may little d after dark 2012

OPENING SHOT

Ronan Delisle performs with his jazz band at Hailey’s Clubon April 16. Photo by Leah Gray

2 Little d After Dark May 2012

Courtesy photo/Dylan Hollingsworth

MAY 2012VOLUME 1, ISSUE 9

>> through the lens The saying “If you

love what you do, you’ll never work a day in

your life” could be the motto of the guys

behind Amandus Films. As students in the

University of North Texas’ Radio, Television

and Film program, Chuck Crosswhite,

Jonathan Darr Heath and Bryan Walior met

through mutual friends and bonded through a

mutual love of film. The trio, who worked

together while attending UNT, carried that

bond with them after graduation.

Sarah Jaffe’s Suburban Nature set the Denton singer-songwriter on a tra-

jectory toward critical success — not to mention that certain cachet among music lovers who take pride in discovering

unavowed talent off the beaten path. Jaffe is no cookie-cutter idol. Suburban Nature revealed a prodigious songwriter

with an uncanny ear for melody. Story by Lucinda Breeding

Publisher Bill Patterson

Managing Editor Dawn Cobb

940-566-6879 | [email protected]

Features Editor Lucinda Breeding


Advertising Director Sandra Hammond


Advertising Manager Shawn Reneau


Classified Display Julie Hammond

940-566-6819 |[email protected]

Contributing Writers Alyssa Jarrell,

Megan Radke

Designer Rachel McReynolds

Photographers David Minton, Leah Gray

On the cover Courtesy photo by Dylan

Hollingsworth.

The contents of this free publication are copyrighted by

Denton Publishing Company, 2012, a subsidiary of A.H.

Belo Corp. (www.ahbelo.com, NYSE symbol: AHC), with

all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without permis-

sion, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is pro-

hibited. Little d After Dark is published monthly by

Denton Publishing Co., 314 E. Hickory St.

THE ELEMENTSCOVER STORY

FEATURES

opening shot >> 2

good dates >> 4

editor’s note >> 5

the alchemist Test your resistance

to annoying-yet-catchy ’90s pop songs

with a piña colada and Saved by the Bell-

era tunes. >> 6

work the room Banter. >> 11

flavor junkie Earthwise Gardens

provides the black-thumbed among us

with fresh, organic offerings. >> 12

bargain bytes >> 16Courtesy photo

Memorial Day

Cody Bailey benefit, 8 p.m.

$12. Hailey’s Club. The

Darkness, 8 p.m. $25-$35.House of Blues. Plants

and Animals, 8 p.m. $10-$12. Dada.

Forward, 9 p.m. $10-$12.Rubber GlovesRehearsal Studios. Paul

Slavens and friends, 10 p.m.

Free. Dan’s Silverleaf.

Earl Bates, 7 p.m. Free.Abbey Inn & Restaurant.Toys That Kill, Gas Chamber,

Culo, Joyce Manor, Koward,

9 p.m. $10-$12. RubberGloves RehearsalStudios.

Rachel Stacey, 6 p.m. Free.Love Shack. Two Door

Cinema Club, 9 p.m.

$22.50-$25. House ofBlues. DJ Sheka Booker,

10 p.m. $5-$7. Hailey’sClub.

Foxtrot Uniform, 8 p.m.

Free. Love Shack. Joe

Nichols, 10:30 p.m. $15-$20. Billy Bob’s.

Jackson Eli, 8 p.m. Free.Love Shack. Bone Doggie

and the Hickory Street

Hellraisers, Sonar Lights,

Sol Tax, the Red Death, 8

p.m. $6. Andy’s Bar. M83,

I Break Horses, 8 p.m. Soldout. Granada Theater.The BoomBachs, Sore

Losers, Human Groove

Hormone, GB’z, 9 p.m. $5-$7. Hailey’s Club. The

Effinays, 10 p.m. $6-$10.Lola’s.

Larry Carlton, Rhett Butler,

7 p.m. $20-50. GranadaTheater. Sol Tax, 10 p.m.

Banter. Robert Earl Keen,

10:30 p.m. $15-$22. BillyBob’s.

Link Chalon, 6 p.m. Free.Banter. Ricky Fugitt, Jeff

Palmer, 6 p.m. Free. LoveShack. Shawn Mullins,

Salim Nourallah, Chris Holt,

7 p.m. $16-$26. GranadaTheater. Stryper,

Supernova Remnant, 8 p.m.

