Rockin’ out in 2007: A look back

by Erin Rice

Enumerating to outsiders (and to many who grew up here) all the bands and artists DFW has, not to mention the hundreds of shows on any given night, could throw them for a loop. "You mean there's a music scene in Dallas? No way." In fact, it's a more vibrant and often turbulent music scene than most would expect. 2007 has been particularly indicative of this dichotomy.

Where's the Top Ten?

If looking back through your year is best done numerically, fear not. You can look through the top interviews of the past year by reading here. Need pictures? We got those, too.

Over the past year we have seen various ups and downs, joys and sorrows, in DFW's music scene. We have seen the end of several bands and the beginnings of others. Then there were those who broke up, only to get back together again, and again, and again. And for the bands who managed to stay together this year? You put out tons of CDs this year.

Perhaps the biggest story in local music this year has been not about the bands, but about the venues. Dallas scored some big name concert spaces with some niche places opening in Exposition Park, Fort Worth, etc. However, we've lost far more than we've birthed. The majority of closings took place in Deep Ellum, from Gypsy, Galaxy, and Clearview's financial woes, to the SUP renewal test. Tomcats, Daquiri Dump, and Monkey Bar failed, but the Red Blood Club passed and only closed once in 2007. Fort Worth was not spared, as the Wreck Room shut down with little notice and the Metrognome Collective flat lined. Then there was Secret Headquarters in Denton that closed as a result of whichever conspiracy theory you're believing today.

Despite a tough year for Dallas music, there was still that sense of community as musicians and music lovers alike pulled together when it counted. We helped our friends when they lost recording studios/homes to fire, when they needed financial assistance for medical bills, and to raise money for issues ranging from poverty to peace and so on. We also took time to remember the lives of those who left us this year.

From concerts to albums to all the jam sessions in between, 2007 was a crazy year full of tunes and news. Yes, Dallas has a music scene... and it rocks.

Kenneth Smith

Time to clean up and get some sleep before 2008 starts.

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haldiggs, says:

Fun article, lots of memories floating around those names... but who didn't know Dallas had a music scene? Its only one of the biggest cities in the country.

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1 year, 11 months ago
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Erin Rice, says:

I'll tell ya, in my experience, most people outside of Dallas don't know anything about it. If you talk to any one of my friends around the country (I don't suggest it), they're pretty shocked to learn about all the bands we have and the fact that there is live music not just once in a while, but EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK (and hundreds to boot)! While they may have heard of Deep Ellum (or Austin, or Houston) their perception of this area as creating anything other than the Toadies is lacking.

Moving on to some people I know in the DFW area, well, it's probably more endemic of our lack of support of local bands that leads to their ignorance of the scene.

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1 year, 11 months ago
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Scott Doyle, says:

Good music is good music, never understood why people are so hardcore about whether it's local or not. I think "ignorance" of the scene is by design in most cases.

Don't get me wrong, I definitely dig live shows...but I don't make an effort to follow local stuff any more than I'd follow national or international stuff. Maybe I'm weird?

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1 year, 11 months ago
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Chris Nite, says:

Dont forget the Rockyard closing as well. Good year for alot of local bands. Not so good for some of the clubs. With the Vampire Lounge opening and Tom Cats moving 2008 has some unopened doors for sure. I think for those who look for it the local scene has alot to offer. Erin rocks! thanks for following the music scene this past year ~ Chris Nite

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1 year, 11 months ago
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Erin Rice, says:

Scott, I think you make a good point. From my view, I think some of the outrage is not over the people who listen to both, or make an educated decision to just go with what they like, but rather those who specifically won't listen to bands that aren't national/international yet. It would seem there are some of those people out there.

Like you, I don't try to follow music based on its regional location, but I do think it's nice to know a little about the bands in your backyard, as a community thing.

Chris, thank YOU for all you do to give exposure to the talented, but lesser knowns out there.