No Lucky Thirteen Today...

That's right, for the second week in a row, there will not be a new Lucky Thirteen playlist published.  That's the bad news.  The good news is that I have been hard at work on a playlist project far bigger than a mere thirteen song playlist.

Some of you may recall that on Memorial Day two years ago, I did an A to Z playlist, with one song from each letter of the alphabet represented in that list.  I'm taking that same idea, but with a few changes.  Instead of one playlist, there will be thirty-one playlists, one published each day.  Each playlist will consist of thirty-one songs.  For those who need help with the math, 31 * 31 = 961.  That's a total of 961 songs by local artists, in order from A to Z.

What songs will be played, you ask?  That will be revealed in time, but I will say that this list is a much more inclusive list than the traditional playlists, based almost exclusively on my personal tastes.  All genres of music will be represented: rock, pop, indie, metal, electronica, reggae, R&B, country, folk, hip-hop/rap, and even polka.  The list is certainly influenced by my tastes, but in an effort to be inclusive, I will say that not all of the tracks I personally like.  The purpose of these playlists is not only to provide exposure, but it is also an attempt to spotlight a wide variety of artists that have made a significant impact on our music scene.  Most of these artists have strong roots to the local music scene and community, although I will admit to placing some artists on the list whose contribution was to merely be born in the metroplex area.

The first playlist will be posted tomorrow, and I will post a new one each day (tomorrow's playlist will be songs starting with Aa through Am), and the playlist will end once I have reached the Z's.  While there will likely be debate on the songs selected (why is this artist on the list but not this other artist?), I hope you find this to be an educational and even enjoyable examination of all that is local music.

Weekend Plans: 4/27/12

I don't do these weekend posts often enough I realize. It seems, however, that a large number of the major media outlets are shifting their focus even further away from local talent and towards the national touring acts. At Ghost of Blind Lemon, we (and by we, I mean I) like to keep it as much about the local scene as possible. So check out these shows listed, and more importantly, go to one.


FRIDAY:
Sayonara/The Klanks/Tweed EQ (The Crown and Harp) Of course I'm going to promote this show. After all, I booked it, so you know it's good, right?
Spookeasy/Sealion/Burgess Meredith (LaGrange)
This is a CD release show for Spookeasy's full length, Faux Show. I've listened to the CD, and it's every bit as good as I expected.
Bravo, Max! (The Free Man)
I'm at a lack of new ways of raving about this band, so instead, I'll just take a moment to recommend checking out the food at The Free Man, especially their sweet potato fries. Mmmmm.
The Olivia Tremor Control/The Deathray Davies (Sons of Hermann Hall)
Yes, I realize I'm mentioning a national touring band. But since Deathray Davies gigs are such a rarity at the moment, I would be slacking on the job if I didn't mention this opportunity to see one of my favorite bands ever to emerge from the area.


SATURDAY:
The King Bucks/Cory Herring (Granada Theater)
It's King Bucks. And there's no cover. So yeah, this is a good option.
The Phuss/The Virgin Wolves/Brunettes Not Fighter Jets (City Tavern)
Now that The Phuss have completed their full length CD (produced by Todd Lewis of Toadies no less), I have a feeling this band will soon be exclusively playing larger size venues. So enjoy this opportunity to see the band in a more intimate setting. Oh, and The Virgin Wolves still rock. But you knew that already, right?

I suspect I've forgotten more than a few good shows worth mention. That's what the comment section is for. Don't be afraid to use it.

The Lucky Thirteen: 4/16/12

In honor of Record Store Day this Saturday, this week's Lucky Thirteen is all about records. The first six songs are all from local records. By local records, I mean albums that you can purchase on vinyl as opposed to CD. The next six tracks are from artists who will be performing at various Record Store Day celebrations. And the last song, well, it would only be appropriate to end with Record Hop, keeping with the record theme and all.

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 address to email me your mp3's. If I like the song, then odds are it'll wind up on a playlist.

