Friday, March 7
“One Fest 2014” featuring Orgullo Primitivo/Primitive Man/Versklaven/Steel Bearing Hand/Estonia 1944/Hood Rat/Deadtooth/Bucketflush (Taqueria Pedritos): See the Sons of Hermann Hall description below for an explanation of this vast, two-day event.
“Deep Shade” (The Crown and Harp): This trio of house, techno, and electro experts includes some of the most low-key yet composed DJs in the city. The party is never really about them, and as such, the lack of ego makes for an evening that’s much easier to get lost in.
The Relatives/Bobby Patterson (The Kessler): This is simply a great show with two ever-reliable forces of Dallas soul and funk, who didn’t get their due (especially locally) until a bit late into their careers. But as smartly booked as this show is, do you ever wonder who today’s version of Patterson and the Relatives are around town? Don’t wait so long next time, Dallas.
Booty Fade/Durkin (The Travis): The Travis is a lively place on the weekends anyway, but this should heighten that fact a bit, since Dallas duo Booty Fade will be releasing their debut EP in conjunction with the show this evening. Booty Fade founding member DJ Sober usually hosts the basement event on the ever-important Thursday night, but tonight, along with Picnictyme, will be handling the more bottle service-friendly confines of the upstairs area of the Travis. Beloved Dallas rapper Tum Tum will host and I would start scoping for a parking space, maybe even this afternoon if you don’t want to valet or Ubez it.
The Black Dotz/The American Fuse/The Phuss (Three Links): The Black Dotz were playing to a sold-out crowd when they recently opened for Baboon at Three Links, so they either made a lot of new fans are really impressed the long-seasoned local music observers that populated that audience. Either way, it got a lot of talk. Hopefully some of those same converts will return to the crime scene.
Baptist Generals/Satans of Soft Rock/Cornhole/Bad Design/Brent Best (Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios): This is the first night of a two-day event called “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.” It’s (obviously) the work of Mad World Records, along with Rubber Gloves. It seems that pretty much every well-liked Denton musician from the past 15 years will be involved, so I assume it will be a success. Here’s hoping that awareness of the record store is increased as well.
Childish Gambino (South Side Ballroom): Note—show is sold out. More information is available here.
Other Friday shows that seem appealing—
Coldair/Howler Jr. (City Tavern)
The West Windows/Things of Earth/Dumb Waiter (Double Wide)
The Spring Standards/Kaela Sinclair (Dan’s Silverleaf)
Saturday, March 8
The Reds/John Wesley Coleman/Old Warhorse/Radioactivity/Dim Locator (Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios): Night two of the Mad World-sponsored festival includes an appearance by The Reds, which is actually one of the big stories this weekend. That band eventually evolved into the Marked Men, and a number of other area bands who have gone on to attain national attention and beyond. Expect a large turnout.
Untapped Fest (Panther Island Pavilion): For more info, go here.
Ronnie Heart/Red Sean (The Foundry): This is a combination of DJ-ing and live performance, and it’s a fitting pairing between two gentlemen who have long capably juggled between the world of guitars and laptops, though Redsean is firmly planted in the latter at this point.
“One Fest 2014” (Sons of Hermann Hall): Not even the justifiably dismissive hardcore scene can’t let South by Southwest go completely unacknowledged, so this attempts to pack as much talent into a single show as possible, ahead of that vortex of a festival. Bands include Pinkish Black, Tolar, and Mean and Ugly, among many others.
“Glamorama” (Beauty Bar): If you didn’t get a chance to read the FrontRow interview with Blake Ward associate Colly T earlier this week, have a look by going here. While I’m at it, FrontRow contributor Michelle Ofiwe did a piece on Mr. Ward as well, and that’s probably worth a revisit.
Street Arabs/Dead Mockingbirds/Jack Thunder & the Road Soda/International Bitterness (The Crown and Harp): Something is certainly left to be desired with some of these band names, but I should mention that Street Arabs have a new record out, and that’s the reason for tonight’s event. The show is free.
Other Saturday concerts—
Absu/Black Moriah/Sardonic Witchery/The Antichrist (Curtain Club)
Sunday, March 9
Bun B/Kirko Bangz (Trees): More info available here.
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks/Purling Hiss (Granada Theater): Finally, for more on this show, go here.
Image: The Relatives, at Homegrown Fest 2013. Credit: Andi Harman.
