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Little d After Dark
September 2011
SEPTEMBER 2011 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1
Courtesy photo/Dylan Hollingsworth
It’s almost unsettling when a trio from Denton’s Sundress slip into Jupiter House on the afternoon that would break D-FW’s sizzling 40-day streak of triple-digit days. Ryan McAdams, Drew McCary and Kennon Talley look impossibly baby-faced to have written and recorded the six songs on the band’s moody, self-titled EP released in early August. But then, they are young. Story by Lucinda Breeding
C O V E R S T O RY
THE ELEMENTS opening shot
F E AT U R E S
country roots in denton In a lit-
Courtesy photo/Kristin Barlowe
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good dates What to do, what to do? Start here. >>
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editor’s note Welcome to our place.
tle more than a decade, singer Mike Eli and
Sit and stay a while, but please don’t put
guitarist James Young have gone from play-
your feet on the furniture. It’s new. >>
ing acoustic gigs around Denton as UNT stu-
try this at home Make sound-
dents to fronting a nationally recognized country-pop group. The Eli Young Band now has three full-length albums under its belt and just released its fourth LP, Life at
dampening panels. >>
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party people
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the Gran Torino.
back in the lab It was in a hot, sticky
>>
the alchemist Nate Peirce stirs up
Best.
Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios that a blood-
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band, New Science Projects . >>
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ied Dale Jones and his army of war-painted
bright and shiny When Neon Indian
musicians held a CD release party for their
teased us with “Polish Girl” from the upcom-
ing album, Era Extrana, the band poised its audience for a flirtation with a retro sound that is as aching as it is poppy. >>
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
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sketchy stuff
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the buzz Caffeine and jams. >> 22
Contributing Writers Hunter Hauk, Rachel Watts, Cody Robinson, Nate Peirce Designer Rachel McReynolds On the cover At band members’ Denton home Aug. 17. Photo by David Minton.
The contents of this free publication are copyrighted by Denton Publishing Company, 2011, 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
Crowd for the Seryn/Telegraph Canyon show at Dan’s Silverleaf on Aug. 19.
Photo by David Minton.
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Little d After Dark
September 2011
have your people call our people
>>
to submit an event for little d’s calendar, e-mail rmcreynolds@dentonrc.com
SEPTEMBER 2011 MUSIC at Denton venues
SUNDAY 4
MUSIC at UNT
Dylan Fest with Tex Zimmerman and His All-Star Revue, 6 p.m. $5. Dan’s Silverleaf. Boxcar Bandits, 10 p.m. Free. Dan’s Silverleaf. Spillway, Man Factory, 9 p.m. $5-$7. Hailey’s Club.
FRIDAY
TUESDAY
SATURDAY
1
Uncle Lucius, 8 p.m. $7. Dan’s Silverleaf.
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Brave Combo, Rivers West, Little Jack Melody, Brian Houser, 7 p.m. $10. Dan’s Silverleaf. Drive-By Truckers, Centro-matic, 8 p.m. $25. Granada Theater. Whiskey Folk Ramblers, RTB2, 8 p.m. $12.50. The Kessler. Jurassic Park: The Musical, 9 p.m. $5-7. Hailey’s Club. Sundress, On After Dark, Name Droppers, Cozy Hawks, 9 p.m. Free-$5. Rubber Gloves.
3
“Worried Man Song Swap,” with Danny Balis, Doug Burr and Glen Farris, 8 p.m. $5. Dan’s Silverleaf. Denton Bach Players: Bach’s Arias for Tenor, 8 p.m. Free, $10 donation requested. UNT.
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Roger Creager, Mo Robson Band, the Clay Wilson Band, 7 p.m. $15. Granada Theater. Malcolm Holcombe, Glass Mountain Orchestra, 9 p.m. Dan’s Silverleaf.
10 Bugs Henderson, 7 p.m.;
MUSIC elsewhere
MONDAY 5
THURSDAY
WEDNESDAY
Eilen Jewell, Bonnie Whitmore, 9 p.m. Dan’s Silverleaf. Pinkish Black, RTB2, Shiny Around the Edges, the Angelus, New Science Projects, 8 p.m. Free-$5. Rubber Gloves.
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7
8
13
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15 Foster the People, Cults,
16 TV on the Radio, Broken
17 Okkervil River, Wye Oak,
22 9/11 tribute performance by
23 Chris Knight, Danny Balis,
24 Jeff Coffin and the Mu’tet,
29 UNT Wind Symphony
30 Pepper, the Expendables,
Petty Theft, 10 p.m. $10. Dan’s Silverleaf. The Orbans, Quiet Company, 9 p.m. $6-$8. Lola’s.
Labor Day
11 An Evening With Pat Boone,
4 p.m. $25-$45. Winspear Performance Hall. “American Phoenix,” a recital in memory of the 9/11 attacks, 5 p.m. Free. UNT. Ethereal and the Queer Show, Senor Fin, Tony Ferraro, Alien Brew, 9 p.m. $5-$7. Hailey’s Club. O’Death, Why Are We Building Such a Big Ship, 8 p.m. $10-$12. Rubber Gloves.
