Dallas Music Blog

...and for the Youtube inclined, here's your link.

Last week, we welcomed the four young Denton gents in This Old House to Hal Samples' SPACE Studio for what, turns out, will be the final episode of the DC9 in SPACE series. We'll still have regular tapings with local bands, mind you--just not in Hal's loft space, as tonight, after an exhibit called "HOME," Hal's gallery will close its doors.

Many thanks to both him and his SPACE staff for helping us make this series a reality and a success far greater than any of us imagined when we first started this endeavor back in early May. Given the circumstances, there'll be no taping tonight; instead, we ask you to stop on by 2814 Main Street this evening and thank Hal for his contributions to this series, to Deep Ellum and to the local arts scene as a gallery owner for the past few years.

But back to the music: Sonically, it's quite fitting that This Old House was the final band taped at SPACE. Calming and ethereal, the quartet's atmospheric indie rock provided the DC9 in SPACE series a proper, peaceful goodbye. The band, named not for Bob Vila's TV show but for a painting at one of the members' homes, may only be a few months old, but its sound is a lush, intricate one, existing confidently somewhere between jammy and indie realms--and in quite an alluring way, too. You'll see what I mean in the above clip.

And, if you enjoy what you see, catch the band later this month, on November 29, at Dan's Silverleaf.

...Youtube loyalists may also watch the video here.

Last week, we welcomed the friendly five-piece known as Seryn into SPACE Studio's confines for our weekly DC9 in SPACE taping. And, just as the band had done at Good Records a few weeks before, and even though it's just a few months old, it still impressed.

Like crazy, in fact.

Of course, let's not get ahead of ourselves: This is still a band very much discovering what exactly it is. But, already though, there are the gorgeous harmonies. And, sure enough, lush arrangements and broad instrumentations--which is no doubt what first caught Telegraph Canyon's eye when it asked Seryn to open its in-store performance. Plus: Singalong choruses, go figure.

Oh, like we wouldn't approve? That's like a checklist to our heart around here. Which, sure, is why we're probably so excited about what we're hearing from the band--mostly, we hope, because this is only the beginning. Seryn's songs, after all, are still in the process of being created and crafted.

Even so, it's quite the joy to hear the band at this early point in its existence--and hopefully you'll agree after checking out the above episode, our 26th in the ongoing series. Enjoy!

Gavin Guthrie

Sleep Whale, at dusk.

​

...and for the people who only watch videos on Youtube, your link.

Quite the time last Wednesday night at our weekly DC9 in SPACE taping, as the crazy kids in Giggle Party stopped on by SPACE Studio with a couple friends and props in tow. Among those props? Black cloaks, silver masks, silly string, confetti, malt liquor and cupcakes.

Why all that? Well, you'll find out in the clip above. But let's just say that the band wanted to make sure that our DC9 video wasn't going to be forgotten in the wake of its brilliant video for "Jason Bought A Hatchet." And they did a commendable job, I'd say. This much is for sure: It was, by far, the messiest DC9 in SPACE shoot to date. Mostly, the band explains, because this is how it hopes to pull of its show on the road as it embarks on its first-ever tour. There's more to it than that, of course--but it's all in the video, so check it out.

And, if you're free tonight at 7:30, stop on by SPACE (2814 Main St.) once more, as we welcome yet another local act into the studio and film them for our ongoing series. Chances are it won't be as messy as last week's taping. But I'm not gonna make any promises. See you in a few hours.

...and for y'all who are still stuck on Youtube, take your link.

Austin's The Rocketboys, once upon a time, were known as Homer Hiccolm & the Rocketboys, and, at that point, they were based out of Abilene. That alone, actually, makes them the best formerly-mispelled-October Sky-referencing band ever to come out of Abilene--without question, really. Surely, that has to keep the band members warm at night.

