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Little d After Dark
January 2012
J A N U A RY 2 0 1 2 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5
Courtesy photo/Peter Salisbury
Among a sparse crowd on a cold Sunday night, Denton’s Boxcar Bandits take the small stage at Adair’s Saloon in Dallas’ Deep Ellum. A middle-aged woman in a cowboy hat and fur coat shares a booth with a man and watches the band attentively. She stands, wavering drunkenly. A few bar-goers turn their unbalanced barstools in the direction of the music and politely clap after each song. No, the Bandits don’t have the following at humble Adair’s as they do at Dan’s Silverleaf — that is, not yet. Story by Megan Radke
C O V E R S T O RY
F E AT U R E S >>
more to the message The musi-
THE ELEMENTS opening shot
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good dates
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editor’s note
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party people
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cians who make up Least of These care pas-
the alchemist Ruby Champagne
sionately about the music they make. They are,
Cocktail.
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after all, using gorgeous-but-hard rock to advance the good news. As in the Gospel, that
try this at home Hang multiple
ancient message that calls humankind to be
guitars from the wall.
reclaimed from evil and bathed in the blood of
bargain bytes New albums on the
Jesus.
cheap.
modern soul If soul music has had any
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It’s really that simple. And hey, while
has Quentin Moore to thank for it. It turns
Photo by David Minton
out that Moore can do even more than the Love. Over the summer, Moore released a
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flavor junkie Live here? Eat here.
prominence in Denton in the last two years, it
old-school soul and R&B he did on Vintage
>>
>>
mixtape, Quentinized, a work full of guest appearances, funky soul licks and a lot of
jazz. There’s something organic and lo-fi about the album.
Publisher Bill Patterson Managing Editor Dawn Cobb
Advertising Director Sandra Hammond
940-566-6879 | dcobb@dentonrc.com
Advertising Manager Shawn Reneau
Features Editor Lucinda Breeding
940-566-6843 | sreneau@dentonrc.com
940-566-6877 | cbreeding@dentonrc.com
Classified Display Julie Hammond
940-566-6820 | shammond@dentonrc.com
940-566-6819 |jhammond@dentonrc.com
>>
you’re at it, try this bagel.
the buzz
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Contributing Writers Alyssa Jarrell, Megan Radke, Cody Robinson Designer Rachel McReynolds Photographers David Minton, Al Key On the cover Boxcar Bandits at Loco Cafe. Photo by David Minton.
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The contents of this free publication are copyrighted by Denton Publishing Company, 2012, a subsidiary of A.H. Belo Corp. (www.ahbelo.com, NYSE symbol: AHC), with all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited. Little d After Dark is published monthly by Denton Publishing Company, 314 E. Hickory St.
OPENING SHOT
Joe Ely, left, performs at Dan’s Silverleaf on Dec. 15. Photo by David Minton.
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Little d After Dark
January 2012
have your people call our people
SUNDAY 1
>>
to submit an event for little d’s calendar, e-mail rmcreynolds@dentonrc.com
MONDAY 2
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TUESDAY 3
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New Year’s Day: Jan. 1
WEDNESDAY 4
County Rexford, 7 p.m. Free. Abbey Inn Restaurant & Pub.
THURSDAY 5
Ryan Thomas Becker and Last Joke, El Cento, Leatherbag, 9 p.m. Dan’s Silverleaf. Transistor Amps, Supersonic Lips, Signals and Alibis, 9:30 p.m. $6-$10. Lola’s.
FRIDAY 6
SATURDAY
The Gourds, 8 p.m. $17.50. The Kessler. The Bright Light Social Hour, Fresh Millions, 9 p.m. $8-$10. Rubber Gloves. 76, 10 p.m. $8-$12. Lola’s. Backwater Opera, Sol Tax, Union Specific, 10 p.m. $5. Dan’s Silverleaf. Willie Nelson, 10:30 p.m. $20$60. Billy Bob’s.
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Garuda, Wild Tribe, Raging Boner, Unraveler, 9 p.m. $8$12. Lola’s.
10 Flowtribe, 9 p.m. $6. Dan’s
11 Earl Bates, 7 p.m. Free.
12 Silent Film Series:
13 Charlie Robison, Phil
14 Burning Hotels, Mon Julien
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18 County Rexford, 7 p.m.
19 The Life and Times, Cush,
20 Johnny Pecker and the
21 Charlie Hunter, Chris Cortez,
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27 Tuba Valentines, noon.
28 Fred Eaglesmith, 7 p.m.
Silverleaf.
Abbey Inn Restaurant & Pub. Sundress, Coves, Family Fiend, Comanche, Freak the Mighty, 10 p.m. $5. Dan’s Silverleaf.
Metropolis screening, 8 p.m. Simone Lounge. New Fumes, Skeleton Coast, Ishi, 9 p.m. $6-$10. Lola’s. Centro-matic, 10 p.m. $12-$15. Dan’s Silverleaf.
Pritchett, Jason Cassidy, 7 p.m. $15-$30. Granada Theater. Wu-Tang Clan, 8:30 p.m. $29-$58.50. House of Blues. Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real, 9 p.m. $10-$15. Dan’s Silverleaf.
(CD release) featuring members of Black Tie Dynasty, Midlake, Tripping Daisy, Polyphonic Spree, Air Review, 7 p.m. $14. Granada Theater. Styx, 10:30 p.m. $20-$45. Billy Bob’s.
Women’s Self-Empowerment Week: Jan. 3-9
16 Langhorne Slim, 8 p.m.
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Dan’s Silverleaf.
Free. Abbey Inn Restaurant & Pub. Shinyribs, Jimbo Mathus and the Tri-State Coalition, 8 p.m. $10. Dan’s Silverleaf.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Calhoun 10 p.m. $7-$10. Dan’s Silverleaf.
Beaver Bustin’ Pecker Pirates, 8 p.m. Andy’s Bar. Avicii, 8 p.m. $37.75. Palladium Ballroom. The Cannabinoids, featuring Erykah Badu, 7 p.m. $25$45. Granada Theater. Meme Gallery presents Braulio, band TBA, 9 p.m. $1-$3. Rubber Gloves. Hentai Improvising Orchestra, 10 p.m. Simone Lounge.
