Smokin’ Joe Kubek & Bnois King stopped by the KXT studios Tuesday, May 25, during the KXT Morning Show with Gini Mascorro.
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Minneapolis-based Mason Jennings has developed a strong grassroots following by putting out consistently strong records full of inquisitive lyrics and simple melodies. Mason impressed Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock enough during an opening stint for Brock to sign him to his Glacial Pace label, on which he released 2006’s “Boneclouds.” He then moved to Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records for 2008’s “In The Ever” and his latest record, “Blood of Man.” Mason appeared on the KXT Afternoon Show Friday, May 21, with Joe Kozera before his appearance at the Granada Theater.
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Chicago power poppers OK Go had a small hit with “Get Over It,” from their 2002 self-titled record, but exploded onto the scene thanks to an impeccably choreographed video for “Here It Goes Again,” from their 2005 follow-up “Oh No.” They returned early this year, dropped from their label but with one of their strongest sets yet, titled “Of The Blue Colour of the Sky.” The Rube Goldberg-esque video for “This Too Shall Pass” thankfully doesn’t obscure the great song underneath. They appeared on the KXT Afternoon Show with Joe Kozera May 18 before their sold-out show at the Granada Theater.
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The Burning Hotels rose out of Fort Worth in 2008 with their EP, “Eighty Five Mirrors,” which won Fort Worth Weekly’s Album of the Year and gained them acclaim with the post-punk set. Their most recent release, “Novels,” was mixed by Mark Needham (Killers, Bloc Party), and comes on the heels of opening gigs for the Cribs, Midlake, and Ghostland Observatory. The Burning Hotels performed on the KXT Afternoon Show with Joe Kozera on Thursday, May 13.
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This folk duo, comprised of Benj Pocta and Jamie Wilson has emerged as one of the pieces of Dallas’ neo-folk scene, loosely organized under the umbrella of the Dallas Family Band. Their first, self-titled release mines folk, alt-country, and old-time music to create a sound that is at once haunting and beautiful. The Beaten Sea performed as part of the KXT Afternoon Show with Joe Kozera on Wednesday, May 12.
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The Hope Trust makes thinkers rock in Denton, Texas. Channeling a blend of Americana, timeless pop, and rock n roll that hooks lovers of Neil Finn (Crowded House), Wilco, and The Wallflowers, frontman Kelly Upshaw pens songs that steadily unfold, leading captive listeners through a field of sonic space. With his brother Michael on pedal steel and guitar, bassist Andy Odom, Jeremy Buller on keyboards and guitar and Grady Don Sandlin joining the core members on drums, the result is a high-energy show that’s cerebral but accessible.
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Formed in the late 1980s in Dallas, Texas, The Buck Pets were clearly influenced by earlier bands such as The Replacements, The Buzzcocks and The Jesus and Mary Chain but incorporated better production values and more overt nods to classic rock than their college rock/punk predecessors. The band got little support from their record label for their first two LPs, the hard-edged The Buck Pets, and the more melodic follow up Mercurotones. The band stopped by to play a few songs during the KXT Afternoon Show with Joe Kozera.
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After a decade of fronting the Dallas-based band Sorta, Trey Johnson released Mount Pelèe, a mix of piano ballads, love songs, and pop tunes. Arranged and produced by Don Cento and Stuart Sikes, Mount Pelèe is clever, and at times despairing.
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Chicago’s Joe Pug dropped out of playwriting school the day before his senior year, packing up his car and heading to Chicago. Working a carpentry job and writing songs, he quickly churned out an EP, Nation of Heat. An innovative marketing scheme that sent copies of the record to anyone that asked gained him some traction. Tours with Steve Earle, his son Justin Townes Earle, and Josh Ritter helped fuel the fire for Messenger, his latest release. His folk troubadour style recalls Woody Guthrie and a young Bob Dylan, while aligning him with contemporaries like The Low Anthem and Langhorne Slim.
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Zach Rogue formed Rogue Wave in 2002 after losing his job in the dot-com bust. The band started to gain traction with their second release, Descended Like Vultures. Television placement and critical acclaim helped them grow their audience with their next record, Asleep At Heaven’s Gate. The band recently released Permalight, which finds them exploring more experimental territory while keeping their melodic indie rock core intact.
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Denton’s own Will Johnson has established himself in a variety of formats — with his rock band, Centro-matic, whose influential Love You Just The Same helped put Denton on the map as a music town, as well as side projects with South San Gabriel and a recent collaboration with Magnolia Electric Co. founder Jason Molina. Their record, appropriately titled Molina & Johnson, was released to modest acclaim last year. Will joined KXT Afternoon Show host Joe Kozera to play a few songs.
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This Aussie musical collective re-released their EP, The Recordings of the Middle East, after removing three of the more spacy, post-rock tunes, to give it more “focus”. Opening slots with Grizzly Bear and Doves gave the band more attention, culminating in their appearance at Australia’s Big Day Out festival.
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