A new way to Bend in Ft. Worth

We had it good in Dallas, now Ft. Worth can be Bendy as well:

SATURDAY, JANUARY 27TH
An Intimate Evening with Bob Schneider

Opening Night at Bend Studio - Fort Worth
8:00p / doors at 7:30p
$30 / $35 online

tickets online at www.bendstudio.com/intimate_concerts.htm
this show will sell out, be sure and get your tickets in advance

Bend Studio, in conjunction with Soul Fitness, is opening it's SECOND
LOCATION this month in Fort Worth! Soul Fitness is located at 1901
Montgomery Street in Fort Worth, TX. Opening night is going to be
something very special, and we hope you can make it out!

**************
Also, don't miss out on the upcoming shows in Dallas....

An Intimate Evening With Billy Harvey with special guest Robert Gomez

Friday, January 26th
Doors @ 7:30
Starts @ 8:00

Billy Harvey
Harvey mixes clunky, off-kilter baroque pop and acoustic-based powerpop with some analog blips and bleeps, and signs it all with a familiar, laconic drawl. The result is a strangely heartfelt concoction so warm and slightly twisted it's as if the songs are melting into new forms as you listen to them.

"Billy puts words together that'll make some lyricists eat humble pie..."

"Glam rocker-turned-Americana troubadour Billy Harvey has concocted a lethal indie-pop brew. With a voice that sounds suspiciously like B.R.M.C. frontman Peter Hayes, Harvey embraces both the psych weirdness and the strummy yearning of latter-day Wilco. Regardless of comparisons, this Austin-based singer-songwriter has a unique and compelling sound all his own."

Robert Gomez
Robert Gomez is a masterful indie-singer/songwriter from Denton,TX. His music is dark, mysterious, tuneful and unique. Robert's record "Etherville" (Basement Front Records), released July 2005, is a haunting and beautiful set of songs with an amazing collection of musicians from his working band.

"Gomez is an artist with a large talent for making music regardless of genre." - Cadence

"Thankfully, Robert Gomez is a Texan.....Most troubadours would collapse under the weight of this much depression, yet Gomez steers it with confidence..." -Dallas Observer

An Intimate Evening with Abra Moore and Will Sexton
RESCHEDULED!!!
SATURDAY 1/27
Doors: 7:30
Starts: 8:00

Abra and Will together go beyond intimate to magical!

Abra Moore
The Austin-based musician and Lilith Fair alumna Abra Moore has an impressive list of accomplishments. In her decade as a recording artist, Moore has achieved a Grammy nomination for Best Female Vocal Performance for the hit single "Four Leaf Clover" from her Strangest Places album; had a music video in daily rotation on MTV and VH1; made numerous national television appearances, including Late Night with Conan O'Brien; toured with other artists including Barenaked Ladies, Matchbox 20 and Shawn Colvin and her former bandmates Poi Dog Pondering; had her music licensed for more than 25 film and television programs, including the feature films Cruel Intentions, Happy Texas and Serving Sara, and the TV series Alias, Standoff, Men In Trees, Party of Five and Dawson's Creek; and even performed a new version of "Big Sky" for the popular video game, The Sims.

Will Sexton
Sexton grew up in the company of country crooners, blues guitarists and folk storytellers, the youngest member of an Austin music scene that spawned Stevie Ray Vaughn, brother Charlie Sexton and others. With his biting lyrical style, twisted stories and pop sensibilities, Will is heir to the throne of Texas singer-songwriters.

The Lord Henry at Hailey's

It was the night before NYE. In Denton. You weren't there. No one was there. This is what everyone, including you, missed.
Do I really need words?

