Saturday night started out late as I rushed to make it to LaGrange in time for dinner. Their kitchen switches to tacos-only at 10PM but luckily, I made it there with fifteen minutes to spare. Being my first time there, I was nervous that I arrived so close to tacos-only time that I would get a frown at my order of BLT sliders. Quite the contrary, as my order was received and delivered with a smile. As I scarfed down as many sweet potato fries I could manage, the cook looked at me with a questionable thumbs up. I gave him two. No doubt, I’m going back for more one day.

Sam Anderson started out the night with a bit of soulful blues which was met with mixed reactions. @nffcnnr noticed, “Wow. Dallas peeps: not down w/ Sam Anderson. He’s representin’ southern soul, Ft Worth style, y’all need to recognize!” while ButIJustLikeMusic.com reviewer simply stated, “See also: Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights lite.” Either way, I’ve had “Susie Q” stuck in my head for days, dangit.

Austin-based David Ramirez was such a treat aside from the chatty neighbors that decided to stand in front of me. No joke, this guy took one look at me and decided to stand in front of me along with his crew of gabbing gals. LaGrange was full but every other tall person made a note to stand to the side or behind me. Such is the life of a 5′ tall girl.

But back to David Ramirez whose soft howls and stripped down set made me a fan. I’m listening to his tunes off his Myspace page as I type which don’t have the same effect as a man, a guitar and mic, and his words of broken hearts and memories on a stage. Toward the end of his set, I finally gave up the table I was leaning against for a quieter spot, front and center, while David performed “Fires”. Luckily, ButIJustLikeMusic.com caught this beautiful solo on video so you can dig. Kudos to David for giving props to Deep Ellum’s rise from the ashes and playing through the crowd.

As soon as David’s set ended, a gang of musicians jumped on stage, dwarfing the space allotted. It was a fun game, playing “Guess which bands that musician is in!” including the talented violinists Becki Howard (The Crash That Took Me, Sarah Jaffe) and Petra Kelly (Spooky Folk, Fox and the Bird), and multi-instrumentalists Dan Bowman (Fox and the Bird, Dallas Family Band) and Daniel Hall (Fox and the Bird, The Beaten Sea). It wasn’t the originally planned lineup but the group provided the support to bring the album to life.

Which, finally, leads to the star of the evening, Lalagray. As soon as she energetically counted off with “Bag of Bones”, I was fully engaged with her set until the end. I wasn’t the only one as she stopped only twice to joke about her lack of monologues and to tell her simple story: Five years ago, a college dropout in pursuit of creating music, whose dad supplied the Roland and whose mom supplied the Franzia. Her family was supporting her at the show as well, as I witnessed a teary-eyed mother during “Devil’s Nest”, faithfully recording the entire show.

DC9 at Night (@DC9atNight) used the hash tag #SarahJaffeBetterWatchHerBack last week while linking to their preview of this show, and I might have to agree with that. Lalagray’s repertoire brings a mixed bag of fun, upbeat songs such as “Heartachin’” and “Big Brown Box” as well as soft, slow-dancin’ tunes like “In the Stars” and “Will Anybody Love Me” that should appeal to a larger audience than Jaffe’s Suburban Nature. And although she said it was her first time to perform with this lineup and through some of her songs, Lalagray handled the entire set with grace and maturity that brings such great hope that this album release show was only the beginning of something so much more.

The show came to an end with her “bringing down the house” with “Moved by Strings” which included some slick tickling of the ivories then “Hard Parts”, which left no face without a smile. As with all good shows, it ended all too soon but thanks to Junius Recording Co., you can pick up a copy of her debut album and keep the smiles alive. See you at her next show, folks.

(Lalagray / website / tumblr / myspace / twitter / facebook)

Lalagray’s Devil’s Nest is one album you’ll want to have. And from what I’ve heard, the show is one you’ll want to go to. I’ll combine a review of the album and the show next week but for now, just trust me on this. If you don’t want to trust me, some girl on the internet, trust the Dallas Observer on this one: http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2010/09/bonus_mp3_lalagray_–_bag_of_b.php

See you there.

(Lalagray / website / tumblr / myspace / twitter / facebook)

Jacob Metcalf will be joined by Baruch the Scribe who are good reason to arrive at Dan’s Silver Leaf in Denton early tonight. Show is slated for a 9:30PM start and you kids over eighteen-years old can get in for just $5. Small price to pay to bid Jacob bon voyage and let him know he and his music will be missed (and should be recorded and released and shared with the world).

(Jacob Metcalf / myspace / twitter / facebook)

The Nutshell:

- The much anticipated daytime panel featuring Steve Albini took place while many of us were at work, aw nuts!

- No major surprises thrown at NX35ers

- The only ones surprised were the ones that showed up at a venue late, expecting to get in easily

My Nutshell:

- Took a short disco nap after work before hoofin’ it to the square

- Secured our spots at Andy’s early for Spooky Folk and Mount Righteous

- Shortly after Caleb Ian Campbell finished, Andy’s was at capacity and I was standing happily at the bar

- Skipped a chance to see Frontier Ruckus and The Rocketboys to make sure we had spots for Whiskey Folk Ramblers and to get some food in my dinner-deprived body

The Not-So-Highlights:

- The UPS didn’t deliver on time so Spooky Folk did not have their debut album on sale.

