Good/Bye

The notice for the Good/Bad Art Collective's eighth birthday party was normal. Normal, at least, for the Good/Bad. It was just another wacky, but smart event put on by the prankster artists (or is it artistic pranksters?) at their home at 120 Exposition Street in Denton.

It described Forget Anything Happened (Cliff's), an installation by the Denton members that honors Cliff Barnett, the collective's neighbor for the past seven years. Then it announced the members of the Brooklyn, New York, branch (also known as G/BNY) would return to present Homebound, a sort of utilitarian installation involving the door guy/ticket taker hanging out the building's window.

There would also be entertainment. Eight bands--Asphalt the Recorder, The Banes, The Baptist Generals, The Chop-Sakis, Cornhole, The Dutch Treats, The Falcon Project and Little Grizzly--would perform simultaneously at midnight. Called !!!!!!!!, it would provide a quick demonstration of the variety of bands that had supported the Good/Bad over the years in benefit concerts and the Inflicted Music series. DJ Geeky C, formerly of The Dooms UK, would also take the stage. Finally, EFF (Electric Freestyle Fantasy) would play after a three-year hiatus.

It sounded typical, but intriguing as usual in its own way. After all, for most, eight is not a memorable year. It's not 10 when you leave the little kids behind for middle school. It's definitely not 18 or 21.

But not this time. Besides celebrating its birthday, the Good/Bad will also be saying farewell. On June 1, it will vacate its Denton headquarters and make Brooklyn the home base. And this--the tribute to Barnett, the Denton music synopsis, the door guy who finally escapes--is the last hurrah in its hometown. Or is it? While we're not completely surprised about the departure, we will be surprised if the Good/Bad doesn't come back to visit once in a while.