Making Up For Missed Opportunities


Wow, I can't believe an entire post about how there will be nothing to do this weekend where I opt for a Kennedy assassination joke over the much more obvious target --the new Twilight film. Maybe you just chalked it up to our penchant for taking the high road, but I call it a missed opportunity.

In an effort to make up for our blatant oversight, I give you Kitty Wigs. From what I hear, Bacon (the resident feline over at Lee Harvey's) is a big fan.

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Computer Perfection - Silence Is A Shadow's Dream

For the first time in months my Google calendar boasts no shows of note this weekend. Not to say that there aren't any good shows in town, just none that I've marked weeks in advance. On the bright side, however, that does free everyone up travel Oswald's Trail of Tears route this anniversary weekend. Personally I am thinking about visiting the empty tomb of Nick Beef.

Anyhoo, keeping with yesterday's promise for more non locally-relevant music, I give you Computer Perfection. Comprised of former members of Detroit's Pas/Cal, the indie-rock vets perfectly mix 8-bit sounds with they psychedelic pop of yesteryear. It's even got those layered harmonies and that heavily-drenched-in-reverb sound that all the kids are going crazy for these days. Just think of them as the Grizzly Bear that are still below Jay-Z's radar. Their debut LP "We Wish You Well On Your Way To Hell" was just released last week via Le Grand Magistery. Pick it up.

MP3: Computer Perfection - Silence Is A Shadow's Dream

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Bonus MP3's: Drink Up Buttercup

Lately I've been trying to post more locally-relevant MP3's, which really just means MP3's of bands that are passing through time in the near future. While I thought this strategy was being more relevant, it really has only resulted in a sizeable backlog of tunes I haven't been able to pass along. So, in summary, expect several of these 'Bonus MP3' posts over the next week.

I was recently turned on to Philly's Drink Up Buttercup who's semi-psychedelic janglepop I am finding quite enjoyable at the moment. It would be obvious to call out their Beatles-esque penchant for writing melodies or their Beach Boys-like vocal treatment, but also quite apropo. The boys have just signed to Yep Roc who will be releasing their LP in early 2010.

MP3: Drink Up Buttercup - Even Think
MP3: Drink Up Buttercup - Even Think (Andrew WK Remix)

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Deastro, Max Tundra, Free Energy Tonight at The Cavern

As a general rule it's always hipper for us music critic-types to express more interest in opening bands than headliners. These are the truly 'authentic' acts we purport. So take with a grain of salt the fact that we tell you that Deastro, whom we were lucky enough to interview recently, will be the opening act over at The Cavern tonight. As far as we can tell though, Deastro and Max Tundra, who are currently touring together, have been taking turns opening for each other during previous stops. Throw in the fact that Free Energy is headlining tonight's show and what you really have is 3 bands each wholly capable of headlining. Depending on how you take that previous sentence, you either have 3 grade-A bands, or zero bands truly 'authentic' or otherwise hype-worthy. Personally I'll go with the previous.

MP3: Deastro - Tone Adventure #3
MP3: Max Tundra - Which Song
MP3: Max Tundra - Which Song (Passion Pit Remix)

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He Was The Guest DJ Who Plays What He Wants To Play

I was recently asked by Geoff Johnston, who runs a fine blog called The Hanging Brain, to come up with a Guest DJ-mix featuring some of my favorite local music. The mix and commentary are up over at THB today and I'd be tickled if you'd check it out.

And if you're not already a daily reader of Johnston's unique brand of humor I would suggest you add THB to your RSS feed. His "guest column" by Ray Parker Jr. the other day nearly killed me.

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The Guestlist w/ Glen Farris

It’s our fourth time around with this new Guestlist feature, and the momentum has not let up yet, children! When this feature first started about a month ago (To which I feel at least partly responsible for getting the pebbles rolling on? *winky-wink* See “My Top 5 Venues In Denton”) I thought, “Sure. This should be an interesting bit.” The weeks have gone on, and as I hoped, we have received more and more interesting lists from these contributing artists to share with the SubEx community.

This weeks Guestlist comes from Denton’s own Glen Farris. Not just an extremely talented singer/sonwriter and musician in general, Farris also plays the Rhodes Wurlitzer for a fellow you might’ve heard of named Doug Burr… Not to mention the countless guest appearances and projects that I’ve seen Farris play in over the years, as what happens with many of us Denton musicians, Glen Farris is really just a good guy to know. Personally, I am really excited about his contribution for this week, because this is just the kind of personal look into an artist’s thoughts that we were going for with this bit for you SubEx followers to enjoy and learn and grow and stuff. So enough of my blustery hooplah… Let’s start the show.


“My Top 5 Denton Streets” by Glen Farris

5. Marietta St.

Never heard of Marietta? That's cause it's tiny. I bet it's the most picturesque 700ft. of street you will find in Little D. White picket fences and the most perfect little houses you can find tucked away just North of UNT.

4. Egan St.

Egan St. Is a little street that runs east west from Bolivar to Malone. Houses with wrap around porches and swings and viewings of the old Calhoun Middle school football field. Plus there is a house that always has a Volkswagen Karmengea in front of it making this my number four favorite Denton Street.

3. W. Oak St.

From Weldon's Saddle Shop & Western Wear all the way to Mi Casita, W. Oak St has everything I need to survive in Denton: J & J's, Mcbrides, Time Bandits, Circa 77, The Hydrant, Banter, Recycled, The Candy Store and Wine Squared. In the end times when the Glory of God comes down from heaven and inhabits the earth, I am convinced that W. Oak St. will remain unchanged. I've been living above The Candy Store and Wine Squared since the Spring and I know when I hit Oak St and start walking across the courthouse lawn, I'm basically walking in my front yard.

2. E. College St.

Located in "Little Bermuda", E. College St. is tucked into the east side of TWU. I lived in the practice room on a cot on this street with Ryan Becker and Grady Sandlin (RTB2) the months leading up to me hopping a train to New York. Some great memories of great friends reside on this street.

1. Cedar St.

Cedar St. comes in at the top of the list because it encompasses and represents everything that is great about Denton. It stretches from Mulberry St. (Hailey's) to Mckinney (the back of City Hall East) and intersects Oak and Hickory. It's home to the NX35 office & if you are "in-the-know" is the access point to the mysterious and fabled "Secret Garden". The beauty of Cedar is apparent to the common pedestrian but the depth and meaning in what you can't see is what makes it the number one Denton street.


-Cory Coleman [c]

Blue Orchid - LehtMoJoe Remix

As badass as I think LehtMoJoe's "Spaghetti Western" album is, the one thing disappointing about its release was that it marked the end of Leht's remix-per-week project. Because during that those months I was rapidly filling my iPod with danced-up versions of my alternative rock favorites.

For his latest offering Leht puts his spin on The White Stripes' "Blue Orchid," replacing Meg's four to the floor kicks with much more rhythmic percussion. While he does keep some grungy guitars in the mix this time around, they stay on a consistant chord, creating a tense drone that contrasts beautifully with the gloriously dancey synths that are layered on top of it.

On a side note, I've seen other folks calling Leht's retro rock remixes "unnecessary" but really when is a remix ever "necessary"? Personally speaking, I'd rather hear a remix of a track that doesn't get as much love in the electro world than the 12th different version of Animal Collective's "My Girls" --and yes I have received that many.

It's understandable, I suppose, that it is probably not possible to keep up his previous frenetic pace indefinitely, but I am glad to see that Leht hasn't gotten out of the remix game for good.

MP3: White Stripes - Blue Orchid (LehtMoJoe Remix)

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