Magic and Irish people? It's like Brigadoon oh wait that's Scottish. Well they are welcome as well 2/29- 3/2

Ok peers so there's a couple of fun thing the next couple of days and then I still have to find info for the rest of the week.

Tonight at Renfield's Corner Dallas band Smile Smile is playing for free. They gained some notoriety recently when their totes adorbs song Tempo Bledsoe played in a Valentine's Day Reese's commercial.

I mean seriously look at this video

Or in Fort Worth The Wherehouse is presenting the Marvelous Magical Leap Year Show including a dance performance, magic by Ash Adams (or as I call him that guy I run into everywhere I go), and a couple of bands including the Hannah Barbarians. You may remember that Ash was on the cover of FW Weekly recently with an article about magic in the Fort ( well if not you can read it here) . Let me just re-post the quote from the fb invite to lure you there because it is pretty awesome

 "You Cannot Miss This!... Unless you enjoy missing things and feeling sad for not having chose to be somewhere great missing really very important and incredible moments in time."

So yea

Starting Friday you can go to the North Texas Irish Festival because who doesn't like getting drunk with a bunch of redheads. Ok actually I'm part Irish and don't have red hair at all but isn't everyone of European origin partially Irish which is even more reason why you should go. I'm guessing there will be kilts which you can either call a pro or con. Scots are welcome so woo hoo my title makes sense now. 

OMG please tell me if this happens at the festival

Speaking of Irish you can go see  you can go see Alec Baldwin at Winspear Opera House on Friday. It's only 20 bucks to see hear him tell stories about his career. BTW I wrote that speaking of thing and then thought "wait is he actually Irish or am I just assuming because of the whole Jack Donaghy thing" but turns out his daughter is named Ireland so there ya go. I win twice.

Oh young Alec Baldwin why you so hot

If I go out on Friday I'm probably staying in Fort Worth and doing the west 7th club hop to see Sunward at the Grotto or local pop punk favorite Perdition and Here Holy Spain at Lola's. 

B T Dub Perdition has a new video coming out and here's the teaser

Ok people I love ya and I will find out what else is going down this weekend and send you a second edition. If you're lucky - dun dun dunnnnn

OSCAR PREDICTIONSSSS- In the nick of time

I'm assuming if you read this you probably follow me on Twitter or Facebook and therefore know my love for the Academy Awards. If not let me tell you: I love the Oscars. For the last three years I have either held a party or gone to a party to watch them. It is my favorite time of the year and they usually air around my birthday and one year on my birthday even so I generally assume the entire last week of February is my week. So with that being said here are some of my predictions. I didn't get to see every nominated movie but I did see every Best Picture nominated movie and therefore most of the other categories. 

Best Picture:

My Pick: Midnight in Paris. Midnight in Paris was easily one of my favorites of all the movies I've watched for this venture. Short and sweet and made you think about your life just a little bit. Plus it's about a dude who goes back in time to the Twenties and I'm probably one of a million people who if you ask what time period would you go back to would say the twenties ( or the late seventies in New York when punk started).  Hugo is a close second. wonderful story told beautifully.

What will probably win: The Artist. This story told in Black and white and only with a score about the silent movie days was brilliant. Hugo might win though just because it's such a feel good story and with past winners such as The King's Speech and Slumdog Millionaire the academy likes feel good movies

Actor in a Leading Role:

My Pick: Demian Bichir. This movie shook me up for a few days. It tells the store of an immigrant from Mexico simply trying to raise his son on his own. Loved it. 

What will probably win: George Clooney in the Descendants. I would be happy with this win as well. This is the the first time I have seen Clooney portray a character without the charm and confidence that has made him famous.  The Academy also tends to award best actor to someone who deserves to be awarded not only for a particular role but for their career. They reward big actors who break from their norm i.e. Denzel Washington in Training Day. Brad Pitt also broke from character to play someone who isn't hot but I think the Descendants was better than Moneyball.

Actress in a Leading Role:

My Pick: Michelle Williams in My Week with Marilyn. I just love her and Marilyn Monroe. I haven't even seen this movie so I can't give you an educated opinion.

Who will probably win: Meryl Streep The Iron Lady. My God can't she swim through her awards Scrooge Mcduck style. They just should hand them to her when they say "that's a wrap" in any movie she is in. 