8 p.m. Dan’s Silverleaf. The Civil Wars, 8 p.m. $20$22. House of Blues. The Killdares, Home by Hovercraft, 8 p.m. $17.50$20. The Kessler. Paul Slavens, 9:30 p.m. Simone Lounge. Merle Haggard, 10:30 p.m. $15-$35. Billy Bob’s.
22 In Flames, Trivium, Veil of
23 The Kills, Jeff the
24 Ascolti Korean Chamber
25 Earl Bates, 7 p.m. Free.
29 Denton Community
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31 “Where’s the Band?” tour,
JANUARY 2012
Maya, Kyng, 7 p.m. $27. Granada Theater.
Theatre’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor, 2 p.m. $10-$20. Campus Theatre. The Ataris, Perdition, Here Holy Spain, 9 p.m. $6-$10. Lola’s.
January 2012
Brotherhood, Hunters, 7 p.m. $20. Granada Theater. UNT faculty woodwind recital, 8 p.m. Free. Voertman Hall.
Orchestra, 8 p.m. Free. Winspear Performance Hall.
featuring Ace Enders (the Early November), Anthony Raneri (Bayside), Chris Conley (Saves the Day), Evan Weiss (Into It. Over It.), Matt Pryor (the Get Up Kids), 7:30 p.m. $15-$16. Dada. UNT College of Music Collaborative Music Celebration, 8 p.m. Free. UNT. A Lull, Deleted Scenes, Botany, 9 p.m. $7$10. Dan’s Silverleaf.
Abbey Inn Restaurant & Pub.
MUSIC at Denton venues STAGE & SCREEN
Little d After Dark
Free. UNT. Denton Community Theatre’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor, 7:30 p.m. $10-$20. Campus Theatre. Young & Brave, Jessie Frye, Delicate Cutters, 10 p.m. Simone Lounge.
MUSIC at UNT
$14-$30. Granada Theater. Denton Community Theatre’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor, 7:30 p.m. $10-$20. Campus Theatre. Blurry Vision, 8 p.m. Andy’s Bar. Pablo and the Hemphill 7, Bad Weather California, Human Growth Hormone, 9 p.m. $8-$12. Lola’s. This Will Destroy You, Amen Dunes, 10 p.m. $12-$15. Dan’s Silverleaf. Dwight Yoakam, 10:30 p.m. $20-$40. Billy Bob’s.
MUSIC elsewhere
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Down and dirty
Y
ou hear a lot about “honesty” in the Denton music scene. You don’t hear as much about playfulness or a sense of adventure, but we suspect they are twin cousins to the muchvaunted honesty. Our cover band for the new year — the Boxcar Bandits — can claim all three ideals in its latest release, Live at Dan’s Silverleaf. There’s a simple metaphor for the band’s pursuit of honesty, playfulness and adventure. It comes in the form of an instrument that we’ll call Texas Rex Emerson’s chestarmor washboard. Percussionist Grady
Don Sandlin uses it on songs “Feast Here Tonight,” “Green Room Rag” and “Hamlet Chicken Plant Disaster.” When Sandlin plays this instrument, which he classifies as a zydeco instrument, he teams up with the band’s upright bassist Ryan Williams. Williams plays the “boom” on the first and third beats and Sandlin plays the “chik” on the second and fourth. “Oh, and I play it by scraping two metal paint can openers, or church keys, one in each hand,” Sandlin said. That’s just the tip of the “skunkgrass” iceberg for the Bandits. And that’s what we call adventuresome music. — Lucinda Breeding
Offering the Finest in Live Music... Bring in this ad for $2 Off Cover Charge at the Door Expires 1-31-12
www.danssilverleaf.com 940-320-2000 103 Industrial St.
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Little d After Dark
January 2012
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January 2012
Little d After Dark
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ruby champagne cocktail
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by rachel mcreynolds and lucinda breeding
The drink 2 Ruby Red pink grapefruits 1/4 cup sugar 1 750-ml bottle brut Champagne, well chilled Using a vegetable peeler, remove peel from one grapefruit; place in bowl. Cut both grapefruits in half; squeeze enough juice to measure 3/4 cup. Mix juice and sugar in bowl with peel. Let stand 5 minutes. Strain into small bowl, pressing on solids. Pour 2 tablespoons syrup into each of four 6-ounce flutes. Fill each with 2/3 cup Champagne. — Bon Appetit, 2004 You look fabulous, all done up for New Year’s Eve. Look at you in those fancy togs. How often do you get to go out looking like a million bucks? Never, that’s how often, and are you really going to waste the sexiness of that nice outfit by sipping on plain sparkling wine? Let’s get serious, folks, Champagne can be a little bitter. It’s a new year, a new you (unless you love the you you are, in which case, toast yourself!) — so leave the bitterness behind, and start afresh with this sweet, bubbly concoction. Believe us: It’ll stay with you longer than that New Year’s resolution.
The tunes While you’re sipping, listen to these artists: Ella Minnow (ethereal vocals bubbling over a hip-hop beat), Bubba Hernandez y Los Super Vatos (high-energy firestorm of Latin sound), She + Him (sweet-but-not saccharine, with an oh-so-precious twang thanks to hipster queen Zooey Deschanel). Photo by David Minton
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January 2012
but please don’t sue me
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by cody robinson
Standing by, ready to rock
Make a hanging guitar rack
I
’m notoriously cheap when it comes to buying guitars. You won’t see me waving a $2,000 guitar around the stage. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with a nice American SG or Les Paul, it’s just not my style. I’d rather spend that money on a good quality tube amp. When I was setting up my band’s rehearsal room, I needed a cost-effective way to hang my guitars on the wall. This simple idea is appropriately cheap and utilitarian — a perfect fit for my guitars.