I <3 TLH

Friday Jan 12 Your "To Hear" List - Kristy Kruger and Red Monroe

Only two things to do:
1. Kristy Kruger's benefit show at Opening Bell (aka Standard and Pours)
2. Method's showcase with Red Monroe at Sons of Hermann Hall

more info:

The War at Home

Kristy Kruger copes with her brother's death the only way she knows how

By Darryl Smyers

http://www.dallasobserver.com/Issues/2007-01-11/music/music.html

I can’t think of a single thing better to do, than an overwhelming show at Opening Bell: and support this family. Whether you are a Bush supporter like Bill or Mike, or a hopeless opponent fo the war like me, we can all agree that these families deserve our support:

A personal note from Kristy..."for my brother Eric John Kruger who was killed in Iraq Nov. 2nd 2006. This day is his birthday. Please come down so myself and my family can feel something joyful on his birthday. It will be a tough day for us all. We will pass a donation jar, portions which will go to a fund for his children. My brother left behind four children, and his wife Sara. If you are unable to make the show and in a financial position to do so, please consider making a donation to my brother's memorial fund. Any amount is fine and all contributions are greatly appreciated." Make payable to "The Memorial Fund for Children of LTC Eric Kruger" The Memorial Fund for Children of LTC Eric Kruger 4850 Langdale Way Colorado Springs, CO 80906

Saturday at Opening Bell, It’ll be great music too.

The Hourly Radio and Billboard! Best of 2006

I've loved these guys since minute 1. Again, 'bout time that the nation took notice!
Goodies for you from me: Their interview at Sons of Hermann Hall plus the tour diary from the Stellastarr* tour, now with silly videos.

from their press release:

THE HOURLY RADIO HISTORY WILL NEVER HOLD ME

NAMED #1 RECORD OF 2006 in BILLBOARDS CRITICS CHOICE! by Jason MacNeil!!!

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/yearend/2006/top10/staff_3.jsp

JASON MACNEIL

Billboard.com contributor

1. The Hourly Radio, "History Will Never Hold Me" (Kirtland Records). Texas outfit's debut features fantastic songs, great hooks and no dull moments.

2. Keane, "Under the Iron Sea" (Interscope). Darker than album one but just as stellar with "Try Again" and "A Bad Dream."

3. Tom Petty, "Highway Companion" (American Recordings/Warner Bros.). Yet another taken-for-granted gem in a catalog of songwriting gold.

4. Primal Scream, "Riot City Blues" (Columbia). Music-mixing mad hatters get back to Stones-y basics.

5. Vince Gill, "These Days" (MCA Nashville). Axl Rose will release a similar amount of material ... by 2057.

6. Ron Sexsmith, "Time Being" (Warner Music Canada). Slight departure for the underrated musician, with the same excellent results.

7. James Dean Bradfield, "The Great Western" (Sony BMG). Solid solo album for Manic Street Preachers frontman will hold most over until band's next release.

8. Calexico, "Garden Ruin" (Quarterstick). Branching out into a slightly rockier format does wonders for fine band.

9. The Black Keys, "Magic Potion" (Nonesuch). Seedy, sparse, bluesy, fuzzy and great!

10. Sloan, "Never Hear the End of It" (BMG Music Canada). Adventurous 30-song release touches on both the old and new

Ridicularious' best of 2006 (and 2007!)

My dear friend DerJer recently put out his Best Of, and I'm posting it. 'Cause he has good taste. Though I'll need to forgive him for just now discovering the Earlies...

The BEST OF 2006 LIST according to Derringer (and other musical distinctions of the year)
This is by NO MEANS representative of all the music recordings of the year....

there are plenty of albums that have still slipped by me unheard and some are rather acclaimed... some albums that I never got around to fully listening to... The Guillemots (gonna buy the import soon), Regina Spektor, Sonic Youth, Howe Gelb, The Upper Room, KT Tunstall Acoustic, Elton John's newest, and plenty more...

SPECIAL NOTE!!!! - JOHNNY LLOYD ROLLINS isn't on my list cause the cd hasn't OFFICIALLY RELEASED YET!!! BUT IT IS AMAZING ALBUM and would top my TOP TEN if it was officially released.... I LOVE HIS ALBUM and see BIG potential for him soon...

but out of what I have heard and what I have spun the most and what has truly fallen on my ears in album completion... this is what I deem the best of the year....

The TOP ALBUMS are based on how they impacted me personally mixed with how excellent the artistic achievement stood against others...

TOP TEN ALBUMS OF THE YEAR:

HONORABLE MENTIONS: albums DEFINATELY worth your time but not entirely worthy of being in top ten...

