We're chiming in before the month ends with 3 Songs, our monthly column featuring three tunes from local artists that we've been digging lately. Read on to get a quick glimpse into the current Denton music scene. This month, we hear songs from the likes of *~~, Pansy Moon, and Smoke Paint. We dig 'em and we're pretty sure you might, too.
If you aren't a fan of the word "whimsical," this is not the 3 Songs column for you. There is some fun stuff happening over at UNT's school of music right now, y'all. We know we hear that a lot, but you can only get excited for Lab band performances so much (or can you?). Jen Hill who records and performs the poppier side of her musical output under the moniker, *~~ (yes, the name is Asterisk TILDE TILDE), is one of those excited things. Her songs (arrangements?) manage to be light and carefree while still full of texture. "Regardless of What You Said" is embedded above and is one of our favorites. Just wait for the reverb drenched guitar notes to kick in and you'll be at her next show alongside us.
Pansy Moon are also attached to UNT's School of Music and while their sound has way more jazz roots than *~~, they're still a radical departure from any of the jazz groups you may find playing a local restaurant on a weekday night. The video above is a fun showcase of their skills. Keep a lookout for the impressive amount of band member eye contact. The video of a live performance of their song "Esca" was recorded as an entry for NPR's Tiny Desk contest. We really dug this spazzy vaudeville-esque tune. Both Pansy Moon and *~~ are playing the Whitehouse on February 20th.
Okay, enough with the whimsy. Let's get to something different. How does fuzzed out grunge-filled butt rock atop a simple Casiotone-like drum beat sound? Is one of your eyebrows tilted strangely? You should probably listen to "Chastity Belt." Oh yeah, it is even called "Chastity Belt." How are you not listening already? We haven't heard the rest of Smoke Paint, the new album from Denton music stalwarts, Daniel Markham and Tony Ferraro yet, but you can rest assured that we will soon. You can buy it here.