Local Yokels

Sure, KXT is a great way to hear good local music... so is actually going out to shows. But, now we have another way to hear some really great bands and listen to insightful banter between the hosts. Well, maybe not insightful, but funny.

What started off as a music night at The Libertine has transitioned into a podcast. So far the boys have 8 episodes up. The format is basically, if you and I were sitting around drinkin' some cold beer, talkin' about local music and the goings on around Dallas... then you have it.

You can check them out at localyokelshow.com.

Yeah, They Local

While family drama kept me away from the Telegraph Canyon's in-store this weekend, it hasn't kept me away from listening to the delightfully, acoustically, folk-ally sounds of Denton's Seryn... who were the show openers.

Imagine if you will Band of Horses and Fleet Foxes getting together and starting a band. You would have more than just an animal band, you would have one hell of a twang-folk band. Granted, their total output thus far, or at least what they've posted on their Myspace page, is two songs. However, from those two songs it's evident the band has the talent to garner a nice little fan base. But, hell, they're from Denton, so this time next year they may just be the biggest thing since Midlake.

MP3: Seryn - So, Within

100 Damned Guns Track By Track

Our good friend, Cindy Chaffin, should be happy with this one... at least I am. Paul Slavens featured Ft. Worth's 100 Damned Guns on his latest installment of Track By Track. The Guns deserve it, they are a fantastic band and double that for their live show. So... double fantastic?

You can listen to the podcast below or... you can listen to it here. More importantly buy their album Musica de Tormento here.

MP3: Track By Track featuring 100 Damned Guns

I'm Jumpin' On That Train

Yep, I'm a little late on this one, but, it's better late than never, right? At the pre-party last week at the Granada while I was talking to Cory (and his sweet 'stache) from SubEx RTB2 were the band playing when I walked into the place. I was immediately enthralled by their crunchy take on rock. They have the raw energy of Deadboy and The Elephantmen that will punch you in the gut and enough energy to give The Black Keys a run for their money, and they have the loud-quiet-loud thing down to where Frank Black would put down his sandwich long enough to take notice.

MP3: RTB2 - When Hammer Hits Stone

Musical Obsession

I've been listening to Robert Gomez's "On This Day" quite a bit recently.  I like how the finger-picked guitar meshes nicely with the mechanical sounding drum machine.  His music is so, so, good.

[purchase album]

MP3:  Robert Gomez - On This Day

Run, Ronnie, Run!

I'm not sure what my attraction to sad songs is... but, they are always the songs I will latch onto first.  Even if they aren't sad, per se, just kind of lonely.  Once I heard local boy Ronnie Fauss' "The Saddest Love That's Ever Been Made," the hook was definitely set and the rest of his album New Songs For The Old Frontier Vol. 1 continued to reel me in.

His album runs from the tear-jerky opener "The Saddest Love That's Ever Been Made" to the had-one-too-many bar anthem "The Last" in americana fashion.  I think one of the things that automatically drew me in is the familiarity in his voice, his voice is very similar to former New Frontiers singer.  I dig Fauss' raspy, seemingly whiskey soaked voice, in my head it gives his music a bit of authority.  But, I think the biggest thing that really drew me into his music is the subtle hopeful quality that each song has underneath the sad, lonely veneer.  

[purchase album]

MP3:  Ronnie Fauss - The Saddest Love That's Ever Been Made

MP3:  Ronnie Fauss - The Night Before The War

Down By The Southern Sea

A friend of mine introduced me to The Southern Sea a couple of months ago and I was instantly smitten.  They have a sound that reminds me of folk versions of either A) The Flaming Lips or B) The Uglysuit.  So basically, if Wayne put down the crazy home made double neck guitar and picked up a banjo you would almost have the sound of The Southern Sea.

Their awesomely titled Theoretically, yes.  Honestly, no. is out now and I highly suggest you pick it up... here.

MP3:  The Southern Sea - These Things Always End Badly

Little Black Dress

Next month Little Black Dress will unleash their full fury on the world when they release their debut album Snow in June, on June 2.  Well, fury might be a little bit of a strong descriptor for their music.  Like local brethren Radiant*, the band music in a blend of pop and Brit pop, only LBD throws in a little bit of shoegaze into the mix.  

With a sound so similar to Radiant* it will be interesting to see if the guys in Little Black Dress will go beyond the local borders and make a name for themselves across the country.  

