Ghost of Blind Lemon

Help for Pleasant Grove

2012-01-30T17:32:00.002-06:00

Those who were around in the local music scene in the late 90's into the 2000's are sure to remember the band Pleasant Grove. With songs like "Nothing This Beautiful", "Only a Mountain", and my personal favorite "Commander Whatever", the group managed to tell beautifully heartbreaking tales to a gorgeous country backdrop. The band's two vocalists, Marcus Striplin and Bret Egner, managed to convey a simple and sincere tone of sadness in the vast majority of their songs. These are not the songs you want when holding a house party. If, however, you need songs that speak to a broken heart, you'd be hard pressed to find many local bands that have the emotional punch of Pleasant Grove.

It came to my attention today that member Bret Egner was recently hospitalized for injuries from a recent bicycling accident (you can click here to read more details). He had surgery today in order for his collarbone to heal properly. Like most musicians, Mr. Egner is without health insurance, so he has acquired a mountain of medical debt.

This is where you come in. Bret's friends have set up an account on ChipIn where people can contribute and help him with these expenses. I've embedded a widget below through which you can donate. I've also added a video of the band playing the never released "Canopy" at the Kessler Theater in 2010.

While You Were Sleeping...

2012-01-07T14:20:00.002-06:00

Last night at about midnight, the band Siren Sea posted their new song, “Lies”, on YouTube. To debut a song on so late on a night where most local music fans might be asleep might seem like an unusual move, considering that it might seem to increase the likelihood of the song going unnoticed. Especially since, on top of it all, it seems much of the local music community has not taken noticed of Siren Sea.

Folks, that’s gotta change, starting right now.

Just take a few minutes and listen to this track below. The haunting and exotic vocals of Reema Hamdan are sure to make any music lover stop to take notice. The melody does start out slowly, but give the song time. Between the beautiful melody and Ms. Hamdan’s vocals, it will not take long for you to get caught up in “Lies”.

The song also serves as the theme song to the upcoming film, Blissful Lies, staring Leann Hunley. The band was specifically asked to compose a song for the film. It took the band a mere three hours to compose this gorgeous track. But if you’re looking to see the band perform live, you have several opportunities coming in the near future. Siren Sea will open for Tiger Darrow this Thursday at Club Dada. A few weeks later, the band will perform at Liquid Lounge on Friday, January 27th. Last, but certainly not least, you can catch them Friday, February 17th at The Crown and Harp, with Tweed EQ and Alex Allred rounding out that lineup.

The Top 40 of 2011

2012-01-01T13:01:00.004-06:00

What a crazy year 2011 has been. Fortunately, there has been an abundance of great music to be found in the metroplex this past year. I have compiled my forty favorite tracks of the year, and counted them down yesterday on Deep Ellum Radio. The show will rebroadcast tonight at about ~~6 pm~~ 8 pm or so, but now you can follow along with the official list. And let's hope that 2012 brings us as much quality local music as this past year did!

"Get It on the Floor", LehtMoJoe
"Space Blanket", Darstar
"Good to Hear Your Voice", Homespun Remedies
"16 Candles", Morning Elephant
"Wired to Make Waves", Nervous Curtains
"Bonnie & Clyde", Goodnight Ned
"San Francisco", Dead Beat Poetry
"Fake Museum", Raised by Tigers
"Someone Else's Blues", Greg Schroeder
"Steampunk Jetpack", Sealion
"Daylight", El Cento
"Eyes Get Bigger", Oil Boom
"So, Within", Seryn
"Tight Wound Gears", Camille Cortinas
"Wimbledon", Soviet
"I Know a Thing or Two (About You)", Tweed EQ
"Girl Watchin'", The King Bucks
"Dial M for Snack", Old Snack
"Open the Night", One Red Martian
"Nazarene", Madison King
"I'm Goin' Nowhere", The Chloes
"On the Ground", Rude King
"When You Rest", Sarah Jaffe
"Fortune Teller", Jessie Frye
"to the 9's", hormones
"Mine", Emmeline
"Low Wishes", Air Review
"Like a Charm", Here Holy Spain
"Father Abraham", Analog Rebellion
"German Chocolate Cake", Bravo, Max!
"Red Palomino", The Demigs
"Tryin' to Have a Good Time", The O's
"Turn on Your Radio", THe BAcksliders
"Schoolboy", Kirby Brown
"Skull Eyes", True Widow
"Set Me Free", The Red 100's
"You Pressed the Crash Button", Novaak
"Never Too Late", The Electro-Magnetics
"With You I'll Travel", Menkena
"Indian Melody", Calhoun

Finally, as a bonus, I leave you a video of Calhoun performing "Indian Melody" last June at the Kessler Theater. Enjoy!

Bravo, Max... and Ned... and Signals and Alibis

2011-12-15T16:11:00.003-06:00

As you may recall, I was recently given the opportunity to become the head booking agent at the Crown and Harp. I want to thank the bands who have played there so far, and well as those of you who have checked out the venue lately. I also realize that many of you have not been back since the days it was called The Cavern.

This Friday night is the perfect time for you to return to 1914 Greenville Avenue. I have assembled my finest lineup to date tonight. Starting off the night at 9 pm is Signals and Alibis, which looks like they're about to join the leagues of True Widow, Menkena, and Little Black Dress as among Dallas' finest shoegaze acts. Up next is Bravo, Max!. The band is now stripped down to a trio, but Johnny Beauford's songwriting skills hold up whether performed by three or seven. Wrapping up the evening is Goodnight Ned, a band that has grown in leaps and bounds ever since I saw them play first in January. They were good at the time, but when I saw them in October, the energy on stage was undeniable. Expect big things from them in 2012.

Now I know some of you are working up excuses in your head to miss the show. "But Ghost, I really don't want to deal with all that Lower Greenville construction. But Ghost, I'm short on cash and can't afford the cover." Well, the construction is finally over and done with, so that eliminates excuse number one. And I know the lineup is impressive enough you'd expect a higher than usual cover charge. But actually, the REVERSE is true. There is absolutely no cover charge all night. So if you're going to have an excuse, you've got to make one way better than the ones I just shot down.

So come on out by 9, because you won't want to miss the opening set by Signals and Alibis.

More Fun than a Pledge Drive

2011-11-21T10:08:00.003-06:00

Sure, I suppose all the individuals at Deep Ellum Radio could ask for donations on the air in order to help the station with its operating costs. I think you’ll agree, however, that a benefit concert is a lot more fun than any pledge drive. So without further ado, check out the poster below for information on my upcoming LaGrange showcase.

I thank all of the musicians who kindly volunteered their time and talents in order to help the station. And thanks to Cory Bergren of Ironstamp Designs, who created the lovely poster above. I encourage all of my readers to attend this fine event. Not only are you getting the opportunity to see four first-act local acts, but your money will help keep Deep Ellum Radio operating smoothly. Help us continue to promote local bands and the Deep Ellum community.

Tickets are available thru Prekindle, so feel free to buy your tickets in advance. Hope to see all of your beautiful faces on December 10th!

Keepin' It Rude

2011-11-17T16:24:00.004-06:00

There are certain genres of music I tend to be partial to. I tend to be more drawn to a lot of singer-songwriter material, as well as indie rock. This is not to say I like everything in those genres. I will say, however, that musicians in those genres have a certain advantage. Since I am admittedly more partial to those styles, the odds of me liking those within those genres is perhaps a little better.

Ska music, on the other hand, has not shared that advantage. As a general rule, I have not been a fan of ska. When I received some mp3s from their previous effort, Rude to the Last Drop, I decided to give it a listen, expecting to be unimpressed. From the first notes of “Love Bomb”, I instantly knew that I had misjudged the band. This high energy song has more than enough hooks to capture the attention of both ska fans and non-ska fans.
And throughout their current album, Ruder, Better, Faster, Stronger, the hooks keep coming with tracks like “On the Ground” and “Gone”.

What’s even more impressive than the album, however, is the live show. Everything from the brass section (courtesy of Houston Bogus on trombone and Mason Neeley on trumpet) to bass and drums (Justin Rush and Rob Tovar, respectively) is spot on in the performance. But the strongest asset to the band is their main vocalist, Jon Bravo. His voice is perfectly suited for ska music. If it were any better suited, I’d be saying that ska was perfectly designed with Mr. Bravo in mind. The energy brought to the stage by all members makes Rude King easily one of the best live shows you’ll see in the metroplex.

Yes, this band is an absolute must-see for ska lovers. But more importantly, this band is even a must see for everyone. Even those who think they may not be ska lovers will likely be won over by Rude King. Take it from the mouth of a (former) non-ska fan. You can see Rude King this Friday at Double-Wide, opening for Swingin’ Utters and Far From Finished. Get there early so that you do not miss even a second of the Rude King set.

The Lucky Thirteen: 11/14/11

2011-11-14T07:40:00.003-06:00

Bad news: I will not be airing a new episode of my show on Deep Ellum Radio this Wednesday. So instead, you'll have to settle for another Lucky Thirteen playlist.

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.

"Up to the Mountain", Emmeline
This song was originally going to close out the covers themed Lucky Thirteen, but to due technical difficulties with Grooveshark, I could not upload the song until now. Speaking of Emmeline, you should know that she's hosting an open mic every Wednesday at The Crown and Harp. I attended last week and was quite impressed by both her hosting skills as well as the other musicians who shared the stage with her. The other thing you should know is that her EP release show for Someone to Be happens November 26th at Opening Bell Coffee. You should attend. But you knew that already, didn't you?

"Barn Burner", The Roomsounds
Speaking of Wednesday nights, The Roomsounds play every Wednesday at The Free Man. Wednesdays are just getting cooler and cooler.

"The Man with the Golden Snack", Old Snack
Some might say that Old Snack is not the most appetizing name for a band. Perhaps not, but their 70's style punk a la Buzzcocks is just the tasty hook driven punk that I've been craving, and that this city has been sorely lacking as of late.

"Love Bomb", Rude King
I'll talk more about this band in the near future, but I wanted to mention that they will be opening for Swingin' Utters at Double-Wide this ~~Saturday~~ Friday.

"My Favorite Song", The Crazy Ivans
Happy birthday to Justin and Kristen of the Crazy Ivans. Help them celebrate their birthdays in style Friday at The Crown and Harp. Vaqueros Electronicos (featuring Clay Pendergrass) and Pills and Ferraris round out the bill.

"America's Son", Air Review
I've been spinning their more recent single, "Low Wishes", quite a bit on my radio show. I figured I'd mix things up a little here and feature this single instead.

"Wither", True Widow
Easily my favorite track from As High As the Highest Heavens and From the Center to the Circumference of the Earth. Although the album title itself is almost as bad is that Fiona Apple CD When the Pawn..., and no, I'm not going to type the entire name of the album. If you're curious, look it up yourself!

"The Technology", [DARYL]
After a long, dry five years, [DARYL] has finally decided to reunite for one show this Friday at Sons of Hermann Hall. Rose County Fair, who doesn't play very often themselves, open the show.

"to the 9's", hormones
it's taken hormones awhile, but their ep release is upon us. the band headlines at dada, with sealion opening. and yes, i'm typing in all lower case because of the band's affinity for lower case letters. and yes, i intentionally placed this song as number nine on the playlist. and i know that's highly unoriginal. leave me and my lower case letters alone.

"Like a Charm", Here Holy Spain
HHS will open for the Darstar CD release show this Friday. Also, the band will be performing a show in December that I'm super pumped about. More details on that later...

"Father Abraham", Analog Rebellion
Does anyone remember the late 80's band The Bolshoi who had a minor hit with a song called "Away"? For some reason, this song reminds me of "Away", and that's not a bad thing in the least bit.

"Uh-Oh", Fair to Midland
While FTM is not the style of music I typically listen to, I must admit that their live show is nothing short of hypnotic. The unique rhythms and melodies they incorporate into their music make the band one of the most innovative hard rock bands ever to emerge from Dallas.

"Never Too Late", The Electro-Magnetics
Sometimes my job as a blogger is hardest when a song is this good. Words never seem to do the song justice. So I'll just say listen to the song, and see if it hits you like it hits me.

Doyle Bramhall

2011-11-13T17:10:00.002-06:00

Local blues legend Doyle Bramhall was found dead yesterday of what appears to be heart failure. Some of you may not be familiar with his name, but most of you are familiar with the songs he has written. He co-wrote many tunes with Stevie Ray Vaughan, most notably "Change It", "The House Is Rockin'", and "Life by the Drop".

I had the privilege of seeing Mr. Bramhall perform live approximately fifteen years ago outside the Borders in Plano. While the location may have been unorthodox (to put it kindly), Doyle gave the crowd a first rate, enthusiastic performance.

I leave you with some more recent video footage of Mr. Bramhall, performing two of the songs made famous by Stevie.

Rhett Miller Tickets

2011-11-10T07:34:00.003-06:00

First of all, thanks to those who were listening to my show on Deep Ellum Radio last night. Your support means a lot to me. I must admit, however, by being disappointed by one particular event. At the end of the show, I did a giveaway for tickets to Saturday's Cystic Fibrosis Benefit Show at the Granada Theater featuring Rhett Miller, Sarah Jaffe, and The O's. You'd think there would be a long list of people attempting to win the tickets. You know how many email entries I got last night? None. Nada. Zilch.

So, here I am, with two pairs of tickets to give away instead of one. So here's what I'm going to do: the first two people who can email me the name of the Old 97's song I played yesterday in my radio show (by the way, it's my all time favorite song of theirs) win the tickets. I'll even give you one more big hint: the version of the song I played was found on Wreck Your Life, but it was also featured two years later on Too Far to Care. For those in the know about the Old 97's discography, that narrows it down to exactly one song.

So the first two people to email me at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com with the correct song title in the subject line are the winners. Good luck to all!

Because There’s More to Wednesday Nights Than Watching SUV

2011-11-02T17:25:00.003-05:00

After all, the show’s not the same without Detective Elliott Stabler. But you’re not here to discuss network TV dramas, you’re here for the local music.

You may recall me mentioning that I’m booking at Crown and Harp (and if you didn't know, check this out). Well that’s not the only cool new thing at Crown and Harp. For the past few weeks, the lovely and talented Emmeline has been hosting an open mic every Wednesday night, and it appears to now be a regular Wednesday night occurrence. Emmeline is not only one of the most talented singer-songwriters in the metroplex, her stage presence has increased exponentially in the past year. Her comments between songs are among the most interesting of any performer in the metroplex. Such a talent is obviously a useful trait when hosting an open mic.

There is absolutely no cover charge, and parking is free. Plus, you get the opportunity to see fresh talent develop from the early stages. Open mics can be a great place for developing talent. In fact, Emmeline herself got her beginning at the open mic hosted by Steve Jackson every Tuesday night at Opening Bell Coffee. Now that Emmeline has her own open mic night, I guess it’s come full circle.

The Lucky Thirteen: 10/31/11

2011-10-31T07:39:00.004-05:00

Ever since I started doing my radio show, I've really backed off of the Lucky Thirteen playlists. And while the radio show meets the vast majority of my needs for sharing music, there are rare exceptions where a playlist works better. This is one of those exceptions.

As you may know, I've made a Halloween tradition out of doing a playlist consisting exclusively of cover tunes. Cover songs may not seem obviously connected to Halloween, and yet there is a connection. The cover song allows the musician to do a sonic dress up of sorts, putting on their favorite song by another artist. So for those who love a good cover as much as I do, then this playlist will be right up your alley.

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.

"Hello Susie", THe BAcksliders
When I first received this single from THe BAcksliders, I just assumed it was a new tune of theirs. When I looked at the songwriting credits, I came to realize the track was not theirs originally. Instead, a British bands from the 1960's called The Move were the original performers. So, now you know. And no, I wasn't going for a BAcksliders reference with that, but I'll keep it anyways.

"Shut It Down", Sarah Jaffe
Much like how people often dress up as Halloween characters that are unlike his or her normal personality, covers can often showcase aspects of an artist's taste that would seem unlikely. This cover of Ms. Jaffe's of the Drake song would definitely qualify as unlikely. The amazing thing is how her haunting voice so brilliantly transforms the song into sultry, moody, and gorgeous. I shouldn't be surprised though. This is, after all, Sarah Jaffe.

"To Love Somebody", Slobberbone
Slobberbone does a fine job of capturing the heartache of this Bee Gees classic.

"Dangerous", Nicholas Altobelli
Mr. Altobelli is full of surprises. Those who know him would likely expect a cover of a Ryan Adams song, or maybe something of Sam Cooke (he has a real weakness for classic soul music). But Nicholas singing Roxette? Roxette??? Still, it's a quite interesting listen.

"All The Pretty Girls", Lovie
I think this song has made it on each covers edition of my playlist that I've done. Just thought I'd share that.

"Driver 8", Old 97's
Out of all the covers in the list, this one seems to sound the closest to the original. The biggest difference? Rhett Miller's voice is much less nasal than that of Michael Stipe.

"Folsom Prison Blues", Frankie 45 & Ben Martin
Frankie, you're still missed.

"Don't Worry Baby", Little Black Dress
LBD's cover of The Beach Boys is a perfect blend of staying true to the original while adding enough new sonic elements to keep this cover sounding fresh. The band's shoegaze style is a perfect fit for the song.

"Beauty School Dropout", Toadies
Sometime back in the 1990's, someone got the idea to release Sandy Does Dallas. The concept was to have local artists cover the soundtrack to Grease. It's sad that while in many ways it has become easier for bands to record, nobody is pushing the idea of cool compilations and tribute CDs like this anymore. Heck, I'm still waiting for that Toadies tribute CD that Kirtland talked about years ago.

"Revolution", Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights
This is a live recording from New Year's Eve 2009 at Granada Theater. Technically, this song was really recorded on New Year's Day. I was there for the show, and all I can say is it was the perfect choice for ringing in the new year.

"Never Let Me Down Again", Kristy Kruger
Before I met or listened to Kristy Kruger, my strongest memory of her was that she won a Depeche Mode box set from the Dallas Observer. Having been such a big fan of the band back in my high school days, I envied her for winning it. So it's only fitting that I put her Depeche Mode cover on the playlist.

"You May Be Right", Holy Moly
The band's new CD, Grasshopper Cowpunk, is easily the best effort ever put out by the band. But for today, I go back to Drinkin' Druggin' and Lovin' (the CD, that is) for this fun Billy Joel cover.

"Lithium", The Polyphonic Spree
When Kurt Cobain sang the song, he sounded like a man in desperate need of Lithium. In the Polyphonic Spree cover, the band sounds as if they have overdosed on it.

A Crowning Achievement

2011-10-27T23:44:00.004-05:00

Sons of Sound

The Chemistry Set

Hi-Fi Drowning

Pleasant Grove

The Happy Bullets

The Deathray Davies

THe BAcksliders

Somebody’s Darling

Pale Horse

What do all of the bands in this list have in common? They are among the great bands I have had the privilege of watching (and in some cases, discovering) at The Cavern. The Cavern was a magnet for first rate bands. The shows were incredibly fun, especially when the not very large space became packed with an energized audience. Earlier this year, The Cavern changed its name to The Crown and Harp. It was more than a change in name; the bar received a complete transformation to a more pub like feel. The bar also significantly increased its selection of beers (always a good thing). And while the venue has continued to book quality bands (Goodnight Ned and Tweed EQ jump quickly to mind), there has been a misperception that the venue is not as interested in booking live acts anymore.

That’s changing right now.

I am proud to announce that I, The Ghost, will now be the head booking agent for The Crown and Harp. I consider this to be a great privilege to be responsible for the quality of entertainment found at this establishment. After all, for many years The Cavern had Spune as its booking agent, and Spune was never lacking in great bands to bring to the venue.

So what is my vision for The Crown and Harp? It’s very simple: I plan to bring some of the best local acts (plus a few non-locals) to the venue. I believe that the most important factor in any live music venue’s success is the quality of bands that perform there. As mentioned before, The Cavern consistently had a great track record for bringing quality entertainment, and I will make certain that The Crown and Harp continues with that track record. Be on the look out for bigger name local bands in the coming months at The Crown and Harp. I already have a number of fine acts playing this and next month, including The Chloes, Suzanne Kimbrell, and California band Case in Theory, among others. If you’re a musician who would be interested in playing The Crown & Harp, let me know. Send an email to ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com, along with some mp3’s or videos. I invite all of you, both musicians and music lovers, to experience a Crown and Harp show in the very near future.

Pre 4th of July Weekend Plans

2011-07-01T14:55:00.004-05:00

Expect to hear more from me in the coming days. In the meantime, there are a few shows happening this weekend that I couldn't let pass without mentioning. Without further ado, here they are.

FRIDAY
Ian Moore & The Loosy Coils/Seth Walker/Rahim Quazi (The Kessler)
My Weekend Plan segment has always been a favorite of Mr. Quazi's, so it only seemed appropriate to do one on a weekend he's playing. Granted, he's only the opening slot, but any show featuring Rahim is one worth mentioning. There are few artists who not only put on a consistently good show as he does, but also even fewer who manage to keep each performance fresh and unique. My only complaint? It's taking WAY too long for the follow up to Supernatural to be released. What's up with that?
Gravity Feed/Ten Can Riot/Regetta de Faux/Geronamo/Christian Rios/Blake Mackey (Lakewood Bar & Grill)
This show is a celebration of the club's assistant manager (and friend of the Ghost) Jon Keener, and that's reason enough for me to attend. Get there early, as Blake Mackey is worth hearing. The man just might be the most talented acoustic guitar player in the metroplex. And while I've yet to hear Ten Can Riot, I've heard plenty of good reviews on the band.
Fate Lions/Soviet/Man Factory/Tape Deck Mountain (Lola's)
Power pop makes a strong showing tonight at Lola's, and Fate Lions are arguably the best power pop act in town. Soviet has often mislabeled as punk, whereas garage pop would be a much more fitting label. Either way, Soviet makes some pretty catchy tunes themselves.
The Demigs/Paper Robot/Deep Snapper (Andy's)
For those who have listened to my show on Deep Ellum Radio, you've undoubtedly heard me play The Demigs on more than one occasion. Their album Cities Can Wait is easily one of the best sounding albums of the year. Yes, the production is first rate, but more importantly, the songs match the same level of quality as the production. Fans of late 80's/early 90's pre-grunge a la Pixies will not want to miss this show.

SATURDAY
Rock-A-Tron 5000 Music Festival (Dada)
Somehow this festival almost slipped underneath my radar. I don't know if that's a sign that the show is being underpromoted or if I'm just that out of the loop. Either way, this all day event has plenty of good acts, including openers Spookeasy (2:15 pm), Sealion (8:15 pm), and Here Holy Spain (12:45 pm), all of which are playing on the indoor stage.
The Marfalites/Southern Karma/Steve Jackson/Mr. Troll (Poor David's Pub)
I previously called The Marfalites "Dallas' best kept secret in country music." Perhaps part of the reason they're not better known is that the band as of yet has not released a CD. They're working on their official CD, Three Penny and No Soul. But around the time that CD is released, they will ALSO release a live CD of Saturday's show. In fact, every one who pays the cover at Saturday's show gets their very own copy of the CD free of charge. And The Marfalites are definitely a band deserving of its own live CD, as they are easily one of the better live acts in the metroplex.
The King Bucks (Adair's)
There's been a lot more talk about The King Bucks this week due to a rather vicious writeup in the DC9 at Night blog. The author blasted the band for not having enough stage presence and not connecting with the audience. Admittedly, the band is pretty much the antithesis of flashy, but that would really not fit the Bucks. The King Bucks play simple, old school country: nothing more, nothing less. And if real country is what you're looking for, you'll be hard pressed to find a better option than the Bucks. And as for not connecting with the audience, Chad Stockslagger's banter alone shoots down any arguments that the band cannot connect with its audience. And the songs definitely connect with the audience, and really, isn't that what it's about?
Bronze Whaler/The Virgin Wolves/Binary Sunrise (Hailey's)
Tweed EQ/Bigelow Station/The Roomsounds (City Tavern)
Dead Rider/Nervous Curtains/Pinkish Black (Double-Wide)
Too many good shows, not enough time to discuss them. What a wonderful problem to have.