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Reptar, 7 p.m. $15-$20. House of Blues. Bright Eyes, First Aid Kit, 8 p.m. $28. Palladium Ballroom. Jordan Franz, the Skeeves, Sloan Automatic, 8:30 p.m. $6-$8. Lola’s.
Social Scene, 7 p.m. $37.50-$47.50. House of Blues, Dallas. “The Beatles vs. the Stones,” 8 p.m. $7. Dan’s Silverleaf. Neuropathy, Wake The Dreamless, Silent Holocaust, Persecution, 9 p.m. $6-$8. Andy’s Bar. Dove Hunter, 9 p.m. $6-$8. Lola’s.
7 p.m. $20. Granada Theater. Sam Robertson, Western Skies, Sol Tax, Teresa Marie, 9 p.m. $5-$7. Hailey’s Club.
National Chili Pepper Month
18 Ty Segall, Mikal Cronin, 8 p.m. $8-$10. Rubber Gloves.
19 Boyce Avenue, 7 p.m. $18$25. Granada Theater.
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the UNT Symphonic Band, 7:30 p.m. $8-$10. Winspear Performance Hall.
the O’s, 7 p.m. $15-$25. Granada Theater.
Chris Cortez, 8 p.m. $16 in advance; $20 at the door. Dan’s Silverleaf. Neon Indian, 8 p.m. $16. Granada Theater. Jacuzzi Boys, 9 p.m. $6-$8. Rubber Gloves.
Tolkien Week: Sept. 18-24
25 Kevin Welch, 5 p.m. $15
suggested donation. Denton Domino Hall. RSVP for info. denton dominohall@yahoo.com.
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27
28 Junior Boys, Egyptrixx, 7
p.m. $14. Granada Theater, Dallas. Wolves in the Throne Room, Garuda, Megaton Leviathan, Dead to a Dying World, 9 p.m. $10$12. Lola’s.
Orchestra performance, 7:30 p.m. Winspear Performance Hall. $8$10.
Ballyhoo, 7 p.m. $25. Granada Theater. Max Stalling, the Dirty River Boys, 9:30 p.m. $12. Dan’s Silverleaf.
Andy’s Bar myspace.com/andysbar
Dan’s Silverleaf danssilverleaf.com Hailey’s Club haileysclub.com
Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios rubberglovesdentontx.com UNT College of Music music.unt.edu
Winspear Performance Hall, Murchison Performing Arts Center thempac.com Granada Theater, Dallas granadatheater.com
House of Blues, Dallas houseofblues.com/dallas
Palladium Ballroom, Dallas thepalladiumballroom.com
Banned Books Week: Sept. 25-Oct. 2
Lola’s, Fort Worth lolasfortworth.com
September 2011
Little d After Dark
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Meet the motley crew behind this mag “If music be the food of love, play on.” — Duke Orsino, in William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
Linda Horne, Jackie Barfield, Jenny Moore, Shawn Reneau and Haley Mulkey.
Contributors
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wo years ago, indie rock had its spring in downtown Denton. A four-day music festival now known as 35 Denton brought thousands of fans and art seekers to the heart of the city — the very place city leaders hope to develop what they call an “arts corridor.” Little d After Dark will examine Denton’s indie music scene — and the creative theater, art and performances that pop up around it. We’re not here to tell you what’s cool or to pose as the arbiters of taste. We’re just enjoying the sounds (and sights and flavors) that have already earned Denton a reputation for being a place to make art, music and change. Special thanks to our advertising staff, whose hard work made this magazine possible: Deb Skinner, Becci Hendrix,
LUCINDA BREEDING is features editor for the Denton Record-Chronicle, covering local visual and performing arts. In her spare time, she blogs about religion and popular culture and doggedly works on a trashy novella about a half-Mexican, halfChickasaw vampire with a bad case of road rage. HUNTER HAUK served for seven years as the entertainment editor and music writer for the now-defunct weekly paper Quick. These days he’s attempting to survive on freelance assignments, canned foods and discount vinyl. Dance-pop music is by far his strongest weakness. NATE PEIRCE studied a host of degree programs at the University of North Texas. When he isn’t serving stiff drinks at Dan’s Silverleaf, he’s making music, listening to music and producing videos and content for a soon-to-be-launched website that celebrates skater culture.
CODY ROBINSON is a musician from Denton. He currently plays guitar and sings for Paper Robot, and he likes to make things from spare parts and scrap lumber. By day, he’s production director for the Denton Record-Chronicle. He is also the same Miracle Max who worked for the king all those years. RACHEL WATTS is a UNT journalism stu-
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dent who lives in Denton. She enjoys participating in the local music scene and coowns a small, independent record label called I Love Math Records. And DAVID MINTON and RACHEL MCREYNOLDS, photographer and designer, respectively, are here to make sure you’ve got something nice to look at. — Lucinda Breeding
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? ? Tell Us What You Think!