Fortunately, the band's got some legs to stand on in addition to the above distinction. Among them? Impressive harmonies and melodies, and, overall, quite the pleasing, heartfelt indie rock sound. Hear it for yourself on the band's just-released debut full-length 20,000 Ghosts, for which the band hosted a CD release party for its many Dallas fans at Trees last Wednesday night. It was quite the performance, too, actually--bolstered in part by the fact that the Trees performance marked the Rocketboys' first in town with Dallas native and former New Frontiers drummer Alex Bhore added into its lineup.

Before that show, though, Bhore and his new band stopped by for a taping of our ongoing weekly DC9 in SPACE series--our 24th episode, by the way--to offer up DC9 readers and a group of fans in attendance a couple intimate takes of its tracks. Such treatment worked wonders, too--especially on the band's longtime crowd favorite "Heartbeat," which ends the above clip.

Oh, and by the way: Tonight, we'll be filming our 25th installment of the series. Should make for both a good time and a nice change of pace, too, actually, as we welcome dance-punk act Giggle Party in to SPACE Studio (located at 2814 Main St.) for a 7:30 p.m. filming. Like all our DC9 in SPACE tapings, tonight's is free to attend. Also? I have it on good authority that there's silly string involved in this one. So, yeah, stop on by. I'll see you there.

...and for the Youtube-inclined, here's your link.

Fresh off a three-star review Rolling Stone review of its new EP, Appaloosa, Brooklyn-based retro-rock outfit HYMNS stopped by to participate in our ongoing DC9 in SPACE series last Wednesday night, offering up toned-down versions of the new EP's songs while also sharing a few tales of lost instruments and drinking games gone bad.

It was the first stop on part of the band's 10-day visit to the region, which has become something of a second home to the quartet, thanks to a slew of area ties. Among those local connections: the band's label, Blackland Records, which is based out of Greenville and run by former Radish drummer John David Kent; the band's new-ish drummer, Kent's younger brother Tony, who also calls Greenville home; the band's guitarist, Jason Roberts, who, though not native of the region, spent a couple years backing Greenville's Ben Kweller on the road; and brand-new bass player Joey McClellan, a Dallas native most recognizable in the local scene as the frontman of the formerly Dallas-based rock act The Fieros. Really, the only one without a direct tie to the area is frontman Brian Harding. As such, the taping had something of a homecoming feel to it, with friends and new fans stopping on in to watch the band perform. Check out the results in the above clip.

And, as always, feel free to stop on by SPACE Studio (2814 Main St.) at 6:30 this evening for yet another free performance taping, this one featuring Abilene's The Rocketboys, another act with more than a few Dallas ties. Later in the night, the band will perform a CD release show celebrating its new album, 20,000 Ghosts, at Trees. For the taping, though, the band has promised alternative versions of old tracks, as well as a few new songs it won't perform at this evening's full-on performance. So, basically: It should all add up to yet another good time. See you there.

...and for those stuck on Youtube still, here's your link.

You might recognize a few familiar faces in the crowd at last week's DC9 in SPACE taping with The Beaten Sea--namely, the members of The Fox & The Bird, who themselves stopped by SPACE a few weeks back, which makes sense, of course. Aside from being friends with this promising new duo comprising of Jamie Wilson and Benj Pocta, that act and this one share a lot of similarities. As such, in the above clip, you can expect to hear some folky tunes with gothic and even gospel underpinnings (the crowd's singing along helps on that front).

You'll also hear the band admit to the fact that they don't really consider themselves to be very much in the way of musicians, which, though perhaps overdoing it in the humility department, makes the above clip all the more remarkable; at the very least, as you'll surely agree upon watching the clip, this duo has a knack for songwriting. Anyway, check it out. This was a pretty special taping, and the above video--greatly edited by our own Patrcik Michels as always--portrays as much quite well.

Tonight's taping, which takes place at 7:30 at SPACE Studio (2814 Main St.), should also be a pretty special affair. Our guests this evening are the members of HYMNS, an act which, although based in New York, features a number of members who've cut their teeth plenty in the Dallas music scene. As always, the event is free to attend. We hope you will.

...and for the Youtube fans, here's your link.