Materials 6 “bulldog” hooks (from just about any store with a hardware aisle) one 8-foot 2-by-4 stud Speed Square stud finder saw level drill and 2 drill bits (one slightly smaller than whatever hooks you buy, the other slightly smaller than the screws you will use to mount the rack on the wall) January 2012
No. 2 Phillips screwdriver bit, with at least a 2-inch extension deck/wood screws, about 2.5 inches long paint/stain/stickers/whatever
Directions 1. Lay the 2-by-4 on a flat surface. Measure 3 inches in from one end, and using your Speed Square and a pencil, make a mark across the stud. Before you move your square, find the center of the board, and make two marks on your line, each about 1/4 inch from the center — one above the center for a mounting screw, one below for the guitar hook. 2. From that line, measure 16 inches and make another line, repeating the same steps to make a mark for the mounting screw and guitar hook. Continue this process for the remainder of the hooks. Once you’ve made six lines (or fewer if you prefer a smaller rack), measure 3 inches from the final line and make one more line across the stud. This is where you should cut the stud to get rid of the part you won’t be using. 3. Now that you have all of the holes marked, use a drill bit slightly smaller than
your mounting screws and drill a hole where you marked just above the center on each line. This is called a pilot hole; it should be small enough to allow the screw to hold in the board but large enough to prevent the screw from splitting your board in two when you’re mounting the rack. These should all be on one side, one hole for each line you drew. Save the other marks for the next step. 4. Repeat the previous step with the larger drill bit on the other set of marks below the center of the stud. Again, this bit should be smaller than the threads of the guitar hooks, but not so big that the hooks won’t hold in the board. These holes do not have to go all the way through the board, since you don’t want the screw part of your hook to go all the way through to the wall, but don’t make the holes so shallow that the hook can be easily bent out of the hole. That’s a good way to lose a guitar. And I’m not replacing yours if you do it wrong. You should now have a total of 12 holes drilled in the stud. 5. If you want to be all fancy, you can sand and paint the board at this point. In my case, I just rolled on a little bit of white latex
Little d After Dark
paint so it would match the wall. Once the paint’s dry, screw all of the guitar hooks into place. After that, you can save a little time by pre-installing the mounting screws, screwing them in to the point just before they protrude from the other side. 6. Before you mount the rack, use a stud finder on your wall to determine where the studs are. You should line up your mounting screws directly into studs so it can bear the weight of several guitars. If your house was built to code they should be exactly 16 inches apart. (Pretty neat how that works out, huh?) If for some reason they aren’t, add an additional screw for each stud you find in the mounting wall. Once you’re done hanging up your brand new guitar rack, grab a wad of cash and hit your local pawnshops until you have enough guitars to fill it up. CODY ROBINSON is the production director at the Denton Record-Chronicle as well as a local musician. He’s never met a power tool he couldn’t use or a warranty he couldn’t void. His e-mail address is cbrobinson@dentonrc. com.
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by megan radke
A
mong a sparse
crowd on a cold Sunday night, Denton’s Boxcar Bandits take the small stage at Adair’s Saloon in Dallas’ Deep Ellum. Sharpie graffiti and road signs layer the walls, fighting for attention. A middle-aged woman in a cowboy hat and fur coat shares a booth with a man and watches the band attentively. She stands, wavering drunkenly. A few other bargoers turn their unbalanced barstools in the direction of the music and politely clap after each song. No, the Bandits don’t have the following at humble Adair’s as they do at Dan’s Silverleaf — that is, not yet. Regardless, the band plays and sounds like they have an audience of thousands. The Boxcar Bandits are a staple at Dan’s Silverleaf, occupying the stage every Monday evening when the band is not on tour. It was natural, then, for the band to release Live at Dan’s Silverleaf, recorded during their Monday night sessions. “We recorded all our shows last April, and whittled it down to 14 tunes,” said Rex Emerson, also known as “Texas Rex,” a vocalist and the man behind the mandolin >> Continued on 12
Photo by David Minton
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January 2012
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Continued from 11>> for the Bandits. Their brand of “North Texas skunkgrass� is strong and cohesive — recorded or live. It’s clear that the band is at home in everything from the smallest of dive bars to concert halls. The Bandits will lift the lowest of spirits and immediately get your boots stomping. “Skunkgrass� is a blanket term for the weave of sounds the Bandits make. It’s the word the band came up with after trying to answer the inevitable question of which bin they’d put their CDs in at a record store. “You’ll get a lot of different answers,� guitarist Hillary Early said. “We’re somewhere between jug, bluegrass and really any genre we can draw from.� Although Early’s correct about the various answers surrounding skunkgrass, it’s clear that the band can agree upon its bluegrass influence. “I guess our sound is a mixture of bluegrass with some sort of rock elements in there, a little country-and-Western swing,� percussionist Grady Sandlin said. The Bandits are a group of Denton musicians from many North Texas acts. Emerson assembled the band in February 2006 with early members J. Paul Slavens, a local radio host and solo artist; and
Track for track: Live at Dan’ s Silverleaf GREEN ROOM RAG
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE
CELL PHONE
This one kicks things off with a fun mando melody, which really doesn’t give any indication on what’s to come — although, this is a standout tune for mandolin and fiddle lovers. Percussion holds a steady upbeat, except when that Spanish sound comes in and claps replace drums. Guitar takes a front seat during this breakdown, as chords are hit hard and fast. Soon enough, you’re back enjoying ragtime, but you haven’t stopped doing the same jig you were when the song began. Best enjoyed on a dance floor.
As far as an indicator of the band’s general sound goes, this is it. “Memphis, Tennessee� gives listeners an upbeat sampling of the band’s instrumentation, as each one comes through loud and clear. The song begins with all instruments in sync, including drums. The punchy intro flows into the general melody but the banjo takes center stage, along with a few voices, yelling harmonies.
The blues influence in Track 5 on can’t be ignored. The dobro wails throughout the song but doesn’t drown out fast-picked mandolin highs and lows. The steady guitar chords keep the listener swaying back and forth while the first appearance of the fiddle screams before settling back into a more traditional country style. Great storytelling about the loss of a cellphone and the paranoia in the aftermath, combined with a soulful vocal performance, make this tune quite a gem.