MP3:  Little Black Dress - Robin

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

Morning Elephant In The Afternoon

I'm not really sure how to categorize Morning Elephant, but the bands own label of "melodramatic popular song/soul/ambient" isn't far off.  Their sound meanders throught Blue-Eyed Soul, Ambient, Jazz and even ventures into a little Trip-Hop.  Singer Manya Repnikova has a great voice, and really fits what ever vibe the song is--great Sunday morning, early evening listening.  The jazzy, lover friendly "REM Sleep" is a great instrumental track, jazzy hi-hats, noodling guitar work, great instrumentation all around.

But, a favorite of mine that I've been going back to is "I Howl at Tha Moon."  It reminds me of a a more loved-up Portishead.  Their cover of  The Eurythmics "I Need U/I Need a Man" is dripping with enough soul to give Jill Scott a run for her money.

MP3:  Morning Elephant - I Howl At Tha Moon

Bosque Brown Baby

It's hard to compare Bosque Brown to any other band or musician.  Her musical sound is spare and slightly haunting in the tradition of old mountains.  Her voice is similar to Chan Marshall, er, Cat Power--but, the tone of her music has more in common with Gillian Welch.  Her friend Damien Jurado said she's Kitty Wells heartache mixed with Robert Johnson's howl.  And honestly I don't think the comparison is far fetched.

Her music teeters on the edge of dour mood music and twangy upbeat songs.  The album builds slowly and beautifully from the moody "White Dove" to the sublime "Train Song" and spiced up in between with the acappella gospel of "On and Off Pt. 1, 2 & 3."  While her songs can be seen as somewhat sad, like "Went Walking," there is a cheer in her voice as the album continues in songs like "Train Song."  The latter song is one of the more upbeat songs on Baby and reflects the sweetness in her voice and is one of my favorites on the album.

Upcoming shows:

3/1/09 @ Dan's Silverleaf - Denton, TX

3/7/09 @ Good Records (in-store) - Dallas, TX

3/20/09 @ SXSW - Austin, TX

Her album Baby will be out on March 3 and you can get it here.

MP3:  Bosque Brown - Went Walking

Yeah, They Local

There are many, many, many Roots, Americana, Alt-Country and Country bands in the DFWd area but one of my absolute favorites is 100 Damned Guns.  The Ft. Worth six piece combines a bit of rock and roll swagger with a lot of Honky Tonk attitude.  Their music is reminiscent of what I grew up listening to--Outlaw Country with the musicianship of seasoned Music Row veterans.  They have a sound that owes as much to Hank Williams as it does to Gary Stewart, Waylon and Willie.

Lead vocalist Judd Pemberton has a voice tailor made for underground Country music--from one song to the next his voice goes from angst to heartbreakingly tender and both sound heartfelt without a hint of pretense.  

Their live shows are spectacular, for my money they put on one of the better shows around.  Their version of the traditional song "Hard To Love" in their set is outstanding.  They turn the Bluegrass staple into a hard charging anthem.  

Below are a few songs to whet your appetite for their follow-up to Songs of Pain, Murder and Woe titled  Stay Out of Nashville!

MP3:  100 Damned Guns - Ol' Barbwire

MP3:  100 Damned Guns - Broken Bottle Blues

MP3:  100 Damned Guns - Already On My Way

The O's We Are The O's

The local duo known as The O's have received quite a bit of fanfare since their formation in mid-2008.  More than a fly-by-night outfit, Taylor Young and John Pedigo are no strangers to the local music scene in The D, each playing in bands ranging from The Polyphonic Spree to BAcksliders.

It would be easy to pigeon-hole the duo's first album as roots music.  But, aside from the traditional string instruments they use, this isn't the case--more precisely roots-pop with twangy vocals.  They don't aren't as pop as say, and Alison Krauss record, but, songs like "You've Got Your Heart," "Fast As I Can" and "We've Had Everything" are full of pop melody.  

There are odd moments on We Are The O's like "I Love You So Much" where the singer breaks into a Vaden Todd Lewis wail that goes along with the heart break on the song.  The song has a humor to it like reminiscent of a teenager wailing his love at the top of his lungs to the girl he hearts.  

MP3:  The O's - Fast As I Can

The Fieros Get Back To Work

When I saw The Fieros they were still The Valentines and opening up for Radiant* at The Cavern (It was the first date for me and the Mrs.)  We were instantly smitten with the sonic boom pumping out of their speakers.

