Twice As Nice: Daniel Francis Doyle @ Beerland and Emo's

Daniel Francis Doyle - Emo's, 30/10/07. Photo by Danna "I Love Sweaty Men" Williams.

The one-man-band wonder Daniel Francis Doyle is playing two shows in a span of two weeks, and both are hot picks. His primal emotive sound - vocals aided with drums and live-programmed guitar loops - and heavy breathing between aerobic songs are what make this one - no two - don't miss performances of the summer.

DFD performs live Friday, 18 July @ Beerland with Destroy Tokyo (instrumental rock from California), and local upstarts Expensive Shit; DJ Assacre (metal svengali Assacre spinning tunes between sets). You can make a second date with Doyle Friday, 25 July @ Emo's (inside) with the prescription for music boredom, HEALTH (Los Angeles, CA), the elusive Nouns Group, and the dynamic soundscape duo Transmography.

Doyle will most likely perform songs spanning his entire solo sojourn, including a personal favorite, his second release - the limited vinyl and CD "Who Are Your Customers?" (which may still be available in a few local stores). It features rock jewels he'll most likely mix with newer songs , featured in the split 7" EP with Koji Kondo, "History of Consideration "(also available on CD) and a split 45 with former Bad Livers member Ralph White. According to DFD's MySpace blog, "Sings Blues in E...." (his debut recording) can be made to order.

Doyle does things the snail mail and email way (sorry, no mp3 downloads), but it works so well. Go to his MySpace page for order and booking info.

And make a mental note to check out one of the Daniel Francis Doyle shows before he invades California next month.

A Sincerely Rabid Music Fan,

★ diy danna

Addendum 17/07/08: I've decided to post another mp3 link: "She Breathes" (Who Are Your Customers?) - Daniel Francis Doyle. This is another limited time offer, so listen now!

Waxing Vaudeville with Luna Tart

A Recap of The Parlor Show (Friday, July 11th) - Part One

I arrived a little late with my date, but just in time to catch most of cabaret-style crooner Luna Tart's opening performance for another diy revolution bi-monthly music party. Friday night's theme was Cabaret Meets Carnival, and the first act of the night lived up to the former with a
performance that would make a vaudeville veteran smile.

Luna Tart sang mostly saucy, mid-tempo to fast numbers like the modernly inconvenient "What's The Point". But the audience tried to keep the tears from falling into their beers when she sang another rhetorical tune, the slower tempo "Why Cry". And we all sang along to the wickedly delightful "We Like Bush", after Luna Tart's quick popularity poll. (Not to be confused with the popularity of George W.)

Created by Laura Freeman for the musical Luna Tart Died (of A Broken Heart), Luna Tart has a life of her own, going beyond channeling tin pan alley songbirds. Her live performance was a vibrant work of musical art, with strong vocals only aided by ukelele, and marching french horn.

I'm not sure when and where Luna Tart is playing next, but in the meantime, we can check out her debut release at local records stores (like End of an Ear) and online (CDBaby), and put "Life's A Party" on repeat until it becomes less ironic.

~ diy danna

Tomorrow: Doing The Attic Ted Shuffle

Say It Three Times, Fast: Charles Potts' Magic Windmill Band Opens for Silver Jews @ Emo's September 19, 2008

It's official, according to a recent MySpace bulletin: My favorite New York style experimental country band named after a Pacific Northwest poet is playing at Emo's again, this time opening for one of the few Nashville, Tennessee acts this blogger truly respects and enjoys hearing - Silver Jews. (See Tanglewood Numbers.) Geographically, Silver Jews are based in East Nashville, so I'm assuming that's east of all the slick country pop fodder played on Clear Channel radio stations. Anyway, the homespun country/folk/rock charmers are touring to support their latest release, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea (Drag City)

Charles Potts' Magic Windmill Band co-founders/co-songwriters Dirk Michener and Travis Catsull are still cranking up the stoner country satire way past 10, with a rotating ensemble of talented musicians - Reed Posey (Light by Fire, New York), Tim Bond (a.k.a. T.W. Bond), Ishmael Archbold (Coma in Algiers), Erik Bradford, and sometimes Preston Dukes (Jam Engine). I predict the Silver Jews crowd will either be amused and perplexed, or entertained and vexed. Perhaps simultaneously. Or Windmill Band may be ignored, like most opening local bands. (Shame, shame, Austin!)

But Windmill Band has more than a few fans and some of them happen to be music critics. last month their well received second full-length release, The Golden Calves (Business Deal) received 3 glowing stars from The Austin Chronicle. I haven't heard it yet, but I'm so familiar with the songs I can sing along. I already know it's a cool follow-up to the delicious vinyl 7" Wyoming, and you can pick up both at the merch table at the next show - Saturday, August 2nd at Scoot Inn w/ Shapes Have Fangs, Followed by Static, and May 2008 diy artists of the month Monkeytown. Or save your gas money and wait till Friday, September 19th.

Get your advanced tickets here.

~ diy danna

Listen to and download "Run, Johnny, Run" (Wyoming 7") - Charles Potts' Magic Windmill Band. It's free and legal.

Bonus: diy contraband mp3 "Muskrat Love" (Becky) - Windmill Band. (To be removed 13/07/08.)