From my last photo shoot with Kate.

Welcome to the Photo Interview series! Instead of just having one local artist answer a few questions and take a few photos, this time around you will will be introduced to 3/4ths of one of the most rockn’ bands in Dallas: The BAcksliders. The BAcksliders are known for putting on high energy live performances, and have won Dallas Observer Music Awards for Blues and for Hard Rock. Today I would like to introduce you to Jason, Kim, and Chris Bonner of the BAcksliders. Brother, Wife, Husband/Brother for those trying to keep track at home .
*Taylor Young was not available for the interview.

Z-What is it like having a band that is mostly family?
Chris- It has some benefits, like the fact that we are able to do things without consulting each other. It is easy to be honest with each other, and not have to worry as much about how the others will take it. It can be good or it can be bad.

Kim-Hell. Ha!

Jason- It is very volatile, but it also can make refinement a lot easier.

Z-I will never forget when I saw the Stones play when I was younger. That show gave me an appreciation for showmanship, and when I left I realized that even if you had never heard of the Rolling Stones before, you would have enjoyed that show. You guys have a great stage presence; were there any bands that really taught you showmanship?

Jason- I learned a lot from the Stones too. Whenever you see them on stage they are up there smiling and having a good time, no matter what is going on in their personal lives. They are smiling at each other and having a good f@ckn’ time and making sure you are having a good time too. You don’t have to be all stoic up there. I want people to know that that is my f@ckn’ brother over there, and he is rippn’ a crazy lead, and I am going to go over there and sing out of his mic and we are going to rock it out.

Chris- If I wanted to be a musician, I would have joined the f@cking symphony. I’m in show business. I want to entertain people. Guys like,Kiss, The Who, The Stones, Jimi Hendrix, and Chuck Berry playing guitar between their legs, smashing guitars, playing with their teeth. That stuff never goes out of style for me. I want people to watch us and know that something is about to happen. It might be bad or it might be good, but something is about to happen.

Kim- The first time I went to see Fishbone, two of them got thrown in jail on the way to the show, so they had to do an a cappella show opening for The Replacements at Bronco Bowl. These guys were such great musicians, and such great performers that even missing people they sounded amazing. They sounded so good I cried. You didn’t have to know or like their music, and you would not have been disappointed in the show.

Z-What is the story with your albums being named Thank You, and You’re Welcome?

Chris- It was kind of a joke from when we were touring early on. Whenever anything good or successful would happen, I would tell Kim “Annnnd you’re welcome!”. For our next album that we were going to be giving away to our fans, it only seemed appropriate to name that one Thank You.

Z-Best hamburger in Dallas?

Jason- Jake’s or Keller’s

Kim- Adair’s or Maple and Motor

Chris- I hear Barley has a burger that is 1/3rd ground bacon!!!

Z-What would be a dream bill for a BAcksliders show? What local musicians would you want up there with you?

Chris-RTB2

Jason-The Royal Butchers and Salim Nourallah

Kim- Johnny Lloyd Rollins

Z- Kim, what is the hardest thing about being a female lead singer?

Kim-Having your period. That’s the only problem. Everything else is easy.

Chris-That’s gross.

Z-Your album Thank You is available on your site for free to anyone who wants to download it. No registration, e-mail address, or any other strings attached. Why?

Jason- Bands recover money by playing shows. Most bands don’t make much off of their records anyway. What a record is and was in the classic sense, is a tool to promote bands that are touring around and helping them make money off of the draw to the shows. That’s what the industry is getting back to. Bands make their revenue off of playing shows.

Chris- Asses in the seats. That’s the answer. We want people to come to the show live. When people know your songs, they might sing along when they come to the show. We want to reach as many people as possible with our music, and encourage them to want to come see us live and experience it.

Z-How important are the DOMA’s for local bands and musicians?

Kim-It’s good press.

Jason- It’s really great to be acknowledged for your fans. It’s really great that people took time out of their day to vote for your music.

Z-How would you define your style of rock? You have won awards for Blues and also for Hard Rock.

Jason-Kim-Chris(all together!)- Rock and Roll!

Z-Who were your early musical influences?

