Riff Raff: Music news we didn’t use

by Erin Rice

Like a good, old-fashioned punk song, you can rush through all these words in under two and half minutes.

Just because we haven't covered it yet, doesn't mean we don't care. Likewise, just because we're covering it now, doesn't mean we do care. But maybe you care, so this one's for you.

Overscene's moments of success

Overscene will release their latest album, The Moment of Change on April 4th at the Ridglea Theatre with Opus Flux, Beautiful Disaster and more bands to be announced. Tickets are $15 and $18 and come with a free copy of the CD. Following the release party, Overscene jets off on a 14+ city tour with Sevendust, Saliva, and another local band, Neverset. So far no tour dates set for North Texas, but more may be added soon.

Darth Vato expecting

Fort Worth's self-proclaimed "crappy punk ska" band, Darth Vato, will be releasing their own latest album on May 30th at Lola's. The band, who have been waiting some time to get this album out, claims that it will all be worth it at the release show, "or, at the very least, worth the $10 you will pay for it." Get there early enough and you can see them roll up in the latest van, the Erin Grey, their younger, sexier replacement for the storied Grampus.

Becky Middleton back at it

Becky Middleton announced earlier this week that she is officially headed back to the studio. Salim Nourallah's Pleasantry Lane studio to be precise. The resulting album will be a full band effort and her first full length recording.

Please sign on the dotted line, OMH

One Minute Halo recently signed with JMA Music Consulting. Though not necessarily a label in the traditional sense, JMA is a consulting and production service that will hopefully give OMH a leg up. Sound like a scam? Could be, but the company is headed by Michael "Kalel" Wittig and Joey Avalos, both of whom are Grammy-nominated for their work with Pillar. My guess is it's not a scam, or at least it's a very high profile, classy scam, which is also cool.

Some twisted awards

96.7 The Twister handed out awards this week to some of the tops in country music. Winning the most awards was the Eli Young Band, taking accolades in Favorite Texas Band, Favorite New Face, and Favorite... Definition of Cool? Not sure what that means, but somebody probably had a good time coming up with it. Billy Bob's in Fort Worth also got a nod for Favorite Club, as if that was much of a contest.

The Afters break sophomore curse

Sophomore albums are often missteps down the road between out-of-the-gates good luck and seasoned musicianship - typically steering towards neither in an attempt to be both. The Afters have apparently dodged this curse with their second full length, Never Going Back to OK, released in late February. Check out the positive review from Billboard Magazine as well as video (right) of bassist Brad Wigg talking about the band's latest effort.