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Fun Fun Fun Friday

The Neener — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:00:01 +0000

NaBloPoMo’ers, is it considered cheating if I type my posts in advance? Because I’m going to spend the weekend gallivanting around Austin at Fun Fun Fun Fest, checking out rad shows, hanging out with rad people and trying not to get into rad trouble. I really don’t think I’ll have time for this here blog.

Although I’m typing this half an hour away from Friday, this will post when I’m on the road, more than likely listening to this Spotify playlist: Fun Fun Fun Fest 6. I haven’t prepared for this music festival as I usually do for others so I’m looking forward to seeing where spontaneous Nina takes me. Here’s my tentative schedule and a little video to make up for all the words I’m not typing. If you’ll be in Austin this weekend, holler, y’all.

2011 35C Sunday Review

The Neener — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 20:20:22 +0000

The last day of any music festival is best described as bittersweet. Within the span of four days, I had only slept for a total of ten hours. Everything they say about sleep deprivation being much like drunkenness is true. I arrived at my 12-hour volunteer shift feeling much like I went on a binge the night before but the only binging I had done was on live music. Ten hours of sleep < twelve hours of live music.

Noodles enjoyed another day of chillin’ at the registration tables but everyone else was feeling the wear of this four-day music festival. Those who had slaved for the past four days (not to mention the many months leading to the event) had worn off their formalities and were trying their best to make the biggest day of 35 Conferette run as smoothly as possible. Gray clouds scared us under the awning of Wine2 who, by the way, are completely awesome and deserving of your business. Amidst the chaos of the day, I did get to meet some rad people, people you’d think would flaunt the robe of “uttermost importance” but were completely personable and understanding throughout the process. I wish I could say the same about everyone but people are driven differently, whether that be through relationships or money. Funny, the things you learn by running a registration table at a music festival.

Some devoted volunteers and I finished closing up shop during Big Boi’s set, one that I walked past but continued on as my feet sought relief. I sat on a stool, holding on to a radio for one last hour in case there were any last minute registration issues. Then, quite reluctantly, understanding that relinquishing the radio meant relinquishing my official status as a volunteer, I turned in the radio. I wish I could tell each and every one of the core staff members how much I appreciated them and their efforts to make this – 35 Conferette 2011 – happen but in due time, hopefully. After my two volunteer shifts, I partly understood why someone would sacrifice hours, days, and months of unpaid work to make something wonderful happen. Because after all is said and done, you can listen to the reverberations of Big Boi and the crowd throughout the town of Denton, Texas and think, “Huh. I helped do that.” I could go on about my volunteer experiences but the rest is told best over a cold, frosty beverage. So, let me know when you can buy me one.

I grabbed dinner at Sweetwater where I caught a few tunes from Fate Lions and The Beaten Sea where my companions inquired about my general well-being a few times. Physically and mentally, I started checking out but I mustered ahead for a few more hours of the fest. I caught a few songs from The Civil Wars before heading back to Sweetwater for Viva Voce. Although I was slightly torn about this decision, I was blown away by the Robinson couple – particularly Anita Robinson, who handled lead vocals and the electric guitar like a motherflippin’ champ. Pretty sexy, y’all.

Much like the rest of you, I finished the night torn between greatness and greatness. I stuck around for a few of Damien Jurado‘s songs long enough to overheard someone describe his voice like “butter” then I headed to Dan’s to see Jessica Lea Mayfield. At 21 years of age, earning a closing spot for a four-day music festival is no easy feat but she was there, a treat to those who had enough energy to stick around. Her lead guitarist was a sight to see, too, somehow being very much “rock n’ roll” for a very much alt-country/folk band. I left after a few songs to meet back up with a friend but I do hope Mayfield considers Denton, Texas next time she comes ’round these parts. Heck, I’d buy her more earrings from the Golden Triangle Mall if she’d fancy.

I caught the last thirty seconds of Jurado’s set, wished my friends well, then went back to my house to sleep in my precious bed where I proceeded to stay for the next 18 hours. No joke. I’ll write one more recap to recap all the recaps and I think I’ll be done with my 35 Conferette coverage and onto more exciting things like, um, er…

2011 35C Saturday Review

The Neener — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 15:06:24 +0000

At the end of Friday, my 35 Conferette adventure consisted of girl-powered main stage action, breakdancing, chauffeuring, and checking out a few local bands for the first time. By the time I had my house guests tucked in and a blog post whipped up, I was stoked at the thought of five hours of sleep. Noodles, my pup who had been crated for most of the day, decided it was time to rebel against me and made quite the ruckus in her crate all night. So, total hours slept between Thursday afternoon and Saturday morning? Six. Unable to toss and turn any longer, I packed up Noods, bought some 5-Hour Energy shots, and headed out for my twelve-hour volunteer shift at registration.