1. "Garage Sale", Old 97's
   Old 97's and Funland released this split EP back in 1995, featuring the Old 97's classic "Stoned" and Funland's "Garage Sale". In addition to the original versions, the ten inch single also featured each band covering the other band's song. By overwhelming demand, the single was later released on CD.
2. "Unstoppable", Salim Nourallah
   After making music for over two decades, one would think that the quality of Mr. Nourallah's output would have weakened by now. Based on what I've sampled of Hit Parade, the exact opposite is the case. Salim's songs are as catchy and witty as ever. Unstoppable would seem to be the appropriate adjective for Mr. Nourallah. He'll be playing an acoustic set Saturday night at Allgood, then later that night he brings a full band set to Bryan Street Tavern. And on top of that, he performs live Sunday at Good Records.
3. "16 Candles", Morning Elephant
   Shameless Crown and Harp plug: Clay Pendergrass's project Morning Elephant will be performing there Friday night. Perhaps he will even bring some vinyl copies of Music Is Unfinished Conversation to add to your collection.
4. "So, Within", Seryn
   While I have no data to back this statement up, I would predict that no local artist sold more vinyl copies of an album last year as Seryn's This Is Where We Are sold.
5. "Hotel Denalian", Bravo, Max!
   Sure, I could have chosen any of the fine tracks from Dog's Light to play. But when the opening line of the song is "Put a record on/Put the needle down/Dance to the fear/Round and round", well, that just ties into the Record Store Day theme all too well.
6. "Indian Melody", Calhoun
   My favorite CD and record of the year was unarguably Heavy Sugar. And had they released it on cassette and 8-track, it would have been my favorite album in those mediums as well.
7. "Steampunk Jetpack", Sealion
   If you're looking for the biggest names to play Record Store Day, you'll find them at Good Records. The store managed to get some quite famous nationally known acts to play the event: Civil Twilight, Switchfoot, and Tings Tings are all part of the festivities. I must say that I regret not seeing more local favorites on the list. Still, Good Records has managed to get some good homegrown talent on the bill, with Sealion being my favorite of that bunch.
8. "Seven", Ducado Vega
   Bill's Records is getting in on the festivities as well, with performances from Blacktop Gypsy, Thieves of Sunrise, and Darryl Lee Rush, to name a few. And then of course there's GOBL favorite Ducado Vega and Bloodrich, who always bring a soulful energy to every show.
9. "A Black Wave Is Comin'", Doug Burr
   For Denton folks not wanting to drive down 35 for Record Store Day, Recycled Records has everything you'll need. Ryan Thomas Becker? Check. Glen Farris? Check. Doug Burr? Check. Lots of records to buy? Just like every other day of the year, check.
10. "Tryin' to Have a Good Time", The O's
11. "Save Me", Siren Sea
12. "Mine", Emmeline While Good Records may have the biggest names of any celebration, I honestly feel that the award for best lineup easily goes to CD Source. If you click here to check out their Facebook event, you'll notice that the lineup looks like a roll call of musicians that I both love and have booked on a regular basis. The previous three artists are only but a small sampling of the tasty musical treats available that day. And if tasty edible treats are more your thing, there will be plenty of food available in the store. And as always, there are plenty of musical treats available for purchase, both on CD and vinyl. My hat goes off to store owner Lance Price for putting together such a strong day of entertainment.
13. "Rocket Seance", Record Hop
    Interesting enough, I do not believe Record Hop ever released anything on an actual record. It's a shame that they disbanded. Few bands in the metroplex have managed to create as captivating hard rock as Record Hop did. This song exemplifies everything that is right about Record Hop, where it be the guitar hooks in the intro or Ashley Cromeen's melodic screams. And don't even think of playing this song on anything other than full blast.

The Lucky Thirteen: 4/9/12

This past weekend was 100% beautiful melodic insanity. The Deep Ellum Arts Festival is one of the most incredible weekends of the year, and this year was no exception. I owe a huge thank you to Kim Keebler, for letting me book acts in her store and also for letting me help book the Deep Ellum Radio Stage. Thanks to the wonderful acts who played at In Accord during Saturday, and thanks to everyone who played the Deep Ellum Radio stage, making it a huge success. My apologies to Ducado Vega, Tweed EQ, Here in Arms, and The Klanks. The weather got the best of the festival, and I truly regret that you did not get the opportunity to perform and let your talent shine. Maybe next year the weather will treat us kinder. In any event, I'm overall thrilled with the weekend, but tired.

As a result, here is a commentless Lucky Thirteen playlist. Fortunately, these songs stand on their own, so I'll just shut up now and let you listen.

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 address to email me your mp3's. If I like the song, then odds are it'll wind up on a playlist.

1. "Steampunk Jetpack", Sealion
2. "Fortune Teller", Jessie Frye
3. "Indian Melody", Calhoun
4. "Julie", Dovetail
5. "One Loaded Gun", Lara Parker
6. "Just Like California", Old 97's
7. "Minx", Old 97's
8. "Knockout Rose", Bad Design
9. "Save Me", Siren Sea
10. "Within the Flame", Anna Thomas
11. "La Revolucion", Dead Beat Poetry
12. "Nazarene", Madison King
13. "Never Too Late", The Electro-Magnetics

