AV the Great – “You Should Too”

Pairs well with…Talib Kweli, Living Legends, Gang Starr

Chris “AV” Avant doesn’t sleep.  Hip hop artist and promoter by day, K104 radio host by night, the dude has a heavy schedule (and probably another day job squeezed in there somewhere).  In sleep-deprived moments, perhaps, is where AV the Great conjures his blossoming voice.  The messages in his music reflect a pensive mind.  The beautiful world, the unforgiving world.  This is the place AV calls home.  Through each verse, AV invites us in as he attempts to sort out the tensions, hopes and complexities of his local and global environment.

Chris “AV” Avant doesn’t whisper.  AV’s “Live from the Struggle” reminds me of a young lion testing out his roar.  Tracks like “Texas” and “9th Grade” are examples of a lyricist testing his range, announcing that listeners ought to acknowledge this voice.  If “Struggle” was an announcement of being here, and being heard, “Poetry” manifests an understanding that a poignant verse does not necessarily gain its power from the volume at which it is uttered.  Produced by Denton artist and beats craftsman, Juicy the Emissary, “Poetry” generates questions and criticisms with elusive responses.  In “Poetry” AV flows across beats previously released on The Emissary’s “Cultural Refugee” and leaves no topic unturned.  AV reminds listeners that the traditional instutions of American power are in no small way encroaching on the progress achieved by previous generations of civil rights leaders.  Whereas Top 40 rap might occasionally allude to generic social problems, AV calls out specific problems, certain perpetrating individuals and larger systems.  The musical and lyrical peak of “Poetry” is “The Conversation,” which involves a call-and-response dialogue between AV and guest A.D. over a melding of two Juc beats.  It’s an exciting track that features stimulating, raw subject matter awakened by the back and forth of two voices.  ”What’chu think about probation…”  For those of you who get squeemish about balancing your checkbook, the running bill is $12,000.

Grab a drink and get ready to learn about a different side of Denton from one of Denton’s own.  AV the Great performs real, no-holds-barred hip hop at 35 Denton, 10:30 PM at Andy’s on the Square, with guests.

Juve – “Arctic”

Pairs well with…Jonti, Flosstradamus, Thom Yorke

The mysterious beat summoner from Denton, Juve understands that just becasue someone owns and can operate a synthesizer, doesn’t mean one must publish music with the synthesizer (or, god forbid, perform it live).  No, Juve music is rich, and perhaps the offspring of nightmares and moonlit rainforest excursions.  Dwelling Sound, I say.  Juve’s soundcloud includes descriptive captions such as “Found Sound” and “Future Trap” and reasonable people ought to accept those characterizations.

Juve offers a smattering of sounds online, a living, evolving experiment of the artist’s own reach and capabilities.  The top cuts pivot on driving, sustained bass lines and build melodies from vocal and instrumental samples, sound blips, and perhaps a sound machine.  From a distance, Juve music will sound like trunk-blasting hip hop, and up close, it will feel like a hallucination from a damp, 19th century textile factory.  From the appropriate distance, it will feel and sound like an innovative, promising electronic artist that toys with extremes without overkill, thereby holding the listener’s attention and creating a funky, near-danceable vibe.

The Cannabinoids feat. Sarah Jaffe – “Glorified High” (remix)

Pairs Well With…Erykah Badu, Bat For Lashes, Solange

A few years back, I was able to catch The Cannabinoids, a hip hop/EDM cooperative that originally formed around Erykah Badu’s New Amerykah records, headlining a night of SXSW.  Besides a grueling delay for the Auditorium Shores headliner (Badu did eventually show up to perform two or three tracks towards the end of the set), the experimental, electronic mix of The Cannabinoids where traditional R&B sounds would normally be not only matched Badu’s original productions, but often times exceed them.  This collaborative spirit will feature the songs and vocals of local breakout, Sarah Jaffe.  Jaffe’s latest record, 2012’s The Body Wins, has a pointed electronic direction, so this is the perfect time to explore these songs way beyond the gentle folk introduction Denton had with Jaffe a half-decade ago.  While I’m sure Jaffe and The Cannabinoids have been collaborating on tracks in preparation for their Main Stage appearance next Saturday, the DJ collaborative focuses on improvising on stage, aka “live remixing”.  All of these elements should inform a sure-to-be 35 Denton highlight, so be sure to catch this unique collaboration before Solange’s headlining Saturday night set.

