A video from last Thursday's Stay Cool Swag School Party at Rubber Gloves. We gave away some CDs at this thing, and I think we might be working with these dudes again at their next party. Anyway, here it is:
DATE: 5/9/08 TO: Lionel Beehner FROM: Editor, New York Times Travel Section RE: Your article on the "indie" music scene in Denton, TX
Mr. Beehner:
I am writing to inform you that I have approved your article covering the "indie" music scene in Denton, TX for publication in the Saturday print edition of the Times. I wanted to congratulate you on a well written piece, as well as to point out several instances in which your talent for framing a story really stands out in the article.
In the very first sentence, you mention both "Piggly Wiggly,"(apparently some kind of quaint regional food market originating in Texas) and "dusty pawnshops," which is highly important due to the fact that every story printed about Texas in an elistist coastal newspaper must include at least one reference to "dust," "dust devils," "dusty pawnshops" or "steers and queers." You also round out the first paragraph quite well with your reference to "everyone in town" wearing their Mean Green shirts on game day. After all, this is fucking Texas, and those shit kicking Republican traditionalists "love them some goddamn football" down there (or however the hell they say it).
Finally, your summary of the Denton sound as "a lo-fi melange of southern twang and experimental indie rock that suggests Wilco and Radiohead" was spot on. After all, southern twang is what people expect from Texas, and I'll be goddamned if we're not gonna give it to em (or however they say it down there). And let us not forget your reference to Wilco (that really cool band we used to write about six or seven years ago that someone played for us at that dinner party on 85th St., right?), as well as Radiohead (that really cool band we used to write about when they did that one amazing thing a couple months ago and then we heard the Mp3 like two weeks ago at that dinner party on 76th St, right?). Both were very hip and accurate references that completely describe the sound of almost every band in Denton.
Thanks again for your hard work. Stories on Texas don't write themselves, and you've done a fantastic job exposing the real grit of their funny little country infested local music scene.
PS-- The cowboy hat pic is GREAT!!!
(PPS-- I actually didn't think the article was all THAT bad, and I'm glad it was written. I'm just sick of seeing that same shit every time I read an article about Texas music.--SR)
Micahel Chamy sent us an email a couple weeks ago about Pyramids, a Denton band that we had never heard of. Apparently, they just recently signed to Hydrahead, and according to their Myspace page, they've already been reviewed by publications such as Pitchfork. Who are these guys, and why had no one in the local press ever heard of them before? I have no idea. Their music has been compared to Jesu, as well as a number of other shoegaze touchstones including My Bloody Valentine. I'm not really hearing the latter comparison, like at all, but I can sort of see the Jesu thing, as well as similarities to groups like Alcest, some of the more atmospheric moments of Boris, and even stuff like Panda Bear's first album and the excellent Atlas Sound record. If you're familiar with any of the aforementioned influences, none of this stuff is likely to shock your system, but we're interested to find out a bit more. We were reminded of all this when we saw a post about it on Denton Rock City today. Strange stuff.
1. As the result of late night negotiations last night, we have worked out a deal to stay around the rest of the month. All shows are still on. Street Hassle CD release this Saturday! We are going to ask that these last couple shows be $2 instead of $1 to help out with the lease extension, that would be ever so kind.
2. We will be opening at our new location Wednesday June 4th.
3. On May 23rd and 24th at Rubber Gloves we will be hosting a denton Deluxe showcase featuring bands that have appeared on our compilation and also who we have had the pleasure to host at the store. This was in the works long before all the drama, funny how things work out. Line up are as follows I think, if I am wrong about something here, please correct. It's been a hectic couple of weeks.
Friday 23rd:Nouns Group, Fight Bite, J.Gray, Florene, Vervulf, Violent Squid, Peach Street Gang (first ever live performance!), RTB2Saturday
May 24th:Kaboom!, Street Hassle, deep Snapper, Eat Avery's Bones, Delphi, Zanzibar Snails, The International
4. We would like to plan an all day all night rowdy ass party to see our dear friend off to sea. One last all day party at the fields. We need bands and DJs. We are going to open up the back part, which we had been working on for so long , and use it as an ass shaking dance area so we need some DJs. We are going to shake it till the cops kick us out. So get ready.
5. No more rentals until after the move. If you have a movie out please return it. Especially if it is pornography. If any one has questions and or comments open it up.
