"What Do We Gotta Do Dallas?"

By Pete Freedman Wed., May 6 2009 at 3:30 PM

Categories: Video

the man behind Life in Deep Ellum, who briskly walked past me two weekends ago at the second annual Mokah Music Summit and Showcase and opined as much, expressing his disappointment in the number of people (or lack thereof) who'd come to the free music and art event.

There was maybe around a hundred people in attendance at the evening's festivities, which featured free performances from the likes of The Orbans, Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights, The O's, RTB2 and others--a nice number, but disappointing nonetheless. Why? I dunno, perhaps because folks had seen their fill of free music the weekend prior at Good Records' bash? Who knows? This town never fails to surprise me.

Either way, a lot of folks did miss out on a cool, free local music-centric event. And, to top it all off, they missed the above video, which features a bunch of area misfits, including yours truly, talking about the state of the local scene.

Among other things you can glean from the video? I really need a haircut.

Tags:

Danny Balis, Hunter Hauk, Jack Steven, m2s2, Mike Daniel, video

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can we come up with another word besides "scene"?.. cringe.
I could give a shit about whether our music community is "cool or respected". That and a dollar might buy you a Coke. What I care about, now more than ever, is that my friends who either make or promote music can continue to do so for a living. If you really think the bands that Robert and I have written about "weren't that great", that's fine. You're certainly entitled to your opinion. This, however, I do know for sure: there was a time when at least a dozen bands here in DFW who could each easily draw 750 people to every one of their gigs. That meant we could sustain an economic infrastructure that provided paying jobs for musicians, DJs, promoters, managers, writers, photographers, graphic artists, engineers, label owners, record store employees, bartenders and waitresses. That ain't happening now. People like you are doing nothing to rectify the situation. Your friends who might have made a commitment to a life playing or selling music are now working shit jobs that lower their quality of life. I'm sure they would much rather have a paying music gig than be thought of as "cool" or respected.
To "the ghost" Wrong, it doesn't matter to me if a band has 10 fans or 10 million. If you really think booking a full day's worth of mediocre bands helps "strengthen" the scene, you're clueless. Why would anyone go to a show like that, when there's nothing there they can't see any time? Why are there people like you who actually care about the Dallas scene? It's never gonna be cool or respected. In fact, it never has been, no matter what people like Jeff Liles and Robert Wilonsky say, all of the bands that brought people into clubs like Trees and Club Dada were never really that great. So, what have I done to improve the state of Dallas music? Nothing. I don't care about it and neither should you. I can't believe people are complaining about a small turnout of 100 people at this event. With those bands, you should be lucky anyone showed up.
To Anonymous, I am glad I do not personally know you as well. I do, however, know your type. Let me guess, you are a hipper-than-thou type who thinks a band has "sold out" the second they have a fan base. It's easy to throw stones at bad bands; I fully admit that Dallas has more than its share of really awful music. By harping on the crap, however, that does nothing to actually strengthen the local music scene. Maybe you're happy to see local bands struggle. If that's the case, shut up and go away. Seriously, what have you done to try to improve the scene? And no, insulting bands does not count as helping the scene. I do not claim to be the bearer of all that is good and right in regards to local music. All I can do is share my opinion with those who read my blog and hope they like what I say. I am fortunate to have a small but loyal following who trust my opinion. That's all I can do, but at least I am putting forth an effort to try to improve things. Again, Anonymous, I ask the question: what have you done to try to improve the state of Dallas music?
I thought that Jack Steven was a trendy poser, but then he said the obvious - Dallas , no support, better because of it. Thank you outsider for seeing the obvious that so many missed. I wish you well and freedom from the suits you seem to represent. (PS what Dallas is missing is an ounce of originality outside of that box office)
Which is the apple guy and which is the PC?
...and, Anonymous, how many "churches" do you know with Double-Wide Bar on hand selling beer and wine in their space???? A church? Seriously?
Wow, anonymous...I work there and had no idea it was a church...thanks for letting me know! Actually, it is a collection of communities -- music, art, culture and spiritual...a church does meet there on Sundays and the original founding group of the cultural center are the people from the spiritual community...but to define Life in Deep Ellum as a "church" where you only have options for God and coffee is way off the mark...and would not be made by anyone who has spent any time there (unless you come on Sunday morning when a spiritual community does meet in the venue space)...actually, a lot of different organizations use the place from a wide variety of backgrounds and beliefs...might want to research a little before firing off opinions in an open forum...but, it's all good...
michelle, if that's the case, I'm glad I don't know who he is. Most people involved with the Dallas music scene are uninformed and have horrible taste. Then, have the nerve to pretend that they aren't those things.
"The Ghost" is hardly anonymous. Most people involved with the Dallas music scene know him...
It's at a freakin church... what else ever goes on there? why would anyone ever stop by there except to get with god? Coffee? Try MSM2 somewhere else that people go to on a regular basis and who knows there might be a packed house.
there was alt-country at m2s2? Damn, I can't believe I missed that...
There is a simple way to rejuvenate Deep Ellum and help both ends too (Fair Park and Downtown). Get cars out of Main Street and make it a pedestrian walkway from Downtown to Fair Park. Over night that activates the entire road. Turns it into our "River Walk". Connects Fair Park and DT, and brings new life to all of the area. Then add buskers and food carts, and an electric train to move folks from one end to the other. There is no reason any car has to drive THROUGH downtown. It can go to downtown, or around downtown. This simple city planning move would save all three areas.
to the ghost (yeah that's not anonymous): guess i should have thrown in "watered down alt country" too.
I have seen both The Crash That Took Me as well as JT&NL bring in far bigger crowds at Granada Theater, where people actually had to PAY to see their sets. The fact that there was not a bigger turn out for an event that one could get into for free has me both stumped and concerned. I have asked essentially the same question Mr. Biggs is asking on my blog. Alas, I have no answers. By the way, why is it that the one commenter who felt the need to slam the event doesn't have the balls to use some sort of real signature instead of being an Anonymous poster? If you're going to complain about "boring alternative music and white blues" (by the way, which are The O's?) then don't be a coward and sign your name.
no one wants to see middle of the road local bands all get together and play one place for a long day. all of those bands play around here regularly and you can catch them any time you want. nice effort but as long as your taste leans toward boring alternative music and white blues, what do you expect? 100 people showing up to this event sounds like a success to me.
Still the question we wonder at M2S2...must say, though, the crowd was not as light as reported here (it was disappointing, but 100 is a WAY LOW reflection of how many were there...at times, there were 100 in the lounge space alone)...based on wristband count, VIP list check-ins and band members and guests, there were 350-400 people that came thru the doors after 7:00...the earlier part of the day with Zounds Sounds had about 450 in the doors...the problem in the evening was that a lot of people came and went and there were times that there might have been only 100 in the venue space listening to the music, but there were more people hanging out in the lounge and patio outside...
Appears to be the Yes Go Productions logo (they made the video). But maybe it's Brad Pitt.
What is flashed when Jack Stevens is talking about photographers and such around the 9th minute? Just curious. -A.
Yep. I could kick myself for missing this one cuz we live in the same hood. Really like the Mokah space. Saw the ads, so no excuse. Must admit though that this time of year I get festival fatigue because it's one event after the other. We just can't keep up.
Well I had a great time at M2S2, regardless of the surprisingly lame turnout.