Then, they moved away. Last year Joey McClellan, Aaron McClellan, Chris Holston and McKenzie Smith left The D to head to the Brooklyn burough and make their name in the city that never sleeps.  As they headed to the home of TV on The Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and countless others I was afraid their style would change from the garage rock rave ups they were doing here.  Well, the year away has done them some good.  Their sound hasn't changed per se, but, it's a little different.

I'm really diggin' "In My Veins"--sonically it's the most significant of their musical change.  While it still holds the garage power on the lead guitar lines, the rhythm guitar sounds jangly and more along the lines of something you would hear from Oasis.  "Songbird" and "To Pieces" have both been re-recorded.  The reverb on the vocals recalls Ian Brown of The Stone Roses.

I still think this band has what it takes to make a name for themselves.  Here's hoping they do.

MP3:  The Fieros - In My Veins

MP3:  The Fieros - Get Back

MP3:  The Fieros - Songbird

MP3:  The Fieros - To Pieces

Mash-Up Monday

Yep, it's a Monday and it's a holiday, the sun is-a-shinin' and there is a song in my heart.  Oh, and tomorrow the Texas Idiot is officially out of office.

Today, the Monday Mashup comes from a local producer LehtMo Joe.  He's worked over Bowie's "Suffragette City" with ELO's "Evil Woman."  I've gotten to know "Suffragette City" from playing it on Rock Band with the Mrs.  (I rock that one out, y'all!)  But, the re-working is quite nice with it's slow bounce.

MP3:  LehtMo Joe - Suffragette Woman

Wine Down Wednesday

I meant to post this yesterday, but, better today than never.  But, Wine Down Wednesday is kicking off for the '09 tomorrow night.  Yep, the intimate little show is starting off 2009 with Matthew Thompson and John Priest.

The show starts at 630p at Times Ten Cellars Too, which is in the annex building.  There also appears to be some big plans in the works for this monthly series.  But, I's gots to be mum on this for now.

Times Ten Cellars Too (Annex bldg.)
6324 Prospect Ave.
Dallas, TX 75214
214-824-WINE

J.D. Whittenburg

This past Saturday I trekked down to Club Dada to interview Travis Hopper from Elkhart (more on that later).  However, during the course of the evening I ended up meeting J.D. Whittenburg and got his eponymous solo CD.  Like most albums I get I listen to them while I play Madden to get the vibe down.  I had heard a couple of his songs on his website, but, listening to it on a home stereo did the tracks even more justice.

His sound, to me, is reminiscent of late 70's pop-rock, singer-songwriter music.  Most of the songs on his disc pertain to some aspect of a relationship...in trouble.  It was nice to hear songs that seem to come from an honest place--and to relate them to places you've been in life.  

There are quite a few stand out tracks.  However, my favorite had to "San Francisco."  For one reason or another it just kinda grabbed me by the balls and wouldn't let go.  

MP3:  J.D. Whittenburg - San Francisco

Bosque Brown "Went Walking"

Dentonite Bosque Brown will release her new album, Baby, on March 3.  I'm new to the sweetness of the Bosque Brown, but, I do like what I hear.  Her folky, country-blues tinged torch songs are covered in sweetness and expresses experience beyond her years.

MP3:  Bosque Brown - Went Walking

Local Bar Support Local Music

I'm not sure who saw this on DC9, but, it's a good thing for local musicians.  The Libertine is going to play only music from local bands on Monday nights.  When I first read it I wondered how they were going to fit a band inside that tiny place.  Then I read a little further and saw the DJ will be spinning music solely from local bands.  And, as I read a little further I read that they will play just about anything local if you recommend it to them.  

So, if you're having a bad case of the Mondays, hit up The Libertine and listen to good tunes as you drink away your worries about the "Bob's" coming in to interview you for your job.

My list of who they need to play:

Radiant*, Dove Hunter, Sarah Jaffe, Robert Gomez, Eastwood, Jason Bales, 100 Damned Guns, Elkhart, I Love Math/Deathray Davies and The New Frontiers.  

Play them ASAP!

Wine Down Wednesday

Tonight Doug Burr will be playing an intimate set at Times Ten Cellars (not to be confused with Jazz Times Ten) in Lakewood and is on the second Wednesday of every month.  It will actually be in the Times Ten Too, which is the attached building to the east of this locale for the uninitiated.  

The doors open at 7p and Matt Thompson will be the opening act with Mr. Burr playing after.  If you haven't been to Times Ten Cellars it's a very neat place.  Some friends of mine actually got married there a couple of years ago.

MP3: Doug Burr - In The Garden