Just doing a quick review of the music I saw since last Thursday. I ain’t no Jonanna or Sam so it won’t be all musically intellectual but whatever.
This past Thursday at Dada, Boca Tinta’s Birthday Bash was just that. A good lineup, great crowd, a free drink and yummy cupcakes all made for a blast on Amanda’s birthday. As well as raising $300 for Bryan’s House. Bravo!
I forget the name of the singer/songwriter dude playing when we came in but he wasn’t doing it for me at all. A little bit of a yawn. I waited anxiously for Shibboleth. I had heard them once before at Zac Crain’s mayoral run announcement and can’t say they made much of an impression on me. After Thursday night, I don’t see how that happened. They are phenomenal and lots of fun too. They are surf rock instrumental (?) and remind me of chase scenes in Austin Powers movies interspersed with erratic dance numbers. As they rocked the place, people just watched. What is it with Dallas crowds? Bands probably want you to dance or groove as opposed to sitting there with your cig and drink watching intensely as if through osmosis you are a better hipper person for watching a band. Get over it everybody! Let loose! Trust me, it’s as pretensious as you probably think the frat boys are over at the Barley House (which I’m about to get to).
After Shib came I Heart Trouble. Amanda thinks no chick under 35 can rock but made the exception for Anna Proctor and her band. And she’s right. Well, about the rockin’ part. Totally dug them and the fact that Ms. Proctor was on stage with a black dress and a string of pearls. Fabulous!
Astronautalis finished off the show and I’ve always been fascinated by this guy. I can’t say I’m a fan but I like his choices in his beats. Borderline Tourrette’s, Astro jerks and twitches and squirms with abandon getting his songs out but somehow he commands attention. And his freestyling skillz are off da hook. Can I say that? Dissing Alliyah for the Wii was hilarious as well as clever.
Good show, Boca.
Jump to Saturday night, I made my way to the Barley House to see Handclaps and Harmonies and I Love Math. HnH in their white pants and ties and baby blue shirts tore it up with their infectious tunes. But with the B House being as frat-tastic as it is, pretty much the SMU crowd just watched. Sitting at tables or talking at the bar not opening themselves up to some pretty good talent right in front of their faces. Yet, Monday morn they’ll talk about the cool band they saw in order to maintain street cred. Two chicks, my friend Beth and I stood watching the band partaking in our own groove thang and following along with the handclaps the band motioned for us to join.
And then I Love Math comes on. After a pumped up set from HnH, I was ready for more, only for this band to all take a seat and try to jam from their asses. A four piece rock outfit that lost me the second they started. First, they didn’t announce themselves, they just started. Second, they were sitting down. Third, their music was fairly generic. They had a following with fans standing as close to the stage as possible. But they were at least enjoying it as opposed to the rest of the boring crowd in their button ups layered under their navy blue sweaters. I loved the blonde chick that decided she couldn’t go one night w/o being hot so she had to wear her halter top….in 30 degree weather. The no-brainer joke is an easy one here.
So a good weekend with fairly good music. Thank you Amanda for introducing me to I Heart Trouble and thank you HnH for making it an early evening…or I guess that would have been I Love Math.
Get off yer lazy a$$e$!!
