In case ya didn't know, former Little Grizzly frontman George Neal is writin' and singin' with a new band, the Slow Burners. They've been playing around Denton a little, and I was lucky enough to catch a blistering set a couple of months back in J&Js' basement. The group -- consisting of Neal, Grady Sandlin, Clint Hoyler, Jeff Gruber and Ryan Thomas Becker -- has a love for experimentin', and tries to make each new song different than the others in style and influence.
"This band is a culmination of things I've been doing all my life," Neal said today in a phone chat. "I've been in an Irish folk band, a punk band, country bands, even a ska band. This is my chance to throw it all together."
"It's a fun, explorative process."
The track you're gonna hear, "Returning to the Air," will be on the band's forthcoming full-length CD, but is also the title track of a teaser EP released last week. You can get that on the band's Myspace and at Recycled in Denton.
Of "Returning," Neal says, "It's a strong song, and a good representation of what the band does. It's a calling card for what's to come on the album, and we're all really, sort of intensely proud of it."
The Slow Burners, "Returning to the Air":
The Burners' next confirmed show is June 20 at J&Js, but they're trying to nail down a couple of dates before that at Barley House. I shall let you know.
During a sit-down interview with the Ghosthustler guys a few months ago (when Alan Palomo was still with the band), they kept bringing up this new dance act in town, called Roy G and the Biv. And when I went to listen to the duo's tracks, I knew exactly why Ghosthustler loved them so much.
The two acts seemed to share a philosophy about making dance music: It should push the envelope with its production while retaining all the elements of great pop music. In other words, it don't never hurt to make a song radio-friendly. My assumptions about Roy G and the Biv's musical mission were confirmed when I talked to one half of the duo on the phone earlier this week.
"We have a love for really good harmonies. The dance music I like has that, and good chord changes," singer Max Townsley said.
21-year-old Townsley is an English student at UNT. He and Berklee College of Music student Drew Erickson, 23, met when they were in high school (Townsley at Booker T. and Erickson in Colleyville). They've always wanted to start a band together, but got serious about it a year ago when Erickson was home from Boston for spring break.
They now have at least four songs done, and are working toward getting a full-length album ready to release in August.
"We work really fast together," Townsley said. "We both play drums, piano, guitar and bass, so no one is assigned to any specific parts when we're recording."
Three of Roy G's songs, including what I'll play you today, are infectious old-school butt-shakers that feature Townsley taking on the persona of a superfly ladies' man. But that's not exactly who Townsley is in real life, he said.
"I think it's funny. A lot of music we make represents a certain spirit. We're not thuggish at all, but we do take an approach to making art that sometimes calls for a bit of exaggeration when necessary."
Roy G and the Biv, "Think You Might":
Erickson and Townsley don't plan live shows anytime in the future. They're about a year from being done with college, and still need time to work out who will do what on stage: "We did talk about how we'll handle the live thing, and we'll figure that out more when he comes back from Boston," Townsley said.
But you're gonna want to get hip to these guys now, because come album time, they may just be the talk of the town.
Where you've seen him: Well we (the party/ central booking) have our monthly parties, Hands Up (The Loft) and The Party (Zubar), which are both in the Dallas area. Since moving to Austin almost three years ago, I have managed to have some really good residencies. I currently have weekly residencies at Beauty Bar as well as the longest running hip hop night in Austin which is held at Nasty's with my good friend Dj Mel. I also have the monthly residency at Mohawk which is the Austin "The Party".
Genre: This is always a tough question. I can try to be really specific, but I don't really have that much space to explain the whole deal. Basically, anything with soul in it. I try not to play one specific genre generally to keep things fresh and please as many tastes as possible. I have had a strong musical upbringing and have managed to keep a wide radar for all things.
rane ttm 56
technics 1200s
pioneer efx 500
shure sc35c cartridges
serato scratch live
headliner dj bags
Current favorite track: Le Le - Breakfast (prince klassen young pro edit)
Memorable DJ Booth Moment: There was time when a girl came to request something from me at Beauty Bar and her breast managed to take the needle completely off the record that was playing and we then proceeded to have an argument about her breast knocking the needle off the record. She then came back to the booth and proceeded to intentionally hit the needle off the record this time with her hand. I then got her kicked out.
Dream gig: Well it's not really dj related for the most part, but I guess there is some lineage and direction towards it. here goes.
Larry Levan (dj set)
Arthur Russell (live performance)
Daft Punk (dj set)
Yo La Tengo (live performance)
As far as a dream gig for myself, that would require a time machine. I would love to be able to play along side kool herc, jazzy jay, afrika bambaataa or any of the countless other founders in New York roughly around 79-83.
Dallas DJs are.... not really on my radar. I can speak highly of those I know, and speak poorly of those that dont know any better. Vinyl is still in my life, diversity is a must, and bottle service is a joke.
Howzabout a little country to ease you out of your slumber? This track comes from the friendly folks in Eastwood, the Dallas country band that's just finished recording the follow-up album to 2006's Die Tryin'.
Before offering us the chance to stream an almost-final mix of new one "Right Place Wrong Time," member (and funny guy) Kevin Minihan wrote a little about the months ahead for his band in a message to friends and fans:
"It's taken a long time and we are very hoppy sited that we are finally seeing the light at the end of the proverbial tunnel. From here, we go into mixing and mastering. Then... we'll probably be wined and dined by all of the big record labels. I'm sure a bidding war will ensue. That will take months of dinners, meeting and flights to fancy locales. But, in the end, we'll keep it Eastwood real. Yeah, I said it, weren't not scared to thumb our nose at the establishment and turn down millions of dollars to stay here in our Eastwood hood with you. That's just how we roll. Word."
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