Actor in a Supporting Role:

My Pick: Thomas Horn. Ok the kid from Extremely Loud Incredibly Close isn't even nominated but WHYYYYYYY. He was amazing. The entire movie was predominantly him ugh, Ok maybe there are some politics and parent waivers that are involved in being nominated but still. Grr

Ok Actual pick. Christopher Plummer in Beginners. Plummer plays a man who finally comes out of the closet after his wife dies. In a similar fashion to Clooney he doesn't utilize his usual debonair persona. I mainly would like for him to win because this was my favorite movie of all the movies I watched. Maybe it was my favorite because I've been in love with Ewen Mcgregor since I was 18. It was quirky and cute and I loved it.

What will probably win: Ya know this one's a total grab bag so i'm just going to guess Nick Nolte.

Actress in a Supporting Role:

My Pick: Melissa McCarthy in Bridesmaids or Jessica Chastain in The Help. I can't pick between the two. I've seen Bridesmaids about five times and it is usually like pulling teeth to make me watch a movie twice because I don't want to waste time when I could experience something new. So I loved McCarthy and her creativity in her role which was predominantly ad lib. Jessica Chastain was just adorable in The Help. She made the character even more loveable than in the book. Plus she needs some kind of reward for just busting out of nowhere this year and starring in five different movies including this and Tree of Life.

What will Probably win: Octavia Spencer The Help. Spencer balanced the comic aspect as well as the seriousness of her character. 

Cinematography:

My Pick: Hugo. The half animation half reality aspect made me want to visit Paris even more than Midnight in Paris

What will Probably win: The Artist

Best Director:

My Pick: Woody Allen. Hey he should get an award for making a universally likeable movie and letting someone portray the character he usually plays.

What will probably win: Woody Allen. He and Streep can get together and play dress up with all of their Oscars combined. When people get more than one Oscar they should start just give them accessories like an Oscar corvette or spa that you push the button on to make bubbles.

Ok so here's the important part if you are watching tonight: The Drinking Game

For every time your pick wins take a drink. 

If my pick wins take two drinks.

If my academy pick wins take a shot.

If someone gets cut off by the music take a shot.

If someone cries take a drink.

If someone tells a Mel Gibson joke finish your drink.

Ok people that's all I have time for. I have to get my house ready to watch this thing.

Top Picks for the week 2/23 through 2/28

Hey Peers,

This week is a little more sparse as far as what I know that's is going down. Tonight randomly is full of good shows and then I only know a few through the weekend.

Tonight in Dallas two of my favorite members of the old One Ton bands ,Peter Thomas and Chad Deatley, are playing La Grange with their newest bands White Elephant and Dove Hunter. Grab tickets here.

In Fort Worth this is the last Thursday night show at 8.0's featuring The Orbans and Whiskey Folk Ramblers.

Or at Lola's you can check out Austin band The Wheeler Brothers with Bravo Max!

Fast forward to Saturday where the best place to go will be the grand opening of Doc's Records. Doc's is easily one of the best record stores in Fort Worth and they recently moved from a small location on Montgomery to a large location on Camp Bowie. There is an excellent line-up including New Fumes, RTB2, Spooky Folk, and Mind Spiders. There should also be  free beer and food which is always the best, and all sales are 10% off that day. So epic!

That night Apache 5 is playing the Grotto for the Bravo Zulu CD release party.

Sunday I will obviously be watching the Oscars. If you are a fellow Academy Awards fanatic there are two top choices for places to party. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth holds a big event for free. You can see the Oscars in the auditorium as well as the lobby where a cash bar and  food is available. It's fun to dress up in fancy clothes and walk the red carpet and get your picture taken by DFW.com. They also give away prizes like pretty sweet prizes too. The year I went I won a basket full of movies and video games and all types of swag.