- I wasn’t up close and personal for Spooky Folk because I was still a little out of it. It wasn’t the same yelling out “Bible Belt” in the back of the bar without my fellow Spooky Folk fans.

- I missed Mount Righteous’ opening song because I drank so much water beforehand. It’s true, you can stand by the bar all night and drink water.

- My empty stomach and concern for venue crowding led me to skip Frontier Ruckus and The Rocketboys. I was hoping to catch Frontier Ruckus at a day show but ended up missing that too.

The Highlights:

- Ryan Becker of RTB2 stopped by Andy’s and hand delivered his newest album, In People, to me. I managed to carry that with me sans bag throughout the entire night. Can’t wait to listen to it as I travel to and from SXSW this week. Thanks, Ryan!

- Spooky Folk, despite the fact that they were album-less and Kaleo was sporting wounds from a cat attack, played their hearts out to a full-capacity crowd. (It has been confirmed that you can buy their new album at The Schoolhouse’s spring break show on Tuesday night!)

- I was able to catch Mount Righteous live for the first time. It was the most memorable part of my night as they woke the hell up out of my friend and she proceeded to hop up and down as Mount Righteous’ energy was incredibly contagious. I also mentioned on Twitter, “I’ve never seen anyone play the cymbals with such gusto!”

- On the way to grab some food at Sweetwater, I spotted Mark from The Local Edge show with his wife, Kara. I decided to introduce myself and discovered that they are two of the friendliest people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting this weekend. And it wasn’t just because they shared their fried pickles with me and my friends.

- I also met a humorous dude from Wisconsin who revealed the fact that he was wearing cowboy boots he had recently bought since moving to Denton. Thanks for supporting me while I took that whiskey shot, Wisconsin.

- The Whiskey Folk Ramblers helped me forget the fact that I missed Frontier Ruckus, The Rocketboys, and dinner as they played to a crammed crowd at Sweetwater. The lack of space didn’t stop the crowd from dancin’ though. The guys managed to play in a relaxed manner but in a way that you knew they meant every single note they played.

- As I was shufflin’ my feet to the Whiskey Folk Ramblers, I noticed a little, old lady beaming with joy as she nested her beer in the crook of her left arm and took pictures with a little, humble digital camera. I asked if she wanted to stand in front me, right next to the stage, and she happily accepted. Afterward, she introduced herself as Liz, the mother of Jack Russell the bassist. Making the trek from Ft. Worth, I asked if she was able to catch many of his shows. She said as proudly as any mother could, “As many as I can.”

Just another special night at NX35, folks.

The Nutshell:

- Texas 8 Ball was shut down this morning
- Daytime programming kicked off NX35 successfully
- Texas 8 Ball was officially out as a venue so four bands had to relocate to other venues
- Two bands dropped out so Jupiter One played a day early
- One of the bands that dropped out ended up playing after all
- Texas 8 Ball is now back in the game and slated to host the rest of the nights as scheduled
- The fire marshal made sure every place was safe including ticketing Jupiter House
- Fox and the Bird rolled with the punches too, playing on the sidewalk as a result of the fire marshal’s visit
- Five venues were at capacity by midnight

My Nutshell:

- Kicked off NX35 at Jupiter House with a few songs from Delmore Pilcrow
- Parked it at Dan’s for several hours for the KXT showcase, enjoying Jacob Metcalf, OK Sweetheart, and RTB2
- Met a friend at Hailey’s and caught a bit of The Crash That Took Me
- Last minute decision to catch New Science Projects at Andy’s
- Ended the night at Hailey’s with This Will Destroy You

The Not-So-Highlights:

- I didn’t visit the merch table early enough so I didn’t score RTB2′s new live album they released for free at the show. Nuts!

- I wanted to see Jupiter One on Friday. Instead, they played tonight. I hadn’t planned on that. Nuts, again!

- The showcase at Hailey’s was underwhelming for me. Partially because I don’t really enjoy the sound at the venue but mostly because after experiencing RTB2, anything else immediately after just seems “meh.”

- I honestly looked forward to seeing This Will Destroy You but as soon as I came back from a quick visit to Andy’s, a few friends were leaving. In addition to taking almost an hour to setup, TWDY’s banter seem to be the straw that broke a few camel’s backs. I’m not sure what exactly was said but different people agreed. I didn’t feel the same inspiration from their live performance as I did from their recordings so I left early too.

The Highlights:

- I’m glad I was talked into catching Delmore Pilcrow. I’m going to start paying more attention to Chris Garver and his posse.

- Jacob Metcalf brought a smaller version of his “symphony” to Dan’s, including a mini strings section. I’m pretty sure a lot of people came not knowing who he is but won’t forget his name now. Can someone tell him to record an album soon?

