Cory Graves
Josey Records Buys A&R, The Forest Theater Changes Hands And Erykah Badu's Mom Speaks Out.
On the week of its one-year anniversary, the owners of Josey Records made one of the most impactful moves the North Texas music community's seen in years when it purchased vinyl pressing plant A&R Records.
No longer will the Josey team just be selling records. Now it'll also be making them, too.
It's just one of the ways which owners Waric Cameron and Luke Sardello plan to slowly dominate the local scene by means of vertical integration. In the coming months, the pair plans on moving the plant to a larger facility off of Composite Drive that most recently was home to a Dave & Buster's. When it does, it'll also open a state-of-the-art recording studio and house its own record label.
Per the Dallas Morning News, the first pressing from Josey will be a local comp featuring The Birds of Night, Taylor Lewis,The Azalea Project, Howler Jr. and Reinventing Jude. That one will hit stores on Record Store Day.
In other potentially huge news, the DMN also reports that the Forest Theater has been sold to a mystery buyer after sitting dormant for the last seven years. Opened in the late '40s and most recently run as a community center by Erykah Badu, the theater is also on its way to earning landmark status following a unanimous vote at yesterday's City Council meeting.
Speaking of Badu: In honor of the 15th anniversary of Stankonia, Okayplayer caught up with Erykah's mom, who we've all known as the real “Ms. Jackson.” She's still waiting on those publishing checks, she says.
In that same boat is Sleigh Bells, which accused Demi Lovato this week of sampling two of its songs without permission. “Flattered you guys sampled Infinity Guitars & Riot Rhythm for 'Stars' but we were not contacted. Gotta clear those,” the band wrote on its Twitter. According to “Stars'” producers, though, no samples were used in the song, and Demi wasn't involved in the actual production.
Meanwhile, another “bell” band — one School of Seven Bells — announced that the band's fourth and, sadly, final album will be released in February 2016. Writes the band's Alejandra Deheza in a letter to fans: “Benjamin [Curtis] and I wrote this record during a tour break in the summer of 2012. I can easily say that it was one of the most creative and inspired summers of our lives. What followed was the most tragic, soul shaking tidal wave that life could deliver, but even that wouldn't stop the vision for this record from being realized. This is a love letter from start to finish. It's the story of us starting from that first day we met in 2004, and that's the story of School of Seven Bells.”
When that record does drop, St. Vincent, for one, would like for you to listen to it via SONOS' new wireless hi-fi system. “When everyone has every song ever written,” she says in the company's new television spot, “what matters is how we listen.”
In another new spot, teen heartthrob Alan Palomo promises to give you his personal number if you call his new hotline. What actually happens when you call the number, though, is you get a pre-recorded message asking you to watch Neon Indian's “Slumlord” video, a link to which is immediately texted to you once you hang up.
Moving on, we've caught wind of a few December events to consider adding to your calendars.
First up, there will be a screening of Rigor Mortis' Welcome to Your Funeral documentary at the Kessler Theater on Wednesday, December 9. At the screening, surviving members Bruce Corbitt, Casey Orr and Harden Harrison will participate in a Q&A with the Kessler's artistic director Jeff Liles, who briefly served as the band's manager back in the day.
Later that week, on Saturday, December 12, The Polyphonic Spree will hold its 13th almost annual Holiday Extravaganza at the Majestic Theatre. As usual, the band will play two sets — a holiday set and a rock set — and will be accepting donations to the North Texas Food Bank and Toys for Tots at the show.
A couple of other upcoming Toys for Tots-benefiting shows to be mindful of include a free Immortal Technique show at Fort Worth's Ridglea Theater on December 11 and a Drowning Pool gig at Trees on December 18.
Leading off this week's new release news, the Dallas-born Conner Youngblood just released this beautifully minimal song/video for his recent single “Badlands.” It comes from his new The Generation of Lift EP. Check it out.
Then, the second half of the Toadies' North Texas Music Scene feature finally aired this week. It features the mandolin-driven reworked version of “Tyler” from the band's Heretics LP. “If you've got a good song, you can play it on whatever arrangement and it still comes across,” says frontman Vaden Lewis in the clip. “It's a way prettier song than I ever thought it was.”
On the other end of the spectrum, Alsace Carcione's new “Been Grindin'” video is a rather aggressive trap/hip-hop song that's not necessarily typical of her usual style. Says Carcione: “The song speaks for itself.” Check it out.
Another interesting new clip this week comes from Jonas Martin, who is still hard at work on his upcoming sophomore LP. Judging from this new “Let Them Drown” clip, it seems like he's going to be pulling out all the stops this time around. It's pretty, pretty insane.
Also slated for release next year is the new solo disc from former Fox & the Bird member Jacob Metcalf, who debuted the album's first single, a Cold War folk ballad called “Ein Berliner,” late last week. Check that out below, before Metcalf plays his first full band show in more than three years this coming January 8. More details on that one to come.
And, better late than never, a Halloween-themed beat tape from DJ Imperial and Xes earned its release late last week. It features a “Du Hast” sample, which is pretty cool, even in November.
Speaking of former Brain Gang crew members: Bobby Sessions, who just dropped one of our favorite videos of the year, will celebrate the release of his new November 20-due Law of Attraction project with a release show at Trees on Friday, November 27. Joining Sessions on that bill will be Justus and members of the still-being-assembled HIGH STANDARDz label roster. Tickets can be bought here for $10 in advance.
Elsewhere: Wo Fat followed Mothership's lead, recently signing with Ripple Music, which will release the band's next LP in the spring; Paste ranked the best Old 97's songs; and Diplo cosigned Post Malone via Twitter.
Cover photo by Brian Knowles. Got a tip for White Noise? Email us!
