It's Labor Day weekend, which means most of us will be taking Monday off--including us here at DC9. Nothing like a three-day weekend to honor the workingman and -woman. Or a four-day weekend, for those kids whose ignorant redneck parents would rather force their children to skip school than allow their spawn to hear a pep talk about the importance of education because it's being given by our president. I wonder if those same Glenn Beck fans will protest the Great Socialist Threat by going to work on Monday, since this holiday was created to honor labor unions--not exactly BFFs with the Republican Party.
But there's more to this holiday weekend than toasting the people who helped bring us 40-hour work weeks, minimum wages and safe working conditions. There's plenty of live music going on too, with events we've already mentioned and plenty of others.
Starting with previously mentioned events, there's Wayne "The Train" Hancock at the Granada Theater tonight.
Saturday, DayBowBow has an excellent 14-act lineup that's heavy on new groups scheduled at The Schoolhouse in Denton, This Will Destroy You plays at The Granada, Los Straitjackets provides a welcome break from Trees' usual metal and post-grunge and Cross Canadian Ragweed's 4th Annual Red Dirt Roundup brings plenty of great country, alt-country, roots rock and more to the Stockyards in Cowtown.
Sunday brings Drop Dead Gorgeous, From First To Last and others to town, along with local mall faves The Secret Handshake and PlayRadioPlay! to Plano for the third annual September To Remember--and they really will remember it, as it will be a booze-free all-ages affair--as well as dreamy Scottish pop singer Paolo Nutini to House of Blues.
And on Monday, Wade Bowen, Bleu Edmonson, Stoney Larue and others will be Pickin' For Preemies at Billy Bob's.
Here are a few other options for you to consider this weekend.
Macon Greyson
Friday, September 4, at Adair's Saloon
This is a free show, so come check out these Wrestler-soundtrackin' roots rockers. Pete's been playing the band's This Machine Kills Hypocrisy EP nonstop lately, and I've really enjoyed it too as I'm a sucker for some good electric slide guitar licks. Check the band's MySpace to stream songs from the effort, and pick up next week's print supplement for an interview with the band.
Quiet Company, Airline, The Archetypes
Friday, September 4 at City Tavern
A night of melodic, smart soulful pop from Austin, Dallas and Denton, respectively. Austin's Quiet Company is inviting fans to participate in the filming of a music video for "On Modern Men" in Georgetown starting at 7 a.m. September 17, by the way, so if you plan to help out, this would be a good opportunity to ask the guys why it's gotta start so freaking early.
Drawn By Jaymz, Happy Bullets
Friday, September 4 at Lee Harvey's
A very cursory listen to Drawn By Jaymz, featuring the Tah-Dahs' James Porter and Happy Bullet Tim Ruble, already has me reconsidering my plans for the night as it adds yet another option to choose from. Very cool intricate pop songs. The Oak Cliff Beatles-loving indie-poppers of Happy Bullets have a new album coming out soon, so it would seem reasonable to expect new songs.
The Cult
Friday, September 4 at House of Blues
Ian Astbury & Co. have reunited yet again, this time to perform The Cult's 1985 album Love in its entirety. Aging goths must be a lucrative audience, as this show is sold out.
Sleep Whale, Dust Congress, New Science Projects, Geistheistler, Emil Rapstine
Friday, September 4 at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios, Denton
An intriguing mix of folk, experimental and experimental folk acts tonight as part of RGRS's Free Week. Hopefully southbound traffic on I-35 isn't too heavy, as Emil Rapstine has to make it to the Double-Wide for an Angelus set later tonight.
Bridges and Blinking Lights, Tre Orsi, History at Our Disposal, Starhead, The Polycorns
Saturday, September 5, at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios, Denton
The capper to Free Week, and it's a great way to end the week. Teenage Cool Kids was scheduled for this show, but they're not listed on the RGRS site, and the show isn't listed on the band's MySpace page. With or without them, though, it's still a great bill of some of Denton's most established rock and folk groups--the Yin to the Schoolhouse Fight Night's Yang.
Buddy Guy, Tejas Brothers, Joe Jonas Band, Chris Duarte, more
Bedford Labor Day Blues & BBQ
Saturday and Sunday, September 5 & 6, at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital (HEB)
A few good acts, including the legendary Buddy Guy and DOMA winners Tejas Brothers, are interspersed in this two-day blues bill. One-day general admission is $5--certainly worth it for the chance to check out one of the pioneers of rock 'n' roll.
