BAND(s): Spooky Folk and The Baptist Generals
VENUE: The Hydrant Café
TIME: 9:30 & 10:30 p.m.
Having already raved about the living-room-vibe of The Hydrant's upstairs room, I'll leave that alone--other than mentioning that, as far as intimate performance spaces in Denton (not including DIY house venues), I can't think of anyplace more appropriately suited for showcasing either of these acts.
I'd already seen Kaloe Kaualoku performing his Spooky Folk material in solo sets around Denton's coffee shop circuit and been impressed, but seeing him perform with his full band was even more affecting--especially the Beirut-esque move of playing the band's final song while walking out of the upstairs room, down the stairs and out the front door before re-entering through the fire escape for the song's final notes.
Without a doubt, Spooky Folk is of the more remarkable acts playing around town. But don't just take my word for it.
After opening The Baptist Generals' set with a Denton-ized rendition of "The Whiffenpoof Song," Chris Flemmons, the band's frontman and NX35 Grand Poobah, said, "Until three weeks back, we weren't even 0planning on playing." He said it just felt weird to book his own band to play the festival. "But after I listened to Spooky Folk's stuff on MySpace, I knew I wanted to play here with 'em."
Both bands' sets were captivating, and by the time The Generals went on, more than 60 people had crammed into the venue's upstairs performance room, many sitting cross-legged on the floor, soaking in older songs like "Alcohol (Turn and Fall)" and "500 League Reunion March (In A Plymouth)," as well as the new one "Clitorpus Christi."