January 15, 2011 - 13 Years of The Curtain Club
Wow! As of this weekend the Curtain Club has had its doors open for thirteen years! Quite the accomplishment, and to help celebrate they'd assembled a weekend full of (mostly) astounding talent.
The first band that kicked the night off was Kennedy. I didn't like them at all when I saw them back in October, and I liked them even a little less this go around. Their live show is pretty good. Their music isn't half bad. And what I can understand of the lyrics, is really good. What's their problem then? Simple. Their singer can't sing worth crap. I swear he has no pitch whatsoever. I honestly preferred it when he screamed. Even though it still sounded horrible. Their little over 30 minute set was hard to sit through, and thankfully the bands did get better.
Night Gallery was up next, doing their first show of the new year. It'd only been a little over a month since they headlined the Curtain to release their debut EP, and this show proved to be a shorter version of that December 4 show. At 10:09 their intro track began. Just like the CD release show, the intro track was a mash-up of one liners from movies. But I think this one consisted of totally different quotes from the ones used at their last show. It went on maybe a minute before the curtain opened and the band tore into "She Runs". It's a good song to open with, as it's pretty fast paced and short, which I think is a good way to catch peoples attention and drag them into your music. They did another song, during which frontman, Otter, introduced the rest of the band. Guitarists, Jeremy Root and Johnny Hand, bassist, Craig James, and drummer, Duckie. Next they played "Undone" and followed it with another, pretty killer, song. They took a brief break to change keys on the instruments, and to pass the time another track of movie quotes played. When it was over Otter introduced the next song, and my favorite from their EP, "Without Regret". They did another pretty good tune, then "Separation Anxiety", "Crazy Brave", and finally closed their 36 minute set with "Lynne". They put on a pretty good show. Otter is easily the best showman of the group, as I think the guys look stiff and rigid most of the time. With the exception going to Craig, who does move around from time to time. But regardless of that, they make some pretty awesome music, with some of the stuff being more on the pop side of music, with the rest falling into the rock category. Oh, and for what ever reason they have a plush Cookie Monster doll on the base of the mic stand. Its hands and legs are bound together with tape and it's mouth is also taped shut. And it's pretty funny to see.
What I would say was the best band of the night took the stage next. ReDefine. They opened with a song entitled, "Like A Vision, A Ghost", which was good, but it failed to set the in your face rock mood that "The Silent Hum" did, which was what they opened with the last time I'd seen them. But what the song failed to set up, the band members made up for, with lead guitarist, Chris Apaliski, bassist, Mike DiQuinzio, and frontman, Scott Headstream, covering all parts of the stage, and showing everyone what a rock show is about. The show did progressively get better though, as they rocked out half the songs from their current release, including "Leave the Light On", "The Darkest Night", and "The Silent Hum". Seriously, there was enough rock packed into those songs that could've been their entire set. They took a pause before starting their next song, while Scott let everyone know what they'd been up to. "It seems like we haven't played in forever." he said. "...And that's because we've been in the studio working on our third EP. And this next song we're going to do is my personal favorite." It was called "Arcana", and it sounded alright, I however, liked the song that followed it much more. I can't remember the title though, which is disappointing, since I made a point to look at and memorize their set list while I was watching them. They did a couple more newer ones, including the kick ass, "Motorcade", and "Take Your Medicine", before finishing with "Fall Down, I Believe It". It was an incredible 38 minute set they put on, and again affirmed how much they've grown and changed from the ReDefine I first remember seeing at the end of '06. They are easily worthy of being called on of Dallas's best current acts, yet it seems like they are still fairly unknown. But maybe that will change when they release their next EP, which I heard talk that they should be done in the studio by the end of next month, and then they plan to return to doing regular shows come March.
There was one final band left, and Reckless Intent had the honors of wrapping up the Curtain Clubs 13th anniversary weekend. They got things going at 12:18, and got everyone into the rock 'n' roll spirit with their opener, "Get Up". They did a few more, including a newer one entitled "Makes Me Smile. "This next song is about what all of y'all are making me do right now!" Singer and guitarist, Ryan Ray, exclaimed before they started the song. And then (I think) it was after that song they welcomed a staff member of the Curtain on stage. And, in his hands, was the highest honor the club can bestow upon a band. He gave a little speech about how great RI is, and then displayed their plaque that is too hang on the Wall of Fame. And Ryan pointed to a large empty space on the wall (the club was re-arranging the plaques that already adorn the walls, and there were several baron spots.) They got back to the show, playing a ton more songs, with the few I somewhat knew being "The Light", "Just Say It", and "Wrong Again". Before eventually ending their 55 minute long set, appropriately, with "Thank You". Which, when taking the words out of context, the line "...Thank you for the time that you've given me...", could easily be viewed as a thank you from the band for taking the time to watch them perform. And speaking of perform, a performance was exactly what this was. Maybe it was because I was as close to the stage as one could get (mainly to try to avoid the mosh pit that started) rather than hanging out towards the back of the club, as I've done the past two RI shows I've seen, but damn, they were so much better than what they were just last month when I saw them! And I again want to say how great the expressions bassist, Aaron Decker, makes are. As he prowls the stage and stares out at the audience, bugging his eyes out. And when he's doing that I swear, he looks like he maybe should be in an insane asylum (& that is meant as a good thing). They are a very solid band, who, by all means, is deserving of the plaque that I'm sure by now is proudly hanging in the Curtain Club. Oh, and I finally got around to buying their debut EP, "Redirect", at this show, and it sounds fantastic! I just hope they can get a full-length out in the not too distant future, cause six songs aren't nearly enough when considering their impressive catalog of material.
Well, that was the Curtain Club's 13th Anniversary show. And it's good to see the club make it one more year. As Ryan said during Reckless Intent's set, "This town almost totally died not long ago. But y'all didn't let that happen." And fortunately, no, the true local music supporters didn't, and managed to keep the scene alive. Even if the pulse was fading fast. But people finally are beginning to come down to the area again. And a good sign of that was for the first time in years I walked into the Curtain Club to see more people inside hanging out, than those who were outside smoking. So here's to Deep Ellum and also to the Curtain Club, which will hopefully make it another thirteen years.