Two of our favorite local fashion juggernauts are joining forces. House of Dang is closing its retail space on Bryan Street and moving its operations to the Bishop Arts District, where designers Andrew Bayer and Doug Voisin (above) will share studio and showroom space with Tara Tonini, of Tara to the T fame. The fash collabo will be called Studio 411 and will allow the Dang duo to focusing on and growing their business. To celebrate their transition, the House of Dang and its next-door neighbor And/Or Gallery will throw a closing celebration at 7 p.m. July 24. Their shared back yard space is tres cozy and makes for some fun partying, so mark yer calendar.
Keeping with our hyperlocal fashion theme, the Indie Shop Soiree will feature the creations of more than 20 emerging designers and artists this Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at House of Blues. Tickets are $15, which gets you a swag bag, chocolates, cocktails (!!!) and entertainment. So get out there and shop!
I got some sweet nightclub events burning a hole in my e-mail inbox. Sadly, I'll be out of town and missing all the hotness, so that just means you have to check 'em out for me! ;-) Peep this!
Follow the yellow brick road to new night spot AMPM, which is presenting Lost in Oz, a Wizard of Oz-themed event featuring Billy the Kidd from KISS-FM as guest DJ. In the spirit of the event, there'll even be a yellow carpet for high-profile arrivals. Fun!
In addition to serving some kick-ass food, Kenichi happens to have a bomb-ass lounge, all sleek and stylish, tucked on its second floor. On Tuesday nights, resident DJs Jose G. and Disco Dave man the decks, but in coming weeks, the lounge will welcome guest spinners DJ Love (July 17), DJ Jask (July 21; $5 after 11 p.m.) and Sarah Stylez (July 28).
To celebrate its birfday, Ghostbar is bringing in the big guns: DJ AM (right) will spin at the Victory Park nightclub this Saturday night. The event will also feature tropical cocktails -- summer attire is requested.
Joyce is reveling in sexy with its Styleistik Thursdays, which gets popping tonight at 10 on the downtown ultra-lounge's rooftop patio. Added bonus to the fabulous atmosphere: Joyce will feature a listening lounge offering a taste of Maxwell's latest album, Black Summers' Night. Hot music from a hot singer at a hot lounge? Sign me up.
Just got word from LiveNation that Aerosmith will perform its classic '75 album Toys in the Attic in its entirety at the July 19 show with ZZ Top at Superpages.com Center.
I also just saw a tweet from Farm Aid (there's something wrong with that phrase) that the long-running Willie-helmed extravaganza will be dropping hints about where its next edition will take place. I'm thinking Cowboys Stadium? That'd be fun.
Having attended the preview screening of Brüno the other night, I can tell you that it's just as explicit and provocative as expected. But is it offensive? Depends on the viewer, I guess.
While I had to cover my eyes to avoid moments of extreme awkwardness, I took no real issue with the stunts Sacha Baron Cohen pulls in the film, most of them part of a subversive effort to open Americans' eyes about their own perceptions of homosexuality.
Like Cohen's Borat character did before, Brüno consistently takes things too far when talking to or spending time with the "unknowing" interviewees and bystanders in the movie. But unlike Borat, Brüno seems to know he's taking things too far, and doesn't care. "Ish just vant to be a star," he'd say.
He makes Paula Abdul sit on the back of a Mexican gardener for lack of chairs. He puts a "GAYBY" shirt on his adopted African child. He and his lover/assistant call for help from hotel staff when they get, uh, stuck together. He camps out with a group of backwoods hunters and makes passes at one of them in the middle of the night. And so on.
What a lot of folks are taking offense to, one would suppose, is the way Brüno represents gay people. He's got no sexual boundaries, and he sees everything and everyone as fashion accessories to be used and abused in his quest for superstardom. He's so two-dimensional, he might as well be a cartoon character. But really, does anyone believe that all gays are like Brüno? I give Americans more credit than that -- at least the ones who aren't in the film.
And there's an argument to be made as to whether some of the film's subjects were completely clueless about what was really going on. For instance, there's a scene in which Brüno goes to a military boot camp to try to make himself straight. The two officers barking orders at him are hilarious in their sternness and the way they respond to Brüno's sarcasm. But there's no way they thought this was anything but a comedic experiment. Brüno played his part; they played theirs.
Got a note last night about the new solo album from Danny Balis (King Bucks, Sorta, the Ticket). Too Much Living comes out Sept. 1, and before that Balis will open for Slobberbone Aug. 21 at the Granada. I saw Danny perform some solo stuff at the Carter Albrecht CD release show; his rich baritone voice is well suited to the refreshingly traditional country tunes on the record. Can't wait to hear the final product. Press release after the jump.
After years of inactivity, the Austin blues-rock supergroup Arc Angels (Charlie Sexton, Tommy Shannon, Chris Layton and the great Doyle Bramhall II) is becoming a semi-regular treat in Dallas. If you haven't seen the band live, now's your chance. 8 p.m. House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar St. $25-$76. 1-800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com.
The event dubbed "Atmosphere" is a free night full of groundbreaking
electronic music, presented by a lineup of top-notch local DJs. They include Wanz Dover, Fur, Sean Sparks, Ops and Dragonman. 10 p.m. Rubber Gloves, 411 E. Sycamore, Denton. Free. 940-387-0551 or rubberglovesdentontx.com.
Minnesota rock trio Low performs at The Loft , 1135 S. Lamar St. Doors at 8 p.m. $12 and $14. theloftdallas.com.
DJ Sober spins at Top Notch Thursdays from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at The Cavern, 1914 Greenville Ave. Free. thecaverndallas.com.
Guns 4 Roses, which bills itself as "the ultimate Guns N' Roses tribute experience," performs with the Hair Ballad All-Stars at the House of Blues Cambridge Room, 2200 N. Lamar St. Doors at 8 p.m. $7.50-$10. houseofblues.com.
The Art of Seduction college night party at Purgatory. Ladies in lingerie and pumps get in free until 11 p.m. Music provided by Billy the Kidd, Dtrain, ATG and Hex. Doors open at 10. 2208 Main St. $10 for guys, $5 for ladies. 972-567-3068. accessdallas.com.
Girls Night Out at Plush. $2 martinis until 11 p.m. Valet free for unescorted ladies. 9 p.m. 1400 Main St. No cover. 214-606-1203. myspace.com/plushdallas.
Were you captured by our cameras this past weekend at The Quarter Bar? Click on the picture to see Quick's Club Cam gallery. And check back next Thursday for a new slideshow.
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