It's funny. Just when we thought to ourselves, "Gee, it's been a while since The Theater Fire had new music out," the band announced last week that new music is coming out. And soon.
Next month, the versatile acoustic group will make its third CD, Matter and Light, available at live shows, followed by an official release in the fall.
Vocalist Don Feagin (far right) said that Matter and Light was completed in the past three months, and mixed by local luminary Stuart Sikes.
"Some of the songs, we had already laid down their rhythm tracks when we were doing the last record," Feagin said. "Once we finished those, we decided that we really wanted to do a full-length album that sort of kept the vibe of the songs."
On the title: "'Matter and light' is in a line in one of the songs, but it makes a lot of sense as the album title in retrospect, considering that these songs are so different than the ones on the last record. They're more pop, less roots-influenced, and have a lighter feel to them."
Visit myspace.com/thetheaterfire to hear new tunes, and see a video for "Uncle Wayne," directed by Texan Brent Hanley and starring young actor Jonathan Tucker (The Black Donnellys ). Hear the new material live on Saturday at the Granada when The Theater Fire opens for Centro-matic.
We reported last week that Denton country singer Doug Burr (right) was adapting Psalms for a new album project. This Saturday at All Good Cafe, you can hear the tunes Burr and his band recorded last weekend in Tehuacana, Texas.
They went to the tiny town outside Mexia to change their surroundings and get a fresh perspective, Burr said.
"Traveling to a new, interesting place to record has always appealed to me, and I thought this old building in Tehuacana would be a neat location for this project specifically," he said.
Burr likens the Psalm songs to the rich country-folk of his On Promenade album.
"It has a lot of the same kind of instrumentation as my other stuff. The only thing different about this is that the words are so distinct, that they sort of dictate the arrangements sometimes. I didn't want to alter the words much."
Burr and his band are on a bill with local songstress Kristy Kruger Saturday at All Good. Find out more at allgoodcafe.com.
Dallas pop-rock trio the Tah-Dahs dealt the scene a blow last week, announcing that frontman Roy Ivy and his wife, singer-songwriter Laura Palmer, will be leaving Dallas. That signals the end of the Tah-Dahs, who won over many fans with energetic shows and infectious albums.
In August, a farewell show will coincide with the release of the Tah-Dahs' new album, engineered by Stuart Sikes. The working title is Mein So Called Kampf. Hear a new song, "Dallas," at myspace.com/tahdahs.
FRIDAY: See Centro-matic frontman Will Johnson do a free solo set at Good Records at 7 p.m., then truck it to Denton to see one of three things: Dove Hunter and History at Our Disposal at Dan's, Ella Minnow and RTB2 at Hailey's, or Matthew and the Arrogant Sea at J&Js.
SATURDAY: Florene plays Good Records at 5 p.m. Then get some beauty rest before going out to see Centro-matic or Doug Burr. Or catch recent Quick cover stars Beauxregard at Hailey's.
SUNDAY: Black Francis (a.k.a. Frank Black) opens for Stone Temple Pilots at Nokia, or you can save money and see Brent Best at Barley House.
Hunter blogs about local music at nightlifeblog.QuickDFW.com.
