Check this. Spune's
poster design work gets recognzed in Graphic-Exchange.com's post today.
Thanks to Brandon Lesley for the fine job! We'd not look so hot without
him. Look for a newly designed Spune.com courtesy of Brandon Lesley
this summer.
Now. Go buy tickets to Elf Power!
|SP|
Tons of new confirms and a bunch of upcoming SXSW shows. Check the calendar page for details or just click here and buy your tickets.
Whew!
|SP|
Spune teamed up with Scion & FW Weekly to give away a new car at The Redwalls show.
Win a new car at Lola's? That's right!
Not only do we have a killer line up at Lola's Feb 27th, but you can register to win a Scion and iPod will you're there.
Either way, you're insane if you do not see The Redwalls!
|SP|
"Four to Watch" band, Feb 2008 issue:
The South Rises Again by David Meade
- Paste Magazine
...Exquisitely detailed, slow and deliberate, his songs have as
much in common with the literature of Eudora Welty and Cormac McCarthy
as with the work of the Americana dimmerati to whom he is often, and
somewhat shortsightedly, compared...
...On Promenade is a further elaboration on these themes of birth,
death and renewal. The album has a uniquely human cadence to it,
beginning with the quietly vesperal "Slow Southern Home" before
patiently building into the quickened heartbeat of "In the Garden." The
cycle ends with a trio of songs capped by the gorgeous "Blood Runs
Downhill," a kind of eulogy for the rest of the album, part gospel,
part Alex Chilton at his most ethereal...
More recent press.
Texan troubadour unleashes slow burner. Doug Burr appears to be one of the select few lucky songwriters who
possess a fully formed realisation of how to write, record and present
their songs to perfection. On this release, Burr has combined his
influences to record eleven songs of shimmering majesty. At times one
can hear a Wilco or Bright Eyes influence but Burr's songs are so much
more than the sum of their influences. The album kicks off with two short but beautiful songs ("Slow
Southern Songs" and "Come to my Senses") before hitting its stride (a
stride it never breaks) with the epic beauty of "Graniteville" and
"Whippoorwill". Burr shares an intrinsic knowledge of song dynamics
with the likes of Jeff Tweedy, and has a voice that tugs at the heart
strings. Across it's eleven tracks 'On Promenade" doesn't have a single
duffer. Doug Burr has released a late contender for my album of the
year, and if there is any justice in the world (we all know there
isn't!), Burr will crash the mainstream in 2008 selling millions of
albums in the process. As far as I can see, Burr's only problem now
lies in how he is going to follow 'On Promenade'. Brilliant! — Dan
Wilkinson, Reviewers Rating: 10 out of 10
- Americana UK
ON PROMENADE Singer/songwriter Doug Burr’s new album perambulates human experience, drawing
on the mystery of the South, apocalyptic evocations, and even Van Gogh’s letters by Steve Carter - From the very opening strains of Doug Burr’s latest album, On
Promenade, the scene is set, the atmosphere painted. “I lay awake for a
night/Drenched in anguish and bright light/I dreamt about an ancient
house/And a slow Southern home,” the songwriter intones in a hushed
drawl of mid-tempo confession in “Slow Southern Home.” After the lyrics
wind around the trellis of a lone acoustic guitar for half a verse, an
electric enters on the tonic chord and sets up a chiming drone of a bed
that holds stubbornly through the song, impervious to the changes.
Drums, bass, more guitars, and Wurlitzer make entrances before a Neil
Young-esque harmonica yowls into center. Starkly inevitable, the
subtly-chiseled arrangement evokes time, place and memory, a musical
kudzu overtaking and shaping a deceptively simple structure.
- Modern Luxury Dallas
Best Local Album of 2007 - Denton Record Chronicle
"These local artists rocked '07". Denton singer/songwriter Burr evokes
distinctive voices such as Wilco's Jeff Tweedy or Red House Painters'
Mark Kozelek. These warm, inviting compositions are effortlessly
beautiful. - Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"Dallas' Best Music". Burr is a perennial underdog in this town—too
Americana for your average blogger but at the same time far too great
to be stuck playing joints such as the Cavern for the rest of his life.
On Promenade may not change all that, but it does make a case for Burr
as one of Texas' best songwriters...evoking everyone from Slaid Cleaves
to Mark Kozelek. - Dallas Observer
Our guess is that On Promenade will end up on a lot of "best of" lists for 2007. Wonderfully sincere tracks include
"Slow Southern Home," "Graniteville," "Thing About Trouble" and "Blood Runs Downhill" (easily one of the most beautiful
songs we have heard this year). This is an album that is bound to stand the test of time. Highly recommended.
(Rating: 5++. out of 6) - Babysue.com
After repeated listens, it's safe to say that On Promenade is unlike
any album to emerge in recent time, and no doubt it
will stand as one
of the most important releases of 2007. The contrast between warmth and
dark melancholy is at war
here, and the result is an epic draw. -
Rating: 9.2
- The Black and White Magazine
This was the biggest surprise of 2007. Outstanding music. A new favorite of PLUGGED! - # 3 of PLUGGED'S TOP 5 of 2007
If you still have not picked up On Promenade, you're missing out! Buy here at Spune.com, download at itunes or catch Doug Burr at an upcoming show.
Stream songs here. www.myspace.com/dougburr
|SP| DOUG BURR
LOLA'S IS COMING TO FORT WORTH
Fort Worth's Newest Live Music Home.
FW Weekly Press Announcement - Read all about it.
WED, JAN 23 - GRAND OPENING PARTY!
featuring live music by TEJAS BROTHERS, TEN HIGH TRIO (members of 1100 Springs) and special DJ set by DJ Burlap.
NO COVER!!! All Ages
The party starts at 8 PM! Come out and see what Lola's is going to be all about, hear some great live music, sip on some tasty drinks and get in bed early enough to not feel like crap at work the next day.
*Win tickets to upcoming Lola's shows such as The Sword, The Redwalls, Trampled By Turtles, Nina Nastasia, Xiu Xiu, Wayne Hancock, The Drams and more.
We are excited that some of our first guests will include:
THE
SWORD, THE REDWALLS, THE MOST SERENE REPUBLIC, TRAMPLED BY TURTLES,
NINA NASTASIA, WAYNE HANCOCK, DEVIL DOLL, THE DRAMS, ASTRONAUTALIS, TEN
HIGH TRIO, BLACK TIE DYNASTY, DOVE HUNTER, DOUG BURR, 100 DAMNED GUNS,
LIFTERS, MINGO FISHTRAP, JAMES HAND, RECORD HOP, PLEASANT GROVE, LYMBYC
SYSTYM, THE CAMPAIGN & many more
www.lolasfortworth.com
Eleven Hundred Springs, 100 Damned Guns, Glen Farris and DJ Burlap
Thursday, Jan 3rd at 8.0 in Fort Worth.
We wanted to get 2008 started right so we got together with our friends from FW Weekly and decided to throw a big party. We would use some other word to describe this event that is not as cliche as "party", but the problem is that it will be just that...A PARTY! Something for all of us to do before we burry our heads in our computers with work. This will take place on the new indoor stage at 8.0. Great line up and great drinks. It will be good time. We hope you will join us.
From all of us at Spune, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thanks for your support this year.
See you in 2008.
|SP|
Just a quick reminder.
A Spune Christmas 2007
This Saturday, December 8th
Hailey's - Denton, Texas
12 AM Eleven Hundred Springs
11 PM Spitfire Tumbleweeds
10 PM 100 Damned Guns
9 PM The Boxcar Bandits
8 PM The George Neal Band
7 PM The A.M. Ramblers
Doors at 6 PM. First Band at 7 PM.
All Ages. Tickets Only Five Bucks!
FREE WASSAIL (While Supplies Last)
*Bring a Toy for Toys for Tots
Wear your santa hat.
|SP|
Spune
was recently brought on to produce a Thursday night series during the
Winter months at 8.0 in Fort Worth. The series will be held each
Thursday evening in Nov/Dec/Jan on the venue's new indoor stage. We
plan to put bands that you may not normally see at 8.0 on stage and mix
it up a little. Bands confirmed so far are Red Monroe, The Drams, The
Crash That Took Me, Eleven Hundred Springs, 100 Damned Guns, The
Burning Hotels, Josh Weathers Band, The Campaign, Oso Closo, Hurt
Street, The Killdares and many more. Check the calendar for details.
We're excited to assist in developing 8.0 as a premier live music
performance venue in Dallas/Ft. Worth and look forward to seeing this
series grow. The venue serves some killer food and drinks and has great
atmosphere right in downtown so it's always a good time. See you on
Thursday night!
Spune is thrilled to release this full length record for the incredible songwriter Doug Burr. We are also happy to co-release this project with our good friends at Velvet Blue Music (Richard Swift, Viva Voce, Lassie Foundation, Denison Witmer).
