all the songs I've heard on KXT, this is probably the one that excited me the most. Not only have I been a long time advocate of Ms. Leu's music, on a personal level I've found her to be one of the nicest people I've gotten to know during my time as a blogger. The first time I heard this song on the radio, I was headed home, but found myself driving around the block a few extra times just to get all the way through the song. When was the last time a radio station made you do that?

Weekend Update: 10/15/10

I think it's about time to have a weekend update on here. Expect to see more of these each Friday. If you're lucky, maybe there will even be some articles and CD reviews happening between the Lucky Thirteen playlists on Monday and the Friday weekend updates. For now, let's just take a look at what this weekend has to offer:


FRIDAY:
Nicholas Altobelli/Ronnie Fauss (White Rock Coffee)
I believe Mr. Altobelli is the headliner, but tonight is really all about Mr. Fauss. It's the CD release for his new effort, Mulligan. A lot of his efforts range from melancholy ("I Can't Make You Happy", from his previous EP) to bitter ("Wish", as heard on this week's Lucky Thirteen). The real shocker, however, is that he can also rock, as displayed by "To Ease My Mind", where he's backed up by members of The Farstar. Don't count on seeing that level of rock at WRC; this will undoubtedly be a more low-key affair. The show starts at 7:30, and I can't think of a better place to start your weekend.
White Mountain/True Widow/Sir Name (Double-Wide)
I can't speak for what comes before or after True Widow, but they alone are reason enough to head out to Double-Wide. I believe the band is in the midst of recording another album, and you'll probably hear plenty of new tracks tonight. Even if the new songs are just half as good as what's on their self-titled CD, it'll still be a treat.
Grassfight/Ella Minnow (J&J’s Old Dirty Basement)
I was feeling as if Grassfight had been underpromoting themselves as of late. When they played one of my LBG showcases last summer, they showed such promise. Equal parts 80's dark new wave (a la Joy Division) and part Jesus & Mary Chain, they did a fabulous job of winning the audience over. I was thinking they were about to fade into the woodwork when it was announced they'd open for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's upcoming show. This will give the band the well deserved opportunity to perform for an enormous crowd. I just hope that doesn't mean they'll be too big to return my calls now. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.


SATURDAY:

The Simple Pages/Two Knights/Goodnight Ned/Diving (Liquid Lounge)
Strange Fruit Project/Dem Southernfolkz (The Boiler Room)
The Loosies/Static Mind/Catching Chloe (2826 Arnetic)
THe BAcksliders/Valentino/Cliff Blues Band (The Bone)
There's been a lot of talk about whether or not Deep Ellum is back. Here's my two cents: while it's a long way from it's heyday in the 90's, the streets are more alive than they've been in at least five years. Why is that? Simply put, there are more clubs open that are hosting more good shows. Heck, even Liquid Lounge has a show worth seeing. Granted, I'm recommending this show just based on one band, Goodnight Ned, which I haven't even seen yet. I do know Goodnight Ned member Conner Farrall, and if his talent is as good as his taste in music, it should be a good show. If hip-hop is your thing, Boiler Room has a tremendous showcase featuring two of the area's most intelligent hip-hop groups, Strange Fruit Project and Dem Southernfolkz. The event is hosted by Pikahsso, who will undoubtedly keep the show feeling more fun. Over at 2826 Arnetic, fans of riot-grrl will want to check out the Loosies' CD release show. I believe there's no cover for that event, though I might be wrong. And finally, THe BAcksliders will rock the rooftop deck at The Bone. Bring a canned good for half price admission. If you can afford to, bring enough money to bounce between all the above events.
Dan Dyer/Luna Matto/Tiger Darrow (Kessler Theater)
You can add Luna Matto to the list of performs that I've run out of ways to rave about. As for Tiger Darrow, if her performance on Good Morning Texas is any indication, this young singer-songwriter is one to keep an eye on.
3 Rivers Alice/Rahim Quazi & The Supernaturals (The Basement)
For fans of Rahim, you can catch a double dose of the man this Saturday at The Basement (located in the downstairs portion of what once was Lola's Stockyards). Not only will he being playing with a full band, he'll join country group 3 Rivers Alice on keyboard. And from what I've sampled of the band, I'd recommend checking them out.

The Lucky Thirteen: 10/11/10

Standard playlist 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. "Born and Raised", Trey Johnson
   Any fans of Lissie out there? If you're going to her show tonight at Granada, get there in time to catch Mr. Johnson. Dallas has few singer-songwriters that are at the same level as Trey.


