As Tele becomes more of his main focus, Reagan is torn between his commitment to Hagfish and the independence Tele allows him. He wants to stay at home and play with his kids and make music that means something to him. Talking to him, you get the feeling it would be a surprise if Hagfish makes another album, at least with Reagan at the helm. But you never know.
"[Guitarist] Zach [Blair] called me up the other day and said he wanted to do a new record. We have the option to do that if we want, and I've got the songs," Reagan says, hesitating as though he's still weighing options. When he continues, it sounds like he's made up his mind.
"I'm interested in it. It's Hagfish. It's been my blood, sweat, and tears for I don't know how many years. It's still in my heart and everything, but I really, really like doing what I'm doing now. I've got a lot more freedom. I want to make music that makes people think a little bit more, not just kind of stoop to it or whatever. Listening to Josh from The Edge, listening to his show, I hear bands and go, 'Man, fuck! These bands are so great, and nobody's listening to them.' I want to be able to do that too. Not be unlistened-to, but do whatever I want. I want to be unlimited."
Scene, Heard
Ex-Tablet frontman Steven Holt has been laying low since Tablet split up shortly after being dropped by Mercury Records. But he's back now with a new band, Bicycle Thief, and a new record due in about a month. Bicycle Thief--which also includes bassist Gary Burkhart, drummer Paul Rutherford, keyboardist Rahim Quazi, and guitarist Ray Tamez--makes its first live appearance February 5 at Trees. Judging by the abbreviated, five-song taste-of Last Beat sent us, filled with electronic beeps and tape loops, Mercury apparently gave him a sampler as a parting gift...
Tripping Daisy is planning a big blowout in Fort Worth this weekend, with a trio of shows at The Aardvark featuring appearances by some of the area's best and brightest, including Light Bright Highway on Friday, and Baboon and The Dooms U.K. on Saturday...
Sock Monkey--the art gallery in Exposition Park that opened last summer with performances by more supergroups than a classic-rock package tour--goes the lots-of-people-with-parentheses-after-their-names route again for Massive Missile Attack, an exhibit by Dallas artists Dave Hawley and Nelson Lacy. Providing the soundtrack to Hawley and Lacy's artwork will be Gordon Gibson and Trey Shults (of the tomorrowpeople), Tony Jenada (The Commercials), Randy Murphy and Patchen Preston (Roshanda Red Quartet), Mark Ridlen (Lithium X-Mas), and Kris Wheat (ex of Bedhead). They'll be pitching in on various digital equipment (no guitars, please) and operating under code names for the duration of the six-hour opening. Naturally.
Send Street Beat your sock monkeys to rwilonsky@dallas observer.com.