Oh yea and there is a costume contest which you can participate in or just enjoy seeing

Also in Dallas Texas Theatre is showing the Oscars which is where I would go if I lived in D-town still. Drink specials all night at the bar and a pool for closest Oscar picks.

three 6 mafia yo

Tuesday you should definitely go to Kessler Theatre for an extraordinary event. The ex lead singer of YES (FUCKING YES GUYS!!!!!!!!!) ,one of the greatest prog rock bands of all time, Jon Anderson is playing a solo show. Tim Delaughter, of Polyphonic Spree and Tripping Daisy, is opening solo as well which sounds just unbelievably amazing because I'm pretty sure he never plays solo. The show is titled Storytellers so Anderson will most likely give some background on his songs. An intimate show with either one of these dudes should be quite interesting.

                                          Easily my favorite Yes song

That's all I know about for the week. Hopefully at some point this weekend I can post my Oscar predictions. ZOMG I love them I'm so excited. Plus I'm only two movies away from seeing all of the Best Picture nominees. So woooot. Ok love you forever for reading. TTFN!

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

When I graduated High School I hoped and dreamed of the usual: going to college, becoming a Graphic Designer or Comic Book Artist, spending my days covered in printmaking ink making posters for rock shows (ok maybe it wasn't all the usual). The dream I focused on the most though was to move to Dallas and spend all of my time going to Rock shows. At the time Dallas seemed like some kind of utopia of music and creativity and an escape.

Le sigh posters

I grew up in a small town called Cleburne. It was your stereotypical stuck in the 50's Texas town where the dress code called for tucked in shirts and belts and the best place to go on Friday was one of the two ( yea we were big time we had TWO) Dairy Queens. If you know me at all now you might guess that I did not fit in. When I turned 14 I realized the  life of the popular kids was not in my cards, so I traded in my knock off Cole Hahns for some fuzzy Airwalks and my mousy brown hair for Angela Chase red. From that point I enjoyed the usual heckling in the hallways and people talking about me. You know that part in "The Craft" where Breckin Meyer screams and runs when Fairuza Balk walks by. That was my life every day.What's that? You don't have an instant recollection of every scene from "The Craft". Oh well you can picture it at least right? I also enjoyed the privilege of getting sent to the principal's office several times for dress code violations. One time I even set off a school wide search that ended with me and my best friend both kicked out of school for the day. ( Because that's such a punishment right?)

I pretty much looked like this but my friends dressed less normal than Scarlett

Ok here's an actual picture of me. I call this "when I invented Emo".

Well despite my inability to mesh with the crowd I formed a small group of miscreant friends and by 1997 I landed a cool boyfriend who was in a band (The Wounded Twinkies). One fateful weekend we were at Cd Warehouse back when CD stores still existed ( Fort Worth folks might know as the current home of Half Price Books). Dave picked up a CD from a local band called Slow Roosevelt and the dude at the counter ( who you might know as Randy Brown) told us that they were playing a show in Fort Worth soon at ,I think, the Engine Room. So we grabbed our biggest pairs of JNCO's and went out.

Slow Roosevelt!!

The specifics are a blur but there was this dude screaming into a megaphone and it was the coolest thing I had ever seen in my life. After the show Peter Thomas( the megaphone wielding maniac) was selling merch which my little sixteen year old self found particularly exciting ( I get to meet the guy IN the band No WAY!) and Dave told him he "rocked his balls off". Soon after I went to Dallas for my first shows at Trees, Man or Astro- man. My future as a music show addict was sealed when I saw Mephiskapheles and the Blue Meanies at Orbit Room. This was the first time I saw a band that I had a CD of that I knew all the lyrics to. These were both ska bands so it wasn't just the awesomeness of a live group of four. There was a whole horn section, and everyone was skanking like crazy. It was a blur of smiles and sweat and hopping around with a bunch of other Airwalk (or Doc Marten) wearing multi colored haired people and I felt like I didn't ever want to leave. I didn't ever want to lose this feeling.

This Blue Meanies video is Soooooo 90's

Soon after I started going to shows regularly. Slow Roosevelt was on a local label called One Ton that included Caulk, Doosu, Buck Jones and a couple of others. Through her obsession with Soundgarden my friend Amber had also started listening to Slow Roosevelt and since she had a car we were there every weekend if possible to see them as well as my  most favorite One Ton band Doosu. Anytime Baboon played we would also head out to  Dallas or Fort Worth and sometimes Denton. I remember loving the Wreck Room because the 7 eleven next door sold Jolt Cola. At some point closer to senior year I saw Cry Baby for the first time since 6th grade and then immediately met a hot Rockabilly dude in my Driver's ed class which led to my first Reverend Horton Heat show ( as well as my inability to wear my eye makeup in any way other than a black lined 50's cat eye). So, the Rev became a main staple of my travels.