Junior Boys - So This Is Goodbye
Glen Hansard of THE FRAMES and Marketa Irglova) - The Swell Season
Ed Harcourt - The Beautiful Lie
Beck - The Information
M. Craft - Silver and Fire
Morning Runner - Wilderness is Paradise Now
Joseph Arthur - Nuclear Daydream
Duels - The Bright Lights And What I Should Have Learned
Stoney - The Scene and The Unseen
Eberg- Voff Voff
Jeremy Enigk - World Waits
Mellowdrone - Box
Plan B - Who Needs Actions When You Got Words
Melissa McClelland - Thumbelina
The Format - Dog Problems
The Knife - Silent Shout
Jenny Lewis solo album
Belle and Sebastian - the Life Pursuit

10. WHITE WHALE - WWI
*a kaliedescope of dizzying musical directions mixed with intriguing lyrics blend together in a truly unique and thrilling listen*

9. JOHN LEGEND - ONCE AGAIN
*the debut threw sparks but failed to light my fire.... this followup met and exceeded the expectations and the potential that I knew he had... it is a GREAT soul-pop record with endless rewards in melody and songwriting...not extremely innovative, but downright addictive*

8. M. WARD - POST-WAR
* Ward went all out this time with a full band and a more rocking attitude but still keeping the fort held down by his touching perspectives on life and his occasional magic stirred by gentle, stripped down production... again, where it lacks in innovation, it makes up in heart and soul.... I adore this artist*

7. JOHNNY CASH - AMERICAN V: A HUNDRED HIGHWAYS
* yet another endearing, teardrop collecting batch of songs from the soul of a man on the brink of of bidding the earth goodbye. It is a chilling impact and jarring confrontation at the pearly gates... this is genuine church music, soul music, country music all wrapped in one*

6. TV ON THE RADIO - RETURN TO COOKIE MOUNTAIN
* yep, the Brooklyn art-rock group defied my previous distaste for their music with a truly original album.... with melodic flash colliding with artistic freedom where there seemed to be only artistic freedom before.... the experience was a deeply unsettling, yet unimaginably spiritual one...*

5. THOM YORKE- THE ERASER
*like any great Nigel Godrich"ed" album...the initial listen is deceiving... Godrich's genius lies in this fact... the first listen will always seem less rewarding than each following listen...he is BRILLIANT at layering albums with subtle fairy dust... melodies emerge and dissolve into one another... electronic beats and blips become a hypnotic symphony... and Yorke's songwriting is the perfect match...each listen to this album has reaped tremendous increase in the necessity for calling this one of the year's best*

4. MUSE - BLACK HOLES AND REVELATIONS
* Just when you think this band cannot outdo themselves, they slap you in the face and laugh... with an album that barks with futuristic glances and present day intensity... this became their landmark moment... Muse has cemented themselves in history with this album... the elegant charm of Starlight, the gritty, glacial, raunchy groove of SUPERMASSIVE BLACKHOLE, the epic inspiration of Invincible and so MUCH MORE....
this was a monster... a REALLY spectacular monster...exhillerating!*

3. BRAND NEW - THE DEVIL AND GOD ARE RAGING INSIDE ME
*this album was a complete SHOCK for me... I had NEVER imagined getting excited over an album by this band... they were emo-rock... plain and simple... but with this album... the emo got toned down and the rock notched up to ARENA ROCK... the spiritual wrestling of this album both lyrically and sonically is a major acheivement and it ran like a soundtrack to my life... I love when a band surprises me!*

2. JOANNA NEWSOM
*this sweeping, monumental masterpiece is unlike ANYTHING I heard this year and as ambitious as it is... it is equal in emotion and lyrical pageantry... as a lover of words and great classic novels, it feels like Newsom has delivered a piece worthy of the Pulizter...
the allegories and flights of voice and harp are JUST MESMERIZING.. her voice is either love it or hate it... I LOVE IT>.. there is so much childlike wonder and get chills listening to her.

