SEE THIS SHOW TOMORROW

Sadly, our girl about town has a birthday party to attend—her daughter’s, in fact. But here’s Jenny’s recommendation for tomorrow’s night’s festivities:

So this guy who goes by the moniker Junkie XL is playing at the Lizard Lounge tomorrow night (Saturday, April 29). If it wasn’t for my daughter’s 7th birthday sleepover party (cringe), I wouldn’t miss it. This guy is so cool. He’s a musician, but he’s also a composer (contributing to scores for films like Team America and Kingdom of Heaven) and a programmer. His new album is titled Today. I love it because I can listen to it when I can pay attention to it or when I can’t. I like an album I can listen to driving or hanging out with people I actually want to have a conversation with, you know? He does all sorts of amazing remixes. And I’m not even usually a remix kind of girl. He has a great voice and does some great guitar work. Okay, so what does he sounds like… Well, British, indy, pop, alt, techno. Depeche Mode. I don’t know. He’s chill and I like him. And why should you miss him just because I have to, right?

HANK WILLIAMS HELD OVER UNTIL MAY 14

The show, that is, at the Dallas Theater Center. That’s great news, according to our girl about town Jenny Block, who caught the show in Wednesday:

I can’t stop thinking about it. The performers are unreal. They sing and play their guitars and you quickly forget you’re watching actors and not a live country music show at the Grand Ole Opry. I loved it. The story is a sad one, and the script treats it with both the honesty and the delicacy it deserves. The old blues master character named Tee-Tot (and played by the amazing Mississippi Charles Bevel) has a voice to end all voices. I could have listened to him alone all night long. If you’ve ever found yourself at a loss for the definition of the word soulful, this man embodies it wholly. The entire cast is amazing, really, as is show. It went by in a flash and I loved every note of it.

HYUNDAI: THE OUTLAWMOBILE

If you drive a Hyundai or Kia, or are thinking about it, better read this . But hey, maybe a chaebol gangsta car zooming down Lemmon Ave. could be kinda cool.

FREEDOM TO WRITE ALERT

This week’s Freedom to Write action alert from PEN Center USA, of which PEN Texas is a local chapter, concerns the upheaval in Nepal. Anyone may write a letter, as indicated on the web site.

HOW GAY IS BISHOP ARTS?

The Dallas Voice answers the question: totally!

RE: 411 ON 5/1/06

Church meets state here, but I have to point out the press release with the provocative headline in the “sponsored links” portion of our blog here. And I have to say: I like the way the Lodge is handling it.

SOCCER SUCCOR

Pity the footballers. I knew MLS players were low on the list of Professional Athletes Salaries, but I didn’t know how low. Here’s how low. For instance, Ray Burse, third-string keeper for FC Dallas, makes $11,700 a year. That’s almost as much as I make.

BABY, TONIGHT, I’VE GOT A BABY FOR YOU

Erica and Rhett Miller now have a daughter. According to sources close to Miller, she was born earlier this week. I don’t know her name but apparently they were thinking about Soleil. As in the circus. Or Punky Brewster. Soleil Moon Miller. I think I like it.

And because I read blogs so you don’t have to:
A few photos of Rhett pre-Max.
A fake interview with Rhett post-Max.
A photo of Rhett and Max.
And finally,
the one in which a girl (not me) admits she’s a Rhett Miller stalker.

411 ON 5/1/06

Anyone interested in the coming events and protests on May Day can learn more at this local link to LULAC’s site. The national Hispanic rights organization founded in Corpus Christi in the 1920s calls it “A National Day of Action: Family Unity, Worker Solidarity and Prayer.”

Oh, and how about some props from the local media to our Paul Kix, who reported on the latest wave of immigrant roundups earlier this week after noticing a lack of staff at Eatzi’s.

RE: BLACK V BROWN?

An FBvian who has a handle on the subjectivity of politics observes:

Rufus Shaw doesn’t speak for Black people… he speaks for himself.

First, his wife Lynn is on the Dart board and is running for District 5 City Council so he usually writes wants she wants about her little internal beefs. Also, she is backed by Don Hill so Hill is constantly defended by Shaw in articles.

Never meant to imply that Shaw spoke for anyone but himself. Or even that he’s correct. The more voices, the better, IMHO.

FISHBOY GETS A BIG PLUG

As many local musicians and music fans know, voting for the Dallas Observer’s music awards is under way. Bands and fans typically send mass e-mails, currying favor with the electorate. Or, if you’re Musician of the Year candidate Fishboy, you get yourself a short documentary made, featuring guest appearances by The Adventure Club’s Josh Venable, 90.1’s Paul Slaven, and the mayor of Denton, and post it on Kittenpants. Check it out.

