Elkhart | Live At Rudyards

Our good friends Elkhart have a free live record you can get from their set at Rudyard's in Houston a couple of months back which contains their excellent version of Radiohead's "House of Cards."

You can get your grubby little hands on it right here.

MP3: Elkhart - House of Cards

About Last Night... BFD Showcase

Saturday night was a good night for local music. We were fortunate enough to have a great turn out for our first showcase.

First up was Ronnie Fauss, the husky voiced troubadour armed with only his guitar and harmonica he showed off his singer-songwriter chops to a crowd. He moved through works from his two albums and EP with stunning results. Hopefully people were paying enough attention to tell their friends about him or check him out online. But, he's going to be playing with Danny Balis in the next month or two... so hopefully that will be a bump in his profile.

Elkhart opened up their set with their fantastic take on Radiohead's "House of Cards," a favorite of mine. It's always nice to see Elkhart in such an intimate setting, because really, that is where the group excels with their personal, heartfelt take on americana.

Lastly, the great Bosque Brown rounded out the bill with a full band, which was really nice to see. Mara Lee Miller, has one of the most amazing voices you will ever hear. For my money, the only other woman on her level, at least locally, is Sarah Jaffe.

All-in-all, it was a great night... thanks to everyone who came out.

Bona Fide Darling Showcase!

Hello, kids! I'm happy to announce that we are having our first music showcase at City Tavern on January, 2.

Know, New Years Day gives you plenty of time to sleep off that hangover... or catch up on some sleep. We were lucky enough to get a really strong line-up for what hopefully will be a long line of shows. Ronnie Fauss will start things off, followed by the excellent Elkhart and Bosque Brown will be the evening's main attraction.

Cover is only $5, so, with some rest and cheap cover you really have no reason not to check the show out!

Yeah, They Local

The music of Elkhart is like listening to your friends tell tales about what their friends were like growing up.  Funny, maybe sad, but very endearing to listen to.  In the world of alt-country/indie bands it seems that the stories are created to fill a certain tone of the music, however, with Elkhart their music seems very much real, not made up or faked and very much from the heart.

While the band wears their influences on their sleeve, it's interesting to see they don't alternate between more rocked up songs with country/singer-songwriter tunes.  They seem to have a very specific approach to creating their sound--a sound that can be very off-putting to the casual music listener.  Their debut album The Moon has a very, very low key vibe to it--more in line with drinking a glass of wine by the fire with friends than providing the soundtrack to a kegger--it's the definition of mood music... or a great driving album.  (Think REM's "Night Swimming" with an Americana twist)  And that's fine, because being a party band isn't what Elkart is trying to be.  The guitar work on The Moon is somewhere between perfection and OMG THAT'S F--KIN' BRILLIANT!  The lead guitar work on here is what really sets the mood for the album and the band.  It's twang is sprinkled throughout without saturating the steely sound in every song.

With all of that being said Elkhart is a great band coming out of your speakers or playing in a bar.  And, if you ever see them live they do a killer version of Radiohead's "House of Cards," which you should check out before they stop playing it.

MP3:  Elkhart - Change Your Mind

Congrats

Our good friends Elkhart and Eastwood got their poster for tonight's show at Dada selected as "Poster of The Week" by DC9 at Night.  Congratulations fellas, you done made it to the big show!

What I'm Seeing, What I'm Missing

Tonight I'm reviewing Kool Keith's Dr. Octagon vs. Dr. Dooom show for DC9 at Night.  So, that means I'm going to miss the Eastwood acoustico show at Opening Bell the Lakewood Bar & Grill.  But, just because I'm not going just doesn't mean you shouldn't go.

MP3: Dr. Octagon - Earth People

MP3: Eastwood - Right Place, Wrong Time

Tomorrow I'm going to catch the Bosque Brown in-store at Good Records.  I love the Good Records and their in-store shows.  And, this will be the first chance I get to see them/her, so gotta do it.  Unfortunately, I won't be able to see Elkhart, Dove Hunter, What Made Milwaukee Famous, Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears or Telegraph Canyon tomorrow night at the House of Snooze.  Damn birthday parties!

But, that should be a great show, $10 for ten bands...can't beat that with a stick.

MP3: Bosque Brown - Went Walking

MP3: Elkhart - Tune Out

MP3: Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears - Bitch, I Love You

MP3: Telegraph Canyon - El Capitan

MP3: Dove Hunter - Cyclone Stare

MP3: What Made Milwaukee Famous - Resistance St.

Travis Hopper Interview

Last week I sat down with Elkhart's Travis Hopper at local coffee shop It's a Grind to chit-chat about music and junk.  Travis is a great guy and a great musician.  And, unlike me, he actually has a lot to say.  Thanks to the wonderful Cindy Chaffin at Life Outside The Bubble and The Fine Line for doing this with me.  If you don't know Cindy, she's the best.

Travis Hopper Covers Eastwood

Mr. Travis Hopper, he of Elkhart and solo fame, has done a nice little cover of Eastwood's "Breathe."  I really dig the pickin' he did on the geetar and his take on this song gives it new tone.

MP3:  Travis Hopper - Breathe (Eastwood cover)

Elkhart, Jason Bales and Eastwood

So, last night I took myself down to Club Dada to check out what turned out to be a great night of music.  Well, except for the very first band.  I never got their name and apparently the singer never got singing lessons.  Dude, you got heart, I give you that.  But, next time you might want to bring a bucket with you to carry a tune in.  But, I digress.

The second band was Elkhart and I was impressed right away by their live set.  They have the Americana rootsy vibe without the typical voice associated with it.  Travis Hopper is a good singer, his voice reminds me of an Roots/Americana version of Thom Yorke, except Travis doesn't have a crazy eye.  That being said, I was totally blown away by their version of Radiohead's "House of Cards."  I've been checking out their album The Moon today and it's quite tasty.

MP3:  Elkhart - Tune Out

Last night was my first exposure to Mr. Jason Bales and I was more than impressed with this guy.  He's got a rockin' set that to me was a mix of Red Dirt and Texas Country.  I could be way off base, but, that's the way it hit me.  I will definitely get more music from Mr. Bales and check out his live set again.  His set was pretty rockin' last night.

MP3:  Jason Bales - 335

But, the headliners of the night were Eastwood--the tallest band in Dallas music.  I got to hang out with the guys a little before the show and I've never felt so short in my life!  Kevin has to be at least 6'9".  Their set was as good live as it is on record.  For guys who hold down day jobs and get their rock and roll jollies out on the weekend they are blessed with a lot of talent.  I can't wait to check out their show at the Barley House next month.  

MP3:  Eastwood - Right Place, Wrong Time