The official release date is this Tuesday, October 9th. The CD will be available at iTunes, Napster, CD Baby and other digital online resources as well as record stores in the region, Spune.com and VelvetBlueMusic.com
CD RELEASE SHOW - The record will also be available on the evening of Oct 9th at The Cavern in Dallas as Doug Burr performs with full band in celebration of this release. Doug Burr will be sharing the stage with Great Lake Swimmers and Arthur & Yu. It is sure to be a beautiful night of music!
UPCOMING SHOWS:
10.09.07 - Dallas, Texas @ The Cavern w/ Great Lake Swimmers, Arthur & Yu
10.19.07 - Ft. Worth, Texas @ The Modern Museum of Art w/ St. Vincent, Peter & the Wolf, Mom, Sleeping States, Tame Tame and Quiet
Finding a truly special record is like finding a needle in a hay stack these days, so consider "On Promenade" the best the needle you ever found!
Do not miss this show! You NEED to own this record! We can not be more in love with this music! We think you will love it too. See you Tuesday.
Hey friends,
Wow! Wall Of Sound Festival 2007 has come and gone.
Seems like only yesterday we docked the laptop and started gathering
our wish list of bands and could hardly contain our excitement each
time we heard their music on the ipod. This marked the first year for
the festival to be held outdoors, and though it was a long and hot day,
we had beautiful weather and a fantastic time! So, thanks for being a
champ and toughing it out! We want to thank all of you who attended.
Thank you for making the trip across the Dallas/Ft. Worth metroplex,
the drive up from Austin or from around Texas, to a minor league
baseball park for the sole purpose of celebrating independent music.
First
of all, we want to say a very special THANKS to all the bands who
entertained us this year! We've heard nothing but rave reviews about
the line up since it was announced, and that hype was clearly justified
after seeing their live performances. We also want to thank our
sponsors, vendors, staff, volunteers and LaGrave Field for being a
great host. All of their efforts resulted in a great event!
With
all that said, we need to take this time to address something. Bringing
this event to LaGrave Field seemed the natural progression for a
festival of this size. So, our first task, hire a good production crew.
Well, we can now very clearly say that the sound company hired will
never receive business from Spune again and we are VERY sorry for any
frustration and disappointment that may have come from their attitudes,
actions and delivery of the event. Towards the end of the day some
unexpected conditions arose that forced the schedule off a bit. We
immediately spoke with each band left to perform and asked if they were
OK with cutting one song from their set to allow us to catch up and end
the evening as originally planned. Each band was very understanding of
the situation and we thank them for that. Through a miscommunication
between the sound company and the event's stage management team,
Explosions in the Sky was incorrectly told they could only play until
12:30 AM. The reason for cutting songs from previous sets was to allow
EITS to play their full set. Unfortunately, the band was never told
otherwise, and this miscommunication we very deeply regret! Being a
huge fan of the band ourselves, we are terribly sorry for those who
were disappointed.
At the end of the day, we are honored to have
had the opportunity to bring this incredible lineup to LaGrave Field.
Overall, we feel that bringing this many bands and fans together in one
beautiful location, at one time, for the appreciation of the art of
making music, provided for a truly memorable experience.
THANK
YOU for your attendance and support, without it LaGrave would have just
been another empty baseball field this past Saturday.
We're now going to try and catch up on some much needed sleep. We will see you in 08!
This just in. We've confirmed a bunch of sweet shows at Hailey's, Monks, The Cavern & Mohawk with Final Fantasy, Architecture In Helsinki, The Brunettes, Figurines, Adam Franklin of Swervedriver, Great Lake Swimmers, Oh My God & more. Check the calendar page for details!
Also, quick reminder to get your tickets to Wall Of Sound Festival ASAP. They are going fast! it's going to be such a huge PARTY!
See ya at a show soon.
|SP|
TICKETS ON SALE NOW! - BUY TICKETS HERE!
Tickets are only $30 in advance!
Don't miss out...get your tickets in advance! 40
bands at a beautiful ballpark with plenty of food and beverage options
available. We plan on having a good time! It's sure to be a fantastic day!
Tickets also available by calling 888.512.SHOW or at all Front Gate Tickets outlets(Dallas/Ft. Worth Outlets Inlclude Good Records, Bill's Records and Tapes and all CD World locations.)
We have 10 bands left to announce! Keep checking www.wallofsoundfestival.com for updates.
SPECTRUM
Spacemen 3's Sonic Boom aka Peter Kember and his prolific band will finally tour North America unleashing his long awaited new album as well as performing favourites from Spacemen 3 & E.A.R. (Experimental Audio Research). We are thrilled to announce that the legendary band has confirmed to join us in Fort Worth, Texas on September 22 at Wall Of Sound Festival 2007!
More bands have also been announced. See info below.
THE GREATNESS SO FAR INCLUDES:
EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY (Austin / Temporary Residence)
MIDLAKE (Denton / Bella Union)
SPECTRUM (SONIC BOOM. SPACEMEN 3. E.A.R / UK)
GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY (Austin / Trashy Moped)
PINBACK (San Diego / Tough & Go)
THE BOOKS (New York / Tomlab)
BOBBY BARE JR (TN / Bloodshot Records)
OM (ex-Sleep) (San Francisco)
THE SWORD (Austin / Kemado)
LYMBYC SYSTYM (Austin/Phoenix / Mush Records)
BROTHERS AND SISTERS (Austin / Calla Lily)
ELEVEN HUNDRED SPRINGS (Dallas /Palo Duro),
THE BAPTIST GENERALS (Denton / Sub Pop)
THE TIMEOUT DRAWER (Chicago / Consumers Research)
PETER AND THE WOLF (Whiskey and Apples Records)
BLACK TIE DYNASTY / PLEASANT GROVE / RECORD HOP / RED MONROE / DOUG BURR / WHITE DENIM / GHOSTHUSTLER / LIONS
THE CURRENT LEAVES / HOG PIG / OLIVER FUTURE
* * *
Still more bands to be announced.
SPUNE PRESENTS "WALL OF SOUND FESTIVAL 2007"
AT LAGRAVE FIELD IN FORT WORTH, TEXAS
ON SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
1 DAY. 3 STAGES. 40 BANDS
* * *
THE FIRST ROUND OF BANDS ANNOUNCED ARE:
EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY (Austin / Temporary Residence)
MIDLAKE (Denton / Bella Union)
GHOSTLAND OBSERVATORY (Austin / Trashy Moped)
PINBACK (San Diego / Tough & Go)
THE BOOKS (New York / Tomlab)
THE SWORD (Austin / Kemado)
BOBBY BARE JR (TN / Bloodshot Records)
BROTHERS AND SISTERS (Austin / Calla Lily)
ELEVEN HUNDRED SPRINGS (Dallas /Palo Duro)
THE WEARY BOYS (Austin)
More bands announced Wed, June 20 & Fri, June 22 at www.wallofsoundfestival.com
TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, JUNE 29 AT 10:00 AM
FORT WORTH – June 18, 2007 – Spune Productions (pronounced “Spoon”) announces the first round of bands and ticketing information for Wall Of Sound Festival 2007. The festival will again be held in Fort Worth, Texas, but it has found a new home, LaGrave Field! LaGrave Field has been the home of the Fort Worth Cats during two different baseball eras, 1926-1964 and 2002 to the present day. In 2003, the park was named one of the Top 10 Independent Ballparks in the nation by Baseball America. Located just north of downtown, LaGrave allows fans to enjoy a look at the towering skyscrapers and historic Tarrant County Courthouse shimmering in the setting sun.
More bands will be announced on the official festival website at www.wallofsoundfestival.com on Wed, June 20 and again on Friday, June 22. As you can already see, the line up is proving to be a “must see” event!
Tickets will be available to purchase on line at Spune.com, by calling 888.512.SHOW or at all Front Gate Ticket outlets (Dallas/Ft. Worth Outlets include Good Records, Bill’s Records and Tapes and all CD World locations).
ABOUT: Wall Of Sound Festival is a music and arts gathering dedicated to the expression of independence and creative quality that can be found in today’s mainstream pop culture. Whether it is noise-pop, indie-country, experimental/advent-garde, punk, electro-pop, neu-wave, or the next genre the New York scenester decides to coin, it is all celebrated here! Wall Of Sound Festival is best described as a pop-art experience and cultural affair!
PURPOSE: In a continued effort to support, develop and expose new talent in today’s overly saturated radio-rock and dull music scene, Spune created Wall of Sound Festival to serve as a meeting place for independent music fans in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, throughout Texas and across the Midwest. Our hope is to shed new light on emerging local and regional unsigned bands by giving them the opportunity to be showcased along with higher profile national artists on the same stage.
WHERE: In keeping with a non-traditional approach, the 2007 festival will be held at the highly respected and historic ballpark, LaGrave Field in Fort Worth, Texas. LaGrave Field has been the home of the Fort Worth Cats during two different baseball eras, 1926-1964 and 2002 to the present day. Home plate is exactly where it was in 1926 when the old facility opened. In 2003, the park was named one of the Top 10 Independent Ballparks in the nation by Baseball America. Located just north of downtown, LaGrave allows fans to enjoy a look at the towering skyscrapers and historic Tarrant County Courthouse shimmering in the setting sun. We hope to bring a respected independent music and arts culture to the city of Fort Worth by producing a quality and innovative pop music festival in one of the cities most celebrated and multipurpose venues.
