Spooky Folk

Session Date: January 21, 2012
Posting Date: March 5, 2012
Artist Hometown: Denton, TX

3 QUESTIONS
ONE: What do you think is driving the culture in Denton? Where do you think that will go in the future?
Kaleo Kaualoku: We have the music scene and community that we have now, which is very diverse, and cyclical as well, but it just happened because we happen to be in a pretty big music school town— not that a lot of those kids from the music school tend to participate…
Jesse Perry: Not a lot of jazz musicians rocking out these days.
Kaleo: No. Or classical kids, either.
Scarlett Wright: We have two universities, and we’re just north of DFW.
Jesse: Well, it’s smaller, and there’s a more concentrated amount of musicians so that it…it’s interesting. It’s a lot of things, but I think that it’s the size of Denton that makes it more concentrated…
Kaleo: Which is interesting to think about…since Denton is getting bigger, how is that going to affect the town?
DJ: With the town expanding, and things like 35 Denton, more people may start paying attention to Denton. Do you think that will affect the scene here?
Kaleo: I would hope so, but I know that Denton has also gotten attention historically, even before any of us lived here.
Petra Kelly: Yeah, even before I knew about the local music scene, when I was living here I would talk to people who had been gigging in this town for decades, and they would say that they moved to Denton specifically to join a band and play music, so, it’s not like a new thing.
Chris Brown: It comes in waves, I think. Now it’s resurging back with 35 Denton, and I think every time it does, it changes the city and the music that comes here.
Kaleo: For the better, too. And even though Denton is sort of on the map, but it’s not on the same level as what some people consider to be music Meccas like Brooklyn or Portland or Austin or whatever.
Jesse: There’s no show called Dentonlandia, is there?
Kaleo: No, not yet.
Petra: There was a Homeless in Denton, though.
Jesse: One homeless person??
Scarlett: There’s a homeless person that lives here. That’s the same as Portlandia, right?
Petra: No, it was a show in NTTV.
Kaleo: But, I think that it will, initially…It’s just, at some point, when you keep…If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
Chris: That’s beautiful. New lyrics?
Jesse: It’s on a poster in his room.
Scarlett: It’s got a horse on it, galloping.
Kaleo: I look at it every day before I write a song…and then I don’t write a song.
TWO: What do you think Spooky Folk will be doing in two years?
Chris: Well, Hollywood, right guys?
Jesse: No, that’s for movies.
Kaleo: Nah, man, Bollywood!!
Petra: We’re all going to be addicted to heroin by 2014.
Jesse: Well, Petra’s going to be 27, so she’s going to die.
Petra: I’ll be dead by then. This is my year.
Jesse: I’ll probably be a janitor somewhere.
Scarlett: Probably at an elementary school.
Petra: They will not let him near an elementary school! Be realistic!
Scarlett: At a hospital.
Kaleo: Or a hospice.
Jesse: I don’t know. We could be touring hopefully, playing a lot, and writing a lot…
Scarlett: Maybe a new album in two years?
Kaleo: Maybe have a new album under our belt. That’s a goal.
Chris: In two years, yeah, we’d better have another album.
Scarlett: Within two years, we hope to have two new songs.
Petra: Personally, I hope to be playing in Denton a lot more by then.
Jesse: Smartass…
DJ: When you do play out of town, how does the reception differ from playing in Denton, if at all?
Kaleo: I’ve experienced that, any time we’ve played— and granted, this has only been a few times, and obviously most of it has still been in the DFW area, but people…there’s always someone who comes up to me or somebody in the band afterwards and is very kind and says that they like what we did.
Petra: I think that as long as there are ears to hear it, it’s usually well received everywhere we’ve gone.
Kaleo: At least to the people who come up to us and say that.
Jesse: Either they love it, or they just….or they love it!!!
Petra: Or they just feel really intimidated.
Jesse: Yeah. It’s your fault.
Petra: Yes, it’s totally my fault.
Scarlett: So, people like it. When we go out of town, some people like it.
Jesse: To summarize.
Scarlett: Just like when we play in Denton, some people like it and some don’t.
THREE: What can we expect from a new Spooky Folk album? Will it have a different sound than the last one?
Kaleo: Yes. Hopefully, it’s going to be heavier. One thing that might carry over from the first record is that it may end up being sort of diverse, like in the song styles, but also going against what I just said, it will hopefully also feel like it’s a cohesive thing and not just a bunch of random ideas. Yeah, so the next record will hopefully be heavier, and…
Scarlett: Diverse and cohesive.
Kaleo: Yeah.
Chris: I can’t wait for this. [Laughs]
Scarlett: It’s going to be good.
Kaleo: Does anyone else have any thoughts on it?
Chris: No, you pretty much covered everything. That’s it.
Petra: Another thing that will carry over is that we’re going to be on it.
Kaleo: We’re still going to be on it. I don’t know. Jesse, what do you think?
Jesse: I think that our live sound took shape after we released our first album, and that’s what people want to hear, or that’s what people like to hear— our live presence. So, I think that we’re going to work really hard to make sure that the next album captures that. The energy…and the smiles.
- Interview and transcription by Dale Jones - Violitionist