It was two Wednesdays back now that longtime DC9 favorites Dem Southernfolkz stopped through as the second act performing at the celebratory 20th taping of our ongoing DC9 in SPACE series. Candid, humble and thoughtful, this trio--Big Ben, Kinfolk Jack and Saturday Aldridge--spoke with us about the creative process, the need for a riveting live hip-hop show and how they came together as an act.

You won't see too much on that last bit in the above video--but you will hear a snippet or two of one of the tracks you'll be able to hear on one of the band's many upcoming projects, which currently include an EP and a re-issue of its full-length debut, both by the end of the year. Anyway, check the clip out--fans of the more soulful side of hip-hop will no doubt aprove.

And, starting tonight, we're back on with our weekly performances and taping. Tonight's starts at 7 p.m., so stop on by SPACE Studio (2814 Main St.) and check it out. We may even have some extra passes to the Best of Dallas party taking place a block over at Trees to hand out (emphasis on "may"). Either way, come on by.

...and for the Youtube freaks, your link's right here.

Last week, two artists stopped by our weekly DC9 in SPACE taping in celebration of our 20th episode of the weekly installment. First up? The always cheerful Johnny Lloyd Rollins, who excitedly spoke about his upcoming record with the small crowd of friends and fans assembled to listen. And though Rollins wouldn't play any of the new cuts from the disc--not on camera, at least--he did play a few of his old songs that are being re-worked to fit into the theme of his upcoming escape-from-modern-society release. And that shouldn't be too tough for the dynamic Rollins to pull off; his songs have always had a backward-looking, nostalgic aesthetic. Actually, that's one of the many things we talked about in this week's episode, which you can see above. Check it out.

As for the other artist who stopped by SPACE last week? Well, we've got some great footage of Dem Southernfolkz pontificating on life and hip-hop for our camera, too. But we're gonna hold off on posting that episode for just one more week, if you don't mind.

Why? Well, 'cause we've filmed 21 of these suckers now, and tonight, we're taking a break from the filming. We'll be back on schedule next week, though. So check next Wednesday's DC9 in SPACE post for details on that night's taping. As always, it will be free to attend.

...and for the Youtube-favoring set, here's your link.

The quite self-deprecating Nicholas Altobelli stopped on by DC9 in SPACE last week and shared with us his worries about creating music, his fears about the direction of Texas music and his love for, of all musicians, Shania Twain (seriously). All in all, it was a quiet, uncertain evening, but the folk-singing Altobelli, long-approved around these parts for his poetic, if somewhat depressing lyrics, kept things light with his sense of humor. And it all makes for what we hope is yet another enjoyable installment of this ongoing series.

Oh, and speaking of: Tonight we celebrate the 20th taping of this series--something we're quite proud of. It's sure feels like a while since we launched this deal back in early May with a focus on True Widow in our debut installment. But, somehow, we've managed to do this thing once a week, every week. Anyway, it's truly been a joy to create on our end. For those of you who've stopped on by for tapings so far, I hope it's been a joy for you, too.

But, either way--whether you've been to one of these tapings before or not--please feel free stop on by SPACE Studio (2814 Main St.) in Deep Ellum tonight if you're up to the task. As a sort of self-congratulatory ploy and also as a thanks to the fans who've shown up to these tapings on a regular basis, tonight's event will actually feature two tapings--one from Johnny Lloyd Rollins and another from Dem Southernfolkz, two great area artists hard at work as they prepare for the release of their next records. The first taping will get going shortly after 8 p.m. So, please, stop on by. Tonight's deal, as all of our Wednesday night DC9 in SPACE tapings are, is free to attend.

...and as for the YouTube, well, there's that link now too.

At last week's DC9 in SPACE taping, the only five-month-old Richardson-based folk act The Fox and The Bird stopped by the studio, and showcased a level of performance well beyond what one would expect from such a new act. In front of an adoring audience of friends and fans, the five-piece--Dan Bowman, Kelsey Bowman, Travis Lawrence, Wheeler Sparks and Daniel Hall--offered up gorgeous four-part harmonies and a warm, homey sound.

