Cool Saturday Shows

First and foremost, check this show out.



Bar of Soap is a Dallas music instution, not to mention the only place in the metroplex where you can simultaneously grab a beer, listen to a live band, and do your laundry. The club has had some financial hard times lately, and this show is a benefit to help keep the club alive. If you love Bar of Soap or ever enjoyed hanging out there, you need to go there tonight, pay your $5 cover, and support one of the most unique music venues that this city has. And of course, THe BAcksliders are gonna end the evening in rockin' fashion. If you aren't enthralled by their show, you should check to make sure you can feel your pulse. On that note, perhaps someone needs to send a paramedic to the Dallas Observer building.

Here's a few other cool shows worth mentioning:

• Sarah Jaffe/Doug Burr (Allgood Cafe)


• Rev Horton Heat/Nashville Pussy/Slowride (Granada Theater)


• Tonite Tonite (Exposition Park Cafe)


• Taylor Davis/Johnny Goudie/Shwa (City Tavern)


• Rodney Parker/JJ And The Rogues/Dirt Blazers (The Cavern)

Personally, I'm probably gonna swing by Allgood Cafe first and then head to Bar of Soap to catch THe BAcksliders, as it has been too long since I've seen them play. But please, if you're reading this, try to head out to Bar of Soap. Even if you go early in the day to check out some of the other artists, give the Bar of Soap your love. Oh, and your dirty laundry too.

Tonight, you need to be at Dada

Again, I have had too long in between postings. Call it the curse of having a real job. It would be awesome if I could make this my job, though frankly, I don't see how that could happen.

Enough whining about that though. Let me know whine about something completely different. Tonight will be the final show of one of my favorite bands to ever emerge from Dallas. The Chemistry Set calls it quits after six years of making some damn good music. Lead singer Steven Duncan and keyboardist Meredith Knoll are leaving this fine city for greener pastures as Mr. Duncan pursues getting a degree in History and eventually becoming a teacher. I wish Steven the best of luck in reaching his goal; his future students will be lucky to have him.

The Dallas music fan however, is not so lucky. Who will be here for us, writing tunes like "Lee Minor 7", "New Hope PA", and "Two Stars"? Steven's songs have been catchy pop gems that are always musically ambitious with intellegent lyrics, yet never going for the "look at me I'm smarter and hipper than thou" mentality that is so prevalent in the indie scene.

As sad as it will be to lose Chemistry Set (and believe me, this is a sad thing indeed), let us take a moment to celebrate their music. That moment shall be tonight at Club Dada, as Steven and the gang play with Calhoun at Club Dada tonight. Yes, there are other shows happening tonight. I cannot think of a single show, however, that can compete with bidding farewell to Chemistry Set (although honorable mentions go to King Bucks and Blue Petal playing at Double Wide tonight). So come on out and say goodbye to one of the best bands to ever grace our fine city.

First Weekend of the Year, and We’re Off to a Good Start!

Sometimes the year starts with a lull in good shows, but not this year. In fact, this whole month seems to be jam packed with sweet shows. We'll deal with the rest of the month later, but for now let's take a look at your options for Friday:

Emily Elbert/ Blake & Kate/Fat Palace (Opening Bell Coffee)
I believe this is Emily’s first show in Dallas since she left for Boston to attend college. She’s studying at Berklee, and word has it that she received a full paid scholarship to attend there. I was talking to a friend at Opening Bell last weekend, and he said that she was very talented for her age. My disagreement with his statement is not about her level of talent, but that she’s so talented that there shouldn’t be the stipulation about her being talented “for her age.” Her skills on the guitar surpass most people who are twice her age. If she is this talented at 18, I cannot even fathom how phenomenal she will be five to ten years from now. Enjoy her now while you can, before she explodes on the scene nationally. That will only be a matter of time.
Chloe Day/Lovie (Club Dada)
The pairing seems a little odd. Other than the fact that both artists are female (and attractive), I see very little in common between the two. The darker electronic vibe of Chloe Day doesn’t seem to fit with the fun, poppy sound of Lovie. This show is still worth going to though, and any opportunity to see Lovie is always a good thing.
Boys Named Sue (AllGood Café)
These guys did a great job at the Longhorn Ballroom this New Year’s Eve. Check them out in the more intimate venue of AllGood, and while you’re at it, get some good food to eat and a nice cold beer.
Fishing For Comets (Wooden Nickel)
If you missed them last Saturday at my musical showcase, then you should hang your head in shame and regard your life as a failure. OK, so that’s going too far, but their performance that evening was so great that words cannot give full justice to it. If you were there, you understand what I’m saying. If you weren’t there, then you should, no scratch that, you must drive out to Ennis and capture a little piece of the magic you missed.
Somebody’s Darling/The Dirty Sound/The Come Latelys (City Tavern)
I have a feeling that 2008 is gonna be a big year for Somebody’s Darling. They seem to have come out of nowhere and have suddenly exploded onto the scene. Lead singer Amber Farris knows how to do two things real well: work a crowd and belt out tunes. Her soulful take on Southern rock style music will leave you wanting more, so check them out while you can still see them as a venue as small as City Tavern.
Bugs Henderson (Dan’s Silverleaf)
In spite of the name of the blog, I really don’t know a lot about the blues scene in Dallas. Here’s what I do know; Bugs Henderson is greatness personified. Why he hasn’t exploded onto the national blues scene is totally beyond me. I think he’s the best blues musician to come out of the city since the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan. Even if you’re not traditionally a fan of the blues, his shows are entertaining enough to put a smile on anyone’s face. So while the nation is missing out on the joy of Bugs, the city of Dallas can enjoy him and regard him as one of our best kept secrets.


The fun doesn’t stop on Friday, kids. There are three cool show options for Saturday also.

The New Frontiers/Quiet Company/Chase Pagan/Tides/Kristin Leigh/Klickitat (The Prophet Bar)
I’m recommending this show solely on the strength of the two openers, Kristin Leigh and Michaela Kuenster’s project Klickitat. I’ve never seen either live, but the songs on both of their myspaces are quite intriguing. Kristin Leigh leans more towards a dreamy folk-pop sound, while Klickitat has a very Aimee Mann vibe (think “Momentum” but quirkier). Both artists go on my “need so see live” list.
Pleasant Grove (AllGood Café)
This band seems to be one of the most universally liked and respected bands in the metroplex. It’s almost as if liking PG is membership into the “cool people” club. So check them out at AllGood. After all, you do want to be cool, don’t you?
Dove Hunter/Happy Bullets/JD Whittenburg/The Felons/Travis Hopper (Club Dada)
Haven’t seen Travis Hopper, but I really dig all the other artists. And if that isn’t reason enough to go, then come to Dada to say goodbye to Andrea Grimes as she leaves our fine city for greener pastures. And if you’re going to say goodbye, this show proves that she will leave with a bang!

You’ll probably find me at Dada Saturday night, though I may try to swing by Opening Bell on Friday to catch the incredible Emily Elbert. With so many good choices though, it’s hard to decide. At least this the fun kind of hard decision.

New Year’s Resolutions… Maybe

First of all, happy New Year’s to all my readers. I hope you had a fun and safe New Year’s Eve. I had a blast last night at the Longhorn Ballroom watching Old 97’s, The Drams, and Boys Named Sue. It was my first time at the venue, and the acoustics there are great, and there’s not really a bad seat in the house. I’d love to see some more shows there in the near future.

Now onto the part about the New Year’s resolutions. I’m reluctant to make them simply because my track record for keeping them is dismal. However, with the start of the New Year, it brings a time to reflect on what you’d like to accomplish. Whether these things are called “resolutions”, “goals”, or whatever other label I could come up with, the following are some things I would like to see happen in this coming year.