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We’d love to hear what you think of Little D After Dark. What do you love? Any suggestions? Share with us! Email drc@dentonrc.com with the subject line Little D. Be sure to “like” us on Facebook. facebook.com/littledtx
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Little d After Dark
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but please don’t sue me
>>
by cody robinson
Sound-dampening panels for home studios
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hese days, home recording gear is relatively cheap and easy to find. More and more amateur musicians are able to get their hands on a computer, used analog tape recorders or even smartphones and get their ideas down faster than their predecessors could find a recording studio in the phone book. (Remember phone books? I know, right?) Little thought is usually given, however, to how the room they’re in sounds. I’ve spent more than my fair share of time recording in spare bedrooms, garages and living rooms. There are many things that can be done to a room to help your recording sound better, and the budget can range from “I think I have that lying around somewhere already” to “If I could afford that, I would just go to a professional studio.” These sound-dampening panels are one of my favorite options — and they’re cheap to make, too.
Materials approximately 10 feet of 2-by-4s (two 6foot studs, of the wooden variety) a canvas drop cloth drill and screwdriver (or a hammer and some nails if you’re old school) speed square (They’re about $2 at any store that has tools.) staple gun (You need one of these anyway. They’re loads of fun.) box knife (Don’t cut yourself. There. Disclaimer done.) scissors (But still, be careful.) a saw (Pointy side down.) filler (Dense foam, carpet or ceiling tiles work great.) wood screws (Any will do, just make sure they’re under 1 3/4 inches.) wall anchor/drywall screws picture hanging wire paint (Spray paint works best.) brown kraft paper or cardboard wood glue (Don’t cheap out here.)
Stapling in progress
Arrange the 2-by-4s into a square and glue them together at the 45-degree cuts. Drill pilot holes (smaller than the size of the screws you’re using) at the corner joints and put at least one screw at each corner. Give the glue a few hours to dry. Cover: Stretch the canvas drop cloth over the frame. With the frame facing down, start at one corner of the canvas and pull it over to the back of the frame. Staple the canvas to the back of the frame, again starting at one corner, then stretching and stapling the opposite corner. Continue stretching and stapling the canvas all the way around the frame, with staples at about every inch. The goal is to have the front and sides of the canvas stretched as flat as possible. Trim the excess. Fill and backing: Cut ceiling tiles (or whatever material you have handy) to fit just inside of frame without leaving a gap. Cover the back of the frame with brown kraft paper (or cardboard) to hold in the filling, and staple the backing in place. Paint: This is optional. You can leave the canvas natural, paint it a solid color, paint a design on it, or even glue printed materials to it. Who doesn’t like a good glue stick project? Hang: Place two screws on opposite sides of the back of the frame, about 4 inches from the top. Leave 1/4 inch of the screw sticking out. Wrap the picture hanging wire around the head of one screw several times, then tighten the screw until the wire stays securely in place. Stretch the wire to the other screw, leaving 2 to 3 inches of slack, and repeat the process to attach the wire to the second screw. Now you’re ready to hang your masterpiece. CODY ROBINSON is the production director at
Directions Frame: Cut four pieces of 2-by-4, 2.5 ft long (at the longest point) each, with a 45degree angle on each end. 8
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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Little d After Dark
www.anylabtestnow.com/Denton_TX HY
September 2011
around denton, in your camera
>>
to submit your party or show pics, e-mail rmcreynolds@dentonrc.com
Hares on the Mountain
Ryan Thomas Becker and Last Joke
Credits The Wee-Beasties, Andy’s Bar, December 2010.
Courtesy photos/Ed Steele. Ryan Thomas Becker and Last Joke, Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios, May 2011.
Photo by Cody Robinson. Hares on the Mountain, Dan’s Silverleaf, May 2011.
Courtesy photo/Christi LaViolette.
The Wee-Beasties
The Wee-Beasties
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September 2011
Little d After Dark
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the gran torino
>>
by nate peirce
Lakeside dining. The drink 1 ounce Disaronno 3/4 pint Rahr Summertime Wheat splash of Sprite Add ice and stir. Garnish with lemon wedge. Since the beach is too far away, sit out on the porch and sip on one of these. To hell with hard lemonades and spiked punch, this drink is exactly what the bikini doctor ordered.
• fire pit • beautiful party & entertainment venue
The tunes While you’re sipping, listen to these artists: Fleet Foxes (folksy, good harmonies), Panda Bear (the Shins on acid), Grizzly Bear (poppy, surfer). NATE PEIRCE is a bartender at Dan’s Silverleaf and a musician. His e-mail address is sloan.peirce@gmail.com.