Tamara Cauble, formerly of Telegraph Canyon. The current lineup features Emerson, Ryan Williams on upright bass, Early (also of Rodney Parker & 50 Peso Reward) on guitar and dobro, Sandlin (also of RTB2), Austin Smith on fiddle and Andy Rodgers (formerly of Oso Closo) on banjo and dobro.
In 2008, the band recorded and released its first album, Smells Like Grass, on Emerson’s label, Break-a-Pick Records, then signed with Flight Music Group in 2011. The group released Live at Dan’s Silverleaf in November. The live sound featured was run by Seryn’s Trenton Wheeler, and the album was recorded by
Hope Trust frontman Kelly Upshaw and was mixed by Rodney Parker. MEGAN RADKE is a University of North Texas journalism graduate who’s obsessed with music. She lives in Dallas.
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new releases
D
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by lucinda breeding
enton musicians have been busy since fall.
The Gypsy Bravado released an EP in October that debuts the band’s mix of psychedelic rock and progressive rock. The band likens the EP to a cocktail of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, stirred up with Jack White and Mars Volta. The five-track EP features scorching guitar and distant vocals. The band is Jeff Dacus on bass, Shawn Burgundy on guitar, Mo Myles on keyboard and Louis Anderson on drums. The EP is available at shows. Check for dates at facebook.com/pages/The-GypsyBravado/201252492596. Also listen for the band on “The Eagle� KEGL-FM (97.1). Though Exit 380 claims Dallas-Fort Worth as its home base, the band got its start — and its name — in Denton. The quartet just released its fifth studio album, Townies, on Hand Drawn Records. The album is the follow-up to the group’s 2008 release, The Life and Death of Mr.
and Mrs. Alexander Stone. The album got a bit of a preview on the Cities Townies EP — specifically “Run for the Gold,� and “Daddy Was a Freight Train� — released last year. Exit 380 has been kicking around for 12 years now. Billing itself as folk-rock and experimental, the band is made up of Dustin Blocker on vocals, Aaron Borden on guitar, Jon “The Hutch� Hutchison on bass, Bobby “Shoes� Tucker on drums and Jeremy Hutchison on guitar. The band’s catalog is available on iTunes. Jessie Frye released her EP Fireworks Child early this year and followed it up with a slick video for the pretty ditty “Like a Light� (available to watch on YouTube). She’s played showcases at both South by Southwest and 35 Denton, opened for Pat Benatar last year and won the support of producer John Congleton (St. Vincent, Polyphonic Spree) for Fireworks Child, which was mixed by Joe McGrath. She’s also been popping up on KKXT-FM (91.7). Find her music at jessiefrye. bandcamp.com, where you can now download the EP for free.
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quentin moore
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by lucinda breeding
Funk-soul brother Moore flexes jazz, hip-hop muscles on his latest, ‘Quentinized’
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f soul music has had any prominence in Denton in the last two years, it has Quentin Moore to thank for it. It turns out that Moore, a 2007 graduate of University of North Texas, can do even more than the old-school soul and R&B he did on Vintage Love. Over the summer, Moore released a mixtape, Quentinized, a work full of guest appearances, funky soul licks and a lot of jazz. There’s something organic and lo-fi about the album. Moore makes use of technology, but he doesn’t rely on pitch control. The vocals come from years of singing in church. The instrumentation is straightforward. Moore relies on his skill rather than studio bells and whistles. “I had written some songs at UNT, but I had never had a chance to really do anything with them,” said Moore, who now calls Dallas home. “I did a few things I’ve never tried before. There’s a reggae song and there’s a Spanish song. I wanted to do something that would show a different side of me.” Mixtapes grew out of urban hip-hop music, which used to be available during live performances and private parties. As the epicenter of hip-hop scene, New York City, evolved, artists began making tapes of their music and circulating them. Even now, hip-hop artists make mixtapes to prove how creatively they can use bits of existing, familiar music and make it their own. Often, artists use popular music and rap over it. “I used the same approach,” Moore said of the 22-track Quentinized. “I thought I’d give people a little bit of something that was familiar, and then give them a little comedy, a little hip-hop and some gospel. I wanted to reach a broader audience. I was thinking there might be some people that are like, ‘We didn’t know he could write jazz like that.’” Moore’s natural ease at the piano, his chief instrument, is especially evident on “Devotional,” which banks on his gospel chops — which are second nature. Moore grew up in the Baptist church, and still plays in church every Sunday. Still, Moore’s nothing if not a musical journeyman. He made the mixtape in his home 14
Track for track: Quentinized SLOW DOWN/GIVE ME YOUR LOVE Moore takes the catchy 2005 hit by Bobby Valentino and gives it a smooth jazz treatment, with deft saxophone phrasing by Vandell Andrew. He changes the reference from Melrose to Sixth Street (shout out to Austin, y’all!) and generally keeps every fiber of the original’s sex appeal, all while adding his signature coolness. He turns it into a medley of the song with Curtis Mayfield’s “Give Me Your Love.” Who knew these two tunes could bookend without a hitch?
BABY Moore is a brave man — exemplified by this track, a doo-wop-worthy version of teen pop idol Justin Bieber’s most popular song. He slows it down, then bumps it down yet another notch to give it the neo-soul treatment. Without Bieber’s supernova burning up a listener’s objectivity, Moore shows just how solid the song is. It doesn’t hurt that he damn near takes the song to church. “I liked the song,” Moore said, insisting he has no regrets about remaking the Biebs.
ISLAND GIRL With lots of qualified help, Moore gets the party started by belting out “island girl” in true beach party, hype-man style. Then the song eases into a quasi-reggae number with lots of jazz and soul flourishes. All in all, it’s fun risk.
studio, and played guitar, keyboard and drums. On some songs, he plays all the instruments. Another thing in Moore’s favor is judgment. “I want to release a new album next year,” Moore said. “The mixtape was a way to give people something to get into between the album I’m working on and Vintage Love. I learned a lot on this project that I will definitely use on the upcoming album. ... I want to keep growing, growing and pushing to become a better musician.”