First of all, I would love to post music on my website. I’m having a hard time figuring out how best to do this, since Blogger doesn’t allow you to download mp3’s onto their site. Also, here’s the other trick: I’m trying to find ways of doing this free of charge. I may have to give in and spend some money here, but I am open for suggestions on the best way of doing this. I’m open for either allowing either mp3s for download on the site or some form of media player where the track could be heard but not downloaded. I welcome any and all suggestions on how best to do this free of charge. Along with that comes a request to the local artists. If you have any tracks you would like posted here, please send them to me thru my email address.

On a similar note, let me tell you that I’m in the works of compiling a Best of 2007 musical podcast. I know I’m a bit late on this, but I figure it’s better late than never. Thanks to all the artists I have talked to who have agreed to let their music be used in the podcast. I will try to get this prepared ASAP.

I would also love to bring you more shows in the New Year. The showcase at Opening Bell was a success, and I intend to bring you more good shows throughout 2008. I have no firm plans as of yet, but I will keep my readers informed as plans are set.

I also resolve to try to post more often. I have a full time job where I don’t have internet access throughout the day, so it doesn’t leave me as much time to post as I would like. There have been many articles that I wanted to do but simply have never had the time to finish. Either that, or when I had the time, it would be too late (it does little good to promote a show the day after it happens). Nevertheless, I would like to try to get posts out at least three times a week. I would like to do more, but I cannot even promise the three times a week goal. I will do my best to fulfill that goal.

I also resolve to do more album reviews. Scratch that. I resolve to review albums, as I have yet to write a full length album review. I received Macon Greyson’s 20th Century Accidents last September, and still have not given it the review it so deserves. I also hope to get out a review of The Slack’s Wishful Sinking by the end of the month. If you are a band or musician who would like their music reviewed, contact me through my email and I’ll give you a mailing address.

Finally, I leave you with some suggestions of what you can do in 2008. First and foremost, go to shows! I know I say that over and over, but a music scene lives and dies by its audience. Clubs book bands not by word of mouth, but by how many people they draw. Attending a show is the only way of making your musical taste be heard. Also, stop by the band’s merch table for some stickers, CD’s, t-shirts, or whatever else they might have to sell. It gives them some much needed (and deserved) moolah.

I would also encourage my readers to be more vocal with me. Let me know what local bands you’re digging right now. Let me know what shows you think are the best. Tell me the venues you like and don’t like. Let me know when you like an article I’ve written, and on the flip side, feel free to criticize me when I’m off base. I can stand the heat.

While I hate using the word “resolution”, I do hope that I can stick to some of the goals I have set out before me. I challenge you as the reader to follow my suggestions to you. Together we can create a killer year for the local music scene.

I'm at a Loss for Words

Yes, that’s right, “The Ghost” himself is at a loss for words. Last night’s showcase at Opening Bell Coffee was such a wonderful and joyous experience that I’m not quite sure what to say.

The best thing I think of to say is thanks, and there are so many people I have to thank. First of all, I thank every one of the fabulous musicians who gave of their time and their talent. Thanks to Blue Petal for opening the show, and thanks for the encore with extra special guest Isabella. Thanks to Rahim Quazi for playing a killer set and for taking requests from me (like "The Big Black Box"), even when they throw you for a loop. Thanks to Chris Holt and his fellow “Slackers” Steven Luthye and Eric Neal; you are easily three of the most gifted musicians in the area. Needless to say, you three were brilliant as always. Thanks to Keith Killoreen and Chad Stockslagger from The Drams (and from The King Bucks, Manya won’t let me forget that). It was a wonderful blend of cover songs and classics from back in the Budapest One days. Last but certainly not least, I thank Fishing For Comets. The music that comes from this band is like a ray of sunshine. Even on a heartbreaking song like “Lies”, the music feels like a best friend that knows just how to make you feel like everything is going to be alright. Oh, and extra special thanks for the cover of “Where the Streets Have No Name.” U2 is one of my all time favorite bands, and you did the song justice.