Ghost of Blind Lemon Radio Playlist: 5/25/11

2011-05-27T07:53:00.004-05:00

Again, thanks to Ducado Vega and Bloodrich for hanging out with me and performing on the show. I'll get more show recommendations up later, but needless to say, their show at The Bone with The Kul, The Red 100's, and Gypsy Bravado is THE show of the weekend. Now, on with the playlist.

"Red Palomino", The Demigs
"Prepared", Jessie Frye
"New Disco", Stella Rose
"Eyes Get Bigger", Oil Boom
"Better by Design", John Lefler
"Buy You", Spookeasy
"Crawl", The Virgin Wolves
"Love Bomb", Rude King
"Flick the Moon at Mars", One Red Martian
"Daylight", El Cento
"No, MY Generation", Kirby Brown
"Desperate Times", Old 97's
MUSICIAN SPOTLIGHT: Tim Locke
"Indian Melody", Calhoun
"These Are the Dead Days", Calhoun
"Coma Rally", Coma Rally
"Tearing up the Road", Grand Street Cryers
IN STUDIO PERFORMANCE: Ducado Vega & Bloodrich
"sEVEN"
"Love/Hate"
"Hella"
"Set Me Free", The Red 100's
"Time for a Change", The O's
"Labor of Love", Smile Smile
"Ellie", Scott Riegel
"Hush", Anna Thomas
"Two Words", Taylor Marie
"Will You Be There", Pale Horse

And if you'd like me to play your songs on my Deep Ellum Radio show, send some mp3s to ghost@deepellumradio.com and if I like what I hear, I'll play it.

Ghost of Blind Lemon Radio: 5/17/11

2011-05-17T21:32:00.004-05:00

Alright, so I'm quite a bit late in posting this playlist. Better late than never, right? Besides, now's a perfect time to remind you to listen to tomorrow's show on deepellumradio from 6-8 pm CST. I'll be joined by special guests Nick Metzger (manager of The Orange), along with Scott Tucker and Cody Waits of The Orange. Speaking of that band, I'll be doing a live broadcast from Curtain Club Friday night for The Orange's show. Come hang.

And before I digress any further, here's the playlist.

"So, Within", Seryn
"Open the Night", One Red Martian
"I'm Immune", Chris Holt
"Eyes Get Bigger", Oil Boom
"Allison", The Burning Hotels
"Get It on the Floor", LehtMoJoe
"Hey Jane", Bravo, Max!
"Heart's on Fire", The Marfalites
"I Know a Thing or Two (About You)", Tweed EQ
"If It Never Gets Better", Taylor Davis
"Billy Prichard", Slobberbone
MUSICIAN SPOTLIGHT: Robert Anderson
"The Fall Fashions", The Deathray Davies
"Accomplice", Nervous Curtains
"Wired to Make Waves", Nervous Curtains
"Prepared", Jessie Frye
"Gusto", The Demigs
"Shake Your Dandelion", Ishi
"Daylight", El Cento
"Geek", The Crazy Ivans
"Turn on Your Radio", THe BAcksliders
"to the 9's", hormones
"Fake Museum", Raised by Tigers
"Like a Charm", Here Holy Spain
"New Disco", Stella Rose
"Set Me Free", The Red 100's
"Paper Girl", Katie Carroll
"Tryin' to Have a Good Time", The O's
"Bridges", Sorta
"Schoolboy", Kirby Brown

Weekend Plans: 5/13/11

2011-05-13T16:47:00.004-05:00

While Friday the 13th is in theory supposed to be an unlucky day, this weekend seems to be very lucky for fans of local music. There are an abundance of good shows this weekend, more so than unusual. The only unlucky part is that you can't be in more than one place at a time. I'd need at least three of me to reasonably cover all this good music.

And while I eventually will start giving more commentary on my weekend recommendations, today will not be that day.

FRIDAY:
RTB2/THe BAcksliders/The Demigs (Dan's Silverleaf)

Emmeline (Roots Coffeehouse)

The Orbans/Quaker City Nighthawks/Fate Lions (Magnolia Green Park)

Jessie Frye/Salim Nourallah & Chris Holt/Manned Missiles (LaGrange)

Rahim Quazi/Mora Collective/Mi Prospero (Opening Bell Coffee)

Dallahachie Boys/The Marfalites/The Driftin' Outlaw Band (The Bone)

The Boom Boom Box/Garbaj Kaetz/Darktown Strutters/Unconscious Collective (Pastime Tavern)

SATURDAY:
HOMEGROWN FEST (Just click on the link for all the important info)

The Beaten Sea/Oil Boom/Dovetail (Kessler Theater)

Garrett Owen/Jaimee Harris/Tiger Darrow/Matthew Bridgman (Opening Bell Coffee)

North of Autumn (Lochrann's)

Binary Sunrise/L.A.X./Nervous Curtains/New Fumes (Club Dada)

I feel certain that I've omitted a show of significance. Show me the error of my ways in the comments section.

Homegrown Fest '11 Tickets

2011-05-09T08:15:00.003-05:00

One of the biggest local shows of last year had to be Homegrown Fest, and this year's lineup is only going to be bigger. For details on the lineup, check out the Homegrown Fest website. You can also purchase tickets at the site for the big show Saturday. Of course, if you'd rather not pay, that can be arranged too.

Josh Florence, one of the founders of the event, was kind enough to give me two pairs of tickets to the show on Saturday that features Neon Indian as the headliner. Before Alan Palamino started Neon Indian, or even Vega, he had a project in 2008 that released a single called "Parking Lot Nights". I'm even letting you listen to the track below. But here's my question: what was the name of that group that performed "Parking Lot Nights"? The first person to send an email to ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com with the name of that band in the subject line of the email wins the tickets. It's that simple.

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If you don't win the tickets today, fear not: I will be giving away the second pair of tickets on the Ghost of Blind Lemon Radio Show on Deep Ellum Radio this Wednesday night 6-8 pm. But of course you were already planning on listening, weren't you?

Weekend Plans: 5/6/11

2011-05-06T15:53:00.002-05:00

Lotta good shows to talk about, not a lot of time for me to talk before heading downtown. So here's the basics.

FRIDAY
Dead Beat Poetry/The Roomsounds/Scott Tucker/Joe Hardy (Liquid Lounge)
If the above video doesn't convince you to come, I don't know what would. Except maybe the knowledge that I'll be broadcasting live from the Curtain Club patio with deepellumradio. Yes, I'm biased, but that's beside the point. It's still the show to be at tonight.
Dovetail/Quaker City Nighthawks/The Misteries (Double-Wide)
The Prospect Before Us, Spookeasy, Sealion, Leading Story, Rammit, Jacob Chaney (The Prophet Bar)
The folks from Spookeasy swear that Sealion is an amazing band. Don't know if they're right or not, but either way Spookeasy is worth the price of admission.
Tony Scalvo/Salim Nourallah/Kristy Kruger (Club Dada)
Mr. Scalvo from Fastball headlines, but in my book, Mr. Nourallah and Ms. Kruger will steal the show.
Jessie Frye/Tiger Darrow/Bravo, Max! (Dan's Silverleaf)
This is Ms. Frye's Denton CD release show. Solid lineup all the way through.
Tweed EQ/Disposable Music/Bass Drum (The Crown and Harp)
The owners of The Cavern hinted that music shows would be fewer and fewer after the change of names happened. And yet this lineup, featuring blues-rockers Tweed EQ and Disposable Music (featuring members of Happy Bullets), is stronger than most of the shows last year at Cavern. Go figure.

SATURDAY
Here Holy Spain/Broken Gold/Record Hop/Orange Peel Sunshine (Club Dada)
If you prefer RAWK to rock music, then this is your show. It'll be loud, in your face, and musical greatness. By the way, I haven't raved near enough about HHS's latest effort, Division.
Lolaspalooza (Lola's)
Pretty much any one single band on the indoors stage is worth the price of admission alone. Together, it's gonna make for a great night. Go to Lola's website for times and stuff.

Weekend Plans: 4/29/11

2011-04-29T16:12:00.006-05:00

I'm writing this mere minutes before I head out for the night, so forgive the brief commentary. I'm sure I'll forget a really important show, so feel free to point out any significant omissions in the comments section.

And now, the shows...

FRIDAY:
THe BAcksliders/RTB2 (Double-Wide)
Not only is this a CD release show for THe BAcksliders, but they're also recording a live CD tonight. Maybe if you shout loud enough, you'll hear yourself on the record.
Human Groove Hormone/Immigrant Punk/Paul Chrisopher Yanez/Emmeline/Suzanne KimBrell/Jennifer Bean/Audacious/Karyna Cruz/Backwater Opera/Mark Brant/Sonya Jevette (Lakewood Bar & Grill)
Check out my last blog entry for my thoughts and such.
Tweed EQ/Sir Silky (Fallout Lounge)
I hope Tweed EQ's CD release show doesn't get overlooked, considering that THe BAcksliders are playing down the street. Their album Second Tour is full of plenty of bluesy riffs and classic rock revivalism. As for Sir Silky, he'll certainly bring the party to the show.
Smile Smile (The Belmont)
Word is that the duo is working on material for album number three. You'll probably get to hear some of the new tunes tonight.
The Roomsounds, Van Darien, Pale Horse, Griffin Schmucker, Gypsy Bravado, Playtime Rabbit (The Prophet Bar)
I don't even have time to start talking about how much talent is on this lineup.

SATURDAY:
The Phuss/THe BAcksliders/The Demigs (Lola's)
THe BAcksliders bring their CD release party to Ft. Worth. Openers The Demigs had their CD release show at Dada recently, and so say it sounded tight would be an understatement. Fans of Pixies and Pavement, get their early so you don't miss them.
Pastime Tavern's 74th Anniversary Party
Highlights will include Luna Matto, Here Holy Spain, and Flowers of God (most likely sans Sarah Jaffe).
The Marfalites/These Mad Dogs of Glory (LaGrange)
Are the Marfalites the best country act in Dallas? Maybe. Are they Dallas' best kept secret in country music? Undoubtedly.
The Broadsiders/Rude King/Dog Company/Letters to Voltron (Liquid Lounge)
For those who listened to my radio show Wednesday, you heard me say that I'm usually not a ska fan. You then heard me bust out local ska band Rude King's "Love Bomb". Why? Because I am ALWAYS a fan of a good catchy song. From what I've heard, Rude King has plenty of those.
Rahim Quazi/Ryil Dylan (Claypit Restaurant)
Note to Rahim fans: Rahim will NOT be playing his usual hook-filled singer-songwriter material. Instead, he's busting out some Indian music. Fans of Mr. Quazi may be curious to see him branch out into this different musical direction.

My Apologies to Emmeline... and Trevor

2011-04-29T07:46:00.002-05:00

On my deepellumradio shows, I tend to focus almost exclusively on trying to promote shows specifically within the Deep Ellum neighborhood. After all, that is one of the primary focuses of the station: to support music and venues in that neighborhood. Unfortunately, that may mean many worthy concerts do not get mentioned on my show.

Right before my most recent show aired, musician (and friend) Emmeline asked if I'd made a mention of her show Friday. I felt like a real idiot, because I had not. Granted, the show takes place at Lakewood Bar & Grill, clearly outside of the Deep Ellum proper area. But still, I was quite upset about my omission.

Why is that? Sure, Emmeline is one of the best singer-songwriters within the area, but the issue goes deeper than that. The bill also features Suzanne Kimbrell and Karyna Cruz, two singer-songwriters that have piqued my curiousity as of late (I still have not seen either play live yet). No, this goes beyond any mere performer (or group of performers for that matter).

All the proceeds of this show go to The Trevor Project, and if you are not familiar with the group, I urge you to check that website out immediately. And while I usually refrain from any commentary about social issues on the site, I feel compelled to comment here. This is a cause that in my opinion goes beyond one's sexual preference. This is an issue of a person's right to not be bullied. And yes, I consider that a right. It is an individual's right to not be harassed whether because of their race, religion, sexual preference, or any other fathomable issue.

Yes, there are MANY fabulous shows tonight, and I will address them later this afternoon. But I felt this one deserved a little extra attention, as it is for a good cause. In fact, make that a critically important cause.

Ghost of Blind Lemon Radio: 4/27/11

2011-04-28T18:28:00.004-05:00

For those who have been faithfully listening to my radio show on deepellumradio, I give you my sincere thanks. To those who have not been listening, I hope to convince to start listening every Wednesday 6-8 pm CST. Perhaps if you see the fine musical selections that you're missing out on, that will convince you to turn up your computer speakers and give me a listen. So without further ado, here's this week's playlist.

"Underground", Kirby Brown
"Hotel Denalian", Bravo, Max!
"Missing Funerals", Salim Nourallah
"Hands Where Words Cannot Go", RTB2
"City of Hate", Toadies
"Carney's Lake", W.A. Fite
"Save Your Breath", Camille Cortinas
"Chasing Corporate", Air Review
"Justify or Explain", Tweed EQ
"Man with the Crooked Crown", Nicholas Altobellit
"You're No Good", Pale Horse
"Burn It Down", Here Holy Spain
"Tropicall", Soviet
MUSICIAN SPOTLIGHT: Kim Bonner
"Holy Water", Princess Tex
"Holiday", Vibrolux
"Potential Future Selves", THe BAcksliders
"Turn on Your Radio", THe BAcksliders
"sEVEN", DuCADO Vega
"Parking Lot Nights", Ghosthustler
"Set Me Free", The Red 100's
"Love Bomb", Rude King
"Charmed", The Bright
"Eyes Get Bigger", Oil Boom
"Skull Eyes", True Widow
"Three", The Timeline Post
"Sins of the Fathers", Course of Empire
"Remember You", The O's
"Pawn Shop Special", The Marfalites
"Someone Else's Blues", Greg Schroeder

And for those who have been wondering, the Ghost of Blind Lemon theme (intro song) was created by Clay Pendergrass, and the outro song is an excerpt from Rahim Quazi's "Supernatural (Reprise).

Also, feel free to email me at ghost@deepellumradio.com with song requests, suggestions for the show, or if you have an mp3 you'd like me to play.

Edgefest 21: And Then There Were Ten...

2011-04-12T12:22:00.004-05:00

For the second year in a row, KDGE is giving local bands the opportunity to open up at Edgefest. Last week, twenty bands were selected, and fans had the opportunity to vote for their favorite band. The ten with the most votes moved on to round two this week. Voting for this round ends this Sunday at midnight, and the three acts with the greatest number of votes progress to the final round. Already, two favorites of mine (Luna Matto and Spookeasy) have been eliminated. There are still, however, several excellent choices remaining. Here is a look at my four favorite bands still competing (listed in alphabetical order), complete with a little summary on each band. I have also included my thoughts on how well each band would fit in at Edgefest.

DuCADO Vega
MY THOUGHTS: I was impressed with this band the first time I heard "Seven" on The Local Edge with Mark. The track is a fresh blend of electronica, funk, and rock that is not like anything else in the metroplex area. While the song is good, you cannot fully understand and appreciate the band without experiencing their live performance. The live show is much more raw and funky, sure to get any audience on its feet. Fans of Prince and old school Lenny Kravitz are sure to love this act.
FITTING IN AT EDGEFEST: There's certainly no comparable act to DuCADO Vega on this year's lineup. And traditionally, the station veers away from more dance oriented music. Using that same logic, Ishi should not have opened up for Edgefest last year (and they did). And while Ishi may make you want to dance, with DuCADO Vega you feel the NEED to dance. So if the kids still like to dance, they'll end up fitting right in and winning over a new crowd.

North of Autumn
MY THOUGHTS: The youngest band of the four selected, this group is surprisingly mature in their presentation and level of skill. The one time I saw them play, not only was the performance tight, it was complete with a full light show, making it more an experience than a mere performance. The crowd seemed to be in full enthusiastic agreement with me. While the band's sound may be a little poppier than might please the die hard indie hipster crowd, for fans more concerned with catchy melodies than being trendy, North of Autumn will more than do the job.
FITTING IN AT EDGEFEST: The sound is certainly lighter than the majority of the lineup. NoA definitely would be a more natural fit for Coldplay for even The Fray than Jane's Addiction or Social D. Still, their melodic rock would certainly make a lovely way to start out the fest.

Pale Horse
MY THOUGHTS: Wow, here I am yet again having to come up with new things to say about this band. Let's start with the fact that "You're No Good" was my favorite song of last year, and that I named the band as one of the best live acts in the metroplex. The level at which I love this band is hardly a secret. They've been working on new material, posting new tracks on their bandcamp for free. I don't know if these tracks will get the full band treatment eventually, but they certainly take the band in an even darker and heavier direction. But Pale Horse has never shied away from heavy or controversial topics. Now is no exception.
FITTING IN AT EDGEFEST: Of the four bands selected, this one would probably be the most obvious fit at Edgefest. The band's lyrically intimate style is sure to bring comparisons to Edgefest favorite Blue October, although their style comes closer to a modern version of The Band than Blue October. Simply put, this is classic rock for another generation, and I think that will go over very well at Edgefest.

Smile Smile
MY THOUGHTS: I've always liked Smile Smile, but the release of Truth on Tape gave me a new respect for the band. The album is one of the best heartbreak CDs ever to emerge from the area. The topic came naturally to the band, as the music was being written as the duo was going through a very rough and public breakup. One might think that such a breakup might mean the end of the band, but Smile Smile has managed to make their personal problems work for them. Much of the on stage banter even revolves around their past. As for the melodies, mix equal parts heartbreak with pop piano hooks, and that's the Cliff Notes version of what Smile Smile is.
FITTING IN AT EDGEFEST: Like North of Autumn, the band's sound is considerably lighter than the rest of the bands. However, between the band's banter and excellent songs, the band should do fine. Also, the band will likely win brownie points with the Edgefest crowd with their cover of Blink 182's "Dammit", which as far as I'm concerned is light years superior to the original.

Now that you know a little about these bands, that leaves you one thing to do: VOTE! You can vote once per day until the deadline this Sunday at Midnight. I realize that I selected four bands, and at most three could make it thru. Still, let's at least get one of these acts on the Edgefest lineup.

Album Review: The Red 100's, Live off the Floor

2011-04-07T13:32:00.005-05:00

I'm keeping this album review short and sweet for two reasons. One is that the album itself is quite short. Clocking in at less than twenty minutes with only ~~four~~ six tracks, this EP is but a small taste of what The Red 100's have to offer. My second reason is that to overanalyze such an album defeats the purpose of the band's music. Their songs do not exist for the purpose of intellectual analysis and detailed discussion of melodic content. The songs on the album are raw and visceral, meant to be experienced from a gut level. "Bellhop Swing" and "Set Me Free" are high octane songs that energize the soul as only rock and roll can. So when listening to Live off the Floor, do not sit in your chair and think about the music. Crank up your stereo, and play air guitar and pretend that you can be a guitar wizard like the band's own Robbie D. Love. And trust me, you'll be pretending, because I feel safe in saying that your guitar skills are NOWHERE near his.

The band's CD release show is tomorrow at Curtain Club. The Virgin Wolves, DuCADO Vega, The Effinays, and The 1969's round out the bill. I will be broadcasting live that evening with deepellumradio from the Curtain Club patio.

Also, don't forget to go to The Red 100's bandcamp page to get the EP.

THe BAcksliders from Dallas, Texas

2011-04-05T16:13:00.008-05:00

The title of this post is more than the obvious declaration of the band's hometown. It is also the name of the band's latest album. The release date of the album is April 19th, but you're in for a treat. The members of the band have given me permission to stream the new album, THe BAcksliders from Dallas, Texas, on the website until the album is released.

This album marks the debut of the band as a five piece. Kim Bonner remains as the main vocalist, and Chris continues to shred on lead guitar, as well as singing lead from time to time. Jason Bonner returns to the band on bass, and Earl Darling and Nathan Adamson round out the lineup with drums and keyboards respectively. And while not a member, Ryan Thomas Becker lends his skills on guitar on the track "I Don't Feel It Anymore".

With the new lineup comes a little of a change of sound. The band's sound is a little less heavy this time, and there's a more apparent power-pop influence than ever before. "Talk to My Heart", released last year, is a perfect example of that poppier sound found on this CD. THe BAcksliders from Dallas, Texas also features many slower tunes, such as "You Got Something", and the lead single from the album, "Turn on Your Radio". That track, while it may seem like an unlikely choice for a single, is one of the most beautifully captivating songs that the band has ever put out. A large piece of the credit must go to Kim Bonner, whose vocals are equal parts haunting and soulful.

And for those who might be fearing that the band could have lost its edge, one listen to "Regular Nights" or "Getaway Driver" shows that the band's devotion to the legacy of rock and roll has not wavered one bit.

But enough of me talking about the album. ~~Listen for yourself below~~. Okay, free preview time is over. Time to go buy the album on iTunes. Or better yet, come out to Double-Wide on April 29th for their CD release show. You get a free copy of the CD with your paid admission to the venue.

How to Spend Your Wednesday Night

2011-03-16T12:38:00.002-05:00

I know Wednesdays are generally not regarded as being much of a night for doing something fun. Well, I have some suggestions on how to make this Wednesday evening a lot more fun.

First of all, start the evening off at 6 pm CST with the Ghost of Blind Lemon radio show on Deep Ellum Radio. For two full hours, the folks at Deep Ellum Radio are letting me (yet again) take the musical reins. I've got plenty of new music for you to listen to, including new tunes from The Virgin Wolves, Greg Schroeder, Tweed EQ, just to name a few. I'm also featuring Ryan Thomas Becker in this week's edition of Musician Spotlight. And if you're wanting more good internet radio, Chelsea Callahan's This Is Texas Radio Show comes on directly after me. Her guest for the evening will be Mark Pirro (Tripping Daisy, The Polyphonic Spree).

If you're wanting to get out, I've got a killer show for you to check out. Rahim Quazi and Luna Matto will both perform at Barley House, with LA band Goldenboy sandwiched in between the two. I normally don't like to talk too much about non-local bands in this blog, but Goldenboy is so incredible they're worth making the exception. Fans of dreamy pop a la Crowded House will certainly find this band worth checking out. In fact, Neil Finn of Crowded House performed on the band's 2006 album, Underneath the Radio. Speaking of impressive cameos and Goldenboy, Elliott Smith sang on their 2003 track "Summertime". The band's new album, Sleepwalker, features plenty of slow, gorgeous tunes, most notably the almost perfect title track. And with this being a Barley House show, you get all three acts absolutely free of charge.

Hey, it beats staying home and watching TV.

Weekend Plans: 3/11/11

2011-03-11T16:53:00.002-06:00

I don't do these show updates often enough, but I felt like I needed to do this tonight, particularly after noticing what I feel is a VERY significant omission in the DC9 at Night list. But I'll go ahead and recap all the major local music options this weekend, except for what's going on with the 35 Conferette. Because listing all the worthy show options for that festival would just take way too long.

FRIDAY
Slobberbone/Whiskey Folk Ramblers/The O's (Sons of Hermann Hall)
It's good to see Slobberbone doing more and more shows as of late, and they'd be hard pressed to find two better opening acts.
Grant Jones & The Pistol Grip Lassos (Tradewinds Social Club)
It seems as if Tradewinds is coming back to life with more shows lately. I'm citing this show as piece of evidence number one to support that argument.
ADd+, Damaged Good$, Mohicans, Killa MC, G. Bailey, Tunk (Club Dada)
Club Dada certainly has taken a stronger interest in local hip-hop under its new ownership. While I can't speak for most of the acts on here, I will say that Mohicans shared a quite catchy mp3 with the DC9 at Night blog, and Damaged Good$ are one of Dallas' finest and most energetic hip-hop acts.
Anna Thomas (Crossroads Winery)
Anna rarely performs outside of the Frisco/McKinney area, and tonight's venue is no exception. Still, her music is worth the drive up north.