1. THE VEILS - NUX VOMICA
*This was the album that i couldn't live without in 2006.... the album has unjustly been overlooked by the press (as was their tremendously stunning debut album that is every bit as GREAT).. I'd like to think that I can change this injustice... THIS ALBUM IS INCREDIBLE... it is a raw, unbridled,passionate piece of work that never, never, never lets up in its glorious rewards... Finn is a genius.... it frustrates me so much that this AMAZING band is still on the fringes of industry... The House Where We All Live is a nostalgic slice of perfection.... when Finn sings... you feel it in your core... chills rip up and down the spine on songs like Jesus For The Jugular, a very intense vocal delivery is involved...then the other song that makes me weep, Under The Folding Branches.... I'm telling you... if I had to choose one album to walk away with this year, it would be this one...although Joanna Newsom would be wanted bad too... BUY THIS ALBUM! BUY THEIR DEBUT! THEY ARE WORTH IT!


Other awards...

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS OF THE YEAR:

1. the New STREETS album
2. the New FLAMING LIPS album
3. the New KILLERS album
4. the New FUTUREHEADS album

MOST OVERRATED ARTISTS:
1. BEIRUT - I absolutely, positively do NOT like his stuff and even saw some of his show live and I DON'T understand all the hype... okay, so the music is a bit different... but no matter how many times I've tried, I just CANNOT deal with him)

2. The Hold Steady

3. Beach House

4. The Arctic Monkeys

5. Islands

6. The Knife (I do like stuff by them and specific songs on the newest album, but I don't understand the full album being so praised... maybe the whole album just hasn't clicked with me yet... it's more the ALBUM is overrated than the performing act itself... they supposedly put on an incredible show that I'm dying to see... they are unique though)

7. Yo La Tengo - I do NOT understand why everyone thinks this album is so spectacular...

8. Califone - Roots & Crowns
* Pitchfork raved about it but it is rather boring and meandering if you ask me...

9. Duke Special - *my expectations went high for this one based on alot of talk from overseas... while I still want to see him live due to the wide acclaim, the album is not as great as I hoped...but it is growing on me and becoming more of a guilty pleasure...

(note from KatieMac... I met Duke Special at SxSW last year. Not only great guys, but brilliant live show. and yes, the album in NO WAY recreates the show. love them.)

10. Peter Bjorn and John
*same as with Duke Special... expectations were HIGH...got it and like certain songs but for the whole thing to get the acclaim it is, I'm just not getting it...

yep, Eric, you are right... worst album of the year goes to GWEN STEFANI...


BEST EP of the Year :

(tie) Sparrow House
(tie) Guillemots

INNOVATIVE ACHEIVEMENTS IN ALBUMS:
Final Fantasy - He Poos Clouds
Joanna Newsom - Ys
Scott Walker - The Drift
Xiu Xiu - The Air Force
Matmos - The Rose Has Teeth In the Mouth of the Beast
Tv on the Radio - Return to Cookie Mountain
White Whale - WWI
Guillemots - Through the Window Pane

Best Dance Albums of the Year:
1. Michael Meyer - Immer 2
2. Herbert - Scale
3. Hot Chip - The Warning
4. Lindstrom - It's A Feedelity Afair

Best Instrumental CD of Year:
Don Peris - Go When the Morning Shineth

Great cd, disappointing live act award:
OFFICE

Lost its Luster award:
The Pippettes

Favorite NEW ARTIST award for this year:
WALTER MEEGO

Not as great as Before, Not as bad as it was panned Award:
Damien Rice - 9 Crimes

It's a Grower Award (albums that took awhile to finally click with me... some of these are guilty pleasures):

- new Keane
- new Snow Patrol
- new DEARS
*Duke Special

UNDERDOG CHAMPION OF THE YEAR:

The Format - for being dropped from major label and then creating a truly remarkable listening experience....with the excellent DOG PROBLEMS...


PINCH ME, IM DREAMING, DID I REALLY JUST BUY THAT DISC?
*artists who shocked me by making me stand up and take notice of them and their latest album... never ever thinking I'd ever buy anything from them EVER! *
- My Chemical Romance
-And You Will Know Us by THE TRAIL OF DEAD...


Best Chistian/Gospel rock album of the year...