ALL SPORTS...ALL DAY...EVERYDAY 3350 Unicorn Lake Blvd • 940-484-7455 • www.pourhousegrill.com
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Little d After Dark
September 2011
on the square 119 west hickory denton texas 76201 940+565+0770
Loophole Courthouse
Pub and Grill
loopholepub.com
IT’S BEEN SAID...
IF YOU’RE NOT HERE, YOU’RE NOWHERE DENTONS BEST BARS, JUST AROUND THE CORNER
bring in this ad and get an employee discount (25%) good thru 2011 valid for up to 2 (two) people, not valid with any other offer
off university 809 sunset st. denton texas double the size 940.891.1100 double the pleasure
II Charlies deck expansion coming in September 2011 September 2011
Little d After Dark
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I
by lucinda breeding >> features editor
t’s almost unsettling when a trio from Denton’s Sundress
slip into Jupiter House on the afternoon that would break DFW’s sizzling 40-day streak of triple-digit days. Ryan McAdams, Drew McCary and Kennon Talley look impossibly baby-faced to have written and recorded the six songs on the band’s moody, self-titled EP released in early August. But then they are young. McAdams is the band’s junior member at 23. Both McCary and Talley are 25. The six tracks on the band’s EP, though, are all grown up. The trio recorded at Denton’s Echo Lab, with engineer Matt Pence. In six songs, Sundress declares itself as a thoughtful band that makes meaty music. It might not clock in at even 30 minutes, but Sundress doesn’t give listeners short shrift. “I think it shows a sense of maturity,” McAdams said of the EP. “We had enough material for an LP, but from a business standpoint, it made more sense to do an EP, to get it out there and say this is what we’re doing.” McCary said the music on Sundress reflects the top-priority status the band has given its art. “I think the music sounds more mature than it did before. It sounds more full than it did when we were This Old House. There are actually dynamics on this record,” he said. “Yeah,” Talley said. “It sounds like we’re doing it on purpose.” Sundress got its start where the bulk of Denton’s acts are born — on the campus and surrounding neighborhoods of UNT. Both McCary and McAdams left Texas A&M to head for the University of North Texas, though they didn’t meet until they got to Denton. McAdams admits to “playing with some really bad bands” in College Station, and McCary was a student disc jockey for Radio Aggieland. >> Continued on 14
Photo by David Minton
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Continued from 13 >> Talley had ventured to Denton to study communications design in the UNT College of Visual Arts and Design. The communications design program at UNT is famously hard to get into and harder to stay in, and Talley said his interests started returning to music. “We’d all been in numerous bands before,” McAdams said. “Then we started playing together. We were This Old House, which was a completely different project. I think our first gig was at one of the open-mic nights at Andy’s,” an important Denton music venue on the downtown Denton Square. Sundress songs are typically born in McAdams’ head — or heart; Sundress is a mix of measured thoughts and emotional reflections. He’ll bring some ideas to McCary and Talley, and together, they craft a song that has something to say. So far, the band has had a revolving door of drummers to provide the psychedelic rhythms. McCary’s bass is more than a rhythm-within-a-rhythm with the drums, it’s a mood-maker. McAdams and Talley take turns bringing in the atmosphere. Each track’s melody line is set off by fuzzy chirps and swooping riffs that infuse the songs with a little light. Mostly, though, Sundress is shrouded in misty gloom. “First off, we hate jamming,” McAdams said. “We usually start with a riff, and I’ll take it to these two guys and they’ll say, ‘Let’s do this,’ or ‘Let’s try this.’ The songs develop from there.” Talley said Sundress benefits from the respect between the musicians. “What’s really cool is that no one really steps on anyone’s toes,” Talley said. “We all
Against the deliberately dusty-sounding Americana Denton is celebrated for, Sundress is a study in contrasts. They make music that is more like Denton’s Midlake, writing songs that are made to be heard as a body of work, not as a menu of singles. SUNDRESS CD RELEASE 9 p.m. Aug. 26 at Hailey’s Club. With Ethereal and the Queer Show, New York City Queens, the Black and White Years, Holy Fiction. $2-$5. haileysclub.com. Download album from sundress.band camp.com for $6.