SATURDAY
Toadies/Ume/True Widow/Ishi/Here Holy Spain (Greenville St. Patrick's Day Parade)
I've found myself listening to Here Holy Spain's latest CD, Division, even more frequently than I expected to. Their set is admittedly quite early (12:30 pm to be precise), but it's worth getting up early to see. Ishi, with their quirky indie dance pop, seems to be odd band out on this loud and heavy lineup. Frankly, I think that they should have been slotted in the middle slot as sort of a mood lightening musical intermission, but that's just my opinion. As for the others, I don't know Ume, but True Widow has never done less than take my breath away, and it's near impossible to go wrong with Toadies.
Dove Hunter/The Cush (Lola's)
When Dove Hunter broke up last year, they did so with no hoopla or major farewell show. Appropriately enough, their reforming of Dove Hunter has gone equally underneath the radar of most local music fans. Here's hoping that they continue with more shows and make their presence known as strongly as it was several years ago.
The King Bucks (Adair's)
It's The King Bucks at Adair's. If you've seen them there, then enough said. If not, then do yourself a favor and catch one of their many shows there. This Saturday night would be a good time for that.
Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights, Taddy Porter, The Happen-Ins
The band is touring more and more nowadays, so take any opportunity you can to see them live. Expect this to be an even more festive than usual set, as this is the unofficial after St. Patrick's Day Parade party.
Rahim Quazi & The Supernaturals (Jack's Backyard)
The show is also a fundraiser for Family Place, so not only do you get some great music, you're helping out a worthy charity.
Opening Bell 8 Year Anniversary Party
Earlier, I made reference to what I felt was a major omission in the DC9 at Night weekend show listings. Sure, there are many worthy shows that can be overlooked. Usually, I'll let that sort of thing slide. This show, however, I feel is not a small oversight but a glaring omission. First of all, I dare anyone to name a venue that has done more for the acoustic singer songwriter genre than OBC. Acknowledging the venue's contributions to the music community is reason enough for a mention. And that's without discussing a single performer. Now click here and scroll down until you see the amazing over the top lineup for tonight's showcase. It's hard to single out a best performer on the lineup, but I will mention that Summer Ames, Becky Middleton, Rahim Quazi, Emily Elbert, Phoenix Hart, Kerri Arista, and Smile Smile are some of the most appealing performers on the lineup. Any one of those artists would be worth seeing alone. And let's not forget Sara Donaldson, who I do not believe has performed in Dallas since 2008. Oh, and there's even cake. Can't have a party without cake, right? Seriously though, come out, enjoy some wonderful music, and say Hi to OBC owner Pascale Hall and thank her for eight incredible years of beautiful music, and let's keep this venue going strong!

Radio Show Playlist: 3/9/11

2011-03-10T14:07:00.002-06:00

First of all, thanks to all who listened to last night's deepellumradio show. I'm sorry that the show was an hour late starting, but from this point on, the show should regularly air every Wednesday at 6 p.m. CST. And for those who missed the show, I'm posting the playlist so you can see what you missed.

"Crawl", The Virgin Wolves
"Evil on the Highway", Dove Hunter
"Hey Jane", Bravo, Max!
"Buy You", Spookeasy
"Caldera", The Timeline Post
"You Pressed the Crash Button", Novaak
"Girl from the City", The King Bucks
"Unfold", Kerri Arista
"Save Me", Hares on the Mountain
"Supernatural", Rahim Quazi
"With You I'll Travel", Menkena
MUSICIAN SPOTLIGHT: Taylor Young
"2828", Hi-Fi Drowning
"Fat Girls", THe BAcksliders
"California", The O's
"Remember You", The O's
"Like a Charm", Here Holy Spain
"Burning Pictures", The Monco Poncho
"If It Never Gets Better", Taylor Davis
"Throw Me Overboard", The Hope Trust
"At the Switch", Air Review
"So, Within", Seryn
"Capture", Summer Ames
"Wimbledon", Soviet
"Red Palomino", The Demigs
"Queen of Hearts", Hmm
"Echo and the Pass", Hendrick

Local Edge Playlist: 3/6/11

2011-03-07T00:25:00.005-06:00

Tonight's episode featured (almost) exclusively artists playing the 35 Conferette. The one exception was the in studio performance and interview from People on Vacation. I could've sworn that they were on the lineup. Either the lineup has changed or I was mistaken. Speaking of which, if you want to see these bands at the festival, check the website for info on times/clubs/etc.

"Throw Me Overboard", The Hope Trust
"All Because You're Mine", Air Review
"Dog's Light", Bravo, Max!
IN STUDIO: PEOPLE ON VACATION
"Rainy Day"
"Because of the Sun"
"Back to Being Friends"
"Alyson Revere", Fishboy
"Battle Rock 24/7", Man Factory
"Goon", RTB2
"Forever Today", Soviet
"Prepared", Jessie Frye
"2012", Cocky Americans
"Icing", Roy Robertson

New Artist Spotlight: Arielle

2011-03-04T08:11:00.003-06:00

It seems as if each year, a new female singer-songwriter comes along and plays a major part in defining the music of that given year. In 2009, I discovered the music of Iris Leu. Last year, it was the music of Emmeline that captured my eardrums. 2011 may not even be a quarter of the way done, but I think I've found my pick for the year. Like Emmeline, she too goes simply by her first name: Arielle. She first came to my attention thanks to John Keener at Lakewood Bar & Grill, who strongly recommended her music. It's also worth noting that he's the one who turned me on to Emmeline, suggesting that he has quite an ear for discovering talent.

Below I've included two videos that help spotlight her talent. The first one is her cover of Outkast's "Hey Ya!", and as suggested by the video, she plays all the different instruments. The video also allows for a bit of her personality to shine through, and simply have a little fun with the song

(In case you want to see more of her videos, or if the page cuts off the video as it probably will, you can click here to see all her videos.)

I also wanted to share one of her own songs entitled "Icarus". This particular video gotten repeated views for me. Arielle's vocal skills are nicely displayed here, simultaneously showing both a vocal strength and emotionally vulnerability.

Arielle performs tonight at Lakewood Bar & Grill at 8 pm. I will be catching her set; I highly recommend that you do the same.

A Few Updates

2011-03-01T12:23:00.003-06:00

I've got a lot to share today, so listen up...

I've been wanting to share this poster with you for awhile. It was designed by Cory Jensen, who also does a nice little blog called Dusted Juke. Unfortunately, there is one change that needs to be made to the poster. Sadly to say, Menkena will NOT be able to play the show this Thursday at Lochrann's. Secret Cities from North Dakota will play instead, and Doug Burr will still headline the show. Needless to say, the show's still gonna be great, and I hope to see all my readers at Lochrann's this Thursday.

You've probably noticed I've been raving a lot about the upcoming Calhoun CD Heavy Sugar. It appears I'm not the only one severely impressed by their most recent effort. Erv Kerwalis of Idol Records has just now added Calhoun to their roster. The CD is scheduled for release on May 17th. This album meshes a certain amount of the edgier style of Falter.Waiver.Cultivate with the pop hooks more frequently associated with Tim Locke's work. The result? In the past 15 years or so that Mr. Locke has been making music, this is his finest work to date. Big claim? Yes. Does the music back up the claim? Absolutely.

The DC9 at Night blog just published a write up on Chad Lovell, the man behind deepellumradio, among other things. I would encourage you to click here to read the article. And yes, there will be more of my shows on the station, so keep an eye (or ear) out for that.

I'm working on some more stories/showcases/radio shows/insane ideas, so keep checking in. You never know what you might find.

Local Edge Playlist: 2/27/11

2011-02-28T00:01:00.002-06:00

I first came up with the idea of posting the playlists from The Local Edge because its host Mark had gotten severely behind on posting the playlists at KDGE. That's what made me decide to post them on the blog. Well, as you've probably noticed, I'm the one who's behind on posting. I'm not going to bother with the ones I've missed, as those can be obtained on the KDGE website. But I'll bet this one isn't up there yet, so enjoy.

Oh, and speaking of cool radio shows, be on the lookout for more shows from yours truly on deepellumradio.

"Marnie", Novaak
"Dog's Light", Bravo, Max!
"Citizen", El Cento
IN STUDIO: JESSIE FRYE
"Fortune Teller"
"Prepared"
"Like a Light"
"Alyson Revere", Fishboy
"Save Me", Hares on the Mountain
"Via Matilda", Spookeasy
"Mad", The Missile Men
"My Niagra Heart", Spooky Folk

lower case words and cool videos

2011-02-16T16:20:00.002-06:00

yes, it's been awhile since my last post. i've missed several lucky 13 playlists, as well as recaps of mark's local edge show. the past week has had plenty of ups and downs on a personal level, and more of the latter unfortunately. the good news? things are finally on an upswing, which should alleviate a certain amount of stress and allow me a better frame of mind for writing.

but enough about that. let me answer the other question on your mind right now. why is this post done in all lower case? this is a tribute to the band called hormones. not hormones with a capital h, but a lower case h. in fact, i believe all their song titles are strictly lower case. normally, i'm not a fan of punctuation that goes against grammatical rules, but for hormones, i'll make an exception. their tune "to the 9's" is a song that with its somewhat erratic rhythm and high energy makes for an extremely interesting listen.

the video to the song, although fairly simplistic in execution, has a very cool look to it, particularly the paint scenes. the video is directed by the luu brothers, who were also responsible for cocky american's video for "romance tried to kill me". i've posted the video below, but since it's shot in hd, the full screen version cannot be fully appreciated on this site at the time. if you click here, it will take you to the band's youtube page.

Last Minute GOBL Showcase

2011-02-09T23:53:00.004-06:00

Recently, J.R. Denson came to me and asked me to help him recruit some opening acts for his City Tavern show this Friday. I did, and in return, he allowed me the privilege of putting the Ghost of Blind Lemon name on the lineup. And while these new additions to his show may have been last minute, this is still a first rate lineup.

Opening the show is local music legend Mike Graff, formerly of Course of Empire. I got the opportunity to see him open for Menkena's CD release show, and while I figured he'd be good based on his reputation, I was not expecting songs so catchy. He'll be playing what he refers to as his "boogie rock" songs, which feels strongly reminiscent of 70's period Lou Reed/David Bowie/Rolling Stones. Fans of that period should run, not walk, over to City Tavern by 10 to catch his set.

Next on the lineup is Tweed EQ, one of last year's nominees for Best Blues Act in last year's Dallas Observer Music Awards. While blues purists may disagree with the label of blues for the band, there's no denying that there's a hefty dose of blues in their style of gritty rock music. For those who listen to The Local Edge with Mark (which if you're not, you NEED to start doing so this Sunday), you've probably heard one of their newer songs, "I Know a Thing or Two About You". I've been hearing the track for the past few weeks, and it's always one of the highlights of Mark's show. Tweed EQ should hit the stage at about 11.

That, of course, leaves Pale Horse in the headlining slot. I'm not sure what to say that I haven't already. I'll just refer you to their ReverbNation page, filled with GOBL quotes, and remind you that "You're No Good" was my favorite local music track of 2011. Also, it's worth mentioning that the band is working on their next EP, and you'll most likely hear some of the new tracks Friday when they take the spotlight around midnight.

I know this is short notice, but I hope that you can make the necessary adjustments in your schedule to attend this show. You'll be glad you did.

Weekend Plans: Superbowl Edition

2011-02-04T15:30:00.006-06:00

What a strange week this has been. To say that the weather has been bad is definitely an understatement. This has put a damper on a number of pre-Super Bowl activities, and a few have even been cancelled. Fortunately, the weather is starting to warm up a little, which will allow you to get out to a show or two. There's plenty of big name acts here in town. But for those of you who don't have $1,000 or so to see Prince at the old Reunion Arena parking lot, there are some much cheaper options for local talent.

NOTE: Shows are being cancelled as we speak due to weather. I'd encourage you to check with the venue before heading out tonight.

FRIDAY:
Seryn/Monahans/Sam Robertson (Dan’s Silverleaf)
I've only gotten to see an acoustic Seryn performance, but that itself was one of the most remarkable shows I saw last year. The band will celebrate the release of This Is Where We Are, a collection of songs filled with soaring melodies and near perfect harmonies. Dan's Silverleaf is the perfect venue for a more quiet and introspective band such as Seryn.
Ishi/Cocky Americans/DJ Redsean (The Cavern)
Expect to see fewer and fewer shows at The Cavern, as the venue is shifting is focus away from live music. But tonight's show will be a big one. The only question is how the venue will be able to handle a band as popular as Ishi.
~~Binary Sunrise/George Quartz/Sir Name (Double-Wide)~~

This show has just been cancelled (I didn't want to strike thru the portion below. The show is off, but my opinion of Binary Sunrise remains the same).
While I do like Ishi, Binary Sunrise has always been my favorite dance band in Dallas. Their style leans more towards new wave, but think less Depeche Mode and New Order and more Gary Numan and even Kraftwerk.
~~Rahim Quazi & The Supernaturals (Jack’s Backyard)~~
~~If you missed Mr. Quazi's performance at my Dada showcase, here's your chance to redeem yourself. This time, he'll be backed by a full band.~~ The show has unfortunately been cancelled, although Jack's itself will be open tonight.
Sayonara/Another Year Colder/The Demigods/The Crazy Ivans (Liquid Lounge)
Ducado VeGA turned me on to the music of The Demigods, and I was quite impressed, and The Crazy Ivans definitely put on an energetic set. This is one of the better Liquid Lounge lineups that the venue has had in quite awhile.

SATURDAY:
Seryn/Monahans/The Cush (Club Dada)
Same info as the Dan's Silverleaf show, except in place of Seryn, local shoegaze group The Cush replace Sam Robertson. It's been a few years since I've seen The Cush, but fans of shoegaze will definitely want to get to Dada early to catch them.
Summer Ames/David Ramirez (Opening Bell Coffee)
Summer seems to be quite the appropriate name for this young lady, as her songs seem to glow like rays of sunshine. Even more melancholy tunes like "Capture" have such a beauty that it lifts the mood of the listener. Her joy is so infectious that Kirtland Records has signed her. Also on the bill is Dallas turned Austin singer-songwriter David Ramirez, one of my big favorites from Austin.
Goodnight Ned (The Cavern)
Here's another Cavern show, featuring GOBL showcase alumni Goodnight Ned. Fans of Bravo, Max! will definitely want to check this band out.

And of course, if I've forgotten any LOCAL shows worth mentioning, post them in the comments section. And no, Prince and Black Eyed Peas do NOT count as local.

Snow Days

2011-02-03T14:36:00.004-06:00

So, is anyone else getting cabin fever here? I certainly am. I haven't left the house in three days, and I'm not digging this. As a result, I have not recorded another radio show with deepellumradio as of yet. Rest assured, there will be another episode. When it is done, I will let everyone know.

In the meantime, I have a few songs for you to get you through this wintery weather. And believe it or not, they both share the same name: "Snow Day". What are the odds of two local songs sharing that name? The first of the two Snow Days comes from Calhoun's upcoming release, Heavy Sugar. I've said this before, I'll say it again: this is Calhoun's best work to date. Go ahead and take a listen to the song below:

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The second Snow Day comes from a Denton singer-songwriter by the name of Karyna Cruz. Her songs are more piano based and in a similar vain to that of Emmeline (but not as depressing of lyrics). In fact, I believe I discovered her music through Emmeline. Karyna will be performing tonight at Opening Bell Coffee, and I have no doubt she'll play this song. If you like the song, I believe it's still available as a free download thru her website. Here's a video of her performing that song last October at Cafe de Lux in Denton.

Hope these songs help put you in a better mood and better able to combat the cabin fever.

UPDATE: Karyna's Opening Bell show is NOT happening tonight. You'll just have to enjoy the video tonight instead.

The Lucky Thirteen: 1/31/11

2011-01-31T13:19:00.003-06:00

As I'm sure most of you, this past week I recorded my first show for deepellumradio, the first of what I hope to be many to come. With that, however, brings a question: what should become of the Lucky Thirteen? Should I just repeat the same songs here? Is it redundant to have a playlist and a radio show? I have not yet come up with answers for those questions. I guess you could say I'm at a creative crossroads of sorts with the Lucky Thirteen. So I've decided to do what many musicians do when they're needing to put out an album but not sure what to do: release a best of retrospective type deal. I've selected thirteen tracks that, for whatever reason, have been significant musical points in past playlists. I don't know if this is goodbye to the Lucky Thirteen, but it seems a good time for reflection.
And whether or not the Lucky Thirteen continues, I encourage artists to send their mp3's to ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com for either these playlists or the radio show.

"Big Scar", Blackheart Society
April 20, 2008 was the date of the first Ghost of Blind Lemon playlist. I used the last.fm playlist widget. At that time, there was no flexibility with ordering songs on the playlist. All tracks were done in alphabetical order by artist. As a result, this made the Blackheart Society song the first track on the first playlist here.

"Supernatural", Rahim Quazi
The playlist has gone through many different formats and platforms: last.fm, MySpace, Hypster, and finally Grooveshark. I feel pretty safe in saying that this track has been used in each one of the formats, and just might have been featured on more playlists than any other song. "Supernatural" is a guaranteed mood picker-upper, and one of the most infectious tracks in recent local music memory.

"Red in the Morning", Menkena
I've been featuring this song on playlists since it was a demo on their MySpace page. It's finally seen a proper release this year, and all I can say is that it's about time.

"Jack Never Crashes", The Deathray Davies
I got into a bit of a rut last year, not even doing many Lucky Thirteens for a lengthy period. I finally revived the playlist with a theme very special to me: the early years of the 2000's. Although many people view that period the beginning of the decline of Deep Ellum, that was also when I became a true local music fan. Groups like Chomsky, Sugarbomb, OHNO, [DARYL], and of course The Deathray Davies created my obsession with local music. Sometimes getting in touch with your past really can help you move into the future.

"Everything Dies", Nicholas Altobelli
I've always been a big supporter of Mr. Altobelli, and I could have chosen many other tracks of his. What makes this one special, however, is the fact that he let me debut this track on my blog. He didn't debut it on Dallas Observer, The Local Edge with Mark, or with anyone else. This was the first time I'd ever gotten a chance to debut a song on the blog. As a result, this song will always be special to me.

"You're No Good", Pale Horse
This song fared rather well last year, considering that it made it to #1 on my year end countdown. Not too shabby, right?

"Virtue and Vice", The Virgin Wolves
As you know, one of my favorite things as a blogger is to discover new talent. This past June, I urged new and up and coming acts to email me their mp3's for a special Lucky Thirteen consisting only of acts new to me. This particular track became a big favorite of mine during last year, and it works really well when played as loud as possible. I also feel compelled to give props to Anna Thomas, who was featured on that same playlist, and was almost included on this Lucky Thirteen.

"Tryin' to Have a Good Time", The O's
The O's have definitely made it on several playlists. My first inclination was to feature "You've Got Your Heart", which came in at #2 on the 2009 year end countdown. I opted for this track instead. Some of that was because I wanted to spotlight their newer material. More than that, it's also because a GOBL fan was so excited over the inclusion of this song that she took a picture of the Grooveshark player and posted it as a Facebook profile pic. That alone is reason enough for it to make this "best of" edition.

"Paper Girl", Katie Carroll
The first time this song was included on a Lucky Thirteen, there was a slight misspelling of the title. Somehow the word "girl" was spelled as "bag". But just as a rose by any other name smells as swell, this song with any other title sounds just as sweet. Call it "Paper Girl", call it "Paper Bag", or just call it a good song. And that it is.

"Just Wanna Try", Luna Matto
I was already playing the living daylights out of this track back in the MySpace playlist days. When Luna finally sent me the new mp3s of what was to become Happy Isn't Real, I said on my Facebook account that receiving the tracks was like Christmas day for me.

"Echo and the Pass", Hendrick
This track not only was my favorite song of 2009, it's made my top 10 favorite songs of all time list. I don't mean a top 10 local tracks list; I mean top 10 songs ever. I can't explain the effect that this song has on me, but I can say that this song strikes a chord within me in a way that few songs do. If you haven't ever listened to the song before, please, do so now.

"sEVEN", Ducado VeGA
Earlier, I referred to this playlist as sort of a "greatest hits". Like many greatest hits compilations, I decided to slip in a brand new song. I want to save my comments for the next radio show, so I'll simply say that I feel Ducado VeGA will be a major player in the local music scene this year.

"Me Quedo en Blanco", Lauren Adelle with Colin Boyd
One of the big tricks on compilation albums is to feature one brand new song. Another trick, more often found in box sets, is to include an older never released song. Although this track charted on my top 40 podcast from last year, it never made it onto a single playlist. I always meant for her to be included, but for whatever reason, something always got in the way. Until today, that is.

Local Edge Playlist: 1/30/11

2011-01-31T01:47:00.002-06:00

Another great episode, complete with a live in-studio from Pale Horse. And another Ghost of Blind Lemon reference... could it get any better?

"Blow the Speakers", Legsweeper
"Throw Me Overboard", The Hope Trust
"Marnie", Novaak

IN STUDIO: PALE HORSE
"Like a Canary"
"Your Heart Is a Wild Drum Beat"
"You're No Good"

"Skull Eyes", True Widow
"Prophet", Datahowler
"I Know a Thing or Two About You", Tweed EQ
"sEVEN", Ducado VeGA
"Better Off Dead", People on Vacation

Radio, Radio: The Sequel

2011-01-27T09:49:00.003-06:00

First off, let me also thank all of the wonderful musicians who played night: Rahim Quazi, Phoenix Hart, Madison King, and Goodnight Ned. Also, thanks to Josh Florence, John Solis, and the entire Dada crew for making me feel at home. It was an honor to kick off their Blogosphere showcase series, and look forward to doing it again in the future. And to those who couldn't make the show, you really missed out on some amazing performances.

But before I went to Dada last night, I got the opportunity to do something I've wanted to do for awhile. For those following the Ghost of Blind Lemon Facebook page, you may recall me hinting that I'd love to have my own radio show. A friend pointed me in the direction of deepellumradio. And so right before my showcase, I recorded my very first show with the internet radio station. The show should hit the airwaves around 6 pm CST, but I'll confirm later with more official details. The show will be an eclectic sampling of my favorites from the metroplex area, ranging from country to hip-hop to acoustic. And of course, there'll be plenty of indie rock and straight ahead rock music. The episode that will air tonight features new tracks from Calhoun, The Red 100's, Novaak, and The O's among others. So get to a computer tonight around 6 and give the show a listen.

Video Preview of Tomorrow's Show

2011-01-25T10:50:00.003-06:00

As you've probably heard me mention more than a few times, I'm hosting the first Blogosphere showcase this Wednesday at Club Dada. There has been a slight change in the lineup; The Roomsounds will not be playing the show. Here is the lineup as it currently stands:

9:00 Rahim Quazi
9:40 Phoenix Hart
10:20 Madison King
11:00 Goodnight Ned

All acts are acoustic except Goodnight Ned. Cover is a mere $5, and the show is for 21+. I think this is going to be a great night of music, but don't just take my word for it. I want to give everyone a little taste of what tomorrow will sound like. As a result, I have include some video clips in order to prepare you for the greatness that will be tomorrow night. Let's start with the first musician on the lineup, Rahim Quazi. He'll be focusing primarily on songs from his upcoming CD, Born on a Tuesday during tomorrow's set. One of those songs is "Ghost Hunting", a song that he also performed at his show last March at Kessler Theater (one of my favorite shows of last year). Here's a video of that performance:

Next on the lineup is Phoenix Hart, an artist that has been getting more and more attention as of late, and deservedly so. Between her gorgeous voice and well written songs, all the attention is well deserved. Here's a brand new tunes of hers, "Angels (Where Are You Now)", that is every bit as good as the tunes on her latest CD, Save Love.

Madison King, the third on the lineup, has yet to release an album, and I could only find one YouTube video of her. It's video of a songswap she did in December with Ryan Thomas Becker and Danny Balis. It starts with her and Ryan doing a cover of "Rainbow Connection" before her going into her own music.

Finally, I'd post some video of Goodnight Ned... if it existed. It doesn't, so you'll just have to come tomorrow night to see what they're like live. You've got to have some surprises, right?

The Lucky Thirteen: 1/24/11

2011-01-24T11:07:00.003-06:00

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.

"Supernatural", Rahim Quazi

"Until We Meet Again", Phoenix Hart

"Two Songs", Goodnight Ned
For those looking forward to Wednesday's GOBL showcase, here's a little update. The Roomsounds, alas, are not able to play the show. Do not fear, however, as I have gotten Phoenix Hart and Madison King both to agree to do acoustic sets. Rahim Quazi will kick off the show with an acoustic set as well, primarly focusing on material from his upcoming Born on a Sunday. And of course, Goodnight Ned will end the night with a full band set. So if you need something to do on a Wednesday night, you know what to do.

