The X was the name of the only good record store in Denton from about the end of ’96 till 2000 or so. It was run by Trinidad Leal who moved to Denton, I believe from Lubbock. I’m not 100% sure it was Lubbock but either way it was some Texas college town. While in Denton, Trinidad played in the space-rock-prog band Light Bright Highway who hosted after hours acid parties at The Argo. Trinidad currently sings and drums in the stoner-metal band Dixie Witch.
The X was the place that solidified the scene in Denton. Every band consigned at The X and most everyone seemed to sell stuff. Trinidad was a huge proponent of the scene at that time. He knew about all the local bands and was always excited to tell you something-or-other when you came in the store and always very supportive of whatever the local bands were doing.
The X hosted shows regularly throughout it’s existence. Solo nights weren’t any fixed night but rather just whenever someone asked Trinidad if they could put one together. Solo nights probably happened every week for the last couple of years at their Fry Street location. Record release shows were also frequent. During 97-2000 The X had it’s own indoor stage for the Fry Street Fair which was always an “unplugged” affair. Cavedweller played three of those years. Cavedweller also did a lot of Solo Nights there. There weren’t actually many “Solo Artists” in town at that time. Every year it seemed to increase exponentially. Ultimately “Solo Artist” came to mean any person or group of people who did not play loudly.
This top flyer was a rare show I did with Wanz Dover from Mazinga Phaser and later Falkon Project. This was also one of Lo-Fi Chorus’ first shows. I recently saw a guy in Brooklyn wearing a Lo-Fi Chorus t-shirt and asked him if he was from Denton and of course he was. If I am not mistaken, John Freeman designed this flyer.
I made this flyer for a Transona 5 7″ release show they asked me to play. They were by far my favorite band “in town” even though they claimed to be from Dallas. Dallas didn’t have nearly as good of a scene as Denton and bands like Transona 5 were usually regarded as a “Denton-Style” band, ie “Spacerock”.
This was another flyer I made. After a While I started making attempts to imitate John Freeman’s band-fonts, only by-hand and hastily drawn. This was an early show for my brother’s project, Fishboy. I don’t actually recall anything about this show. I’m sure it went well. I also bet there were problems with the PA system.
Aug 132011