I think I'm still trying to look like Wanda

Needless to say we were pretty obsessed. We also starting seeing the same faces at shows and meeting people in Dallas that were similar to us. People who like me preferred TV and listening to music to sports. People that thought the Wolverine T-Shirt I stole from said first boyfriend was awesome not weird. It seemed like everyone in Dallas, or at least that went to see bands,  liked me for my quirkiness instead of despite it. Not that my friends in Cleburne didn't also love my oddness and I loved their oddness too, but our unique qualities were assets not potential sources or ridicule.

how adorable is this video of Tripping Daisy at Trees

So that's why moving to Dallas became my #1 priority. Right before my 19th birthday I did move there and instead of doing all that normal stuff that I was "supposed" to do, like going to college, I spent most of my money on shows and buying CD's. Punk, Rockabilly, Hip Hop, Grind Core: I listened to all of them and saw most of them live. Any big indie acts that traveled through I almost always saw such as : Stereolab, Cibo Matto, Sea and Cake, Boss Hog, Jon Spencer. Of course the main staple were the local rock bands. Some of my favorites once I lived in Dallas and regularly went out were Tripping Daisy, Chomsky, Captain Audio, and you will know us by the trail of the dead . .(ok some of these are from Austin but I considered them local enough) , Paper Chase, Deathray Davies, Hagfish, ok I could probably list these forever. I still went to every One Ton show. Some folks said I missed out on the real heydey of local music but there was still a huge crowd of black t-shirt wearing weirdos at Slow Roosevelt shows in 1999 screaming " Don't Eat all my CAKE" right back at Peter Thomas.

Sometimes I wonder if following through with the normal steps of life like going to school right away and getting a real job and not "wasting" my money would improve my current life. Then I usually realize well I was never normal. Why would I try to push myself into this normal path? I wouldn't have those memories and that place and time that shaped me into the unique awesome person I believe I am most of the time. So thanks local music.

Thanks for the memories. errr well what's left of them.

The Moon, A Kaleidescope, Zombies and More

So many awesome events this week all over the Metroplex. So, you have no excuse not to go out and do something fun this week: unless you're sick or out of town or working a lot. Well even then you can squeeze one event in right? ok here we go

Head out to Denton for the Thin Line film festival. The showings began last week but there are still some amazing films showing Wednesday through Sunday. Two films I'm really looking forward to are both showing Friday: 

"Who Took the Bomp? Le Tigre on Tour"  because I never did and never will see them on tour :((( so this is the closest I can get

and Bullycam which is the story of a girl who turns the camera on her oppressors.

Also "The Other F Word" is showing Sunday ,which I discussed earlier this year,  is the story of a few famous Punk Rock dudes and their new lives as Dads.

Check out the full list of movies and schedule here.

It's close to midnight and something evil's lurking in the dark

On Thursday you can head to Dallas and test out your supposed Zombie apocalypse knowledge with a city wide scavenger hunt. Hurry and put together a team today because when the shit really hits the fan you won't be able to carefully plan your group will you? I don't really see this as a fun event as much as a necessary training for the safety of our future. Unfortunately it's only for 21 and up so I can't start some early training with my kids. Agoge is only two years away for both of them so they'll be trained soon enough. The race starts at the Church check in at 5:30.

Speaking of kiddos, On Saturday peeps with childrens should head over to the Kimbell for an event called Color Your World from 1-4. The event includes art projects, films, tours and performances by the Contemporary Dance/ Fort Worth.

At night head to Dallas for the opening of the new 500X juried showcase of Texas Artists. This is a great opportunity to check out up and coming local artists. (and I've said it once and I'll say it a thousand times FREE BOOZE).

Also, on Saturday you could lose your hipster license if you don't go to Texas Theatre to see the restoration of "A Trip to The Moon" with an original score by Air. The screening includes "An Extraordinary Journey" a film documenting the restoration and including interviews with directors such as: Costa Gavras, Michel Gondry, Michel Hazanavicius, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet. So basically go see the movie and then learn why you needed to see it. Showings start Saturday and end Tuesday so check it out while you can.