"Set Me Free", The Red 100's
I believe I've said before that The Red 100's are one of the bands that I predict will have a big year. I believe that statement is worth repeating. Obviously, as I have just repeated it. But seriously, there seems to be a move on the part of many bands towards a more rootsy, blues oriented sound, and The Red 100's could easily position themselves as leaders of this musical movement.

"Red in the Morning", Menkena
First off, if you missed the band's CD release show at LaGrange, shame on you. I've never seen the band in finer form, and GOBL fans know how much I've always loved the band. But if you did miss Saturday's show, you can at least partially redeem yourself by going to the Kessler Theater on Friday night. They'll join a bill with another GOBL fave, Luna Matto, and Daniel Folmer will be on the bill. Or will it really be "Danny Rush"? I'll let you know if I figure out which identity shows up.

"Kids in My Backyard", Soviet
Wow, this band has really come out of nowhere it seems. The band's formula seems to be pretty straight forward: write fun, catchy songs. It seems to be working for them. Who knew it was that easy?

"Charmed", The Bright
The Bright has certainly received plenty of attention from local ABC affiliate WFAA (Channel 8), having played the channel's New Year's Eve show for the past two years. This particular song of theirs has really grabbed my attention more than any of their other works. It reminds me sonically of Sugarbomb, except with heavier guitars in place of Les Farrington's keyboards.

"You Pressed The Crash Button", Novaak
Is it too early to start nominating best song of 2011 contenders? If not, this gorgeously performed song would be fighting for top honors.

"I'm Immune", Chris Holt
Mr. Holt has really cut back on live shows, which is a shame because the tracks off A Cosmic Joke deserve to be brought to life on a regular basis. But until he plays more shows, you need to take advantage of the shows he does, like Friday's gig at Club Dada with Salim Nourallah and The Monco Poncho.

"Coming of the Century", Course of Empire
After seing Mike Graff's solo performance at LaGrange this past Saturday, it inspired me to dig up this CoE classic and share it with everyone. It's very different from the Lou Reed/Stones/Bowie boogie blend played that night, but until he records some of that, you'll have to settle for this. And by settle, I mean enjoy.

"Buy You", Spookeasy
Not enough people know about Spookeasy yet. I'm out to change that.

"Tryin' to Have a Good Time", The O's
I've seen people use posters for GOBL showcases as Facebook profile picture. But last week was the first time I've ever had someone take a picture of the Grooveshark player on my page and use that as a profile pic. What can I say, except that featuring a new O's song can have that effect on a person.

"Emulate", Spector 45
Spector 45 booked a show for this Saturday at LaGrange before Frankie Campagna passed away. The remaining band members decided to fulfill their obligations to the club, and recruited a longtime friend of Frankie's, Cody Bigham, will take over the vocal responsibilities. It obviously won't be the same, but for those who missed Frankie's last performance, consider this your chance to say goodbye to the band.

Local Edge Playlist: 1/23/11

2011-01-24T00:01:00.004-06:00

Before starting the playlists, thanks to Mark for mentioning the blog after playing Pale Horse. Speaking of that band, they're going to be next week's in studio performance. DO NOT miss that!

Now, to recap the songs Mark played...

"Forever Today", Soviet
"Marnie", Novaak
"Say Say Say", GalleryCat
"You're No Good", Pale Horse
IN STUDIO: THE HOPE TRUST
"Won't Take Much"
"Afterglow"
"Throw Me Overboard"
"Better Off Dead", People on Vacation
"Blow the Speakers", Legsweeper
"Red and White", New Science Projects
"sEVEN", Ducado VeGA
"Set Me Free", The Red 100's
"Shivonne", Menkena

Weekend Plans: 1/21/11

2011-01-21T12:09:00.002-06:00

So many shows to discuss, so little time...

FRIDAY:
Virgin Wolves/The Demigs/The Red 100's (Hailey’s)
I rarely make it to Denton shows due to questions on my car surviving the trip. Normally, missing out on Denton doesn't bother me that much. But I'm not going to lie, missing this show is really going to hurt. Any one of these artists alone is worth the cover charge. Having all three together on one bill? Simply amazing. Virgin Wolves put on a high energy gritty rock show with a hint of blues. The Red 100's are a skilled bunch of musicians that know how to tear it up live. The Demigs haven't played as much as they used to, but their blend of indie-pop with plenty of distortion always managed to put a smile on my page. If you're going to be in Denton, there's no excuse for missing this. None.
Calhoun/The O’s/Taylor Craig Mills (The Moon)
The O's album, Between the Two and Calhoun's Heavy Sugar are sure to be among the finest releases of 2011, and now you can experience both together in Fort Worth.
Anna Thomas (Coffee N Cream - Frisco)
How to have fun in Frisco tonight: Step 1 is to head to see the young (and very talented) Ms. Thomas and Coffee N Cream's Frisco location. Fans of piano based singer songwriter material will sure to become an instant fan. Step 2 of how to have fun in Frisco tonight...
The Roomsounds/Grant Jones & The Pistol Grip Lassos (Lochrann's)
Get a little taste of The Roomsounds at Lochrann's. Hopefully that will leave you wanting more Roomsounds. I can help you with that next Wednesday at Dada, you know.
Kristy Kruger/Raymond Weyandt/Nicholas Altobelli (Allgood Cafe)
Don't worry Dallas people, I haven't forgotten about you. While I can't speak for Mr. Weyandt, I have plenty of wonderful things to say about the others. Ms. Kruger is one of the few female singer-songwriters (along with the obvious Ms. Jaffe) who can command the respect (and even silence) of the audience. My only frustration with her is that I'm getting impatient waiting for the followup to her last CD, Songs From a Dead Man's Couch. Mr. Altobelli has no problem releasing material. In the time since Dead Man's Couch, Nicholas has released four EP's/CD's. And there's going to be a new one this year; word is this will be his long awaited electric CD. I'll believe it when I see it. Or hear it.
Kerri Arista (Uncle Calvin's Coffeehouse)
The Uncle Calvin's show really is THIS Friday, and was not last Friday. Find last Friday's Weekend Plans for my thoughts, because I don't feel like retyping all that right now.

SATURDAY:
Menkena/Novaak/Mike Graff (LaGrange)
I think I pretty well summed up my thoughts on Menkena when discussing the release of With You I'll Travel on Tuesday. And yes, this is their CD release show. Also, Mike Graff (ex-Course of Empire) will be on the bill. The act I really want to discuss here, however, is Novaak. Their CD, I Am, You Are, has really put them on my radar. The opening track, "You Pushed the Crash Button", seems to have taken up permanent residence in my head. With such a dreamy melody and vocalist Jessi Jame's simple yet beautiful vocals, it only makes sense. Novaak's music will be the perfect compliment to Menkena's sound.
Sarah Jaffe/Bosque Brown/We’re Not Dudes (Lola’s)
Everyone knows how brilliant Ms. Jaffe is, and it's pretty universally accepted that Mara Lee Miller and Bosque Brown are amazing as well. The interesting part of this bill will be to see how We're Not Dudes does. They're a young band, and by young, I mean I'm not sure there's anyone that's even in their teens in the band. Word is their show is very energetic and very impressive, especially considering how young they are. It's worth noting that one of the members is the daughter of Luna Matto. If she gets even half of her mom's musical genes, then that alone would make the band worth watching.
Billygoat Brink, Camille Cortinas, and Dogdander (Opening Bell Coffee)
The O’s/Sleeping in the Aviary/The Blurries (Double-Wide)
American Werewolf Academy/Nervous Curtains/The Distant Seconds (City Tavern)
Not enough time to discuss these shows in the detail each deserves, but all fine choices.

Oh, and if I left out an important show, feel free to mention it in the comments and then chastise me for the omission. Thanks.

Radio, Radio

2011-01-20T11:24:00.002-06:00

As you know, I love sharing music with you. That's why I do the Lucky Thirteen every week. Sure, it gives me a chance to write about acts I like, but more importantly it gives you the opportunity to listen to the music and judge for yourselves. I've always wanted to have a platform for sharing my musical tastes, something like a radio program. No, I don't have my own show yet. If anyone wants to give me a radio show, email me and let's talk.

In the meantime, this is about as close as I can get to having my own radio show. I've created an account at songza.com, as well as my own station. Appropriately enough, it's called Ghost of Blind Lemon Radio. Not exactly original, but it gets the point across effectively enough.

Songza's local music library is still somewhat limited, but even with that, I've got over 500 songs in my musical library, and am still hoping to add more. I'm not sure how an artist adds his or her music to Songza, but I'd encourage all my favorite locals to do add to their library, and by default you'll be adding to my station. Also, feel free to vote on which songs you like and don't like in my library. You can even suggest songs, but if you do, please, keep it local. Have fun listening!

Not One. But Two GOBL Showcase Announcements

2011-01-19T17:53:00.003-06:00

That's right, I've got a few of my own showcases coming up, and I'm quite excited about them. The first one is a mere week away. Club Dada is going to be starting a series of showcases from local bloggers, and I'm proud to say that mine will be the first in the series. So come on out Wednesday January 26th for a night of music with Rahim Quazi, The Roomsounds, and Goodnight Ned. Doors should open around 8, with Rahim starting off the music at 9. I'd introduce Rahim's music to you, but if you're reading this blog, you must be familiar with him considering how much I rave about this man. If not, then do yourself a huge favor and get acquainted with his music. The Roomsounds, the only GOBL showcase veteran on the bill, are doing an acoustic version of their alt-countryish style at 10, and then Goodnight Ned wraps it up at 11. It's a rather early show, which helps since you probably have that annoying thing the next day called work.

My next showcase is quite aways off, March 3rd to be specific. But I just can't wait to share the news with everyone. In conjunction with the fine folks at Wellhouse Co., I'm doing my first show at Lochrann's. As for the music, I have managed to get two of my favorite songwriters on the same bill. Menkena will open up the bill with their gorgeous shoegaze melodies and simple yet well written songs. The headliner is none other than one of the most universally respected songwriters in the area, Doug Burr. It may seem like an unusual pairing, since sonically the two artists are quite different. Yet at the core, these are two incredibly gifted storytellers. This may not be an evening of music to "party" to, but if quality music is reason enough to celebrate, then come celebrate with me at Lochrann's on Thursday March 3rd.

So mark both dates on your calendar, and while you're at it, you might want to start coming up with your excuses for why you're late to work the next day. Just a suggestion.

2011 Starts... Now!

2011-01-18T11:41:00.003-06:00

Several years back, one of the Dallas Observer music editors stated that the local music year didn't begin until February. The editor (I can't recall which one) said that major local releases don't happen in December or January, and that things don't pick up until February. That may be true in most years, but I have to take exception to that theory for this year. Today on iTunes, two of the most eagerly anticipated local albums of the year were released.

The first of the two albums is the long anticipated debut full length by Menkena, With You I'll Travel. For those who follow the blog, you may have noticed that I've mentioned the band maybe a time or thousand. Yes, I am a major fan, and with good reason. Jimmy Menkena, lead singer and songwriter for the band, manages to create some of the most gorgeous shoegaze sonic landscapes this town has ever seen. That alone would be reason enough to celebrate Menkena's music. But if you only focus on the melodic end of the band, you're missing out on at least half the charm of the band. Whereas most shoegaze acts are content to focus almost exclusively on the atmosphere of the melody, Mr. Menkena pays as much attention to lyrical detail as the melody. Even if you strip away all the gorgeous shoegaze arranges, what lies underneath are songs and stories that stand on their own. Then once the dreamy sonic landscape is incorporated into the song, the result is simply auditory bliss. For lack of a better description, these are songs that you want to get lost in.

The Menkena CD is reason enough to be excited, but the local music action doesn't stop there. The O's sophomore effort on Idol Records, Between the Two, also hits iTunes today. And while this may be the band's sophomore release, there is absolutely no sophomore slump here. All the things that fans have come to love about this duo are still in tact: sharp lyrics, great harmonies, strong musicianship, and simple yet catchy melodies. Songs like "We'll Go Walkin'" and "Tryin' to Have a Good Time" are sure to put a smile on the grumpiest among us. I've used the term "party bluegrass" to describe the band's sound, and The O's are keeping the party going strong.

Menkena's CD release show happens this Saturday at LaGrange, and you can also get the CD at Good Records on Thursday, where the band will do an in-store performance plus sign copies of With You I'll Travel. The O's CD release show isn't until February 11th, and it will take place at Club Dada. Whether you get these two albums on iTunes today or wait until the physical CD comes out, these are both CDs that are essentials for any true local music fan to own.

The Lucky Thirteen: 1/17/10

2011-01-17T12:05:00.004-06:00

"Red in the Morning", Menkena
Menkena fans, this is your lucky week. Their new album, With You I'll Travel, hits iTunes this Tuesday. If you'd prefer a physical copy of the CD, go to Good Records on Thursday where the band will perform and sign copies of the CD. Then on Saturday, it's the big CD release show at LaGrange with Novaak and Mike Graff (ex-Course of Empire). I'm starting to drool just thinking about all this Menkena.

"New Hope PA", The Chemistry Set
I got into a lengthy discussion with Scott Tucker from The Orange this past Friday night, and we discussed many bands that are no more, including Hi-Fi Drowning (one of his favorites EVER) and Chemistry Set (one of my favorites EVER). He was talking about what he thought was their last CD (their self-titled full length), but in fact he didn't know about their second full length, Blue Monsters. I told him about this CD, and how the opening track "New Hope PA" is one of my favorite album openers of any album. I figured I'd include it on the playlist for Scott and the rest of you to hear.

"Buy You", Spookeasy
It's been a long time where I've been lured into a show while walking down the street, but that's exactly what happened to me Friday night. I passed Club Dada, liked what I heard, and paid cover for Spookeasy. Their live set is a little more rocking than the CD, which has a slight new wavish feel to it. The intro to this track almost reminds me of Cocteau Twins for some reason. But whether live or on CD, this band gets two enthusiastic thumbs up from me.

"Tryin' to Have a Good Time", The O's
I'm having a hard time buying this song. The O's trying to have a good time? The O's don't try to have a good time. To use the word "try" implies a possibility of not succeeding, and The O's NEVER fail at having a good time. Like I said, The O's don't try to have a good time. If anything, good times try to have The O's.

"Knife Fight", Calhoun
Bet you enjoyed that O's song, didn't you? And I'll bet you're digging this Calhoun song too, aren't you? You're probably wishing you could see both bands live right about now, correct? Well good news my friends, because both acts will play this Friday at The Moon in Fort Worth, along with Taylor Craig Mills.

"Save Your Breath", Camille Cortinas
I've been noticing a marked increase in shows by Mrs. Cortinas, and that's good to see. I'm hoping this means she's getting ready for a CD release show in the very near future. No word on that yet, but I can tell you that your next opportunity to see her comes this Saturday at Opening Bell Coffee. The OBC website says it's "Camille Cortinas & Friends". Not sure who the "friends" will be, but I feel safe in saying it'll be a good show.

"New Disco", Stella Rose
If you listened to my podcast of my top 40 songs of last year, many of the selections were no surprise. This track, however, got very little attention on the blog, even though it charted at a quite impressive #21. I felt now might be a good time for my readers to become better acquainted with the track.

"Set Me Free", The Red 100's
Last Friday found me wandering around Deep Ellum, going from show to show. Many sets that I wanted to see I either missed or didn't see near enough of the set. The latter situation is what happened for me with The Red 100's. But what little I saw of their set had me simply in awe of the band. Remember the name Red 100's, because you'll be talking about them this year. A lot. A whole lot.

"Beautiful Girl", Mr. Sleaze
After hearing this song the past few weeks on The Local Edge, I've gotta admit that this song is really growing on me. And no, I don't know who Mr. Sleaze is. His identity, for now, remains a mystery.

"Flower on the Wall", Kerri Arista
I must admit to an error on my most recent blog spot. Kerri Arista's show at Uncle Calvin's Coffeehouse was NOT this past Friday, but will instead be this Friday. My apologies if I sent anyone out to Uncle Calvin's only to be disappointed by there being no Kerri Arista there.

"to the 9's", hormones
No interesting comments on my behalf or breaking news on the bad. I just like this song.

"Barn Burner", The Roomsounds
Have I mentioned that there'll be a GOBL showcase coming soon? I'll give you more details very soon, but in the meantime, I'll say that The Roomsounds will be part of the fun.

"Japanese Space Opera", Mazinga Phaser
I've been trying to dig a little deeper into the history of Dallas music and research artists I was not as familiar with. I'd heard about Mazinga Phaser and started checking out tracks from their CD Abandinallhope. I'm not sure how I missed out on the band the first time around, but I'm seriously loving their shoegaze melodies and dreamy vocals now.

Local Edge Playlist: 1/16/11

2011-01-17T00:16:00.004-06:00

While at a show Friday night, a friend asked me about The Local Edge playlists and what the story was. I started out doing this at a point when Mark got a little behind on posting playlists from his episodes on the KDGE website. And by a little behind, I mean several months. While Mark has caught up, I do this as a show of support to the show because of all the really cool stuff he plays. So that's the story. Now, on to the show's playlist.

"Mind in Trouble", Oil Boom
"We'll Go Walkin'", The O's
"Forever Today", Soviet
"Throw Me Overboard", The Hope Trust
"sEVEN", Ducado VeGA
"Beautiful Girl", Mr. Sleaze
"Prophet", Datahowler
"I Know a Thing or Two About You", Tweed EQ
"District County Court", Daniel Folmer
"Awake", Air Review
"Dammit", Smile Smile
"Set Me Free", The Red 100's
"You're No Good", Pale Horse
"Red and White", New Science Projects
"Wooden Floors", Nicholas Altobelli

Weekend Plans: 1/14/10

2011-01-14T15:53:00.002-06:00

I've probably forgotten some important shows, so feel free to point out my omissions in the comments. I encourage you to do so. Seriously, I do.

FRIDAY:
The Red 100's (Black Swan Saloon)
Black Swan Saloon doesn't have bands perform there very often, and I'd love to see that trend change. In the meantime, The Red 100's will be playing tonight, and word on the street is that one of their members will be celebrating a slightly belated birthday tonight. I see a lot of shots in his near future.
The Monco Poncho/R. Jason Bonner/Rev. Leon & The Repenters (LaGrange)
The Monco Poncho always put on a great live show, but the real news about this show is that I believe this is Mr. Bonner's first show with a full backing band. You probably know him best as the former bass player in THe BAcksliders, but you may not be aware that he wrote many of their songs ("Pour Another Glass", "Damaged Goods", and "Soul" to name a few). You can count on seeing me bounce around between this lineup and Black Swan Saloon, in case anyone wants to find me and say hi.
Eleven Hundred Springs/The Derailers/Doug Moreland (Granada Theater)
Arguably Dallas' biggest country act, this show is sure to be packed tonight.
Kerri Arista (Uncle Calvin's Coffeehouse)
I've yet to see Kerri perform live, and that unfortunately will not be changing tonight. If, however, you're seeking some thoughtful and beautiful singer-songwriter type tunes, this is where you need to be tonight. I don't know if she'll be performing solo or with a backing band, but I can tell you that she's backed by Aaron Thomas and Sam Romero (ex-Fishing For Comets) on her CD, 50 Different Ways. Obviously, fans of Camille Cortinas would be encouraged to give her a listen.
Camille Cortinas/Chris Holt/Eric Neal (Allgood Cafe)
Speaking of Mrs. Cortinas, she and her musical comrades will be performing Beatles songs at Allgood tonight.
Fair to Midland/The House Harkonnen/The Phuss/Faded Grace (Curtain Club)
This is the club's 13th Anniversary show, and my props to the venue for holding the current record for keeping its doors CONTINUALLY open longer than any other current venue in Deep Ellum. And while Fair To Midland is typically heavier than most of my musical tastes, there's no denying these guys are at the top of their game. As for The Phuss, that's a band that knows how to rock.

SATURDAY:
Hoyotoho/Damaged Good$/Gallery Cat/Datahowler (Club Dada)
Club Dada is claiming this show as their New Year's Eve "do-over", complete with a champagne toast at midnight. The lineup, ranging from electronica to hip-hop, is sure to keep the crowd moving and shaking.
True Widow/Maleveller/Garuda (Double-Wide)
TW will be releasing a new CD this year. In the meantime, this show will have to help tide you over until the release date.
Andrew Tinker (Dan’s Silverleaf)
I saw Mr. Tinker perform live last year, and I was impressed both by his energy and his skills on the piano. Easily the best show happening in Denton this weekend.

Lucky Thirteen: 1/10/11

2011-01-10T23:33:00.004-06:00

Next week, I'll be coming at you with lots of newer stuff to help ring in '11 the right way. I still, however, have one piece of 2010 business left over. This list was originally going to hit the blog last Monday, but for obvious reasons I got sidetracked and my heart wasn't in this. Well, now it's time to get out my last 2010 list. Here are my thirteen favorite local shows of last year. These are not ranked in order of preference, but rather in the order I attended the shows. For each show, I included a song performed that evening. So listen and enjoy one last reflection on 2010.

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.

Salim Nourallah/Chris Holt/Rahim Quazi/Nicholas Altobelli (March 26 - Kessler Theater)
Song Selection: "Dalton the Prophet", Nicholas Altobelli
All four artists put on a fabulous set, but the true star of that evening was not any individual performer, but the venue itself. This was most people's first musical experience in the Kessler Theater, and I don't know a single soul who had a complaint about that evening. The sound quality was great, but what impressed me the most was that this venue brought out an audience intent on listening to the music. It is rare to find audiences where the main goal at a show is paying attention to the music, and that is even more true in the case of acoustic music. Yet during all the sets, including the set of Nicholas Altobelli, you could have dropped a pin during the set and everyone would have heard it. Sadly to say, I haven't been back to the Kessler since. Perhaps that needs to be my New Year's Resolution.

Ghost of Blind Lemon Showcase: The Roomsounds/Cocky Americans/Pale Horse (May 7 - The Cavern)
Song Selection: "Young & Reckless", The Roomsounds
Yes, I'm biased on this one. Sue me. But seriously, it was my first Pale Horse show, and they were their usual awesome selves. Cocky Americans always put on a truly solid set, and The Roomsounds ended the night with their high energy rock country blend. All in all, it was a fun night of music.

Homegrown Fest (May 22 - Main Street Garden Park)
Song Selection: "Pastel Lights", Ishi
Wow, I don't even know where to begin on this show. First of all, to pull off a festival of essentially all local music and get a turn out of such a large proportion, that borders on being a local music miracle. My props go out to John Solis and Josh Florence for organizing this event and booking such quality acts as Air Review, Somebody's Darling, RTB2, The O's, and Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights to name only a few. But my most memorable moment of the night was dancing in the mud to Ishi's "Pastel Lights". Yes, Ishi does know how to bring the party.

Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase (July 17 - Various Deep Ellum Venues)
Song Selection: "The Message", Dem Southernfolkz
This showcase of music was hot, both figuratively and literally. Kicking the show off outside at 5 PM in a Dallas summer was not the most pleasant way to start a show. I probably would've skipped the opening outdoor act had it not been Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights, but they made the show work in spite of the heat. Fortunately, the other venues in Deep Ellum were nicely air conditioned, and there were plenty of good musical choices. Of all the performances that night, however, it's Dem Southernfolkz's gig at The Prophet Bar (small room) that stands out. Their performance was energetic, the musicianship was dead on, and the lyrical skills and content were spot on. That night DSFZ became my new favorite local hip-hop band.

Rahim Quazi/Katie Carroll/Emmeline (August 21 - Opening Bell Coffee)
Song Selection: "So In Love With You", Katie Carroll
There were two other out of towners on the lineup, and I sadly do not recall their names. Still, this night was all about the local. Yes, I will admit more bias here, as I booked all the locals as sort of a pre-birthday celebration. I was lucky enough to snag a way too rare performance by the lovely Katie Carroll, whose Paper Girl CD is filled with lovely ballads that bridge the gap between Camille Cortinas and Sarah Jaffe. The icing on the cake for me, however, was when Ms. Carroll tossed me a flower in the middle of "So in Love With You". Made me feel kinda special and stuff.

