You guys. Really. The opening evening of 35 Conferette was unforgettable in the best way. I’ll recap later because I’m running off of two hours of sleep and a Red Bull but dang. The weather is quite nice today and the awesomeness should continue today. Plus, cloth wristbands and programs are in! If you haven’t decided what you want to do today, check out the highlights below or see the schedule of official and unofficial shows here: http://theneener.net/35c/35-conferette-lineup/35c-2011-unofficial-schedule-friday/

Countdown bands playing Friday:

• Analog Rebellion (Indie Rock) – Main Stage 2, 5:45PM
• Mister Heavenly (Rock) – Main Stage 2, 7:15PM
• Dr. Dog (Psychedelic Rock) – Main Stage 1, 8PM
• KB the Boo Bonic (Rap) – Rubber Gloves, 10PM
• Sextape (Electronic/Pop) – Andy’s, 10:50PM
• Man Factory (Power-Pop/Rock) – Hydrant, 10:50PM
• Paper Robot (Rock) – Dan’s Silver Leaf, 11:30PM
• HOYOTOHO (Electronic/Rock) – Andy’s, 11:40PM
• Jeremy Buller (Singer-Songwriter/Acoustic) – Hickory Street Lounge, 11:40PM
• High Tension Wires (Punk) – Dan’s Silver Leaf, 12:15AM
• DATABASE (Electronic/DJ) – Andy’s, 1AM

My Plans

• SLEEP! (although I’d go to the I Love Math Records unofficial show at Cool Beans if I were more lively)
• RTB2 (Blues/Rock/Mad Geniuses) – Main Stage 1, 4:15PM
• MiniBoone (Indie Pop) – Square Stage, 5PM
• Analog Rebellion (Indie Rock) – Main Stage 2, 5:45PM
• Telegraph Canyon (Indie Rock/Folk) – Main Stage 1, 6:30PM
• Mister Heavenly (Rock) – Main Stage 2, 7:15PM
• Dr. Dog (Psychedelic Rock) – Main Stage 1, 8PM
• Ivan and Alyosha (Folk-Pop) – Banter, 10PM
• Leg Sweeper (Punk) – Hailey’s, 10:50PM
• Paper Robot (Rock) – Dan’s Silver Leaf 11:30PM
• Dave Smalley (Punk/Acoustic) – Sweetwater, 1AM

As always, feel free to say hi if we cross paths at the festival or follow me at @theneener and do it the internet way, creeper.

Yesterday, I spent all afternoon compiling the schedules of both the official 35 Conferette shows as well as the unofficial shows so they could all be in one easy place to reference. (Click here for all the fun!) As I was working, I recalled the Texas 8 Ball venue debacle that happened on the first day of NX35. I was reminded that there are elements out of the music festival’s control but that the organizers still made everything happen and I had a blast. So, this is my reminder to you that set times and venues are subject to change, so don’t be bummed too hard if it happens.

Speaking of, in today’s latest 35 Conferette news, no one could control this schedule change aside from a U.S. visa worker:

Be sure to send your apologies and condolences to Daniel Benjamin on that YouTube page. They put in a lot of effort and money to make something awesome happen, their visas were denied, and the conferette is out a talented performer. Bummers.

High Tension Wires

To bring the mood up a little is today’s highlight, High Tension Wires. While I was writing and listening to Leg Sweeper the other day, I thought that a bit of punk rock reflects my increasing excitement for 35 Conferette which. is. this. week. y’all. High Tension Wires is another exquisite example of excellent punk rock ’round these parts as this local band is actually a supergroup, comprised of members of Riverboat Gamblers, Marked Men and Bad Sports. Supergroup is super and should keep the energy intense after Paper Robot finishes their set this Friday night at Dan’s Silver Leaf.

Notable tunes to preview online: “Backbone”, “They Fall Apart” / Myspace

Normally, I don’t listen to the radio but this weekend, Indie-Verse is playing nothing but music from artists performing at 35 Conferette. It’s like pre-game music, pumping you up for the big showdown, and it’s working. While you preview what’s to come, you can now plan your course of attack using the schedule I have put together which is searchable, sortable, and in a grid so you can visualize whirled peas and all that. I’ll be adding unofficial shows so you will have absolutely no reason to be bored next weekend.

Fate Lions

If, after Eaton Lake Tonic’s last show next Thursday, you still find yourself in mourning, you can sooth your soul by catching Tony Ferraro laying down the bass with Fort Worth’s Fate Lions on Sunday. They are slightly more pop-oriented than Eaton Lake Tonic but do not fear, they still deliver some crunchy rock. Their no frills pop-rock will ensure you’ll be humming their melodies later, unashamedly. Unsurprisingly, their good-natured sound is backed by some good-natured folks as I’ve found with their Twitter account, @fatelions. Go on, say hello, either online or in person, when they open things up at Sweetwater next Sunday night. (And stick around for The Beaten Sea afterward!)

P.S. If you can’t afford to attend 35 Conferette, you can still catch Fate Lions at the I Love Math Records unofficial 35C show at J&J’s Pizza at 2PM on Saturday. Pizza and Fate Lions? Can’t go wrong.

Notable tunes to preview online: “Astronaut”, “All You Do Is Crazy” / Facebook / Myspace / Official

Dang. I missed posting this on time by half an hour. I’ve either been working hard or exhausted from all the working hardiness. Sadly, I haven’t even started to begin planning out my course of action for 35 Conferette but that will change this weekend. If I ain’t sleeping, I’ll be thinking about 35 Conferette, writing about 35 Conferette, or talking about 35 Conferette. Maybe I’ll even rename my puppy to 35 Conferette for the next week. I bet she’ll answer to it. If you don’t have a dog to rename, at least do yourself a favor and catch the all-35 Conferette lineup on Indie-Verse this weekend. For the next 48 hours, they will be playing nothing but songs from performers that will take the stage in less than one week. Yes. Get excited. Get learned, y’all.

Heartstring Stranglers

I’ve gushed about my love The Schoolhouse before, so I won’t go into how much that little house venue opened up my eyes to the wonders of the Denton music scene over a year ago. However, it did host the Heartstring Stranglers’ album release show, days before two of the members moved to Budapest. Yeah, who releases a fantastic album and then leaves the country shortly after? Lucky for me, my car’s CD player did not mind playing that album over a hundred times in a row for the following weeks after I fell in love with them. Freddie Schulze’s voice, softly delivered French lyrics that delighted my ears so much that my brain overlooked the fact that I didn’t (and still don’t) understand half of the songs. Heartstring Stranglers transports me to a place in the Old World, the East, before the United States was born. And, perhaps fittingly, they will be transported from Budapest to 35 Conferette by way of the magic we call “The Internet” to kick off the Gutterth Showcase at The Hydrant. Grab some coffee or BYOB (before 9PM) and get your French on.

Notable tunes to preview online: “La Sucerie”, “Theobold Tiger” / Myspace / Official