Since the new Aloft hotel is on the way to Central Expressway from my job, I've peeked through the soaring windows recently and seen what appears to be a neon-adorned bar area. Far from being just a counter and some stools, however, it turns out the Re:mix is a full-fledged lounge. A full-fledged, really cool-looking lounge. Check out some photos of it here. You can be sure I'll be checking in to this lounge very soon ...
... on the recent announcement that the Grammy-winning Dallas hip-hop producing/rapping duo will get its own imprint under SRC/Universal Records. Juan and Oscar Salinas, who headlined this year's Quick's Big Thing back in June, will have the opportunity to sign and develop new artists under the new label, dubbed G4 Muzik. Their first signee? Dallas rapper Inertia.
Celebrate with the Salinas boys and other special guests tonight at Joyce Lounge. If you've met these guys, you know it'll be a wild one. Flyer after the jump.
'Sorority Row' is one of those movies that you see when you feel like throwing every bit of your good taste out the window. Which is most days for me. Team Audrina!
Anyway, in anticipation for the sorority-prank-gone-wrong horror-thriller, we asked star Leah Pipes to give us a little celebrity playlist. She came through via e-mail with some downright mature selections, in effect rubbing her good taste in my face. Bitch.
Take it away, Leah!
Pink Floyd's "Jugband Blues" - 1st song off of A Saucerful of Secrets. Not as famous as some of their other songs, but really great nonetheless.
Led Zeppelin's "Bron-Y-Aur Stomp" - Off of Led Zeppelin 3 but if you can find the live version from How the West Was Won, do it. It's awesome!
Parliament's "Express Yourself" - If I'm having a bad day this song never fails to put me in a good mood.
Bob Dylan's "It's Alright Ma" - The song is really long and the music itself is pretty basic, but it has some of the best lyrics I've ever heard.
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros' "Home" - A friend just burned me a CD with this song and I can't stop listening to it. It makes me want to fall in love.
Since 1993, independent rock magazine Harder Beat has provided coverage of the local and touring music scenes from the fan's perspective. You could find it at record stores, bars and other businesses around town. Its presence in the racks signaled to visitors and newbies that Dallas has a thriving hardcore music scene.
But presence alone apparently couldn't pay the bills or keep fatigue from setting in for founder and editor Linda Hollar, who ended the mag's 16-year run with this month's issue. In her goodbye letter, she recounts her history with the publication and laments how difficult it'd become to keep a print publication afloat.
"It was so much work and so frustrating trying to get ads," Hollar told us over the phone today. "At one time, we had lots of local support. Bands and clubs bought ads. Now, everybody thinks they can get by with a MySpace page. It's happened to every print pub across the country to some degree."
Hollar seemed relieved to no longer have to deal with the pressures of getting Harder Beat to the printer each month, but there was also some heartbreak in her voice when she talked about having to tell contributors and supporters that she was calling it quits.
"When I started this, I didn't do it for the money. I did it mostly for the concert tickets, because seeing rock and writing about it was fun."
That's definitely the way of thinking that came through in Harder Beat's text-heavy pages. Album and concert reviews and news from the hard-rock scene were written by people whose passion for the subject was more important than a paycheck.
Hollar says she won't keep the mag alive online for now, but she's not closing the door to those seriously interested in reviving it.
"This isn't something you can do when you've already got a full-time job weighing you down, so we'll see if anyone serious comes along," she said.
Skin: Dear Ben of Media, I've been on the record as to my disdain for yard work. We pulled our kids out of school to save money as opposed to letting the yard crew go. The problem is that fall is gettin' close. I know, because every time I walk outside I see more leaves on the ground, and I know a month from now they're going to be everywhere. I have a monster tree that drops giant pizza-platter-sized, lily-pad-looking leaves on everyone's yard, and I sure as hell ain't going out there and cleaning it up. Am I violating some sort of neighborhood protocol here?