Pale Horse/Little Black Dress/Charlie Shafter and the Gnomes (August 27 - Double-Wide)
Song Selection: "You're No Good", Pale Horse
Pale Horse was part of the lineup for three of the listed shows, more than any other act. This night was the release of their Future Dimensions EP, and the band confirmed to me that the first rate performance given at the Cavern show was no fluke. The band even debuted a new song that night ("Your Heart Is A Wild Drum Beat"), and you would've thought they'd rehearsed the song a million times to get it so perfect. I would've posted that track if I had it, but you'll have to settle for "You're No Good", my #1 track of last year.

Spector 45/The Phuss (August 28 - LaGrange)
Song Selection: "I Love You", Spector 45
For the record, I created this list late last year, and was not biased by recent tragedies. I'd seen Spector 45 before, but this night was the night that, for lack of a better way of putting it, I "got" the band. Yes, I'd liked them, but this performance was the one where I finally understood both the energy and the songwriting skills of Frankie and the rest of the crew. This was also by far the most fun crowd of ANY show I did last year.

Whiskey Glass Eye/The O's/Scott Riegel (September 25 - Bryan Street Tavern)
Song Selection: "Billy Prichard", Slobberbone
Say, wasn't "Whiskey Glass Eye" a Slobberbone song? Yeah, much in the same way Old 97's have gone under the pseudonym Satellite Rides, Whiskey Glass Eye is nothing more than Slobberbone under a different name. It's fun to watch Slobberbone at a larger venue like Granada, but they really shine the most at a smaller, lower-key venue like Bryan Street Tavern. Add some brand new O's songs to the mix and the talent of young Scott Riegel, and it adds up to a great night.

Chris Holt (October 9 - LaGrange)
Song Selection: "Aim High", Chris Holt
I think it says something when by the time the CD release show hits, the entire audience seems to know all the words to your album. That's exactly what happened at Mr. Holt's CD release show for A Cosmic Joke. Contrary to what the Observer thinks, this album was an intelligent, heartfelt collection of masterfully written songs. The band did a fabulous job of bringing life to Mr. Holt's artistic vision. And on a completely unrelated note, it was a blast to hear Holt and company jam to the "Layla" outro while Goodfellas played on the LaGrange screen. Admit it, you loved it if you were there, and if you missed the show, you're kicking yourself now after hearing that, aren't you?

Cystic Fibrosis Benefit Featuring Rhett Miller/Ben Kweller/The O's/Doug Burr (November 6 - Granada Theater)
Song Selection: "Big Brown Eyes", Old 97's
Raving about Rhett Miller seems almost too easy. I admit to a very strong Miller/97's bias, and an average show by either eclipses over half of Dallas bands on their best nights. It would seem almost unfair to count this show, except for the fact that this show featured my favorite concert moment of the year, and one that'd probably go on my top ten of all time list. Rhett had just played the intro to "Big Brown Eyes", and before he uttered the first line of the song, the audience took over for him. It was a "had to be there" moment, but it was amazing to see the crowd take over the song, and to be a part of it.

Emmeline/Josh Cooley/Steve Jackson (November 26 - Times Ten Cellar)
Song Selection: "A Hundred Years", Emmeline
Over the past year that I've been following Emmeline, I feel as if I've watched her bloom as a songwriter and as a performer. Her CD release show for Early Morning Hours was Emmeline at the top of her game. Never before have I seen her perform with such confidence and command the attention of the entire room. When she closed the show with "A Hundred Years", I would have been willing to stay in Times Ten Cellar that long if she would've kept playing. Alright, maybe just 99 years.

Ghost of Blind Lemon Showcase: THe BAcksliders/Pale Horse/The Black & Blues (December 10 - The Green Elephant)
Song Selection: "Talk To My Heart", THe BAcksliders
Not that I haven't liked other lineups, but if I had to choose my favorite lineup of any GOBL showcase, this would be it. Whether it be the psychedelic progressive soul styling of Black & Blues, the surprisingly cool BRMC style stripped down Pale Horse set, or the usual full octane BAcksilders rock show, this night was as good as it gets.

Seryn (December 18th - Wellhouse Co. House Party)
Song Selection: We Will All Be Changed", Seryn
Sometimes when critics start buzzing about a particular act, I confess I can be rather skeptical. Although I liked "We Will All Be Changed", I wasn't certain if the Seryn show would live up to the hype. It didn't live up to the hype; Seryn exceeded the hype by leaps and bounds. Perhaps the intimate setting helped; there's nothing quite like watching a band in a person's home with an audience of only about fifty or so. Still, the band's skill on their instruments and perhaps the best harmonizing in Dallas, their set left me in awe. I am left now anxiously awaiting the release of their album this year. Even if it's only half as good as the performance last year, it'll be guaranteed a spot in the ten best local albums of '11.

Local Edge Playlist: 1/9/11

2011-01-10T00:09:00.003-06:00

"Bible Belt", Spooky Folk
"Beautiful Girl", Mr. Sleaze
"Stories", Heard
"Delilah", Soviet
"Prophet", Datahowler
"We'll Go Walkin'", The O's
"Tunnelvisionary", The Flowers of God featuring Sarah Jaffe
"sEVEN", Ducado VeGA
"Getcho Bodeee", Sir Silky
"to the 9's", hormones
"What Was Missing", Descender
"I Know a Thing Or Two About You", Tweed EQ
"Darker Than the Night", Dead Twins
"Wonderland", Glen Reynolds

Note to hormones and Ducado VeGA: you guys might want to brush up on your capitalization rules. It's just an idea.

Weekend Plans: 1/7/11

2011-01-07T12:21:00.003-06:00

First off, let me say how wonderful it was to see so many supportive and loving faces at Dada last night. It was a beautiful memorial concert, and I do want to discuss it in more detail on the blog. When I do write about it, I want to have more time to write a review that does Frankie's memory justice.

In the meantime, here are a few of the shows taking place this weekend. It's a little slow of a weekend, but the year's still young. The next few weekends will likely be more festive.

FRIDAY:
The O's (American Airlines Center)
I guess you can say that The O's have officially hit the big time, now that they're performing at American Airlines Center, performing at the same venue as nationally known artists like Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera, and Ozzy Osbourne. Sure, they're sharing the bill with a hockey game between the Dallas Stars and the New York Rangers, but let's be honest, The O's are the real reason to attend the AAC tonight.
Victor Rosario/The Roomsounds/Phoenix Hart< (Opening Bell Coffee)
It seems unusual to have a band that puts on as rocking and energetic of a show as The Roomsounds in a usually mellow venue like OBC, but I'll take me some Roomsounds whenever I can. Phoenix Hart delivers a more traditional OBC performance, and her CD Save Love is filled with plenty of catchy tunes and lovely vocals.
Tweed EQ/The Red 100's/Jokersdeck (Double-Wide)
The Red 100's are near the top of the list of bands I haven't seen but need to in 2011. I've also heard many friends raving about Tweed EQ, so this might be a good opportunity to check out some newer bands.

SATURDAY:
The O’s/Southbound Lane/Wheeler Sparks/Luke Wade (Kessler Theater)
If you're looking to see The O's in a slightly more intimate venue than AAC, well, here you go.
Fatty Lumpkin/Fever in the Funkhouse/Electronicos Vaqueros (Club Dada)
Is it awful of me that I've never seen Fever perform live yet, especially since they're one of the few bands from Deep Ellum's heyday that are still performing and even releasing new material? On a separate note, if you plan on going to this show, get their early enough to hear Clay Pendergrass' band, Electronicos Vaqueros.

Frankie 45 Memorial Concert Tonight

2011-01-06T14:12:00.003-06:00

Here's a quick rundown on everything you need to know for tonight:

The show at Club Dada will start at 7 pm with a DJ set from Bad Holly. She will continue to spin tracks between band sets.

Motorcycle riders are encouraged to come on their bikes. There will be special racks for the bikes in front of The Bone, Dada, and Kettle Art. To kick off the show at 7, bikers are encouraged to make as much noise on their bikes as possible.

The musical acts start at 8, with a new band starting every half hour. In order from first to last, performers will include Legsweeper, The Double Downs, Missile, Here Holy Spain, The Phuss, The Marfalites, Barry Kooda Combo, THe BAcksliders, and The American Fuse.

I wouldn't be surprised if a few extra guests decided to show up and perform.

There is a recommended $10 cover at the door, and all proceeds go to the Deep Ellum Community Association (DECA).

If you've seen the number of people RSVPing on the Facebook event, you're probably wondering how Dada will hold so many. Obviously, I recommend arriving early, but I know other clubs will be accepting the spillover, and will be contributing a portion of their profits to DECA.

If I've missed any critical details, PLEASE share them in the comments section.

Other than that, expect a lot of rock, and a lot of emotion tonight. And while there will be plenty of tears undoubtedly, let's also make this a celebration of a beautiful life that ended way too soon.

The Top 40 Local Tracks of 2010

2011-01-04T16:26:00.002-06:00

It's taken long enough, I know, but I have finally recorded my second podcast, and my first with actual commentary. Forgive me for any of the voice blunders I've made, but with as exhausting as this process is, I just left some of them in. But don't let that sidetrack you from the main event: the forty best songs of this past year. Below the streaming player is an alphabetical listing of every artist in the countdown. Which artist made it all the way to number one? Click here to download the podcast, or you can just listen to it below.

Anna Thomas
THe BAcksliders
Bridges & Blinking Lights
The Burning Hotels
Charming Gardeners
Chris Holt
Damaged Good$
Daniel Folmer
Doug Burr
Eleven Hundred Springs
Emily Elbert
Emmeline
Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights
Katie Carroll
Lalagray
Lauren Adelle with Colin Boyd
Les Americains
Lovie
Luna Matto
Midlake
The Monco Poncho
Nervous Curtains
Nicholas Altobelli
The Orbans
Pale Horse
Paul Slavens
Phoenix Hart
The Rocket Summer
Ronnie Fauss
Sarah Jaffe
The Shapes
The Slack
Smile Smile
Spector 45
Stella Rose
The Timeline Post
Toadies
Trey Johnson
The Virgin Wolves
Western Giants

Video Playlist

2011-01-03T06:45:00.002-06:00

The original goal was to post my top 40 countdown podcast today, and then on Tuesday, I was going to do a Lucky Thirteen recognizing my 13 favorite local shows of the year. The podcast is not ready yet due to technical difficulties, but barring any further problems, should be ready tomorrow. I would do a Lucky Thirteen playlist, but I'm going to be honest: my heart is not in that right now. My thoughts are still too much about Frankie. The Lucky Thirteen will return next week, but today I offer you a video playlist of Frankie 45 performances, both with Spector 45 and solo.

Also, I'd like to take the opportunity to get some comments here. I'd like to get a collection of people's thoughts and memories on Frankie. Anyone who'd like to write something about Frankie, send it to me at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com. I'll assemble a collection of other people's thoughts and memories on him and post it on the blog. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this video retrospective.

Local Edge Playlist: 1/2/11

2011-01-02T23:57:00.001-06:00

"Another Year", Sunday Drive
"We'll Go Walkin'", The O's
"to the 9's", hormones
"Tunnelvisionary", The Flowers of God featuring Sarah Jaffe
"Prophet", Datahowler
"Knife Fight", Calhoun
"Stories", Heard
"Icing", Roy Robertson
"Beautiful Girl", Mr. Sleaze
"River Song", Seryn
"Killswitch", The Red 100's
"Shivonne", Menkena
"Finger Trace", Ryan Thomas Becker
"Time", Frankie 45 & Ben Martin

Memorial Show Info

2011-01-02T15:47:00.003-06:00

I think I can speak for the local music community when I say we are all still in shock and in pain from the loss of Frank Campagna Jr., aka Frankie 45. When I was at the impromptu memorial last night at Kettle Art, it really showed me the impact he had on everyone's lives he touched. I was surprised not only by the number of people who showed up, but in some cases, surprised by seeing individuals that I didn't even know were acquainted with Frankie. I simply call this The Frankie Effect. It didn't matter if you hung out with him on a regular basis or had a few brief passing moments with him; anyone who met him was affected by him. No one made it through the night without tears.

For those who couldn't make the tribute last night, or who simply wish to continue honoring the man, there will be a memorial show this Thursday at Dada. I had heard the term "wake" to describe the show, and in many ways I think this is an appropriate term. I think that the show will be a true celebration of a life that ended much too soon. Among the confirmed acts are Legsweeper, Here Holy Spain, THe BAcksliders, The American Fuse, and Rev. Horton Heat. The Nervebreakers will also reunite for this show. Some of you may recall that Spector 45 covered their song "My Girlfriend Is a Rock", changing the lyrics and renaming it "My Girlfriend's In Iraq". I will keep you posted as I know more details.

Also, I wanted to pass on to readers that the Campagna family, in lieu of flowers, to please send a donation to the Deep Ellum Community Association and help the neighborhood that Frankie loved.

Frankie 45

2011-01-01T16:54:00.004-06:00

(Photograph courtesy of Daniel Driensky)

Last night, I rang in the New Year to the sounds of Spector 45. As usual, the band gave 110% of itself in the performance. At one point, lead singer Frankie Campagna aka Frankie 45, did one of his standard leaps into the audience, getting on the floor and playing his guitar while practically in the face of another woman. It was classic rock and roll, and more to the point, it was classic Frankie. The performance was vital and filled with life. So it came as a total shock when I received the phone call this morning and found out the news: Frankie 45 died early this morning. It seems so surreal, considering that I was chatting with him only hours before his death.

My heart breaks for the whole Campagna family, as well as those who knew Frankie. I wish I could say I know him better than I did, but I will say that Frankie simply personified coolness, and was simply a nice guy. He was a good friend to those who knew him well, and to say that he'll be missed just doesn't go far enough.

There will be a memorial service tonight at Kettle Art, located at 2714 Elm Street in Deep Ellum. Anyone who wants to come and pay their respects to his family and friends is encouraged to do so. There is no word as of yet on a funeral, or whether it will be open to the public or only the closest family and friends.

Goodbye, Frankie. Deep Ellum just won't rock as hard without you.

No Lucky Thirteen This Monday

2010-12-31T15:33:00.003-06:00

That's right, there will not be a Lucky Thirteen playlist published this Monday. The playlist will most likely be posted on Tuesday.

That doesn't mean you shouldn't return to the blog on Monday. In fact, I have 40 good reasons for you to visit Ghost of Blind Lemon this Monday. I've been hard at work at compiling the top 40 local tracks of 2010, and the podcast should, if all goes well, debut Monday. So you're wondering who will be number one? You'll just have to wait. I'm the only one who knows; not even the artist with the number one slot knows. The results will be revealed this Monday, so have a wonderful New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, and I'll be back Monday with the results.

Addendum to New Year's Eve List

2010-12-31T11:40:00.003-06:00

Because of the "other things" I'm working on today, I have to make a confession: I took the lazy road on listing shows and listed only what I found in my Facebook event invites. Interestingly enough, there are two VERY major shows I overlooked.

Old 97's/Whiskey Folk Ramblers/The O's (House of Blues)

Centro-matic/Slobberbone/RTB2 (Kessler Theater)

I have probably left out some other important shows, so please post any other shows that I've overlooked under the comments section.

New Year's Eve Plans

2010-12-31T11:09:00.003-06:00

I'm working on something really big for you, my readers, so I'm just listing your best options for tonight. Thanks to everyone who supported me in 2010, and keep reading and supporting local music in 2011. And now, here are your show recommendations:

Telegraph Canyon/Air Review/Smile Smile (Sons of Hermann Hall)
Take note, this show has moved from Dada to Sons of Hermann Hall.

Spector 45/The Marfalites (The Bone)
This show also features the official Deep Ellum ball drop.

Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights/Somebody's Darling/Larry Gee (Granada Theater)

Ishi/El Ten Eleven/Binary Sunrise/Romp Almighty (Trees)

Boys Named Sue/Tweed EQ/DJ Cheyenne (LaGrange)

Bravo, Max!/The Roomsounds (Lakewood Bar & Grill)

Hall Or Oates New Year's Eve Party (Double-Wide)
I'm not sure how this is happened, but Hall & Oates have had quite a resurgence lately. If you're wanting to ring in the new year with some H&O done by local musicians, here's your show.

The Eleventh Day of Christmas

2010-12-30T11:34:00.002-06:00

Wow, not many Days of Christmas. Thanks to all who have participated, and congratulations to yesterday's winner, who will be seeing Telegraph Canyon, Air Review, and Smile Smile at Dada this New Year's Eve. And in case you were wondering, the correct answer to yesterday's question was "Pastel Lights". Air Review did "Chasing Corporate"; Smile Smile did "Truth on Tape"; and Telegraph Canyon did "Shake Your Fist". That left "Pastel Lights" by Ishi, and they'll play New Year's Eve at Trees, not Club Dada. But you already knew that, didn't you?

Since today is my "Eleventh Day of Christmas", what better thing to give on Day 11 than tickets to Eleven Hundred Springs? They'll play January 14th at Granada Theater, and this band is a must see for fans of genuine country music. All you have to do to win is name any track from their latest CD, This Crazy Life. And yes, I will accept the name of ANY track from that CD. First one to email me at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com and include the name of one of those songs in the subject line wins. Good luck, my readers!

The Tenth Day of Christmas

2010-12-29T10:35:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to yesterday's winner of the Nicholas Altobelli CD/poster prize pack.

Today's prize comes courtesy of the fine folks from Club Dada. As I'm sure every fan of the local music scene has heard, Dada will be reopening with Josh Florenece (City Tavern) at the helm. The club is even undergoing a redesign that will improve the layout of the venue, and from the pics I've seen, it's going to look super nice. The venue will reopen this New Year's Eve with a show featuring Telegraph Canyon, Air Review, and Smile Smile.

Below I have listed four songs, one from each of the bands playing at the New Year's Eve show, and one song from an artist NOT playing the Dada NYE show.

"Chasing Corporate"
"Pastel Lights"
"Shake Your Fist"
"Truth on Tape"

The first person to email me at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com with the name of the song from an artist not playing the show wins a pair of tickets. Good luck.

The Ninth Day of Christmas

2010-12-28T07:20:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to my two winners of the Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights tickets. If you don't have your tickets yet, might I recommend buying them now. The band never fails to deliver live, and I'm sure this show will be no exception.

Now, on to today's giveaway...

Today's prize comes from one of my favorite singer-songwriters in the area, Nicholas Altobelli. He's letting me give away a copy of his 2008 CD, Waiting for the Flowers to Bloom, as well as an autographed poster. That way you can show it off to your friends and talk about how you got all this before he was playing in stadiums around the world.

Alright, I'm laying it on a little thick. Besides, his music is much better suited to more intimate venues. But I will say that Mr. Altobelli not only deserves greater recognition throughout the metroplex, but his music deserves to get out beyond our city limits.

If you want the CD, all you have to do is email me at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com and spell Nicholas Altobelli's name correctly in the subject line will win. Hey, it's tricker than you think. When he played a showcase of mine at Club Dada almost two years ago, his name was spelled incorrectly in the ads.

Good luck, and watch the spelling!

The Eighth Day of Christmas

2010-12-27T14:49:00.003-06:00

I hope all my readers have had a fabulous Christmas or whatever other holiday you may or may not celebrate. Christmas Day may have passed, but Ghost of Blind Lemon still has some sweet gifts to give out. And today's gift is going to be a really, really nice treat.

You're probably wondering what you should do for New Year's Eve. There are certainly more excellent options this year since, well, I honestly can't remember a NYE with so many cool shows. One of the coolest has to be the show featuring Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights and Somebody's Darling at Granada Theater. I saw JT&NL last year at Granada, and it was a wonderfully festive occasion. Mr. Tyler and the gang jammed the night away and kept the audience moving at all times. I'm sure that the band will repeat last year's awesomeness.

That would be an amazing way to start out 2011, right? Well I have not one, but TWO pairs of tickets to give away to the show. Here's what you have to do: send an email to ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com with the name of the album they released on Atlantic Records in the subject line. The first two people to do so will win a pair of tickets. Also, a reminder to those who have already won on a previous "Day of Christmas" that you are not eligible to enter.

Good luck, and send me your emails, and promptly. This will surely go quickly.

The Lucky Thirteen: 12/27/10

2010-12-27T10:46:00.003-06:00

I must say that even though 2010 has not ended yet, it appears that 2011 is going to be a killer year for local music. Below I have shared just a few tracks from albums to be released next year that are among my most eagerly anticipated releases.

But first, let's talk about memories, like the corners of my mind. Misty water-colored memories of the way they were. No, there are not going to be any Streisand tunes on the playlist. I will, however, take a few moments to reflect on a few bands that called it quits in 2010.

So here's the deal: the first six tracks on the Lucky Thirteen are by bands that broke up this year, and the last seven give an opportunity to happily look forward to the metroplex's musical future.

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.

"Infatuations Never Last", The Slack
It appears that The Slack doesn't last either. The band made no fanfare, fading out quietly with their final show being an opening gig for Cas Haley. Fortunately, lead singer Chris Holt has continued releasing solo CDs. In fact, A Cosmic Joke is easily one of my favorite CDs of the year.

"Evil on the Highway", Dove Hunter
Quincy Holloway is easily one of my favorite drummers in the metroplex. Now that Dove Hunter is gone, I'm wondering what project he'll take on next. If anyone knows, feel free to pass that info my way.

"Need a Release", the cut*off
After about eight years together, the cut*off played their final show this past May. The band not only featured surprisingly sharp lyrics set to a Pixies meet Neil Young backdrop, but the members are some of the coolest, nicest musicians around.

"Undercover", Bridges and Blinking Lights
It seems that the trend this year was for bands to quietly break up without an official farewell show. Personally, I prefer having the farewell show, but that's just me. Here's another band that opted to skip the farewell show.

"Fine Line", Macon Greyson
The band has never announced the breakup, but I have it on good word that Macon Greyson are no more. Here's a track from their Uneasy CD. In case you were wondering, yes, Cindy Chaffin's blog is named after this song.

"Echo and the Pass", Hendrick
In my countdown of favorite local songs of last year, "Echo and the Pass" took the number one slot. So what does the band do for an encore? Nothing apparently, as the band broke up. There was supposed to be a farewell show, but the band didn't even make it to the farewell show. What a shame.

"Knife Fight", Calhoun
Enough looking back now, let's get our first taste of 2011. Calhoun's Heavy Sugar should be released early this year, and this will satisfy anyone's sweet tooth for catchy pop tunes.

"We Will All Be Changed", Seryn
I finally experienced my first Seryn show recently. There has been a lot of hype surrounding the band, and after seeing them, I can tell you that should believe the hype. I don't even know where to begin in describing how amazing the band is. I do know this: you'll start seeing my face at several of their shows in 2011.

"Save Your Breath", Camille Cortinas
Almost five years after Camille's first full length with Fishing for Comets, here "solo" CD should come out this year. Of course, I thought she'd have an album in 2010, but according to her, it will be released in 2011.

"We'll Go Walkin'", The O's
Many local CDs will be released next year, and of course everything is available for download. I even feel safe in saying there will be a healthy number of local vinyl releases in 2011. But how many bands will be able to claim release in all of the previously mentioned formats PLUS 8-track? Only The O's.

"Barn Burner", The Roomsounds
I'm not sure when in 2011 the band will release a CD, but I'm fairly certain it will happen. Also, keep your eyes on the lookout for a cool show featuring The Roomsounds. Soon. Very soon.

"Coffee at Midnight", The Red 100's
The Red 100's have just started to make their mark on the local music scene. I feel safe in saying that this will be an even bigger year for The Red 100's.

"Shivonne", Menkena
January 28th. Kessler Theater. CD release for With You I'll Travel. Kessler Theater. Also featuring Luna Matto and Daniel Folmer. Be there. No excuses.

Local Edge Playlist: 12/26/10

2010-12-27T00:26:00.004-06:00

Tonight's episode of The Local Edge with Mark featured Pete Freedman, music editor of the Dallas Observer, taking over the musical selections for the night.

"Ruded", Final Club
"Take My Advice", Wild Party
"We're Not Talking to Any More Lawyers", Analog Rebellion
"Beautiful Girl", Mr. Sleaze
"Salão Flamingo II", Branches feat. Sunnybrook
"Heart of Steel", Year of the Tiger
"Marnie", Novaak
"Worlds Destroyed", Mind Spiders
"Sociopath", Kimberly
"All Night Long", South San Gabriel

The Seventh Day of Christmas

2010-12-22T15:32:00.002-06:00

We are officially past the halfway mark on the Twelve Days of Christmas. Congratulations go out to all the winners, and I hope all of you have taken advantage of the free downloads from Rahim Quazi as well as Charming Gardeners. Now, what do you say we do a little giveaway? I thought you wouldn't mind.

