THURSDAY
Ralph White/Brent Best/Kirkland James/William Bryan Massey III (Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios): Local songwriter and Slobberbone front-person, Brent Best, will be joined in a collaborative performance by the headlining Ralph White, accompanying him on violin. There are photographs floating around of White playing the stringed instrument with a chainsaw in lieu of a bow, though there is no evidence that he is that extreme. This does playfully suggest some unconventionality on White’s part, and he is not your average folk musician—demonstrating a long-way-home technique on both the banjo and the thumb piano. So why would a violin be an exception? If you’ll recall, White played a large part in making the first night of a particular Denton festival pretty special, back in March.
“Stereo on Strike” (Zubar): Tonight’s guests are deep house expert, Gina Garza, former Illmatic Records owner and Maetrik collaborator, Ill76, in addition to resident Jack Dover.
“Funkology” (Crown and Harp): Joining Tape Mastah Steph for his monthly tribute to the late Dallas artist Quick Chris will be Priest TD.
Terminate/Insinnerator/Distort (406 Events): DJ Decontrol will be DJing “for the punx,” according to the show invite, which got me to thinking about the nature of punk-specific culture this week, namely the themed Met Gala that seems to have offended just about everyone.
I personally wasn’t offended at all. When one considers the fashion-minded origins of the first wave of the movement, along with the fact that most of the early bands worked with corporations and thought they could get away unharmed, it’s all very fitting to have an over-the-top, Hollywood-infested punk fashion show in 2013. I’m only shocked by the fact that anyone is surprised by this. This only supports the idea that Postpunk, No Wave, and the Hardcore movements often tended to be a more evolved and anti-corporate response to the initial charge, however well-intended. But certainly the attendees of this show already know this. For a more reasonable take on all the appropriated iconography, go here.
FRIDAY
“Slip Inside this House” (Texas Theatre): Three psychedelic record collectors will play music thematically broaching the content in the new documentary, The Source Family, and FrontRow has a review. The film focuses on a charismatic leader who aggressively leads his followers to join his efforts in a rock band of dubious quality, all while wearing a lot of white robes. In unrelated news, the Polyphonic Spree is also playing a festival the next day.
You are encouraged to “show up in your finest all-white compound caftans and gowns,” but I’m here telling you to please not do that. See that’s why punk was so important. The fashion. See above, or, actually, never mind.
Com Truise/Ishi/Ice Eater/Ronnie Heart (Lola’s): Fort Worth is pulling all the stops to get you to attend this Com Truise show, by having one of Dallas’ most hometown hero acts accused of playing danceable music (Ishi); along with a former member of Neon Indian (the well-regarded Ronnie Heart). You don’t see many shows this glossy (as opposed to gritty) in Fort Worth, so it might go over pretty well.
Fond Phantom/Peopleodeon/Frauen (The Crown and Harp): After listening to Peopleodeon for the first time in a while today, their track “In the Ocean” caught my attention. Though the group has had to cope with both lineup changes and even the often fatal misfortune of the respelling of its name, this is by far the most coherent and focused piece I’ve heard from the band yet.
Midnite Society/Cerulean Giallo/Curvette (Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios): This is as good a lineup as any to experiment with semi-clean air in the newly smoke-free Rubber Gloves.
Bill Callahan/Flat Foot (The Prophet Bar)
SATURDAY
“Homegrown Fest” (Main Street Garden Park): We always seem to go in circles with Homegrown, eventually ending up right where we started: It’s fairly priced and it’s a lovely setting, even though Klyde Warren has dramatically stolen all of Main Street Garden Park’s Downtown thunder. So it’s worth it to hang out as much or more as it is for the music, which of course, limits itself to only Texas acts. That’s the part I have issues with, of course. How “Dallas” is it to dream up a big festival and then tell the public that it can only be a regionally specific event? Is anyone going to complain if they suddenly book a huge name from France or Mauritius? I certainly wouldn’t. All limits aside, I have a wealth of good memories from Homegrown past, and I’m sure I’ll make the quick walk from the Chesterfield over to the park. Besides, the Relatives alone are worth seventeen bucks.
Other shows on Saturday—
Nervous Curtains/Bloody Knives/Sir Name and the Janes/DJ Gabe (Crown and Harp)
Chambers/Bethan (Redwood Studios)
Image: Ralph White performing in Denton, March of 2013. Credit: Andi Harman.
