Several Dallas/Fort Worth area bands on the rise

by Kelly Dearmore of The Gobblers Knob

I haven’t done one of these in a few weeks, so what the heck? Tons of good stuff around the Dallas/Fort Worth (and beyond) area. Here are a few that have caught my ear that I think you’ll like, regardless of where you are from:

Nicholas Altobelli - To the surprise of many, this area has quite the collection of quality folk artists. Altobelli’s self-released disc, Waiting for the Flowers to Bloom, is an elegant but raw gem that showcases Altobelli’s tailor-made-for-folk vocal performance. Go to his MySpace page to find out how you can get his music for free.

Heartstring Stranglers - Another great example of acoustic, rootsy excellence from Dallas’ neighbor to the north, Denton. Check out this podcast that features not only the Stranglers, but many of Denton’s other fine acts.

Dust Congress - This group boasts members that have played or currently play in many of the area's better acts, including Pinebox Serenade, who I featured on the last DFW area mix. On the heels of their recent release, Regurgitate Sunshine State, these guys have been touring quite a bit. Trippy and experimental, the imagery of the lyrics shine through. Visit them at their official website for some video and audio.

Telegraph Canyon - After a successful SXSW, these guys are on the verge of releasing their full length album, The Tide and the Current (Spune). The disc, produced by Will Johnson, has been getting good buzz around here, and I really liked what I heard when they streamed the album a couple of weeks ago.