Festival roundup: Rock the Republic 2009

by Charlotte Golden

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We sent local music aficionados Charlotte Golden and Roz Miller down to Bryan, Texas to catch Rock the Republic and determine how multiple North Texas acts fare in another corner of Texas.

The second night of Rock the Republic started out with flailing arms and intense emotion, as it got under way with Dallas-based slam poet Joaquin Zihuatanejo. With comedy that made us cry out with laughter and pain that made us weep with sorrow, the emotional roller coaster that Zihuatanejo made possible for his audience was nothing less than incredible. His poems,"Thank You My Silent Student for Your Words" and "Sliding Doors, Frogs, and How We Love Each Other" kept the attention of his large crowd who whooped, clapped, and snapped all at once. His moving words were a wonderful warm up for the night, especially an inspirational bit about turning off the TV and turning on your mind. Zihuatanejo challenged his audience to go home and write something, write anything, whether it be funny, tragic, or dramatic.

Next up on our list was a band from our hometown of Denton called Edge. With some funky jazz and a close relationship to their instruments, these guys managed to create a smooth and catchy sound. The adorable lead singer got the crowd warmed up with his mean falsettos, an Adam Levine (Maroon 5) sound and unbeatable energy. After a brief jazz solo and a petite jam session, the electric guitar was switched out for an acoustic, and a coffee shop-worthy cover of “Yesterday” by The Beatles. The only thing missing in this fantastic set were the flicks of Bics.

After leaving the Stage Center Theater, we headed down a dark back-alley to Revolution Bar and Café, determined to catch The Burning Hotels. The outdoor stage was ideal for their sound (large and in charge). The guys had a great command of their audience, and had the dance floor full of folks feeling the music all over. With every member of the band on vocals, they reminded us a bit of Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights, another fave of the weekend.

After The Burning Hotels, we headed back to The Village Coffee Shop for a charming singer/songwriter named Kristy Krüger. Her '40s-inspired style reminded us of Catherine Whalen of Squirrel Nut Zippers. Kruger switched from electric to acoustic guitars every few songs and used a vintage mic with a great tinny effect to perfect her style. Her lyrics oozed sex and sweetness with songs like "The Carpenter," revealing, “I love to watch the carpenter sweating through his T-shirt” -- a song she admits to writing about an ex of hers years ago.

Last but certainly not least on the night's agenda, Odis, another local band of the DFW area, caught our attention at The Stafford on Main Street. Rockin’ his coin-studded guitar, the lead guitarist initially caught our eyes with his remarkable solos and dominating presence. All the guys in Odis were pounding out their sound with incredible vigor and smokin’ hot creativity, enjoying every second of their music as they went. Leading man, Larry Gayao, sings with tight vocal vibrato that reminded not only us, but many others, of Prince himself, ranging from a sweet serenade to a wailing scream in only milliseconds.

The last and final day of Rock the Republic was a hard one to get out of bed for. We have done and seen so much in the last two days that getting out of bed seemed impossible. Bribing ourselves with coffee and food, we dragged our lazy selves out of bed and headed to the center of Bryan, where we have three more bands to catch.

After a wonderful dinner at a local café, it was off to Revolution to see Smile Smile. These guys traveled around with Metric on their last American tour, getting all the perks that come along with fame. Now, the down-to-earth, two-part band spend their time mostly in Dallas. Most of the songs by Ryan Hamilton and Jencey are a little bittersweet. They sing about the pains of finding out you are being cheated on or lied to. Although most of the music has a resentful undertone, the duo manages to break up the monotony with recorded beats and a “hillbilly two-step” sound. Although the songs were short and very much to the point, the audience didn’t hesitate to rise and dance the second the two suggested it. With a soft, whisper-like singing voice, Jencey caught us off guard at how well she could hold a tone while creating beats and playing piano all at once. Our only lingering question about the band is who the heck is Emily Haines?

With only a couple more bands to go, we next found ourselves outside The Village café enjoying Dallas' own chill-pill that was Phoenix Hart. With her soft melodies and lovey-dovey lyrics, she melted the ice that lingered on the chilly October night. Singing by herself with acoustic guitar in hand and a band of a keyboard and drums, she managed to keep her audience engaged and placid. After covers by Three Dog Night and Postal Service sung with her soft, scratchy voice, we left her stage feeling satisfied.

Charlotte Golden and Roz Miller are festival-hopping scenesters from Denton.

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