SUNDRESS DURING RUBBER GLOVES FREE WEEK Doors at 9 p.m. Sept. 2 at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios. With On After Dark, Name Droppers, Cozy Hawks. $5. rubberglovesdentontx.com
THEY’RE WITH THE BAND Ryan McAdams — vocals and guitar Drew McCary — bass Kennon Talley — guitar Jim Harrington — keyboard Brack Cantrell — drums
bring something to the music, and everyone has something to contribute.” “Yeah, our goal is to make it groovy,” McCary said. “The thing about our band is
that there aren’t really any boundaries. In a lot of bands, there’s one person who’s in charge. They say ‘do this’ and everyone falls in. That’s not the case with us.” Against the deliberately dusty-sounding Americana Denton is celebrated for, Sundress is a study in contrasts. The tracks sound more like British rock. They make music that is more like Denton’s Midlake, writing songs that are made to be heard as a body of work, not as a menu of singles. “We pull from a lot of English influences,” McCary said. “The music we listen to tends to be trance-y,” Talley said. “The way I listen to music doesn’t really lend itself to the MP3 thing. I listen to whole albums. Always have.” “Trance-y” is an apt term for Sundress. McAdams’ vocals seem built to unfold in your imagination. The melody feels more important than the words themselves, and the songs flow with the ease of a Keats poem — all of a sudden, the rhythm is faster, the mood lighter and even if you
don’t know how you got here, it makes sense. The band started to collect critical interest almost as soon as This Old House turned into Odyssey and then into Sundress in January — a project McCary said the musicians want to take seriously. Band members say they’re satisfied with the record. “It was really cool to work with Matt Pence,” Talley said. “We learned so much from him. He’s really good at what he does, and we thought he would help us get the sound we wanted. I think he did. I’m really impressed with him and his work.” “At first, I wanted to work with Matt because he’s done the True Widow records, which are amazing. I think we all fell in love with those records. It’s easy to say, ‘Hey, I want to work with someone really good, who really knows what they’re doing,’” McCary said. McAdams said the band is already at work on a full-length record, and is in talks with labels and management. In the meantime, the musicians are holding down day jobs to fund their music. Talley is a freelance designer, and McCary works at a golf course. McAdams is a talent buyer at Hailey’s Club in Denton and also works at Sky Guitars. “I would hope that our music is constantly evolving. You don’t want to sound the same on every record,” McAdams said. “For me, now, it’s like, ‘Damn. We did this.’” LUCINDA BREEDING can be reached at 940-566-6877 or cbreeding@dentonrc.com.
Track for track: Sundress Sounds like: The Hope Trust decided to scrap Denton and board a plane for London or Manchester; one of those days where the rain only backs off to a midst. Warning: Sundress is an EP to soak in. Don’t try to listen to a track between classes. Goes good with: A playlist with your favorite electronica beats; early Coldplay or U2’s Zooropa.
MIDDLE OF HERE
BLOOM
DERELICT
PAGE OF WANDS
SAILOR’S VISION
THIRTEEN
What starts out as a mindtrip turns into a more urgent quest for our narrator to make sense of where he is and, more importantly, how to get the hell out of there. That’s what the music says, at least. The band strolls along until, drumbeat thrumming like a rabbit heart, we whirl around looking for an exit.
Something about this song invokes the best of Reading, Writing and Arithmetic, by the British quartet the Sundays. Plumb track for a roadtrip.
If there was an inevitable single on Sundress, “Derelict” is it. The rhythm section kinda, sorta marches, with McAdams singing: “Look so bored in the waves/mane so blonde/It’s the real thing/… It’s all right/we’ll be better off without you/It’s all right/I’ll be here.” He also sees things from the loner’s point of view.
This is the moment on Sundress when the group lets go and rocks out — listen for that aching, 1980s-era British sound, with whining guitars, metallic whips on the guitar that bend and ping. As a singer, McAdams seems to be all about restraint until this number.
Lovers of twang, this is your Sundress song. Evocative and, rhythmically, moves like a ship on the high seas.
Hissing drums tat. Guitars bend soundwaves. The bass sneaks up the stairs “This is what we get/ Hunting prophets for demons.” McAdams drifts off on mezzo “oohs.” Thirteen might be an omen of doom, but it could be Sundress’ lucky number.
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ALL SPORTS...ALL DAY...EVERYDAY 3350 Unicorn Lake Blvd • 940-484-7455 • www.pourhousegrill.com
J. Evan/Staff illustrator
Wednesday Trivia Night
get your friends together and come out and play! • Prizes • Food & Drink Specials!
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new science projects
>>
by rachel watts
Back in the lab with a new experiment Reconfigured New Science Projects counting on one to the power of four
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t was in a hot, sticky Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios that a bloodied Dale Jones and his army of war-painted musicians performed songs under Gutterth Productions’ familiar red lamps. The night of June 30, the hot red room provided the appropriate setting for New Science Projects’ CD release show, where the new foursome showcased songs from their fresh album Extraordinary Renditions. Picking up Dallas Observer Music Awards nominations in 2008 and 2009 for best experimental and blues act, respectively, and then later beating out musicians Sarah Jaffe and Robert Gomez for best solo artist during Quick’s Big Thing awards in 2009, New Science Projects has for years been known to audi-
NEW SCIENCE PROJECTS 8 p.m. Sept. 3 at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios. With the Angelus, Shiny Around the Edges, RTB2 and Pinkish Black. Free. rubbergloves dentontx.com.
ences as a one-man act. It seems the experimental musician has taken on a new project — a full band. Regarding the new transition, Dale Jones said he has never described his brainchild as a strictly solo project. He’s always just done what he felt like doing. Now, he said, was the right time to expand the group. “If I want a band, I will try and assemble one. If I want to play on my own, I do,” Jones said. “It’s whatever feels right at the >>
Continued on 20
For Little d/Rachel Watts New Science Projects — Dale Jones on lead guitar and vocals, left, Scarlett Wright on drums, Donovan Ford on bass guitar and vocals and Victor Monterroso on guitar — performs at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios on June 30.