That last bit--the homey part, I mean--doesn't come by accident; as you'll hear in the above interview and performance, nearly every song the band writes is based around the idea and theme of the home and all that it entails. Coupled with a wide range of instrumentation and a beautiful, organic sound, it all adds up to a promising start to the career arch of this young band--so young, in fact, that the band has yet to put any of its songs, aside from a few assorted live recordings, to tape.

Which, I guess, makes this week's clip about as ideal a setting in which to introduce yourself to The Fox and The Bird. The band. you'll hear, agrees with that assessment.

And, remember (shameless plug alert!), we do this every Wednesday night at SPACE Studio (2814 Main St.) in Deep Ellum. Stop on by some time.

...and for the Youtube inclined, we begrudgingly present your alternative Youtube link.

It's tough to deny the pop sensibilities of Salim Nourallah. If anything, we've come to expect that talent from him. Which might be why his latest--and supposedly final--release, Constellation, came off as such a nice surprise. Sure, it still features Nourallah singing the kind of pop gems we know he can provide, but, because of the way in which they were recorded--basically, that they weren't self-produced--they showed off a slightly different side of the well-known area songsmith.

Speaking of different sides: Nourallah sure showcased one at last week's taping for our 17th installment of our ongoing DC9 in SPACE series, revealing the man behind the curtain if you will, and opening up to a room full of his biggest supporters, taking questions and sharing stories about his music and the journeys behind his songs.

Click play on the above video clip and you'll see what I mean.

And, if you get the chance, stop by SPACE Studio (2814 Main Street in Deep Ellum) tonight at 8 o'clock as we welcome one of the newer bands to the local scene into this little project. As always, these performances are free to attend.

...and for the Luddites still rockin' the Youtube, here's your link.

This week's installment of DC9 in Space starts with a tandem swig of beer, features maybe a few too many one-liners from King Buck keys man Chad Stockslager, and ends with a performance of "Tethered," one of the many fine, fine country tunes from Danny Balis' debut solo effort, Too Much Living.

There are other songs strewn throughout the clip, of course. Also, some fun facts--like how Balis thinks his solo material compares to that of The King Bucks, how Balis' close friend Carter Albrecht's death directly propelled the creation of the record, and how, if for no one else, Balis made the record for his mother, herself a country artist back in the day. (She's a fan, big shock.)

It's all in this week's above, must-see installment of our ongoing series, so go ahead and hit play.

And, per usual Wednesday habit, we'll be taping yet another installment of this series at Space Studio (2814 Main St.) tonight at 7:30, as yet another secret performer stops by for the DC9 in Space treatment. Should be yet another special night, so stop on by. It's free to attend, y'know.

...and if it's the YouTube you want, then, by god, it's YouTube you get.

Good luck picking out each of the instruments at work in this week's video.

Along with the pair of guitars he'd play that night, Robert Gomez rolled into SPACE for last Wednesday night's taping followed by Heather Test, Jesse Chandler and Buffi Jacobs, who wrangled a cello, French horn, omnichord, melodica, glockenspiel and a typewriter.

Bringing all these elements togehter in an acoustic setting isn't easy, but they gotten the room figured out well in time for the song at the end of the video, when the patchwork of sounds all works just right. Throw in the splashes of color projected across the band, and Gomez's songs create a powerful mood -- broken just for a moment here when SPACE dog Cash has a few words for the horn.

As for this week's taping of DC9 in SPACE, we'll be keeping the streak alive tonight at SPACE Studio (2814 Main St.) tonight at 8 o'clock, where another standout local artist will be joining us for a little music and conversation.

...and for the relics still stuck on Youtube, here's your link.

On its upcoming album, The Tide and The Current (set for an August 18 release), Telegraph Canyon pushes itself far beyond the "promising" tag it had dutifully earned with its 2006 full-length, All The Good News. Indeed, the new disc, produced by Centro-matic's Will Johnson in Austin, is a soul-bearing, deliberately paced, at-once epic and restrained force, beautifully arranged both in its instrumentation and in its vocal harmonies. A surefire contender for best area release of 2009, the disc more than solidifies the band's rightful place among the region's best.