As far as music goes this week boasts a lot of the biggest names in DFW.

•  Thursday Polyphonic Spree plays at Sons of Herman Hall. If you haven't seen Polyphonic please do yourself a favor and go to this show. I've seen them perform about fifteen times and it's always an uplifting and magical experience. Unless of course you don't like happiness. You probably hate rainbows and kick kittens don't you? For really reals though the Dallas scene is somewhat split on  Polyphonic love but I'm a fan.
• Friday at Lola's in Fort Worth go see Brenna Manzare & Proper Husbands as well as Air Review and Telegraph Canyon. I keep hearing about the awesomeness of Brenna Manzare and Air Review and Telegraph always put on a great show.
• Go ahead and camp out at Lola's because Saturday everybody and their mom will want to see Mon Julien, Ishi, and Burning Hotels.

• Sunday The Supersuckers are playing Trees.
• Tuesday the 21st Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks are at Granada Theater  in Dallas

• Or go check out Nervous Curtains at City Tavern 

P.S. Check out The Synaptic on Twitter to win tickets to Polyphonic or The Burning Hotels.

Phew, what a week right??? If you recover from this week check back next Wednesday where I will hopefully regularly be posting the haps. SMOOCHES!!! Thanks for reading!

It's tha mother flippin weekend yo- or something- February 10-12

Hey peers what's up.


So last week I totally slacked and didn't post but I'm sure you somehow managed to go on with your life (just barely though right?). The main thing I wanted to mention was that Dallas Contemporary hosted a series of Shepard Fairey murals throughout Dallas. Here is the map etc. of the layout. So check em out.

This weekend the exhibit at The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth opens and I LOOVVVVE it. It's called Glenn Ligon: America and I think it may be my most favorite exhibit we've had since I started working here.
Of course I don't know why I always feel the need to label things as my favorite all of the time. I almost feel childish when I do that as if I have to prove I took enough interest to have a favorite, but I digress.

Also at the Modern this weekend, all the Oscar nominated shorts are playing (animated and live action but not documentary). They usually only play here or the Magnolia in Dallas so come check em out. I'm pretty sure all of the animated ones are kid friendly if you baby having peoples want to come ( baby as in you had a baby at one time who is now a child, not if your baby is still a baby because bringing babies to movies is kind of odd IMHO). Check the showtimes here. I am most excited about this one.

If you follow me on twitter or facebook you might know I'm seriously obsessed with the Oscars and I'm trying To see every nominated movie before the awards. I decided to stop torturing my twitter followers with constant getglue and four square updates so I will post an entry later about what I've seen and my Oscar predictions. So, stay tuned for that.

This week as far as shows is pretty rad.


Tonight Dove Hunter is playing at Lola's. Dove Hunter doesn't play super often so definitely come check them out.

Doesn't this picture make you want to rush to the show

Or check out My Wooden Leg and Igneous Grimm at the Cellar. If you haven't seen My Wooden Leg they are like Fort Worth's Gogol Bordello.

In Dallas frigging Thurston Moore is playing a Texas Theatre. Like, whoa! There will be a pre party in the lobby before (hence the term pre party).

On Saturday in Fort Worth you should check out the show at The Wherehouse: Doom Ghost, Fungi Girls, Mike Haskins Experience, and Stoogeaphilia. I totally dig Fungi Girls, They actually sort of sound like the Stooges so it's funny that they are opening for a Stooges cover band.

The biggest thing going on this weekend is the Central Track launch party at Granada Theatre followed by an after party at Sundown. At Granada Mystery Skulls followed by Wild Moccasins and the awesomeness of The Octopus Project and then at Sundown DJ Fisher Pryce and A.Dd+ If you don't know what Central Track is then check this out.


 Check out this sweet The Octopus Project video

Speaking of new websites if you want to find out about shows going down in Fort Worth you should also check out fortlive.com where all the venues in Fort Worth and who is playing there are listed.


ok see yous soon. Here's a parting gift.

