ND

APRIL '08

Harder Beat Magazine Online

By Shane Epting

Denton Jazz Fest
April is here, and it looks like The Denton Jazz Fest will kick ten percent more ass this year than last. Besides stuffing your face with delicious funnel cakes, sausage and smuggled-in malt liquor, you’ll be thoroughly rocked by The Neville Brothers, Bravo Combo and the Crownover Middle School Tiger Jazz Band. For more information, check out www.dentonjazz fest.com.

Hailey’s
Over at Hailey’s, you can count on some fan-tiggly-astic shows. The Feds will figuratively set fire to the stage on the fifth, while Bob Schneider with The Lifters performs on the 18th. On April 23, The Hope Trust plays with Lalaland and Deep Snapper.

Rubber Gloves
Rubber Gloves cranks out more rock than Oak Cliff this month with a plethora of kick-ass music. On April 11, The Paper Chase plans on rocking your socks off, while you’re still wearing shoes. You do not want to miss Denton’s premier pop-punk band, Less Is More on the 12th. These cats will spank you like Ron Jeremy in Earth Girls are Sleazy: Part VII.

Ah yes, 420
April is a special month for fans of “tobacco smokers” with a numerology obsession — 420! If you want to get some new “accessories,” head on over to Denton newest independently owned gift store, EZ’s Smoke Shop.

Rodney Parker and Fifty Peso Reward

Rodney Parker and Fifty Peso Reward
Denton is home to a lot of greatness - more music festivals than you can shake a broken broomstick at, awesome bands of every imaginable genre, cool coffee shops, ass-kicking venues and fantastic mom-n-pop shops. Now, there’s one more thing to add to the list: Rodney Parker and Fifty Peso Reward. Never heard of ‘em? Well, you will, amigo. If you’re searching for a fantastic CD designed for swilling cold beer on the front porch—this is it. This is one of the best indie-alt-folk CDs released since Oso Closo’s Rest. In addition to Rodney on guitar and vocals, the Fifty Peso Reward features Gabriel Pearson (drums), Brooks Kendall, (bass) Zach Galindo (guitar and mandolin), and Danny Skinner rocks out on the banjo, accordion and piano. Rock indeed. (Shane Epting)