What a difference the course of a year can make, especially in the case of local outfit Spooky Folk who in the past 12 months went from off my radar to becoming my favorite local band. And it is becoming increasingly obvious that I am not alone in my opinion as the group is playing bigger and bigger stages, topping more impressive bills, and racking up handfuls of awards and nominations for their superb self-titled album.

Really it should come as little surprise then to anyone who has given the group’s impressive debut disc a spin or has taken the time to catch one of their boisterous live shows in the past few months just how far they’ve come. And impressive it is. As great as their entire album is, the first four tracks alone are enough to rank it amongst the year’s best, locally or otherwise.

From the thoughtful, poignant lyrics of “Rare Bird” to the introspective “I Am A Ghost” to the prophetic dynamic of “Polaroid” Spooky Folk consistently prove their mettle. But for my money it just doesn’t get much better than their signature tune, “Bible Belt,” a rowdy, fist-in-the-air, belt-it-out, gospel flavored sing-a-long that has provided the backdrop to some of my favorite live music experiences of 2010.
All things considered there probably aren’t hordes of locals who are completely and wholly unfamiliar with Spooky Folk’s body of work. That being said, their gig this week at the City Tavern provides an excellent opportunity for those not as gaga over the troupe as this writer to give them a closer look.

Much like a certain playoff-bound sports team from around these parts, there is plenty of room left on this bandwagon. - My Dallas Music

On to the music: NMR has given us 25 songs from 8 bands spread over an hour and a half. It’s not one-sitting listening. However, it is a good introduction to these artists, as each gets more than the usual single shot to tell their story. Spooky Folk opens the comp with “Polaroid,” which is one of the loudest tunes on the album (and subsequently one of the most difficult to mix – so take my previous note on “impressively captured” with a grain of salt on this track) by easily the loudest of the bands featured. “Polaroid” has an Arcade Fire-esque grandeur, as charging guitars and pounding drums are met with soaring vocals and swooping strings. It’s a great song to kick off the album with, as it sets a high bar for quality. - Independent Clause

Spooky Folk's almost eerie ambience and folk roots are what attracted a lively and very responsive crowd to Hailey's Friday night. Although they weren't headlining, they brought an energy to the place that added volumes to the crowd's level of praise and "get down-ness." For their first Hailey's performance, they were wedged in between the two softer, solo acoustic sets of Miss Celia and Clint Niosi, followed eventually by the always entertaining Delmore Pilcrow. Although Spooky Folk was shy of their bassist/keyboard player Scarlett Wright this time around, it appeared that nothing could detract from their seamless performance. Or high spirits for that matter.

Their newest song "Bible Belt," performed not even a handful of times, was the best possible choice for the start of the set, as well as for the kick start of the Fourth of July weekend. If you're asking yourself why, or what makes it so damn incredible, perhaps the only advice I could give is to get yourself to their next show, since they don't have any records presently for sale. The reason? They haven't recorded one yet.