Today's gift comes from the lovely people at Opening Bell Coffee. If you are a fan of acoustic, singer-songwriter music, you're undoubtedly familiar with the venue. Pascale Hall and the rest of the OBC crew are going to celebrate the seven year anniversary of the coffee house. This is no small feat, especially considering that Dallas is much more of a rock town than it is a place for introspective songwriter fare. But OBC has withstood the test of time, thanks to good coffee, friendly staff, and a healthy dose of the best acoustic music from local folks as well as touring acts. Simply put, Opening Bell Coffee is a slice of singer-songwriter heaven.

Pascale was kind enough to give me two $10 gift certificates to give away on the blog. All you have to do is put the name of your favorite act you saw play there this year in the subject line of the email. The first two emails received at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com will win. Oh, a little reminder: if you've won a previous contest, please do not enter. I'm looking for only one winner per Twelve Days of Christmas.

The Sixth Day of Christmas

2010-12-21T16:21:00.002-06:00

As previously stated, the original goal was to have Day 12 land on Christmas day. That was before I missed both days of the past weekend, meaning today is Day 6 and not Day 8. The original goal was to do a giveaway regarding the new Eight Track Museum being opened on Christmas day. Get it? Day 8 - Eight Track... pretty clever, huh?

My concern is that doing the giveaway of the new Day 8 (this Thursday) might be too late to get the prize to the winner. So instead, the Eight Track Museum giveaway happens today. Besides, if you squint just right, a 6 can kind of look like an 8, you know?

Anyways, here's some info you should know about the museum. The man behind the museum, T Bucks Burnett, has been a fixture of Dallas and the music scene ever since I can remember. He was the band behind the Fourteen Records store from 1988 through 1995, and also has a band called The Volares. He's also known for his love of the 8-track. I got to speak to the man about what he called the "black sheep" of the physical forms of music media. I wondered why he had such a love for the eight track. His first response? "It's sexy and cute". He also views it as a much neglected part of music history, a problem he's looking to rectify by opening the museum.

The museum opens on Christmas Day, and admission is $10. While I'm not giving away tickets to get into the museum, what I can do is offer a $20 gift certificate to use at the museum's gift shop. There you can buy t-shirts and other music related memorabilia. NOTE: the gift certificate is ONLY valid on opening day, so only try to win if you're going to attend Christmas day.

Speaking of 8-tracks, there will be a limited edition 8-track by an Idol Records artist coming out this coming February. The first person to email me at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com with the name of that artist in the subject line wins the gift certificate. Good luck!

The Lucky Thirteen: 12/21/10

2010-12-21T10:30:00.003-06:00

"Christmas Time Is Here", Chomsky

"Waiting on Christmas", The Adventures of Jet
I suppose I could do a Christmas playlist and not feature any tunes from Electric Ornaments, but it just wouldn't be right. Here are two of my faves from the CD.

"My Christmas List", Scott Riegel
I first saw Mr. Riegel perform at Bryan Street Tavern along with The O's and Whiskey Glass Eye (aka Slobberbone), and there's a certain charm to this 17 year old musician that has me highly curious about where he'll go next musically. For now, enjoy this fun acoustic Christmas ditty.

"What I Always Wanted", Chris Holt

"Christmas (Doesn't Have to Be So Bad)", THe BAcksliders
I'm lacking anything witty or insightful to say. I like Chris Holt. I like THe BAcksliders. I like these songs. Ok, on to the next song...

"Merry Christmas Now", Rahim Quazi
I hope everyone has enjoyed my gift of the Rahim Quazi mp3's. What, you haven't downloaded the tracks yet? Click here and get yourself some good tunes.

"Winter Wonderland in Dub", Clay Pendergrass
This is admittedly a rather long track, but I recommend sitting yourself down, relaxing, and allow yourself the time to appreciate this hypnotic gem from Mr. Pendergrass.

"Here It Is Christmas Time", Old 97's
Dear Santa, I've been a good blogger (for the most part). Could you leave me a pair of Old 97's New Year's Eve tickets in my stocking?

"Santa Baby", Smile Smile

"Silent Night", Smile Smile
Smile Smile has had quite a good year, and Truth on Tape was easily one of my favorite CDs of the year. I figured it'd be nice to have a double dose of Smile Smile.

"Run Rudolph Run", Reverend Horton Heat
Definitely one of the most rocking local music Christmas tunes ever. One would expect no less from The Rev.

"Christmas Eve", Salim Nourallah
There's nothing that'll get someone into the Christmas spirit than hearing Salim sing "Why can't we cheat death?". Merry Christmas!!!

"Christmas Time", Black Tie Dynasty
After that last track, I figured it was either hand out Prozacs or let you hear this song. For my money, this tune is the ultimate Christmas party song. Turn it up everyone, you'll know it's Christmas time because you won't be able to fight it.

The Fifth Day of Christmas

2010-12-20T17:35:00.004-06:00

Congratulations to last week's winner for the Good Records gift certificate. As you may have noticed, the pattern of ending on Christmas day has been derailed. Not to worry, there will still be twelve days worth of treats, just on different days than originally anticipated.

Today's treat is from Idol recording artists Charming Gardeners. I feel that their EP released this year slipped under the radar of most of the local music scene. That's a shame, as this group has quite an impressive list of local musicians as members, including Marc Solomon (ex-Clumsy plus the man behind Zound Sounds), Amy Curnow (ex-Shanghai 5), and Wade Cofer (Rose County Fair, Homespun Remedies). Oh, the songs are catchy too. Just listen to "Punchline Afternoon" to see what I'm talking about. Or better yet, download it.

MP3: Charming Gardeners - Punchline Afternoon

Local Edge Playlist: 12/19/10

2010-12-20T00:27:00.003-06:00

For those expecting to see Days 5 and 6 of Christmas over the weekend, sorry. Things got hectic and well, no gifts this weekend. I hope Santa doesn't hold it against me and leave a lump of coal in my stocking. In the meantime, Mark put on his 2nd annual "It's a Local Edge Christmas, Charlie Brown" episode. Forewarning #1: there will be a notable amount of overlap between his selections and tomorrow's Lucky 13. Forewarning #2: Mark said he played centro-matic's "Fuselage", which I didn't catch. In all fairness, I don't recall him mentioning the BTD song that I know he played. Oh, and for the cover of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas", he gave credit to Junuis Recording, but I did not hear him specify an artist. I think it may be the Dallas Family Band, but don't hold me to that. Anyways, here is what I believe to be the playlist. I promise to give a full refund of the price of this blog entry if I'm wrong.

"What I Always Wanted", Chris Holt
"Santa Baby", Smile Smile
"Jesus Christ", RTB2
"Christmas Swag", LehtMoJoe
"Up on the Housetop", The Rocketboys
"Christmas Time Is Here", Chomsky
"Merry Ex-Mas", GalleryCat
"It's Christmas time", PPT
"Last Christmas", Hendrick
"Angels We Have Heard on High", Quiet Company
"Christmas Time", Black Tie Dynasty
"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
"Happy X-Mas (War Is Over)", The Polyphonic Spree

Weekend Plans: 12/17/10

2010-12-17T13:21:00.004-06:00

'Twas the weekend before Christmas, but plenty of musician creatures will be stirring around town. Here are some of my top picks of the weekend. And please, if I've forgotten a good show, post it on the comments section.

FRIDAY:
The O’s/The King Bucks/Rodney Parker & The 50 Peso Reward (Sons of Hermann Hall)
This will probably be a very calm and uneventful show, as neither The O's or The King Bucks are much into partying. Wow, I can't even type that with a straight face. I mean, let's face it, when you look up the word "party", there's a picture featuring John Pedigo and Taylor Young right next to it. The King Bucks certainly are no strangers to partying either. And if you're looking for a country soundtrack to accompany your party, then this is the place to be. Plus, I'm sure The O's will be performing plenty of material from the upcoming CD, Between the Two.
Backside Pick/The Black & Blue/Informant (Hailey’s)
Those who came to last week's showcase were lucky enough to discover The Black & Blue, and based on the reaction of those in attendance, those who saw the band loved the band. I have previously described the band as a unique blend of soul, funk, blues, and rock. In this last showcase, the band also incorporated what I'd call a somewhat psychedelic influence, or at minimum a more progressive, experimental element to the songs. This only increases the level of complexity of trying to explain the band's sound. It also increases the hypnotic charm of the band.
Doug Burr/Shiny Around the Edges/Glen Farris (Lola’s)
I've previously seen Fate Lions listed on this bill, though it appears they are no longer part of the lineup. Still, Doug Burr alone is reason enough to go to Lola's, and Shiny Around the Edges make a nice substitute. Also, is it just me or is this the first SATE show in quite awhile?
Jayson Bales/Elkhart (Poor David’s Pub)
Word is that there will be guest appearance from nationally known singer-songwriters David Wilson and Kate Miner. Even if this is not the case, these two acts are more than worth the price of admission. Jayson Bales manages to write catchy gritty tunes with a somewhat Springsteenesque flair, and Elkhart have managed to create the most gorgeous alt-country soundscapes this city has seen since Pleasant Grove (the band, not the suburb).
Emmeline (Buon Giorno Coffee – Fort Worth)
I only thought there was the one Buon Giorno in Grapevine. Goes to show what I know. This particular location will host the official Fort Worth CD release show for Emmeline. I think it's been awhile since she's done a Fort Worth show, and I believe at one of her last FW shows, one of the bands had a truly unique set of videos in the background of the performance. I doubt she'll incorporate any of those videos in her act, but you should at least ask her about this story if you go tonight.

SATURDAY:
RTB2/Air Review/Old Snack (Double-Wide)
There was a time when it seemed there was an RTB2 show around every corner. It seems that the duo have been doing fewer shows lately. Air Review, on the other hand, has always spread out their shows fairly sparsely. You can catch both of these acts at this event benefiting The Gladley Center for Adoption. Good music and a good cause. Gotta love it.
Rahim Quazi (Obzeet)
Finally, a good show in the North Dallas area. That doesn't happen nearly often enough. He'll probably do a few new tunes from his upcoming CD Born on a Sunday as well as his Christmas song. Come to think of it, you can download a demo track from the upcoming CD as well as "Merry Christmas Now" right here on Ghost of Blind Lemon. Trust me, you'll want those mp3s in your collection.
41 Gorgeous Blocks/The Light Fantastic/Here Holy Spain/Soviet (Prophet Bar)
I thought that 41 Gorgeous Blocks had broken up years ago; it turns out they're still together and even releasing new music. You can catch the band at Prophet Bar and pick up a CD while you're at it. I'd also recommend getting there early enough for the aggressive yet catchy Here Holy Spain.
Ryan Adams Tribute Night (Opening Bell Coffee)
I have to confess that I've had a hard time getting into Mr. Adams. A large part of that is that I'm still holding a grudge against him for when he referred to the Old 97's as "wannabes with fake Texan accents". Admittedly this was way back in his Whiskeytown days, but I have a very long memory. Still, I know more than a few musicians who think highly of him, including GOBL favorite Nicholas Altobelli, who will be one of the individuals performing his songs at OBC. I'll still recommend this event, but I think that to balance things out, there needs to be a Rhett Miller/Old 97's tribute night. Who's in?

The Fourth Day of Christmas

2010-12-17T11:54:00.002-06:00

I have to say, playing Santa Claus is turning out to be a lot of fun. So far, I've given away a pair of Electric Ornaments CDs and a $30 tab for Lochrann's last night (for the record, the Pale Horse/Ronnie Fauss show there last night was amazing). Oh, and don't forget about the pair of Rahim Quazi mp3s that can still be downloaded.

Today's prize is a $10 gift certificate to Good Records. Whether you want CD or vinyl, new or used, or whatever else your musical heart desires, odds are you'll find it there. I cannot think of another store in town with the quality of merchandise of Good Records. And yes, there's always an abudance of good local music than can be purchased there. Also, don't forget about all the really cool in-store performances, all of which are listed on their website.

So, are you ready to find out what you have to do to win the gift certificate?

I'm not telling you here. Seriously, I'm not. If you want to win the gift certificate, you'll have to get the details on my Facebook page. What, you're not following Ghost of Blind Lemon on Facebook? If you want to win, you need to click here to change that. I'll announce how to win through Facebook between 4 and 5 PM CST. That gives you plenty of time to "like" Ghost of Blind Lemon. Good luck, and keep an eye on your Facebook page!

The Third Day of Christmas

2010-12-16T12:36:00.002-06:00

Congratulations to yesterday's winner of the $30 tab at Lochrann's. Even if you didn't win, you should still come out tonight and hang with your favorite ghost while watching Pale Horse and Ronnie Fauss.

So maybe you're feeling a little frustrated because you haven't won anything yet. Don't worry, because everyone is a winner today. I have not one, but two mp3s to share from Rahim Quazi. With the possible exception of THe BAcksliders, I'm not sure there's been another act that has gotten as much attention on the blog as Mr. Quazi. Why is that? Rahim is one of the best songwriters in the CD, an individual that deserves to be regarded on the same plane as Salim Nourallah, Doug Burr, and the like. His debut solo album, The Big Black Box, featured such classics as the very catchy "There You Go" and the heartbreak anthem "Coffeebreak". Don't let the melodic or lyrical simplicity of the latter track fool you, as it is one of the most potent tales of lost love I've heard.

But if The Big Black Box hinted at his greatness, Supernatural proved that greatness with undeniable style. The title track is not only one of the catchiest songs I've EVER heard, it's a beautifully inspirational tale that radiates joy from every note of its being. "Gifts and Burdens" and "So Much Better" are moodier and more introspective, yet also remain defiantly optimistic through the darkness. And "You Fool" proves that Mr. Quazi knows how to rock.

Rahim is about to embark on the next chapter of his musical career. His next album, Born on a Sunday, will be released next year. Most of the tracks I've heard exist within that moodier and introspective world, but word on the street is that many of the tracks yet to be debuted showcase his more rock side.

The first track, "I'm Thinking About You", is only a demo from the upcoming album, but it shows that Mr. Quazi hasn't lost one iota of his pop sensibilities. Consider it a nice teaser of what's to come in the next few months. The second track, "Merry Christmas Now", has been a live staple of his holiday season sets and featured on his MySpace, but I don't believe has ever been available to his fans... until now.

Enjoy the tunes, and I'll see you back here tomorrow with another giveaway.

MP3: Rahim Quazi - I'm Thinking About You
MP3: Rahim Quazi - Merry Christmas Now

The Second Day of Christmas

2010-12-15T10:39:00.003-06:00

Welcome to Day 2 of my Twelve Days of Christmas. Congratulations to yesterday’s winners, both of whom are receiving a copy of the Electric Ornaments CD compilation.

Today’s gift is courtesy of the fine folks at Wellhouse Co, who are bringing some mighty fine shows to Lochrann’s in Frisco. For those who haven’t been paying attention over the past six months or so, Wellhouse and Spune have brought some first rate local acts to the once musical ghost town of Frisco. Acts that have graced the Lochrann’s stage include Somebody’s Darling, The Happy Bullets, Dove Hunter, Cocky Americans, and The Virgin Wolves. And that’s not even counting Rhett Miller and all the acts at Oysterfest. Personally, I’d recommend following Wellhouse on the Facebook, because you will want to stay in the loop in regards to their shows.

But, I digress…

Wellhouse was kind enough to donate a $30 tab at Lochrann’s, good for food and/or drinks (and yes, that includes drinks with alcohol). There’s not a specific date it has to be used, but I would really, really, REALLY encourage you to take advantage of this offer tomorrow night.

Why tomorrow night, you ask? Fresh off their performance at my showcase at Green Elephant, Pale Horse is performing this Thursday at Lochrann’s. For those who have only seen the band at my most recent showcase, there will be a drummer at this show. So while I must say that the stripped down Pale Horse had a super cool vibe that reminded me of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s Howl period, this will be a full on rock show. The opening act will be Ronnie Fauss. His tune “I Can’t Make You Happy” was a big favorite of mine last year, and tunes like “Wish” and “Driving Through Memphis” off of this year’s Mulligan EP show that he’s no one hit wonder.

Want to win this $30 tab? All you have to do is answer this question…

What Pale Horse tune shares its name with a Top 10 hit by Linda Ronstadt? GOBL readers shouldn’t have a hard time figuring this one out, as this particular Pale Horse song has been a staple on the Lucky Thirteen for the past several months.

The first person to email me at ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com with the correct answer in the subject line wins the tab. Good luck!

The First Day of Christmas

2010-12-14T16:10:00.002-06:00

Welcome to Day 1 of my Twelve Days of Christmas. There will be no partridges or pear trees given away today. Instead, I have some local Christmas music to give away. In fact, it's arguably the definitive collection of local Christmas tunes. I, of course, am referring to the Electric Ornaments compilation released on Idol Records back in 2000.

Here are just five of the reasons why you should own the CD:

Chomsky's take on the Charlie Brown Christmas classic "Christmas Time is Here" turns the tune from a sappy sentimental song into a fun pop classic that never fails to bring some Christmas cheer into my heart.

"I'll Be Home for Christmas" is the vocal highlight of the CD, with Kim Bonner (Kim Pendleton at the time) pouring her heart into every note, delivering her trademark soulful, impassioned vocal stylings.

If you're needing a little humor thrown into your holiday mix, hear what happens to Deathray Davies on Christmas day due to their naughty behavior. I'm not going to tell you the song title; that'd spoil the surprise.
While McCartney's "A Wonderful Christmas Time" is a rather cheesy overplayed holiday tune, it feels a lot more fun when done by [DARYL].

Are you just tired of cheerful holiday tunes? There's a Pleasant Grove song on here, and heaven knows they don't know how to do cheerful.

Oh, there's also Viva Maxitone covering a song made popular from a cartoon based on a Dr. Seuss story.

The song is You're a Mean One, Mr. ______

The first two people to fill in the blank and send an email to ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com with the correct answer each win a CD.

The Twelve Days of Christmas... GOBL Style

2010-12-13T17:47:00.002-06:00

I've pondered different means by which I could grab the attention of my readers and bring in even more hits. I could do a series of interviews with musicians where I give voice to their deepest thoughts. I could do a thought provoking series about the state of the local music scene, both the progress that has been made and the work still do be done. I could even delve into the rich history of Dallas music, examining the glory days of Deep Ellum that started in the mid 90's. For that matter, I could research the Deep Ellum of the 1920's that gave us music from Robert Johnson and Blind Lemon Jefferson.

Or, I could just bribe everyone to read the blog.

Starting tomorrow and ending on Christmas day, I will give something away each and every day on the blog. Some days it may be something as small as an mp3 for everyone to download. Other days, it might be a CD or a gift certificate. You might even wind up with some cool concert tickets. The only way to find out what I'll be giving away is to check into the blog daily. For the actual giveaways (mp3s notwithstanding), read the instructions carefully, and send an email to ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com and you could be the lucky winner! The only other rule I'm going to state is that you cannot win more than once during this period. Again, mp3s don't count. Obviously.

So keep checking in... you never know what treats you'll find on Ghost of Blind Lemon.

The Lucky Thirteen: 12/13/10

2010-12-13T07:09:00.004-06:00

Just for the record, next week's playlist will be an all Christmas themed playlist. I am certainly open to suggestions for songs by either bands or fans. You can send your mp3s to ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com and if I like what I hear, odds are it'll wind up on next week's playlist. And as usual, if anyone wishes not to be on the list or be removed, you can use the same email address for those purposes. But seriously, why wouldn't you want your song figured?

"Indian Melody", Calhoun
After hearing "Knife Fight" on The Local Edge with Mark, I was quite curious to hear more of what the band had been up to. Jordan Roberts was kind enough to send me a mp3 copy of Heavy Sugar, and this may be my favorite album the band has ever put out. Lead singer Tim Locke describes the effort as more of a return to pop. The genre of pop has been maligned over the years, particularly due to the fact that pop has become synonymous with overproduced, cookie cutter top 40 songs. This track serves as a reminder that pop, done correctly, is a most enjoyable thing.

"We'll Go Walkin'", The O's
I must say, I'm proud to have debuted the new O's track on my blog this past Tuesday. The album it's from, Between the Two, will be released in February. The Calhoun and O's CDs are two of my most anticipated releases of 2011, and both acts feature Taylor Young. Coincidence? I think not.

"Allison", Luna Matto
I may not have an exact record of which songs I've listened to the most within the past month, but this track would certainly have to be in the top 5.

"Try Try Try", Spector 45
Many years, it has been a struggle to find good New Year's Eve shows. This year, there is an overabundance. Just for starters, Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights headline at Granada Theater, Air Review headlines at Dada, and Ishi headlines at Trees. The Spector 45/Marfalites lineup at The Bone has gotten less press than most of the other fine options, but I did not want the show to go ignored.

"Coffee at Midnight", The Red 100's
Finally had the pleasure of meeting Robbie D. Love from The Red 100's. He's quite a talented guitarist, and that talent can be audibly heard in the Red 100's. It's not easy as an instrumental band to keep a listener's attention, but if tracks like this are any indication, The Red 100's will have no difficulty commanding their fan's respect.

"Silent Night", Smile Smile
Here's a little holiday tune from Smile Smile to get you in the Christmas spirit.

"Flower on the Wall", Kerri Arista
I've previously included her track "Walk Beside Me" on the Lucky 13, a very sweet and beautiful song. Kerri has just released a new album, 50 Different Ways, and I have a hunch that her name will become a quite familiar one in the singer-songwriter world next year. This is a small taste of what her album has to offer.
"District County Court", Daniel Folmer
I don't have any special explanation for why I included this song, other than the fact that I like it. That's a good enough reason, right?

"to the 9's", hormones
A few weeks ago, when I asked for readers to recommend tracks for the Lucky 13, I received a couple of requests for the band hormones (the band prefers the name not to be capitalized). Since I did not have any mp3s of the band at the time, that was a request that obviously could not be fulfilled. Jordan Williams finally emailed me this track, and it's a quite interesting an unique track. I mean that in a good way.

"The Spilling Blood Child", RTB2
RTB2 will play Saturday night at Double-Wide for the fifth annual Orphanage benefit, along with Air Review and Old Snack.

"End of the Planet", The Adventures of Jet
Sometimes I randomly type in band names and see if Grooveshark has anything by that artist. Sometimes I find myself pleasantly surprised by what's in their catalog. Case in point: Grooveshark has both Adventures of Jet CDs available in their entirity. No Bobgoblin yet, but that's still pretty amazing.

"...Name of Every Star", Red Monroe
I had a conversation with Chris Demiglio of the Demigs recently, and the band Red Monroe came up in conversation. Both of us thought that the band had broken up and faded into oblivion. This is an instance where I'm glad to be wrong. The band has new material available on bandcamp, and it's a pay what you feel like deal. I suspect there'll be an official album release early next year. I'll let you know more as I do.

"You're No Good", Pale Horse
Finally, I'd like to take the opportunity to give out some thank you's. Thanks to Travis Behl and the entire staff of the Green Elephant for letting me host my showcase there and making me feel welcome. Thanks to Pale Horse, for playing even minus a drummer, and thanks also to THe BAcksliders and The Black & Blue. And finally, thanks to everyone who came out and supported the showcase and the bands. Let's do this again soon, okay?

Also, keep your eye on the blog, because later today, I'll be making an announcement that you're going to want to hear. Trust me.

Local Edge Playlist: 12/12/10

2010-12-12T23:58:00.003-06:00

On tonight's episode, Mark counted down his top 10 local albums of the year. These are his choices of albums, as well as the songs he played from each of the albums.

