THURSDAY
“Stereo on Strike” (Zubar): Perhaps you’re confused by the multiple show invites, but it helps to remember that Zubar is split into areas and the booking can be wildly different according to space. You have Tim Adams, Rick Simpson, and Blixaboy in one room, and for a different and less reverent approach to dance music, you have DJ Zone and Shooknite representing for Track Meet, who have some members working extra hard in Austin this week.
Update: Due to a cancellation of some sort down in Austin, it appears that Air DJ will make it out tonight as well.
“THRWD Thursdays” (The Gin Mill): Local zine upstarts from the self-published outfit THRWD are committed to unifying the disparate elements of the Dallas arts crowd, and though I don’t know how ready anyone really is to start signing truces around here, I do think that co-founder (and former D Magazine intern) Lee Escobedo has at least a grasp of who all the key players are. I was interviewed by the writer recently and found his knowledge of various occurrences in North Texas media over the past decade to be quite extensive.
This will be a monthly exploring Escobedo’s conceptual peace offering, and Oliver Francis Gallery head, Kevin Rubén Jacobs aka DJ Bob Saget … will be the perfect person to kick this whole thing off. There will be live art, and while I definitely have mixed feelings about visual acrobats, I am glad to see this sort of activity. And especially at the Gin Mill, where I basically look for excuses to sit at the bar and eat mussels.
Other events this evening:
“Hip Hop Karaoke” (The Crown and Harp): “Gimme the Loot.” I won’t even need a KTV.
Centuries/The Great American Mischief/Godless Jihad/Doda Framtiden (406 S Haskell): This is a hardcore show and I really hope that the Great American Mischief is a reference to this novel. If not, what a drag of a name.
FRIDAY
Ape Hangars/DJ Gabe (The Crown and Harp): When it comes to maligned genres, surf music ranks as the one of the most abused; even Hendrix talked trash about it. But there’s a lot to love about old surf records, and the Ape Hangars (which features members of old Dallas-standbys Blackheart Society) will do their best to remind you of its dusty charm over the course of two entire sets of instrumentals. Hopefully they’ll delve into some of the truly obscure and trashy-sounding numbers. Lately I’ve been thinking that Polka and Dubstep are the last two genres that it’s safe for everyone to knock. Agree?
Plack Blague/Violator X/Filth/Vulgar Fashion (Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios): The best part of listing an event like this is the multiple landmines involved that make it downright treacherous to present to the public. Every word you can’t use on television and more is here. Even the c-word. So, that should tell you pretty much what you need to know; it’s a noise and underground dance show, and that’s exactly why you should go. You want to watch another “rock band” sponsored by energy drinks pretending to speak to you about something? Go out and live for once. Plack Blague has been at this a long time, and their twisted take on beats and extreme sounds might be the exact reminder you need, to realize there are still people who care enough about popular and unpopular culture not to bore you to death.
SATURDAY
Glamorama (Beauty Bar): An unsurprising St. Patrick’s theme is at play here, as it will be all over town and I really can’t take this holiday, despite some negligible Irish ancestry. I once ended up in Boston on a St. Patty’s weekend, and it was the most terrifying display of unbridled whiteness you’ve ever seen. We ducked into a Mexican restaurant and tried to hide, but that was worse. Tonight’s guest is John Feezy, an out-and-out club DJ.
St. Patrick’s Day Concert featuring Snoop Dogg/A.Dd+/Ishi (Energy Square Parking Lot): It was an amazing idea to have Snoop Dogg headline this thing, and I mean that sincerely. It’s the only possible booking that could save the monochromatic banality of St. Patrick’s Day, but have enough mass market appeal that nobody can really complain. A.Dd+ opening is also a positive, and a great opportunity for the group, so all I’m left wondering is if the Ishi front-person will switch to a Leprechaun’s hat as opposed to a Native American headdress. Please, please, do that Ishi. I’m rooting for you. All this being said, I’m glad this almost always falls on South By Southwest. All I have to do is pick my dumpster out of a tree when I get home from Austin.
“Ladies Stay Crazy” (Texas Theatre): I always get nervous when specifications for attire are made regarding shows, but this was offered up for “LSC”:
Come dressed in your shiniest sequins, your shortest skirts, fanciest feathers, highest heels and most colorful makeup – and we’re not just talking to the girls here, guys!
Well, now that’s been cleared up, I’m at ease. Thanks, ladies. The on-the-clock DJs are Amy Gee-J and Cougarissa.
Ducktails
Parquet Courts
Pinkish Black
PallbearerNobunny
Young Widows
Zechs Marquise
Mondo GeneratorParenthetical GirlsJaillAlex Bleeker and the FreaksWidowspeak
Black Tusk
The OrwellsWhite MysteryToday is the Day
Single MothersBronchoBaring TeethThe Birds of NightKEN Mode
Mutilation Rights
Howl
Image: Parquet Courts’ Andrew Savage in live performance with a completely different band in 2012. We hope he forgives us. Credit: Andi Harman.