Courtesy photo
LUCINDA BREEDING can be reached at 940-566-6877 or cbreeding@dentonrc.com.
229 W. Hickory St. Denton 940-442-6531 Little d After Dark
Hookahs, Shisha, Body Jewelry, Detox, Herbs, Grinders, Cyclones, Blunts, Posters, Tapestries Best Prices in Town
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least of these
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by lucinda breeding
Out of the desert Least of These makes the most out of faith, the cornerstone of their music
T
he musicians who make up Least of These care passionately about the music they make. They are, after all, using gorgeousbut-hard rock to advance the good news. As in the Gospel, that ancient message that calls humankind to be reclaimed from evil and bathed in the blood of Jesus. But they care just as much about the people they meet at shows and the other musicians who have chosen the commercially risky road of merging faith with art. “We look at all of the connections we make with people as a part of everything we do,” guitarist Tyler Collins said. “I feel like our process is just this. Having these interviews, this conversation, meeting people. I don’t think success is a figure. I think it has more to do with what you do with what you’re given. Like meeting people where they are, and embracing these roles we’ve taken on.” The bulk of Christian music is what academics would called “ghettoized,” tucked away in a conflicted niche where interest in profit can be seen as selling out, and crossing over can be considered selling your soul. It’s nothing Christian-cumpop artist Amy Grant didn’t go through roughly 20 years ago. It’s what U2 was able to avoid by burying declarations of love for God in lyrics that are often mistaken for love songs. Least of These is making music, loud and intense music, paired with lyrics that forgo chapter-and-verse sermons in favor of self-reflection, thoughtful meditations on a fast-paced world and an ever-present companion — uncertainty. Then there’s the kicker in much of the songs on the EP More Than Conquerors. In the presence of faith, people don’t have to be certain of everything. Hope, an open heart and honest prayer can heave you through the bad times. Collins said he never intended to be a permanent member of the band, and isn’t quite sure if he’s decided that he is one yet. He met lead singer Josh Weir at a house show. Weir said God brought him to Texas. >>
January 2012
Photo by David Minton In its EP More Than Conquerors, Denton band Least of These is open about being made clean by faith. The band is Josh Weir, left, Kyle Ramsey, T.J. Collins and Tyler Collins.
Track for track: More Than Conquerors AMAZING GRACE
IMITATORS
NEW CREATION
Out of a din of voices and noise, guitarist Tyler Collins makes a plaintive plea with spare, beautiful notes from the traditional hymn. You can rarely go wrong by choosing this most recognizable of American hymns (with the Shaker hymn “Simple Gifts” coming in second), but Collins keeps it simple and quiet before the first line dissolves into a haze of glorious fuzz. Guitars usually sound angry, but Collins translates spiritual longing and ecstasy with the very same instrument.
A chorus of voices sing out: “I’m not what I was made/I’m what I was born to be/His child/His child.” A few more lines and the band kicks in with hard-rocking riffs and even a screaming background echo of the chorus: “… Oh, grace has washed my transgressions away/It’s the cross, its the son, its the deed that has saved/ And now I know that I really should have obeyed.” The song is trance-y and assured. You can almost see hands lifted in an arena.
This track opens with the sound of wind, faint radio voices and repeating notes. A fuzzed-out voice reads out a Scripture about being made new, and whole. It’s a short track that does what it sets out to do, building on the familiar few notes until finally, the song opens into a wide space of quiet.
Continued on 16 Little d After Dark
15
least of these
>>
by lucinda breeding
Continued from 15>> He was invited to a Bible study lead by Casey Straughn, who is now the band’s “merch guy� and road pastor. At the time, both Weir and Straughn were in Gainesville. They moved to Denton and started attending Cornerstone of Denton. “Some people in that Bible study brought me out of my shell,� Weir said. “I sang in front of people, and it made me want to start writing music. I came to Denton with Casey with four guys and five girls with the notion of starting an intentional community.� An intentional community borrows from the ideas — and ideals — of communal living. Residents unite around a common goal or philosophy, and cooperation is expected. While Weir played his part in developing the group — which eventually landed in two local town houses, with men in one, women in the other — he kept at his music. “God gave me a vision to put a band together,� he said. “That’s when I started meeting these guys.� Weir met drummer T.J. Collins at a birthday party. At the party, Weir discovered another Christian band, the Captive. Tyler Collins, T.J.’s brother, was the guitarist for the Captive. It didn’t take long for T.J. and Weir to find common ground and common musical interest. “When we were jamming, it was without a drummer or a bass player,� said T.J., who was playing guitar with Weir. “It was like that from October of 2010 to January of this year. The Captive split up sometime during then.� “A couple of the members got married and people moved,� Tyler said. “My original role [with Least of These] was filling in for the drummer. I slowly got to be a part of Least of These.� Collins and Weir needed one more person — a musician with bass chops. Bassist Kyle Ramsey met Tyler Collins at a home group, a small covenant group that meets in members’ homes to study, discuss and reflect on their faith and practice. “I had no expectations in the beginning,� Ramsey said. “I didn’t even think I was going to be in the band for the long hall. Not because I didn’t like these guys or the music we were doing, because that’s not the case. I just didn’t have any expectations.� All the men joined the bands as both lovers of music and serious students of Christianity. Ramsey said they were gunshy about how to define themselves as a group. “One thing I can say is that, for most of us, we were scared away from music that was ‘doing religion,’� he said. “We’re all 16
LEAST OF THESE ON THE WEB leastofthese.bigcartel.com, facebook.com/weareleastofthese
just now starting to understand what it means to be followers of Christ — and I mean just starting to get it. Tip of the iceberg type stuff. We don’t walk into a show and label ourselves as a Christian band right off the bat.� Weir said the musicians’ ambivalence about labeling themselves as a Christian band didn’t mean he shies away from writing songs about his faith. “As a musician, you’re going to be writing about the deepest parts of you,� Weir said. “You’re going to write about what you’re seeking after.� Tyler Collins said the musicians see themselves as living in grace, but eschew any notion that being saved is an anesthetic that makes them immune to the pain of bad decisions, anxiety or doubt. “We don’t assume any entitlement as Christians,� Tyler said. “We didn’t work any harder to become Christians than anyone else who’s walking this path.� Ramsey said salvation doesn’t equal superiority. The name Least of These is lifted from the Gospel of Matthew, the New Testament book that lays out the simple-yet-difficult tasks of Christian discipline. Show love and mercy to “the least of these,� those marginal people who are sick, hungry, naked or imprisoned, and you show love and devotion to God. “We’re no better than the next guy,� Ramsey said. “We cannot stress enough that we’re just like everyone else.� Producer-engineer Zack Kuykendall, who runs Zachary David Music Studios in Frisco, worked with the band to make the EP achieve the layers and texture the musicians wanted. They recorded at Wavelight Studios in Fort Worth. “There is a lot of space in our songs, empty space,� Weir said. “I think that goes to the idea of deep thought. When you listen to the lyrics, they are about going deep, too. Are we exposed when we do this? I would say yes. But I would also say that is the intent. Our mission is to be real about where we are, and let people know that it’s OK to be where you are as far as God is concerned. Yeah, we’re supposed to try to be better. But you don’t have to be perfect to be on this path.� The band is working on an as-yetuntitled LP planned for a 2012 release.
