Cory Graves
The Body Wins, and So Does Sarah Jaffe. Yes, Again.
Each week, we take a survey of the local music scene each and try to determine which bands 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 (at the Observer, at Pegasus News, at D Magazine's FrontRow blog and at various other outlets)? Which bands have accomplished the most notable feats of late? Based off these criteria, three of our music writers submit a list to be weighted and compiled into a master list to be revealed in this here space. We like to think it's fairly revealing.
Sarah Jaffe's star just keeps on rising on the strength of her sophomore full-length, The Body Wins. Last week, it was largely due to heaps of local praise from places like the Observer and the Star-Telegram that she the No. 1 spot in our buzz rankings. This week, it's high praise from several national outlets, including the Former No. 1 Daniel Hart scores highly once again on the strength of his AT&T Performing Arts Center patio session tonight, as well as news of his new solo record, The Orientalist, being released in a few weeks.
Meanwhile, fellow former No. 1 , John Dufilho, becomes the first artist to be associated with three separate acts on this list; his early '00s project Deathray Davies makes a rare appearance opening up for the Olivia Tremor Control show at Sons of Hermann Hall tomorrow night, while his John Singer Sergeant solo project continues to fare well. Also: Darstar released the first music video for their song “Trapdoor Spider,” from their Dufilho-produced Tiny Darkness album.
Denton icon Tom “Pops” Carter appears on the list after the news of his passing earlier this week. The local blues legend had performed in the area for over 40 years, playing with notable musicians like B.B King and Stevie Ray Vaughan, and, of course, his own band, the Funkmonsters.
Former Odis frontman, Larry g(EE) makes the list for the first time after the announcement this week that he had won a contest allowing him to appear on 22 dates of this summer's Warped Tour. Fellow first-timer Lisa Gail Allred cracks the list due to the fact that a pretty embarrassing music video she posted to YouTube for her song “Three Second Rule” went viral.
Folks like Ben Kweller, Eisely and Reverend Horton Heat earned spots on the list due to recent announcements that they'd been added to bills for the Homegrown Music and Arts Festival and the Fort Worth Music Festival.
Rounding out one of the more unusual lists we've compiled in recent memory is perennially high-ranking A.Dd+ who, by coming in at No. 19, mark their lowest-ever spot since we started keeping track.
(Also receiving votes this week: Edie Brickell, Ryan Thomas Becker, Air Review, Quaker City Night Hawks, The Toadies, Roy Robertson, Nicholas Altobelli, The Cush, Nervous Curtains, Sealion, Radiant, Jessie Frye, Epic Ruins, George Quartz, Telegraph Canyon, Snarky Puppy, Diamond Age, Paul Slavens, Whiskey Folk Ramblers, Ynfynyt Scroll, Breakfast Machine, Yeah Def, Immigrant Punk, Blackstone Rangers, The Angelus, Weekend Hustler, Katie Carroll, Dead Mockingbirds, Soviet, Doug Burr, The King Bucks.)