Fab Deuce – “Put It On” (Pudge)

Pairs Well With…People Under The Stairs, Jurassic 5, Rec League Records

Fab Deuce.  They’re the fun dudes who live down the street and have your back in a moment’s notice.  You can vibe with them around a bonfire, spit free styles over Bud Lights, or hit up the batting cage.  And if you listen closely, you might hear the sweet echo of someone burping to the beat or the sweet quacklings of feathered friends.  If you don’t get the inside jokes, it’s all good because Fab Deuce is here to share the swag.  Lord knows they have too much of it already.  Fab Deuce has spilled swag all over Denton and DFW, and numerous spots across the West.

Fab Deuce has evolved over time but its leader remains a constant.  Ringleader and frontman “Pudge” Brewer of Denton sets the tone: hip hop that begets head-nodding and break dancing, upbeat themes and inclusive, y’all gather ‘round hooks.  He’s a tireless microphone hustler, tending to the stage and working up those defined kick and snare laden beats in his home studio.  On Saturday at 35 Denton (Andy’s  on the Square @ 9:30pm), he will appear with the current configuration of the group, which will include hip hop local Ernie McCrackin (Junk Food and Dumb & Dumber with Pudge) and teammates Matt P and Juicy the Emissary.  There may be others, Deuce Crew original Blaine and cameo specialist Wild Bill, perhaps, but we’ll just have to wait to see who responds to the rallying quacks.  You can expect energetic, well-delivered flows over thumpy, block-rockin early-90s influenced hip hop tracks (production by Pudge and Juicy the Emissary).

Some years back, I was home for the holidays and found myself at Andy’s on the Square, where, coincidentally, Fab Deuce is playing for 35.  About a half hour into one of the acts, a mob of folks appeared at the front and eventually packed the house for what was one of Fab Deuce’s first public performances.  There were nodding heads, hands waving in unison, bouncing kick drums and lots of interaction between the emcees and the crowd.  It was about as joyful and fun a hip hop show as you can get.  A typical Fab Deuce show, it turns out.  Not in Brooklyn or Chicago.  It happened in Denton, where Fab Deuce and associated acts have carved out a comfortable nest where hip hop heads can flock.

Telegraph Canyon – “Shake Your Fist” (live)

Pairs Well With…Freelance Whales, Ra Ra Riot, Dawes

If you speak to anyone who follows both the national folk rock scene and local DFW musicians, they’ll most likely share their surprise that Telegraph Canyon hasn’t broken out with a larger audience yet.  That could have something to do with the long break since their last LP The Tide and The Current, a record that deservedly gained a ton of local praise and crowned Telegraph Canyon as 2009’s DFW musical ambassadors of the time.  Four years later, Telegraph is still killing it live (last year’s opening set for Astronautalis at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio was easily the best I’ve seen the band play), so their 35 Denton should appropriately push the band forward as festival highlight in 2013.  Keep your fingers crossed for a generous helping of newer tracks – I can only imagine the band’s years on the road have helped to push their sound even further ahead.

2011 Review: a folk rock band from Fort Worth, TX with an energetic and big sound.  I’ve been lucky enough to catch Telegraph a few times in the past year as they have risen in local popularity on the back of their excellent 2009 release The Tide and The Current.  Their sound is based in folk music, but their sound is much more than that.  They incorporate a great mix of instrumentation, both electric and acoustic, to create a sound that is reminiscent of an Americana version of Arcade Fire.  When they turn on the heat and all the instruments are blaring in unison, the energy created both live and on record is completely infectious while still remaining quite honest and true to their roots.  Everything they do works, moving from soft acoustic ambience to bombastic pop.  Telegraph Canyon are far from traditionalists, willing to take their music into some pretty unique directions constantly.  The band will hopefully drop some new material as they recently have been in the studio working on their 3^rd LP expected this year.

Yeahdef – “Change My Mind”

Pairs Well With…Diplo, Amon Tobin, 90s House

When I’m in the booth, I’m aiming to remind people of something they forgot they loved, while still trying to force that part of their brain that moves their ass around a bit.  

     - Yeahdef, two days ago.

