Subject: School of Seven Bells

• The Year-End List Extravagana Continues: Even The Curtis Brothers Are Gettin' Some Love!

  It was only officially released in late October, but one album that I've found myself returning to a couple times in these waning months of 2008 is School of Seven Bell's Alpinism.The ethereal electronic rock act School of Seven Bells--or SVIIB, as the kids apparently abbreviate the act--you'll remember, is the new project from former Secret Machines founding member one-time Dallas act The Secret Machines. And though Benjamin's brother Brandon remained with the Machines, which released its own,

  December 11, 2008

• Last Night: Black Moth Super Rainbow, School of Seven Bells and Darktown Strutters at Hailey's

  Black Moth Super Rainbow, School of Seven Bells, Darktown StruttersHailey's Club, DentonJune 3, 2009Better Than: Sulking at home last night while poking around on Craigslist and eBay for those Animal Collective tickets you should've bought months ago... Paul HeartfieldSchool of Seven BellsTurns out there weren't any "Quadrophenia-esque rumbles" in Hailey's parking lot after Black Moth Super Rainbow and School of Seven Bells wrapped up their sets last night. But, before the show started, plenty o

  June 4, 2009

• What It Was Like: Pete Tong, Late of the Pier, Peter Bjorn & John, Angus & Julia Stone, School of Seven Bells, Zee Avi

  Pete Freedman School of Seven Bells' Benjamin Curtis at Buffalo Billiards.The first night of SXSW saw four pretty major draws around town--Echo and the Bunnymen at Emo's; The Decembrists at Stubbs; St. Vincent, Department of Eagles and M. Ward at the Central Presbyterian Church; Peter Bjorn & John and Glasvegas at Vice--and a whole bunch of other worthwhile draws...

  March 19, 2009

• What It Was Like: School of Seven Bells, Skibunny

  Jesse HugheySkibunnyI was delayed in getting my night started, thanks to some setbacks I'd rather not go into. Let me just recommend that if you're at SXSW, don't carry a pocketknife. But I still caught a few interesting acts. Hopefully today will go more smoothly. Act: School of Seven Bells (another take). Where: Buffalo BilliardsWhat it was like: I don't think I was quite as impressed as Pete Freedman was in his review, but enjoyed the set enough to stick around till the end. Ally and Claudia

  March 19, 2009

• What It Was Like: Chin Chin, Silversun Pickups, Amanda Blank, Thunderheist, Headlights, Asobi Seksu

  Pete Freedman Thunderheist gets things moving at Club De Ville.Act: Chin Chin, a group of would-be yacht rockers from BrooklynWhere: Club De VilleWhat It Was Like: Trying to figure out if the whole thing was a joke or not, really. The band's blue-eyed soul sound was a little hokey, and no doubt that sense was only enhanced by the lead singer's choice of attire: a pink leisure suit. His backing band dressed less loudly, all in black.Verdict: Like watching a bunch of goofballs not realizin

  March 21, 2009

• SXSW Dispatches: The O's Let Us Read Their Diary

  [Last week, we asked a few bands to check in with us from time to time over the course of the week to tell us about their SXSW experiences. Now, with the fest over, those diatribes are starting to show. Here's The O's' take on SXSW...]Steve VisneauThursday, March 19, 2009Dear O's Journal, It's 10:30 AM. For fuck's sake, John's running late again. I swear, he never is on time. He said we'd leave at 10:00. Geez. SXSW: Can we survive? It seems unlikely. If we can make it through without visible s

  March 24, 2009

• Secret Machines

  Secret Machines (TSM Recordings)

  November 6, 2008

• Welcome Back, Curtis

  The Secret Machines return to Dallas minus a Curtis brother—but still with plenty of confidence, nonetheless

  July 31, 2008

• Stream School Of Seven Bells On NPR's World Cafe

  School of Seven Bells If there's one--and, I think, justifiable--problem that I have with local NPR affiliate 90.1 KERA-FM, it's that there isn't enough music on the station's regular programming schedule (Paul Slavens aside). As stands, only two of the station's weekly 168 programmed hours are regularly about music (big ups to Terry Gross and Fresh Air for doing what they can, I guess), which is better than none, but still less than appropriate. Honestly, I could rant on this all day.But rather

  May 11, 2009

• School of Seven Bells Shows Off All Angles For Its New Video

  Since we've already directed your attentions to one new music video from an act with area ties, really, what's another at the start of the work week? (Welcome back, by the way.)This one comes from former UFOFUer and Secret Machine member Benjamin Curtis' new Brooklyn-based project, School of Seven Bells, an act that, in case you haven't been paying attention, we're really high on here at DC9. The video, which was debuted throughout the blogosphere over the weekend, supports the third single, "My

  May 26, 2009

• School of Seven Bells, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Darktown Strutters

  May 28, 2009

• The Secret Machines,...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead

  September 24, 2009

• ACL '09: So Can We Get This Party Going Already, Or...?

  ​Pretty sure I'm in Austin right now--seems it at least; there's a whole bunch of young people running around acting like there's something going on. I dunno, this is a pretty early wake-up call for me. But I digress: I'll be here all weekend long, along with Observer Web editor and photographer extraordinaire Patrick Michels, documenting this year's fest for your reading please both here and on our DC9 at Night twitter feed, which you should start following immediately, as it'll no doub

  October 2, 2009

• ACL '09: School of Seven Bells Starts Day One Off On A High Note--And Offers Us Some Details On its Next Release.

  Sorry if this post comes off as a little, I dunno, off. As I write this in the ACL press tent, Daniel Johnston's giving an on-air interview to my right, School of Seven Bells is giving a web chat interview to my left, and Jonathan Tyler and The Northern Lights are talking up a print reporter behind me. Meanwhile, Dr. Dog's rocking out a set no more than 200 yards away--and playing "Hang On," no less.  It's all a little distracting. But even in here, things are

  October 2, 2009

• ACL '09 in Photos: The Avett Brothers, Andrew Bird, Dr. Dog and More from Friday Onstage

  Photos by Patrick MichelsThe Avett Brothers share a family moment Friday afternoon.​Along with Pete's takes on some of Friday's biggest sets here at ACL, we already brought you shots of Phoenix, Raphael Saadiq and The Yeah Yeah Yeahs -- so before we head on out for another day in the front row (for the first three songs anyway, before they kick us out), here's a roundup of the rest of the day's acts.Look for a festival slideshow and plenty of crowd shots here soon, but for now, after the jump:

  October 3, 2009

• Tracklist: The Local Hang With Playlister P, Vol. 1

  ​Thanks to all the area musicians, DJs, loacl music fans, and, well, everyone else who stopped on in The Libertine last night to check out the little experiment we're calling The Local Hang with Playlister P. It was a night not without flaws--I'll admit that it took me a while to figure out the sound levels in the room (it'll be better next time, promise!) and at least one song got caught off midway through--but, for the most part, I'd say it was a rousing success, thanks in large part to thos

  October 6, 2009

• School Of Seven Bells' Alpinisms Set To Get Deluxe Reissue Next Week

  ​Speaking of reissues: School of Seven Bells, one of our favorite bands from the past year or so (local tie or no), is set to receive the deluxe reissue treatment next week for its phenomenal debut release, Alpinisms. Out October 13 on Vagrant Records, the reissue of Alpinisms will feature nine extra tracks--a collection of remixes, demos and live cuts. Certainly, this should help fans of the band (which features former Dallasite and former Secret Machine Ben Curtis on guitar and effects) bide

  October 7, 2009

• Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights Made the Best of a Rainy Saturday at ACL.

  October 8, 2009