In next week's paper, we'll unveil our national package on the best music of the year (the following week, we'll tackle the best in DFWd music). But, as a teaser, here's our paper's contribution to the national package: Noah W. Bailey's picks for the best Americana/folk releases of '08.
Picking the best folk and Americana records of the year isn't nearly as hard as discarding those great records that just didn't feel right stuck in the category.
Releases by Calexico and DeVotchKa felt far too
Cattle DecapitationOK, so we know all the snobby, music elitists will be at the Devotchka/Crooked Fingers show tonight at HOB. But for those whose tastes are not so refined, well, you folks can head on down to The Lounge tonight to catch the sheer ugliness of Cattle Decapitation. The San Diego quartet's genre of choice is called deathgrind--and that pretty much ought to tell you all you need to know. But there's more to Cattle Decapitation than simple head-banging.
Due to the inclement weather last night, I was one of the many people who didn't get to catch Devotchka at the House of Blues. So, yeah, I'm suffering a bit from post-NPR-favorite-withdrawal disorder, a complicated ailment characterized by a lack of sufficiently arty and critically acclaimed music.To rectify this problem, I, for one, plan on heading to The Loft this evening to catch Jesse Harris. Extra hip individuals in the jazz/folk/indie loop already know Harris through his work with Bright E
Patrick MichelsWhile tornado warning sirens serenaded most of Dallas last night, those of us cooped up in the House of Blues remained blissfully ignorant, thanks to a great show from the gypsy-indie set DeVotchKa.The band's rocking live presence turned up the intensity on even their sleepiest numbers, weaving complex instrumentals around singer Nick Urata, then backing off to let his mournful wail steal the scene.With sharp, staccato violin, a pair of horns, and a booming sousaphone decked out i
All photos by Patrick Michels​Though Nick Urata, front man for Denver-based gypsy folk-rock outfit Devotchka, joked that the only reason his band had a draw worth mentioning during its set at ACL's indoor Wildflower stage was because of the rain, consider his words simply a matter of humility.
Because, for the bulk of Devotchka's set, aside from a spattering of showers at its early evening start, the rain actually paused for the band's performance. No matter--the crowds still jammed the