If there’s a good rap, rock or pop track that you enjoyed in the 80s, 90s or 2000s, chances are Yeahdef has spun, unfurled and rewoven it to firecracker form.  Yeahdef (aka Joey Liechty) is a mainstay in the DFW club and electronic scene and he has achieved his present status by serving as a conduit to good times.  His resume includes a Dallas Observer Award and numerous nominations, a handful of residencies in Denton (Hailey’s 90s, Rubber Gloves, Mable’s to name a few), to gamer pied piper (a videogame/DJ event called Barcraft), to expert hip hop DJ (too many sets to list).

There are whispers that Yeahdef’s Saturday Main Stage 1 performance will be a multi-sensory (sensual?) experience.  Literally—if hearing and feeling the various beats rumbling across the Downtown Square isn’t enough, Yeahdef will incorporate some mind-boggling video work of Lars Larsen, local video producer and founder of LZX Industries.  Yeahdef is willing to unleash any number of electronic and bass-related subgenres on a crowd, and Saturday ought to be no different.  Expect nothing more than a Thanksgiving spread of bass-line-filled house and dubstep, synth sizzlers, perhaps a throwback tune of equal parts singalong and grind-with-partner, reconfigured club bangers, and likely some varieties of heavy trap and hip hop.  I won’t be surprised if film scores, recognizable sit-com tunes and Beethoven’s 7th worm their way in.

Astronautalis – “Contrails (feat. Tegan Quin of Tegan & Sara)”

Pairs Well With…Sims, P.O.S, Tom Waits

Astronautalis has called a few cities around the country home over the years and most recently he has settled in the indie hip hop rich Minnesota. Denton considers Astronautalis a local artist from his years in Dallas and each show in the area feels like a special homecoming show. It’s great that 35 Denton got Astronautalis on the bill this year. If you haven’t caught a live show from Astronautalis make sure you’re out at the main stage two Saturday at three.

2011 Review: Astronautalis is one of the most intense performers in indie hip hop. Being in DFW, I was able to catch him at the Homegrown Festival in Dallas prior to the release of “This is Our Science,” and again at his sold out set at the Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studio after fans had a chance to get familiar with the record. While both shows were very different each ranked among the best I caught in 2011. The Homegrown show was in the late afternoon in May and he was playing primarily unreleased material at the time and the crowd listened quietly, enjoying the new tracks. The Rubber Gloves show in October was the polar opposite atmosphere; a small crowded room filled with the electricity of devoted fans singing along to the songs from “This is Our Science.” Astronautalis continues to grow as a musician and his transition from rapping over laptop beats to being able to perform with a live band has added depth and organic musicality to his performances. Regardless of the bill he’s on at SXSW and the listener’s familiarity with Astronautalis, he will steal the set with his polished performance style and a stage show he’s perfected to a science.

Doug Burr – “High Blood and Long Evening Dresses” (live)

Pairs Well With…Joe Pug, The Barr Brothers, Ryan Adams

If I’m doing my math right, Doug Burr has been a yearly performer at 35 Denton since the inception of the mini-conference, then known as NX35.  For my money, Burr is the strongest songwriter to come out of Denton since the boys from Midlake broke out, layering his songs with grace, honesty and spirituality.  His performances are often mesmerizing, hushing the crowd with his emotional vocal tones only armed with minimal acoustic instrumentation.  It’s been a few years since the release of Burr’s excellent LP O Ye Devastator, so hopefully he has some new tunes in tow for 35 Denton to see what’s next for this promising artist.

2012 Review: When I was introduced to the Denton music scene a couple years back, after hearing the name “Sarah Jaffe” you could expect to “Doug Burr” right following.  Burr is a folk singer-songwriter with a powerful delivery and great songwriting chops.  His songs are reflective and contemplative, bridging pop and folk mentalities into an accessible and heartbreaking tone.  I’ve caught Doug Burr a few times over the years in support roles and have always walked away more impressed than the time before.  He has a way of drawing a crowd to a hush, with all eyes and ears focused on simple guitar melodies and Burr’s mature and cavernous vocals.  Burr’s last album, O Ye Devastator, was released a couple years back, so expect some new material and old favorites at Doug Burr’s set at Dan’s Silverleaf opening up for John Vanderslice.