LeeLand

Best Christmas Album:

Sufjan Steven's box set


Saddest Goodbye of 2006:

Oversol - I can't believe your calling it quits, but I know many great things await each of you in our own musical endeavors from here on out...


The DERRINGER AWARD for best new band/artist most likely on the brink of getting signed in new year:

1) Johnny Lloyd Rollins.

2) Eddyfink

and that is all for now.... I'll change the 2006 to 2007 on my main page hopefully today!

blessings.
jer

No way to represent, Sistah

Ever since Sam left the Observer, I've been remiss in reading the weekly, well, at all. I'd so much rather hit Merritt and Andrea's blogs. Cut to the chase, ya know? So, I spent a little time on my blogreader today, catching up. And, apparently, forming opinions about the writers. Julie, Bible Girl, is my new crush (God, she'd hate that! hee hee) and Jonanna Widner is trying too hard. She's dissing on my homies, man. First she calls Sorta bombastic, disappointing, 70's leftovers (OK, that could be a little out of context), then she says Radiant* has "Coldplay Disease" and she writes it like it's a revelation. Um, Jonanna, we like that about Radiant*. Always have. And then there is this quote: "I'm beginning to think every band in Dallas should be a tribute band."

I'm just sayin', that's all.

***************************

update: OK, she redeemed herself somewhat in my estimation today. (odd... today? no, not possible, really, she had a deadline, she'd been working on that article awhile...) She has been around just a short time, I'm planning to stay caught up on my blogreading now. Paper's so messy. But, damn, I think I just got lumped in as an "offshoot".

happy 2007

because it is.
and I hope for you, too.
<3
kate

The new New Frontiers

Formerly Stellamaris, The New Frontiers is touring with Manchester Orchestra. This will be their first Dallas show as a signed band. They and Red Monroe hit Sons o' Hermann January 12th.

more from the mouth of Method:

From: Method Entertainment

Subject: Friday Night Live (January 12th)

Howdy,

2006 was not a bad year for Method Entertainment. We put a couple of artists on a plane for a small tour in England. Created a successful 2 month weekly series at Club Dada called "Tribute Wednesdays". As well a monthly series called "Friday Night Live" at Sons Of Hermann Hall. 2007 is here and we have plenty of great events coming your way for your live music itch.

We are very proud to announce our first Friday Night Live event for this year. You will not be disappointed.

Formerly Stellamaris, The New Frontiers have been creating a serious buzz in the past few months. Since their release of The City Turns Everything Electric, in February of 2005. They have been hitting the road hard in the southern regions of the US. As a result, they have recently signed with an indie label called, The Militia Group. Which houses other great acts such as The Umbrellas and Manchester Orchestra.

Atlanta based Manchester Orchestra released their debut album, I'm Like A Virgin Losing A Child in 2006. Sending them on their way to be involved with prestigious music festivals such as, Lollapalooza and SXSW. Paste Magazine has also coined them as the band to watch for. They are currently on tour with The New Frontiers.

Red Monroe has accomplished more in 2006 than some of the well known local acts have in the past 5 - 10 years. These local boys have been placed on the nominating ballot for Best Alternative Album in the 2007 Grammys. Were chosen to be on the CMJ compilation CD. Were mentioned in SPIN Magazine and have released a very successful self titled album that has the media, bloggers and press wanting more.

The Quiet Company boys from Austin have been a favorite amongst local bands such as, The New Frontiers and Comrade. We here at Method Entertainment enjoy these guys so much we decided to share them with everyone in Dallas.

Tuesdays Debut is a 4 piece band out of Lake Charles, LA. They have been compared to such acts as Copeland, Minus the Bear, Ryan Adams and Dredg. With such a wide range of comparisons, its hard not to be somewhat intrigued by their rather enigmatic sound. They have recently released, Raise your Glass; We Are Armed and Jealous. Which is getting airplay on 17 stations across the US. We are happy to have them join the bill

Here is the Best Indie Line Up In Dallas for the Month of January!!!

