Sorry about that…

I think saying that I’m overwhelmed would be an understatement.

Lost my job at Verizon. Gave up the car and the 401k so I could keep paying the rent to keep my portion of the roof over my head and Joshua’s.

Working full time at Dada now as the sole booker and as a co-owner pretty much means I have no personal life but I think it’s worth it. I’m happy. Exhausted, but happy. However, I’m also the first to admit its hard hanging on by the skin of your teeth in a city full of folks that salivate over the notion of your failure.

I’m doing some pretty exciting things with The Happy Bullets and am looking forward to the June tour with them.

Anyway, just some random thoughts to let you know that I’m alive.

Club Dada will be hosting a formal after party in celebration of graffiti artist and musician, Sergio Garcia’s show at Kettle Art tonight starting at 10:30pm. Doors open at 8:00, 18 and up admitted.

The Party, Cool Out and Hot Flash will be spinning tunes all night. Dancing, drinking and debauchery is probably a safe bet. Formal dress is requested, but not required. So put on your dancing shoes and come out tonight. Screw the weather…you’ll be safe and warm when you get your groove on.

We supply the board games, you show up.

You may think you don’t know Nick Luca, but you do if you’re a fan of Calexico, DeVotchKa and Niko Case. Yup that’s right, not only does Nick Luca record on their albums, he in addition is WaveLab’s engineering genius behind their albums.

So see, you know him.

He’ll be headlining tonight at Dada with Fort Worth’s Telegraph Canyon starting things off, followed by the Sean Kirpatrick Trio. Both are an apt fit for Luca and tonight will be, simply put, a night of lovely, staggeringly profound music.

Doors are at 8.

Cover: $5

18+

Airline @ 10:30
Radio Radio @ 11:30
Pet Hospital @ 12:30

Had dinner with Ken Albrecht last night along with the fabu Jen Nabb.

My neighbors decided to throw a part at 3:30 in the morning.

I have a show tonight at Dada, though I wish I was seeing my Joshie with the Happy Bullets at the Cavern tonight…

Good shows to tell you about tomorrow…

And mark your calendars for Jan 23rd…it’ll be Nick Luca, Sean Kirkpatrick and Telegraph Canyon. Who’s Nick Luca? I’ll tell ya tomorrow.

Heh.

Claude Coleman, Jr. of WEEN (fer crying out loud) will be at Dada tomorrow night (Tues 1/15) with his solo project, Amandla.

For those of you that don’t know about Claude’s horrific accident in 2002 and how he’s championed through it, his amazing solo work or his work with Chocolate Genius, Eagles of Death Metal or Elysian Fields, read all about it here.

Doors are at 8 and the show is only 6 bucks - all ages.

Playing with Claude will be Wanz Dover’s The Frenz and Vaqueros Electronicos.

Don’t miss this opportunity!

Shit like this don’t happen every day!

In Hunter’s own words…

FOR LOCAL MUSICIANS:

You may or may not know that Quick has been covering local music online and in print for more than three years. This year, we’re increasing that coverage significantly, and we want all the news about your band, including CD releases, new online tracks and videos, lineup changes, touring updates and local concert previews. Even if you’re a fan of an underappreciated local band, be sure to clue us in — the more input from the community, the better.

Send all information, presskits and CDs to:

Hunter Hauk

Entertainment Editor, Quick

508 Young St.

Dallas, Texas 75202

E-mail: hhauk@quickdfw.com

Read and comment on our Nightlife blog, where we report the latest finds in clubgoing and local music: nightlife.beloblog.com

And if you haven’t already, start a profile and upload a track to our Juqbox: www.quickdfw.com/juqbox.

Stay tuned …

on Friday…

Chem Set’s very last show.

and on Saturday….

Starting this Thursday and every Thursday thereafter, Dada is going to go a little easier on your pocketbook. From here on out, domestic longnecks are $2, well drinks are $2 and Lone Star is just a $1.25.

Woo-hoo.

Chris Holt is my Artist in Residence this month, tonight he’ll be playing at 8 with the lovely Eric Neal.
Dave Little will follow at 9:30 with Mr. Holt sitting in with him.
Rounding things out for the night, a very, very special guest.

I’m 35.

So, I’m not getting any younger…
or cooler…
or hipper…

in fact, I’m getting fatter. It’s the Shiner, I know it’s the Shiner. But I just can’t help myself.

…and now that most of my free time is spent at Dada, booking Dada or recovering from Dada, I don’t get to spend as much time as I used to exploring music outside of the local scene except whatever CDs fall my way in my home or in Dada’s mailbox. But I recognize that it’s important to never stop learning about different genres of music and to always pay attention to what’s changing.

