Such foolishness!

The East Dallas/Lakewood and Lake Highlands versions of the Advocate magazine's blog, BackTalk, have asked to me join them as a blogger. I'll be spouting off about all sorts of ED/LH music news. If you live/work/breathe in East Dallas, you ABSOLUTELY MUST send me your show info...

because I need material to write about...

weekly.

gulp!

Add BackTalk to your blog reader, please.

Zounds! Marc Solomon sounds incredible.

I love it when someone else does my work for me. Mary Solomon (Marc's wife) makes a strong case for the amazingness of her husband, and I concur. If you've got a budding rocker in your life, or really really wish your pre-teen could keep a beat, call these guys to have your kiddo schooled in the rock by some pretty amazing working musicians. Marc and Mary run Zounds Sounds, which teaches guitar, drums, vocals, bass, etc etc... everything you need for a proper teenage garage band. End the peaceful sounds of your neighborhood and give them a call- after you drop by the 2007 DOMA poll and VOTE!
(btw: I think that's Mary's guitar and it has to be one of my fav guitars in the world; v.cool.)

read on... from Mary...

Hello Friends & Family,

Many of you are used to receiving emails from me on strictly music school related business. (Thank you for taking the time to read all of my ramblings be the way!) This email missive is just a bit different. I am campaigning on behalf of my husband Marc Solomon. I think he deserves your vote to win the Dallas Observer Musician of the Year 2007 award.

Some of you might have stopped reading there scrolled all the way down and clicked on the last link. You people have voted already. Thanks guys! It's folks like you, what with your support and utter faith in what I have to say/ask of you, that keep me in birthday presents and well wishes. Some of you are already very familiar with Marc's work both as a teacher/mogul & creative artist and you are being reminded of just how awesome he is right this minute. Perhaps you guys are voting now.

You are thinking about what a tremendous difference he has made in your child's life, giving them encouragement, knowledge and most importantly a new sense of themselves as individuals. You are hearing his booming laugh and voting...NOW!

You might remember the last Rock Show @ Dada when 3 kids were sick and Marc got up and unexpectedly filled in on the drums, sang, played bass and of course melted your face on lead guitar. All to help the kids sound great, play great and feel great about themselves. You are remembering how much fun you had. Those of you with similar memories are clicking and voting....NOW!

There are those of you only know Marc as that teacher/business owner/luckiest man alive, ahem...and aren't that familiar with his music. Go here to listen...http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?useaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=11088362 .

While he isn't appearing on stages around town nearly as often as some of his competition in this category (2 of which are teachers here at the school!) he is busy recording new songs for the much anticipated follow up to the critically (Harp, Texas Songrwriter & Gutiar Player) acclaimed Get it Wrong It's Alright with producer, Casey Diiorio. Did you know that that record has had a very busy time of it on TV? In the last year songs from that record have been on...

ABC & ABC Family (Lost & Three Moons over Milford)

CBS (The Ghost Whisperer)

MTV (Just about any stupid reality show, which is just about all of their "music" programming)
Comedy Central (I'm not sure which shows but we heard together once and yelled HOORAY!)

VH1 (Not Behind The Music, thank God.)

Some of you are now just a little impressed and are voting...NOW!

OK, now...who have we here? Some of you are only reading this far because you are polite and want to finish this long thing but are feeling a little harassed by me and my asking for your important vote. I will wrap it up with a quick list/summation of the reasons why Marc Solomon (under dog, under the radar) deserves your vote.

#1 Hometown Boy Done Good: He is a rock veteran (Zane Grey, The Clowns, Perfect, Clumsy and now, Solly) who has not only survived L.A. & New York, but come home to "bloom where he was planted".

#2 Mr. Solomon's Opus: He proves George Bernard Shaw WRONG by illustrating that those who that CAN...TEACH!!!

#3 Marc as Johnny Appleseed: He is actively planting the seeds that will grow and bloom into even more great music. His passion, dedication and hard work in music production and education here in Dallas will "pay it forward" by broadening the horizons of the young people who are influenced directly by him and our wonderful teachers. Marc visits DISD schools numerous times a year preaching the word of MUSIC. (I went with him to Gooch and got teary eyed on four separate occasions that day. It was magic. Please see attached thank you letters and you'll have but a glimpse as to why it was so wonderful.)

#4 Marc Super Stealth Super Star: His music has been heard by millions. They may not know it is his music...but you know what I mean. Let's give a little of the recognition he deserves. As anyone who owns a copy of Get It Wrong, It's Alright will attest, this guy is amazing.

#5 Marc Is The Hardest Working Man In Show Business: He is on the phone everyday before I have even thought about coffee. He keeps a million plans, requests & schedules in his head at once and USUALLY maintains his wonderful good humor throughout it all. He can tell you without much trouble when Johnny's soccer practice ends, when Sara's SAT prep course starts and then have them jamming in time for the concert. Stunning to behold!

#6 Marc Vows To Finally Fix The Pothole Problem In Dallas: That is of course a joke, and I hope that those of you who have stuck it out with me this far, are smiling.

So, please vote for Marc! Love to you all!

Thanks to everyone of you! And I hope to dance with you at the Soul Show May 25th, at the Sons of Hermann Hall!

Mary Armstrong Solomon

Vice President

Zounds Sounds Inc.

1203 N. Haskell Ave.

Dallas, TX 75204

(214) 826-7735

*ROCK*

DOMA 2007 preliminary ballot -

Dallas Observer Music Awards...