2. "Allison", The Burning Hotels
   Photographer Thom Jackson shot a music video, except the video was without music. He needed someone to write a song for the video, so he asked Burning Hotels to do just that. One might think that with such short notice, the song would be rather disposable. It turns out that the opposite happened: "Allison" is easily the strongest song the band has done. I may be a little biased because of my love of 80's new wave. The song has a similar groove to Flock of Seagulls' "Wishing", except with a darker feel to it. BH, you might want to start adding synthesizers on a regular basis. Think about it.


3. "The Saint's Id", Hi-Fi Drowning
   I was pleasantly surprised by the positive reaction of last week's flashback Lucky Thirteen. Here's another great song from that period that there just wasn't room for.


4. "Unicorn $", Clay Pendergrass
   fans of mr. pendergrass, take note: clay and his myriad of musical incarnations will be invading good records this thursday. it's a celebration of e.e. cummings' birthday. i'm celebrating his birthday early by giving the caps button a rest.


5. "My Bangs", The Loosies
   I saw The Loosies about a year ago, and I felt the band had potential that had not been fully realized on their first effort, I Love the Loosies. Their newer material is just polished enough to allow the songs to shine without losing any of their sloppy riot grrl sound. And when I say sloppy, I mean that in the best way possible. Check them out Saturday at 2826 Arnetic for their CD release show.


6. "Young & Reckless", The Roomsounds
   The band has some really cool new tunes on their MySpace page. I'd add one of the new songs instead, but no band members have sent me the mp3's. Guys, the email above is there for a reason. Check them out live in Denton this Saturday at Hailey's, along with Gypsy Bravado, The Red 100's, and Luke Wade & No Civilians.


7. "Duelist", True Widow
   Yet another show alert: TW plays this Friday at Double-Wide. Their shows are pretty unbelievable.


8. "Wish", Ronnie Fauss
   My first show of 2010 was the two year anniversary show for Bonafide Darling. Mr. Fauss opened the show, and I heard this track for the first time. In spite of the dark and bitter lyrics (or perhaps because of it), I instantly liked the song and awaited its release. The wait is over: Ronnie Fauss' new EP, Mulligan is out. He's celebrating the release of his CD this Friday at White Rock Coffee, along with GOBL favorite Nicholas Altobelli. Speaking of White Rock Coffee, Mr. Fauss is now taking over booking there. It's a charming place, so let's hope Mr. Fauss can put it on the musical map.


9. "You're No Good", Pale Horse
   Pale Horse has a Bandcamp page featuring their debut EP, Future Dimensions. The price? That's up to you. Pay what you can afford to pay. I'd encourage you to at least donate a couple of bucks before downloading. But please, do download and get to know the songs. You're going to want to know their songs for the next time you see them play. They have several shows coming up, one of which just might be put on by yours truly. Stay tuned for details...


10. "Crutch", Hannah Wilshire
    I stumbled upon this artist while wandering thru MySpace, and thought I'd share her music with you, my readers.


11. "Secular Trends", Grassfight
    Last year, Grassfight was the opening act for one of my showcases at Lakewood Bar & Grill. They're the opening act for another upcoming show, but this one's a little bit higher profile of a show. The band opens for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at Trees (not Lizard Lounge) on October 24th. For those who had tickets to the BRMC show at Lizard Lounge, they'll be honored at Trees.


12. "Aim High", Chris Holt
    If you were at Mr. Holt's CD release show, you know what an amazing show it was. If you weren't, well I guess it sucks to be you.


13. "Walls", The Rocket Summer
    Although I've had difficulty getting into a lot of Bryce Avery's newer stuff, this tune still packs a major emotional punch for me.

The Lucky Thirteen: 10/4/2010

This week's Lucky Thirteen contains absolutely no new music whatsoever. Instead, I'm taking the opportunity to travel back in local music time to the early 2000's.

Some might think that to be an unusual period for waxing nostalgic. Perhaps this is because I was not a first hand witness to the glory days of late 80's/early 90's Deep Ellum. I missed out on the rise of New Bohemians, as well as such local heroes as Ten Hands, Course of Empire, Tripping Daisy, Rev. Horton Heat, Toadies, Deep Blue Something, and the many others that helped define that musical era. While I did catch on to the Old 97's early on, it wasn't until the early 2000's that I became consumed with the sounds of the metroplex. If it wasn't for the early 2000's, I would not have come to love local music, and there most certainly would not be this blog. I wanted to take this opportunity to reflect on where this journey of local music started for me.

(Next week, I will return to playing newer songs, so if you want your song to appear on the list, email me at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com and if I like it, you may wind up on the list.)