Method Entertainment Presents:

"Friday Night Live"

Where: Sons Of Hermann Hall (3414 Elm @ Exposition)

Cover: $8 - $10

Doors: 8:00 PM

Show: 9:00 PM

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

8:00 - Tuesdays Debut
9:00 - Quiet Company

10:00 - Manchester Orchestra

11:00 - Red Monroe

12:00 - The New Frontiers

We would like to thank you for support in the past, present and future. Our goal is to contribute to the rebuilding of Deep Ellum... One show at a time.

Denton Don't Dance

gratuitous Clint Piper photo opportunity

The Lord Henry
Millicent Friendly
at
Hailey's
tomorrow
12/30
9p.

be unDentonite. don't miss out.

Black and white and danced all over

You live in FW. You've been invited to hundreds of parties for NYE. You are far too hip for all of them. Where to go to be seen? Problem solved.

Now, go get pretty. Go on, you have only two days to shop. Find something glittery.

I loves Miss Cindy

and it's mutual. so sweet of her...
The Fine Line's Fav People
and she even picked a photo of me that I actually like.

Run, Sara, run!

Sara Radle @ Barley 06.05.05 015, photo by Lindsay Graham.

The lovely Sara Radle sent this. A little support for her cause, please...

This February, I will be running the Pacific Shoreline Half
Marathon... my first ever! Through this half-marathon, I'm
fundraising for Free Wheelchair Mission - an international non-profit
organization dedicated to providing the transforming gift of mobility
to the physically disabled poor in developing countries.

I am currently welcoming sponsors online through the following website:

http://www.firstgiving.com/sararadle

You can make a donation by clicking one of the links next to the
picture on my page,

Thank you in advance for any support you can give!
xoxo,
Sara

$5 NYE? the only party cheaper would be staying home to watch Radiant!

Sunday - New Year's Eve - 2006 - Poor David's Pub - Carnivale!

featuring

Jayson Bales & The Revival

Blackheart Society

Copperwound

Art Show/Gallery with local artists*

Free Food, Free Champagne, and a view of the Dallas skyline

$15 cover or $25 per couple (easily the best deal in town)

Tickets onsale now at Frontgate Tickets

http://tickets.frontgatetickets.com/choose.php?pl=76&lid=8825

IF YOU NEED A NICE HOTEL FOR THE EVENING RIGHT BY THE CLUB!

THE DALLAS PLAZA HOTEL HAS A SPECIAL POOR DAVID'S NYE RATE OF ONLY $49.50.

CALL FOR DETAILS.http://www.dallasplazahotel.com/

LOCAL MUSICIANS only $5 cover - email amanda@bocatinta.com for reservations

Poor David's Pub is at 1313 S. Lamar down from Gilley's and across the street from

nationally acclaimed Amuse restaurant. (a great place to eat a gourmet meal before the show)

http://www.amusedallas.com/

Club Doors at 8pm.

* I will have framed photos and prints for sale. Some Jayson Bales, some Blackheart Society, more of my favorites. Framed art $50, signed prints $25, prints $10.

Radiant* breakthrough? Finally!

My TiVO tells me this will air on 1/2 on Channel 8 on Jimmy Kimmel.
UPDATE: This will air 1/16 at 12am.

The info's sketchy, so better check that.

Radiant @ Granada 07.15.05 levi, originally uploaded by Kate Mackley.

If you've at all delved into what I've written, you know how much I love Radiant*. I blame Levi Smith for getting me started on blogging and photographing the music scene. It is absolutely all his fault. And I couldn't be happier about that on most days. Radiant* showed me that good bands aren't necessarily on the radio (especally in Dallas) and that my favorite CD could be of undiscovered songs. I always thought that would change rather quickly for Levi, Dragan, Daniel, and now Jesse (still miss seeing Jon up there), but it didn't. They slogged out another two years still relatively unknown. It's not likely that only one appearance will catapult them to the big time, but geez, NYE on Jimmy Kimmel? That's not a bad way to try!

So, here's wishing my fav local band "Good Luck." I hope they will no longer be my fav LOCAL band, but a national headliner, as I've long thought they deserved. I'm hoping that someone will have Jimmy Kimmel on at Poor David's Pub on NYE.