Ben: You need to chop down that tree and sell firewood, dude. However, be advised that scorpions and spiders love to chill in firewood. Plus, I imagine that frog-rights activists will picket you for putting a lily pad tree out of business. But now that this is out there, protected-scorpion-dwelling protestors will likely picket you if you don't make it happen on their behalf. You're kinda screwed. I say burn your yard and never leave your house. But that's just me.
Skin: That's extremely sound advice. No doubt the reason you're known as the Sage Mayor of the Block in your block circles. But I want to make sure I have this straight. You're telling me that there are spiders and scorpions living in my tree, and once I chop it down I'll be liberating them, thus turning my front yard into an arachnid resort paradise? And if I don't chop it down, it's only a matter of time before the extremely progressive scorpion-advocacy groups do it anyway and claim the move as their bold stroke? Seems like either way, I'll eliminate my leaf problem, which couldn't be all bad. An interesting side note: I once had the Michael Schenker Group living in one of my privets. Aside from a few Germans and the editorial staff at Hit Parader magazine, nobody seemed to care.
Ben: All this talk about spider-scorpions is making me want to protest something. Let me know which way you're leaning on every issue in the world so I can pick an angle to protest. I can't wait to throw eggs at your fur coat and call you a murderer. Or I might protest protesters with better, more expensive signs. What were you saying about your stupid neighbors?
When I saw a Facebook friend post a status update about this American Idol news, I figured it just meant that congenial talk show host Degeneres would serve as a guest judge. But it sounded too bizarre to be true, so I Googled it. Degeneres is joining the cast permanently as Paula's replacement!!
As an Idol fanatic, I'm not sure how I feel about this. Could be savvy on the part of 19 Entertainment (Idol's producer) or pure folly that gets the show ridiculed. I'm leaning toward the former, though. Ellen probably wouldn't really have much in the way of constructive criticism to add in terms of contestants' singing ability, but she could definitely bring the snark. I can't wait to see her reaction during auditions (if they're still going on) when some nut job shows up to make everyone's ears bleed. Can you have imagined Ellen going head-to-head with last season's wack job Norman Gentle?!
Were you captured by our cameras this past weekend at Knox Street Pub? Click on the picture to see Quick's Club Cam gallery. And check back next Thursday for a new slideshow.
The members of garage-rock act The Ettes go by sweet little nicknames. There's lead singer Lindsay "Coco" Hames, Maria "Poni" Silver on drums and Jeremy "Jem" Cohen on bass. The L.A. trio is counting down to its new album, Do You Want Power, which is out Sept. 29. Get an early taste at what should be a straightforward, no-frills rock show. With the Backsliders and the Demigs. 9 p.m. Rubber Gloves, 411 E. Sycamore St., Denton. $8. rubberglovesdentontx.com.
Alt-rock/electronica acts She Wants Revenge and Kill Hannah performs at 8 p.m. at the Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave. $16 and $20. 214-824-9933. granadatheater.com.
Centro-matic frontman Will Johnson gives his fans an annual treat by doing stripped-down solo shows. You get a lot of insight into his songwriting at these gigs, because he's generous with the stories and anecdotes. Not to be missed. With opening act Liz Durrett. 10 p.m. Double Wide, 3510 Commerce St. Cover TBA. 214-887-6510. double-wide.com.
Sweet as Candy at Purgatory. Girls in all pink or all yellow get no cover until 11 p.m. Guys will receive a lollipop at the door, the girl with the most lollipops at the end of the night receives a cash prize. DJs Billy the Kidd, Hex, Dtrain and ATG spin Top 40 and dance. Doors open at 10 p.m. 2208 Main St. $10. 972-567-3068. accessdallas.com.
Girls Night Out at Plush. Groups of eight or more girls receive a complimentary bottle. $2 martinis until 11 p.m. 9 p.m. 1400 Main St. No cover. 214-606-1203. plushdallas.com.
Champagne Thursday at the Hotel Capri. Complimentary champagne and mimosas for the ladies until midnight. Half-price select bottles all evening. $5 you-call-its all night. Doors open at 6 p.m. 2020 Greenville Ave. No cover. 214-370-9944. thehotelcapri.com.
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