Pearl Jam 20- some thoughts ( aka ima get serious for a minute)

 I wrote this a few month ago when Pearl Jam 20 initially came out and never ended up posting it. Well now Eddie Veddar is coming to town so it's relevant again right? Right? Well either way I'm going to lay off my usual snarky tone and tell you a serious story for once.

So I watched the new Cameron Crowe documentary on Pearl Jam "20", and I felt this was a platform I could use to tell this story and talk about the film. 

       

When my children were young I decided I needed to take them to a church that emulated my beliefs in religion, which are (in short) that all religions are basically driving at the same point and we should all love each other etc. I also craved a place to find some direction spiritually especially since at the time I was a stay at home mom and honestly pretty lonely so finding people with similar beliefs seemed like the direction I needed.  I'm not about to get all religious on you (ok maybe a little). This is ultimately just a story about music don't fret. I decided to try out Unity Church of Fort Worth. I loved it pretty much right off the bat. There were two amazing people playing the music portions Melinda Wood Allen and David Tipps. Melinda mostly sang and David played guitar and sang. I don't remember what they played the first few times, but I know that at some point within the first month they had Rock N Roll Sunday and I was sold. This church is predominately people in their late 40's and 50's so there's a lot of classic rock but I loved hearing that. It encompass the music I grew up listening to with my mother and that eventually led to my heavy interest in music. With the whole congregation standing around dancing to whatever song it was Janis Joplin or The Grateful Dead or something I knew that I could connect with this place and these people. All music speaks to you on a different level than any sermon or religious text can.  There's just more power there and when I'm listening to music and other people are listening to it with you and we are all dancing or singing it doesn't matter if it's my church or Lola's there an energy there that is moving. That moves you closer to pure joy. This was a place where I could take the energy I get at shows and give it context with religious text and meditation. So I know for sure that Melinda and David were a main reason that I came and they were a driving force in my spiritual journey.

Here's one of the first songs I heard at the church that gave me nostalgic warm fuzzy's:

 

So a few months ago David Tipps died from complications involving several anuerisms.  It totally sucked! I really was upset about it more than when some of my relatives have died. Three weeks after his death the annual Rock N Roll Sunday came up again. I ,and I assume some other congregation members, thought "how are we going to do this without him?"  That Rock N Roll Sunday music program ended up turning it into a memorial for David.Jerko Dabelic (to give you some reference to my normal blog material he plays for the Fate Lions and Sunward) had joined the music program prior to David's death and so he stepped up smoothly. Also David's daughter performed and turned out to be as talented as David.  She and Melinda sang this Pearl Jam song

 Her voice wavered some but she managed to get the words out. The moment and the song choice were perfectly cathartic for me and I'm sure the entire church present that day. A song I previously considered run of the mill and borderline cheesy suddenly found a special meaning for me. In that moment I liked Pearl Jam more than I ever had before.

When Pearl Jam first came out I never liked them that much. They were ok. I owned "Vitalogy". Now they're older and I'm older. Really terrible bands are around that are worse than Pearl Jam's worst song. And now they had a new song that held special meaning for me. With that in mind and hope for some heavy duty Seattle nostalgia I decided to watch "Pearl Jam 20". Cameron Crowe happens to be one of my favorite director's  so I was pumped for that alone.

Please note I'm a little obsessed with all things Cameron Crowe so this is biased for sure.

This is my favorite band of all time ( Nancy Wilson is Crowe's ex )

This is my favorite Romantic movie

This is my favorite movie of all time

My renewed interest in them after David died carried me to the movie, so I thought it was ironic that the band formed from this place of grief after Andy Wood died and one of their first hits was Eddie Vedder working through grief from his father's death. Like any documentary about a band ( like all the Behind the Music's -except Green Day's- proved) this movie makes you like them a little more. I  found particular interest in As a teenage I considered them somewhat generic. So, Eddie Veddar's struggle with that and finding a way to separate from the fame and delve into the art of the band interested me especially. The other interesting aspect of the band was the lack of a struggle amongst the band members than in other documentaries about bands where they all end up bickering about who's in charge and break up. I even appreciated the Neil Young collaboration and I HATE Neil Young.

The movie humanizes Pearl Jam a bit. So it helped me to accept them as people who are trying to figure all this life business out. Which I guess leads back to why I went to church in the first place. To figure life out.