Countdown to NX35 2010: 35 days ’til I-35, ugh.
It was only four months ago when I lived in a little cute house with my little cute roommate in Lewisville. I really did enjoy my roommate as we spent hours on the couch watching television, hosted parties that included ping pong (and other pong-related games), and she would bake chocolate chip cookies often just because. Just because! So, why did I move to Denton? Sure, my friends. Sure, the music scene. But honestly? I-35. My brain couldn’t comprehend why a 13-mile drive would take 45 minutes during my morning and evening commutes. An hour and a half out of my day sitting in my car each day and that doesn’t even account for traffic accidents. I don’t know what it is about that highway that makes people drive like it’s their first time. (No, not their “first time,” gutterbrains.) Now I live in Denton and within walking distance of work. Pleased as punch. So, for you kids that are making their way north or south to Denton in March, be sure to account for the horror that is I-35 (which is ironically NX35’s namesake.)
photo credit: The Fieros' myspace profile
The Fieros
As I mentioned earlier this week, the sun has been missing from Denton’s skies longer than I’d like, and it’s taken quite a bit of self-control to not feature bands that mirror my tired, sad, vitamin D deficient mood. With an “acoustic-punk marching band,” a bit of psych-rock, and even some hip hop, it would be a pity to cloud up this week’s upbeat posts. So let’s rock.
Once upon a time there was a band named The Valentines based out of Dallas that won Best New Act in its hometown’s magazine. A year later, they managed to win again, this time for Best Indie Rock. The year after that, they changed their names to The Fieros, moved to Brooklyn, and added Midlake’s drummer to the crew. (Midlake who?) And now, that “best new act” is all grown up, having released their self-titled EP digitally last week which is already on the iTunes store under Heavy Rotation. This steady growth has led them back to the great state of Texas again this year for NX35 as well as a SXSW party.
Don’t let the mention of Midlake fool you, The Fieros are anything but mellow. Much like the garage-revival rock bands The Hives, The Vines, and Jet, they deliver catchy hooks and harmonized choruses in songs just long enough to stick in your brain. In fact, I think I’ve listened to their EP at least five times streaming from their web site since I started writing this (I take a lot of Facebook breaks, okay?) and I plan on cranking this album up the next time I’m feeling glum about the lack of sun. Hopefully the sunshine will be a-plenty in March so we can give The Fieros a proper welcome back to their home state.
Notable tunes to preview online: “To Pieces,” “In My Veins” / Myspace / Facebook
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