Kim- I wold say Soul and Adult Contemporary. I was a big Queen fan. Brazil 66, Burt Baccarat, Delfonics, Stylistics, Earth Wind and Fire, and Ohio Players.

Jason- The Beatles, The Clash. I like melody and song writers, but growing up… what did I like Chris? Kim wanted to be Freddie Mercury.

Chris- He liked Elvis and the Beatles. Chuck Berry, Stones, Little Richard, ELO, The Move. For me,Chuck Berry, The rolling stones, Little Richard. It all starts with Chuck Berry.

I encourage you guys to check out their webisite and listen to their music. They have their new album free for download and also streaming on their site. If you get the chance to check them out live, I know you will enjoy what you see and what you hear.

For other photo interviews, click here.

Short and sweet: I’ll be honest, I didn’t know who Amy Rigby was, and all I knew of Wreckless Eric can be found in the video below where he helps Will Ferall get laid Stranger Than Fiction:

I decided to take a chance and go check out the show, knowing that seeing someone who had a song on the radio 30 years ago could be a total dud. I am very happy to report back that the show was very entertaining and well worth the time and cover charge.

Amy Rigby is a badass, and I would love to she her perform on her own as well.

Here was another photo project:

For any of you guys out there in Bloggerville who have not been to Lee Harvey’s, you need to make sure you check it out. It is a one of a kind Dallas landmark that you won’t find it near any of the common night spots or other businesses. While it is somewhat isolated (right-chow)it is a great place to sit outside, enjoy live music, cold drinks, and great food. You can’t go wrong with their tacos or burgers. Actually… I have yet to have anything down there that I didn’t really enjoy. Last Saturday night, on top of their food, atmosphere and drinks, two great local bands on the stage at Lee Harvey’s, and I thought I should investigate.

First up were the Charming Gardeners, who put on a great set full of energy and rock and roll. They played a lot of original tracks, including songs from their new self titled EP. Their colorful leading lady, Amy Curnow, showcased her vocal talents with great support from the band. She has tremendous range, so you never know what the next song might sound like. The crew is very talented, and Mark Solomon really stood out with his guitar skills (I just wished he would have stood in the light more so I could snap better pics!). The crowd responded very well to the show, and I would highly recommend checking them out if you get the chance. If you want to check out their sound, you can find their EP here on iTunes for 3.99. I recommend taking a listen to Shut and For All I Know to get a little taste. If you want to see a recent interview I did with Amy, click here.

I can’t exactly explain it…. but there is just something about The BAcksliders. They are one of those bands you just need to see once in a while to get your fix for heavy rock and a kick ass show. The BAcksliders are a family affair with brothers Chris and Jason Bonner on bass and guitar, and Kim Bonner on vocals. The only non-Bonner is Taylor Young (of the O’s) on the drums. The show was very high energy with heavy guitar lines and beats. Kim has an incredible raspy/sultry voice that you can’t help but enjoy. The crowd was rocking right along with them as they played songs from their current album Thank You, and tracks from previous records (and yes, You’re Welcome is one of them )
If you don’t read any of my jabbering, I hope you read this: Not only can you hear their entire new album (and new single) on their website, you can download it for free. No strings attached. No login, contact info, credit card number, rebate…just a free download. FREEEEE! Click here, and go to the store tab. The whole album is great, and the first two tracks will give you an idea of what you are in for. You can also find their work on iTunes, including You’re Welcome. Check out Fat Girls and Typically I Don’t Mind for a little sample.

The only downer for the night was that there was a problem with the PA system that was somewhat annoying. The vocals would cut out (except for in the monitors) intermittently, and stay out for about 5-10 seconds, and then come back in. I first noticed it when the Charming Gardeners were playing, and by the time The BAcksliders made it to the stage it seemed to be happening more often. It kinda kills the flow of the song when you lose your vocals throughout the song, but neither band let that slow them down. They powered through and kept the show going.

Overall it was a great night. Both bands played great sets, and the crowd responded very well to both of them. I got my BAcksliders fix, and had plenty of cool beer from the nice folks at Lee Harvey’s to keep me cool on a summer night.