Must present coupon. DRC Expires 9/30/11
Must present coupon. DRC Expires 9/30/11
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the eli young band
>>
by hunter hauk
This country’s rockin’ Eli Young Band’s frontman talks about Denton roots, inspiration behind ‘Life at Best’
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n a little more than a decade, singer Mike Eli and guitarist James Young have gone from playing acoustic gigs around Denton as University of North Texas students to fronting a nationally recognized country-pop group. The Eli Young Band now has three fulllength albums under its belt and released a fourth LP, Life at Best (on major label Republic Nashville), on Aug. 16. A week later, the album hit No. 2 on the iTunes Top 5. During a recent phone chat, as his band prepared for a bus tour, Eli spoke of the popular band’s desire to get bigger and better with each release. “I think that pressure’s always there,” Eli said. “We always want to take the next step. But at the same time, you shouldn’t let that get to you and cause you to make a record you’re not proud of and don’t love.” For Eli, Young, bassist Jon Jones and drummer Chris Thompson, avoiding the pressure cooker meant traveling to a remote studio in rural Tennessee to record the new album. “It’s this little, tiny cabin where you actually sleep, and you wake up, walk out the door and the studio’s connected to the cabin,” Eli said. “Having that environment keeps you creative and in the zone. … You’re out in the middle of the country. You can keep your head in the game, and for us, it was relaxing.” The extra breathing room resulted in a more expansive, rock-influenced sound for Life at Best. On past releases, the band thrived on country-pop melodies and a resistance to too much twang. That formula continues to work nicely on first single “Crazy Girl,” which recently hit No. 16 on the Billboard country singles chart and No. 46 on the Hot 100 singles list. But other tunes on the new record find more in common with Tom Petty or Don Henley than, say, Rascal Flatts. Opener “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” is a foot-tapper in the tradition of Petty’s “Learning to Fly,” as is the bare-it-all relationship song “Skeletons.” Says Eli about the latter, “It’s about that time in a relationship where you have to let all the cats out of the bag. “A lot of the songs on this record show a vulnerability that we haven’t shown as much before.” September 2011
Eli’s favorite track on Life at Best is “War on a Desperate Man,” co-written with Blu Sanders, a friend of the band. “It’s one of those incredibly personal songs. We went in with just an acoustic, raw approach, and it came across really well. … For us it’s about how these road battles start to wear on your soul.” Other highlights — including the tender and direct ballad “I Love You” and the storysong “My Old Man’s Son” — are elevated by the studio chops of producer Mike Wrucke and the longtime guidance of executive producer Frank Liddell, both of whom have shaped the careers of Lee Ann Womack and Miranda Lambert, among others. The Eli Young Band could very well have a breakthrough album in Life at Best, thanks to its sonic variety, crossover sheen and hit first single. But for Eli, his band’s 11-year ride has already seen an abundance of bucket-list opportunities, including TV gigs (The Tonight Show, Jimmy Kimmel Live) and a handful of Grand Ole Opry appearances. “The Texas traditions are the biggest things for me, though,” Eli said. “Billy Bob’s and Gruene Hall are those places you dream of playing, so I think back to the incredible shows we’ve had at those places. Those are huge for us.” Regarding the town that birthed the Eli Young Band, the singer says he visits his old Denton haunts as much as he can. “We’ll go back there every once in a while, since we live in Fort Worth now, to eat at the places where we ate in college. I used to eat at Mi Casita at least four times a week, and Mr. Chopsticks is also one of my all-time favorites. “The thing about Denton is, there’s so much music there and it’s all so eclectic. That’s what was great for us — you can nurture the different sides of yourself. … There were people there who would go see music no matter what. I’m thankful that we got to spread our wings a little — without sounding too cliche — in a town that didn’t tie us down.” HUNTER HAUK is a freelance writer who lives in Dallas, but dreams of someday moving back to Denton. E-mail him at hunterhauk@ gmail.com, or follow him at twitter.com/ hausofhunter.
Courtesy photo/Jeremy Cowart The Eli Young Band — Chris Thompson, left, James Young, Mike Eli and Jon Jones — recently released its fourth album, Life at Best. The band’s been making stops around the country, most recently at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth. Eli and Jones are former students at the University of North Texas.