- OK Sweetheart was quite fun, and Erin Austin’s smile and “vintage pop” were infectious. She had the crowd clapping and singing along, and you could just tell the entire band was having fun.

- I met a stranger that had printed out the schedule I made for Thursday. I was stoked to know my geekiness has helped others!

- I finally broke my RTB2 cherry. They started with “When Hammer Hits Stone” and if that had been the only song I’d seen at the entire festival, I’d be completely fine with that. Yes, seriously. Ryan Thomas Becker played with such energy that his glasses and guitar strap flew off. And that was just during the first song. You should’ve seen the ridiculous grin on my face for the entire set. I’m glad I can finally join the rest of Denton now that I’ve finally seen them.

- I always enjoy New Science Projects but I think I enjoy the fans just as much. What’s NSP without everyone else there shaking tambourines, clapping, and shouting along?

- I ran into so many of my Denton friends as well as some new friends I’ve met through this blog. It was honestly a pleasure to see all of you.

Now it’s time for four hours of sleep, followed by eight hours of work, then another night of NX35in’. Here’s to a great kickoff and hopes for smoother sailin’ tomorrow.

I bundled up and made the trek from little d to Big D to check out Giggle Party at the Kettle Art Gallery in Deep Ellum. Honestly, the main reason I decided I couldn’t miss this show was due to one London-based illustrator, Damien Weighill, who traveled overseas to show off his skills and party with us Texans. I’m guessing most of you don’t know who Weighill is but some of you probably do and don’t even know it.

Giggle Party’s “Jason Bought A Hatchet” from Jason Reichl on Vimeo.

Familiar with his work now? Well, regardless if you are or not, the super nice people at Kettle Art (no, their web site distinctly says they sell no kettles!) were featuring his art that night and Giggle Party were slated to play alongside his art. The gallery opened up at 7:30PM but I arrived at 8PM to find a quaint little gallery full of hipsters, art appreciators, and curious passers-by. I’m glad I arrived when I did because there was only one copy of each of his prints, and they had already sold some of my favorites. I ended up shelling out some dough for a print of Mother Theresa smashing an electric guitar. (Yes, you may have seen this drawing on a certain poster!) While paying for the print, I asked for a frosty beverage and to my surprise, they accepted donations only. Giggle Party hadn’t even started playing and it was already worth the forty-mile drive.

Then, shortly after 8:30PM, the members of Giggle Party started handing out balloons and cupcakes before breaking out into their introductory rap. I could immediately tell who had been to a Giggle Party show before because they knew exactly what to do. Throw the balloons into the air, smear icing on like war paint, and enjoy their 40 oz. Only a few songs in (if even that), the band members were adequately covered in beer and cupcake. A few songs more and they had all taken off their pants to reveal little bright-colored shorts that matched their bright-colored shirts. The Giggle Party uniform.

And the night only got crazier.

They performed an exceptionally long set, and, of course, played “Jason Bought A Hatchet” as Damien Weighill drew the crowd. There were quite a few songs I hadn’t heard yet which I’m guessing will be on their upcoming full-length album to be released in April. Although there were a few slower songs that mellowed out the crowd a bit, there was enough party-punk to draw strangers in from the streets, encourage a mini mosh pit, and cause even the most reserved crowd members to smile and bob their heads. At one point, enough beer had spilled to create a pool of danger, and you know those “Caution: Wet Floor” signs? I witnessed one hipster slip, unintentionally reenacting that very fall. (Do make note that Giggle Party parties responsibly as Kat took a minute to grab a shirt Jason had tossed earlier to mop up the danger!) Yes, all of that and more happened at this quaint little gallery.

After the set, as I was grabbing some Squeezit-like drink and picking up my print, the very sweet older lady who had been helping me all night alongside her husband, the co-owner of Kettle Art, were obviously not phased by the mess Giggle Party had helped create. If anything, they had thoroughly enjoyed it, as the lady made sure to hug me, and her husband made sure I met Damien Weighill and had him sign my print. Damien was very kind (letting me know he bought the magnetic pins for his posters on ebay, thanks!) and so was the band as they made sure to hang out with their fans, sweaty, sticky, and smiling. I headed back to Denton with bits of silly string and icing on my coat and a Weighill print in my hands. Best show I went to that night.

Thanks for the kind words, we’re also playing a show on Saturday FREE at Kettle Art Gallery in Deep Ellum. But the best part is the guy that did all the art in the video above is selling his art. He came all the way from the UK. He’s awesome, everyone should come out.

<3 Kat

That’s right, Dallas, you can giggle for flippin’ free tomorrow night. And little did Kat know but I graduated with a graphic design degree a few years ago (ah, yes, that piece of paper that collects dust on my bookshelf!) and have a weakness for illustrations. “The guy that did all the art in the video” is actually Damien Weighill from across the pond that not only whipped up that ridiculous video for Giggle Party but has many neato burrito, silly, geeky illustrations. Seriously, if this poster doesn’t pique your interest, we’re not friends anymore.

In fact, weather willing, I may actually venture down south for this and head back up to Denton for Spune’s 2k10 Dance Party to check out Ishi and Neon Indian. You should too.