Central Track Contributor
The Best of 35 Denton's Unofficial Showcases and Parties.
This week, hundreds of bands will be coming to town to play 35 Denton. Add to that the hundreds of bands passing through town Dallas to Austin for next week's SXSW affair, the dozens of local acts that didn't earn an official spot on the official 35D schedule and the thousands of UNT students prepping for next week's spring break and you've got quite the perfect storm.
You've also got the perfect opportunity for several renegade showcases, day parties, house shows and unofficial showcases to arise. As such, we've found a dozen or so prominent unofficial shows going on in Denton throughout the weekend that are definitely worth sharing and knowing about.
Thursday
Location: Wine Squared
Time: 4:30 – 7 p.m.
Bands: Robert Gomez, Caleb Ian Campbell, Kristy Kruger.
What you should know: Aside from three of Denton's finest acoustic acts playing sets in this intimate environment, the Facebook invite also promises a “REALLY special guest.”
Location: The Courthouse Square
Time:4 – 9:45 p.m.
Bands: Wise Ruby, The Awkward Customer, Mat Grigsby, The Future Eyes, Reinventing Jude, Sonar Lights.
What you should know: DentonRadio.com is hosting a boatload of all-local, “family friendly” talents on the courthouse lawn all four evenings of the fest this year. It serves as a nice, festival-centric alternative to the official outdoor stages — especially on Thursday night, as the main stages don't get going until Friday night.
Friday
Location: Banter
Time: 5:45 p.m.
Bands: Mockingbyrd Station.
What you should know: Just as it was the last few years, Banter is an official 35 Denton venue once again this year. Before their official showcases each day, though, the venue will host some free day shows. Think of this as a free alternative to still getting that real festival experience. Well, almost.
Location: The Abbey Underground
Time: 9 p.m.
Bands: STARPARTY, Gravity Feed, Bone Doggie and the Hickory Street Hellraisers
What you should know: STARPARTY, a band of masked musicians that claim to be from outerspace, perform every vocal through a talk box and can pull off a range of covers from Gloria Gaynor to Justice? Say what you will about Abbey Underground, but this local band might very well might be just as entertaining as any playing the official showcases this year.
Location: The Courthouse Square
Time: 2 – 9:45 p.m.
Bands: (caruvana), Ellie Meyer, Kelsey Henry, Billy Bennett, Big Round Spectacles, Seth Weaver, West and the Grooves, Ellee Morris, Ashley Gatta & The Free People, 1140, Woody's Rampage.
What you should know: Yet another DentonRadio.com show.
Saturday
Location: 911 West Hickory Street
Time: 1 – 8:30 p.m.
Bands: Eyes Wings & Many Other Things, The Migrant, Don Feagin of The Theater Fire, Jacob Metcalf, Tiger Tooth & Paw, Skeleton Coast, Ghost To Falco, The Angelus, Clint Niosi, Twigs & Yarn, Sisson.
What you should know: Aside from hosting many of the area's most interesting bands on two separate stages, this New Media Recordings hose party and showcase will also feature several out-of-towners as well — one of which comes from as far away as Denmark.
Location: Banter
Time: 1:15 – 6:30 p.m.
Bands: Mat Grigsby, Wise Ruby, Richard Gilbert, May Sun and The Mojo House Revival, Hartley Hall and The Bonafide Accompaniament.
What you should know: Another early Banter show.
Location: The Courthouse Square
Time: 12-9:45 p.m.
Bands: Polly Maynard Tiny Big Band, Richard Gilbert, Caleb Coonrod, Dave Thomas, Jess Dixon, Sol Tax, Back Water Opera, Brave Combo, Kerry Davis Band, MockingByrd Station, Levi Cobb & Big Smoke, Bone Doggie & the Hickory Street Hellraisers.
What you should know: DentonRadio.com strikes again.
Location: 808 Elm Street
Time: 12 p.m.
Bands: Flohawk, Ghost Foot, Bashe, Cowboy Indian Bear.
What you should know: Aside from the billed locals, this house show also features some former national acts that have played 35 Denton in past years.
Location: Daves Good Times
Time: 2 p.m. to 12:15 a.m.
Bands: Anger House, Enthusiast, Bike Problems, Kid Prison, Speial Guest, Dahling, Half Truths, Muhammad Ali, Father Figure, Warm Needles, Occult Detective Club, The Novice, Mind Spiders, Krusty Krab and the Krabby Patties
What you should know: Billed as “35 Daves (All Day House Show),” this crew of Denton locals has managed to snag quite the Who's Who of local punk and garage acts, including some performing official showcases this year. Though BYOB is encouraged, there will be a keg, too. The house's owners just ask that you bring a $3 donation to help touring band Warm Needles on their way.
Location: Denton Record Chronicle Building
Time: 1 p.m.
Bands: Fabulous Badasses, Bad Design, Paper Robot, Maricopa County.
What you should know: On Saturday and Sunday, the Denton Record Chronicle will be throwing free shows in the name of their local music publication, Little D After Dark. This one, though, features a reunion performance from Scott Porter's long defunct Denton metal outfit, Fabulous Badasses.
Location: 1401 Bolivar Street
Time: 12 – 7 p.m.
Bands: Safari Dudes, Hard Drinking Housewives, Cozy Hawks, Daniel Markham and Treelines, Rude Rachel, Sea Lion, The Vuvs, Savage & the Big Beat, Informant.
What you should know: Dubbed “The Human Paraquat Party,” this house show boasts, perhaps, the biggest collection of talent of the weekend's unofficial shows, and a few official festival bands to boot.
Sunday
Location: 1112 Bernard Street
Time: 1 – 9 p.m.
Bands: Babar, TV Ghost, Pageantry, Senor Fin, Venetian Sailors, Monastery, Layer Cake, Goodnight Ned.
What you should know: Aside from the smattering of touring acts, there's quite a collection of Denton-centric talent on this backyard bill. That much makes sense: This one goes down in the yard of one of our favorite newer acts, Senor Fin. Also, a $2 donation is suggested for the traveling bands, but, in return, there will be plenty of grillables (of both the veggie and carnivorous varieties).
Location: Banter
Time: 1:15 – 6:30 p.m.
Bands: Link Chalon, Medicinal Bourbon, Megan Storie, Ellie Meyer, Earthshine.
What you should know: Banter is your day-show friend.
Location: The Courthouse Square
Time: 11-9:45 p.m.
Bands: Earthshine, Mr. Joe, Maria Cecilia, Jacko Suede, Molotov Dogs, Baloney Moon, Karyna Micaela, Zach Balch, My Kickdrum Heart, The Contingency Clause, Boombachs, Star Party.
What you should know: DentonRadio.com. So hot right now.
Location: Oak Street Drafthouse
Time: 4 – 7 p.m.
Bands: Brent Best, Austin Lucas, Isaac Hoskins.
What you should know: A couple of Denton luminaries and a Nashville honky-tonker offer up this perfect hangover cure and day-programming alternative. And while you're there, you can sample a brew from Denton's first brewery, Armadillo Ale Works, as Oak Street Drafthouse is one of the first places to have the beer on tap.
Location: Denton Record Chronicle parking lot
Time: 1 p.m.
Bands: Cozy Hawks, Space Camp Death Squad, Son of Stan, Crime Choir.
What you should know: A real nice offering here from the DRC crew.
