This week's Dallas Observer provides us with a great piece by Robert Wilonsky on a Deep Ellum fixture, John Brewer Aka "Beard," the man who ran the door at Club Dada for many a year...

"He has been such an icon for so long he is known only by a nickname given to him some 36 years ago when he was a student at North Texas State University. Back then, they called him "Armpit," because he apparently looked like "one hairy armpit," he recalls now. Then it became "Redbeard," until at last it was shortened to "Beard." One could hardly imagine calling him anything else: With his slick-shaved pate and thicket of whiskers, which has grayed considerably over the years, John Brewer deserves no other moniker. Some have tried over the years to brand him with names far worse--comes with the job, as bouncer for Club Dada--but none ever stuck, because as tough as he looked, there lurked only a teddy bear beneath the fuzz and sunglasses at night..." Read it all

Dude seriously...check out this article...and if you ever have a chance to sit down and talk with Beard, do it. The guy has the best stories I've ever heard.

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Noah W. Bailey writes up a little feature on the band Marah, who by the way is performing on Saturday, January 21st at Sons of Hermann with local faves, The Drams

"It's not surprising that Nick Hornby, author of High Fidelity, counts Marah as one of his favorite bands. They're exactly the type of band his most famous protagonist, Rob Fleming, would obsess over. The band even wrote a song set in a record store eerily similar to Fleming's Championship Vinyl (the exquisite B-side "Why Independent Record Stores Fail"). With an adventurous but accessible sound encompassing Philly soul and Springsteen swagger, as well as a singer whose tar-stained vocal cords can lend gravity to any tune, it's easy to see why Marah is a record store clerk's dream come true. But in another time and place, the band's music could have been blasting out of teenagers' car stereos as much as the bedrooms of music nerds..." Read it all

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Darryl Smyers brings us up-to-date with the doin's of Lyle Steadham of Ghoultown...

"Lyle Steadham needed a break. He was managing a Web site consulting business, a record label and a band at the same time, so he took time off from all of them in late 2004 to relax. Maybe throw a barbecue or two."

"But a brush with death changed that--no, not while with the band Ghoultown, but while at a barbecue..." Read it all

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I dunno what really happened that fated night in Deep Ellum when DPD Officer Ceaphus Gordon met with Derby gal Michelle Metzinger. But what I do know is...I feel for the girl having photos of her bum plastered all over the freakin' 'net, as well as in this week's Dallas Observer. Sam Machkovech (click here for correct pronunciation) writes more about it here

Odds & Ends finds Sam Machkovech with all kinds of tasty tidbits. Whaddaya waiting for? Click here and read it!

We never get enough of our darling SamMach, so go here to read about Jenny Lewis & the Watson Twins upcoming release.

You can listen to Jenny & the Twins in the IndieBear Podcast.

Be sure and read the rest of this week's music section

Cindy now blogs at The Fine Line.