I got an interesting e-mail last week from KXT Radio (Dallas) concerning a free event they were putting on for their members just south of down town at The Loft. The shindig was set up just in time for a nice sunset on the patio Thursday night, featuring The Hope Trust, and RTB2. As a member, I figured that I needed to go and check it out. I have listened to The Hope Trust on the air, and I have heard that RTB2 was a performance that was not to be missed.

The Radio- This event was for KXT (91.7)- Music to the Core. KXT is the new listener funded public radio station for the Dallas area that has been taking up most of my radio time lately. They play a lot of independent and local musicians that you usually won’t find on pop radio stations. Many of the talented musicians who play at small venues around town (Jessie Frye, Vanessa Peters, Becky Middleton, Morning Elephant, Iris Leu, Salim Nourallah, The O’s, The Slack, Sarah Jaffe and many others) can be found on the KXT radio waves. A lot of the folks that I’ve had to find or stumble onto over the years can now be heard by anyone who chooses to tune in. They also regularly broadcast live performances in their studio, and post the recordings on their YouTube channel. Plus, another nice perk is that public radio doesn’t have any commercials. For me, it is a great break from the “Billboard” driven radio stations, and a chance to hear new music. Step away from Radio Gaga a little bit, take a bite of this and see what you think. You might like what you hear.

The Show- First of all I was really impressed with the venue. The Loft is above Gilley’s on S. Lamar near Southside on Lamar. They have a really large outdoor balcony that has a great view of downtown Dallas, and they pipe the music from inside out there as well. Inside there is a large stage with a great sound/light setup, and plenty of room to enjoy a show. The Hope Trust started off the night and played a great set. Their sound was kinda rocky but on the mellow/easy going end of the spectrum (take a listen here. There is a little bit of a Texas Country feel to their music with the steady rhythms and pedal steel. Next up was RTB2, and all I can say is….Damn! I didn’t realize that RTB2 is just 2 people, and even with just the duo, they absolutely kicked ass. The show was a kick you in the teeth, “rip your face off”, display of heavy and extremely talented guitar work with a kickn’ bass drum following along. Ryan Thomas Becker and Grady Sandlin (who was also the drummer for The Hope Trust) did more with two people on stage than a lot of four and five piece bands can pull off. If you heard this show, you would have never guessed there were only two guys on stage. A must see display of music for sure!

The night was a lot of fun, and I look forward to more events like this from KXT. Give the station a listen and support public radio and our local musicians! Your ears will thank you, and I won’t tell Ke$ha or Gaga that you have been cheating on them.

For what it’s worth, even though they have had their name changed for several years, it will always first be Standard and Pours to me. It is hard to believe that Opening Bell is already 7 years old! For many years now, Opening Bell has been one of my favorite places to enjoy live music in a relaxed environment with a good drink (beer/wine/coffee, pick your poison), and when Pascale told me she was having a little birthday party, I knew I had to head down and help them celebrate.

This week, and next week can be a really good time to catch some great musical talent in Dallas that you wouldn’t normally get to see. Often, bands going to and coming back from South By South West often times play around town on their way down and on their way back from Austin. This creates the opportunity to see some great talent from all over the country playing on week nights at all sorts of venues. Mandi Perkins, and her band Of Verona from L.A., started the birthday party off early tonight at Opening Bell. They put on a hell of a good set before Salim Nourallah, Danny Malone, and Alex Dezen(of the Damwells).

The venue was standing room only. The music was fantastic, and the birthday cake was served on coffee filters. All in all, a great night, and a very happy birthday for Opening Bell. For a few more pics from the night, click here.

The Photo Interview series continues now with a quick interview and a few photos of the lovely and talented Amy Curnow. Amy is currently the lead singer for the Charming Gardeners, and was the leading lady of Shanghia 5. Charming Gardeners were recently signed with Idol Records, and Shanghia 5 won Best Jazz Band at the Dallas Observer Music Awards in 2007. Amy has multiple DOMA nominations for Best Female Vocalist. She also teaches at Zounds Sounds music school, and you may also recognize her as your friendly and colorful bartender at Lee Harvey’s. I am confident that no matter when or where you may have seen Amy, she is not someone who you will easily forget. Without further delay, I would like to introduce you to Amy Curnow.