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Little d After Dark
January 2012
alyssa’s morning bagel
>>
by alyssa jarrell
Eat your convictions Put your money where your mouth is: A plea and pledge for local food culture
I
n the spirit of the New Year — a time for unrealistic resolutions — I am making a realistic pledge. That’s right, friends. I, Alyssa Michelle Jarrell, hereby solemnly resolve to put my money where my mouth is. I know what you’re thinking. Is that a picture of a money-filled bagel over there? No. That would be gross. I am resolving to be a more active participant in the growth of a better culinary culture here in Denton. I often hear myself and others talk about a desire for more local food finds here in Denton. We unfairly knock our sweet city while putting places like Seattle, Portland, Austin, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles on a giant food-mecca pedestal. We praise these cities for their innovative restaurants, their carefully crafted coffees, their spunky little food trucks, their giant farmers markets and all that comes with them. The thing is, that is totally dismissive of our own food culture here. There are several small businesses here in the Denton area that grow tasty veggies, bake tasty treats and can all kinds of jellies, preserves and pickles. The thing is, unless we are willing to monetarily support them and utilize those small businesses regularly, we aren’t allowing them to grow to their fullest potential. Right before the holiday, I sat down with Keri Thorkildsen of Local Bagels. Local Bagels is a small cottage industry where Keri pursues her love of bread and baking. As we talked, I was reminded of why there is importance in supporting local vendors like Keri. Keri bakes because she loves it. She has become a morning person because the smell of fresh coffee and the feel of dough beneath her hands lures her into the kitchen well before the dawn breaks. When she talks about the process of baking bread, you can see the passion in her eyes, the excitement she has about discovering new flavors and toying with new recipes. As we were talking about her bagels, she was listing everything she uses to make them. Keri carefully picks out her ingredients as she considers flavor. Her bagels are soft and chewy and are more January 2012
Alyssa’s morning bagel from Local Bagels. Courtesy photos/Chris Newby
The junkie herself, Alyssa Jarrell
than a vehicle for cream cheese — they are flavorful and sturdy and they shine compared to the bargain bin bagels you pick up in the bread aisle of your neighborhood grocery store. Not only is there a huge difference in quality — but there is something significant about the fact that when I choose to buy my bagels from Keri I know that I am supporting her dreams for her family and for her future.
And that, friends, is why I am pledging to you to bring you the faces of more local startups, local businesses, local restaurants and local foodies so that we can restore the connection between what we buy and eat and our effect on our community. I hope that you join me in resolving to be more mindful in supporting your local businesses this year. I hope you look for more ways to participate in encouraging the growth of them as they work to contribute to the uniqueness of our very own little Denton. To buy some of Keri Thorkildsen’s Local Bagels, contact her through eatlocalbagels. com.
Alyssa’ s morning bagel 1 honey wheat bagel from Local Bagels 1 generous smear of cream cheese 1/2 of a honeycrisp apple, thinly sliced 1 handful of toasted almond slivers 1 long drizzle of honey Split the bagel in half. Toast the bagel in a toaster. Spread a generous amount of cream cheese on both bagel halves. Place apple slices on each bagel half, sprinkle with almonds and drizzle with honey. Enjoy.
ALYSSA JARRELL is an adventurer in the kitchen who enjoys giving her culinary creations to family and friends. Her website is pinkantlercakes.com.
Little d After Dark
17
where to find
music,
caffeine and
>>
for more listings, visit wimgo.com
Bell Ave.
Oakland
Congress Parkway Pearl
McKinney
Bolivar
Oak
Hickory
Mulberry Sycamore
Bell Ave.
Locust
Austin
Elm
18
Egan
Carroll Blvd.
