Cory Graves
This Week, The Party's Really Popping.
Each week, we take a survey of the local music scene and try to determine which acts in town are really putting in work and seeing it pay off. Which bands have the most intriguing shows coming up? Which bands are getting the most press around town? Which bands have accomplished the most notable feats of late? Based off these criteria, our music writers submit a list to be weighted and compiled into a master list revealed each week in this here space. We like to think it's fairly revealing. Check out our previous Buzz Rankings here.
In the mid-aughts, there was nary a musical entity in town that held quite the stranglehold over the Dallas nightlife scene that the trio of DJs collectively known as The Party did.
And, in turn, much has been written in the years since about The Party's ability to helm unforgettable soirees — and perhaps more importantly, of the group's unique ability to bring all facets of the Dallas arts scene together.
Thing is, while The Party's DJ Sober has become the region's most visible, sought-after DJ in recent years, his former cohorts, DJs Select and Nature, have since relocated to New York and Puerto Rico, respectively. And while the trio did get together for a radio set last year in New York, they haven't done their thing in a live setting in at least five years.
That alone should guarantee the relaunch of our monthly Pop That! event tomorrow night will be an incredibly special affair.
Counting all the times Sober at least shared a part of the top spot in our weekly local music power rankings, The Party's No. 1 finish marks the fourth time the DJ finds himself in the No. position. For those keeping track at home: He's done it twice as a solo performer, and once with his Booty Fade project.
Not far behind The Party this week was Crushed Stars, which celebrated the release of its critically-lauded new LP with a pair of release shows at Good Records and The Kessler. Joining that band on those bills are fellow locals Myopic and Pleasant Grove, respectively, which both, coincidentally, feature drummer Jeff Ryan. Also at The Kessler this weekend? A reunion show from the Paul Slavens-led '80s local powerhouse Ten Hands.
Several bands that don't happen to feature Jeff Ryan also celebrated new releases this week. For instance, Reverend Horton Heat's Victory Records debut earned its release on Tuesday; Spooky Folk offered up its long-coming new LP (well, at least digitally); and Granbury's Jason Eady, Arlington's Man Factory and Dallas' Johnny Beauford all had release shows for their latest efforts.
Elsewhere: Sarah Jaffe, Zhora and Sam Lao will showcase their talents at Granada Theater; Power Trip received some backhanded praise from Vice; Snow tha Product kicked it with Snoop Dogg; and Analog Rebellion previewed some new material via The A.V. Club.
(Also receiving votes this week: Mountains of Smoke, The Hack & Slashers, Pinkish Black, Toadies, Erykah Badu, Somebody's Darling, Tape Mastah Steph, Myopic, Vulgar Fashion, Drug Mountain, Fat Pimp, Darth Vato, Missile, St. Vincent, Toy Gun, Kelly Clarkson, Emily Elbert, Datahowler, Doom Ghost, Catamaran, Arlington Jones, Pooca Leroy, The Longshots.)
