Cory Graves
The Latest On Trey Alfaro, Plus New Tunes From A.Dd+, This Will Destroy You and Sudie.
Earlier this week, we mentioned the fact that The Phuss drummer Trey Alfaro was injured in a hit-and-run accident while biking. The incident, of course, meant that The Phuss would have to pull out of its scheduled performance opening for Austin's The Well on August 22 at City Tavern.
That show has since become an all-out benefit show for Alfaro, with Denton's Bludded Head replacing the Phuss on the bill and City Tavern owner Josh Florence saying he'd donate the room for the night so that a bigger percentage of the shows proceeds could be given to Alfaro. Per The Phuss frontman Josh Flemming, another benefit for Alfaro is set to go down August 28 at Florence's other room, Deep Ellum's Dada. That one will feature performances from Flemming, as well as The Virgin Wolves and Mothership.
Speaking of Dada: It was recently announced the venue will host another local music festival on September 6. The aptly-named 13th Floor Music Fest is a planned celebration featuring several acts that frequently appear on bills put together by Dallas promoter 13th Floor Music. Appearing on that bill will be Dead Flowers, Goodnight Ned, Cody Jasper, The Birds of Night, The Venetian Sailors, Crypt Trip, Drug Animal, Leon Bridges & The Texas Gentlemen, PVC Street Gang, The Paychecks,The Van Sanchez and “four very special acts will be announced the day of the show.”
That one, it should be noted, comes just weeks after fellow Dallas promoter King Camel throws a local fest at the venue of its own on August 30.
Meanwhile, another local promoter, Dallas' Third String Productions, has indicated that it'll once again dip its toes back into the record label game. Earlier this week, Third String headman Mike Ziemer posted the following to his Facebook page: “From 2004 – 2006 Third String Records was a Dallas based record label that existed to help area bands that we believed in put out music. During those years we put out a couple compilation CDs and signed Red Letter Union (who later became Kid Liberty) and a band called The Background. In 2014 we have decided to bring back the label to once again work with bands we love and want to see reach the next level. We are very excited. Announcements will be made this week regarding our first signing.”
Moving on, there's been no bigger overachiever this week than the Dallas-bred St. Vincent, who was seemingly everywhere. Aside from acting as the bandleader on Late Night with Seth Meyers this week, Ms. Clark performed a free show in Brooklyn's Prospect Park and was named to Vanity Fair's International Best Dressed Poll to boot. So, we have to ask: Does she ever sleep?
Maybe. But her old band, The Polyphonic Spree, might not. That band earned some nice press of its own this week surrounding its released of the Psychophonic LP, which features atmospheric remixes of its Yes, It's True cuts. You can stream that one in full over at Paste, which premiered the thing yesterday.
Also out today? A.Dd+'s new Nawf EP, which the duo recently discussed with us at length. Check it out.
Meanwhile, another interesting sit-down recently took place between AllMusic and System of a Down drummer John Dolmayan, who recently recorded a solo album. During that one, Dolmayan offered up a somewhat humorous anecdote about his obsession with Midlake's The Courage of Others album. Said Dolmayan: “Recently there was an album by the band Midlake called The Courage of Others, it's phenomenal, and this is a band that I think could get up to that level of writing where they're creating albums that just work every time. Unfortunately, I didn't like any of the albums they had previous to that one, or the albums they came out with afterwards. They hit their groove with this one, and then the singer left right afterwards. I was so compelled by them that I got in touch with their singer because I wanted to hear more, I could listen to 10 albums like that. He's a really nice guy but he's kind of introverted, and he's working on a solo album. I think I freaked him out, I was way too passionate.”
So I guess that means there's a new Tim Smith solo album on the way?
Well, that remains to be seen. There are quite a few albums we do know about, though.
Dallas' noisy, experimental jazz trio Unconscious Collective will release its latest LP via Tofu Carnage as part of a release show this Saturday, August 16, at Taqueria Pedritos. Drug Mountain, Hex Cult and Baring Teeth will also perform at that one.
Then, on September 16, This Will Destroy You will release its fourth LP. Noisey offered up the first cut from that one yesterday and you can stream it here. The band's next Dallas show will take place on October 21 at The Kessler Theater.
This Will Destroy You's Alex Bhore also produced an updated version of Home by Hovercraft's “Lie in Your Bed,” which can be heard in the band's brand new music video.
Back on the new release trip: Dallas slowcore heroes Bedhead announced that it'll be reissuing its entire catalog via an upcoming box set called Bedhead: 1992-1998. The collection will be released on November 11, and it will include the band's three full-length albums, a collection of EPs, some non-album tracks and a book chronicling the band's all-too-brief history.
Elsewhere, Street Arabs will release its second Jeff Burke and Mark Ryan-produced LP of the year this November, Son of Stan, too, will release his own sophomore effort on October 7, and Jenny Robinson has teased the release of her own sophomore LP in the near future.
We should also mention a couple of new singles that recently made their way online. Sudie released another delightful track this week called “ASIASAURUS.”
And, fresh off Power Trip's triumphant return to town, the best live act in town released a new track of its own via a compilation put together by Flatspot Records.
Moving on, we mentioned the fact that the owners of the Lizard Lounge would be taking over the old Eden space a little while back. It now looks like that space — now called Red Light Lounge — is one step closer to becoming a reality. On the club's Facebook page the people behind the space made the following anouncement: “August 7, 2014. City of Dallas, Plan Commission Amended Special Use Permit application for 2911 Main was approved by a unanimous vote. Now on to City Council on Aug 27. There will be dancing at the Red Light!”
And, finally, Denton newcomers Dripping Wet got called out in DIY Magazine's Best of Bandcamp feature for August, and Parquet Courts did a live session for Seattle public radio station KEXP, which you can watch below.
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