Those four words make me think of a few things such as
1. recognition for our local musicians right here at home
2. awareness for the public of who's out there in Dallas making great music
3. marketing potential (hey, I book shows, so it helps!)
4. frustration. very LARGE amounts of frustration. First, it's impossible to find ANY info about the music awards on the Observer's website. WTF? Can I preview the categories? No. I have to actually vote to figure out what they are (they can change from year to year). Has anyone from the Observer written anything this year promoting the ballot? Apparently not. So, I relied on my friends' posts and emails about their picks to help me with mine. I'd link you, but basically it's condensed below. Vote, please: DOMA 2007

Think of voting today like the primaries; you don't get to decide who wins, but you can get your choice on the ballot. These are my suggestions. Some I voted for, some I went "DOH!" when I saw them on friends' suggestions, so you gotta make up your mind.

Best Act in Town: The Crash That Took Me, Sorta, The Chemistry Set, Happy Bullets, Radiant (no more *), Airline, Shibboleth
Musician of the Year: Chris Holt, Salim Nourallah, Marc Solomon, Eric Pullido (Midlake)
Best Album: Sorta's Strange and Sad But True, Jayson Bales Cruel and Unusual, The Chemistry Set Blue Monsters, Boca Tinta rec's JD Whittenburg's new CD, JD Whittenburg, but I haven't heard it yet, so I'll put it here on her word, which is quite reliable. Guess it's a trip to Good Records for me, asap.
Best Song: "Our Love" – Red Monroe (with excellent production by Junius Recording Co.), "New Hope PA" - Chemistry Set, "85 Feet"- Sorta
Best New Act: Airline, The Valentines, (Boca Tinta rec: The Felons, whom I also haven't heard yet; I must get out soon), The Crash That Took Me, JD Whittenburg
Best Country/Roots: Telegraph Canyon, Jayson Bales, Theater Fire
Best Cover Band: Blaze of Glory (Bon Jovi). Hard Nights Day: I love you guys, but really, you can't have this award EVERY year.
Best Folk/Acoustic: Sarah Jaffe, Chase Willett, Doug Burr
Best Jazz: Shelley Carroll/Sheldon Wright Quintet
Best Indie-Rock: Red Monroe, St Vincent, Midlake
Best Experimental: Tree Wave, Mom (don't know them, either, just taking Travis' word on that)
Best Hard-Rock: Record Hop
Best Female Singer: Sarah Jaffe, Camille Cortinas
Best Male Singer: Doug Burr, John Dufilho, Trey Johnson
Best Radio Show: Meat Radio, Uncut K104
Best Music Website/Blog: BocaTinta, The Fine Line
Best Record Label: Hit Records, Kirtland Records, Idol Records
Best Producer: Salim Nourallah, Chris Bell, Lindsay Graham, Stuart Sikes
Best Live Music Venue: Club Dada, Palladium, Deep Ellum Live, Bend Studio, The Cavern, Sons of Hermann Hall, The Granada

Looking over that list, while it's not exactly a comprehensive guide to the Dallas scene, but it's a good start. You're going out on Saturday night and want to hear some music? Check to see if any of the above are playing. You're a band and need to know the decent venues to play in Dallas? Call those bookers first (if you can get in). You're ready to record your album? Any of those producers will give you a quality product. Etc. Etc. You see where I'm going with this post; quality over quantity and the key insiders in DFW music, listed above. Just know, there's lots and lots of great people who aren't listed. Music is Dallas is worth listening to!

Ian Moore at the Rockyard in FW

I know, I know... I haven't posted in forever. Sorry. I've been sidetracked by fun assignments and lots and lots of editorial photography and loving it. However, this popped into my inbox, and we all know how much I love Ian Moore:


IAN MOORE BAND IN CONCERT
at THE ROCK YARD on MAY 25th

Critically acclaimed, guitarist and songwriter, Ian Moore, performs a rare full band show at the Rock Yard on Friday, May 25, 2007.

In the 90’s, Ian Moore gained national attention stemming from the roots rock scene of Austin, Texas. With 6 Top 20 Billboard singles to his credit, he has opened full North American tours for the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, ZZ Top and in 2005, Paul Weller. Now hailing from Seattle with six albums and a seventh on the way, Moore has shed the blues guitar mantle for more diverse stylings. Moore is a prolific multi –instrumentalist and songwriter whose influences of Brit pop, Psychedelia, Roots Rock, and Gospel along with his signature vocals and incisive, character driven lyrics meld to create his ever evolving eclectic style.

Billboard raves, "He doesn't fly with angels; he dances with devils."

Be among the first to hear songs from his new album,"To Be Loved" on Justice Records, slated for release August 14th. Backed by a stellar band including Kullen Fuchs on trumpet, keys and vibraphone, Rebecca Young on bass and Kyle Schneider on drums,
featured songs will include the Beatlesque stylings of "House up on the Hill", the sparkly pop rock and driven percussion of title track, "To Be Loved" and signature guitars on "Innocent Maneuvers."

Metroplex favourites and Dallas Observer's 2006 Best Overall Act winner Sorta, join us to round out the night. Don't miss this opportunity to see Ian Moore with his full band in concert for a riveting show that Pop Culture Press calls,
"...a layered, emotionally entrancing live set."

This will be a great show with Sorta opening. Their new CD, Strange and Sad But True is one of the best albums put out this year. If you're in Ft. Worth, you can't miss this show. If you're not, I have one word: Roadtrip!!