Volunteering at 35 Conferette is much like any other job: You’ve got your ups and downs, your key players and slackers, your lulls and chaotic times. I could go into a lot of details about the madness of supervising a bunch of people you don’t know at a job you’ve never worked before but after all was said and done, I’d do it again. In fact, I’d love to do my job again next year to ensure a smoother process for all of us. I mean, yes, I reluctantly missed out on Reggie Watts, Big Freedia, and Local Natives (and yes, I know I missed out on some great acts, shhh, quit reminding me) but there is a weird satisfaction you get when you make sacrifices for others. Is that crazy? That might be crazy.

I did take my lunch break to catch my favorite party band, Giggle Party. They made the trip from California and brought back a few new band members, including Mr. Holland Party Opus. I was able to catch some of the madness here:

After jumping and fist pumping my heart out, I made the trek up “Hickory Hill” back to my post at registration. Even with all the adrenaline pumping in my system, I couldn’t jog the entire way up Hickory. I get tired thinking about it.

However, I did get back up the hill in time to catch this wild fro asking for assistance at registration. As soon as he left, I asked the two gals that helped him if they were aware of who he was. Don’t worry, I made sure they were able to catch him in action later and now Reggie Watts has two new fans.

My volunteer shift ended a bit late for good reason but I made sure I was at Dan’s Silver Leaf for Mother Falcon. I arrived early enough to catch my friends, Bosque Brown, on the patio. I don’t know how I always end up recording this song but here it is, complete with patio chatter:

As soon as they wrapped up, I made my way inside to catch Mother Falcon, an “orchestral pop” band from Austin. This was their first time to play outside of Austin and having checked their multiple members in at registration, I was curious to see what a 15+ member band would sound like at Dan’s. One-word answer? Wonderful. As they took flight and the crowd became fully engaged, the feeling in the air reminded me of when another band made their North American debut at Dan’s at this music fest. (Remember The Middle East???) I stood behind a dude that couldn’t keep still so no video, sorry. But! You can download their music for free here as a consolation: http://motherfalconmusic.bandcamp.com Actually, that’s a command. Download it now!

I had to skip out early as I met with Jessica Lea Mayfield and her crew to ensure they had festival access as they arrived late. I’m not sure if it was due to fatigue or the fact that I can maintain my cool but I managed to not tell them that I’ve listened to “Our Hearts Are Wrong” an embarrassingly number of times last week. I held my tongue and kindly showed them to The Labb where I distanced myself before I geeked out. We (separately) managed to catch the tail end of Danny Rush and the Designated Drivers, and I stuck around to see O’Death. The Labb’s patio was packed for good reason although the sound system did O’Death no justice.

I left a little early to catch up with my house guests as we headed to my place where we proceeded to have the late night giggles. By the time I closed my eyes, time had sprung forward and it was 5AM. Four hours of sleep to last me one more day of 35 Conferette…

2011 35C Friday Review, Pt. II

The Neener — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 20:02:36 +0000

In case you haven’t been keeping up with my 35 Conferette recollections, by Friday at 10PM, I was running off about three or four hours of total sleep but I had gotten to enjoy Thursday’s outdoor and indoor festivities, and spent my Friday morning as a chauffeur. Instead of going home to recharge and prepare for a full day of volunteering, I forged ahead after jamming out with Dr. Dog and doing my best to ignore this tall couple in front of me (barfaroonies):

I swung by the newly opened Hickory Street Lounge where my friend was already enjoying The Lonesome Heroes. And I agreed, a gal rockin’ a slide and pretty dress while singing is quite a pleasant sight! I made my way to Banter to check out Ivan and Alyosha and was met with a line as they were at capacity. For good reason, too, as the five-piece made the most of Banter’s tiny stage. I was able to make it inside and enjoyed the rest of their set, one that pleased those who were lucky enough to find a seat at Banter. Of course, I managed to record my least favorite song of their set but they ended it so well:

I made my way back to Industrial to catch Fishboy at Dan’s. Shhh, it was my first time to catch Eric Michener and his crew live even though I keep up with his comics on a regular basis. I stood dangerously close as he brought some kids to a frenzy with his sugary sweet pop songs. (Eric, I hope you didn’t bust your ankle, I saw that!) It was all quite fun until a dude with a STAFF shirt and a camera stood right. in. front. of. me. Dude, I understand your need for good photos but a simple acknowledgement of my existence would have been nice. Too much to ask? Oh well.