EXPERIENCE: WOSF '07 is an event designed to cater to the festival patrons. An event-filled day of high-profile national bands, emerging local/regional talent, plenty of festive food and beverage options, excellent outdoor atmosphere and much more, all conveniently available on the outfield of LaGrave Field. For the performers, the festival is a promotional platform designed to generate awareness and offer an attentive audience of like-minded music fans. For the attendees, it’s a unique social gathering amongst friendly fans and lovers of similar musical tastes, who can, for one day, break away from corporate America music and media standards and breathe in several hours of fresh air! This will be an event that you place on your calendar for years to come.
WOSF06 HEADLINING ARTISTS INCLUDED: LOW, Okkervil River, Pedro the Lion's David Bazan, Starlight Mints, The New Year, Starflyer 59, Octopus Project, Midlake, The Lassie Foundation, The Czars, Single Frame
HELPFUL RESOURCES:
Media, Sponsorship, Vendors & Other Junk: info@spune.com
More information on WALL OF SOUND FESTIVAL www.wallofsoundfestival.com
and SPUNE PRODUCTIONS: www.spune.com
JUST ANNOUNCED / ON SALE NOW
St Vincent
Fri. 7/6
Hailey's
Starlight Mints
Thu. 7/12
The Mohawk
&
Fri. 7/13
Hailey's
Jeff Klein
with Josh Weather's Band
Thu. 7/12
The Cavern
Made out of Babies
Made of the Architect
Hog Pig
Sun. 7/15
Hailey's
Joy Electric
Thu. 7/26
Monks
&
Fri. 7/27
Monks
Ben Kweller
with special guest Tim Fite
Sat. 8/18
Hailey's
REMINDER: UPCOMING SHOWS
Hailey's Summer Party (NO COVER)
Astronautalis, PPT, Tree Wave, Lions, Cartright, Ghosthustler, 100 Damned Guns, The Villians, Sarah Reddington, Sarah Jaffe
Sat. 6/16
Hailey's
Black Diamond Heavies
Trainwreck Riders
Sat. 6/23
The Cavern
Johnny and the Moon (members of Hot Hot Heat & Wolf Parade)
Talkdemonic
Fri. 6/29
The Cavern
Canada
Sat. 6/30
Monks
&
Tue. 7/3
Hailey's
Charalambides
Wed. 9/11
The Cavern
BUY TICKETS ON LINE HERE AT SPUNE.COM
****SPUNE AT MONKS****
MONKS (Abilene, Texas)
In addition to Hailey's (Denton), The Cavern (Dallas) and The Mohawk (Austin), Spune is now booking this cool new room in Abilene, Texas called MONKS. We teamed up with the great people at A Silence Production and are excited about the plans for 2007/2008.
This is sort of ironic since our first shows were in Abilene exactly 10
years ago. We're excited to see a scene thriving there again and look
forward to producing some interesting events in Abilene .
Show Info
We have a video up from The Album Leaf show if you want to check it out.
http://www.silencemagazine.net/sessions/videos/index.php
Some of the most recent shows were The Album Leaf, Peter and the Wolf and Ryan Lindsey of Starlight Mints. Joy Electric
is confirmed to play MONKS as well as several sweet indie shows who we
hope to be able to announce real soon. Big plans are in the works for
this venue!
Photos
Pictures of the room at the links below.
asilenceproduction.com/paul/leaf
http://www.asilenceproduction.com
Room Info
Monks
233 Cypress Street Age Limit: All Ages
Abilene, Tx 79601
Visit the Websites:
myspace.com/monksabilene
www.monksabilene.com
Monks video on VIRB. Check out: http://virb.com/video
The Album Leaf video by Silence Sessions is one of the featured videos on VIRB. (those top videos are there because of play count)
"Monk's continues to grow as one of the better music venues in Abilene, serving the please-play-anything-other-than-country crowd. (I love alt country and classic country, with a bit of '80s and '90s country thrown in, but I have to draw the line somewhere.) With great coffee, "Keep Abilene Boring" T-shirts to buy and an aesthetic taken straight from garage sales and vintage stores, Monks is a welcome alternative to the usual Abilene hang-outs."
- Sarah Carlson, the Abilene Insider:
Doors: 6pm
Cover: NO COVER!
Ages: 21+
Event Info:
"You need strong emotion, whether it's fiery or depressed, an extreme state of mind. I think in any art form it's the case." - Daniel Ash As a founding member of the ground breaking Bauhaus, Tones on Tail and Love And Rockets,
guitarist, saxophonist, singer, and songwriter Daniel Ash has
distinguished himself in the world of contemporary music. Ash had
become friends with Peter Murphy in his teenage years. Ash went to art
school and Murphy to work in a printing factory. They met up five years
later and Daniel suggested forming a band. Rigging up a makeshift
rehearsal space, Ash played an Echo 12 - bar blues, while Murphy sang a
series of newspaper articles. Four weeks after, they formed Bauhaus,
and recorded "Bela Lugosi's Dead". That song, issued in 1979, became
the cornerstone of the gothic rock movement. From early on, he was
intent on sounding original, and often tried to "make the guitar not
sound like a guitar". His style is very simplistic and he favours using
guitars with built in sustainers as well as an E-bow. After nearly five
years of recording and performing, Bauhaus broke up and Ash put
together Tones on Tail with Bauhaus drummer Kevin Haskins. In 1984,
Tones on Tail was disbanded, and Ash founded the influential Love and
Rockets in 1985 with Kevin Haskins and David J, also of Bauhaus. Now
Daniel's has a new found joy as a DJ, he spins an ecliptic set spanning
over the 50's60's70's80's and 90's to today's modern Indie Rock, this
is truly a must!
We are thrilled to announce that we will be releasing a full length
record for the amazing songwriter Doug Burr! "On Promenade" is 11
tracks beautifully soaked in sincerity, heartache, and love. We are
also happy to announce this will be a co-release with our good friends
at Velvet Blue Music (Richard Swift, Viva Voce, Lassie Foundation, Kissing Cousins). The record will be out this summer. The official release date will be announced soon.
Check out myspace.com/dougburr for a preview of 2 songs from the record.
Doug Burr's flavor of backwoods roots and smart pop hooks has been
described as conjuring Lucinda Williams on a revival high. After years
of wood-shedding his songwriting, Burr emerged from his bedroom, the
coffee houses, and open mics to begin playing out at bars and clubs in
his home state of Texas. He's been quietly winning people over, getting
nice press, and getting material recorded.
There's twinges of the regulars in it : Wilco, Young, Oldham, and maybe
some hints of Jurado, Swift,or Bazan, though Doug's music is clearly
his own. Subtle yet commanding, and it actually feels meaningful.
Finding a truly special record is like finding a needle in a hay stack
these days, so consider "On Promenade" the best the needle you ever
found!
"Doug Burr delivers enough heartbreak to drive you to the edge of the bridge, and just enough hope to keep you from jumping.
Rugged and pristine, this is music that gets under your skin and goes
straight for the heart like a shot of morphine." - Real Roots Cafe
Holland
"Doug sings with sound and fury, like he was layin' down and dyin', like he would never sing again." - Dallasmusic.com
"Burr is a fine writer who thinks about things; whether or not we agree
with his fervid Gospel of promised light in a dark world, his music
moves." - Buddy Magazine
Doug Burr (Folk Pop / Indie)
RIYL: Will Oldham, Neil Young, Tom Waits, The Arcade Fire, Daniel Lanois, Elvis Costello and Johnny Cash.
Doug Burr
On Promenade - SP003
Release: Summer 2007
Price: TBA
Status: n/a (out summer 07)
Stay tuned for more tour dates and release news. We promise you will fall in love with this record!
Last month we had a Marky Ramone and Misshapes Deejay Party at The Lizard Lounge. In case you missed it, we have plenty of DJ Parties coming up so you should have no problem getting your fix.
"Austin: Morrissey Pre-Party"
A Very Special DJ Set by Andy Rourke (of The Smiths) with special guests The Lemurs and Black Tie Dynasty & more. Thursday, May 24th at The Mohawk. All Ages. Let us help set the mood. Get warmed up for when Morrissey plays The Backyard in Austin as Andy Rourke DJs at this special Mohawk Pre-Party!
"Dallas: Morrissey After Party"
A Very Special DJ Set by Andy Rourle (of The Smiths). Friday, May 25th at The Cavern. 21+. Be one of the few to get in to see Andy Rourke DJ the same night Morrissey plays The Palladium Ballroom in Dallas. Hurry over to The Cavern after the show or come hang out w/ Andy Rourke all night! We'll have Smiths concert videos at 10pm with ZOO: Video DJ and Andy himself will spin some of his favorites, music that influenced The Smiths, and lots more at midnight!
*NOTE* TICKETS ON SALE NOW FOR BOTH EVENTS.
*Space is limited on both of these events. Get tickets in advance.
