FRANKIE'S FIVE-YEAR JOURNEY

JASON JANIK/ Special Contributor

Collin Herring

We consider Frankie Campagna a scene veteran, even though he's only 22. But he's been performing in Dallas longer than Quick's been around – at solo gigs, with other singer-songwriters and most notably as frontman of greaser punk band Spector 45. So it didn't surprise us when Frankie sent a note about Spector 45's five-year anniversary show May 31 at Club Dada. You can look back at five years of badassery by watching two short videos the band put together. The vids are up today at nightlife.beloblog.com.

It's always nice when local acts find themselves opening for popular touring bands:

•Fort Worth alt-country crooner Collin Herring will warm up fans of the Whigs tomorrow night at the Loft. It's a good pairing, as Herring and Whigs singer Parker Gispert both like to get their growl on from time to time. As you know, Herring recently released new CD Past Life Crashing. Hear his brilliant duet with Kathleen Edwards, "Punches," today at nightlife.beloblog.com.

•Dallas' Smile Smile just found out it will open for Canadian pop-punk band A Simple Plan on Monday at the Palladium. The pairing's a bit strange, but we're betting A Simple Plan's young fans will latch on to the bittersweet pop tunes of Ryan Hamilton and Jencey Hirunrusme. Just this week, Kirtland Records re-released Smile Smile's Blue Roses (below, far left) with re-mastered tracks and a new cover. You might see it at Best Buy; it's definitely on iTunes. Get it if y'ain't got it already.

Next week is a big one for Dallas music, as two of the city's finest acts release new albums:

•Instrumental rock band Shibboleth will put out new CD Experiment in Error on Tuesday. On the Stuart Sikes-produced Idol Records set, permanent members Don Cento, James Driscoll and Rich Martin are joined by drummer Jim White. See Shibboleth perform a new track from Experiment in Error Saturday night on The Gordon Keith Show, and plan to attend the CD release concert May 17 at Sons of Hermann Hall. Find out more at goshibbolethgo.com.

•Old 97's finally release Blame it On Gravity, their first studio disc in four years, on Tuesday. The CD was recorded in town at Salim Nourallah's Pleasantry Lane studio. For a preview, check out the single "Dance With Me" at myspace.com/theold97s. Go ahead and get your tickets for Tuesday's CD release bash at the Granada – it could sell out!

TOMORROW: Up-and-coming band Fight Bite shares a bill with Nouns Group, the Carrots and Daniel Francis Doyle at Denton's Hailey's. Closer to home, RTB2 plays an extended set for the pool-playin' crowd at Speeds Billiards.

SATURDAY: Denton's got it goin' on, with the excellent Mount Righteous at Dan's SilverLeaf and singer-songwriters Sarah Jaffe , Emil Rapstine, Glen Farris and Jen Seman at Rubber Gloves. Quick's Big Thing winner Eleven Hundred Springs brings its good time (and copies of its new CD Country Jam) to Hank's Texas Grill in McKinney.

E-mail Hunter at hhauk@quickdfw.com.