It was at this point that sleepy slapped me in the face hardcore and I debated on whether or not I could sneak in a nap in my car before devouring more live music. I realized the folly in my thinking as it was already 11:30PM with less than three hours of shows to hit up. So, I finally caught Paper Robot in action. It was only a year ago that I met Cody Robinson as I decided to join the army of volunteers that ran NX35. I quickly came to know Cody as the guy that gets things done because that’s what he does when he’s bored. And, I think, that’s how Paper Robot was born – out of the ashes of boredom and a desire to bring more rock into Denton. Aside from wanting to see them thrash about, I welcomed their distorted riffs into my life.

Instead of hunting down Michael Cera, I ended my night at Sweetwater where a few came to pay their respects to Dave Smalley. He was punk before the most of us could say, “punk,” and one of the kindest people I met throughout the entire weekend. (And I met more people this weekend than my brain can remember!) He kicked off his set early with some Irish folk songs and ended with a few stripped-down versions of songs past, ending with All’s “Wishing Well” which he claimed to not have performed since 1988. Although the crowds were elsewhere that night, I know the dude that sat to my left was a die-hard fan who sang along with most of the set and will never forget hanging out with Dave Smalley afterward. (Dave, it was a pleasure to meet you, see you live in action, and I hope that you can treat me to a Northerner’s meal one day!)

2011 35C Friday Review, Pt. I

The Neener — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:20:28 +0000

My 35 Conferette stats by Friday morning: 6 hours of live music, 2:30AM bedtime, 5:30AM alarm. Not bad… minus the alarm. For those following along, I had spent the first day reeling from Mavis Staples’ performance and I enjoyed a satisfying evening of music. Among my many tweets, this was among them:

The sentiment was shared across the board but, due to a chance encounter with one exhausted core volunteer, I was one of the few and the proud that was granted this honor. See, the 5:30AM alarm was set so I could shower the smell of Denton bars off my body, replace a broken headlight, and ensure that both Mavis and Yvonne Staples made it to their exit flight. I’ll spare you all the fun details but if you can imagine me grinning from ear-to-ear while my sweaty palms maneuvered the steering wheel through morning rush hour traffic, that just about sums up my journey with the Staple Sisters. And, you know what? I didn’t have to ask for a hug. Before we parted paths, both Mavis and her sister opened their arms wide, invited me into a warm hug, and said, “We’ll see you next time.” She also made it a point that I say goodbye to Jaime, Ramon, and Jesseca, so there you go guys. And if you were wondering if she packed the “Keep Denton Beard” shirt? She did.

But, my morning was not over and I chugged a Red Bull and awaited my next task. I ensured another legend, Dave Smalley, made it safe and sound to Denton, Texas. Both he and his companion were sleep deprived as well but that did not stop us from having a good time. Friends, if a Northerner asks you to take them somewhere that is absolutely Texas, you can’t go wrong with Old West. Unless they don’t like food. Luckily for the three of us, they did and I got to cross off “Have a freakin’ awesome breakfast with a freakin’ punk rock legend” off my to-do list.

By the time we wrapped things up, my pancake-ladened body wanted rest more than it wanted to see Spooky Folk at Cool Beans. Sorry, duders. You know I love you long time. I snuck in a restless nap, plagued by thoughts of missing out on 35 Conferette, so I headed out for more. Sadly, I missed RTB2 but my consolation, MiniBoone, was a pleasant surprise. With the Denton square as their backdrop, the New Yorkers brought a very fun vibe to the onlookers who increased in numbers as their set went on. The video I shot is an unfair representation of how well they performed as they battled to get their keyboard on but you can still see the bassist rock a neon shirt harder than anyone has before him:

I grabbed a sandwich from Weinberger’s (who, from what I know, were completely awesome about having 35 Conferette all up in their area) and popped a squat near Main Stage 1 for Telegraph Canyon who were fantastic as always. Feeling the effects from my tiny naps, I took it easy then went to Main Stage 2 to check out Mister Heavenly. Yes, it was nice to have the King of Awkward, Michael Cera, up on stage, along with members of Man Man and Modest Mouse, but can I admit that I wasn’t into it? Okay, I wasn’t into it. I made my way back to Main Stage 1 and had a primo standing spot for Dr. Dog, who was able to show us how to really handle a bass guitar. (Sorry, Cera.)

