Carter's Memorial Show at Granada

I have about 1000 photos from both memorials shows to edit, but just wanted to post one. Words, later.

OK, no words, because I've said them here, and here. How about photos instead? Go here.

The Hope Show

Daniel Miller, the guy who does the web stuff, is doing web stuff for The Hope Show. I've heard Hal Samples has shot video for them. http://hopeshow.tv
be inspired.

Hey, geeky friends! U <3 Thunderbird?

Gmail, our love affair has been good, but we've stagnated. I'm just not getting what I need out of our relationship, namely: folders. As Paolo Nutini says, "sure I can accept that we're going nowhere," but now it's time for me to move on. There's this other email program, and I know, I know, it's been good between us, but you just can't keep up. Let's part amicably. We'll always be friends. Honest.

Anyone out there use Thunderbird? Like it? Don't like it? Lemme know.

An Acoustic Tribute to Carter Albrecht

Please come out on Thursday, October 11th, 8-11pm, to White Rock Coffee for an acoustic show of the music of Carter Albrecht. Thanks to Chris Holt, Manya of Blue Petal, Jayson Bales, and other friends of Carter, for playing. Come hear his songs, Sparrows revisited, and Sorta's music, all projects that Carter either headed or was intimately involved in. Come to remember this amazing talent, and a good man taken from us too soon. Donations will benefit the Carter Albrecht Music Foundation.


White Rock Coffee House is located at:
10105 E. Northwest Hwy. (at Ferndale)
Dallas, Texas 75238

Click here for a map to our location.

Wall of Sound 2006 video

This was 2006. I can't wait for 2007. This weekend, LaGrave Field. www.wallofsoundfestival.com Come to the photobooth to be in next year's video!

A tribute to ... ?

My friend is right. I have no clue who Jellyfish is (was?). They clearly were big during that black period when I was living in a Third World country. It was fun, but it left me with a large gap in my musical knowledge, unless you count Mana. Chris Machart, however, does know who Jellyfish is, and he likes them. So much so that when his band was asked to contribute to Not Lame's Jellyfish tribute, Sensory Lullaby, they picked "All I Want is Everything," a song that ought to be discovered by the disaffected in, say, Highland Park. Take a listen; scroll down to Song #4 at the bottom of the link or hit Millicent Friendly's MySpace. The lovely John Solis played drums and sang on this, too. If you're a Jellyfish fan, check it out.

I think maybe I should catch up a bit on my '90s rock history. Speaking of, wonder if Bill's has a good used copy of Wowee Zowee?

Hourly Radio on tour

I <3 Hourly. Search this blog for old interviews with them when they weren't nothin' but pups. Now they're off to CMJ and such. Mama's so proud.

SEP 20 :: DALLAS, TX @ GRANADA with VHSorBETA
and
NOV 03 :: ALZHEIMER'S ASSOC MEMORY WALK (Dallas, TX) ***NOT A SHOW more info here ***
NOV 06 :: DALLAS, TX @ CLUB DADA with IAMX (features the amazing Chris Corner, former Sneaker Pimps)

Yeah, baby! "Official Photographer"

You MUST attend. Stop by the booth and I'll snap ya.

Midlake at WOS '07 @ LaGrave Field 9/22

Considering that they fly in from the UK on 9/15, and play in both Ft. Worth and Denton, I guess it's fine that Midlake skips playing Dallas proper. Of course, you WILL have to come out to the Wall of Sound. I mean, why on earth would you miss that?

Midlake Texas tour dates:
September 16, 2007 - AUSTIN, TX @ AUSTIN CITY LIMITS
September 20, 2007 - HOUSTON, TX @ NUMBERS
September 21, 2007 - DENTON, TX @ DAN'S SILVERLEAF
September 22, 2007 - FT. WORTH, TX @ LAGRAVE FIELD WALL OF SOUND FESTIVAL

photo: Midlake at last year's Wall of Sound Festival in Ft. Worth.

Sorta live @ the Granada Theater in Dallas Tx

Carter Albrecht, 1973-2007, on keys at far left.

Trey Johnson :: vocals, guitars
Danny Balis :: bass, vocals
Trey Carmichael :: drumset
Carter Albrecht :: keys, guitars, vocals
Ward Williams :: pedal steel, slide guitar
Chris Holt :: guitars, keys, vocals, drums, etc etc etc.

Benefit for Cory @ Dada 06.04.05 Carter

Benefit for Cory @ Dada 06.04.05 Carter, originally uploaded by Kate Mackley.

carter, once more.

Good words from Cindy here. Danny Balis (Sorta) tells it as he sees it there.

A tribute to Carter Albrecht

Because there aren't words... goodbye, Carter.





















At the Barley House, he walked up to me, shoved his fist into my stomach and said, "You sing from here. It comes from your gut," and gave me a shot of Jaeger and sent me up on stage. He was imposing and talented, swaggering and aloof, brilliant and kind. His death leaves a hole too large.

Dallas Observer Music Awards 2007 (DOMA)

I'm not seeing this posted elsewhere (I could be wrong; I didn't search for it very hard), so I'm posting it here. And yes, I skipped some categories, sorry. I'm really happy about the inclusion of Johnny Lloyd Rollins, St. Vincent, and Smile Smile this year, and the whole Best New Act list is well worth listening to.

(pic: The Slack, nominated for Best New Act, play at Sons of Hermann Hall.)