THE ABBEY INN RESTAURANT & PUB 101 W. Hickory St. 940-566-5483. THE ABBEY UNDERGROUND 100 W. Walnut St. 940-565-5478. facebook.com/ theabbeyunderground ANDAMAN THAI RESTAURANT 221 E. Hickory St. 940-591-8790. andamanthai restaurant.com ANDY’S BAR 122 N. Locust St. 940-5655400. reverbnation.com/venue/andysbar BANTER 219 W. Oak St. 940-5651638. dentonbanter.com BETH MARIE’S OLD-FASHIONED ICE CREAM AND SODA FOUNTAIN 117 W. Hickory St. 940-384-1818. (second location at Unicorn Lake, 2900 Wind River Lane) bethmaries.com BURGUESA BURGER 214 E. Hickory St. 940-442-6113. burguesa.com CASA GALAVIZ 508 S. Elm St. 940-3872675. CELLAR 22 219 E. Hickory St. 940-4350149. thecellar22.com CRAZY HORSE SALOON 508 S. Elm St. 940-591-0586. THE CHESTNUT TREE 107 W. Hickory St. 940-591-9475. chestnuttearoom. com THE CUPBOARD 200 W. Congress St. 940-387-5386. cupboardnaturalfoods.com DAN’S SILVERLEAF 103 Industrial St. 940-320-2000. danssilverleaf.com DENTON SQUARE DONUTS 208 W Oak St. 940-220-9447. dentonsquaredonuts. com EL CHAPARRAL GRILLE 324 E. McKinney St., Suite 102. 940-243-1313. EL GUAPO’S 419 S. Elm St. 940-5665575. elguapos.com THE GREENHOUSE 600 N. Locust St. 940-484-1349. greenhouserestaurant denton.com HAILEY’S CLUB 122 W. Mulberry St. 940-323-1160. haileysclub.com HANNAH’S OFF THE SQUARE 111 W. Mulberry St. 940-566-1110. J&J’S PIZZA 118 W. Oak St. 940-3827769. jandjpizzadenton.com JUPITER HOUSE 106 N. Locust St. 940-387-7100. jupiterhousecoffee.net KEIICHI SUSHI 500 N. Elm St. 940-3827505. THE LABB 218 W. Oak St. 940-2934240. thelabbdenton.com LA MEXICANA 619 S. Locust St. 940483-8019. LOCO CAFE 603 N. Locust St. 940387-1413. locodenton.com THE LOOPHOLE 119 W. Hickory St. 940-565-0770. loopholepub.com LOVE SHACK 115 E. Hickory St. 940442-6834. loveburgershack.com MAD WORLD RECORDS 115 W. Hickory St. 940-591-3001.
food/drink in denton Austin
Around downtown
N
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MELLOW MUSHROOM 217 E. Hickory St. 940-323-1100. mellowmushroom.com MI CASITA 110 N. Carroll Blvd. 940-8911932. (Mi Casita Express at 905 W. University Drive) RAMEN REPUBLIC 210 E. Hickory St. 940-387-3757. ramenrepublic.biz RAVELIN BAKERY 416 S. Elm St. 940-382-8561. ROOSTER’S ROADHOUSE 113 Industrial St. 940-382-4227. roostersroadhouse.com RUBBER GLOVES REHEARSAL STUDIOS 411 E. Sycamore St. 940-3877781. rubberglovesdentontx.com SEVEN MILE CAFE 311 W. Congress St. 940-808-0200. sevenmilecafe.com SIAM OFF THE SQUARE 209 W. Hickory St., Suite 104. 940-382-5118. siamoffthesquare.com SIMONE LOUNGE 222 W. Hickory St., Suite 104. 940-387-7240. facebook.com/ simonelounge SWEETWATER GRILL & TAVERN 115 S. Elm St. 940-484-2888. VERONICA’S CAFE 803 E. McKinney St. 940-565-9809. VIGNE 222 W. Hickory St., Suite 103. 940566-1010. WEINBERGER’S DELI 311 E. Hickory St., Suite 110. 940-566-5900. weinbergers denton.com WINE SQUARED 110 W. Oak St. 940384-9463. winetimeswine.com YOGURT FUSION 209 W. Hickory St. 940-597-6367. yofusion.com ZERA COFFEE CO. 420 E. McKinney St., Suite 106. 940-239-8002.
Greater Denton BAGHERI’S 1125 E. University Drive, Suite A. 940-382-4442. BOCHY’S BISTRO 2430 I-35E, Suite 136. 940-387-3354. bochys.com BURGER TIME MACHINE 301 W. University Drive. 940-384-1133. CAFE DU LUXE 3101 Unicorn Lake Blvd. 940-382-7070. cafeduluxe.com
CAFE CHINA 2900 Wind River Lane, Suite 130. 940-320-8888. CAFE GARIBALDI 1813 N. Elm St. 940591-1131. cafegaribaldi.com CHINATOWN CAFE 2317 W. University Drive. 940-382-8797. FREEBIRDS WORLD BURRITO 2700 W. University Drive. 940-565-5400. freebirds. com GOLDEN CHINA 717 I-35E, Suite 100. 940-566-5588. GREEN ZATAR 609 Sunset St. 940-3832051. internationalfoodofdenton.com I LOVE SUSHI 917 Sunset St. 940-8916060. ilovesushidenton.com JUPITER HOUSE EUROPA 503 W. University Drive. 940-566-2891. jupiterhouse coffee.net LA MILPA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 820 S. I-35E, Suite 101. 940-382-8470. LUIGI’S PIZZA ITALIAN RESTAURANT 2317 W. University Drive. 940-591-1988. MAZATLAN MEXICAN RESTAURANT 1928 N. Ruddell St. 940-566-1718. METZLER’S BAR-B-Q 628 Londonderry Lane. 940-591-1652. MR. FROSTY 1002 Fort Worth Drive. 940-387-5449.
NEW YORK SUB-WAY 305 W. University Drive. 940-566-1823. POURHOUSE SPORTS GRILL 3350 Unicorn Lake Blvd. 940-484-7455. ROCKY’S SPORTS BAR 2000 W. University Drive. 940-382-6090. ROYAL EAST 1622A W. University Drive. 940-383-7633. ROMAN’S PIZZA 3001 N. Elm St., Suite 200. 940-566-3000. romanspizzadenton.com RT’S NEIGHBORHOOD BAR 1100 Dallas Drive, Suite 124. 940-381-2277. THE SMOKEHOUSE 1123 Fort Worth Drive. 940-566-3073. smokehousedentontx. com SWEET BASIL THAI BISTRO 1800 S. Loop 288, Suite 224. 940-484-6080. thesweetbasil.com SWEET Y CAFE 511 Robertson St. 940323-2301. sweet-y-cafe.com THAI OCHA 1509 Malone St. 940-5666018. II CHARLIES BAR & GRILL 809 Sunset St. 940-891-1100. YUMMY’S GREEK RESTAURANT 210 W. University Drive. 940-383-2441.
