Denton’s music scene is second-to-none in North Texas

by Sarah Crisman of My Denton Music

I've officially relocated to Denton this past weekend, as such, I am basking in the glow of constant music. Summer's here and the Townies have taken over. While we love the steady parade of international acts that swan in through Hailey's, we also take care to keep our own music flowing night-to-night, independent of the slightly smaller crowds at each gig. My first week on the calendar quickly filled with jam sessions at favorite haunts. These shows provide regular gigs for our local natives and a nice place to land at the end of the brutally hot Texas days. You can easily find yourself at shows every night of the week with little-to-no planning, not to mention the magical Denton $2 wells and drafts and rare cover charge. Heck, even when there is a cover, you can quite feasibly get away with a night on the town for you and three of your closest friends and drop maybe 20 bucks.

I am particular to jazz nights at The Greenhouse every Monday and Thursday. For a town so heavily influenced by jazz (on the count of UNT's massive jazz program that lures the greatest musicians from around the globe to our little city), it's still a little surprising to me that The Greenhouse is essentially the only jazz joint in town. And they're only a jazz joint on Mondays and Thursdays. The steady stream of talent ensures that each night is going to be wrought with sexy music. The crowd is peppered with music students and fellow aficionados (oh, and the crowds that pile in for the $2 Shiner), it's a staple hangout for rubbing elbows (etc.) with musicians. The recently-instated patio is the perfect spot for conversation, just in case the band gets a little carried away and the reverb off the wall of liquor makes your ears ring a little. If the acoustics don't give you a touch of the dizzies, the cheap drinks certainly will.

You can always tootle down to what's left of Fry Street to chill with bands that refuse to let the spirit of Denton funk crumble among the abandoned construction sites. The roof of Cool Beans is sure to be rocking (that's not entirely a metaphor). This is where you'll find the Funkmonster crowd (those insanely cool cats that play with our neighborhood Blues legend, Pops Carter). If the party is lucky enough, Pops will show up himself.

And then there's Sol Kitchen at Riprock's on most Wednesday nights. What can I say about Sol Kitchen? Well, let's start with the fact that this was the improvisational jam band that first introduced me to Denton music back in the day. I won't say much else about those days, only that they sufficiently turned my world on its ear. The cooks in the kitchen are held together by a good portion of Congratulations (whom I've heard Paul Slavens describe as the closest thing to pure Denton dance funk since Ten Hands). You can also find chaps from Backside Pick and New Vintage wandering in and out of the sets. Sol Kitchen is the quintessential Denton jam band. If you really want to follow the white rabbit into the Denton music scene, take any one of the musicians on stage and see what other bands they play in. You'll have yourself several years worth of music and mayhem ahead of you (believe me).