$15-$55. House ofBlues. Josh Weathers, Big

Casino, 8 p.m. $5. Rockin’Rodeo. DJ M Knight, 10

p.m. $5-$7. Hailey’sClub.

Snow Patrol, Ed Sheeran, 8

p.m. Sold out. PalladiumBallroom. Earl Bates, 7

p.m. Free. Abbey Inn &Restaurant.

Spiritualized, 7 p.m. $25-$41. Granada Theater.Paul Slavens and friends,

10 p.m. Free. Dan’sSilverleaf.

Fiddler on the Roof by

Musical Theatre of Denton,

2 p.m. $10-$20. CampusTheatre. Sinizen, Sally

Majestic, Gonzo City, 7 p.m.

$7-$14. Lola’s.Supersuckers, the Back

Sliders, 9:30 p.m. $10-$13.Dan’s Silverleaf.



2 p.m. $10-$20. CampusTheatre. Pool (No Water)by Sundown Collaborative

Theatre, 8 p.m. $8-$10.Art Six Coffee House.

Lambchop, 8 p.m. $10.Dada. Whitnye Raquel, the

Freebie Kings, 8 p.m. TheBasement Bar.Racebannon, Vaults of Zin,

Akkolyte, Bludded Head, 9

p.m. $5-$7. RubberGloves RehearsalStudios. Paul Slavens and

friends, 10 p.m. Free.Dan’s Silverleaf.

Nick Lowe, the Autumn

Defense, 7 p.m. $25-$41.Granada Theater. County

Rexford, 7 p.m. Free.Abbey Inn & Restaurant.Tennis, 8 p.m. $12-$15.Dada. Left/Right, Bastard

Mike, 4D, 8 p.m. AbbeyUnderground. The

Polyphonic Spree, 10 p.m.

$20-$29. Lola’s.

Hank Hankshaw, 6 p.m.

Free. Love Shack.Whiskey Myers, John David

Kent, 8 p.m. Rockin’Rodeo. Grupo Fantasma,

Chico Trujillo, 8 p.m. $20.The Kessler.



7:30 p.m. $10-$20.Campus Theatre.Memoryhouse, 9 p.m. $12-$15. Dada. Color of Aum,

the Spectacle, Red Light

Kills, History of the

Universe, 9 p.m. $6-$8.Rubber GlovesRehearsal Studios. Joe

Ely, Brent Best, 9 p.m. $20-$30. Dan’s Silverleaf.Fatty Lumpkin, 9 p.m.

Abbey Underground.

Wise Ruby, 6 p.m. Free.Love Shack. Natasha

Leggero, 7 p.m. $25-$30.Granada Theater. Fiddleron the Roof by Musical

Theatre of Denton, 7:30 p.m.

$10-$20. Campus The-atre. Ivory Jean, 9 p.m. $5-$7. Hailey’s Club. Rocky

Votolato, Jeff Pianki, 9 p.m.

$10-$12. Rubber GlovesRehearsal Studios.Eleven Hundred Springs, 10

p.m. Dan’s Silverleaf.Tracy Lawrence, 10:30 p.m.

$15-$25. Billy Bob’s.

Sarah Jaffe, John Singer,

Sergeant, Zhora, 7 p.m.

$16-$29. GranadaTheater. Joe Pat Hennen, 7

p.m. $7. Dan’s Silverleaf.Fiddler on the Roof by


7:30 p.m. $10-$20.Campus Theatre. Pool(No Water) by Sundown

Collaborative Theatre, 8

p.m. $8-$10. Art Six Cof-fee House. Mary Walker,

9 p.m. $5-$7. Hailey’sClub. Fishboy, the Tree-

lines, the Cozy Hawks, 10

p.m. $5. Dan’s Silverleaf.



7:30 p.m. $10-$20.Campus Theatre. Pool(No Water) by Sundown

Collaborative Theatre, 8

p.m. $8-$10. Art SixCoffee House. Mike

Luzecky, 8 p.m. Banter.Renzo, X, June, Smitty and

J-Whoa, 9 p.m. $6-$11.Hailey’s Club. Fox & Bird,

He’s My Brother She’s My

Sister, Kernal, 10 p.m. $8-$12. Dan’s Silverleaf.Uncle Kracker, 10:30 p.m.

$15-$20. Billy Bob’s.

Link Chalon, 6 p.m. Free.Banter. John Housewright,

6 p.m. Free. Love Shack.Greg Lake, 7 p.m. $41-$70.Granada Theater. Social

Distortion, the Riverboat

Gamblers, Lindi Ortega, 8

p.m. $30-$45. House ofBlues. Dirty River Boys,

Rodney Parker & 50 Peso

Reward, 8 p.m. Free-$10.Rockin’ Rodeo. Tragedy,

Wild//Tribe, Garuda, 9 p.m.