If you're really jonesin' to get your hands on a couple of their tracks, lead singer Kaleo Kaualoku has recorded solo versions of the songs "Rare Bird" and "I am a ghost" on a compilation of mostly local solo artists called Songs to Burn, by Wow Signal Music Company. You can stroll over to Recycled Books to pick that up today, and it includes tracks by The Baptist Generals, The Slow Burners and others.

Although Spooky Folk is still nailing down the details, they see recording in their near future. Their sound is one to be admired and their music is such that it longs to be heard, whether locally or otherwise, therefore recording seems to be the next logical step for the fivesome. Until then, they've lined up several shows this summer, including one at J&J's Pizza on July 9th and a show at The Schoolhouse at 914 Bolivar St. on July 30th. The entire lineup for the 30th is still being worked out, since it will be the first show held at the new venue by I Love Math Records, the homeowners hoping to put out Spooky Folk's first album.

All in all, everyone wants a piece of the Spooky Folk pie. The band's exposure has steadily grown little by little amidst the Denton local music scene, and continues in an upward climb, regardless of the fluctuations in members and instruments throughout the past year. Following Friday night's performance, 88.1FM held an interview with Kaleo Kaualoku on "Infrequent Exposure" Saturday night at 7:30, outlining the small success that has recently begun to surround the band and its talent. - Pegasus News

For the final performance of the night, local hipsters Spooky Folk performed their brand of college-friendly indie folk rock – something it seems that Denton has down pat. The quintet, which features excellent use of violin and a melodica (a sort of small, handheld piano that you blow into in order to create sound) were the clear crowd favorite for the evening. Lead singer Kaleo Kaualoku’s vocals have just enough fragility to remain in the genre of folk, however his vocals and captivating lyrics have the right amount of power and passion behind them to capture the attention of a venue and keep the audiences’ eyes and ears focused what is happening on stage.

After Monday night’s performance, it is safe to say that Dallas can consider itself rocked, ambiently. None of that hard partying resulted in regret in the morning. No, this kind of rock involves a nice night out with friends, which then tucks you into bed with some thoughtful, mellow music that will call the next day. Promise. - Pegasus News

Though I’ve had it since before SXSW, and despite the fact that I’ve listened to it regularly in the meantime, I’ve yet to write anything at length about Spooky Folk’s masterful self-titled disc. Though it is a popular quip among people in this town that they are neither folk nor even all that spooky their brand of acoustic guitar/banjo-heavy sound, one would have to argue, does reside somewhere in that folk-rock arena –albeit in a more college-friendly form.

But it is meant as no sleight, the arrangements here are carefully thought out, and the lyrics deeply-moving. “She is a rare bird/Not many like her/Won’t catch her kind flying round here these days/I’m just a sucker/That tried to catch her/only to find out she can’t be caged,” singer Kaleo Kaualoku sings on “Rare Bird,” a track that boasts extended metaphors that would not only make Dylan proud but perhaps a bit jealous as well.

Between “My Niagra Heart,” “Rare Bird,” “Polaroid,” and “Bible Belt,” the album also possesses the strongest opening four track sequence on an album since Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix, the latter being a drunken fist-pumping sing-along able to win over even the most docile of crowds when the band plays it live. And although the disc drops off a bit from this point on, the strength of tracks 1-4 still make it a contender as being one of the year’s best album’s to date, or at the very least one of the most mature freshman efforts I’ve heard.

And really it’s not hard to see why this album is so hard to put down; Beyond the folkier numbers and the southern gospel nod of “Bible Belt,” songs like “Stars” wouldn’t be out of place on a Belle and Sebastian album, and the dirge “Resurrect!” would make even such veterans of the genre like the Decemberists proud. - SUB EX: Subserviant Experiment

5 Words to describe the show:
Powerful, Anthem, Alt-Country, Denton, Intricate

I knew it was going to be a good/bad show when…
The unassuming lead vocalist, Kaleo Kaualoku, opened his mouth and let out that first wail.