FRIDAY FUN

Today’s Friday Fun is a good’un. You ask why? ‘Cause it’s got a monkey. To be more specific, it’s got an orangutan. And to be clever, it’s called Orangutwang. Stretch your monkey orangutan from ring to ring to collect bananas, but avoid the spiders. Have fun.

BLACK V BROWN AGAIN?

Southern sector political commentator Rufus Shaw is seeing tension between the African American and Hispanic parts of the city in the wake of the April 9 immigration march. Maybe or maybe not. But that’s been a story in Dallas for a long time, far too long, one hopes, for it to rate a new chapter.

BBI SO-SO

Good news, and then some bad news, for Blockbuster and their first-quarter loss of $4.7 million.

RE: TRUE MAVS MANIAC

A dying-to-be-heard FrontBurnervian takes me to task for doubting the hairy prowess of Don Knobler:

I just wanted to let you know that I am responsible for those hair styles and I can assure you that those are not wigs. All of that hair is his and we sprayed it blue and green for the game. Thought you should know.

Very impressive.

MANSION FOR SALE

We’re not the first to report this news, but it bears mentioning regardless: The Mansion is for sale. Anyone heard rumors of the sales price?

RE: MORE IMMIGRATION NEWS

This story says many immigrants here worry about a government crackdown. But their fears may not coexist with reality.

RE: TRUE MAVS MANIAC

One of you thinks the crazy-dressing Mavs fan is Don Carter’s brother. Another thinks it’s Don Carter’s brother-in-law. Both good theories, but an enthusiastic FrontBurnervian drops some knowledge (confirmed by another informed FrontBurnervian):

His name is Don Knobler and he runs an apartment leasing company. You can find his office on the southbound service road of 75, around Henderson. Look for the sign with the two blue arrows…can’t miss it. The only reason I know him is because I am a former funslinger and Don knows everyone.

Don Knobler used to be my landlord. Wow. To think: my rent check most likely paid for at least one jumpsuit and two wigs. I feel like I should apologize, or something.

MORE IMMIGRATION NEWS

This week, we’ve talked about Dallas immigrants fleeing work because they fear a government crackdown. One FBvian who was skeptical about workers not showing up at construction sites now says:

I can admit when I’m wrong. ICE is hitting jobsites, and hitting grocery stores like Fiesta. My brother-in-law, who is a Border Patrol
agent, says it is to put pressure on the rallies that are scheduled for Monday. [Editor's note: Rallies are supposed to happen all over the nation.] They want to send a message: we will not just sit back next time and let 500,000 illegals march on the street.

HELP WIPE OUT GRAFFITI

On May 20, folks will assemble all over the city for the Graffiti Wipe-out! If you’d like to help, here’s how to sign up.

RE: ROCKBOTTOM REMAINDERS

One FrontBurnervian who also attended the show had this to say:

It was a fun show and unexpectedly good for my ego! As a live music fan in my early 30’s I’m often one of the oldest people in attendance at Gypsy Tea Room shows, that wasn’t the case last night and I LOVED it.

It was indeed a different crowd for the Deep Ellum venue but perhaps if they had more of this, the area wouldn’t get such a bad rap.

ROCK BOTTOM REMAINDERS

The “worst” band around (which actually wasn’t so bad) rocked the house last night at Gypsy Tea Room. The Rock Bottom Remainders, consisting of a group of best selling authors including Amy Tan, Dave Barry, Scott Turow, Ridley Pearson, and special guest Monte Montgomery took the stage performing cover songs including “These Boots are Made for Walkin.” Tan dressed scantily in a very convincing dominatrix outfit with knee high boots, preceded to whip her fellow male authors belting out the classic tune. The crowd consisting of young and old, seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely while CBS 11′S Christina McLarty emceed the event, even singing “Wild Thing” on stage with the band. Ticket sales benefited Dallas Scores, which uses athletics as a positive reinforcement in school. Click here to view a clip on CBS11.

TRUE MAVS MANIAC

Okay. I give up. Who is this guy who sits courtside at every Mavs game, and what’s his closet look like? I’ve never seen him in the same jumpsuit twice.

SCENE(S) FROM A GAME

I covered the Mavs game last night. In actuality, I just needed a quote from Marquis Daniels, but a press pass is a press pass.

With that in mind, here are my notes from the contest:

How much longer before the Mavs play the Spurs?

ALEXA CONOMOS’ BANGS

Please note the apostrophe. Anyway, a TV-watching FBvian tells us:

The traffic diva has ditched her bangs and gone back to her former hot self. Has married life gotten old already?

FrontBurner: breaking Dallas tonsorial news since 2003.