$10-$12. Rubber GlovesRehearsal Studios. DJ J

Clipp, 10 p.m. $5-$7.Hailey’s Club.

Ferry Tales screening, noon.

Free. UNT. Earl Bates, 7

p.m. Free. Abbey Inn &Restaurant. Ingrid

Michaelson, Scars on 45, 8

p.m. $25. PalladiumBallroom. Mister Joe &

Friends, Le Not Quite So Hot

Klub du Denton, 8 p.m.

Free. Banter. The Neeks, 9

p.m. $5. Dan’s Silverleaf.

Ferry Tales screening, 7

p.m. Free. UNT. Florence

+ the Machine, Blood

Orange, 8 p.m. Sold out.Palladium Ballroom.Esperanza Spalding Radio

Music Society, 9 p.m. $30-$40. House of Blues.Paul Slavens and friends,


David Garza, Dan Dyer, 7

p.m. $20-$25. TheKessler. Theory of a

Deadman, Pop Evil, 8 p.m.

$20-$29.50. House ofBlues. Sol Tax, My

Kickdrum Heart, Bone

Doggie and the Hickory

Street Hellraisers, 9 p.m.

$6. Abbey Underground.

Ian McFeron, 6 p.m. Free.Love Shack. Milkdrive, 9

p.m. $12. Dan’sSilverleaf.

County Rexford, 7 p.m.

Free. Abbey Inn &Restaurant. The Dandy

Warhols, 8 p.m. $18-$25.House of Blues.

Paul Slavens and friends,


M83, 8 p.m. Sold out.Granada Theater. Guns 4

Roses, 9 p.m. $12-$15.House of Blues. Across

Tundras, FTW, the Velia

Shrine, 10 p.m. $10-$14.Lola’s.

have your people call our people >> to submit an event for little d’s calendar, e-mail [email protected]

THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

Bread Pudding Recipe Exchange Week: May 1-7


SUNDAY MONDAY

TUESDAY WEDNESDAY

MAY 2012MUSIC elsewhere

STAGE & SCREEN

1 2 3 4 5

MUSIC at Denton venues

31

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30

National Bicycle Month

The song thatknew my secret

“When nobody’s around,I try not to care. I must deliver.When nobody is home,I will not get the door.I’m a pretender.”

W hen I was 18 years old, afriend told me JustinHayward wrote “Nightsin White Satin” when he

was just 19. My father and I would listen tothe Moody Blues’ Days of Future Passed.All of it. When I was a snotty teenager, lis-tening to music with my dad was somehoweasier than talking.

I hadn’t felt that awe about Haywardwriting such mature poetry about the dis-covery of love as a teenager (and how itguts you when it ends, or isn’t returned)in more than 20 years.

Then I heardSuburban Natureand “The Pretender,”which Jaffe wrotewhile she was inhigh school. Thisone little track — byno means the crowdfavorite on Jaffe’sdebut — took meback to the verymoment talking tomy dad turnedscary. It wasn’t untilI was an adult work-

ing on a drinking problem that a therapisttold me that adolescence changes father-daughter dynamics.

Would that I’d known that then. When I heard “The Pretender,” and

Jaffe’s single, shaking voice confessing thatshe was living a lie about somethingessential and scary, I went right back to15. The age I figured out that my preoccu-pation with feminism was partly a distrac-tion from my own queerness. I was pre-tending not to be gay. My father? Maybehe was pretending he didn’t know myteenage heart was breaking. Or that mybiggest fear was — and is — that one dayhe’d stop loving me.

Maybe “Nights in White Satin” was ouradmission — in overwrought verse — thatwe were on to one another. Maybe not.But now it’s Jaffe’s “The Pretender” thatundoes me. I remember pretending.When Jaffe plays in concert, everyoneerupts over “Clementine” and practically

shouts the lyrics.Not me. I hold mybreath a little, need-ing to experience“The Pretender,” but hoping shemight skip it thistime.

Sometimes, hurtexhumed from ado-lescence is still tookeen to carry.

— Lucinda Breeding

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When Jaffe plays inconcert, everyoneerupts over“Clementine” andpractically shoutsthe lyrics. Not me.