You’d think that after a wonderfully long set from Dr. Dog (including an extended encore), I would have had my share of music for Friday. No! When you have a music festival in your backyard, you keep going, people! You keep going! …Stay tuned…

2011 35C Thursday Review, Pt. II

The Neener — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:59:22 +0000

It’s still hard for me to imagine much else happened after seeing Mavis Staples on stage but believe me, 35 Conferette was just getting started. By the end of her set, I had slept for five hours, worked at my day job for four, and had four hours of live music in my system. I took my excitement to the evening venues. Also, this was the day I pulled the “irresponsible parent” card and left my puppy, Noodles, at home. Many thanks to my roommates for keeping her company and for capturing her excitement here:

I headed to The Labb for the final Eaton Lake Tonics show but since the stage wasn’t even set up when they arrived, I took my antsy self all the way across the tracks to Rubber Gloves. See, there is a special bearded guy who has spent half a year traveling around South America who made his way back to Denton in time for the festival. Said gentleman simply signed up to volunteer as I saw him at meetings. Less than a week before the festival (and a few canceled bands later), Jacob Metcalf was officially set to play at 35 Conferette. Being his first time to play in Denton since his “bon voyage” show, I wasn’t going to miss it. Accompanied by fellow Dallas Family Band members, Petra Kelly and Dan Bowman, Metcalf brought a wonderfully intimate set to Rubber Gloves, making the long trek worth it. This is one album I hope comes into fruition soon.

Everyone kept talking about ending their night at Hailey’s with Cut Chemist so I hoofed it back to ensure I didn’t miss out. I was able to catch a bit of Dem Southernfolkz who had the crowd jumping. They ended their smooth set with style:

As I was being treated to one of the very few drinks I had all weekend, music started filling the air. I checked my phone and confirmed it was not time for Cut Chemist to start but apparently, he didn’t get the memo that as a musician in Denton, being on time is not expected. However, the bodies at Hailey’s did not care and the next thing you know, a circle formed as a few dudes started breakdancing.

The rest of the crowd lost themselves, aurally and visually, in Cut Chemist’s genius. I’ve only seen a few turntables spun live in my lifetime but there’s a big reason I tend to stray away from those shows. You can only watch a dude stand on stage, moving his arms and bobbing his head for so long until your eyes wander and the rest of your body does, too. Besides his brilliant beats and sound samples, Cut Chemist separates himself from the rest by purposely linking his music with video clips, leaving you with no excuse but to move your legs, shake those shoulders, and enjoy the night.

And, I did exactly that until he ended his set shortly before 2AM. In fact, it was a good thing he ended early because what I failed to mention was a chance encounter earlier in the night that meant I had three hours to get home and take a nap… Stay tuned, bat kids!

2011 35C Thursday Review, Pt. I

The Neener — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:49:39 +0000

I’ll go into the craziness of the weekend later and explain why I slept for almost 24 hours yesterday but for now, I’ll recap the only day off I had at 35 Conferette.

Due to poor planning on my part, OK Sweetheart wooed the crowd while I sat at my optometrist’s office, answering that dreaded question, “1? Or 2?” My new eyes and I made it to Main Stage 1 (yes, two “main stages” do exist much like American Idol’s Randy Jackson believes in percentages over 100%) as Sarah Jaffe proceeded to do what I’ve seen her do many, many times. She fearlessly brought tunes, old and new, to her loyal crowd and increased anticipation for her new EP which is expected to be released sometime this year. ‘Twas good to see a certain Robert Gomez has returned from Seattle as well.

I had the pleasure of meeting a Dentonite in training, Harper, who braved the chilly air for her first musical festival ever. Best way to celebrate your fourth month of living, kid. Your parents are doin’ it right.

The estrogen continued to fill the air as The Secret Sisters brought their angelic harmonies from Muscle Shoals, Alabama to Denton, Texas. Two gals, one guitar, so simple and pure. Although Thursday’s early evening crowd was a bit sparse, they quickly understood why T-Bone Burnett holds these sisters in such high regard. On top of their genuine kindness, they showed that their young age doesn’t mean they can’t appreciate their roots as they included some Willie Nelson and Patsy Cline covers. In fact, later in the evening, Mavis Staples unashamedly praised their name on stage as well.