May 24/The Mohawk - www.ticketalternative.com
May 25/The Cavern - www.frontgatetickets.om
Be Andy Rourke's friend. www.myspace.com/andyrourke
As you can see, it's been a while since our last update. That stops now! We have a new website design that will allow us to better communicate to you the Spune happenings on a more consistent basis. This website is the headquarters for all things Spune. You can find a list, and buy tickets, to all Spune shows here. The latest news and announcements can be found here first. In case you have not noticed, the Central Market 2007 series has begun, we have added a couple new venues to the booking mix, are doing a lot more touring shows and have some important festival and release news to be announced. Sign up for the Spuneletter so we can keep in touch. Thanks again to our friends at Wave Motion Studios for this design. Visit their website at www.wavemotionstudios.com.
Spune was recently brought on to fulfill national booking services for one of the most talked about live music venues in Austin, The Mohawk! The venue has hosted numerous national bands, killer SXSW showcases, received supportive press and an overwhelming response in the short five months of opening its doors. It has already been a pleasure to work with the good people at The Mohawk. We both share the same vision and long-term goals for the room and have lots of exciting things in the works. The venue continues to make improvements and renovations to raise the bar on artist/audience experiences. Believe us, this place is sweet! Local/Regional Booking will continue to be handled by the amazing Rosa Madriz with Green Potato Ventures. Rosa began working for Spune a couple years ago and has been a major contributer to our growth and success over this past year. You are in good hands! Hit her up at rosa@greenpotatoevenutes.com. Visit the Mohawk on line at www.mohawkaustin.com.
Fort Worth's newest live music venue will open this summer! What is currently 6th Street Live is being renovated and transformed into the live music destination everyone will soon come to know as Lola's! The official website is www.lolasfortworth.com. Go ahead and add Lola as your friend at www.myspace.com/lolasfortworth. We'll have more details on the Grand Opening Party and killer line up of shows over the next couple months. Look for things to spice up in Funkytown this Summer.
A few of the bands include THE DRAMS, DOUG BURR, WHITE GHOST SHIVERS, THE WEARY BOYS, THE GOURDS, BOYS NAMED SUE, MINGO FISHTRAP, BRAVE COMBO, COUNTRY FRIED SOUL, THE BURNING HOTELS, THE KILLDARES & many, many more!
For all of you who have been e-mailing, calling, sending demos, offering to wash our cars or do our dry cleaning, here is the official word. Wall Of Sound Festival 2007 will be held as a Fall event this year. It will not take place in April as it has the past two years. We are exploring new opportunities that have presented themselves and allowing more time to build the festival to something bigger and greater than it has been thus far. The festival date and location will be announced soon with the initial line up following. We hope you will be pleased with what you hear and embrace it as much as you have before.
Sponsors, vendors, workers, volunteers, groupies, etc should email info@wallofsoundfestival.com.
Bands, DJ's, comedians, painters, sculptors, performance artists, ping pong enthusiasts, etc should email booking@spune.com.
Starlight Mints, Pleasant Grove, Baboon, The Marked Men, Record Hop, Dove Hunter, Stumptone, Red Monroe, Ghostcar. Doors at 5pm. First band at 5:30pm. Tickets Only $10 adv. $12 dos. Buy tickets in advance at www.frontgatetickets.com. More info at www.aspunechristmas.com.
We have teamed up with our friends at FW Weekly to produce a few shows this fall at your favorite local grocery store, Central Market. Come out Every Thursday from 6pm-9pm and sip on your favorite fine wine, grab a snack, and enjoy great local music. Did we mention the shows are FREE? Check out the first round of shows below.
- Aug 31 - SORTA, MERMAID PURSE
- Sept 7 - WEARY BOYS, WONDERFUL FACADE
- Sept 14 - CHATTERTON (Acoustic), THE CHEMISTRY SET, DOUG BURR
- Sept 21 - TITAN MOON, DYLAN SNEED
- Sept 28 - THE GOURDS, RED MONROE
- Oct 12 - OLOSPO, DEADMAN
- Oct 19 - ELEVEN HUNDRED SPRINGS, HIGH SCHOOL CEASER
- Oct 26 - (TCU Homecoming Pre-Party) OLIVER FUTURE, RADIANT, AUTO ESCAPE
18 Bands, 5 DJ's, Complimentary Drinks, Door Prizes & More at The Cavern in Dallas. Confirmed Bands include Single Frame, Drums & Tuba, Faceless Werewolves, Red Monroe, Happy Bullets, Doug Burr, Chemistry Set, Fishboy, Comrade, Calhoun & more. Check out www.thecaverndallas.com for complete details.
THANKS to everyone who attended WOSF06, especially those who came in from Austin, FL, CA, AR, NY, KS, OK, MN, MS, LA and NM. It was an amazing two days and only got us excited about the years to come! This is only the beginning and we plan to shake things up even more in 2007. Spread the good word throughout the year and encourage your friends to sign up and visit us at www.myspace.com/wallofsoundfestival. Stay in touch and let us know what bands you want to see in 2007. We'll see you December 9th at Hailey's for A Spune Christmas 2006 where the date for WOSF07 and first round of bands will be announced.
Tickets at www.frontgatetickets.com. Bands include LOW, Okkervil River, The New Year (ex Bedhead), Pedro the Lion's David Bazan, Starlight Mints, Starflyer 59, Lassie Foundation, The Octopus Project, The Dark Romantics (ex Denison Marrs), The Czars and many more. 2 Days. 88 Bands. 3 Stages. April 8 & 9th at Ridglea Theater in Fort Worth. www.wallofsoundfestival.com.
|SP| RELEASES
We are honored to have released music by the artists below. Spune is not a record label in the traditional sense, but more of an artist development company providing support to independent artists whose music we believe should be heard by the masses. We hope you like what you hear. Thanks for your support!
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DOUG BURR
On Promenade
SP004
Release: 10.19.07
Price: $11.99
Status: In Stock!
_______________________________________________________________________
- DOUG BURR INFO
DIGITAL DOWNLOAD: Available at iTunes, Napster, CD Baby and more. Also available at record stores in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area.
Southern Gothic / Folk / Indie
RIYL: Will Oldham, Neil Young, Wilco, Tom Waits, Johnny Cash.
TRACK LISTING:
01. Slow Southern Home
02. Come To My Senses
03. Graniteville
04. Whipporrwill
05: How Can The Lark (My Dear Theo)
06: Should've Known
07: In The Garden
08: Thing About Trouble
09: Last Promenade
10: Always Travel Light
11: Blood Run Downhill
____________
DESCRIPTION:
"On Promenade" is Doug Burr's second full-length release, and is eleven tracks beautifully soaked in sincerity, heartache, and love. Co-released by West Coast label, Velvet Blue Music (Richard Swift, Viva Voce, Lassie Foundation, Kissing Cousins). and Fort Worth's Spune (Comet, LaMonica, Wall Of Sound Festival), there are twinges of the regulars in it: Wilco, Young, Oldham, and maybe some hints of Jurado, Swift, or Bazan, though Doug's music is clearly his own. Subtle yet commanding, and it actually feels meaningful.
PASTE Magazine featured Doug Burr's "On Promenade" in their "Four to Watch" section of the February '08 ssue as well as selected the track "Thing About Trouble" for their monthly sampler CD. Make sure you grab a copy!
Doug Burr crafts a unique flavor of backwoods roots with smart pop hooks. After years of wood-shedding his songwriting, Burr emerged from his home in Denton, TX to begin playing out at bars and clubs. His successes include numerous local music award nominations and multiple national song-writing competition wins. He's been quietly winning people over, receiving nice press, and getting material recorded. In the words of a recent blogger, "Doug Burr is kind of a big deal." People are beginning to talk.
Check out
myspace.com/dougburr to preview songs from the record.
_______________
PRESS REVIEWS:
"Four to Watch" band, Feb 2008 issue: The South Rises Again by David Meade
- - Paste Magazine
...Exquisitely detailed, slow and deliberate, his songs have as
much in common with the literature of Eudora Welty and Cormac McCarthy
as with the work of the Americana dimmerati to whom he is often, and
somewhat shortsightedly, compared... Read Article Here
...On Promenade is a further elaboration on these themes of birth,
death and renewal. The album has a uniquely human cadence to it,
beginning with the quietly vesperal "Slow Southern Home" before
patiently building into the quickened heartbeat of "In the Garden." The
cycle ends with a trio of songs capped by the gorgeous "Blood Runs
Downhill," a kind of eulogy for the rest of the album, part gospel,
part Alex Chilton at his most ethereal...
