Movies surrounding the events of 9/11 will always have a depressing undercurrent regardless of the uplifting nature of the story. So is the case with the new drama Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. Based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer and directed by Stephen Daldry; this film has a lot to offer. The issue lies in how well audiences will receive such a heavily emotional film during a season of cheer and glad tidings. There is even the argument that what better time to see a movie like this than during a period of hope and promise. No doubt the cast deliver exceptional performances in what is a pretty solid story. (more)

 Their new album, THE WHITE RABBIT releases 051711

One thing you can be assured of is, once you see an Egypt Central show you can't wait for them to return. In the words of drummer Blake Allison "Our secret weapon has always been our live show. I can't tell how excited we are to play this new batch of songs for our fans that have stuck by us and this is our invitation for anyone new to Egypt Central to come along on this journey... we hope you accept!"

 

Tickets and info available at Trees

Trees

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The Raveonettes came to The Granada last night in support of their brand new album, "Raven In The Grave". The Danish duo of Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo played in front of a packed house of fans who appreciated the new but really got amped for the old. As I watched and dissected this melodic pair (flanked this night by dual drummers) I tried to find a way to engage. It took about two songs and my love for movies for me to find my own personal way of diving in to the ocean of eerie synths, guitar laden effects and the driving percussion. Once I did that I was an immediate fan.
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Brooklyn artist Class Actress will be performing at Bro Fest @ Club Dada on Sunday, March 20th. MillionYoung will open. Set at 7:15pm.

I shot a few questions over to front fem Elizabeth Harper about the bands trip to big D

Elizabeth Harper and co. have toured with Small Black, Little Boots and The xx among others and are on a headlining tour down to SXSW with MillionYoung. Class Actress released their debut EP, Journal of Ardency, on Chris Taylor from Grizzly Bear and Ethan Silverman's Terrible Records. Joined by producer Mark Richardson, the EP also features guest production from Jorge Elbrecht of Violens/Lansing-Dreiden. A special extended version of Journal, which includes a bonus cover of Neon Indian's "Terminally Chill" is available at these shows, and they'll be releasing their full-length debut later this year.

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Country-soul starlet Lauren Pritchard will be playing a show at Poor David's Pub on Friday, March 18, in Dallas, TX. I had a chance to toss her a few questions about her musical journey.

Lauren’s debut album, Wasted In Jackson, came out in the UK in the fall, with a U.S. release February 22nd via Universal Republic.
 

 

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Editor's note: This blog post was originally published Feb. 3, 2009: 

  

By ROBERT TRACY
rtracy@neighborsgo.com  

Three titans died at the height of their popularity this day 50 years ago. Thanks to Don McLean and his song “American Pie” (no thanks to Madonna, pleaase), you’re probably at least marginally aware that on Feb. 3, 1959 — the Day the Music Died — we lost Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson.

Three huge talents — two with Texas ties (Holly of Lubbock and Richardson of Beaumont) — perished in a flight that night departing for two shows in Appleton and Green Bay, Wis. This fact is particularly impossible for northern Iowa residents to forget. The plane crash that claimed three rock ’n’ roll pioneers is a huge deal to the folks of Clearlake, Iowa, and nearby Mason City, Iowa (the cities where the plane crashed and took off from, respectively).

And rightfully so. A year doesn’t go by that fans don’t flock to the tiny, time warp that is the Surf Ball Room in Clearlake to remember the legends. This 50th year of the crash is bigger than most, of course. The region has held events since Thursday, with a variety of shows, performers, guests, symposiums and more, culminating in Monday’s “50 Winters Later” concert. The big show featured some well-known acts, including Joe Ely, Graham Nash, Los Lobos and Los Lonely Boys among others.

Pilgrimages to the crash site are also common. Thousands have trekked into the middle of a field where an understated memorial marks the spot where the plane crashed. Pop culture and music writer Chuck Klosterman even wandered in search of the precise, difficult-to-find site for his book, Killing Yourself to Live (a decent read in which he chronicles his journeys to several scenes where rock legends met their demise).