Night & Day, The Secret Handshake
"Fresh Start"

Truth on Tape, Smile Smile
"Truth on Tape"

Novels, The Burning Hotels
"Boy or Girl"

Suburban Nature, Sarah Jaffe
"Clementine"

O Ye Devastator, Doug Burr
"Red, Red"

Devil's Nest, Lalagray
"Devil's Nest"
"Bag of Bones (Recorded Live)"

Through the Trees, Ishi
"Our Time"
"New York Charm (Recorded Live)"

Spooky Folk, Spooky Folk
"My Niagra Heart"

When We Were Wild, The Orbans
"New Dress"
"Like a Liar (Recorded Live)"

The Beaten Sea, The Beaten Sea
"Lonesome Tune"

Weekend Plans: 12/10/10

2010-12-10T13:18:00.003-06:00

Normally, this is the time of week where I list all the best local shows happening on Friday and Saturday. There is often an accidental omission of a show or two on my part, but it is not my intention to deliberately leave out good shows. Well, normally that's the case. Today, however, I break that rule. Today, I feel there's only one Friday show worth mentioning. And yes, I'm more than a little biased. The Ghost of Blind Lemon showcase at Green Elephant is the one show you need to attend tonight. I can honestly say that I feel I've gotten the three best live acts in Dallas under one roof: The Black & Blues, Pale Horse, and THe BAcksliders. If you want to know more of my thoughts on these acts, click here for my very detailed opinion on each band.

Here's a few other things you should know about tonight's show. The show starts at 10:00 with The Black & Blues, and trust me, you need to get there early enough to catch their entire set. At 11:00, Pale Horse will be doing an acoustic set. And at midnight, THe BAcksliders will be playing their final show of 2010. There are no additional dates mentioned on the website, and Chris Bonner posted a Facebook message stating this would be their last show until March. So if you don't want to go into severe BAcksliders withdrawal, you would be wise to come to tonight's show.

Okay, okay, I'll mention one more Friday show. Emmeline is playing at Mokah, along with Arielle Page and Stephanie Walker. It's an early show, and you should be done in time to make it over to Green Elephant for Black & Blues. Emmeline has even declared my showcase as the official afterparty for the Mokah show, so listen to what she said.

Now, for some Saturday shows:

Rahim Quazi & The Supernaturals (LaGrange)
This is a brunch show, but if you're not too partied out after my showcase, this is sure to be a lot of fun. He'll likely perform a mix of Rahim classics plus tracks from his upcoming CD. As for the performance itself, the one constant in his set is variety. Mr. Quazi is constantly changing songs in the live format, and it's always interesting to see what new twists he brings to his songs.
Binary Sunrise/Emotion & The Cosmos/GalleryCat (City Tavern)
Mo Brown may be best known for her background vocals with Jonathan Tyler & Northern Lights, but she gets her rightful opportunity for center stage with Emotion & The Cosmos. Her track "Neptune's Rising" is a rocking, soulful, and insightful jam that while it may not showcase her vocals as much, it's a quite captivating and intelligent track. Binary Sunrise and Gallery Cat round out this bill that is likely going to have the audience moving and shaking what their mother gave them.
Camille Cortinas/Salim Nourallah/Jay Gummer (Opening Bell Coffee)
GoBL readers should certainly be familiar with the names of Mrs. Cortinas and Mr. Nourallah. You may not know, however, that tonight's show is a fundraiser for the Samaritan Inn, Collin County's largest homeless shelter. So if you like to give and receive, then tonight you can give to this worthy cause and your eardrums will receive a lovely treat.

O Yes! Brand New Song from The O's

2010-12-07T01:44:00.005-06:00

In a conversation I had with Taylor Young over two years ago, he mentioned in passing this little side project he was starting with John Pedigo called The O's. I doubt either of us at the time knew exactly how big the duo would become. The band has become a fixture in the local music scene, and even toured Europe last year to promote their debut album, We Are The O's.

The band's follow up CD, Between the Two, will be released in February on Idol Records as a download, CD, record, and 8-track (yes, you read that correctly). While you'll have another two months to wait to get the whole album, the first single hits iTunes today. "We'll Go Walkin'" is exactly what you'd expect from the band: good banjo picking courtesy of Mr. Pedigo, nice harmonies on the chorus, and a very catchy melody. For the record, the track was produced by Stuart Sikes, who has produced more good local songs than I could on both hands and feet.

Erv Kerwalis of Idol was kind enough to allow me to share this track with my readers. You can stream the track below and give it a listen. Once you fall in love with the song as will inevitably happen, you can use the link below to order the song on iTunes.

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/well-go-walkin-single/id408455470

The Lucky Thirteen: 12/6/10

2010-12-06T07:00:00.003-06:00

As you might have noticed, I'm just a little bit excited about my showcase this Friday at Green Elephant. For those who somehow missed my post and tweets, here's the deal: THe BAcksliders, Pale Horse, and The Black & Blues are performing a showcase of mine this Friday at The Green Elephant. And not to brag or anything, but this is going to be seriously amazing. I am super proud of this lineup, and I hope you will come and check it out.

But back to the playlist. This week, I'm spotlighting not only the artists playing my showcase this Friday, but an assortment of acts that I have had the privilege of performing at my showcases.

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.

"Regular Nights", THe BAcksliders
This is the second showcase of mine featuring THe BAcksliders. They also performed for the GOBL one year anniversary show at Club Dada in 2008.

"You're No Good", Pale Horse
Pale Horse has also had experience with GOBL showcases, having performed this past May at my Cavern showcase.

"Thinkuboutmi", Keite Young
Unfortunately, I do not have any Black & Blues songs to share with you. I'll do the next best thing, and feature a solo track from B&B lead singer Keite Young. This guy has a serious set of pipes on him, and you need to get there good and early so that you don't miss this band.

"What I Always Wanted", Chris Holt
I love it when I get to be the first to debut a song. Erv from Idol Records shared this new Christmas track from Mr. Holt, and I'm stoked to let my readers hear it now! And just so you know, Chris performed at the first GOBL showcase, which was held December 29, 2007 at Opening Bell Coffee.

"Borrowed Time", The Monco Poncho
The Monco Poncho headlined my first showcase at Lakewood Bar & Grill...

"The Queen Himself", Fate Lions
And Fate Lions headlined my last showcase at that venue.

"Rocketships", Menkena
Menkena helped me ring in the second year anniversary of the blog with a show at City Tavern.

"Romance Tried to Kill Me", Cocky Americans
Cocky Americans were on the same Cavern bill with Pale Horse. Roomsounds played that night as well.

"Your Virgo", Lovie
Lovie has played two showcases of mine. The first was an Opening Bell Coffee showcase, mere days after the band won Quick magazine's 2008 Battle of the Bands. The second time, they played at Lakewood Bar & Grill along with The Felons and The Burgundys.

"We've Had Everything", The O's
The O's also performed at my two year anniversary show at City Tavern. And no, you didn't miss out on the 3 year anniversary show. I didn't organize one. I guess I'll have to make #4 even bigger to make up for it.

"Buyer's Remorse", Les Americains
Here's yet another in the long list of acts that played my Lakewood Bar & Grill showcases.

"Slideshows", Rose County Fair
John Pedigo has done plenty of my showcases, both as half of The O's as well as this band of his. RCF played both of my showcases at Dada, both my one year anniversary show as well as my January 2009 showcase that also featured The O's, Erik Neff, and Nicholas Altobelli.

"She Falls", Rahim Quazi
I believe Mr. Quazi holds the record for most GOBL showcases. He was played solo at my first showcase, then Rahim & The Supernaturals performed the Dada 1 year anniversary show, and he also played one of my Lakewood Bar & Grill shows. And I have a VERY strong feeling that he'll be adding a fourth show to his musical resume. Curious? Good.

Local Edge Playlist: 12/5/10

2010-12-06T00:25:00.005-06:00

"Cut the Lights", Manned Missiles
"Virgin Eyes", Hoyotoho
"to the 9's", hormones (NOTE: I'm normally very picky about capitalization and grammar, but the band insists on doing lower case rock)
"Stories", Heard
"Allison", The Burning Hotels
"Rome", The Fox and the Bird
"River Song", Seryn
"You're No Good", Pale Horse
"Truth or Fiction", The Slack
"Two Tone", Sundress
"Just Wanna Try", Luna Matto
"Black Swans", Datahowler
"For All I Know", Charming Gardeners

Finally, thanks to Mark for the kind mention on the show, and thanks for all the cool tunes like these that you bring to the airwaves.

Weekend Plans: 12/3/10

2010-12-03T13:33:00.002-06:00

FRIDAY:
Dovetail (Banana Republic - Galleria Mall)
Personally, I'm not one for mall shopping, but having a good band play in a mall is enough to make me want to endure the madness of Christmas mall shopping. The band starts early, at about 5, and will have you out in plenty of time for whatever other good show you want to see tonight.
Kim Lenz & The Jaguars/Spector 45 (LaGrange)
Is rockabilly dead? I'm not talking about psychobilly; that is obviously quite well and alive. I'm talking about pure, unadulterated rockabilly in its truest form. It has seemed as if the genre had just about faded into oblivion, particularly in the world of local music. Ms. Lenz, perhaps one of the best known locals ever within that genre, is helping to bring life back into rockabilly. And while Spector 45 is more greaser punk than rockabilly, their electric set will make an excellent opening act for Ms. Lenz
3 Rivers Alice/Rahim Quazi & The Supernaturals (The Grotto)
Mr. Quazi is a longtime GOBL favorite, and he's hard at work on the follow-up to 2008's Supernatural. If you ask really nicely, he might play you a new song or two. And for those not in the know, The Grotto is in Fort Worth, located in what used to be Lola's on the Stockyards.
Kirby Brown/The Roomsounds/Becky Middleton/SeaStroke/Bradley Wiley (Prophet Bar)
Christmas is upon us, and that means tacky, cheesy Christmas sweater season is here. This show celebrates those fashion no-no's, with plenty of music. Most notable on the lineup are The Roomsounds, who walk the line between 60's classic rock and 90's alternative pop, and Becky Middleton, a piano based singer-songwriter with a seriously intense voice.
Andrew Delaney and the Horse You Rode In On/Four Left Turns/Jessie Frye (City Tavern)
I've yet to see either Mr. Delaney or Ms. Frye, but both singer-songwriters have impressed me with their intelligent and catchy tunes. The two would seem an unlikely fit on one bill. Andrew's music lies within the alt-countryish realm, whereas Jessie is a perfect fit for fans of Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant, and the like. I don't know the middle act; perhaps they somehow form a bridge between the two sounds to make the transition between the two easier.
The King Bucks (Adair's)
If this band keeps playing there so frequently, it's only a matter of time before the Adair's patrons get out the marker and start writing on the band members. Seriously though, ears on the band and markers off the musicians.

SATURDAY:
Epic Ruins/Calhoun/The Orbans (Lola’s)
Ask, and you shall receive. On this week's Lucky Thirteen, I hinted to the members of Calhoun that I'd love to get a copy of their upcoming CD, Heavy Sugar. Guess what I found in my virtual mailbox? If killer hooks are your thing (and they're definitely mine), then you're level of love for Calhoun is going to go through the roof. Speaking of CD's, this is the CD release show for Epic Ruins. The Orbans round out this bill that is THE destination for everyone in Funkytown. Frankly, this is a lineup worthy of a trip to FW.
A Spune Christmas ’10 (Hailey’s)
Telegraph Canyon will most likely be the biggest draw in this larger than life showcase (click here for the Facebook invite details), but as far as I'm concerned, Doug Burr will be the musical highlight of this show. From what I've heard of O Ye Devastator, it's filled with all the usual trademarks of Mr. Burr's music: haunting vocals, beautiful melodies, and well-crafted stories. Alas, I'm only speaking from the samples I've heard of the CD, as I don't own it. Hmm... I asked for Calhoun's CD and got it. I wonder...
Bravo, Max!/Possessed by Paul James/Horsethief/Parallel Play (The Prophet Bar)
Call it a hunch, but I have a feeling that 2011 is going to be a huge year for Bravo, Max! Word of mouth about the band is growing, thanks in no part to a live experience that is hard to classify, but even harder not to like. The sound is certainly eclectic, blending elements of alt-country, world beat, and other sounds that I can't even put my finger on. Don't wait until next year to see them. If you see them now, you can claim that you were a fan before everyone else caught on.
Summer Ames/Paul Slavens/Garrett Owen (Opening Bell Coffee)
Although Summer's CD, Complicated Daydream, was released last year, it seems as if the momentum for her music has really built this year. And with her now being added to Kirtland's roster, expect her following to grow even further. Paul Slavens holds the middle slot. I'm hoping he'll perform tunes from his CD, but I won't object if he does his typical make up songs for donations schtick because that's a lot of fun as well. Garrett Owen opens the show, and he's one of the few truly great male vocalists in this town. He's also a seriously good guitarist, and a great songwriter as well. In short, if you like singer-songwriters, this is where you need to be.

Is a Picture Worth 1000 Words?

2010-12-02T15:07:00.003-06:00

If so, then thanks to Bristen Lee Phillips for "writing the following story."

The Lucky Thirteen: 11/29/10

2010-11-29T22:29:00.003-06:00

Due to difficulties with Grooveshark, today's playlist has been severely delayed. Before reading comments on the artists, I'd like to point out that two artists on this week's Lucky Thirteen, namely Phoenix Hart and Ronnie Fauss, have Black Monday specials, so hurry to take advantage!!!

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.

"Christmas (Doesn't Have to Be So Bad)", THe BAcksliders
I hope everyone has seen the major showcase announcement on the blog featuring this band as the headliner. Here's a little Christmas song from the band. Now that Thanksgiving is over, I feel it's safe to start dusting off the Christmas songs.

"District County Court", Daniel Folmer
I'm not sure whether the proper artist name for this song is Daniel Folmer or Danny Rush. I just know that I'm digging this more rockin' country side of the man.

"Until We Meet Again", Phoenix Hart
While at Emmeline's CD party (I'll discuss the event more later), I had the privilege of meeting Ms. Hart. She's every bit as likable as her tunes. Speaking of those tunes, you can download her album Save Love for a mere $4.99 until Tuesday, 2:00 A.M. CST. Trust me, that's a steal that you don't want to miss out on.

"Do You Love Me?", The Bat Mastersons
Thanks to my friend Michelle Stockton for giving me a copy of Tales from The Edge Vol. 7 & 8, featuring this Bat Mastersons classic that I hadn't heard since it came out in 1993. It was a nice blast from the past.

"8587 (Birthday)", Sore Losers
Nic Hernandez requested the duo's "Epic Outro" a few weeks back. Now I'm spotlighting my personal favorite of Sore Losers.

"When We Were Wild", The Orbans
The Orbans will open for the Epic Ruins CD release show at Lola's this Saturday. Calhoun, also featured on this week's Lucky Thirteen, completes the bill.

"Clara", Paul Slavens
Also this Saturday night, Opening Bell Coffee has quite the stellar lineup with Summer Ames, Garrett Owen, and Mr. Slavens. No word on whether he'll be performing songs from Alphabet Girls, Vol. I, making up songs for donations, or both.

"Virtue and Vice", The Virgin Wolves
Ah, more good shows... this one taking place this Thursday at Rubber Gloves, with Deep Snapper and Paper Robot opening.

"Apocalypse (A Love Story)", Calhoun
I've heard the band's new track, "Knife Fight", on The Local Edge with Mark. I'd love to post that song on a Lucky Thirteen, but alas, I don't have the song. Do you hear that, members of Calhoun? I'd love to play songs from your upcoming album, Heavy Sugar, but I don't have it yet. Maybe you can fix that problem? And no, I'm not too proud to hit up bands for CDs if the music is awesome enough.

"Shivonne", Menkena
Menkena will opening for Birds & Batteries this Thursday at Lochrann's in Frisco. While you're there, bug Jimmy and ask him when the album's coming out.

"A Hundred Years", Emmeline
A few times a year, a show takes place that is more than a nice show, but transcends into a genuinely beautiful experience. Emmeline's CD release was one of those nights. This is a very talented young lady, and I'm proud to have been a part in helping her music get out to the public. Well done, Emmeline, well done.

"Barn Burner", The Roomsounds
What happens when you mix The Roomsounds, Becky Middleton, and ugly Christmas sweaters? Find out Friday night at The Prophet Bar.

"Driving Through Memphis", Ronnie Fauss
Ronnie's CDs are being sold for a 2-for-1 price; click here to take advantage of this opportunity. This track is from his new CD, Mulligan, and will most likely be played Saturday when he opens for Grant Jones and the Pistol Grip Lassos at the Kessler Theater this ~~Friday~~ Thursday.

December 10th: The Official Announcement

2010-11-29T12:33:00.003-06:00

A while back, I informed you that you needed to save the date of December 10th. Well, now I'm thrilled to announce the lineup for this Ghost of Blind Lemon showcase being held at The Green Elephant. This is an incredibly special showcase for me, as these three acts are currently my favorite live bands in the metroplex. I'm not just saying this because they're the bands in this showcase. Instead, I intentionally decided to gather these three favorites of mine in one lineup. If you're familiar with these bands, you will understand my high level of enthusiasm. And yet if you're not familiar with one (or even all) of the bands, this would be a fabulous opportunity to check out some killer tunes.

The Black & Blues start the night off in style. Most of my readers are probably not familiar with this band, and it is my mission to change that. The band manages to incorporate elements of soul, funk, rock, and yes, blues, and assemble these parts into something new and fresh. The band's co-vocalists, Keite Young and Goldie Furnow, bring a soulful vocal intensity to all the tracks. Is this music easy to classify? Not in the least. But if you're looking for a band that is not looking to follow the latest trend but instead start it, then The Black and Blues are a must see.

Up next on the lineup is Pale Horse, a band that, in my book, has defined 2010 possibly more than any other act. I have never seen lead singer J.R. Denson deliver less than 110% on any vocal performance. As for lyrics, the band challenges the audience with unconventional lyrical topics regarding religion, politics, war, and family matters. While emotionally intense, with songs as catchy as "You're No Good" and "Will You Be There", Pale Horse delivers thought provoking messages in a manner that is never preachy. Like The Black & Blues, this music is not easy to classify. It's equal parts southern rock and psychedelia, with slight hints of reggae and blues infused into the sonic mix. And the live show? "Wow" is the only word that comes close to describing it.

Finally, THe BAcksliders wrap up the evening in true rock and roll style, a favorite of mine ever since the first time I saw the band in 2006. The band has won Dallas Observer Music Awards in both the Blues and Hard Rock categories, yet neither category is really the right fit for the band. There are definite blues elements in many songs for sure, and THe BAcksliders definitely rock quite hard, especially in a live setting. The truth, however, is that THe BAcksliders are the last of a dying breed: the rock and roll band. Not alt-rock, not indie-rock, not post-progressive-emo-death-core-rock, but good old fashioned rock and roll. It's a simple formula, yes, but executed in a first rate manner thanks in large part to the incredible vocal talent of Kim Bonner and the severely underrated guitar skills of Chris Bonner, one of the finest in the area. If you're ready to rock, then you're ready for THe BAcksliders, simple as that.

So here's a quick recap:

Date: December 10th
Place: The Green Elephant
Bands: THe BAcksliders, Pale Horse, The Black & Blues
Level of Awesomeness: Off the charts

Local Edge Playlist: 11/28/10

2010-11-29T00:11:00.003-06:00

"Sexy Weekend", Legsweeper
"Buyer's Remorse", Les Americains
"Virgin Eyes", Hoyotoho
"River song", Seryn
"Devil's Nest", Lalagray
"The Penitent", Whiskey Folk Ramblers
"Childhood (LehtMoJoe Remix)", GalleryCat vs. Mount Righteous
"Write for You", Goodwin
"Relying", Katie Carroll
"Allison", The Burning Hotels
"The Walls (What the Birds Know)", The Boom Boom Box
"Virtue and Vice", The Virgin Wolves
"Good Night's Rest", Tweed EQ
"Knife Fight", Calhoun
"Child and Cobra", Epic Ruins

(Just my opinion here, but the Hoyotoho song is totally sick... in a good way)

Weekend Plans: Black Friday Edition

2010-11-26T12:30:00.003-06:00

Undoubtedly, a number of you woke up early and battled it out with other shoppers at your favorite retail store. Sounds like fun, huh? I didn't think so either. Now that the beginning of the holiday season shopping frenzy has gotten to you, I recommend unwinding at a show this weekend. Here are some of your finer options.

FRIDAY:
Emmeline/Steve Jackson/Josh Cooley (Ten Times Cellar)
You do not understand how excited I am that Emmeline's Early Morning Hours is finally getting a proper CD release. Her slightly jazzy, highly melancholy tunes of pain and heartbreak are simply first-rate. Whether it be the tales of mourning in "The Story" or dealing with a friend's addiction in "Where the Light Is", Emmeline weaves well crafted musical stories set to a gorgeous melodic background. You can get your own copy of the CD tonight with the cost of admission. Don't know where Ten Times Cellar is? That's why I included a link. Speaking of links, here's a link to my interview with Emmeline, in case you haven't read it yet.
Spindrift/Fate Lions/The Cush (Kessler Theater)
Headlining band Spindrift is the only non-local band on the lineup. Fate Lions is unarguably Funkytown's finest power pop act, and The Cush has packed up their shoegaze sound and relocated it back to the metroplex. I'm hoping that means we'll see more of the band in the months to come.
Eleven Hundred Springs (Dan’s Silverleaf)
Country, like most music genres as of late, seems to be divided into a myriad of categories. There's alt-country, renegade country, Americana, Nashvegas, and so on. Eleven Hundred Springs, on the other hand, is country. The band needs no further classification. Country purists, this show's for you.
Dave Little/Chad Stockslagger/Laura Harrell (Allgood Cafe)
Are you still stuffed from Thanksgiving dinner? Even if so, you'll want to make room for one of Allgood's most tasty entrees. Throw in some Dave Little comedy, the keyboard stylings of Mr. Stockslagger (arguably the finest keyboard player in town), and Laura Harrell minus the other half of Romp Almighty, and you've got a delicious night of food and music.
The Roomsounds/Gypsy Bravado (LaGrange)
Looks like we'll have to wait until next year for the debut album of The Roomsounds. Based on what I've heard, I think we can expect a nice blend of pop hooks along with a certain alt-country sensibility. Can't wait.

SATURDAY:
The Rocket Summer/He Is We (The Prophet Bar)
All right, go ahead and laugh and make fun of this show, indie hipsters. Here's the dirty truth: Bryce Avery's first official album, Calendar Days, has more than a few tracks (notably "This Is Me" and "Mean Thoughts and Cheap Shots") that Ben Folds has to be kicking himself for not writing first. While overall I haven't dug Of Mice and Angels as much, "Walls" is still one of the most powerful tunes I've heard all year. It's a haunting beautiful tale of personal struggle that has remained in my ears (and in my heart) throughout the year. Go ahead, hipsters, and laugh. You know you're listening to this when no one's looking.
Emily Elbert/Damon C. Clark (Kessler Theater)
I've probably told this story on the blog before, so if you've heard it, have patience with me. I was chatting with someone at Opening Bell several years ago about Emily, and he said "She's pretty good for her age." I take strong exception with that statement. When Ms. Elbert truly cuts loose on the guitar, there are few people in the metroplex that can compete with her. It doesn't matter whether male or female, or whether the musician is 18 or 80 or somewhere in between. She deserves to be regarded at the same level as Chris Holt, Ryan Thomas Becker, and the area's other finest instrumentalists. I just hope that once Emily finishes college, she moves back to Dallas.
The JC Experience (LaGrange)
I still haven't seen the spectacle that is the JC Experience, but it seems to have become an institution at LaGrange. Mr. Pedigo and Mr. Stockslagger must be onto something.

Emmeline: The Interview

2010-11-24T10:41:00.004-06:00

Last Tuesday, I met up with Emmeline at the Dunn Brothers Coffee in Addison to interview her. The only problem was that there was someone performing there, and that doesn’t work well for an interview. We then headed up to the Starbucks at Belt Line and the Dallas North Tollway, only to find out we chose the one Starbucks location that closes before eight. This was not exactly the best omen. We finally made our way to the Texadelphia restaurant in the same shopping area before beginning the interview. Here is just part of the interview, even featuring interruptions by the waitstaff. Bet the waitress wasn't counting on being part of the interview.

GOBL: Here’s something I’ve wondered: Most of your songs are about heartbreak, sadness, painful times, etc., and yet on a personal level, you are about the complete antithesis of that. You’re actually one of the happiest musicians I know. So, how do you explain that dichotomy?