Texan troubadour unleashes slow burner. Doug Burr appears to be one of the select few lucky songwriters who
possess a fully formed realisation of how to write, record and present
their songs to perfection. On this release, Burr has combined his
influences to record eleven songs of shimmering majesty. At times one
can hear a Wilco or Bright Eyes influence but Burr's songs are so much
more than the sum of their influences. The album kicks off with two short but beautiful songs ("Slow
Southern Songs" and "Come to my Senses") before hitting its stride (a
stride it never breaks) with the epic beauty of "Graniteville" and
"Whippoorwill". Burr shares an intrinsic knowledge of song dynamics
with the likes of Jeff Tweedy, and has a voice that tugs at the heart
strings. Across it's eleven tracks 'On Promenade" doesn't have a single
duffer. Doug Burr has released a late contender for my album of the
year, and if there is any justice in the world (we all know there
isn't!), Burr will crash the mainstream in 2008 selling millions of
albums in the process. As far as I can see, Burr's only problem now
lies in how he is going to follow 'On Promenade'. Brilliant! — Dan
Wilkinson, Reviewers Rating: 10 out of 10
- Americana UK
Dallas Music Finally Getting National Attention / Doug Burr gained national attention in Paste. Full Article Here - Dallas Observer
SXSW Saturday Sleeper - Doug Burr's songs liquidate complex visions of mortality with steely resolution, the Denton native's detailed, literate narratives emerging in sympathetic acoustic strains. Inspired by Greil Marcus' Mystery Train, On Promenade broods with the causticness of Will Johnson with touches of Jeff Tweedy and Neil Young. - Austin Chronicle
Best Local Album of 2007 - Denton Record Chronicle
"These local artists rocked '07". Denton singer/songwriter Burr evokes
distinctive voices such as Wilco's Jeff Tweedy or Red House Painters'
Mark Kozelek. These warm, inviting compositions are effortlessly
beautiful. - Fort Worth Star-Telegram
"Dallas' Best Music". Burr is a perennial underdog in this town—too
Americana for your average blogger but at the same time far too great
to be stuck playing joints such as the Cavern for the rest of his life.
On Promenade may not change all that, but it does make a case for Burr
as one of Texas' best songwriters...evoking everyone from Slaid Cleaves
to Mark Kozelek. - Dallas Observer
Folk artist Doug Burr's growth followed a musical timeline; Denton singer Doug Burr's growth follows a musical timeline
Thursday, January 17, 2008
By HUNTER HAUK / QUICK - DALLAS MORNING NEWS
Read the article here
ON PROMENADE Singer/songwriter Doug Burr’s new album perambulates human experience, drawing
on the mystery of the South, apocalyptic evocations, and even Van Gogh’s letters by Steve Carter - From the very opening strains of Doug Burr’s latest album, On
Promenade, the scene is set, the atmosphere painted. “I lay awake for a
night/Drenched in anguish and bright light/I dreamt about an ancient
house/And a slow Southern home,” the songwriter intones in a hushed
drawl of mid-tempo confession in “Slow Southern Home.” After the lyrics
wind around the trellis of a lone acoustic guitar for half a verse, an
electric enters on the tonic chord and sets up a chiming drone of a bed
that holds stubbornly through the song, impervious to the changes.
Drums, bass, more guitars, and Wurlitzer make entrances before a Neil
Young-esque harmonica yowls into center. Starkly inevitable, the
subtly-chiseled arrangement evokes time, place and memory, a musical
kudzu overtaking and shaping a deceptively simple structure.
-
Modern Luxury Dallas
Our guess is that On Promenade will end up on a lot of "best of" lists for 2007. Wonderfully sincere tracks include
"Slow Southern Home," "Graniteville," "Thing About Trouble" and "Blood Runs Downhill" (easily one of the most beautiful
songs we have heard this year). This is an album that is bound to stand the test of time. Highly recommended.
(Rating: 5++. out of 6) - Babysue.com
After repeated listens, it's safe to say that On Promenade is unlike
any album to emerge in recent time, and no doubt it
will stand as one
of the most important releases of 2007. The contrast between warmth and
dark melancholy is at war
here, and the result is an epic draw. -
Rating: 9.2
- The Black and White Magazine
This was the biggest surprise of 2007. Outstanding music. A new favorite of PLUGGED! - # 3 of PLUGGED'S TOP 5 of 2007
A masterful 'Promenade' - You won't hear an earthier, more gripping record this year than Doug Burr's On Promenade.
His warm, inviting compositions are effortlessly beautiful and encourage multiple listens. One of 2007's finest local discs.
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Doug Burr deserves international success, but in the meantime he may consider grief counseling. On Promenade is easily one of the most mournful, uncomfortably intimate releases of the year. Let’s just hope Burr awakens every morning to sunshine and bluebirds and reserves his beautifully authentic ache for his music. To be sure, there’s nothing maudlin or morbid about the 11 tunes on his sophomore album. The tracks ripple sweetly and serenely through your head. Burr revives Hank Williams’ lonesome “Whippoorwill” but with a twist; Burr’s bird returns to “wake you up and tuck you in,” even though the singer, his voice cracking like Neil Young’s, covets the animal’s instinctive, irrepressible will to lift its voice to the sky. - FW Weekly
Doug Burr appears to be one of the select few lucky songwriters who possess a fully formed realisation of how to write, record and present their songs to perfection. On this release, Burr has combined his influences to record eleven songs of shimmering majesty. At times one can hear a Wilco or Bright Eyes influence but Burr's songs are so much more than the sum of their influences.
The album kicks off with two short but beautiful songs ("Slow Southern Songs" and "Come to my Senses") before hitting its stride (a stride it never breaks) with the epic beauty of "Graniteville" and "Whippoorwill". Burr shares an intrinsic knowledge of song dynamics with the likes of Jeff Tweedy, and has a voice that tugs at the heart strings. Across it's eleven tracks 'On Promenade" doesn't have a single duffer.
Doug Burr has released a late contender for my album of the year, and if there is any justice in the world (we all know there isn't!), Burr will crash the mainstream in 2008 selling millions of albums in the process. As far as I can see, Burr's only problem now lies in how he is going to follow 'On Promenade'. Brilliant! - americana-uk.com
On Promenade is gorgeous work. Graniteville, for one, is a masterpiece! - SHOW LUSH ABSTAINING
Burr plays with the best musical inventions, that once likewise could be made by Ryan Adams, Jeff Buckley or Elliott Smith. And yet this Texan artist adds an extra dimension to it! When I listen to the building-up in 'Should've Known' and the solidly founded song 'In The Garden', his music is hard to categorise. Sixteen Horsepower maybe? We can hear a man who sounds frightening scary, like one of the Prophets in the Old Testament. 'No, I cannot discover any peaks on this album; it would do wrong to the other songs'. I did read this on a weblog and I cannot describe it better... The songs on 'On Promenade' are one by one gems, and this beautiful album will, unless something very special appears, end as the # 1 of my personal Best of The Year 2007 album list. I foresee also a wonderful musical future for Doug Burr. - Jan Janssen for Real Roots Cafe Holland (translation by: Yvonne Böhm)
This recording quietly spins with a hiss of dark, delicate beauty which
unfolds into a unique piece of acoustic and mildly sonic songs. Ties
with one of my new favorite bands Monahans in sharing partners in the
making of the record, tempt even more. - Sonicitchmusic.com
"A strong contender for “Local CD of the Year”. - The Ghost of Blind Lemon
"If Doug Burr is not your favorite singer-songwriter, it's because you have not heard of him yet. - PLUGGED
Channeling Tom Waits (and a little Ryan Adams), Doug Burr brings a classic sense of storytelling to his
almost-gravelly songs - the familiar subjects of heartbreak and hope. - Lullabyes.net
I've been
listening to Denton singer-songwriter Doug Burr's new CD the last few
mornings, and I always start feeling the urge
to smoke and drink. That
can never be a good thing at 10 a.m., but it speaks to the strange
power that melancholy melodies,
harmonicas and steel guitars have over
me. On Promenade can't be considered a country album through and
through, but it's
twangy and tear-soaked enough to appeal to the
genre's loyalists. My favorite track so far is "Should've Known," with
a chorus
that makes me shut my eyes just to hear it better - QUICK (Dallas Morning News)
The profound new album “On Promenade” is mesmerizing even though after several listens I don’t quite know what the songs
are completely about due to his beautiful "Dylan" delivery. - Partyends.com
With a subtle and soothing sound, Burr's songs exhibit a familiarity while never sounding too derivative. With just the right amount of country twang, Burr navigates through a songscape with confident precision and an unwavering command of his subject matter. The album paints a breathtaking picture of love and loss. If alt. country/folk is your cup of tea, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better example of it. Highly Recommended. -- Capt. Obvious
"Doug Burr delivers enough heartbreak to drive you to the edge of the
bridge, and just enough hope to keep you from jumping. Rugged and
pristine, this is music that gets under your skin and goes straight for
the heart like a shot of morphine." - Real Roots Cafe Holland
"Doug sings with sound and fury, like he was layin' down and dyin', like he would never sing again." - Dallasmusic.com
"Doug Burr delivers enough heartbreak to drive you to the edge of the bridge, and just enough hope to keep you from jumping.
Rugged and pristine, this is music that gets under your skin and goes straight for the heart like a shot of morphine."
- Real Roots Cafe Holland
Many folks in and around the DFW area and even Texas will think I am a loser for just now coming to a certain realization.