That’s where an independent webcomic comes in to the rescue. I know, that sounds weird, doesn’t it?

If you told me that a year ago I’d be addicted to a daily webcomic based on the lives of 20-something indie hipsters* I would have laughed. But alas, I am now fully obsessed with the comings and goings, breakups and breakdowns of these little two dimensional hipsters. The comic is drawn and written by Jeph Jacques and it’s called ‘Questionable Content.’ There’s link if you look over to your left, it’s been there awhile, but I suggest you start from the very beginning of the comic for a full, soap operatic experience.

One of the things I quickly noticed was what an integral part music plays in Jeph’s life and the lives of his characters. Then I discovered another comic of his called, ‘Indie Tits’, which will land you in a world belonging to birds that are obnoxious in their esoteric band references and often downright nasty in attitude. (Think We Shot Jr commenters as birds, which makes a lot of ‘em a whole lot cuter and easier to swallow.) I began to explore some of the bands I’d see referenced in both comics and it began to open my eyes to a whole new world of music.

Then, Jeph, noticing how his ‘Questionable Content’ message board seemed to be filling up with more music reviews than he could shake a Wacom tablet at, decided to start ‘Yelling About Music’ as a companion music blog to ‘Questionable Content.’

‘Yelling About Music’ is We Shot Jr ( don’t get me wrong, I heart WSJR) on steroids when it comes to new, neglected or obscure music. Penned by four different folks, in three different countries, on three different continents, the blog started in August of last year and with every month it continues to grow in substance. I’ve always left the site learning something new about music and the fact that it’s writers are based in different countries, it’s quite comprehensive of a place to visit when you want to learn what’s happening in the music scene outside of your own. Hell, I didn’t know what the blazes ‘dubstep’ was, but now I do, thanks to ‘Yelling’ and I like it.

Oh, and for the record, another thing that I really enjoy about ‘Yelling About Music’ is that these guys aren’t trying to be tastemakers, they just want to share the music that excites them the most with the rest of the world and yell about it. And guess what, it’s not just indie, daftpunk, twee, techno, etc…they write about, these are very well rounded listeners, which is why I think they appeal to me so much. I encourage you guys to pay them a visit.

* I saw one at CVS this morning that I have to give major props to: scruffy beard, bed hair, tight, vibrant electric blue jeans, purple sateen snap jacket with elastic cuffs and waistband. He was buying tampons for his girlfriend. Hipster dude, you rule!

My dearest Valerie wrote a very personal blog entry today that I suspect was quite cathartic for her. It ended up being cathartic for me as well. And though it wasn’t music related, and neither is this post, it made me step back and evaluate just how grateful I am for the friends I have in my life and I want to publicly recognize my best ones.

Valerie - you allow me to be outrageous, you make me funnier, you remind me that hair and make-up isn’t evil, you give me laughter-induced tummy aches, you’re my 4 a.m. emergency call, if I ever need it, with you I can be wonderfully silly or an emotional wreck, you gave me back my laughter, you call me on my bullshit, at the end of every work related fight we’ve cooled off together with a smoke and it has never once affected our personal relationship, I can tell you everything while never being forced to explain myself, you’ve never let me quit

Josh - you never try to solve my problems for me - you just listen, you often take better care of me than I do myself, you make me slow down, you’ve taught me the fine art of napping, when I snap at you, you let it roll off your back, I never have to ask for your help - you see when I’m running out of steam and you just roll up your sleeves and jump right in, you never let me quit, either

Jeef - we’ve seen each other through some seriously rough shit, you constantly keep me on my toes with your intellect, you answered all of my tearful, homesick calls when I moved to NYC, you help keep me educated about music, you’re always excruciatingly honest with me, you’re the one that I know would defend me to the death, you’re the one that inspired me to get into the whole music malarkey to begin with, you make me a better writer

Brian - you’re the one who keeps me going when I want to give up on everything music, you always put your money where your mouth is - literally and figuratively, you’d do anything in the world to help me realize my dreams and goals - no matter how lofty, you’ve taught me the importance of passion and you’ve taught me that I can actually make a difference

And my to friends and acquaintances (in no particular order - swear) Jen Nabb, Gregory, Solis, Andrea, Merritt, Rich, JDW, Travis, Dave Heidle, Kevin M, Debbie, Jimmy, Bill, Fred, Dave Mofo, Cari, Erik, Pat A, Tony F, Clay, Earl, Dave Little, Anna P, Chris G, Reagan, RJ and Dave P - you came when no one else would, you played when no one else would, you believed when no one else would, you helped when no one else would…and you still do. It’s astounding.

not to also mention Adventures in Live Music.