********************

PONTIAC GAVE ONE UNDISCOVERED BAND THE CHANCE TO PLAY IN FRONT OF MILLIONS IN NEW YORK'S TIMES SQUARE THIS NEW YEAR'S EVE AND APPEAR ON "JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE"


Pontiac unveiled details for the brand's biggest music promotion ever - a nationwide musical talent search and contest. The promotion, "Countdown to 1" gave one unsigned band the opportunity to compete for the ultimate prize: the chance to appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live and play on the Pontiac Garage Stage in New York's Times Square during the annual New Year's Eve celebration, where traditionally only the biggest bands have performed. Guess what… Radiant WON!!! Radiant was chosen by a panel of judges from Pontiac and Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Radiant won the breakthrough booking of a lifetime - the chance to open for POD and My Chemical Romance in Times Square on New Year's Eve in front of a million people, as well as an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. The performance will air on major networks across the Globe, not to mention every Jumbo Tron in Times Square on New Year's Eve.

As a bonus, Radiant is being followed by a camera crew from Dallas to NYC for a period of 6 days for a later spot that will air on Jimmy Kimmel Live the week of January 7th (TBA). During this time they will be recording in the famous Electric Lady Studios where Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and many more have recorded. Radiant will also make appearances on the National CBS Morning show Saturday December 30th, 2006 and Fox and Friends Morning show (TBA).


For More Information:
www.radianttheband.com
www.myspace.com/radiantmusic
http://abc.go.com/primetime/jimmykimmel/index.html

John Dufilho - My Circuits Are Blown

More greatness of 2006

Best of 2006 ... in so many ways. Happy New Year!

Lots of these songs I've been listening to for longer than 2006, so this is more a retrospective of "oh, yeah, that was finally released!" 2006 was definitely the year of the demo for me, as I had to look up most of the actual album titles for these.

My "most listened to" according to my iPod of 2006…

"Roscoe" Midlake The Trials Of Van Occupanther
I first heard "Roscoe" piled into Eric Pullido's little Mini, in the heat of July, sweating it with McK and the other Eric. I loved it from the first listen, and even bootlegged a copy with my iPod mic. It was an awful recording, but I still listened to it often as I waited for the final album to be released. Van Occupanther was worth the wait, and this song, or this album, is on everyone's Best of '06.

"Flowerparts" Bob Schneider Texas Music 2006 (The Californian)
Yup, I hightailed it to Wendy's when I heard they were giving away a CD of Texas music with a giant Dr. Pepper. The Hourly Radio's "Deaf Ears" is on it as well, and also should make my Best of 2006 list, but I heard that so often in 2005, it's a bit past prime for me. Burden Brothers, Rhett Miller, Sorta, Patrice Pike, and The Rocket Summer were also on the CD, so why didn't they just go ahead and call it "Dallas Music (and a Bit of the Rest of Texas) 2006"?

"We're All Going to Hell" Here, In Arms Soon We'll All Be Scattered
Brent Engle's producer sent me these demos back in August. I had to check that they had actually been released because I hadn't heard much of them. Why? Who knows? Let'hope that "marketing" isn't a dirty word to him and that Here in Arms gets on it a bit, soon.

"I Wonder Where You Are Tonight" Jayson Bales Cruel & Unusual
He wrote this in his car, on his Blackberry, between three stoplights. Or so he says. Bales is a legend of his own making, but I'm more than happy to contribute to the aura behind this guy. One day, we're gonna realize we "knew him when" and then be amazed that such a talent is in our midst. That, and he buys drinks. Love him!

"Nothing Left To Say" Sorta Strange And Sad But True
I gots lots to say about Sorta and Trey Johnson and it's all good. "All Good" - get it? LOL, local humor... Starting from the artwork on the cover and in the CD, this is a great album. Like the Midlake album, this recent Sorta album is a maturation of the band. Little Bay was good, but not this good.

"One Day At A Time" Johnny Lloyd Rollins Let's Be Poor Together
JLR's unique style, a fusion of classic pop and indie styling is simple, beautiful and enduring. He's another artist that is hard to believe is from Dallas. Our music scene produces such differing styles from Baboon to Midlake to Johnny; while Seattle in the 90's may have had Grunge, Dallas in the Aughties has more than just a sound name will cover.

