Not a bad selection of shows for a Wednesday night, especially if you're into poppy punk or prime Americana.
Senses Fail, The Ghost Inside, Man Overboard and Transit at Lola's Saloon
New
Jersey's Senses Fail have been doing their post-hardcore/screamo/pop-punk
thing for nearly a decade, and they've gotten consistently better with each release. The Fire, the band's most recent effort, is a beautifully
schizophrenic mess. For every thunderous cut like "New Year's Eve," you
also get a slightly annoying, melodic pop ditty like "Saint Anthony."
Buddy Nelson and the gang are good at both styles, but it's the bone-crunching numbers that stand out, and those leave the pop songs sounding
like unnecessary filler. There's certainly not much filler in this
evening's bill, however, as The Ghost Inside, Man Overboard and Transit
all have qualities that should appeal to the discriminating emo kid.
Dylan Sneed and David Ramirez at the Kessler Theater
It's
always a good thing when one-time Dallas resident Dylan Sneed makes it
back to town. Sneed's a great songwriter who is just now getting some of
the accolades he so richly deserves. Texodus, Sneed's excellent effort
from last year, featured the wordplay of Paul Simon and the cojones of
Steve Earle. That's some high praise, I know, but Sneed can even make
Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" sound like a Cajun classic
from the late '20s. Austin's David Ramirez opens up what should be a
great night of rootsy tunes filled with regret. The songs, I mean. Not the night.
Willis Alan Ramsey and Tom Faulkner at Poor David's Pub
Back
in 1972, Willis Alan Ramsey released his sole album, a self-titled
release that impressed the likes of Lyle Lovett, Waylon Jennings and
Jimmie Dale Gilmore. Ramsey's songs have been covered by an array of
rock and country performers, so it's still shocking to realize that
Ramsey never followed up with a sophomore effort. But not only did he
not record another album: The former Dallas resident also high-tailed it
to Britain in order to study music. And even after four decades, the
songs from his debut still resonate with the country and folk crowd.
Ramsey has hinted at finally recording a new record, but that might
actually put a dent in the legend surrounding his first one.