Stephen always manages to make me giggle, and, sometimes, even snort.

Dear Bocatina-land:

It’s been far too long since we’ve talked… I know I said I was gonna post a couple months ago and it just never really happened, and I wanted to let you know I was really sorry. I think you’d be pretty proud of me though - seriously it’s been a couple crazy months of playing shows, recording tunes, and getting to meet a crap-ton of really awesome bands that’s made everything seem like it’s all going down how it should. And you’ve been on my mind the whole time I swear…

In my various ramblings I’ve stumbled across some bands and some general wisdom I felt I absolutely had to share, so here goes:

** Dylan Sneed**

This guy is a local singer-songwriter that is responsible for one of my most favorite releases of 2007. His EP No Worse For The Wear has me absolutely transfixed. I downloaded it from his myspace a few weeks back and it is still in heavy rotation in mi casa. Sneed’s songs deal with issues of love, life, and confusion in a way that immediately connected with me. His delivery manages to be mournful and hopeful at the same time, and it’s in that sort of paradox that I fine some of the most honest art. Also, I’m a sucker for great arrangements, and every bit of production on the EP is done with the perfect amount of understated flair. The percussion, the organ, and the violin all support Sneed’s guitars and vocals in a way that really makes the songs come to life. Very very good stuff.
Check him out at: www.myspace.com/dylansneed

Dylan plays at Opening Bell January 10th with Pherigo.

** Mike and The Moonpies**

I’ve known Mike, the ringleader of the Moonpies, for about a year now. He’s always impressed me as the singer/rhodes player in The Come Lately’s, and the lap steel player in The Dirty Sound but I have to say with The Moonpies he’s really outdone himself. The Moonpies offer up a blend of classic country and bluegrassy-folk that makes you just want to pull up a barstool in some smokey bar and raise hell all night (I know cause I’ve done it). They’ve got a ton a gigs lined up in Austin and managed to land in The Chronicles list of “bands to watch in ‘08″. I couldn’t agree more…If you check out their myspace you’ll get a sneak peak at the upcoming E.P. Lyin that should be ready for release on Phono records (another one of Mike’s projects) in the next couple weeks. My favorites are “Goldheart” and “Tape Machine”, but I’ll let you decide for yourself. By the way I’m feeling a Dallas release date needs to be lined up too hmm…. Cheers.

www.myspace.com/mikeandthemoonpies

**The Cut* Off**

I had a chance to get to share the stage with these guys a month or two ago and I was really blown away… Their brand of indie-rock is equal parts Neil Young and The Pixies. Very interesting, fun stuff. Lead singer Kyle Barnhill has a powerful and captivating voice (sadly a rarity) that really drives the songs and creates an awesome live experience. I know when I was visiting with them there was talks of an upcoming album release… so definitely stay tuned. They’ve a handful of tour dates booked in Norman, Chicago, and Morristown, TN that are probably gonna rock. Go forth Gentlemen. Show the country that good music can in-fact originate in the metroplex.

www.myspace.com/thecutoff

**Hymns**

Seeing as how they’re signed to local label Blackland Records, a lot of their upcoming album was recorded in Waxahachie, and half the band grew up in Greenville, TX I feel like Dallas can sort of claim The Hymns when they’re gonna be huge rock-stars. Hell they already are rockstars in my book; touring with artists like Ben Kweller and Butch Walker sort of seals the deal for me. Anyways, I direct your attention to them now because they’ve posted a new song on their upcoming L.P. Travel in Herds on their myspace. If “I Can’t Be What You Want” is any indication, this new album is going to be seriously good, and just might be the soundtrack to a bunch of late-night dance parties at the Somebody’s Darling house. Let’s wish them our best as they start their month residency at Pianos in NY and just hope we get a couple of shows as they head down for SXSW.

www.myspace.com/hymnsband

**Ghost of Blind Lemon Blog**

Is this weird to be advertising another blog on here?? Nah… during breaks in posts over here at bocatinta I’d like to direct everyone’s attention to The Ghost of Blind Lemon Blog. This guys is doing great work highlighting local bands and shows and his posts and in-depth and thoughtful (and way more consistent then mine). So him visit frequently, and let’s focus on having an amazing 2008.

www.ghostofblindlemon.blogspot.com

Love ya’ll.