So it was with great pleasure then, that, even after a Dallas Observer Music Awards-filled week in which we saw not one, but two performances from the band, we welcomed the Fort Worth band back to Dallas again last Wednesday night for the 13th taping of our ongoing DC9 in SPACE series.

It was an eventful night, for certain, filled with both frustration (which is shown pretty much immediately in the above clip) and accidental good fortune (check out the improvised freestyle atop the band's performance of "Old Dark Hymns" that closes out this week's installment). And that's saying nothing of the candlelit performance the band offered. Or the band's strolling performance through Deep Ellum--the band's first time walking and playing, the members swore, although you'd never guess it from the footage.

We'll have a feature on the band and its impressive new release in our print edition in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, check out the above video. It should tide you over quite well, I think. No pun intended, I promise.

...and for those of you of the Youtube persuasion, your link is right here.

Last week's guest at DC9 in SPACE were Paul Slavens, Audrey Easley, Tamara Cauble and Rachel Yoder, who, when their powers combine, join to form the neo-classical electro-chamber orchestral outfit Chameleon Chamber Group. Unsurprisingly, at least on the surface, it was the most formal taping we've yet seen at SPACE Studio--thanks in large part to the wigs and attire worn by the group's classically trained players. Of course, that all got unhinged a bit toward the end, when the band performed--for only the second time, turns out--a live remix to a classical take from Carmen.

The moral of the story? Don't judge books by their covers. For instance: This ragtag outfit wasn't scared to openly call itself a cover band. Or to talk about sex on camera. Or to proudly boast that it just might be "the hardest drinking band in Dallas."

And they did it all in the company of children and clowns--because, that's just how Chameleon Chamber Group rolls, I guess. And you thought the metal scene was hard.

Anyway, check out the above and see all this for yourself. And, next week? We'll get back to our regular Wednesday posting schedule, promise.

...and for ye of the Youtube generation, here's your link.

Last week, Ryan Hamilton and Jencey Hirunrusme, better known 'round these parts as the indie pop duo Smile Smile, stopped by SPACE Studio for the latest installment of our ongoing DC9 in SPACE--or episode No. 11, for those of you keeping score at home.

It was a fairly subdued, and yet talkative, affair--which, as is always the case with this duo, led to some interesting discussions of the band members' romantic (and subsequently, kinda bitter) history with one another. We talked about some other things, too, of course--the band's recent tour with Metric and its upcoming Kirtland Records release, Truth on Tape, among them--but it all seemed to keep coming back to the band's back-and-forth banter and overall dynamic, something these artists very much realize they'll forever have to contend with.

Many thanks to Ryan and Jencey for being so honest and forthcoming. As you'll see above, it makes for some great (even if, at-times, cringe-inducing) footage--and a phenomenal look into the band's personal lives.

Tonight at SPACE (2814 Main St.), 'cause it's a Wednesday and all, we'll be filming yet another installment in the series at 7 p.m. And tonight's guest, Chameleon Chamber Group, has some pretty cool, fairly ambitions plans for the taping, too. So, if you're not headed to Sonic Youth, stop on by and check it out; it'll either be really cool or a complete failure. Which, either way, is totally fine by us, as both make for great footage.

...and for the more Youtube-inclined, here's your link.

Last week, a real treat for those who've been making the weekly trek to SPACE Studio for our DC9 in SPACE tapings: Indie hip-hop and freestyle mindblower, Astronautalis dropped by for, well, what turned out to be quite the paean to all things America and Deep Ellum. 

The result? Probably the most bizarre, patriotic and utterly random DC9 in SPACE taping yet. Totally cool, though--it made for some great footage. Check it out for yourself in the, well, pretty topical clip above.

You'll see what I mean. Just watch.

Oh, and tonight? Yet another weekly DC9 in SPACE taping, par for course as it's a Wednesday and all. It starts at 7:30, so come on by 2814 Main St. in Deep Ellum if you wanna participate. As for who's playing? Well, this much I can guarantee: There's bound to be a smile or two in the room...

