CD World may be closed, but Mike Schoder's other business--The Granada Theater--still appears to be doing quite well for itself.

Tonight, marks the end of a truly remarkable stretch at the theater (thanks, ACL!) that saw Del tha Funky Homosapien, Neko Case, Sunset Rubdown and, now, Cut Copy and The Presets (see the above video for "My People") gracing the Granada stage.

As Catherine Downes noted in our print edition, this show of Aussie electro-pop acts is bound to get the kids moving on the venue floor.

Need an excuse to get down with your bad self on a Tuesday night? How 'bout the fact that it's the new year?

No? OK. How about free entry? First three people to email me with the phrase "Pants Off Dance Off" in the subject line get the tickets (no word on if Ms. Mike Modano will be in attendance, though). So have at it. --Pete Freedman

Maybe you saw Jesse Hughey's story on Spencer Krug (pictured above) and Sunset Rubdown in this week's paper and said to yourself, "Wow, that guy's in a lot of bands I really like--like Wolf Parade and Swan Lake, and Sunset Rubdown! If it weren't for this damn economy, I'd be at this show. If only there were a free way in..."

Well, DC9 reader, in the event that your thoughts on the story were this contrived and specific, you're in luck. Because, as the subject to this post implies, the fine folks at the Granada are hooking us (and, thus, you) up with three pairs of tickets to tonight's Sunset Rubdown gig (which will also feature Hospital Ships and Denton's own Fight Bite).

First three people to email me with "Snake's Got A Ticket" in the subject line get a pass into the show for themselves and a friend. Have at it. --Pete Freedman

The video above for the song "The Rat" comes from Athens, Georgia, rock outfit Dead Confederate, a band that, along with The Whigs, is helping reaffirm the assumption that Athens, indeed, is quite the little southeastern hotbed of musical talent.

The band, stopping through Dallas on the way back from an ACL after-party booked to Emo's on Friday night, actually made a ton of waves at this past spring's SXSW as one of the most-talked about bands at the showcase fest, but only now seems to be capitalizing on that buzz with the release of its September 16-released Wrecking Ball, the album from which "The Rat" comes.

The track, which has earned some serious airplay in recent weeks on Sirius' Left of Center station certainly brings the band through Dallas as it continues its upswing in popularity, and the band's Saturday night show at The Cavern, which will also feature Lousiville's Wax Fang and Austin's Zest of Yore, could be agood chance to catch the band before it truly blows up.

So--again--we're quite thankful for the fact that Spune Productions has hooked us up with three pairs of tickets to give away to the show. And we'll, in turn, give them to the first three people to email me with the phrase "The South Will Rise Again!" in the subject line. Starting, yep, right now. So have at it.

Update: Contest is over. Congrats to our winners.

Also: Just got some confirmations on some more giveaways in the coming days. So, as always, keep checking back. --Pete Freedman

As impressive debuts in 2008 go, you've got to figure that Seattle Sub Pop darlings Fleet Foxes fits quite nicely at the top of the heap, right up alongside acts like MGMT and Vampire Weekend who've more than had their fair share of positive press over the course of the past year.

But Fleet Foxes also has something that none of its fellow newbies can boast: a collaboration with Wilco. Today, locally based national music blog Gorilla vs. Bear points the way to a Wilco-Fleet Foxes collaborative cover of Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released," which is being released to help get people out to polls in the upcoming presidential election.

I guess the hits just keep on coming for the band members, who, just a few months ago, made their North Texas debut with a performance at The Loft. Perhaps not surprisingly, since the buzz on the Foxes has only continued to grow in the months since, we have it on good authority that the band's show at Lola's in Fort Worth on Friday is likely to sell out.

Lucky for you, then, that we've been able to procure two tickets to give away to our readers. So, first two people to email me with the phrase "Skeet Soxes" in the subject line get the tickets. Have at it.

Update: Contest is over. Congrats to our winners.

Keep in mind, though: We've still got one more giveaway coming this afternoon (a pretty darn good one, too), and we've also got one more pair of tickets to give away to the Neva Dinova/Colour Revolt show...--Pete Freedman

Even in photos, Colour Revolt fights color. (Daniel Sprague)

Friday's show at Hailey's in Denton might not offer the most rocking bill in the world--shared headliners Colour Revolt and Neva Dinova trend toward the much more understated end of the spectrum--but there's still enough songwriting prowess here to create a powerful little evening of music. Doubly powerful, actually, as these bands aren't touring together, but agreed nonetheless to share the stage and bulk up this show as a way to counteract the glut of other acts coming through town this weekend...

Which is why we're quite fortunate, then, to have three pairs of tickets to this show up for grabs this afternoon. First three people to email me with the phrase "Never in Color" get the tickets to this understated (and likely underrated) Friday night show.

Starting...now. --Pete Freedman

We're on the cusp of a very big weekend of shows around the region (thanks, in large part to ACL routing), and one of the more interesting shows on the docket comes to the Lakewood Theater tomorrow night...