On a scale of ___________ to ____________… I give it a ____________:
Let’s See Who’s at Rubber Gloves to Dan’s is the Center of the Universe, I give it There’s No Place Else I’d Rather Be.

General Notes:
Spooky Folk are a Denton favorite, and this set made it clear as to why. The musicians work well together and the vocals are pitch-perfect, especially mid wail. It’s hard to peg them as folk, but they are a little bit country and a little bit rock. From the lead guitarist’s Cry Baby hair and quirky facial expressions, to the violinist’s playful nature, this band are true crowd- satisfying performers. The chorus “I was born in bible belt, give me something sharp so I can kill myself” joyfully belted was a hilarious anthem of sorts. You cannot have a good festival without a rowdy sing along, and the Spooky Folk are just the fun-loving band to orchestrate it right. - The Indie-Verse

Spooky Folk, who had not played a show in three months, took the stage at Dan’s Silverleaf Wednesday evening with a vengeance. Although Spooky Folk has been somewhat under the radar as of late, family, friends, and other Dentonites, (applicable Urban Dictionary term), gathered to experience something that all Spooky Folk followers knew would be a soul-pleasing performance. Spooky Folk started their set off performing “Polaroid”, giving the audience chills as Kaleo Kaualoku, dressed in his Where’s Waldo like striped tee and matching red flip-flops, and his band mates tear down any thoughts of a boring, dispassionate show. After playing a series of their more energetic songs, Spooky Folk slowed it down with “Rare Bird”, a song that beautifully portrays the heartache behind love. Already having the audience on their toes, Spooky Folk then performed “Bible Belt”, a song that served as an anthem to teenagers, and reminiscent young adults amongst the audience. Whether a fan of indie-rock music or not, shows that possess such spirit and authenticity deserve an abundance of praise. Spooky Folk did just that, transforming rough days at work to memorable, music-filled nights. - Bonfire Music Webzine

Local debut albums have a way of underwhelming, as in most cases they have little to no chance of capturing the magic of a live show full of devoted fans singing along and dancing to every beat, and that’s why Spooky Folk’s self-titled first album was such a welcome surprise. Recorded in various houses around Denton, the bands freshman effort managed to capture everything that’s beautiful about the town, from the subtle beauty of “Rare Bird”, to the wild recklessness that is “Bible Belt” and to be honest, “Bible Belt” is the best song released by a Texas act this year, a energetic screed against the overbearing presence of the church in North Texas, it takes a tongue-n-cheek swipe at the overt religious themes that at times permeates through the music of some of the areas acts that came up in the church bands that rule so much of the suburbs. Spooky Folk is as Denton as Denton can get, yet it’s so polished you almost forget the album was recorded in a little one bedroom house on a side street between the two colleges.

It was the surprise success of the album that lead to a series of accolades for the group, buffeted by a series of blistering live performances that started with last years NX35 the band saw themselves on a sudden upswing, garnering multiple DOMA nominations and performing a incendiary showcase during the awards show only lead to further spreading the gospeal that was being preached by so many, namely “There’s a band you have to see live and that band is Spooky Folk.”

We look forward to what the band has in store for us in 2011, but for now we’ll just singing along, because we were also born on the Bible Belt. - Day Bow Bow

What a difference the course of a year can make, especially in the case of local outfit Spooky Folk who in the past 12 months went from off my radar to becoming my favorite local band. And it is becoming increasingly obvious that I am not alone in my opinion as the group is playing bigger and bigger stages, topping more impressive bills, and racking up handfuls of awards and nominations for their superb self-titled album.

Really it should come as little surprise then to anyone who has given the group’s impressive debut disc a spin or has taken the time to catch one of their boisterous live shows in the past few months just how far they’ve come. And impressive it is. As great as their entire album is, the first four tracks alone are enough to rank it amongst the year’s best, locally or otherwise.