I must also thank Winston Edmondson, host of the Project Innovation radio show. Thank you for inviting me onto your show Saturday and letting me discuss my blog and the Opening Bell show. I also thank you for choosing to celebrate your birthday at Opening Bell with your friends. You are helping to give a voice to the local music and arts scene in Dallas, and that is something this city desperately needs.

Obviously, I have to thank Pascale and all of the wonderful people at Opening Bell Coffee for letting me host my showcase at your venue. When it comes to live acoustic music, no place in the metroplex holds a candle.

Thanks to Megan Cortinas for creating the awesome poster that I used to promote the show. Thank you for putting up with all the changes that I threw your way and for designing such an awesome poster. I could not have created a poster that looked that damn cool.

Thanks to Scotty Mankoff for dropping by and taking pictures. For the record, every picture you see in this entry is courtesy of Mr. Mankoff. As always, you do a wonderful job taking pictures. You’re also simply a cool guy who is always a joy to be around.

Finally, I thank every single one of you who came out to the event. Even though I’ve had bands play for my birthday before, this was my first genuine attempt at setting up a musical showcase. Without you, the show would have been a disaster. With all of you, it was an evening filled with good friends and awesome music. So thank you being there, for talking to me, for putting up with my lame speeches in between the bands, and thanks for the support.

Who knows, maybe with the success of Saturday night’s show, there will be more Ghost of Blind Lemon showcases. Here’s hoping that 2008 will have a few cool shows hosted by yours truly.

Ghost on the Radio

That's right, "The Ghost" himself will be on the radio tomorrow afternoon. Listen to the Project Innovation radio show, hosted by Winston Edmondson. It airs on 1360 AM at 1:00 p.m. I will be one of his guests, and I'll be discussing tomorrow night's show and this blog, among other things. Rahim Quazi, one of tomorrow evening's musical guests, will also be on the show. So before heading to Opening Bell Coffee tomorrow evening, turn on your radio and listen to this fine show.

Screw Must See TV!

That’s right, NBC, you heard me. Look, people could either sit and home and watch a bunch of repeats, or they could get out of the house and see one of these four fabulous shows. Folks, this isn’t even a close call.

Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights, Hendrick, ODIS, Greater Good (Granada Theater)
Haven't seen Hendrick or ODIS yet, but Greater Good puts on a show that is more great than merely good. It doesn't hurt that the band features the incredible Toby Pipes. Oh, and Jonathan Tyler is simply a force of nature. Will the Granada still be standing after this show? Only time will tell.

Somebody's Darling, Soft Environmental Collapse, Kristin Leigh (The Cavern)
Talk about a diverse lineup. The evening starts with Kristin Leigh, who fuses pop and folk/acoustic elements into her music. SeC follows, with an electronic sound that would fit better with Mom than these bands. Somebody's Darling ends out the evening, and once you hear lead singer Amber Farriss sing, it will make perfect sense why you came.

Tonite Tonite (Club Dada)
Since Andres Negrete reunited the band, you have another chance to see the band. Don't miss this opportunity; it happens Tonite Tonite. I know, that was lame.

The cut*off, Fate Lions
Yes, yes, I know, I keep raving about the cut*off. So I'll back off this time and just say that from what I've heard, the music of Fate Lions holds a lot of promise. I'd be highly curious to see them live. What about a Dallas show, guys?

So hold off on repeats of My Name is Earl and The Office. That's what repeats and DVD's are made for. Instead, go out and have some fun tonight. Not too much, though. After all, you don't wanna be all partied out for the show at Opening Bell Coffee Saturday night.

Playing Santa

I've heard it be said that "it's the thought that counts". With my budget, I seem to have far more thoughts to spare than money. So what follows is a list of gifts that I would like to give if only I could. The list of people ranges from the naughty to the nice, but I believe everyone on the list deserves what I'd like to give them.