I wanted to catch The Pains of Being Pure at Heart while I chowed down on some pizza slices from Gio’s but they started so late, I abandoned them to ensure I had a good spot for Mavis Staples. I have no regrets about this decision as I was against the front gates for a perfect view of the legend, Mavis Staples.

Can I confess something? I didn’t know who The Staple Sisters were until 35 Conferette booked Mavis Staples. Agh, I know, embarrassing. I mean, after googling around, I realized I knew their tunes without knowing their origin. Even then, I thought it was odd that she would be booked into a music fest full of indie rockers and local talent but I went with it. Within seconds, I understood. I think within seconds, everyone understood as we found ourselves baptized with the truth by Staples’ distinctly low, yet joyful voice. As she conquered the stage and the youthful audience, I whipped out my phone to verify her age. 71. Old enough to experience the Civil Rights movement. Old enough to have over sixty years of music experience under her belt. Old enough to warrant an excuse to sit down… but she could barely sit still when she did. At 71 years of age, Mavis emitted more energy than any act I saw this weekend. And it was infectious. By the end of the set, Mavis and her crew (including her older sister, Yvonne) led the crowd to a fifteen minute version of “I’ll Take You There,” somehow sneaking in a Happy Birthday to Young and Brave‘s drummer, Ramon. See, she met Ramon when she arrived into town, somehow found out it was his birthday and managed to surprise everyone as she seamlessly incorporated the birthday song into the mix. ~~Unfortunately, Ramon wasn’t there but the sentiment was not lost as~~ she completely won over the hearts of Denton that night. And who could forget that “Keep Denton Beard” moment? Her joy is genuine and as my friend, Jesseca, explained afterward, “It’s her spirit,” a spirit that refuses to stay still, a spirit that was made for music, a spirit that was made to love others. You win, Mavis Staples. You win 35 Conferette 2011.

Edit (3/16/7:58AM): So, Ramon was there! My other sources were wrong. Also, Jaime, I knew something was up when you waved your festival hat at Mavis. The next thing you know, Mavis was scared that someone thought they were at a Tom Jones concert!

2011 35C Thursday Preview

The Neener — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 16:11:50 +0000

I’m not completely rested up for today. Or this weekend. You probably aren’t either. But, once your feet hit Hickory Street and music hits your ears, your body is going to produce so much adrenaline and endorphins, your body will overlook the fact that it’s taken in more music than dreams during the weekend. In case you haven’t planned out your evening, hit up the complete rundown here on your computer or your phone (http://theneener.net/35c/35-conferette-lineup/35c-2011-unofficial-schedule-thursday/) or check out the highlights below:

Countdown bands playing Thursday:

The Secret Sisters (Country/Folk) – Main Stage 1, 6:30PM
Mavis Staples (R&B/Gospel/Soul) – Main Stage 1, 8PM
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Indie Pop) – Main Stage 2, 7:15PM
BrownChicken BrownCow StringBand (Acoustic/Folk) – Square Stage, 5:45PM
Cut Chemist (Turntablist/Hip-Hop) – Hailey’s, 1AM
Eaton Lake Tonics (Rock/Last Show Evarrr) – The Labb, 10PM
The Heartstring Stranglers (Folk/live from Budapest) – Hydrant Cafe, 10PM
Summer Ames (Indie Pop) – Hickory Street Lounge, 10PM

My plans:

Lamely scheduled optometrist appointment
5:15PM, Sarah Jaffe (Folk/Acoustic), Main Stage 1 (if my eye doc don’t take too long)
6:30PM, The Secret Sisters (Country/Folk), Main Stage 1
7:15PM, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (Indie Pop), Main Stage 2
8PM, Mavis Staples, (R&B/Gospel/Soul) Main Stage 1
10PM, Eaton Lake Tonics (Rock) The Labb
10:45PM, Jacob Metcalf (Folk), Rubber Gloves
12AM, New Science Projects (Blues/Punk/Crazy), Hydrant Cafe
1AM, Cut Chemist (Hip-Hop/Turntablism), Hailey’s

Feel free to say hi if you happen to go to any of these shows. Contact me or live vicariously through my twitter account, @theneener, as I will be tweeting like a mofo throughout 35C.

I Was There: Bosque Brown at Dan’s Silver Leaf (1/16/11)

The Neener — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 02:50:34 +0000

Due to myriad of reasons, I found myself in a nightlife hiatus for over a month. It was a weird bubble to live in, coming home to a pooping machine puppy, hours of work, and no time to eat a suitable meal. But, I was finally able to break the silence with a wonderful show at Dan’s Silver Leaf last night.