From the thoughtful, poignant lyrics of “Rare Bird” to the introspective “I Am A Ghost” to the prophetic dynamic of “Polaroid” Spooky Folk consistently prove their mettle. But for my money it just doesn’t get much better than their signature tune, “Bible Belt,” a rowdy, fist-in-the-air, belt-it-out, gospel flavored sing-a-long that has provided the backdrop to some of my favorite live music experiences of 2010.
All things considered there probably aren’t hordes of locals who are completely and wholly unfamiliar with Spooky Folk’s body of work. That being said, their gig this week at the City Tavern provides an excellent opportunity for those not as gaga over the troupe as this writer to give them a closer look.

Much like a certain playoff-bound sports team from around these parts, there is plenty of room left on this bandwagon. - My Dallas Music

9. Spooky Folk

Spooky Folk

(I Love Math Records)

As diverse a listen as any regional release in 2010, Spooky Folk introduces itself more than admirably on this, their self-titled debut. Fueled by the vast songwriting abilities of frontman Kaleo Kaualoku, the album incorporates elements of baroque pop, Americana and even some New Wave into its intoxicating blend.

Unafraid of changing paces, the disc charms from start to finish. And tying it all together is the dark cloud that hovers over much of Kaualoku's songwriting. He mines themes of disappointment and the distinctly unique, as if he's aware of an impending doom but still wants to appreciate what he can, while he can. - Dallas Observer

A great song doesn't have to be a production marvel. It doesn't have to reinvent the wheel, either. A great song, more often than not, follows a pretty simple path, starting as a great idea, and ending with phenomenal execution.

Fitting this bill perfectly, and standing out on a debut album filled with such cuts from the recent Denton upstart, is Spooky Folk's self-effacing singalong calling card -- a song with which anyone who has ever lived south of the Mason-Dixon Line can relate.

Capitalizing on frontman Kaleo Kaualoku's innate storytelling songwriting talents, "Bible Belt" is as timeless a track as can be hoped for, a song that elicits laughter as much as it does pain, and one that instantly unites its listening audience with surprising ease. Really: With songs like this one, it's no surprise that this young outfit has so quickly earned a reputation for phenomenal live displays.

At face value, yes, this is a song aimed at the Bible Belt dwelling set. But make no mistake: "Bible Belt" harps on universal themes. Everyone has trouble coming to grips with their place in life and, perhaps even more so, with their roots.

Spooky Folk's example, though, is an especially relatable one, though. With Kaualoku's vocals displaying a palpable strain, the singer bemoans his fast-paced lifestyle -- especially as juxtaposed against his upbringing.

But rather than a dour effort, "Bible Belt" pulls off a rather remarkable feat. It comes off, surprisingly, as a rather inspiring cut. Credit the singalong hook, during which Kaualoku is joined by his bandmates (and, in live settings, entire audiences) in screaming out his disappointment in himself.

It's a simple ploy but an effective one, tangibly evidencing the irony at the song's core. Sure, Kaualoku may be alone in his particular predicament, but, thanks to his backing chorus' cries, it becomes clear that he's hardly the only one who has felt a similar self-disdain -- something we the listeners already know, but something that Kaualoku, the song's narrator, may not have. As the song continues, though, and the chorus starts to pick up a somewhat jubilant tone, his feelings of solitude are washed away.

Life may throw curveballs, yeah. But it throws everyone curveballs. And in just 163 seconds time, Spooky Folk masterfully offers this life lesson via quite catchy means, too. No, Kaualoku may not think he can "go on living this way," but, amongst friends, yeah, he sure can. And in crafting a song that covers such ground, all while set against the backdrop of subversive religious oppression, he's penned a masterpiece we'll glad shout along with any time. - The Dallas Observer

Having already raved about the living-room-vibe of The Hydrant's upstairs room, I'll leave that alone--other than mentioning that, as far as intimate performance spaces in Denton (not including DIY house venues), I can't think of anyplace more appropriately suited for showcasing either of these acts.

I'd already seen Kaleo Kaualoku performing his Spooky Folk material in solo sets around Denton's coffee shop circuit and been impressed, but seeing him perform with his full band was even more affecting--especially the Beirut-esque move of playing the band's final song while walking out of the upstairs room, down the stairs and out the front door before re-entering through the fire escape for the song's final notes.