Doug Burr is kind of a big deal. On Promenade, is a laid back, folky-soul gem. - The Gobblers Knob
His voice is ever-so-slightly thin, but that doesn’t detract. His songs are quietly splendid. - Denton Record-Chronicle
Modern 'till Midnight / Ft. Worth Modern Art Museum - Forgive me, I'm feeling lazy and don't feel like listing every act, Let
me just
say this though: Doug Burr alone is worth the $15 cover charge.
Yup, he’s that good. That’s without even discussing St. Vincent,
who I have yet to see live. - The Ghost of Blind Lemon
True-to-form folk singer/songwriter, Doug Burr, opened a serious can of “folk whoop-ass” on the crowd. This brother puts
the “olk” in “folk.” His manner of guitar picking streams along
steadily, yet it becomes pleasantly erratic and intricate at the best
moments possible. - Harder Beat Magazine
You know how when you go to some club for a beer or two, or maybe to an
open mic somewhere to check out some mellow Wednesday
night gig, and
there are about 85 "singer-songwriters" pouring their hearts out, and
really, you want to pay attention, but soon your mind
starts to
wander. That never happens when Doug Burr takes the stage,
whether solo or with an ensemble backing him. See, in Burr's
hands, a
song becomes more than a song—it grows into an intense moment of
transcendent focus, centered on his sure-footed melodies
and knack for
building a slow-burning hook. - Dallas Observer
Click here to see what NerdLives.com has to say. Weird one.
_______
SHOWS:
Go here
Stay tuned for more tour dates and release news. We promise you will fall in love with this record!
______________________________________________________________________
Comet
Feathers From The Wing EP
SP002
Release: 2005
Price: $ 6.99
Status: In stock!
_______________________________________________________________________
- COMET INFO
Grab what few copies are left of this release. It will probably be the last Comet material you ever hear!
Once sharing a label with
Spiritualized, the Cranes and Beth Orton, Comet dropped their domestic
debut record Chandelier Musings in October of '96 and March '97 in the
UK. However, the band came to an unexpected halt after a tour-van
accident on icy roads in Minnisota left the band splintered and
disillusioned after returning home. In 2005, Comet returned after 8 years of silence with Spune releasing
the highly enticipted "feathers from the wing" EP. After only a few
public appearances and shows arround DFW and Austin, the band found
itself back in the studios consumed in the writing phase.
Unfortuantely, this again has lead to another unexpected hiatus. The
guys are involved in their own personal journeys with their families
and enjoying life. Hopefully, one day we will again be able to soak in
the beautiful, dreamy, noise pop songs that we've always loved from
this band!
PS. Jim Stone continues to write. If we're lucky, he'll allow us to let you all hear a demo or two.
_______________________________________________________________________
LaMonica
How Shall They Hear?
SP001
Release: 2005
Price: $ 6.99
Status: In stock!
_______________________________________________________________________
- LAMONICA INFO
The debut release from John LaMonica (My Spacecoaster, The Polyphonic Spree) features songs so sparse and frail they can only be described as haunting. Be careful listing to this as it has been known to make those who do disappear. This is a co-release with our friends from Velvet Blue Music.
_______________________________________________________________________
We hope to let you in a couple other hidden treasures in 2008. Cross your fingers.
|SP|
Spune was officially established in 1997 while stumbling into promoting concerts on college campuses in Abilene, TX.
I guess you could say its what we get for hanging out with "that" crowd.
In May of 2000, Spune relocated to Arlington, TX and suddenly became heavily involved in the Dallas/Ft. Worth music scene booking a handful of bands and working several national tours.
Spring of 2002, and most of 2003, found Spune increasing its booking services and introducing street promotion and interactive marketing campaigns to its roster. In May of 2003, Spune made Burleson, TX, just outside Fort Worth, its home and is where it resides to this day. December 2004, Spune released its first record and held the 1st Annual A Spune Christmas.
2005 was a busy year as Spune introduced Wall Of Sound Festival and begin exclusively booking The Cavern Club in Dallas and Hailey's Club in Denton.
In 2006, Spune introduced a much larger version of Wall Of Sound Festival and began booking a Thursday Night Concert Series at Central Market in Fort Worth.
2007 was a very exciting year. Spune booked bands for the heritage festival known as Mayfest for the city of Fort Worth, assisted The Mohawk in Austin with booking, begin working with The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth and introduced an original music series at 8.0 in downtown Fort Worth. There was another upgrade to Wall Of Sound Festival and a 4th label release. We also found time to order some new Spune buttons and stickers.
So far, 2008 has found Spune taking over booking operations for a brand new club in Fort Worth called Lola’s Saloon, continuing the original music series at 8.0 (only now on their outdoors patio), preparing for its annual events (Mayfest and Wall Of Sound Festival) and the Central Market series, as well as the introduction an indie film festival in Abilene, Texas. We will continue working with emerging artists and producing and promoting quality entertainment events.
|SP|
Check this. Spune's poster design work gets recognzed in Graphic-Exchange.com's post today. Thanks to Brandon Lesley for the fine job! We'd not look so hot without him. Look for a newly designed Spune.com courtesy of Brandon Lesley this summer.
Now. Go buy tickets to Elf Power!
|SP|
Lo and behold: Lola's going live
BY PRESTON JONES
STAR-TELEGRAM STAFF WRITER
New year, (sort of) new venue: Although a steady stream of local and regional acts have been making music on the stage at 2736 W. 6th St. in Fort Worth, the club formerly known as 6th Street Live will blossom into Lola's later this month. Overseen by former Wreck Room impresario Brian Forella and booked by Tarrant County tastemaker/Spune head honcho Lance Yocum, the space will celebrate its grand opening Jan. 23, with a host of intriguing acts set to perform throughout the coming months (including the Redwalls, the Sword and the Most Serene Republic, as well as local luminaries such as the Theater Fire, Dove Hunter and 100 Damned Guns). If you can't wait until the back half of January to check out the space, catch Addnerim, Prophets of Rage and the Kickback on Friday or Green Mountain Grass and the Blue Hit on Saturday.
For more information: www.lolasfortworth.com
Lance Yocom already books shows at Hailey's in Denton, 8.0 and Central Market in Fort Worth, and the Cavern here at home, but his company, Spune Productions, has taken on yet another venue.
A space in Fort Worth now known as 6th Street Live will become Lola's in late January, and Mr. Yocom will be the man in charge of bringing in local and national music. There's a grand-opening party scheduled for Jan. 23, and the weeks afterward include shows from the Sword (with opening act Record Hop), Astronautalis, Lymbyc Systym and James Hand.
This means a lot for Fort Worth's music scene, especially considering the recent loss of the Wreck Room. As mentioned before, Spune also puts on excellent weekly local showcases at 8.0. Tonight is no exception: Glen Farris, 100 Damned Guns and Eleven Hundred Springs take the stage for Spune's "Launch '08." Find out everything you need to know at www.spune.com.
Lola’s may be the mid-sized indie venue Fort Worth has been praying for.
Before Brian Forella bought it last year, 6th Street Live (formerly 6th Street Bar & Grill) was a warm but glorified hole-in-the-wall with a patio, hosting shows by local and touring bluesmen and classic-rock cover bands. For months after Forella took over, he made only small changes to the 3,500-square-foot place. He started having rock shows and taking on new regulars, but he didn’t do much to change the look. Though he was desperate to begin transforming the 6th into something other than what it was, he was hamstrung by The Wreck Room, his legendary rock club nearby that was slated for demolition to make room for high-end development. After the Wreck closed in September, Forella was able to focus solely on 6th Street. He tore out the ribbed tin siding behind the bar, trashed the neon beer signs all around, and got rid of the trashy furniture. He put up baroque-saloon paneling and details, installed flat-screen TVs, and replaced the picnic benches on the patio with sturdy, classy outdoor furniture, expanding the club’s maximum occupancy from 250 to 300.
To book shows capable of filling the additional space and also to help realize his vision of bringing a cool, hip, mature indie club to Fort Worth, Forella hired Lance Yocom, president of local production company Spune, who also puts on the Wall of Sound music festival every year. Known for his exquisite taste in indie music (local and national), Yocom also books The Cavern in Dallas, Hailey’s in Denton, and The Mohawk in Austin, and recently began booking rock shows at The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. “Nobody else is doing what [Yocom] does around here,” Forella said. Yocum added: “People I’ve talked to are surprised that tours are coming to Fort Worth [via 6th Street] rather than Dallas or Denton.”
Marquee indie bands and performers slated to play the club over the next couple of months include The Sword (Jan. 25), Trampled By Turtles (Jan. 26), and Wayne Hancock (Feb. 9), among others, plus regional stalwarts like The Drams, Mingofishtrap, and Fort Worth’s Black Tie Dynasty. The club will celebrate its official grand opening on Jan. 23 and will be rechristened as Lola’s.
Forella stressed that he’s not trying to re-live the past. “What I’m trying to do is take the best hospitality elements from the previous places I’ve done,” including Embargo in SoDo, The Torch up the street, and — right around the corner — the Bronx Zoo Sports Café, “and put them in here,” he said. “The Wreck was a good run, but it’s time to move on.”