Hickory Street Lounge provides a relaxing, smoke-free environment to enjoy classic cocktails served by friendly, experienced and attentive bartenders. We also offer a small, yet delicious menu that includes Peel & Eat Shrimp, Chicken & Green Chili Nachos, Shrimp Ceviche and Goat Cheese with toasted Crostini. Happy Hour is from 11 am to 7 pm, seven days a week.
Little d After Dark
Come discover your new favorite hangout.
212 E. Hickory • Denton • 940-387-2222
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January 2012
where to find
music,
caffeine and
food/drink in denton Congress
Scripture
W. Oak
W. Oak
Carroll Blvd.
North Texas Blvd.
Bonnie Brae
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
Elm
W. Hickory
35
wishes you a
Warm & Fuzzy’s
35W N
Eagle Drive
35E
Holiday!
Staff graphic
Around UNT ART SIX COFFEE HOUSE 424 Bryan St. 940-484-2786. facebook.com/art sixcoffeehouse BIG MIKE’S COFFEE HOUSE 1306 W. Hickory St. 940-383-7478. bigmikescoffee shop.com BULGOGI HOUSE 408 North Texas Blvd. 940-382-8060. CENTRAL GRILL 1005 Ave. C. 940-3239464. COOL BEANS 1210 W. Hickory St. 940-382-7025. facebook.com/coolbeans dentontx CUPS AND CREPES 309 Fry St. 940387-1696. EL PARIENTE 2532 Louise St. 940-3801208. FERA’S 1407 W. Oak St. 940-382-9577. FRY STREET PUBLIC HOUSE 125 Ave. A. 940-323-9800. publichousedenton.com FRY STREET TAVERN 121 Ave. A. 940-383-2337. THE GARAGE 113 Ave. A. 940-3830045. thedentongarage.com HOOYA! 1007 Ave. C. 940-381-0272. KATZ’S HAMBURGERS 901-A Ave. C.
Baja Style Mexican Food
940-442-6200. LUCKY LOU’S 1207 W. Hickory St. 940484-5550. luckylousdenton.com MR. CHOPSTICKS 1633 Scripture St. 940-382-5437. NARANJA CAFE 906 Ave. C. Suite 100. 940-483-0800. NEW YORK SUB-HUB 906 Ave. C. 940383-3213. RASOI, THE INDIAN KITCHEN 1002 Ave. C. 940-566-6125. dentonindianfood.com RIPROCKS 1211 W. Hickory St. 940-382 3231. ROCKIN’ RODEO 1009 Ave. C. 940565-6611. rockinrodeodenton.com SUKHOTHAI II RESTAURANT 1502 W. Hickory St. 940-382-2888. SUSHI CAFE 1401 W. Oak St. 940-3801030. TJ’S PIZZA WINGS & THINGS 420 S. Carroll Blvd., Suite 102. 940-383-3333. tjspizzadenton.com 299 ORIENTAL EXPRESS 1000 Ave. C. 940-383-2098. JIMMY JOHN’S 107 Ave. A. 940-4845466.
115 Industrial Denton, TX
Mon - Tues 6:30 am - 10 pm LET US CATER YOUR NEXT EVENT. CALL US FOR DETAILS!
Wed 6:30 am to 11 pm Thurs 6:30 am - 12 am Fri 6:30 am - 2 am Saturday 7 am - 2 am
940-380-TACO (8226)
www.fuzzystacoshop.com
Sunday 7 am - 10 pm
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Music here, there and everywhere else The Abbey Underground 100 W. Walnut St. 940-565-5478. Andy’s Bar 122 N. Locust St. 940-565-5400. Art Six Coffee House 424 Bryan St. 940-484-2786. Banter 219 W. Oak St. 940-565-1638. Cafe Du Luxe 3101 Unicorn Lake Blvd. 940-382-7070. Cool Beans 1210 W. Hickory St. 940-382-7025. Crazy Horse Saloon 508 S. Elm St. 940-591-0586. Dan’s Silverleaf 103 Industrial St. 940-320-2000. Frilly’s Seafood Bayou Kitchen 1925 Denison St. 940-2432126.
Fry Street Public House 125 Ave. A. 940-323-9800. Fry Street Tavern 121 Ave. A. 940-383-2337. The Garage 113 Ave. A. 940-383-0045. The Greenhouse 600 N. Locust St. 940-484-1349. Hailey’s Club 122 W. Mulberry St. 940-323-1160. J&J’s Pizza 118 W. Oak St. 940-382-7769. The LABB 218 W. Oak St. 940-293-4240. Love Shack 115 E. Hickory St. 940-442-6834. Mable Peabody’s Beauty Parlor and Chainsaw Repair 1125 E. University Drive, Suite 107. 940-566-9910. Mad World Records 115 W. Hickory St. 940-591-3001. Rockin’ Rodeo 1009 Ave. C. 940-565-6611.
January 2012
Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios 411 E. Sycamore St. 940387-7781.
Simone Lounge 222 W. Hickory St., Suite 104. 940-3877240.
Sweetwater Grill & Tavern 115 S. Elm St. 940-484-2888. UNT College of Music music.unt.edu UNT Dance and Theatre danceandtheatre.unt.edu UNT on the Square untonthesquare.unt.edu Winspear Performance Hall, Murchison Performing Arts Center thempac.com Texas Woman’s University Theatre twu.edu/drama Dada, Dallas dadadallas.com Granada Theater, Dallas granadatheater.com House of Blues, Dallas houseofblues.com/dallas Kessler Theater, Dallas thekessler.org Palladium Ballroom, Dallas thepalladiumballroom.com Billy Bob’s Texas, Fort Worth billybobstexas.com Lola’s, Fort Worth lolasfortworth.com
113 Industrial Denton
940-382-4227 Little d After Dark
1
$
Domestic Beer (10 Oz.)
ALL DAY EVERY DAY
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