Without a doubt, Spooky Folk is of the more remarkable acts playing around town. But don't just take my word for it.

After opening The Baptist Generals' set with a Denton-ized rendition of "The Whiffenpoof Song," Chris Flemmons, the band's frontman and NX35 Grand Poobah, said, "Until three weeks back, we weren't even planning on playing." He said it just felt weird to book his own band to play the festival. "But after I listened to Spooky Folk's stuff on MySpace, I knew I wanted to play here with 'em."

Both bands' sets were captivating, and by the time The Generals went on, more than 60 people had crammed into the venue's upstairs performance room, many sitting cross-legged on the floor, soaking in older songs like "Alcohol (Turn and Fall)" and "500 League Reunion March (In A Plymouth)," as well as the new one "Clitorpus Christi." - DC9 at Night (Dallas Observer Music Blog)

There are very few justifiable reasons for not being at Hailey's on Friday night, and here's why -- Spooky Folk.

Spooky Folk's almost eerie ambience and folk roots are what attracted a lively and very responsive crowd to Hailey's Friday night. Although they weren't headlining, they brought an energy to the place that added volumes to the crowd's level of praise and "get down-ness." For their first Hailey's performance, they were wedged in between the two softer, solo acoustic sets of Miss Celia and Clint Niosi, followed eventually by the always entertaining Delmore Pilcrow. Although Spooky Folk was shy of their bassist/keyboard player Scarlett Wright this time around, it appeared that nothing could detract from their seamless performance. Or high spirits for that matter.

Their newest song "Bible Belt," performed not even a handful of times, was the best possible choice for the start of the set, as well as for the kick start of the Fourth of July weekend. If you're asking yourself why, or what makes it so damn incredible, perhaps the only advice I could give is to get yourself to their next show, since they don't have any records presently for sale. The reason? They haven't recorded one yet.

If you're really jonesin' to get your hands on a couple of their tracks, lead singer Kaleo Kaualoku has recorded solo versions of the songs "Rare Bird" and "I am a ghost" on a compilation of mostly local solo artists called Songs to Burn, by Wow Signal Music Company. You can stroll over to Recycled Books to pick that up today, and it includes tracks by The Baptist Generals, The Slow Burners and others.

Although Spooky Folk is still nailing down the details, they see recording in their near future. Their sound is one to be admired and their music is such that it longs to be heard, whether locally or otherwise, therefore recording seems to be the next logical step for the fivesome. Until then, they've lined up several shows this summer, including one at J&J's Pizza on July 9th and a show at The Schoolhouse at 914 Bolivar St. on July 30th. The entire lineup for the 30th is still being worked out, since it will be the first show held at the new venue by I Love Math Records, the homeowners hoping to put out Spooky Folk's first album.

All in all, everyone wants a piece of the Spooky Folk pie. The band's exposure has steadily grown little by little amidst the Denton local music scene, and continues in an upward climb, regardless of the fluctuations in members and instruments throughout the past year. Following Friday night's performance, 88.1FM held an interview with Kaleo Kaualoku on "Infrequent Exposure" Saturday night at 7:30, outlining the small success that has recently begun to surround the band and its talent.

You can check out more of their music and upcoming shows at their MySpace page. - mydentonmusic.com

Last Wednesday night, the double threat of flash flooding on Dallas streets and several competing area shows made for a modest turnout to see Bad Sports and Spooky Folk—two of Denton's finest exports—play at The Cavern.

While Bad Sports will spend Halloween up in Milwaukee playing as the seminal punk act The Dictators, Spooky Folk will play on October 30, again at The Cavern (along with The O's and RTB2), before taking November off to finally record the band's debut EP. It's sure to be a killer release too, even if there's nothing that scary or ghostly about Spooky Folk other than the band's name.

Or is there...?

"We're not all slow and gloomy or down tempo," frontman Kaleo Kaualoku assures the uninitiated, acknowledging that the band's name can cause some misconceptions. For instance, Kaualoku says: "We're not a folk act." Rather, the "folk" part of the band's name was intended to mean "people."