May 2012 Little d After Dark 5

piña colada >> by rachel mcreynolds

The drink 2 ounces light rum6 ounces pineapple juice2 ounces canned coconut creamice cubes1 pineapple spear and 1 cherry for garnish

Combine rum, pineapple juice and coconut cream in acocktail shaker filled two-thirds of the way with ice. Shakeuntil smooth. Strain into a hurricane glass. Add thepineapple spear and cherry. — recipe via Williams-Sonoma

If you like piña coladas (oh yes, we just put that in yourbrain space), you’ll love this recipe by the cast iron skilletmasters and tea towel weavers of Williams-Sonoma.

Savor what’s left of our tolerable daytime temperatureswith this tart concoction — preferably in the company of afew june bugs, a porch swing and good friends who, likeyou, enjoy getting caught in the rain.

The tunesWhile you’re sipping, listen to these “fruity” artists who

hit their height in the ’90s: Blind Melon (pretty, vaguelybluesy guitar melodies from a rock band that likes “watch-ing the puddles gather rain”), Fiona Apple (vinegar in humanform, this petite popster huskily delivers piercing lyrics —“Hunger hurts, and I want him so bad, oh it kills/’Cause Iknow I’m a mess he don’t wanna clean up” — among fero-cious, grinding, piano-heavy instrumentals), theLemonheads (Evan Dando’s hard-partying ways mostly keephis plucky, upbeat rock tunes unpolluted, though he some-times strays into darker territory, as on “Ride With Me”).

Photo by David Minton


“35 Denton is ...exactly what we arebut on a bigger scale — it’s localartists, local music,it’s the community supporting itself, it’s local business,”Walior said. “We live, work and play in this town and wewant to support every aspect of it.”

Spliced togetheramandus films >> by megan radke

Filmmaking trio fast-forwards company to success with 35 Denton partnership

Courtesy photos

T he saying “If you love whatyou do, you’ll never work aday in your life” could be the

motto of the guys behind Amandus Films. As students in the University of North

Texas’ Radio, Television and Film pro-gram, Chuck Crosswhite, Jonathan DarrHeath and Bryan Walior met throughmutual friends and bonded through amutual love of film. The trio, who workedtogether while attending UNT, carriedthat bond with them after graduation.

The three men agree that they haveevolved together, both as friends and collaborators. Whether shooting film for acorporate promotion, live music, sports ora music video, Crosswhite, Heath andWalior say their ability to work together iscertainly one of the many things that setthem apart from others in their field.

“I think we’re all so comfortable witheach other, we just take opinions and takethem well,” Crosswhite said. “I think I amvery lucky that the people I would like tohang out with outside of work are also thepeople that I get to work with creatively. “

Heath agreed, saying that even a “badday at the office” isn’t really a bad day at all.

The talented crew has always been ableto keep it local. Each has his own ties toeither the Denton music scene or theentertainment industry: Crosswhite wasknown in the local music scene for hismusic venue, the Fra House; Heathworked for Sony and Universal Musicfrom 2004 through 2008; and Waliorheld a monthly art show at Rubber GlovesRehearsal Studios from 2008 to 2010.

Their Denton connection became evenmore pronounced with their work on 35Denton in March. Amandus Films han-dled a lot of the live footage seen on themain stage’s big screen, and the companyproduced the Mountain Goats’ covermusic video, featuring local musicianJessie Frye, before the festival.

“35 Denton is so attractive to us becauseit’s exactly what we are but on a biggerscale — it’s local artists, local music, it’sthe community supporting itself, it’s localbusiness,” Walior said. “We live, work andplay in this town and we want to supportevery aspect of it.”

The Jessie Frye video stirred a bit ofcontroversy due to its edgy content, earn-ing a “not safe for work” warning whenpassed around online, but it proved to beone of the festival’s most artfully producedpromotional films.

As filmmakers, the three men each citetheir own influences and favorite genres.Crosswhite is a self-described sci-fi nerd,while it’s Westerns for Heath and horrorfor Walior.

“Our dream project would be a Westernfilm that deals with a horror creaturethat’s set in space,” Crosswhite said.

At this, Heath laughed. “One that’s notCowboys & Aliens,” he said.

The name Amandus Films has an otherworldly origin of its own. A friend ofCrosswhite’s once sincerely believed thatsomeone named Amandus Oscar Bobblehaunted his home.

Crosswhite, Heath and Walior say theircompany and partnership are so tightlyknit, they couldn’t do as individuals whatthey do together.

“It takes an incredible effort fromfriends and family. It’s just a collectiveexperience,” Walior said. “We can’t do any-thing without help. The production com-pany is not solely us three.”

