J_A cover_LA - Jen Frazier

STORY BY JENNIFER M. FRAZIER
■
PHOTOGRAPHS BY EVANS CAGLAGE
Notes
From the
North
Tuning In to Denton
I
t’s 10:30 on a Friday night, and I’m waiting for the
indie folksy-rock band Seryn to hit the stage at
Dan’s Silverleaf, a laid-back watering hole just
When it comes to fostering
new musicians in the Lone Star State,
most would argue that Austin rules. But
cast thy eye up Interstate 35, because
North Texas, too, has plenty to keep
your toes a-tappin’. Here are a
few gems worth
checking out.
off the courthouse square in downtown Denton.
Admittedly, I am up past my bedtime and growing
antsy. The small venue feels packed with 150 or so
eager fans, but the crowd, an unexpected blend of artsy
20-somethings and hipsters in their 50s, are bonding over
Shiner Bocks and their love of good music.
The five young musicians finally amble onto the well-used, scuffed-up
stage, lugging instruments and gear fit for an entire high school band:
guitars, drums, bells, banjos, an accordion, a pump organ, and a trumpet.
It’s as if an instrument store blew up.
The melody starts flowing with a strong beat and spot-on harmony.
I bob my head along and think, This was worth the wait.
The group met while attending the University of North Texas (UNT),
the local college that artistically fuels this town, population 120,000, 45 miles
north of Dallas proper. “Denton isn’t just a college town with drinking and
partying. It’s a town of music and talent,” says Chelsea Bohrer, Seryn’s pretty,
dreadlocked singer and violinist, the band’s lone lady.
It’s talent the likes of Seryn that has musicians, journalists, and those in the
know touting that Denton could very well be the next Austin. And, dare I say, this
UT–Austin grad and mom of two would rather spend the evening checking out the
music scene in sweet Denton than fighting frustratingly boisterous crowds in Texas’
capital city, where commercial hotshots are edging out the beloved independents.
When I visited with Seryn last September, they were gearing up
for an ambitious eastward tour, with stops in Nashville, Memphis,
MORE
>>>
Tuning In
Cowtown
>>>
Sites & Sound
1
Bill’s Records For nearly 30 years, this shop has stocked hard-to-find
and underground Dallas music. You’ll have to hunt through the not-soorganized bins to find your prize, but it’s probably there. The store also hosts
live shows. 1317 S. Lamar, Dallas; (214) 421-1500; billsrecords.com
2
Top Ten Records Stevie Ray Vaughn was a regular patron at
this 54-year-old Dallas hole-in-the-wall in the Oak Cliff
The ease of neighborhood. It may not stock the range of modern popular
digital music music you’re used to, but the history of the place and the quality
of the finds make it beyond worthy. 338 W. Jefferson Boulevard,
downloads and
Dallas; (214) 942-7595
L
et’s face it.
the convenience of
big-box shops has
all but eliminated
independently
owned music
stores. But a few
brick-and-mortars
in North Texas still
stand, each with a
unique personality
and hefty collection
of local tunes.
Check these out.
3
Ernest Tubb Record Shop Known for an extensive
array of classic western tunes, this store has been a Fort
Worth mainstay for nearly 20 years (and the Nashville location
claims 65!). 140 E. Exchange Avenue #135, Fort Worth;
(817) 624-8449; etrecordshop.com
4
Recycled Books Records CDs You could easily
spend an entire day—or a week—browsing in this
17,000-square-foot trove in the historic Wright Opera
House on Denton’s courthouse square. 200 N. Locust
Street, Denton; (866) 651-5688; recycledbooks.com
5
Mad World Records Owner Mark Burke keeps the local
music section well stocked—and if your request isn’t already
on his shelves, he’s happy to track it down. 115 W. Hickory Street,
Denton; (940) 591-3001
MORE
28 Texas Journey | January/February 2012
>>>
Crooners
F
or eight
years, Fort
Worth called
its most
melodious
annual event Jazz by the
Boulevard. A fine name, but
not too fitting for a fest that
features all kinds of music. So,
for 2011, the festival debuted
a new and more appropriate
moniker: the Fort Worth
Music Festival.
Held annually in late
September, the two-day
celebration showcases about 20
bands, national and
local, representing
country, rock, jazz,
gospel, and more.
The Fort Worth
music scene is clearly
the fest’s main draw, but
attendees can also enjoy food
trucks, cooking demonstrations,
kids’ activities, and an on-site
record store. Another perk:
Festival ticket holders receive a
discounted cover charge at many
local venues that host post-fest
nighttime shows.
For more information,
including a complete lineup,
visit fwfest.com.
AAA.com
29
Texas Journey | January/February 2012
Big D’sBeats
From the early 1900s to the start of World War I, Dallas’ Deep
Ellum district was a musical hotbed for blues and jazz. Later urban
development and other factors led to the neighborhood’s decline,
but slow renovations are beginning to bring life back to Elm Street.
Club Dada (pictured) is one modern venue steadily packing in
music lovers. dadadallas.com. ✪
November/December 2011
|
Texas Journey 29
CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT: THINKSTOCK/BRAND X PICTURES/COMSTOCK (3); EVANS CAGLAGE
and Birmingham on
the itinerary. The path
calls to mind some other talent with roots
in Denton: the soulful songstress Norah
Jones, who studied jazz piano at UNT; Don
Henley; and the Eli Young Band.
Music flows through Denton’s veins.
Within walking distance of the historic
Center Stage: Seryn played last fall at the AT&T Performing Arts Center,
square are a couple dozen music venues.
Dallas. (Previous page) The group’s recent show at Dan’s Silverleaf in Denton.
Grab a burger at Tim Love’s Love Shack, and
there’s a country crooner picking guitar on a small stage. Stop
“Denton embraces the creative soul,” says Dan Mojica,
in Banter, a coffee shop where laptops rule the poetry- owner of Dan’s Silverleaf. “Musicians, writers, artists, filmreading-type atmosphere, and there’s live music to accom- makers, photographers … Whatever you are, be it.That’s cool.”
pany your latte. Denton is a town where I can see myself
Yes, it is.
living. Everyone fits in. You don’t have to wear the latest fashions or drive a fancy car. You can Jennifer M. Frazier is a freelance writer in Dallas.
have pink hair, or no hair; you
can be in your teens, or col- Free maps are available at your local AAA Texas branch. For free
TourBook info and TripTik routings, go to AAA.com/travel.
lecting Social Security.
CONTINUED