Sure, what Kaualoku performs when playing solo might still be considered "folksy." But with Chris Brown on drums, Jesse Perry of Tiger, Tooth and Paw on guitar and Scarlett Wright of country rockers Sarah Reddington (R.I.P.) on bass, the band's sound ends up more indie pop than indie folk.

Any other misconceptions?

"In person," Kaualoku says, "we're not anywhere near spooky."

What is spooky about Spooky Folk is how quickly its melodies and hooks can creep deep into a listener's brain. Typically, songs take a few listens before taking firm possession of our gray matter, but I'd wager that after the show at The Cavern, several innocent patrons walked out into the rain with at least one Spooky Folk song stuck in their skulls. All it would take is hearing a song like "Polaroid" or "I Am a Ghost." The band's soaring sing-along number "Bible Belt" is a perfect example: "I was born in the Bible Belt/Give me something sharp so I can kill myself," Kaualoku shouts before reining in his vocals and continuing, "'Cause I can't go on living this way."

OK, so maybe the band does have a song about a ghost and another about being pushed to suicidal tendencies, and, sure, Petra Kelly's violin does give some of the songs an ethereal edge. But the songs are still poppy enough to hook a crowd—to the point where I've seen crowds of 40-plus people belting out the lyrics in time with the band.

As for the upcoming EP? The band will be recording it with RTB2's Ryan Thomas Becker and, on at least two tracks, Chris Flemmons of The Baptist Generals.

"Then we'll be finishing [the EP] with Justin Valdez from Baruch the Scribe," Kaualoku adds, "so, hopefully it will be done by early December." - The Dallas Observer

Ah, Dan's Silverleaf: the paint job, the patio, the smell. Oh yeah, and the music. Last Thursday, Dan's opened their doors for one of the bigger bills in town for the week: Jenn Gooch, Spooky Folk, and Matthew Gray Delves into Humanity Pools.

Jenn Gooch opened her set with the words, "I think I'm ready...for something different", and she appeared ready to deliver just that being accompanied by nothing but a banjo and a pronounced drawl. Jenn sang songs swimming in relationships, regrets, and religious imagery, all of which could have made her easy to dismiss as yet another "Anthology of American Folk Music" rehash. But by her third song, her beautiful melodies and sharp lyrics had the audience riveted. She left no doubters.

Next on the bill was Spooky Folk, who marked their first performance at Dan's Silverleaf after months of house shows. It was obvious, though, that they've built quite a following at those house shows because the joint was packed. Spooky Folk rocked the room with an endearing and kooky set that had darn near everyone bopping, cheering, and even screaming. The emotional connection with their audience and their ragamuffin looks draw inevitable comparisons to bands like Arcade Fire, especially after witnessing their riveting performance. They poured out their souls on stage and fully engaged their audience, with members singing along with the audience's singing at times. Spooky Folk created a truly communal experience, and brought the house show vibe to one of Denton's best known venues.

Finally, Matthew Gray, Delves Into Humanity Pools took the stage to a disappointingly smaller audience, who either decided to leave after Spooky Folk or just have a smoke on Dan's back patio. Granted, it was a bit of a transition coming off a full band to a quieter ensemble, but Matthew Gray, keyboardist/flutist Jesse Chandler, and guitarist Jim Harrington - later joined by Robert Gomez on drums - turned in a strong performance. Gray was in fine voice as usual, and the intimate nature of this set was an interesting departure from Gray's main band, Matthew and the Arrogant Sea. Gray later stated that the Delves project allows him to write using a different formula than he's used to, like "potion in a beaker boiling to spill out". This is evident with abstract lyrics like "eyes split open, and telephones came out" or "watermelon turnstile balloon/everything reminds me of you", but coming through very approachable arrangements and expert musicianship. Their set came off sounding like The Flaming Lips at their most intimate, if not their most psychedelic.

Through the unique instrumentation, debut performances on a real stage, and showing off side projects, Dan's hosted a great night of local music, showcasing some of the acts that make our scene truly special. - mydentonmusic.com