When they talk about making a record, they talk about doing something big--maybe bringing in strings, going "all-out," as Chellew says.
"We have grand ideas," Garza says.
"But simplicity is also sweet," offers Chellew.
But they are in no rush to record a full-length album. They talk of not wanting to deal with finding a label or a producer and of still learning how to write with each other--how to edit each other's ideas, how to take a song written by Curtis or Chellew and turn it into a song written by Captain Audio. That process will take some time, and they are in no hurry. If nothing else, perhaps they've learned from past experiences. Sometimes a band is a band; sometimes, it's just three people.
"I want to make an album where we do it our way," Garza adds. "Even thought Comet ended the way it did, I'm still happy with the recording that we did. As long as we go in and make an album we're all happy with, even if we break up after that, that'd be cool with me." Garza smiles broadly. Curtis and Chellew laugh. "I could say I did it the best I could with these two cats."
Fry Street unfair
Fry Street Fair co-organizer Cabe Booth doesn't really have an explanation, only an apology: This year, instead of shutting down at 10 p.m. like in years past, the annual Denton rockfest will run from noon till only 9 p.m.--so sayeth the city fathers and mothers, who wouldn't let Booth and the Delta Lodge hold the hootenanny unless they cut it short. "It's something they wanted us to do in order for them to give us the permits," Booth says. "It's no big deal, but it does cut down on the slots." So does the closing-down of the Argo: Instead of four stages, Booth could only book three this year.
But, hey, it doesn't cut down on the rock: Performing on the main stage this year are, in order of appearance: Pops Carter and the Funk Monsters, Strap, Centro-matic, 420 Blues, Slow Roosevelt, Doosu, Baboon, Bobgoblin, and the tomorrowpeople. The second stage will feature: Loveswing, Headcase, The Bands, Funktion Junktion, Elemental, American Fuse, Caulk, Beef Jerky, and Soak. The bands filling the Rick's Place stage are: Hi Fi Drowning; Valve; Drive-By Orchestra; cottonmouth, texas; Buck Jones, Bowling For Soup, and Pimpadelic. Admission is $8, or $7 with a canned good; proceeds go to the Denton Humane Society, Denton Red Cross, Denton Food Shelf, and Denton Christian Pre-School.
Scene, heard
Last week in this space, it was reported that Psalm 69 was breaking up, which is what the band said in a press release. Frontwoman Judy Hill called to inform us that the missive misspoke and that the band was merely retooling and will stick around with a new lineup that features Sean Chadwick on bass and Daniel Garza on drums (both are formerly of Diablo Sol). Thank God...
The 1998 Dallas Observer Music Awards will take place May 3 in Deep Ellum--50 bands, 15 venues, all for one low price of five bucks when you buy a wristband at area Blockbuster Music locations. And while you're there, pick up a copy of the third volume of Scene, Heard, our compilation of 21 rare and unreleased tracks by such local bands as Slowpoke, Vibrolux, Peter Schmidt, Brave Combo, Meredith Miller, UFOFU, Johnny Reno, Mental Chaos, Mr. Pink, the tomorrowpeople, and Baboon. Self-promotion is the key to world domination.
Send Street Beat e-mail tips, gripes, and pipe bombs to rwilonsky@dallasobserver.com
