And Another Thing

More than 30,000 people will head to Fair Park this weekend for the Crossroads Guitar Festival, giving new meaning to the phrase "jam-fest." If you're not interested in fighting crowds and traffic to witness the historic lineup--including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and B.B. King--there are plenty of other things to do.

Let's start with Deep Friday on June 4, when eight clams get you entry to six Deep Ellum clubs, including Club Dada, Curtain Club and Liquid Lounge. For us flaky, noncommittal types, it's the ideal grab-bag approach to seeing Dallas music. If one band doesn't do it for you, try another.

On Saturday, Fair to Midland holds a CD release party for inter.funda.stifle at the Curtain Club. FTM is a band with the rare distinction of having been featured in both a Dallas Observer cover story and Zac Crain's "Sack of Kittens." They'll be joined by Tendril, Thru the Heather and Room 101.

Sunday is the Fort Worth Weekly Music Awards, an all-day outdoor festival starting at 3 p.m. A quick glance at the ballot shows Goodwin, Woodeye, Flickerstick and Calhoun vying for most of the evening's top honors. Performers include nominees Colin Herring, Bertha Coolidge and Spoonfed Tribe, along with headliners the Burden Brothers. Tickets are $6 ($5 with a can of food).

Speaking of Goodwin, they're one of the bands duking it out in the Rolling Rock Battle of the Bands on June 3 at the Hard Rock Cafe. Other bands on that Round One bill include Tripp Fontaine, Love Vs Hate and the Bomb Almighty, competing for a thousand big ones and a chance to play the Rolling Rock Town Fair. Show starts at 9 p.m.

Five Questions With...

As the driving force behind Buzz-Oven, Aden Holt is one of the most dedicated--and kindest--figures in the Dallas music scene. With a team of teen and young adult volunteers throughout North Texas, Holt relentlessly spreads the word about local bands to a younger market, distributing free CD compilations at high schools and hosting all-ages showcases, like the one on June 5 at Trees, with Chomsky, the Vanished and Henry Holt.

What, exactly, is a "Buzz Oven"?

I suppose it's a place where a fine recipe of good music and strong word-of-mouth can be mixed to create a "buzz" for deserving bands.

Why Chomsky and the Vanished?

Chomsky is the first band to be featured on Buzz-Oven for a second time. The band appeared on Volume 2 in support of Baboon, but Chomsky has since become one of the best bands in Dallas. The [Buzz-Oven] leaders felt the band should be recognized for that. The Vanished was selected based on the package they sent us.

You're 6 feet 9 inches tall. Is that a blessing or a burden at live shows?

Aside from annoying those who stand behind me, it is a blessing, indeed. I can get a straight shot of the stage no matter where I am. I'm usually courteous enough to find a wall or a bar to stand next to, but if the band is good, I head to the middle, no matter the consequences.

Quick: You have $10 million to spend exclusively on the Dallas music scene. What do you do?

There's not enough room to answer. But I've dreamed of creating a huge Buzz-Oven facility where selected bands could use resources such as national distribution, a fleet of touring vans and trailers, merchandise production, marketing teams and budgets, rehearsal facilities, fitness facilities, short-term housing, a showcase venue and our own radio station. If someone wants to make that donation, I would make it happen.

Be honest: Are the kids all right?

Buzz-Oven started with 12 young volunteers, and we now have over 1,200 with new members signing up every week. That's all right with me!