With the release of Songs in A&E earlier this year, Spiritualized's first in five years, Jason Pierce has re-established himself as a critical darling--if a bit more mellow than he was back in his Spacemen 3 days. On this bill, Pierce is joined by San Diego's Grand Ole Party, a sort of powerhouse indie rock act with musical theater flair that you all seemed to take a liking to back when we ambushed you with their songs back in June. But, perhaps just as interesting about this bill is the venue, as this show marks the first of a couple eyebrow-raising shows booked to the Lakewood in the near future (TV on the Radio, really?).

And the folks at the Lakewood have been kind enough to supply us with four pairs of tickets to giveaway to this show. First four people to email me with the phrase "Spirit in the sky" in the subject line get the tickets. Best of luck.

Update: Contest is over. Congrats to our winners. And keep checking back for more giveaways all day long... --Pete Freedman

"You're the man now, dog." (Brent Stewart)

By the looks of Noah Bailey's excellent piece in this week's paper, David Berman of the Silver Jews had a hell of a time growing up around the DFW region. So much so that, as Noah points out, Berman even wrote a little essay called "The Summer Before The Night Ecstasy Became Illegal In The State Of Texas" that details his up-and-down time as a teen in the area. It's quite the read.

The fact that he wrote the essay--and did so quite well--kinda sheds some light into the often very storytelling nature of Bermans' song lyrics, which will be on full display this weekend at Hailey's in Denton as Berman brings the Jews to North Texas on tour for the first time. Should be an interesting show--especially if Berman gets into storytelling mode on stage between songs.

So we're quite fortunate then that Spune Productions has been kind enough to pass along three pairs of tickets for us to give away to the Saturday night gig. The first three people to email me with the phrase "Lookout Mountain" in the subject line get the tickets. Starting...now.

Update: Contest is over. Congrats to our winners. --Pete Freedman

Noah Bailey said it quite well in the Night & Day section of this week's paper: "Carlos Santana, for better or worse, is a legend."

For better or worse, indeed. And, yes, along those same lines, we have an offer: Two tickets to tonight's Santana gig at Superpages.com Center--VIP parking and entry into the Tuaca Chill Zone (whatever that is) included.

Send me an email with ""Oye Como Va" in the header and you'll get into the show, with those perks. And, promise, we won't judge you. For all we know, you're gonna give 'em to your dad anyway.

Update: Contest is over. Congrats to our winner. --Pete Freedman

We're still hyping The New Year. You listen to it yet? (Allison Smith)

Maybe the, I dunno, four or so posts here on DC9 over the past two weeks have clued you into the fact that we're pretty big fans of The New Year here in the office. Or maybe it was the fact that Robert Wilonsky called the band's new self-titled effort a "masterpiece" in the paper two weeks back now in his review.

Either way: It's true.

And it's along these lines, then, that we present you this fine giveaway, courtesy of the friendly folks at the Granada Theater: Five pairs of tickets to tomorrow night's sure-to-be-a-delight show. Yes, five.

And, as a helpful Friend of DC9 points out, it's an extra special show, since it "should be the [band's] first with mlb.com's Will Johnson on guitar." Yep, far as we know!

So we're running this one the same way we run all our giveaways: On a first-come, first-serve basis. First five people to email me with "The Show's Not Near, It's Here" in the subject line walk with two passes to tomorrow night's show.

Have at it.

Update: Contest is over. Congrats to our winners. All five of 'em. And keep an eye on the blog over the next couple of days, as we've got more tickets to give away. --Pete Freedman

Matt Bauer's a freakin' hero. (Mikael Kennedy)

Our own Daniel Rodrigue wrote about Oklahoma’s Evangelicals in June, and if you caught their show at Club Dada then you know they’re certainly worth checking out tomorrow night at The Cavern.

The real draw, however, may be the spare, lovely Appalachian folk of Kentucky-bred Brooklyn resident Matt Bauer. Full disclosure: I last caught Matt when he played to about twelve of my friends on a Tuesday night in March of 2007, when the two of us shared a bill (along with San Francisco’s Garrett Pierce) at Denton’s beloved Secret Headquarters. His solo banjo tunes were easily the highlight of the evening, and the quietly gorgeous “Western States” (a live version of which is available on his MySpace page) has been a mixtape staple of mine every since.

Matt’s newest album, The Island Moved In The Storm (fitting, eh Galveston?), fleshes out his enchanting sound with the voices of singer-songwriters Alela Diane and Mariee Sioux, as well as trombonist/vocalist Elizabeth Dotson-Westphalen and drummer Angela Webster, who’ve played with former locals St. Vincent and Rhett Miller, respectively. A concept album about a young, unidentified woman found murdered near Georgetown, Kentucky, in the late ’60s (known to this day as the “Tent Girl”), the record also incorporates Matt’s own memories of his Kentucky childhood, with whispered melodies and spare instrumentation reminiscent of Will Oldham or Iron and Wine. In short, it’s a stunner, and with Denton’s excellent Dust Congress opening Saturday’s show, I’d say it’s worth braving a little rain and wind for.