"Loss of Love Says Hi" The Lord Henry Zoo Palace
The Lord Henry is known more for dance rock than introspective melodies, but the switch in producers midway through Zoo Palace changed the character of their first LP. "Loss" and my most-overplayed song I got in 2005, the lovely Beatles-esque "Jilina" are my favs on the 2006 CD. Clinton Piper will never be confused with John Lennon, but he certainly has more depth of soul than Julian Casablancas.

"Peppermint + Bitterness" Lousy Robot Smile Like You're Somewhere Else
I love Lousy! Lousy Robot. I've declared 2007 "the Year of the Robot." Watch these guys; Dandee, their dandy hubba-bubba-Indie-adorable bassist is the bearded dude strolling through the Albuquerque snow in the I Love Math video. Why is a bassist from a New Mexican band in a John Dufilho song's video? Because Lousy Robot is produced and engineered by Dufilho and Salim Nourallah. Does that mean that there's a video from Beautiful Noise and Jim Phillips somewhere on YouTube? I really, really hope so!

"Blue Mountain Air" Red Monroe Red Monroe
Red Monroe finally, finally stopped debating over which U2 album they liked best and struck out and made their own sound. If there has to be an Arcade Fire reference in some of their reviews, Walter Riley (a good friend of the band) and I know why. Now, when "Wilmington" actually makes it on an album - can the next one be a live acoustic?! - then, then I will be in heaven.

"Any Given Saturday" Spitfire Tumbleweeds King James Version
My fav Denton man, Scott Porter, is in this band. No, Scott Porter sings (growls, hoots, deep bass voice knocks your socks off) in this band. "Nuff said.

"Mason Jar" Zapruder Sequence Pretty Girl Charm Lies
Jordan Munn, the Binford boys, and the irrepressible Michael Karnowski make up the new Old 97s. If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Rhett and Ken and those boys ought to be mighty proud. Zapruder is just plain good fun and great music. Though the band is splitting itself between Atlanta and Dallas right now, Pretty Girl Charm Lies has plenty to fill the gap.

"Josephine Street" I Love Math Getting to the Point is Beside It
So pretty, so John Dufilho, "Josephine" is my vote for the best of the Best of 2006.

The few songs I can't include here, because they will be released in 2007, that are coming down the pipe from Pleasantry Lane, BPL, Purple Pear, and Luminous Sound will make 2006 go on record as an exceptionally productive year. Next year, our listening will be brilliant!

How I spent my day after Xmas 2006

I have to say I had a very restful day after Christmas this year. I skipped out on cleaning up all the wrappings and leftovers and sauntered on over to a spa they like to call a "hospital." It's really quite the misnomer. I snuck out before the light of dawn and checked myself into this lovely place in Uptown. They gave me a pretty little gown (how quaint; it ties in the back. very nuevo!) then wrapped me up in warm blankets, let me sleep for hours and sent me home all wrapped up, with excellent drugs to boot (those haven't quite worn off yet). Here's a pic of their good work. The docter and nurses ("spa healers" I'd like to call them) were nice enough to fix up the bad work a distracted driver did to me this summer. They say that I will walk again someday. For now, I'll milk it for all it's worth. "Honey, more coffee, please!"

Please notice the "No" on the other leg.

Black Tie Billboard for the holidays

Black Tie Dynasty accomplished a major feat last week when 2 singles made the Billboard Magazine Hot 100 singles chart at the same time.

"I Like U" at #38
"Tender" at #76

Both songs along with their new Christmas song “Christmas Time” are currently in rotation at radio stations across the country, the band just wrapped up their East Coast / Mid West tour and rocked a sold out crowd last week at the KDGE Christmas Concert at Nokia Theater.

(Yes, it's news from Idol Records, and I'm thrilled, so I'm posting it!)

Hallelujah, manna from heaven!

What an amazing show. Go! Go!

This is the ultimate indie rock Christmas gift, from them to us.

Lousy video

Lousy Robot is trying to get on TV. They will be on TV. If you vote for the video, they get to stay on TV. It's a bit dark for the computer screen, but it's minimal and cool. Check it and vote for it. The Robots thank you.