If you self-identify with the YouTube generation, you'll find the video here.

Devoted watchers will recall an inspired guest appearance on week seven's Sarah Jaffe video (right around the three-minute mark), from the folks across the street at Lucky's Tattoos. As Jaffe pointed out, they weren't half-bad, and we decided to bring them into the fold for this week's video with the hip-hop duo Damaged Good$.

Trak Bully (Theodore Beard, who also appears in the Observer's music section this week), and Coool Dundee (Chris Clark) made sure this video wouldn't be your typical strum-and-chat session. Instead, Coool wrangled Hal's camera away to shoot this opening scene himself, and Trak went under the needle, on-camera and mid-performance.

Watching these guys riff off one another is an impressive show of chemistry, and in the interview, they share a few thoughts on what fans can look forward to from their next album--like the new song "The Dopest Fliest" the guys perform toward the end of the clip. Most impressive of all, though, was Trak's performance from the tattoo chair, a model of coolness the whole time. Even after going over footage from two camera angles, we didn't see him wince even once.

This week's surprise guest performance gets rolling at 8 p.m., in the usual SPACE, 2814 Main St. You and a friend are, as always, more than welcome to swing by for the free performance.

...and, for the Youtube inclined, here's your link.

Last Wednesday night, Taylor Young and John Pedigo, known 'round these parts as the thunderdoggin' folk duo The O's, stopped by and bro'd down at SPACE Studios for yet another installment of DC9 in SPACE, our eight episode into the ongoing series.

Bad decisions were made... someone mentioned getting into bed... Hal pulled out a camera... it was weird. Entertaining, though, for sure. Check it out above.

Oh, and think about stopping by for tonight's taping, too, if you've got the chance. It's gonna be a pretty cool little taping--so much so that we're breaking our own "secret performer" rule (just this once... for now) and opening up the floodgates. Basically, we think we've got a pretty cool idea for tonight's shoot with local retro-futuristic hip-hop act Damaged Good$--and we think it just needs a crowd. Plus, I think the guys told me they might be debuting some new tracks? We'll see.

Stop on by SPACE (2814 Main St.) tonight at 7:30 p.m. and join on in.

(For the Youtube inclined, here's your link.)

Last week, the great Sarah Jaffe stopped by our weekly SPACE Studio residency for a filming of the most recent installment DC9 in SPACE. And it started off on somewhat of an odd kick: Not very long after Jaffe and backing players Robert Gomez and Jeremy Buller showed, the power went out. And that's why, toward the start of this, our seventh episode, you'll see a funny little smile from Jaffe when the lights turn on during one of her warm-up takes--it's the power coming back on, not someone accidentally messing up a shot.

Not that Jaffe didn't have to overcome those hurdles, too; she, Gomez and Buller sure did once they'd led a troupe of fans out front to the sidewalk in front of SPACE. There, Jaffe put up with tattoo shop hecklers, a car alarm blaring and a panhandler or two on top of it all.

So, yeah, Jaffe's come a long way from the shy, eyes-shut performer she once was, even if her response to my observation of as much was modestly denied. Just watch the video, though; it speaks for itself in that regard.

And, tonight at Space, we'll be filming Episode 8 of this ongoing series. Stop on by, if you'd like--it'll be oh so fun. Filming stars at 8:30. As for who's playing? Well, I've dropped a not-so-subtle hint in here already--and you know I can't say, per the rules of this little event.

So just come along and see for yourself. And enjoy some free music while you're at it.

If you prefer the flavor of YouTube, you can check out the video here.

To borrow an old cliche, Dale Jones is riddle wrapped in a mystery wrapped in an enigma.

Mostly because, when you first meet the man, who, while performing, goes by the moniker New Science Projects, he seems a gentle soul, a 20-year-old kid in glasses. A little shy, if anything.

Then he applies his bloody and dark face paint. And, just like that, he takes on a completely different personality, suddenly recalling some sort of devil-possessed, undead Elvis: He slurs his words; he can't stand up straight; he screams intermittently. It's all quite troubling, really. It just appears so insane.