Lola’s neighborhood, in the Cultural District’s West Seventh Street corridor, is in flux. Almost as soon as an old building is razed, a new foundation is poured, and existing vacant structures are being rezoned and revitalized into mixed-use developments, with retail and housing all in one place. Forella expects that other than Fred’s Texas Café, a veritable Fort Worth institution nearby on Currie Street, Lola’s will be one of the last vestiges of underground culture in the area — though not necessarily a grungy one. “I’m older,” the 37-year-old said. “I want a nice, clean, safe place where everyone can come and enjoy seeing good music. ... I want everyone to say, ‘Let’s go [to Lola’s].’”
Business at Lola’s has doubled since the Wreck’s closing, he said. And there haven’t been any fights. “Guys have told me, ‘Bri, I don’t know how to say this, but I like this place better than the Wreck.’”
The Wreck was always a charmingly seedy joint, but several months before it closed it had fallen into severe disrepair. “I knew it was going, so I didn’t want to put any more money into it,” Forella said.
Lola’s, he said, will incorporate only the Wreck’s best attributes: the loyal veteran employees and the emphasis on service and excellent acoustics. Graffiti, after-hours partying, dirty restrooms, servers with bad attitudes, and cliquish behavior will not be tolerated. “I don’t want another Wreck situation,” Forella said. “I don’t want [business neighbors] pointing at us. I don’t want to be a target. I’d rather people come in here and think the place is cool.”
Bands, he noted, fall into the category of “people”: “I want bands to say, ‘I might not make as much money [at Lola’s], but I was treated right and the sound was good, so hopefully we’ll get more fans.’ “
The club, Forella said, will be finished for the grand opening, but there’s more he wants to do, such as installing a humidor, patio bar, and hardwood flooring; creating a martini menu; getting murals painted; and putting 15 beers on tap. The weekly evening shows — singer-songwriter Carey Wolff on Wednesdays, Scott Copeland on Thursdays, and jamming jazzbos on Sundays — will continue in some form or another.
Lola’s has the potential to be a “prestigious” place, Yocom said. “It’s similar to [Dallas’] Gypsy Tea Room — it started out small, then got to a point when bands and regulars said, ‘Let’s go there’ no matter who was playing.”
Dec 19
By ANTHONY MARIANI
FW WEEKLY
All booked up
After another busy year spent placing bands worth hearing in clubs worth visiting, Burleson-based Spune Productions has taken on booking duties at Fort Worth's 8.0, effective Nov. 8. According to Spune head honcho, Lance Yocom, his organization will be producing 8.0's Thursday-night concert series this winter. "We plan to put bands that you may not normally see at 8.0 onstage and mix it up a little," Yocom says. Spune is interested in developing 8.0 into a more prominent live-music venue. In addition, Spune will book Brian Forella's post-Wreck Room venture, Lola's, when it's up and running later this year. - Fort Worth Star-Telegram
Let’s get one thing straight: I love Spune Productions’ Lance Yocom, whose contributions to the Fort Worth scene and hipster cachet are manifold and unmatched by any 10 club owners, booking agents, bloggers, journalists, investors, and supermodel nuns combined. -FW Weekly
For the past four years, Spune Productions has been in the vanguard of hip music in the Metroplex. A ton of cool indie bands that have been written about in hipster bibles like SPIN and Pitchfork Media have come through the region, including Low, Okkervil River, and Starflyer 59, all courtesy of Spune. A few months ago, the all-purpose Fort Worth-based company took over the languishing Cavern in Dallas and turned it into a bona fide destination. This spring, Spune will hook up with The Wreck Room's Brian Forella and bring a little bit of hipster cachet to the heart of Cowtown via Forella's new rock club, 6th Street Live. "I see it as a Gypsy Tea Room," said Spune boss Lance Yocom, referring to the legendary Deep Ellum club that will be shutting its doors in a few weeks. "I think we can make [6th Street] a destination." The Wreck is on the verge of closing, but no one knows exactly when. Whenever that turns out to be, Forella wants to send the Wreck out with a bang. The entire month of April features a murderer's row of rock talent: lots of regional and national bands that consider the Wreck a home away from home, and old-school Wreck faves, including Woodeye, a defunct and beloved local roots-rock outfit that will reunite specifically for the occasion. In addition to The Cavern, Yocom also books bands at Hailey's in Denton. He said he's been looking for a Fort Worth spot for about the past two years. Several weeks ago, after hearing that Forella had bought a new club, Yocom reached out. Fort Worth "is a great market in need of a diverse music venue that attracts touring bands," Yocum said. A bit larger than The Cavern, 6th Street is just the right size, Yocom said, for the type of hip indie bands he specializes in. Like the Wreck, and unlike just about every other rock venue in the Metroplex, 6th Street will be open seven days a week, with live music Thursday through Saturday, and some sort of performance art the rest of the week. The benefits to Yocom are twofold: Since he recently left AEG, a major entertainment corporation, where he worked for years, he can focus on raising Spune's national profile, which he hopes will help him generate more interest in his annual Wall of Sound festival. (Though its two previous installments have taken place in the spring, the 2007 version is set for the fall at a venue yet to be announced.) The benefit to Forella is that, while he won't be able to carry on the Wreck name, or its grungy authenticity, he will be able to keep bringing good music to town. It won't be as uniformly raw as it was at the Wreck, but, he promises, it will still be good. And Forella also gets to work with a burgeoning force that may (finally) put Fort Worth on the big-time musical map. Yocom's "reputation precedes him," he said.
When you combine the resources of Spune Productions and KDGE-FM's The Adventure Club, you get a boost for Dallas' indie rock scene. Spune president Lance Yocom has enlisted Adventure Club host Josh Venable to pick three local bands each month to share a bill at the Cavern. Last month's inaugural showcase packed the venue's downstairs room, which bodes well for this Saturday's show featuring Cordelane, the Hourly Radio and Smile Smile. Venable says he signed on for one simple reason. "I like that it's a dirty rock club. Those are few and far between these days."
Sugarlight's gone now, but the good music's still here. Hailey's hosted a great Spune Productions showcase on Saturday night celebrating the best in Dallas rock, and Spune's at it again this weekend with two big shows
Right now, Dallas' musical reputation is already shaken enough without your fest stinking it up. People all over the city are talking actively about what to do in Deep Ellum or anywhere else to reinvigorate the live music scene; in particular, people such as Lance Yocom are doing a much better job see Critics' Picks, page 68, for details on his Spune Back2School bash on Saturday. But we definitely don't need DMF's "help."
Lovin' Spune-ful. "Event shows" are Spune Productions' specialty. Take Saturday's back-to-school concert at Hailey's in Denton. Red Monroe , Black Tie Dynasty, the Hourly Radio, Daryl, Auto Escape and the Deathray Davies are all on the bill. The thought both excites and exhausts us.
Every few months, Spune Productions throws some great "welcome to the music scene" shows that are perfect for local newbies. But it's one thing to get a varied smattering of the best in local pop-rock in one sitting, with bands such as the Deathray Davies, [DARYL], The Angelus, The Hourly Radio, Black Tie Dynasty and Red Monroe; it's another to see them all for free if you're over 21.
Next week, we have the New Music Festival in Deep Ellum. To give you a little taste, Saturday night's Spune showcase at Trees will include sets by Pilotdrift, Record Hop, Midlake and Tiebreaker. We'll be there with bells on. Ding ding!
Five to Watch is an occasional series in which our mission is to identify promising talent in the area. For this edition, we go behind the scenes in the local concert business. Have you ever enjoyed a music show and stopped to think, "Who's in charge of all this?" We hope these profiles give you insight into who promotes the bands, who books the shows and who keeps everything flowing smoothly. Enjoy. Read the article here.
Hailey's damage: Good news--the Web site for Hailey's no longer looks like the bottom of a butt. But the Denton rock club didn't just redesign its home page for the heckuvit. Like most good things happening in local music as of late, Spune Productions has dropped its huge, musically pleasing stamp on the whole affair. Lance Yocom's booking powerhouse has joined forces with Hailey's to become the venue's exclusive local booker; meanwhile, Daughter Entertainment will continue to book big-time indie acts at Hailey's like Deerhoof, Broadcast and Xiu Xiu.
Like all of the acts on the Spune Productions La Femme Qui Rock show at The Cavern on Saturday, Denton's Jetscreamer qualifies to perform, well, because it has a female in the band. While she's not the frontperson, guitarist Samantha Moss welcomes the invitation. "It's cool. The Spune shows are always good for being diverse."
For Spune Productions' second woman-focused showcase, local music kingpin Lance Yocom has extended his space-rock arms not only outside his favorite genre but also his favorite city. Three stand-out Austin bands lead the way in this must-see concert, starting early in the evening with the incredibly surreal One Umbrella, an avant-garde instrumental duo that'll leave you either scratching your head or picking your jaw up from the floor.