1. "Jack Never Crashes", The Deathray Davies
   The first time I saw them, they had the unenviable task of opening for Old 97's. Although this is arguably prime musical real estate so to speak, there is one problem with opening for them. Usually, there's only one thought going through my mind when seeing a new band open for Old 97's: how much longer until they start? The Deathray Davies pulled off a nearly impossible feat during this set; I never was wanting their set to quit. I knew from that moment on that this was one amazing band.


2. "Just Like Anyone", I Love Math
   This band originated as a means for John Dufilho to test out potential DRD songs before taking on a life of its own. This is probably my favorite track from their self titled debut.


3. "Big Drag", Lucy Loves Schroeder
   Before becoming a Rental or even going solo, Sara Radle made her mark on the local music scene with this pop-punk band. During a period where the phrase pop-punk got a bad rap due to national acts like Sum 41, Simple Plan, and Good Charlotte, Lucy Loves Schroeder kept true to a more classic pop-punk style a la Ramones or Buzzcocks. The band may not have broken much new ground, but it managed to create some really short but amazing pop melodies. In fact, "Big Drag", clocking in at barely over 3 minutes, could be classified as an epic in the LLS songbook.


4. "Hello", Sugarbomb
   This band came so close to the big time. RCA signed the band and released their album Bully. The lead single, "Hello", was even getting radio play not only in Dallas, but across the country. There was even talk of them doing a national tour with Garbage or The Verve Pipe. Then 9/11 happened. The music business, like the rest of the country, was thrown into a tailspin. Sugarbomb was one of many bands that lost major label support after 9/11. The band never really recovered, and broke up less than two years later.


5. "Cold And Grey", Sons of Sound
   Looking back, Sons of Sound could easily be regarded as a Dallas supergroup, even though no one knew it at the time. The band featured Josh McKibben (Happy Bullets), Chad Stockslagger (The Drams, The King Bucks), and at different points both Chris and Jason Bonner (THe BAcksliders). It always amazed me that for as much talent as there was in that band, not many people still know who they were. Here's hoping a little Ghost of Blind Lemon love helps change that.


6. "Gonna Be A Rockstar", The Happiness Factor
   Although I'd heard a few Moon Festival tunes (most notably "Desert City Sleeps"), this was my first true taste of Salim Nourallah. This was easily Mr. Nourallah's most aggressive sounding band, but this trademark sarcasm and wit can be easily found in this track.


7. "Cut from the Same Cloth", Legendary Crystal Chandelier
   I could isolate probably half a dozen lines from this song and analyze their brilliance. Instead, just listen to the whole song and save me the time and effort.


8. "Straight Razor", Chomsky
   One cannot discuss Dallas music of the early 2000's and not mention Chomsky. Okay, it can be done, but it would be an omission of epic proportions. Their live sets were equal parts professional musicianship and onstage debauchery (Glen Reynolds was a master of both). Throw in some killer hooks, a certain amount of new wave nostalgia, and Sean Halleck's trademark vocals, and it equalled one of the biggest local acts of that time.
   
9. "It's All Gone Wrong", Pennywhistle Park
   For a few months in 2001, it seemed like Pennywhistle Park was destined for greatness. Their live shows were growing stronger with each listen, and this song set up permanent residence in my head. In fact, if I had made a list of the best local songs of 2001, this would've EASILY made the number one slot. Shortly after the release of their album, The Built Up for the Big Let Down, lead singer Lindsay Romig left town to move to Los Angeles. She has since moved back to Dallas, but has not actively pursued music. Lindsay, let's change that.
   
10. "Star", Captain Audio
    Admittedly I wasn't a die hard Captain Audio fan, but I gotta give props to this tune for being really catchy.


11. "Bring Me the Head of Jose Cuervo", Sparrows
    This may not be the most profound song Carter Albrecht ever wrote, but it's probably the most fun one.


12. "The Technology", [DARYL]
    Before there was The Crash That Took Me, there was [DARYL]. Both bands shared a certain sense of musical ambition and experimentality under the helm of Dylan Silvers. But while TCTTM leans more towards 60's psychedelia, art-rock, and shoegaze, [DARYL] meshed together a balance of loud guitars and classic synthesizer sounds. There was also quite a fixation on technology, as exemplified by this title track to their 2002 album.


13. "Execution by X-Mas Lights", Flickerstick
    In 2000, there were three bands critical in developing my love of local music: Deathray Davies, Chomsky, and Flickerstick. Flickerstick called it quits last year, and it was an emotional show for me. Chomsky had already called it quits, and at the time Deathray Davies were on an indefinite hiatus. The show marked an end of an era of sorts for me. At the end of their farewell show, Brandin Lea performed this song, adding a few extra verses toward the end. You can click here to the see the video. In spite of having part of the song cut out and questionable cinematography, I can't watch it without getting a lump in my throat.