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APP COMING SOON Denton’s on-the-go guide to little d After Dark
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neon indian
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by lucinda breeding
European winter ‘Polish Girl’ serves as an exotic tease for upcoming Neon Indian release wine bar • cigar room
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Courtesy photo Alan Palomo’s Neon Indian releases the new album Era Extrana on Sept. 13.
hen Neon Indian teased us with “Polish Girl” from the upcoming album Era Extrana, the band readied its audience for a flirtation with a retro sound that is as aching as it is poppy. The group’s latest release drops Sept. 13, with a special issue — an exclusive double A-side 7-inch vinyl (“Polish Girl/Fallout”) now available at Recycled Books Records CDs for $2. Neon Indian is the creation of Alan Palomo, a onetime Denton musician who calls New York City home. Palomo builds on the chillwave, synthpop sounds that earned so much critical love for Psychic Chasms. At turns, Chasms felt like a love letter from the 1980s that had just taken a trip to the future. “Sleep Paralysist” came on like a midsummer daydream, adding Palomo’s pensive pen
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Full Service Bar Friendly Bartenders Non-Smoking 212 E. Hickory • Denton
940-387-2222 >>
Open Daily 11am - 2am
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new science projects
Continued from 16 >> time for the songs that I am working on.” Extraordinary Renditions, New Science Projects’ sixth release through local record label and production company Gutterth, consists entirely of previously recorded songs, only this time played by a band. The album was recorded in about three hours at Gutterth founder Michael Briggs’ home in Denton, Jones said. “We just recorded one of our sets as if it was a live show. There is no theme because the songs are all pulled from different places,” Jones said. “The only thing that links them together is the performance.” Longtime fan David Carroll cites New Science Projects’ unusual performances as part of what draws people to their shows. Jones has often hopped into the crowd, pulling, stomping and hollering at fans drunkenly while smearing stage makeup on their clothes. Carroll said that while performances with the four-piece band have a different sound than Jones’ solo act — more punk than folk — they’re still as enjoyable. “The first few shows I attended were sweaty, nightmarish affairs that held only the promise of something different,” Carroll said. “Worthwhile, but like nothing I had ever seen.” Briggs said that the band’s music and
neon indian
“You gotta work and get sweaty with NSP to really enjoy them.” — David Carroll, longtime fan of New Science Projects performances are not easily, nor well, described. “I think his biggest fans probably saw him live first,” Briggs said. Jones said that when he performs, he is not playing a part — he is acting the way he likes and doing what he wants. He doesn’t always wear makeup and move around. Sometimes he only plays his slower songs, and very quietly. Sometimes he doesn’t play at all but just stands there, tuning his guitar for 30 minutes while the audience gets upset and the tension builds up and overflows. Notorious not only for unpredictable performances, but for creative album covers as well, the band doesn’t disappoint with Extraordinary Renditions. The album cover depicts a naked man, bat-
tered and lying face down on the ground. Choosing album art can be intimidating, Jones said, especially because of the connotations they can place on songs. Images create instant associations within the brain, he said, and might trigger a reaction that the musician didn’t intend to with the music. “I have always made my own artwork fairly nonsensical to circumvent this as much as possible, and also to minimize costs,” Jones said. Carroll said he is very pleased with the new album and the new direction New Science Projects has taken. He said Jones’ drunken slur is a little easier to understand on the album, perhaps in response to earlier criticism that some of his songs were hard to decipher. “I say you learn the words however you can, and once you do, you understand why the band can’t just sit up there and spell it all out,” Carroll said. “You gotta work and get sweaty with NSP to really enjoy them.” RACHEL WATTS is a UNT journalism student who lives in Denton. She enjoys participating in the local music scene and co-owns a small independent record label called I Love Math Records.
Continued from 19 >> to music made to chill out to. “Ephemeral Artery” was a sexy club track that puts a red line under last call, with it’s prowling beat and growling hooks. Palomo sings through messy, electronic fuzz, and keyboard phrases are bent, theremin-style. It’s the note-flexing that keeps “Polish Girl” from being a throwback. If “Polish Girl” is any indication, Extrana is a lonelier album — spaces feel more vast and the lyrics more existential. Palomo recorded the new album in Helsinki. The centuries-old city and its 21stcentury bustle inform the track, and the album promises three instrumentals. Era Extrana is released on Palomo’s imprint, Static Tongues. The band has also announced the release of its own mini-synth. Catch Neon Indian live on Sept. 24 at the Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave. in Dallas. Order the album at neonindian.com. LUCINDA BREEDING can be reached at 940-566-6877 or cbreeding@dentonrc.com.
For more music news, visit localspinblog.dentonrc.com.
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Law Office of
Randy Brooks Licensed by the State Bar of Texas Not Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
ALL SPORTS...ALL DAY...EVERYDAY 3350 Unicorn Lake Blvd • 940-484-7455 • www.pourhousegrill.com
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thursdays.
Call our office to make an appointment for a FREE initial consultation!
940-380-1186
live music.
We offer payment plans. We accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover & American Express
drink specials
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and more.