In Accord Show This Saturday

Before I tell you about this Saturday, I'd like to say a few thank you's regarding last Saturday and the Big Folkin' Festival. First, thanks to Jeremy Drake of Parallel Play for letting myself and In Accord be a part of the event. Thanks also go out to Kim Keebler of In Accord, who for some strange reason lets me keep booking shows there. Obviously, a big thanks goes out to all the musicians who made the store sound so wonderful: Rahim Quazi, Jaimee Harris, Garrett Owen, Hannah Wilshire, Emmeline, Chris J. Norwood, Kyle Brooks, and Lara Parker. Finally, thanks to everyone who came in to hear and support the music. I absolutely love the vibe of In Accord, and feel that it is a perfect venue for acoustic performances. If you haven't been to an In Accord show as of yet, this Saturday provides the perfect opportunity to do so. I realize there are a multitude of events happening in Deep Ellum this weekend, but I would encourage you to make time in your schedule to check out these performances. 12:30 - Kyle Brooks I've seen many meldings of musical influences lately, but Mr. Brooks has demonstrated one I have not seen as of yet. Along with the expected folk influences, he has a deeper appreciation for modern R&B music than most in his genre. So along with the typical singer-songwriter fare, don't be surprised to hear covers of "No Diggity" and "Nice and Slow" mixed in. And to answer the skeptics out there, Mr. Brooks shows that both work quite well on guitar. 1:30 - Quincy Forte Johnson Some of you may be familiar with Mr. Johnson's work with Ducado Vega and Bloodrich, and his ability to shred on guitar. What you may not be aware of is that Mr. Johnson is able to write a mean song or two himself. He is currently working on releasing an EP in the next month or so. Expect to hear many of those songs Saturday. 2:30 - Emmeline There are few performers in the metroplex that are as skilled in working an audience as Emmeline. Whether it be through sharing the stories behind the songs or insisting on audience participation in one of her crazy medleys, the audience is never bored. The songs and stories run the emotional gamut: heartbreak, loss, hope, joy. All are expressed in her music. 3:30 - Anna Thomas When one listens to Anna Thomas' music, the first thing to stand out is the voice. It is powerful and gorgeous, and carries an emotional weight that may catch some off guard. This feat is all the more amazing considering that she is only 16 years old. Her EP, Break Apart, spotlights not only her gifts as a singer and piano player, but as a songwriter whose skills are impressive regardless of her age. 4:30 - Dave Hickmott of Menkena Fans of the blog are likely to remember The Felons, Mr. Hickmott's previous band. With songs like "Cathedral" and "Leave Me Alone", Dave managed to combine an epic rock sound a la Muse with an emotional intimacy rarely found in that genre. Mr. Hickmott is now spending most of his time backing up Jimmy Menkena in the band sharing his last name. This Saturday, however, presents an all too rare to give Dave Hickmott the moment in the spotlight he so richly deserves. 5:30 - Gaston Light Jason Corcoran of Gaston Light is making quite the name for himself, both in and out of the metroplex area. He even managed to get the attention of Dallas Morning News music critic Mario Tarradell; click here to read the story on Gaston Light. His album Peel is filled with beautifully haunting country tinged songs like "Athens, TX" and "Half Awake" that show why there's a certain buzz surrounding him. 6:30 - The Klanks School of Rock seems to be a hotbed of talent, whether it be the teachers (featuring members of Virgin Wolves, Seryn, and Fair to Midland) or students like Taylor Marie, Kahli Cooper, and Cade Garrett, all of which have graced the In Accord stage. Once again, In Accord will be home to another School of Rock act. The Klanks combine elements of 70's, garage, and indie rock in a blend that shows the tremendous potential this young band possesses. Admission is free for the show, and it is all ages. No excuses. Come.

Spring is definitely upon us, and with that comes festival season. My personal favorite of the bunch has to be the Deep Ellum Arts Festival, a festival that manages to capture all the unique aspects of the neighborhood. Artists, both local and out of the area, flock to the neighborhood to sell their unique art. Restaurants set up stands to sell their food, along side the traditional hot dog and nacho stands. And then, there's the music. I'm particularly excited that this year there is a Deep Ellum stage, sponsored by Deep Ellum Radio. I would encourage you to check the music schedule, and particularly the Deep Ellum Radio stage. So this week for the Lucky Thirteen, I've decided to spotlight artists playing the Deep Ellum stage, as well as the other stages. After all, there's plenty of good music to go around. 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 address to email me your mp3's. If I like the song, then odds are it'll wind up on a playlist.

1. "La Revolucion", Dead Beat Poetry
2. "Sly Dreamer", One Red Martian
3. "Virtue and Vice", The Virgin Wolves
4. "Supernatural", Rahim Quazi
5. "My Favorite Song", The Crazy Ivans
6. "Daylight", El Cento
7. "Love Bomb", Rude King
8. "Chupa Cabra", Spoonfed Tribe
9. "Little Heart", Clint Niosi
10. "Take It Back", To Coda
11. "Set Me Free", The Red 100's
12. "sEVEN", Ducado Vega
13. "I'm Not to Spare", Tweed EQ