There is a stark difference between the lineups at the NTNMF and the resulting mood, a difference organizer Teresa Hale is quick to point out. Aside from the star-studded showcases thrown by Spune Productions, Hale says that solid acts of all genres could be found throughout the fest, an opinion seconded by contributor Jesse Hughey in his Friday night festival review on page 88.
There is a stark difference between the lineups at the NTNMF and the resulting mood, a difference organizer Teresa Hale is quick to point out. Aside from the star-studded showcases thrown by Spune Productions, Hale says that solid acts of all genres could be found throughout the fest, an opinion seconded by contributor Jesse Hughey in his Friday night festival review on page 88.
Lower Greenville bar The Cavern already draws scenesters looking to enjoy a dark, intimate atmosphere and an occasional music show, but it doesn't hurt to step things up a bit. That's why concert promoter Lance Yocom has teamed with management to transform the place into a local music destination. "My hope is that now it will provide an alternative to Deep Ellum." Dallas songwriter Salim Nourallah headlines tonight's party, and he agrees that the scene could use a shift away from Deep Ellum. "I hope it helps offer a new, non-Deep Ellum venue with good bands on a weekly basis. Lance Yocom and Spune certainly have good taste, so that's a start," he says.
Ran away with the Spune: A few months ago, we got a phone call from Lance Yocom, impresario for all things Spune Productions (he books shows, promotes bands, sells lemonade, blah blah blah), and he got right to the point: "What do you think of the Cavern?" Well, we liked the Lower Greenville bar very much...when it booked good bands, at least, rather than the choad-rock that has filled its schedule for the past coupla months. Yocom agreed and said he had a mission to turn the Cavern into the ultimate local music destination. Yeah, right, we said. With bands like Tall playing every week?
Well, on Thursday, our past naysaying becomes moot, as the Cavern re-opens with Yocom's promises fulfilled--the stage and sound have been drastically improved ("You can feel the bass in your chest at times," Yocom brags), as has the booking. Take Thursday's grand re-opening party, for starters, where the free booze and food are overshadowed by Salim Nourallah, Cordelane, The Happy Bullets and The Adventure Club's Josh Venable (who begins a regular upstairs DJ set Saturday nights). And that girl on the next page, Mara Lee Miller? She's just the opening act on Saturday's bill (and if you miss her, you're clinically insane). Future weeks don't let up, with touring acts like Fruit Bats and Micah P. Hinson rounding out some of the best local bills in town.
Saturday's La Femme Qui Rock at Hailey's helped us realize something: We heart Record Hop. The Denton four-piece provided a downright electric headlining set that rivaled anything we've witnessed in this music scene. Expect another La Femme event from Spune Productions president Lance Yocom in November. Speaking of Yocom, he's taken the task of upping the indie cred of Lower Greenville club The Cavern. The venue will show off its renovated stage, lights and sound system Sept. 1 at a free "re-grand opening party." Cordelane, Tiebreaker and the Happy Bullets will take the stage, and Adventure Club host Josh Venable will provide a DJ set.
Yeah, we figured that would get your attention. Lance Yocom of Spune Productions is hosting Songwriter's Social at Gypsy Tea Room on Sunday night. The all-star lineup features Brent Best (of Slobberbone fame), George Neal of Little Grizzly, Doug Burr and John LaMonica, among others.
File this one under "More Reasons to Love Lance Yocom": Spune Productions announces "Le Femme Qui Rock" festival coming August 13 to Hailey's. Translated from French as "Women Who Rock," the show brings together eight bands touting talented female musicians.
Wanna Spune?: A few weeks ago, I lauded Denton's Spune Productions for putting together some of the city's most compelling local bills. I also managed to incorrectly spell Spune president/A&R guy Lance Yocom's name. (Sorry, Lance.) On Saturday, May 21, the artist management company builds on its momentum with a show at the Gypsy Tea Room featuring Pilotdrift, Pleasant Grove, Comet and the Snowdonnas. Dust off your shoes and get ready to gaze. Should be a great show.
Who is this guy? Why is he suddenly doing some of the coolest things in Dallas? How do you pronounce "Spune"? These are questions that have crossed my mind as artist-developer Lance Yocom, working through his Denton-based Spune Productions, sent me press release after press release about killer showcases (Midlake, Record Hop, John Lamonica and The Southern Sea was one of the New Music Festival's highlights), top-notch artists he signed (his roster includes Comet, Pitchfork darling Micah P. Hinson, The Earlies, LM5, The Silver Arrows) and the freaking big-ass Wall of Sound Festival. Lance, you and me: coffee, soon.
Wanna Spune?: A few weeks ago, I lauded Denton's Spune Productions for putting together some of the city's most compelling local bills. On Saturday, the artist management company builds on its momentum with a show at the Gypsy Tea Room featuring Pilotdrift, Pleasant Grove, Comet and the Snowdonnas.
Saturday's Wall of Sound local music festival reads like my dream birthday party. Wall Of Sound's D-FW lineup is beyond "good." Consider this show mandatory.
Spune "Wall of Sound Festival" features performances by such critical darlings as Midlake, Record Hop, Radiant, Black Tie Dynasty and Austin's What Made Milwaukee Famous.
That wasn't lost on Lance Yocom, president and founder of Burleson-based artist development company Spune Productions (which hosts a bang-up Christmas show on Sunday, December 12, at Gypsy Tea Room). "At first I was not a fan of MySpace," Yocom writes by e-mail. You know, it's kinda dumb, kinda like a high school yearbook. But after a while, he saw "similar established companies, admired record labels and respected mainstream bands (like REM) utilize the site. I knew they must be using MySpace for more than the gossip/dating hook-up junk." Yocom's MySpace profile currently hosts music from locals Record Hop, John Lamonica and The Southern Sea.
FW Weekly's Best Booking Agent Award
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Wall Of Sound Festival 2006 Press
Yocom pulled off his dream schedule, filling the Ridglea with the cream of the local crop and wonderful out-of-town headliners to boot. WoSF needs some fine-tuning next year, but sets like Stumptone's were proof enough that the Wall, in spite of some glaring problems, stood tall.
We went, we saw, indie music conquered. A suggestion on how to make the festival even bigger next year: Put stages on all four sides of the room. The audience might have to parachute in, but it'd be totally worth the trouble.
A proud Fort Worthian going on four years now, I can't recall a local music event that's inspired as much chatter as this past weekend's Wall of Sound Festival. Almost every concertgoer I talked to or heard from claims to have been treated to a lot of really cool, really unique, and really new-to-Cowtown music. Is Wall of Sound the next Austin City Limits or even an Austin City Limits For Undergrounders?
"The 2006 edition metastasized into an ACL-like 88 bands and performers over two days, amounting to well over 24 solid hours of music from every bandwidth of the artistic spectrum: country-rock, post-punk, psych-folk, quasi-classical. It was both exhausting and enchanting.
Think of Wall of Sound as a miniature SXSW, only without the long lines to see over-hyped bands that will soon be forgotten.
It's only April, but there's no question that this weekend's Wall of Sound Festival 2006 will prove itself the best combined bill of any musical event in Dallas, Fort Worth or Denton this year.
Kadane (The New Year) pays WOSF a mighty fine compliment by comparing the local fest to the All Tomorrow's Parties festival the New Year played in London in 2002.
Who needs Sixth Street during SXSW? In an era in which The Man freely co-opts large-scale get-togethers no matter how "indie" Wall of Sound stands as a refreshing alt-alternative.
Greatest music fest DFW may see this entire year.
SXSW isn't the only action to be had in Texas during the spring. With festival season soon to be fully under way, keeping straight of which bands are playing where will become a lot trickier. Adding on to the confusion will be the Wall of Sound Festival in Forth Worth.The festival is all ages and better yet, it provides free parking. You just can't beat that.
Promising for a festival that could grow into a regional landmark for music lovers.
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CURRENT:
The Cavern (Dallas), Hailey's (Denton), Lola's Saloon (Ft Worth), Monks (Abilene), Central Market (Ft Worth), 8.0 (Ft Worth), The Mohawk (Austin), The Modern Art Museum (Ft Worth), Scat Jazz Lounge (Ft Worth), Glass Cactus (Grapevine), Fastlane Concerts, FW Weekly, Doug Burr, Record Hop, Red Monroe, Comet, The Southern Sea, Glen Farris
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PAST:
Red Animal War, The Earlies, LaMonica, Micah P Hinson, Hi-Fi Drowning, Lewis, The Theater Fire, Snowdonnas, The Danes, Black Lights, The Golden Falcons, The Chemistry Set, The Shining Time, Sleepy Atlantis, The Silver Arrows, Dylan Sneed, The Audiophiles, The Alexander, Fontane, Blueprint Sea, LM5, Briley, Some Time After, Afterglo.
Where it all began - Past Talent Buying in Abilene, TX for General Motors, Tooth and Nail Records, Velvet Blue Music, Appleseed Cast, Switchfoot, The Lassie Foundation, Starflyer 59, Brandtson, The Juliana Theory, The Stereo, Five O' Clock People, Denison Marrs, Fold Zandura, Fine China, Map, Pony Express and many, many more. This was all done at a place called The Corner. It's now a tanning salon!