The trio of musicians’ deaths spawned two good movies (La Bamba and The Buddy Holly Story rank among my faves) and the aforementioned hit song; however, none of which can replace the music these artists would have written, the shows they would have performed and the millions more lives they would have influenced if they had made it to that next gig. So, do yourself a favor today. Put on some Buddy Holly and the Crickets, crank up “Donna” and watch The Big Bopper on Bandstand.

For more on the Day the Music Died, check out the Mason City Globe Gazette’s extensive coverage.

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 I'm still not sure what's more amazing:

• That it's been 30 years since John Lennon was shot and killed.
• That it's been five years since we put together this online presentation.
• That most of the links still work. (The most notable one that doesn't is the Howard Cosell audio, but a handy little service called YouTube fixes that: Howard Cosell announces death of John Lennon on Monday Night Footballl )

Added bonus for Eggmen everywhere: Speaking of YouTube, here's a clip from way back featuring John Lennon and Paul Simon (plus Andy Williams!) as presenters at The Grammys. (Or was it just a dream ... )

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Anyone who’s been willing to discuss music with me in the last nine months has probably heard me gushingly praise Philadelphia’s psychedelic-tinged indie rock outfit Dr. Dog.  It goes a little something like this: “best album of the year (Shame, Shame) … greatest single I’ve heard in a decade (“Shadow People”) … “Mirror, Mirror” might have the catchiest syncopated chorus in the history of pop music …

So, as you can imagine, I was supremely delighted that I got to see the band twice yesterday — an intimate lunchtime show at The Saloon at Gilley’s in Dallas presented by 91.7 KXT-FM and a night set at Gilley’s South Side Music Hall (which is a shrunken version of the venue formerly known as the Palladium).

The first show was completely laid-back. The fellas played a 30-minute acoustic set for KXT members (if you want such perks, you must donate to the greatest radio station in Texas). Here are some videos I shot from the show:

 

"SHADOW PEOPLE"

 

"JACKIE WANTS A BLACK EYE"

 

"STATION"

 

"CALIFORNIA"

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Funny thing about Frisco: It seemingly isn’t aware it’s a suburb. Burbs aren’t supposed to draw hipsters — replete with black jeans and ironic facial hair. But there they were Sept. 25 at Oysterfest at Lochrann’s Irish Pub & Eatery in Frisco.

 

The inaugural event, featuring top-notch local talent (a few of Spune’s finest, such as Telegraph Canyon and Seryn) and national notables (Jukebox the Ghost and Bowerbirds), was a coup for the nation’s fastest growing city. And, as the Dallas Observer’s Daniel Hopkins wrote in last week’s edition, there’s reason to believe that local bands will continue to travel the tollways for Frisco gigs.I can’t speak for the quality of the oysters being served (even if I weren’t a vegetarian I would never slurp seafood in a city that far away from saltwater) but the music was top notch.

The rain ruined plans for an outdoor stage, but Lochrann’s managed to shoehorn acts on their two inside stages, the smaller of which was slightly larger than an office cubicle.

 

One gripe: The extensive wine and beer menu was misleading. It took me three tries to select a beer Lochrann’s actually had on tap, which would have been understandable if it were midnight, but I was ordering around noon.

One good thing: Lochrann’s is a cool spot with a laid-back vibe and fairly good service for a festival crowd. My waitress was even cracking jokes; at least I think she was joking when she said she’d kill me if I left without paying the bill.

For my money, there’s no singer on the planet with a sexier and more soulful voice than Ray LaMontagne. His most recent disc, God Willing & the Creek Don’t Rise, is loaded with the folksy style we’ve come to expect from LaMontagne. With grooves-aplenty studio band the Pariah Dogs capably backing him, we get a bit of funk, too. Particularly impressive is bassist Jennifer Condos, who has also worked with Sam Phillips, Ryan Adams, Don Henley and Stevie Nicks.

Take a listen to  Ray LaMontagne and the Pariah Dogs’ performance of "Repo Man" on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

My favorite tracks: “Repo Man,” “New York City’s Killing Me” and “Beg Borrow or Steal”