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Music

It List: North Texas Music Concerts for December 23

Sir Name And The Janes/Zorch/Tiger Thrust/Leg Sweeper (The Cavern): If you are at all familiar with Richard Hell's portrayal of "Billy" in the 1980 film, Blank Generation, you may remember a scene where he is recording vocals. Hell is more or less playing himself and literally recording one of his own songs. One wonders why he didn't just actually play himself completely, since Warhol was allowed to do so in the same film (perhaps that's obvious). But the scene is notable for the rare look it gave into Hell's actual talent, laid bare for the camera. In this sterile environment of a recording studio and not a bombed-out venue on The Lower East Side, we see the legendary, snarling artist almost struggling with his vocals. That was the point. It was supposed to sound like he was struggling. It simultaneously took away and added to his inherent mystique, by dispelling what you might think of when anyone mentions the caustic power of the singer and his infamously influential song, record, and film.
By Chris Mosley |
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Sir Name And The Janes/Zorch/Tiger Thrust/Leg Sweeper (The Cavern): If you are at all familiar with Richard Hell’s portrayal of “Billy” in the 1980 film, Blank Generation, you may remember a scene where he is recording vocals.  Hell is more or less playing himself and literally recording one of his own songs.  One wonders why he didn’t just actually play himself completely, since Warhol was allowed to do so in the same film (perhaps that’s obvious).  But the scene is notable for the rare look it gave into Hell’s actual talent, laid bare for the camera.  In this sterile environment of a recording studio and not a bombed-out venue on The Lower East Side, we see the legendary, snarling artist almost struggling with his vocals. That was the point.  It was supposed to sound like he was struggling.  It simultaneously took away and added to his inherent mystique, by dispelling what you might think of when anyone mentions the caustic power of the singer and his infamously influential song, record, and film.

If you want to know just how influential, look no further than Sir Name And The Janes, a band that shocked me with how much lead singer “Sir Name’s” vocals sound exactly like Richard Hell.  If there is ever a Blank Generation remake, then certainly Sir Name could reenact the aforementioned scene with eerily historical accuracy. Regardless of whether such role-playing would be  necessary,  I would be willing to go to The Cavern and see it.

Discipline” with Andrew Haas/Shane English/Kate DePetris/Jonah Lange/Kathryn Falvo (Rubber Gloves): It might be easy to assume that every stone has been uncovered in the rather thorough mining of late Cold War-period music. Yes, I’m talking about 80’s music, and I know that with even a mention of the genre you’re thinking, “Ugh, here we go again.” Usually I would agree. However, the improbably large gang of (five!) local musicians and DJ’s that have teamed up for the new weekly “Discipline” at Rubber Gloves are known purists when it comes to willfully obscure records. And by “obscure” I mean weird and extreme records that were often released in pressings so small that you have to pretty much throw away most of your yearly income — and possibly your life — if you want to amass a large amount of this stuff. That said, I’ve definitely been to parties where someone from this crowd throws on a tuneless, beat-less, 20 minute swamp of weird moaning and bizarre synthesizer noise until everyone in the room is uncomfortable. I find it appealing, however, that much of what will be presented during “Discipline” will be stranger and darker than what most people imagine when they think of an 80’s-based record night.  Attendees will definitely hear something that they have not heard before, especially not on actual vinyl, and I’ve been promised that none of the ever-so-hip “grave wave” genre shall be represented.  Recommended. Here’s a bonus, the organizers have made a video flier:

DISCIPLINE from DARK COMPANION on Vimeo.

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