2007 DOMA Ballot

Best Act in Town
Von Ehrics
Sorta
Black Tie Dynasty
Killdares
The Valentines
Hey Hollywood
Radiant
Boys Named Sue
Baboon
St. Vincent

Musician of the Year
Doug Burr
Salim Nourallah
Chris Holt
John Pedigo
Levi Smith (of Radiant, I'm sure they mean)
Daniel Hopkins
Danny Balis
Mark Solomon (Solly)

Best Album
Everybody Has a Dark Side Theater Fire
Baboon Baboon
JD Whittenburg jD Whittenburg
The Hits Boys Named Sue
Tres Monos in Love PPT
Movements Black Tie Dynasty
The Trials of Van Occupanther Midlake
Strange and Sad But True Sorta
We Hope You Win Radiant
Let's Be Poor Together Johnny Lloyd Rollins

Best Song
"Honkytonk if Yer Horny" Boys Named Sue
"Roscoe" Midlake
"85 Feet" Sorta
"Tender" Black Tie Dynasty
"Work It Out" PPT
"These Tears Could Rust a Train" Theater Fire
"Sad Song" Smile Smile
"That Girl" Radiant

Best New Act
Sarah Jaffe
The Slack
Black Tie Dynasty *
Smile Smile
The Crash That Took Me
St. Vincent
Radiant *
Tame... Tame and Quiet
Ghosthustler

*Dear Observer, these acts aren't new...

Best Country/Roots
Doug Burr
Boys Named Sue
Theater Fire
1100 Springs
Rose County Fair
Maren Morris

Best Folk/Acoustic
Fishing For Comets
Sarah Jaffe
Doug Burr
Smile Smile
The Theater Fire
Calhoun

Best Hard Rock
Max Cady
The Feds
Record Hop
Baboon
Burden Brothers
Little Big Horn
Exit 380

Best Indie Rock
The Hourly Radio
Radiant
Red Monroe
The Valentines
Rose County Fair
Johnny Lloyd Rollins
Centro-Matic

Best Female Singer
Sarah Jaffe
Annie Clark (St. Vincent)
Amy Curnow (Shanghai 5)
Camille Cortinas (Fishing For Comets)
Hope Cassity
Ashley Cromeens (Record Hop)

Best Male Singer
John Pedigo (Rose County Fair, Boys Named Sue)
Doug Burr
Johnny Lloyd Rollins
Cory Watson (Black Tie Dynasty)
Ryan Hamilton (Smile Smile)
Peter Schmidt
Salim Nourallah
Levi Smith (Radiant)

Best Instrumentalist
Eric Neal (The Slack)
Chris Holt (The Slack, Sorta)
John Dufilho (Deathray Davies)
Eddie Thomas (Black Tie Dynasty)
Chad Stockslager (The Drams)
Danny Balis (Sorta)

Best Producer
Salim Nourallah
Ace McNeely
Paul Williams
Picnic
Matt Pence
John Congleton

Best Radio Show
The Hardline
The Good Show
The Adventure Club
Paul Slavens
Russ Martin

Best Blog
The Fine Line
BigDlittled
boca tinta
we shot JR
Gorilla vs Bear

Best Label
Kirtland
Idol
Crow
TXMF
Summer Break

Best Live Venue
Club Dada
Sons of Hermann Hall
Granada
Double Wide
Gypsy Tea Room (um, dudes, they're closed)
Palladium
Adair's
House of Blues

Best Dance Club
Minc
Lizard Lounge
Slip Inn
Hailey's

In this heat, only two things grow, or three

I enjoyed all that rain Dallas had in June. It was cool, refreshing, muddy. We could forget we lived in Texas awhile. Now, for the scorching July, I give you

this movie.

Happy Summer.


Pic: Bubba Kadane plays at Sons of Hermann Hall.
Movie link sent by dealingwith; gracias.

Seed at Sons of Hermann Hall

I'm in this, please come!

location:	the sons of hermann hall, dallas, tx.
artists:	10 Dallas Photographers
bands:	mom handclaps & harmonies beauxregard TBD
door:	$7
benefiting:	art conspiracy's 501c3 filing efforts
sponsor:	La Duni Latin Bakery and Cafe
description:
For the past two years, the Dallas-based art collective, Art Conspiracy, has put on successful guerrilla-style events that unite Dallas-area artists and musicians for a good cause - now Art Conspiracy is making it official by becoming a 501c3 organization. At 7:00 p.m., Sunday, July 15, at the Sons of Hermann Hall, Art Conspiracy will present Seed, a fundraising event that will pave the way for Art Conspiracy to become a permanent part of the Dallas arts community. Seed will feature auctions of four images apiece from10 well-known Dallas photographers including Polyphonic Spree video director, Hal Samples, Nathan Schroeder, and Dana McGuire. Participating photographers have been been given the theme "Dallas: Through Your Lens." Starting bids for the photography will be $20 -$40.

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!!

"Damn Bean"... or what's your anagram Band Name?

Adam Pierce * has the best one, but I could make do with
Calmer Kayak (too outdoorsy) or
Karma Lackey (too New Age-y) or
Mica Teak (very singer-songwriter-ish)
but I think "A Tack Meekly" probably has enough of a twist to get me some indie cred. What's your anagram band name? Got anything good?

*Read a friend's review on Brainwashed.