We're pretty much swamped here at DC9 HQ these days, working out some final DOMAXXII plans and whatnot (more announcements coming soon!), which is, well, a good thing, really.

But, unfortunately, it means a temporary re-organization of some of our priorities. And, with that, some news: We're gonna be holding off on our regular DC9 Live tapings for the time being--at least until the DOMAs wrap up.

Sucks, I know. But all that does however allow us to move ahead with this post--something we've been meaning to get to for some time. Since launching this concept back in early May of 2009 as DC9 in SPACE with True Widow (see above), we've produced 47 clips with (mostly) locals artists, all of whom are well deserving of the little added spotlight. It's been a long, strange trip, to borrow the old cliche, but, certainly, one worth the extra time investment.

We didn't really know what we were doing with the first one. Just invited the band over to Hal Samples' place to film a performance. We learned some lessons along the way--and even came up with a general format to follow by the time we filmed our second one (featuring Doug Burr)--a format we've been following ever since.

So without further adieu, join us after the jump for a trip back through our 15 favorite clips from these 47 efforts--not including the first, which, in retrospect, served as something entirely different from the rest and, really, deserves its own placement at the very top.

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And if it's the YouTube you want, well, look no further.

We'll close out our pre-Thanksgiving day with a feast for the eyes and ears, straight from our kitchen to yours: episode one of our new weekly video series, DC9 Live at El Sibil.

Two weeks ago Pete mentioned that after 27 weeks of graciously hosting DC9 in SPACE, the closing of the Deep Ellum gallery left our weekly videos searching for a home. Last week, we found one -- and we're pretty excited about the possibilities the new location has to offer for future episodes.

After a Thanksgiving break, we'll be back on schedule, with free weekly shows in the Oak Cliff landmark known as "El Sibil." The big vine-covered house overlooking Lake Cliff, and the Dallas skyline beyond it, is the onetime home/studio built 80 years ago by frontier artist Frank Reaugh. A fire destroyed the house years later, right on down to the walk-in vault from which "El Sibil" takes its name. We're looking forward to continuing our weekly video series at El Sibil, with some help and hospitality from its current occupant, photographer/filmmaker Jason Whitbeck.

The local five-piece outfit Air Review joined us last week, along with a couple dozen of the band's friends, for a mellowed-out selection of cuts from their debut Landmarks. Along with a free mp3 from the band back in August, Pete mentioned the "impressive instrumental chops and a serious, impressive knack for vocal harmony" evident in the album -- check out the video above to hear for yourself. Along with Air Review's performance, you'll hear their thoughts on recording an album before playing live shows, and some fond memories from the band's earliest days.

We're off tonight for the Thanksgiving holiday, but here's hoping you can join us next Wednesday night for episode two of our new series, live at El Sibil.

...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.

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...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.