• To Kate Mackley, I would give loads of itunes gift cards to help feed her "ipod of greatness" and make it even better. Wait, you can't improve on perfection. You can still try, though.


• To Scotty Mankoff, I would give you a state of the art professional camera. You're already proving to be one of the better photographers in the area. With an even better camera, it would just take you to another level. In other words, you'd be off the charts.


• To Camille Cortinas, I would give you a koala bear. Why? Just because.


• To Eric Swanson, I would get you a new car to drive, and I'd get you your 1959 Gibson Discoverer back.


• To the thieves who stole Eric's car, I would love to give you a new place to live. I'm thinking of something along the lines of a modest little jail cell.


• To Tomcats, Club One, Monkey Bar, and any other clubs didn't get their SUP permits, I'd give you those permits and get you back in business. Admittedly, none of the three clubs I frequented, but the market should determine their fate, NOT the city council.


• To the members of City Council who want to change the face of Deep Ellum, I would give you the gift of free time. I know that being a council member takes up a lot of time, so by taking away your positions, you would have all the time in the world on your hands.


• To Beard (aka John Brewer), I would pay off any leftover debt from your hospital bills and make sure that there would be no return trips to the hospital. Oh, I almost forgot... I'd also leave Halle Berry under the Christmas tree for you. Have fun unwrapping that gift!


• To Bill Holston, I would release Aung San Suu Kyi from her unrightful imprisonment. And then we could celebrate with a nice, tall pitcher of ice cold Shiner Bock.


• To Winston Edmondson, I wish that every radio listener would turn their dials to 1360 AM every Saturday at 1 pm and listen to your show.


• To all the bands that I love and adore, I wish you much success. May the world see what talent every one of you possesses.

And finally, to every one of my readers, I wish you a Merry Christmas. May this season be filled with joy and love. And music. Can't forget the music.

Doesn't This Poster Make You Want to Go to Granada Tonight?

Yeah, this poster isn't doing the trick for me either. I'm not sure why not. Regardless of your thoughts on this, uh, unique photo, there will not be a better show in town tonight. Tonight's show starts with a CD release party for Flat People. A friend of mine got me a copy of their CD, and I must say I have been impressed by the band. Get their early enough to check this band out.

Next comes Robert Gomez, after which Deathray Davies play their first show in Dallas in over a year. There have been some changes in the DRD lineup since their last performance. Andy Lester (who's in Dufilho's other side project, I Love Math) is their new bass player since Jason Garner has moved to drums. Shibboleth members Rich Martin and Don Cento round out the rest of the band. The setlist will be a half and half mixture of songs from the upcoming album and DRD classics. Word has it they may even bust out "I Got Coal" as a little Christmas treat for all their naughty fans.

Salim Nourallah and The Noise headline the show, but even Salim knows that tonight is all about Dufilho's band, Deathray Davies. I hope to see everyone out at this show. What, you have to work early Friday Morning? I'm sure John Dufilho would write a note to your boss, so it's okay to stay out late and party. Honest, it is.

I hope whoever is responsible gets a lump of coal for Christmas!

I got the following MySpace bulletin from Eric Swanson, who plays bass in Johnny Lloyd Rollins' backup band, The All-Nighters:

My car was stolen last night. With my laptop. So, keep a look out for a green '96 Honda Accord with an Apple sticker on the back. Texas plates: Z26-RZH.

I guess you all know what I want for Christmas now.

But that's not all. Inside of his car was a ca. 1959 Gibson Discoverer, a small blonde tube combo amp that he rebuilt a few years ago. The laptop and even the car are replaceable; the Gibson is not so easily replaced. If anyone who is reading this blog has any information about any of these items (especially the Gibson), then contact the Dallas Police Department, contact Eric, contact anybody who can reunite this man with his stolen property. I'm sure there's nothing Mr. Swanson would like better this holiday season.

Oh, and if anyone knows the bastards responsible, contact the police so that whoever is responsible cannot do an encore performance.