And, yet, so perfect. So raw. So real. In this week's installment of DC9 in SPACE, we set out to capture this transformation on film. And while it's tough to say if we necessarily accomplished that feat, we certainly caught a few different sides of Jones' personality. In the above clip, you'll hear a few songs: an old blues take, a spoken word performance and, lastly, an unreleased folk song called "Wrapped Up Together."

Tonight, as we do every Wednesday night, we'll be doing the whole damn thing again, this time with another free show from an area artist. Won't tell you who it is--that's the idea remember (although, somehow, this week's performer seems to have leaked; snoop around and you can figure it out). But if you stop on by 2814 Main Street tonight, I think you'll be pleased. Performance starts at 7.

Oh, and also tonight at SPACE: Our trusty videographer, Hal Samples, who so generously allows us to have the run of his loft and gallery once a week in order to tape this segment, will be hosting a benefit for his ever-present bulldog, Cash, who is about to undergo chemotherapy. There will be art for sale and a silent auction, too, I believe. So stop on by. This one will be good.

Hell, as anyone who's shown to any of our earlier tapings can attest to, they all are.

Last week, at our weekly, Wednesday night DC9 in SPACE taping, the duo of Ryan Thomas Becker and Grady Don Sandlin, otherwise known as RTB2, stopped by SPACE Studios for an intimate, low-key, 40-minute-or-so performance for a pretty good sized crowd, actually. It all made for a grand time--Becker's attempts to harness his in-performance animation, Sandlin's quick color commentary--and you can watch the fruits of the band's labor in the above video, in which the duo performs a cover of Sam Cooke's "That's Where It's At."

And, since it's a Wednesday, we'll be doing the whole thing again tonight--some Internet sleuthing and you might be able to figure out who this week's special guest is--starting at 9 o'clock. Stop on by. Should be an especially fun one.

Last week, San Francisco experimental folk rock duo Tartufi rolled through the SPACE studios, kindly agreeing to take part in the most recent round of our video blog experiment, DC9 in SPACE. The band is currently on tour in support of its upcoming Nests of Wave and Wire release for Southern Records.

It was quite the sight, too: The duo, Lynne Angel and Brian Gorman, isn't your typical White Stripes derivative guitar-and-drum take by any stretch of the means. Instead, both musicians make plenty good use of the plethora of pedals laid out at their feet as they perform.

This set-up, aside from just being something pretty impressive to look at, allows for an at-times crushing wall of sound to encapsulate its listeners. It also makes for quite the haunting yet vulnerable aural explosion, constantly tricking the listener into parts are bigger than they are, or, transversely, smaller. Oh, just watch the above video, already; it expresses the feel of the sound far better than I can.

Oh, and stop by SPACE tonight, too, for the latest taping of this series, should you feel so inclined. We're anticipating a 7 p.m. start time for this one. But who's playing? Stop on by and find out.

Welcome to the second installment of DC9 in SPACE, this one featuring the great Doug Burr and his longtime performing partner Glen Farris, playing the 2008 DOMA-winning "Slow Southern Home" from Burr's beautiful On Promenade disc. This DC9 in Space performance was shot last Wednesday night--and, yes, it was indeed shot in a bathroom. Your eyes aren't deceiving you.

Welcome to the newest weekly feature here on DC9, called, quite aptly, I think, DC9 in SPACE.

(Pause for effect.)

The concept is pretty simple: Every Wednesday night, we're inviting a different act to play at Hal Samples' SPACE Studio for an intimate, filmed performance. And it'll be shot however the act wants, really--as standard a set-up or as creative a performance as the act can conjure within the confines of the room(s). Then, each following Wednesday, we'll have the edited-down performance posted here on DC9 for your viewing pleasure.

As you can see by this premiere episode, which was shot last week and features True Widow's "stonegaze" sounds (their words, not ours, although, dammit, we shoulda hit on that one), it makes for a good time--and a great video, too.

Oh, and get ready for more of these, which you'll be able to attend if you want...