1800 South Loop 288 | Suite 222 | Denton, TX 76205 Phone: 940.380.1196 | www.davantisalon.com
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$10 off any hair, skin or body service • first time guests only
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where to find
music,
caffeine and
Around downtown
Oak
Hickory
Mulberry Sycamore
Bell Ave.
Locust
Austin
Elm
Carroll Blvd.
Bolivar
McKinney
N
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THE CUPBOARD 200 W. Congress St. 940-387-5386. THE GREENHOUSE 600 N. Locust St. 940-484-1349. greenhouserestaurant denton.com HAILEY’S CLUB 122 W. Mulberry St. 940-323-1160. haileysclub.com J&J’S PIZZA 118 W. Oak St. 940-3827769. jandjpizzadenton.com JUPITER HOUSE 106 N. Locust St. 940-387-7100. jupiterhousecoffee.net THE LABB 218 W. Oak St. 940-293-4240. thelabbdenton.com LOCO CAFE 603 N. Locust St. 940-3871413. locodenton.com LOVE SHACK 115 E. Hickory St. 940442-6834. loveburgershack.com MAD WORLD RECORDS 115 W. Hickory St. 940-591-3001. ROOSTER’S ROADHOUSE 113 Industrial St. 940-382-4227. roosters-roadhouse.com RUBBER GLOVES REHEARSAL STUDIOS 411 E. Sycamore St. 940-3877781. rubberglovesdentontx.com SIMONE LOUNGE 222 W. Hickory St., Suite 104. 940-387-7240. facebook.com/ simonelounge VIGNE 222 W. Hickory St., Suite 103. 940566-1010. WINE SQUARED 110 W. Oak St. 940384-9463. winetimeswine.com
Congress
Scripture
W. Oak
W. Oak
W. Hickory
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UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
Elm
Pearl
for more listings, visit wimgo.com
Carroll Blvd.
Parkway
>>
North Texas Blvd.
Bell Ave.
Congress
Oakland
Austin
Egan
wine in denton
Bonnie Brae
THE ABBEY UNDERGROUND 100 W. Walnut St. 940-565-5478. facebook.com/ theabbeyunderground ANDY’S BAR 122 N. Locust St. 940-5655400. myspace.com/andysbar BANTER 219 W. Oak St. 940-5651638. dentonbanter.com DAN’S SILVERLEAF 103 Industrial St. 940-320-2000. danssilverleaf.com CELLAR 22 219 E. Hickory St. 940-4350149. thecellar22.com THE CHESTNUT TREE 107 W. Hickory St. 940-591-9475. chestnuttearoom.com
35W N
Eagle Drive
35E
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ZERA COFFEE CO. 420 E. McKinney St., Suite 106. 940-239-8002.
Around UNT ART SIX COFFEE HOUSE 424 Bryan St. 940-484-2786. facebook.com/artsixcoffee house BIG MIKE’S COFFEE HOUSE 1306 W. Hickory St. 940-383-7478. bigmikescoffee shop.com COOL BEANS 1210 W. Hickory St. 940-382-7025. facebook.com/coolbeans
dentontx CUPS AND CREPES 309 Fry St. 940387-1696. 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 ROCKIN’ RODEO 1009 Ave. C. 940-565-6611. rockinrodeodenton.com YOGURT FUSION 209 W. Hickory St. 940-597-6367. yofusion.com
E M O S E M RING HO
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940.365.9091
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Loop 288
Bell Avenue
CROSS ROADS LIQUOR
Carroll Blvd.
EST SE B • ! s r a e y 3 2 In b u s in e s s f o r
e le c t io n ! S t s e B r o f ly r • Come ea E IC V R E S Y L D L E C T IO N , F R IE N
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Ready for Some Football? • ESPN Game Plan • NFL Ticket • 12’ HP Projection TV • 16 Huge Flatscreens
FOOD AND DRINK SPECIALS!
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The Pride of Denton
113 Industrial Street Denton
940-382-4227
212 E. Hickory Street Denton
940-387-2222 11am - 2am Daily
Sun - Tues 11am - 10pm Wed - Sat 11am-11pm
115 Industrial Street Denton
940-380-8226 Serving Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner
Weinberger’s Deli
HICKORY STREET
Hickory Street Lounge
INDUSTRIAL STREET
Shine It Auto Detail
Dan’s Silver Leaf
Little Guys Movers
Seniors In Motion
Rooster’s Roadhouse
103 Industrial Street Denton Fuzzy’s Taco Shop
940-320-2000 4pm - 2am Daily
940-566-0751 109 Industrial Street, Denton
212 E. Hickory Street, #110 Denton
940-566-5900 Mon-Thurs 7am-10 pm
Fri 7am-Midnight
Sat 10am-Midnight
Sun 10am-10pm
MULBERRY STREET
940-383-2875 111 Industrial Street, Denton M-F 7am-7pm
Sat 8am-12pm
300 E. Hickory Street, Denton M-F 8am-5pm
Sat 9am-1pm HY
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