Emmeline: Well, first of all, thanks for thinking I’m one of the happiest musicians you know. That’s a huge compliment. I think that actually it makes more sense for me to write sad songs and then be a happy person. The music becomes an outlet and a channel through which I can express all of the sadness. I think that the other beauty of music is that it allows you to give voice to things that people don’t usually talk about. When you get your heart broken, it’s not something that you want to go spill all over town; you don’t want to invite the criticism. You don’t want to deal with other people’s perceptions of whatever relationship you had, and this allows you to be completely and totally honest about what you’re feeling. The beauty of music is that you can be as vulnerable as you want to be, and at the end of the day you’ve exercised those feelings. You can be a happier person for it.

GOBL: Let me discuss one of those heartbreak songs. One of my favorites off the album, as you know, is “Where the Light Is.” How did that song come to be?

E: That’s actually an interesting question because for me, “Where the Light Is” isn’t necessarily about a romantic relationship. I was very close to someone who was struggling with addiction, and one of the hardest lessons to learn is that you can’t make anybody do anything that they don’t want to do. It was something my dad always told me when I was growing up, and I always thought he was a liar because I was like, “There has to be something harder than that.” But I think it’s true, especially when you see somebody suffering and you know that there’s a way they can fix it and you give them the answer over and over and over and over, but for whatever reason they won’t apply it. For me, that’s what that song is about, learning that you can only try so many times before you recognize the toll it’s taking in your life and then you have to walk away.

GOBL: There was a line in the song and I’m wondering if it was directly inspired by your father. It was…

Waitress: Are you ready?

E: I’d like to get the chicken tenders and could I get some applesauce to go with that?

Waitress: Sure

GOBL: Okay, now where was I…

E: (commenting on the sound playing in the background) I cover this song and change the words. Have you heard this song?

GOBL: Is this Taylor Swift?

E: I cover this song and change the words because this is the most ridiculous notion ever, that you’re only in a happy relationship if you own the other person and they own you. “You’re the best thing that’s ever been mine”. I mean, that sounds like the worst relationship ever. Also, the notion that any problems that you have can be solved by one memory of sitting by the water and being happy is… poppycock. It’s not true. Is the tape recorder still on?

GOBL: It is, and…

E: (trying to avoid a potential Emmeline/Taylor Swift war of words) I love Taylor Swift, I do. She has this song on the record called “Last Kiss” that is amazing! It’s such a beautifully morose picture of heartbreak. I love it.

GOBL: So you’ve talked about what a love song should NOT be. What are some love songs that you think are good songs?

E: I’m so glad you asked. Have you heard “The Reasons” by The Weakerthans? I love it. I really enjoy unconventional portrayals of love because I think that those are the most honest portrayals of it. I don’t think that there’s any relationship that’s flowers and rainbows and cotton candy all the time. I think you go through things that are difficult. There’s this song by The Afters called “Ocean Wide” that has a line that goes “When love is a raging sea, you can hold on to me, and we’re going to make it.” I think that that’s the way it works. There are great times and there are really hard times, but at the end of the day if you can hold on to each other and you can still want to be with the other person, that’s what love is. It’s not somewhere where everything goes perfectly.

GOBL: Let me ask you about another one of your songs. What is the story behind “The Story”?

E: This is so lame. Honestly, one of the things I struggled with when writing this record was how to hold on to the people you love, how tightly to hold them, how to guide them. That doesn’t necessarily just mean romantic relationships. There are friendships and familial relationships where the politics are difficult. You have to figure out a way to be the best and most honest person you can be while not stepping on their toes and letting them be who they’re going to be. It’s an odd dichotomy of acceptance and growth. I think that’s the idea that I was struggling with when I wrote this story. That and loss.

GOBL: (mishearing) Lost, as in the TV show?

E: No, loss, as in the idea of losing somebody (laughing). Yes, well I was thinking about this plane and how it landed on this island with all these crazy people and I wonder what would happen if one of them took a whole bunch of pills. That’s going into the interview, isn’t it?

GOBL: I’ll have to incorporate that. If I’m going to have Taylor Swift in the interview, I’ve got to include my issues with hearing.

E: I had this very cool seven chord progression that was very jazzy that I was working with. I was going to try to write a happy song and it just was not working for me. I took the dog for a walk and ended up by the lake and was staring at the water and the line “There’s a lady named Miranda on the sidewalk by the bay” popped into my head. It wrote itself…

Waitress: Here’s your food.

E: Thanks. Anyway, the song wrote itself essentially in twenty minutes as I was taking laps around the park. I had heard about pharm parties a few days before that, and I just kept thinking about what kind of situation has to come together for that to arise. All I could think of was these kids whose parents have a lot of money, but not a lot of time to pay attention. I think that’s when the saddest things happen. Ultimately, my goal in writing that was not to bum the whole world out, but to make people think about appreciating the people that are close to them and about paying attention really. The idea in my head behind Miranda and her husband in the song is that he went to war, he came back, he had PTSD, and it was something that ultimately drove him to self-destruction. Then you have kind of the same issue with Sebastian and his parents. They’re not around a whole lot. There’s a reason that I said “He pulls the pills out of the cabinet, hoping that they’ll reprimand,” because he’s looking for any shred of attention. I think there are so many instances in which people are crying out for help before something happens and if you can hear those cries for help if you can pay attention to that need then maybe there wouldn’t be as loss.

GOBL: I’ve heard that John Keener, from Lakewood Bar & Grill, had a part in helping you write that song. Did he have any part in helping you with the song?

E: Funny story. OK, John had teased me about writing a bunch of first person confessional songs and so I had been thinking a lot about writing a song in 3rd person and it’s not the only song I’ve ever written in 3rd person but yeah, that was definitely a big part of it. I had totally forgotten about that.

GOBL: I was curious; I think John takes a great amount of pride in having a part in helping you write the song. Speaking of “The Story”, you’ve created a, shall we say, interesting way of promoting this song (and others) through video. Where did you find these people for the video?

E: Well you know I’m kind of a kooky, happy, crazy personality. I was thinking about ways of promoting this record and I sat down with a good friend of mine, Mandy Caulkins, who helps me with a lot of the things I’ve been doing. She asked “What do you want people to get out of it?” What I want people to get out of it is that having a record is like a best friend, something you can go to and feel better, and it can give you advice. I went through a period in high school, and even now, where records can do things for you that people can’t necessarily. There’s something about the music that can get a message in that somebody might have been trying to give you for five or six years, but you hear it in a song and all of a sudden it’s like the cartoon light bulb goes off over your head. I took the serious notion of having a record that speaks to you and try to figure out what kind of people would be affected by these songs. I wanted it to be a little bit ridiculous. I am aware that a lot of my music is sad, but I do have a pretty strong, persistent sense of humor and so I wanted to bring light to some of these things. I think if you can laugh at it, it’s a lot less scary. It started as a joke the first time we both went to Cali to play, we were on the plane back and I suggested promoting each song with a character. Mandy asked how that was going to work. I said, “Well, what if there was this boy who went to a pharm party” She said, “That’s the most twisted thing I’ve heard in my life, and you’re going to try to make a joke out of this,” and I was like “Yeah, I think it’d be funny.” I mean, pharm parties themselves are not funny at all. It’s a horrible, horrible idea and a terrible situation that I wouldn’t want any child ever to get involved in. But having a funny character explain why it’s a bad idea is not necessarily the most awful thing ever. So Mandy was like, “You’re going to dress up like a guy?” “Uh-huh.” “And you’re going to talk like a guy.” “Uh-huh.” Mandy was like, “Okay…” So then I kept thinking and said, “Ooh… and there can be a 4 year old” and she was like “Really?” Just wait until you see the video for “Exit.”

GOBL: That was my next question. I was about to ask if there were any more characters…

E: Oh, there’s one for every song.

GOBL: Oh, really?

E: Yes.

GOBL: So you’re not going to let my readers in on the secret?

E: I will tell you that one involves a gorilla costume.

There were many more interesting moments that I couldn’t fit into the interview, including the time she played “Ice Ice Baby” in Katy, our mutual love for Daria, the merits of applesauce as a dipping sauce for chicken tenders, and her most awkward moment at a show of hers ever. If you want to discuss any of these random topics with her, I’d encourage you to go to her CD release show for Early Morning Hours. It takes place this Friday at Ten Times Cellar, with Steve Jackson and Josh Cooley opening.

The Lucky Thirteen: 11/22/10

2010-11-22T06:17:00.004-06:00

Sometimes I like to mix things up and do a playlist with some sort of theme. Last week, I chose the "theme" of an all-request playlist. I took back the reigns this week, and decided to do an all female singer-songwriter edition. I've always had a weakness for female songwriters. Blame it on listening to too much Indigo Girls and Sarah McLachlan in college. Here are thirteen of my favorites from these parts. Forgive me if there are fewer comments than usual, with some songs not featuring any comments. It's going to be a busy week for yours truly, and you should see some of the rewards for that later this week on the blog. For now, just enjoy the music.

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.

"The Story", Emmeline
Emmeline's CD release party for Early Morning Hours this Friday at Ten Times Cellar was what inspired me to do this playlist.

"Save Your Breath", Camille Cortinas
Camille says her next CD should be out early next year. Keep your fingers crossed that she's right.

"Proof", Emily Elbert
Coppell's finest will be playing the Kessler Theater this Saturday.

"Vulnerable", Sarah Jaffe
You know, I thought about leaving Sarah Jaffe off of this list, and just... whoa, buddy! Take a deep breath. I was only kidding. You can quit hyperventilating now.

"For Ages", Sara Donaldson

"Gold Rush", Kristy Kruger

"Will Anybody Love Me", Lalagray

"What We Have Become", Phoenix Hart
Here's a coincidence: I emailed Ms. Hart to get a track to put on my playlist. Before she ever got her email, one of her publicists saw that I'd published her cover of "Hot 'N Cold" and emailed me the album. Pretty crazy, huh?

"His Heart", Meredith Louise Miller
Here's a 90's classic for you. Meredith, you need to come back to Dallas and play a show.

"Capture", Summer Ames
This is a great song with a great video that you should watch. Click here to watch.

"For Keeps", Iris Leu

"Paper Girl", Katie Carroll
Just a reminder, I'm assembling my top 40 for 2010. This song is pretty much guaranteed a spot on there. Want to know what else will make the cut? Too bad. You've got to wait, just like everyone else.

"The Cure", Anna Thomas
Her EP, Break Apart, should be available on itunes by now, and it's worth getting. Also, I'm taking a moment to make a correction: she's 14, not 13. My bad.

Local Edge Playlist: 11/21/10

2010-11-22T00:16:00.002-06:00

Mark shone the spotlight away from Big D and onto little d for this all Denton Edition of the Local Edge.

"Wishy Waltz", RTB2
"Book Burner", Roy Robertson
"Cut the Lights", Manned Missiles
IN STUDIO: DANNY RUSH (aka Daniel Folmer)
"District County Court"
"Pissin"
"Medicine"
"River Song", Seryn
"Birthmark (Chicago)", Jessie Frye
"Count Me Out", Grassfight
"This Floor", Young and Brave
"Walking in an Arc", Delmore Pilcrow
"Park Bench", Florene
"Mother Nature", Andrew Tinker

Weekend Plans: 11/19/10

2010-11-19T13:15:00.002-06:00

FRIDAY:
The Virgin Wolves/The Phuss/The Nicholsons (The Cavern)
For those who like their live rock shows loud in a small, crowded, dark venue, this is the perfect show for you. The Virgin Wolves blend blues and heavy rock skillfully on their debut EP. While the CD sounds great, it pales in comparison to the energy radiated by the band's live performance. The Phuss puts on a more straight ahead rock show, and are MUCH louder than The Virgin Wolves. But if you're going to lose your hearing at a show, there are few Dallas bands that will make you so happy to have that ringing sensation in your ears as The Phuss.
THe BAcksliders/Dead Twins/Dropsonic/These Mad Dogs of Glory (LaGrange)
Take the first sentence of the previous show recommendation, substitute "spacious" for "small" and "well lit" for dark, keep the "loud" and "crowded" parts, and you have this show. And just so you know, These Mad Dogs of Glory will be recording the performance and releasing it on CD.
Anna Thomas (Great Outdoors Sub Shop - McKinney)
What is the likelihood of a sandwich shop in McKinney having a first rate performer playing there? I'd say the odds are about as good as finding a 14 year old girl who can write songs more mature and captivating than most women twice her age. So perhaps it's only fitting that a performer as unique as the young Ms. Thomas should play such an unlikely venue.
Salim Nourallah/Chris Holt (Dan's Silverleaf)
Mr. Nourallah rarely performs outside of Dallas city limits, so Denton folk, enjoy this rare treat. And look, you get the added bonus of Mr. Holt, who is responsible for what may be my favorite CD of the year (A Cosmic Joke).

SATURDAY:
Dertybird/King of the Rabbit Trail/Pale Horse (City Tavern)
I'm guessing Dertybird is the headliner. If that's the case, I'm going out on a limb and making another prediction: Pale Horse will steal the show. No offense to Dertybird of KOTRT.
Danny Rush/Caleb Ian Campbell/Burntsienna Trio/Spooky Folk (Rubber Gloves)
"Danny Rush" is really a pseudonym for Daniel Folmer. His new CD seems to rock more than his previous material, and I think this new persona suits him even better.
The King Bucks (Adair's)
I've heard the band members have their mail sent here. Not really, but they should, considering how often they seem to play this venue.

The Lucky Thirteen: 11/15/10

2010-11-15T06:35:00.004-06:00

Thanks to all who participated in this week's all request playlist. You really made my job easier. I'll take it. Also, let me know if you have any issues hearing songs on the Grooveshark playlist. I've had difficulties recently, and want to know if it was a fluke or an ongoing problem.

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.

"Barn Burner", The Roomsounds
Chelsea Callahan requested this tune, and since her birthday was yesterday, I felt it only appropriate to start with this song. For the record, this may be my new favorite song of theirs.

"Buyer's Remorse", Les Americains
Jason Roach requested some Les Americains for the Lucky Thirteen, but did not specify a track. I felt that after two weeks of "Calistoga Blues", a change was needed.

"Clara", Paul Slavens
A quote from Clay Pendergrass, who requested the song: "In my imagination, this is what it would sound like if Theloneus Monk and Leonard Cohen met in a smoke-filled cafe stocked with absinthe and found a piano in the corner." Couldn't have said it better myself.

"German Chocolate Cake", Bravo, Max!
Nicholas Altobelli had a long list of requests. Since he requested this band and I already had the track, I opted for this song.

"Someone Like You", David Crandall
This song was a request from Emmeline, an amazing artist in her own right. Keep your eye on the blog for more Emmeline related articles as her CD release show approaches.

"Moanin' Rag", Whiskey Folk Ramblers
Scott Riegel recommended this particular track, and it's a fine choice I might add.

"A Cosmic Joke", Chris Holt
The individual who requested to hear Mr. Holt wished to remain anonymous, choosing the pseudonym "The Cat of Blind Lemon." As an admitted cat lover (I have four myself), I definitely liked the fake name, as well as the track. If you haven't checked out the video for this song, you need to click here and watch.

"Absalom", Spot
Allan Hayslip of the band Bonedome requested to hear some Spot, and also gave me quite the history lesson on the band. It's a shame that this band didn't make it further; listen to their songs and you'll hear a band that, as Brando would've said, "coulda been a contender."

"Last Night", Sparrows
Here's a request from THe BAcksliders

"The Sun Shines On My Face", THe BAcksliders
And here's a request for a particular song by THe BAcksliders (recommended by the lovely and amazing Angela Donnelly).

"I Love You", Spector 45
This request came from Amy Verycrusse, who actually lives in the Austin area and not the metroplex. And while the music covered here is almost exclusively local in nature, I do welcome readers from all over the globe.

"When Hammer Hits Stone", RTB2
Here's a fine choice from Brett Michael Strawn of Cocky Americans.

"Epic Outro", Sore Losers
I've seen the name Sore Losers around a lot, but when Nic Hernandez requested to have one of their songs on the playlist, I sat down at gave their songs a listen. I am now adding their name along with Damaged Good$ and Dem Southernfolkz as one of DFW's finest hip-hop acts. And with a song name like "Epic Outro", it seemed the perfect way to wrap up this Lucky Thirteen.

Local Edge Playlist: 11/14/10

2010-11-14T23:55:00.003-06:00

"The Silent Tide", The Phantom Caste
"Turning Blue", Fergus and Geronimo
"You're No Good", Pale Horse
"Medicine", Daniel Folmer
"Seen It All", Fate Lions
"This Way", Foe Destroyer
"Knife Fight", Calhoun
"Buyer's Remorse", Les Americains
"Just Wanna Try", Luna Matto
"Quick and Clean", Ella Minnow
"Mind in Trouble", Oil Boom
"Praying Matas", Ryan Thomas Becker
"Wooden Floors", Nicholas Altobelli
"Sad Song", Smile Smile

Weekend Plans: 11/12/10

2010-11-12T15:40:00.002-06:00

There's plenty of good options for this weekend. I think these are all the biggies, but feel free to mention anything I've forgotten about in the comment section.

FRIDAY:
Calhoun/The O’s/The Orbans (Kessler Theater)
Did you read my previous entry about Jeff Liles and his survey? If not, read it now and send me your thoughts. In that article, I mention how the Kessler is such a great venue that books quality bands. If you doubt my statement, just check out tonight's lineup. Any one of these acts alone would be an impressive headliner. The fact that you get all three for one ticket price? That's pretty amazing if you ask me.
Trey Johnson/Chris Holt/Camille Cortinas (Sons of Hermann Hall)
Mr. Johnson and Mr. Holt have both put out good CD's on Idol Records this year. Mr. Holt's was especially impressive, undoubtedly one of my biggest favorites this year. Camille Cortinas is not an Idol Records artist at the moment, but I'd encourage Erv to give her a listen and change that.
Les Americains/Saboteur/Young Girls (Double-Wide)
Tonight's the big CD release show. Excuse me, tonight's the big vinyl release show. From what I've heard of the band's new material, much of it leans in a more melodic indie vein than their previous, louder material. It should be interesting to see if the live show still rocks as heavy.
THe BAcksliders (Lee Harvey’s)
It's getting harder and harder to find new ways to describe THe BAcksliders. I'm taking the easy road and copying all the synonyms for amazing from dictionary.com: awesome, fascinating, incredible, marvelous, prodigious, shocking, stunning, surprising, unbelievable, wonderful. I tried to find synonyms for "face-melting", but they didn't have any.
Seryn/Darcy/North of Autumn (LaGrange)
Seryn is one of the most talked about bands that I have yet to see live, and I need to change that. On the other end of the spectrum, North of Autumn has not gotten much attention yet, but if the music I've heard is any indication, that needs to change. The band's sound is certainly more accessible to a mainstream audience, but that doesn't mean it's generic pop fare. But whether you prefer the indie charm of Seryn or are curious about North of Autumn, it's worth a trip to LaGrange.

SATURDAY:
Bravo, Max!/Spookeasy/Black Swan/Pinebox Serenade (City Tavern)
Mountain’s Majesty/The Roomsounds (Opening Bell Coffee)
I missed out on Chelsea Callahan's birthday bash, which is too bad considering how many good acts were on the lineup. Here are two opportunities to see some of the acts you missed: Bravo, Max! brings their hard to describe style to City Tavern, while The Roomsound's easier to define rootsy rock can be heard at OBC.
Grassfight/The Virgin Wolves/The Red 100’s/Dirty Blonde (Andy’s Bar)
This is quite an interesting lineup. While I'm not familiar with Dirty Blonde, you start out with the instrumental bluesy rock of The Red 100's. Afterwards, you get the bluesy, yet much heavier full on RAWK of Virgin Wolves. Then the evening wraps up with the Jesus & Mary Chain meets Joy Division stylings of Grassfight. It's an interesting lineup for sure, but a stellar one. Denton people, this is where you need to be.
Salim Nourallah/John Lefler (Allgood Café)
Neither of these performers have released any new material in awhile, but still, if you're fans of intelligent pop music, this is a show worth checking out. And is it just me, or does the mere mention of Allgood bring visions of chicken fried chicken smothered in gravy? Is anyone else hungry right now?
Taylor Davis/Jayson Bales/Rahim Quazi (It’s a Grind)
The show marks the two year anniversary of the It's a Grind location near Deep Ellum (click here for a map), and it benefits the Demeter Project. Mr. Quazi will be performing songs from his upcoming CD, and he's promised to let me share a track from this upcoming CD. Soon, my readers, soon. Have patience until then.

Before You (Hopefully) Go to a Show Tonight...

2010-11-12T13:37:00.002-06:00

I recently read this post on Jeff Liles' Facebook page. For the newbies to the local music world, Jeff Liles has to be one of the most influential people within the music community. In addition to his musical contributions (most notably Decadent Dub Team and cottonmouth, tx), he currently books acts at The Kessler Theater. For those who haven't been to a show there yet, the venue itself is gorgeous. The building has been restored just enough to clean up the look of the place while doing nothing to overly modernize the look. As for booking, Liles' taste is first rate.

But I'm digressing here. Back to the real purpose of the article...

I'm reposting what his words, and I want you, my readers, to contribute your thoughts on the matter. While I know those reading the article are most likely going to be people who do support live music (and probably on a regular basis), it might be nice to get some insight into what factors play a part in deciding a show. Please email your thoughts to ghostofblindlemon@gmail.com and I'll make sure your thoughts are passed on to Liles. And while he says to answer just one question, personally I recommend answering as many questions as you feel like.

(On a separate note, feel free to send your requests to this week's Lucky Thirteen playlist to that address as well)

Now, onto his post...

What would it take to get you back in the routine of supporting live music on a regular basis?

I read a recent research survey yesterday that reflected the average person goes to less than one live music performance a year.

Seriously?

As a young person I attended at least two shows a week, sometimes as many as three or four. I realize that ticket prices have gone up, that there are far more artists now flooding the marketplace, and there are many more cheaper diversions available as entertainment options.

On the other hand, a sports venue is an entertainment destination as well. The Dallas Cowboys are now 1-6 and it goes without saying that the next time they play a home game, over 75,000 people will pay over a hundred bucks each to watch them lose. That's loyalty to the point of ridiculousness.

When was the last time you paid over a hundred bucks for a concert ticket? When was the last time you went to a show and walked away feeling like a loser, like you just wasted your money? The Cowboys have won exactly one playoff game in the last 14 years.

Live music doesn't suck that bad. Where is your loyalty and commitment to it?

I have a few questions, and I'd like you to just pick one and answer it. I really want to get to the bottom of this.

What would it take to get you to fall back in love with live music?

When deciding whether or not to attend a show, do you take the venue into consideration, or will you go see your favorite band just about anywhere they happen to play? Have you ever not gone to a show just because it was at a venue that had inferior sound or production, expensive drinks and an unfriendly staff?

Would you rather see an artist in an intimate setting, or outdoors as part of a larger festival?

What motivates you to buy pre-sale tickets? is it the fact a show might sell out or is it to get a better seat? Do you often wait until the last minute to decide whether or not to attend a show? Does the weather ever affect your decision?

How much does parking factor into your decision making process? Is free parking an incentive or are you unbothered by having to pay five or ten bucks to park your car?

Did the ban on indoor smoking a few years back translate to either encouraging or discouraging you from going out to see live shows? Was that the last straw or did it make you want to go out more?

Are you afraid of getting a DUI or DWI? Would some sort of shuttle service encourage you to get back into a regular routine of supporting live music?

Are you at all interested in hearing an artist that you've never heard before or are you only motivated to see an act that you are totally familiar with? Are you open to different styles of music that you may not have ever been previously exposed to?

Have you ever decided to attend a show based purely on something you read in a newspaper or blog? Do the local music writers in Dallas have the same amount of credibility as, say, your friends who spread information via word of mouth?

I know this is all a lot to think about, so just pick one question and discuss your personal perspective.

It's important to me that our local music community exists as more than just a curious diversion. I think it's time we revisit the things that we love, but take often for granted.

Very few musicians these days can actually make a living doing what they do. I want to see us get back to a place where our local music community has a viable economic footprint within the context of our cultural landscape.

If you can help me out here, feel free to speak your piece.

- Liles