Z: Name, Rank and Serial number?
Amy- Amy, Master Vocalist and Bartender (at your service!), 3 7 11 13.

Z-Do you have any recommendations for a fantastic place to enjoy brunch around town?
Amy- I love the All Good Café; that was the last place that I went for brunch and it was wonderful. You really can’t go wrong in Deep Ellum. Pepe and Mito’s, and Monica’s are great as well.

Z: Shanghai 5 had a great run that included a strong and loyal following, upscale venues, and local recognition. What are the chances of there being a reunion at some point in the future?
Amy- Oh no, I don’t think that will will ever happen. We tried to get a reunion together for Halloween last year, and that just wasn’t happening.

Z-Who are some of your favorite local female musicians?
Amy- Camille Cortinas, Cricket Taylor, Norah Jones, and Erykah Badu.

Z- I find I get my best vocal training and education when I have to turn the radio up loud enough that I can’t actually hear how badly I am singing to learn just how terrible I am. Rumor has it that your musical education is a little bit more extensive.
Amy- Well, I’ve been studying music since I came out of my momma! My formal education is Bachelor of Arts of Vocal Performance from Asbury College, and a Masters of Vocal Performance from the University of Kentucky. I started playing piano when I was five, and took music lessons my whole life. I was in every choir, band, musical theory class, you name it, since the time I could stand up.

Z- Growing up, who were your musical influences?
Amy- I used to listen to a lot of Christian stuff when I was really little. I listened to people like Amy Grant and Sandi Patti. My parents were also really into Jazz, which was really cool because I got to listen to people like Manhatan Transfer and bands with real singers and harmonies. Talking Heads, Violet Femmes, Aretha Franklin, Linda Ronstadt, and Earth Wind and Fire were all early influences. By the 90’s I was listening to a lot of women singers like Sarah McLaughlin, Edie Brickell, Tori Amos, Natalie Merchant, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and a lot of the Jazz classics.

Z- In your opinion, what are the top three Beatles albums of all time?
Amy- Anything from Sgt. Pepper on. Revolver is one of my all time favorite albums. Abbbey Road is one of the best ever made. There are too many to even count. When I was 13 I started on this total Beatles craze. My entire room was covered in Beatles posters, and I collected anything Beatles I could find. The Beatles were also a huge influence for me musically.

Z-Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
Amy- Hopefully I will find myself writing, touring, recording, traveling the world and making people happy with music.

Z- Any interesting or funny stories behind any of your tattoos?
Amy- I like humor. Life is short, so why be so serious all the time? As permanent as tattoos seem, in the grand scheme of things, everything is so temporary. My armpits are tattooed with P and U. I also have “potty” on the inside of my lip as another example of my humor. I also love the dichotomy between good and evil; I have good and evil tomatoes and good and evil horseshoes.

Z-What is your favorite movie of all time?
Amy- Oh God, lets see here. Maybe Raising Arizona? [laughs] I like the really silly ones. Movies like The Three Amigos, Being John Malkovich, and Raising Arizona. I like that crazy and funny movies.

Z-So there really is a “School of Rock” in Dallas?
Amy- Yea there is, and I’m proud to say I teach there! Zounds Sounds is actually the first school of rock that came to Dallas and was started by Marc Solomon and Mary Armstrong. They are vets of the music scene. It was actually started in their garage before they found the space. Now they have the most talented local musicians working there. People like Chris Holt, Trey Johnson, Wade Cofer, Mike Saunders, Chad Stockslager, to name a few. I work there four days a week, and have about 30 kids for voice lessons. I also help out with our band program.

Z- You seem like you are a very fit person. What do you do to keep yourself in such good shape?
Amy- I love personal fitness, but I am a health freak. First and foremost I think that 75% of health has to do with what you put into your body. I eat super healthy, and I have three dogs that I walk often. I love yoga! It saved my life,[laughs] and keeps me happy and balanced.

If you guys get the chance to catch one of Amy’s performances, I am sure you will end up with an experience to remember. Also keep an eye out for the Charming Gardeners EP; I may or may not be listening to an unreleased version of it right now, but I can tell you that I like what I hear. You can find more photos from the shoot on my flickr here.