As far as future plans go, the guys say aslong as they’re able to continue on withcameras in their hands and workingtogether, they’ll be happy.

“Sixty years from now, I just want to beable to sit down and reflect on the factthat we’ve made a living doing what welove,” Heath said, “whether it’s on a largeor small scale.”

MEGAN RADKE is a University of NorthTexas journalism graduate who’sobsessed with music. She lives in Dallas.

AMANDUS FILMS ON THE WEBvimeo.com/amandusfilms


8 Little d After Dark May 2012 9

Courtesy photo/Dylan Hollingsworth

by lucinda breeding

S arah Jaffe’s Suburban Nature set the Denton singer-songwriter on a trajectory toward critical success — not to mention that

certain cachet among music lovers who take pride in discovering unavowed talent off the beaten path.

Jaffe is no cookie-cutter idol. Suburban Nature revealed a prodigious songwriter with an uncanny ear for melody.


The North Texas artist spoon-fed audi-ences nuggets of her sophomore album,The Body Wins, before she finished therecord, which reunited her with producerJohn Congleton in the studio. She experi-mented with a loop pedal onstage, remak-ing songs by Swedish pop-electronicaempress Robyn and Drake into her ownreticent monologues. She gave fans aglimpse of what was in store on last year’sEP/DVD The Way Sound Leaves a Room.The record included demos of “The WaySound Leaves a Room,” “When You Rest”and “Sucker for Your Marketing” fromBody, as well as alternate versions fromprevious recordings “Clementine” and“Better Than Nothing.” She also sharednew pieces, including her cover of Drake’s“Shut It Down” and the Cold War Kids’“Louder Than Ever.” Anyone who paidattention knew Jaffe’s second album was-n’t going to be another indie-folk project.

The Body Wins is a bigger record with acooler touch. Jaffe’s not a teenager any-more, and her songs are the stuff of awoman who expects just as much of her-self as her fans do — if not more. Puristswho love “Clementine” are sure to suffersecond-record letdown. But fans who aredrawn to the artist’s curiosity and habit forwriting stick-in-your-head melodies willfind Body a record that challenges andsatisfies.

This album isn’t a confessional. It’s per-sonal, the artist said, but not revelatory.

“Honestly, there was no preconceivednotion for this record,” Jaffe said. “Therewas no plan to do something just for thesake of doing something different. I want-ed to make a record that would be big, butnot just to do something different. I stillwrote songs the same. A lot of the songsstarted with me writing them on the gui-tar, even.

“I’m the same person but I’m growing,and I hope that’s what people experienceon this album.”

Jaffe resumed the creative relationshipwith in-demand producer Congleton forher follow-up to Suburban Nature. Shealso collaborated with musician and com-poser Fiona Brice, whom Jaffe metthrough Denton band Midlake. Brice ismarried to Midlake bassist PaulAlexander, and she and Jaffe talked shopwhile the latter toured with the bandthrough Europe.

“Really, we were just talking aboutmusic and what we really love,” Jaffe said.“You know, like we talked about what welove about certain songs, like how we bothlove Serge Gainsbourg and how he usesstrings and [makes them] sound so goodin his songs. I was telling her how I want-ed this record to have a bigger sound.”

Brice composed arrangements forhorns, some woodwind work and stringson The Body Wins. Jaffe’s no stranger tostrings — she’s made ample use of violinand cello, as well as Denton solo artistRobert Gomez’s romantic accordion work,in her live set. Body employs these instru-ments to a more cerebral effect.

But as big a sound as those instrumentscreate, The Body Wins makes the mostdramatic use of piano, at times evokingthe ballsy Bosendorfer that Tori Amosabuses.

In fact, Brice fleshed out the album bybuilding on the piano-heavy title track.

“I remember explaining how I felt ‘TheBody Wins’ was this big thing,” Jaffe said.“I pictured it as this giant with this bigbody and these long arms dangling downand these robotic moves. It might sound

SARAH JAFFE IN DALLASWith openers John Singer Sargeant andZhora. 10:20 p.m. May 5 at the GranadaTheater, 3524 Greenville Ave. in Dallas.Cost is $20-$35.Call 214-824-9933 or visitbit.ly/HWrDmH.

>> Continued on 14Courtesy photo/Dylan Hollingsworth


Angling to tease all our senses

banter >> by lucinda breeding

B efore it was Banter, thesnug coffeehouse, restau-rant and music venue was a

natural magnet for creative types inDenton.