If that sounds good to you, we've got a pair of tickets to give away to the show. First person to email Pete with the phrase "Beard Folk" in the header gets 'em.

After the video, a super sweet video for Bauer's "Barn Owl." --Noah W. Bailey

More

Dr. Dog's taking all this recession talk pretty seriously, huh? (Elizabeth Weinberg)

In this week's paper, Noah W. Bailey made a case for Dr. Dog fandom, claiming that people either love or hate the act.

Well, according to Lance Yocum, who, through his Spune Productions entity, booked Dr. Dog to Lola's Saloon in Fort Worth tonight, more people fall into the former category than the latter. The proof? How about the fact that this show is sold out? (Which basically means "sucks to be you!", if you haven't yet bought your tix.)

Unless...

Ah, yes: Courtesy of Yocum, we've got a pair of tickets to give away for tonight's who, which also features Delta Spirit and Seth Kaufman. First person to email me with "Doctor, Doctor!" in the header gets the last tickets to tonight's show. Have at it.

Update: Contest is over. Congrats to our winner!

And keep checking back here, as we've still got more tickets headed your way today... --Pete Freedman

Death Vessel doesn't sound a thing like you'd expect it to given the name. So, no, you won't hear any thrash at this show. (E.B. Duet)

Suffering from the Thursday blues? A couple of touring acts are hitting area stages tonight that are definitely worth checking out...

Joel Thibodeau fronts Death Vessel, which performs at Hailey’s in Denton this evening. Thibodeau’s been compared to both Neil Young and Gram Parsons, and although it’s certainly difficult for anyone to live up to such comparisons, Thibodeau’s cracking falsetto and songwriting chops are indeed admirable. Death Vessel’s recently released Nothing is Precious Enough for Us is a great slab of understated alternative folk, plus the title could serve as a motto for the entire indie rock community.

And, on that front, the kind folks at Spune Productions have hooked us up three pairs of tickets to the show. First three people to email me with "Precious Enough?" in the subject line get the tix.

Those wanting a little more kick ought to head on down to Oak Lawn and check out punky popsters The Action Design at Sue Ellen’s. Hailing from San Francisco, this fashionable quartet’s sound is as clean and spunky as their exterior would suggest. The band’s debut full length, Never Say, hits the street next week and it’s a highly energetic collection of pretty music for pretty people.

So for the unwashed (and those with extra gas money), I suggest Death Vessel, but for those with (slightly) more refined tastes (i.e. you own a tie), I recommend The Action Design. You really can’t go wrong either way. --Darryl Smyers

The North Carolinian Avett Brothers are no stranger to the Granada Theater's stage--hell, they just played the DOMA-winning venue in April. But, alas, they're back--and, surely, fans of the alternative country punk trio are rejoicing right about now. And why not? They may be from North Carolina, but alt-country punk is about as Texas as it gets.

So, on that note, we have this announcement to make: Thanks to Sony BMG, the kind folks behind the band's label, we've got two pairs of tickets to give away to tomorrow night's show. First two people to email me with "Cow Punk" in the subject line get the tix.

So have at it. At the very least, it's a better deal than this Craigslist one...

Update: Contest is over. Congrats to our winners! --Pete Freedman

Toadies frontman Vaden Todd Lewis at Lollapalooza 2008.

As we first told you back in May, this weekend will see the launch of the Toadies' potentially annual Dia De Los Toadies festival out at Possum Kingdom Lake.

And, yep, as the title of this post implies, we've got two pairs of tickets to give away to the day-long shindig (which will also feature Lions, Dove Hunter, THe BAcksliders and Tejas Brothers). First two people to email me with "Behind The Boathouse" in the subject line get the passes. So, have at it.

Update: Contest is over. Congrats to our winners! --Pete Freedman

I guess there's life after BRMC for Club Dada, after all.

'Cause, tonight, the club's hosting another act that could draw a pretty decent number of people down to Deep Ellum: Garage pop/punk/rock/whatever he's feeling at the moment wonder Jay Reatard (who we wrote about in this week's paper).

And, lookie lookie, we've got a pair of tickets to give away to this fine-lookin' show. First person to email me with the phrase "So Reatarded" in the subject line gets 'em. So have at it.

Update: Contest is over. Congrats to our winner. --Pete Freedman

A quick Google image search tells me this is what a mastodon looks like:

Docile enough, yes? Won't melt your face like this Mastodon?

Well, crappy segue aside, here's the deal about the latter: The Atlanta-based torche-carriers of the metal scene are going to be blowing up some amps at Superpages.com Center all day long today (with some other supposed metal saviors) as part of the Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival tour. And, sure, I guess it technically started at noon today (oh well, its not like anyone you want to see will be on before now...), but we've got a pair of tickets to give away for the more sluggish metalheads out there.

So, first person to email me with the word "Snuffleupagus" (how's that for high brow?) in the subject line scores the tix.

Have at it.

Update: Contest is over. Congrats to the winner! --Pete Freedman