Indie folk, post-rock and hardcore honky-tonk are the order of this evening's musical offerings.
Fleet Foxes and The Cave Singers at The Palladium Ballroom
Seattle's Fleet Foxes are one of those bands that you don't find too many people downright hating. Perhaps that's due to the fact that the band plays an easygoing brand of indie folk. Me? I just think that quality songwriting always ensures a broad appeal. Whatever the case, Fleet Foxes found a way to up the ante on their recently released sophomore effort, Helplessness Blues. Sure, the band's 2008 self-titled debut found critical acclaim, but this new effort has even more tongues wagging. Rightly so: Helplessness Blues is a thoughtful, sophisticated album that should bring even more folks into the band's sphere of influence -- a good place to be, no doubt.
El Ten Eleven, No Junk Culture, Sundress, Final Club and Goldilocks & The Rock at Hailey's Club in Denton
Quite the crowded Wednesday night bill occurring up in Denton tonight. But if you have the stamina to hang in there for the headliner, L.A.'s El Ten Eleven are definitely worth the wait. The duo of bassist and composer Kristian Dunn and drummer Tim Fogarty have been making angular, instrumental post-rock for nearly a decade at this point. The band's most recent effort, 2010's It's Still Like a Secret, is as cool and calculating as its title suggests. On stage, Dunn and Fogarty are capable of setting a furious pace, and they rarely ease up on the accelerator. Kind of geeky, but always energetic, El Ten Eleven somehow merge machine-like precision with a cheeky emotionalism. And the resulting product is fairly inspirational. The undercard on this bill is pretty great, too, featuring up-and-coming Denton favorites Sundress, Final Club and Goldilocks & The Rock.
Chris Knight at Dan's Silverleaf in Denton
Although docked several points for being named an honorary Texan by Governor Rick Perry, Chris Knight is a country singer with guts and gumption. The Kentucky native was working in the mines of his home state when he heard the music of Steve Earle and decided a career change was in order. That was back in 1998, and, since then, Knight has released seven albums of rough and tumble, hardcore honky-tonk that is as unpretentious as it is unsubtle. Knight has written songs that have been covered by everyone from Randy Travis to Dallas' own The Von Ehrics. Knight's songs are just that good. The guy can bring a tear to your eye one minute, and kick your ass the next. Country music could sure use a few more like him.