Jeremy Buller, normally a supporting musician for several acts in town, took the spotlight and opened with night with some originals and a few covers. Armed with a Telecaster and an arsenal of pedals, he gave the night a slow and sincere start, filling Dan’s with mournful loops, echoes, and lyrics. Mara Lee Miller (Bosque Brown) joined him for his closer, a cover of Pedro the Lion’s “The Poison”.

The name Sam Robertson has been on my radar for awhile but admittedly, I had never even stopped by her myspace page for a listen. My bad. If Sam’s voice and songwriting isn’t enough, add two other angelic voices, a gem of a violin player, and a keys player that knew just when to add an accompanying note, and that was my first experience with Sam Robertson. Her live performance moved me to make my first music purchase of the year, her EP, and no doubt will I be saving money for her full-length which will hopefully drop this year.

The night took a slight turn when Western Giants took the stage as they brought a bit of rock to the night. It took awhile for my ears to become accustomed to the increase in sound and Kennon Talley’s voice seemed to get lost in the mix. I prefer the cleaner sound they achieve on their recordings but the rest of the crowd ate it up.

Bosque Brown closed the night as Mara Lee Miller took the stage, accompanied only by Jeremy Buller and his array of knobs, buttons, and pedals. It’s been an interesting journey to watch Bosque Brown decrease in numbers, at their peak, a 5-piece, and now, due to touring and logistics, a duo. I’ll be the first to admit that I miss the full sound they achieved with a piano player, pedal steel, bass, and drums, but thanks to Buller and the full use of every limb he has, Miller’s signature voice and deliberate picking are still in good company. Surprisingly (at least, to me!) a majority of their set consisted of unrecorded songs which, although I would have loved to hear some favorites, is very promising as new songs mean a new album, right? (Um, and ironically, I managed to record no new songs. I’ll try to remedy that soon!)

Dear House Venues of Denton,

The Neener — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 19:28:01 +0000

It breaks my heart to know that one of your hard-working compatriots, the Majestic Dwelling of DOOM, officially threw in the towel this weekend after a good, relatively long run. Their demise was much like the fallen house venues before them: disrespectful attendees actin’ a fool. Unfortunately, popularity lends itself to larger crowds, increasing the chances of selfish show-goers who attend to be seen rather than to be entertained and entranced by some of Denton’s finest musicians. But do not be disheartened, House Venues of Denton. There are people that appreciate what you do and hope to see you succeed and grow. I am one of them.

As I’ve mentioned many months ago, I fell in love with the Denton music scene because of The Schoolhouse, the first house venue I had ever attended. The love-child of a few Dentonites, I attended many of The Schoolhouse’s shows and observed the amount of work they would clock in to book bands, get the word out, shepherd the crowd, shepherd the bands, attend to the occasional police officer, and clean up. I mean, I can barely clean my own mess in my own house let alone clean up after a houseful of people I don’t know, week after week. I jokingly asked if they made any money out of the madness, to which Charlie Hunter, The Schoolhouse co-founder, replied, “No, we don’t make any money doing it, but damn, is it fun”.

If you share the same love for the local music scene as Charlie does, then you’d agree. Yes, there are plenty of great venues in town (Dan’s Silver Leaf, RGRS, etc.) that book some really great local and national bands. But, there’s a certain intimacy you experience at a house show that you can’t get anywhere else. There’s something fun about toting your poison of choice to the show, being greeted by signs reminding you to close the door behind you (as you can only yell, “SHUT THE DOOR!” oh so many times), and cramming into a living room (or attic!) with sweaty strangers that quickly become your friends as you sing along with your new favorite local band, like some strange happy family. There’s no middle man, there’s no cover charge, and, most of the time, the people that are there want to be there for the same reason house venues exist: We love music.

Majestic Dwelling of DOOM, I will always remember you as the dark and mysterious house venue that, despite your intimidating name, hosted some of the softest, sweetest songstresses around as I made it to the Sabra Laval, Tre Orsi, and Bosque Brown show. It was cold but that didn’t stop the faithful, including you. And to the remaining House Venues of Denton members and hopefuls, please continue to do what you do. I’ll be sure to stop by. I’ll be the one throwing my cans in the trash bin, silently watching bands until I start singing along, and tossing in a few bucks in your donation jar.

Just another blogger,

Nina