When it was Brickhaus Cafe, youcould catch Karen MacIntyre dancingnear an upright piano painted floozy redand bearing a big yin-and-yang symbol.You could watch her perform whileenjoying a Guinness, a rich cup of coffeeor a delicious bowl of ash-e, a flavorfulblend of vegetables, thick broth with thebarest hint of mint and lots of lentils.

Now that Ellen Ryfle owns the joint,you can still enjoy all those things. Onlythe soup is even better. (Trust us. We wereso taken with Banter’s pumpkin soup lastwinter that we ate it four times in oneweek.)

Banter is fortunate to be in one of thecity’s historical sections. Bare brick walls,

Banter alive with food for the body, music for the heart, art for the soul

BANTER’S MENU OF MUSIC� Denton musician Bone

Doggie hosts open-mic night

every Thursday. Sign-up is at 7

p.m. and performances start at

8 p.m.

� Local and visiting musicians

and ensembles play jazz at

8 p.m. Friday and 6 p.m.

Saturday.

� Mister Joe & Friends and Le

Not Quite So Hot Klub du

Denton play at 8 p.m. on the

first Tuesday of each month.

� Richard Gilbert and Friends

play acoustic folk at 1 p.m. on

the first and third Saturdays of

the month.

� IIWII Sufi Hand Drumming is

at 6 p.m. on the second and

fourth Thursdays of the month.

� Classical guitar performanc-

es are at 6 p.m. on the second

and fourth Fridays of the

month.

� Harp and drum Irish sessions

are at 3 p.m. on the second

and fourth Saturdays of the

month.

concrete floors and a metal ceiling makefor an atmosphere that is stylish in a hum-ble — if not markedly noisier — sort ofway. And yet actors, dancers, painters andpoets (as well as the occasional journalistand gallery director) brave the loud, rever-berant space because it just fits.

Joe Pinson, the musician behind MisterJoe & Friends, has been playing Banter foryears. “It started when my university stu-dents encouraged me to participate,” hesaid. “I haven't missed many Thursdayssince that time.”

For years, Pinson has taught musictherapy at Texas Woman’s Universityand has led the Denton Bell Band, atraveling handbell ensemble made up ofmusicians with developmental disabili-ties. The Mister Joe Trio and Mister Joe& Friends performances were a momentto indulge in his own tastes. Even now,Pinson brings his music therapypracticum class to Banter for perform-ances.

Pinson said he’s seen Banter change

ownership three times, with each newowner improving on what the last hadbuilt.

“The current ones are the best, becausethey have upgraded the sound system,added a lot of visual art, and incorporateda PG-13 policy to discourage profanity onstage,” he said. “I think this is good,because each week several children showup for the event.”

For those who like to end a show with asweet treat, the Denton VeganCooperative keeps Banter in vegan cook-ies. We haven’t tried them, but at least twoof our vegan sources give them an enthu-siastic thumbs-up.

LUCINDA BREEDING can be reached bycalling 940-566-6877 or sending an e-mail to [email protected].

Sam Robertson at Banter during 35 Denton. The Dallas Morning News/Gary Barber

Photos by Lucinda Breeding


earthwise gardens >> by alyssa jarrell

Salt of the earth

Courtesy photo/Chris Newby

T he sun is shining, tempera-tures are rising and all ofthose great tomato plants in

your raised bed in the backyard are start-ing to produce shiny little red things. Ifthey don’t get eaten by the bugs or burnedup by the surely-to-be-scorching sun,you’ll have quite the little bounty of freshvegetables and maybe a few fruits tomunch on all summer long.

But if your bounty isn’t as plentiful or ifyou just don’t care to dig in the dirt, don’t

Farm peddles organic goods to the good-intentioned but black-thumbed among us

worry — someone else has already doneall the digging, watering and caring foryou.

Ryan Crocker at Earthwise Gardens has

been hard at work growing fresh, tasty,organic produce right here in our veryown city — and what he doesn’t growhimself he finds for you from other excellent farmers in North Texas.

What I most appreciate about Ryan isnot just what he’s doing right now, butthat his vision for what sustainable grow-

ing and farming in the greater Dentonarea can become for future generations.He isn’t just growing beautiful produce ina few small lots; he’s also working towardmaking something big and beautiful outof our local food economy.

On top of offering a beautiful weeklycommunity-supported agriculture (CSA)and co-op box, Earthwise also has a standat the Denton Community Market allsummer long. Ryan is working on openinga produce shop that has all of the samecarefully cared-for foods. The shop will

>> Continued on 13

EARTHWISE ON FACEBOOKfacebook.com/earthwisegardens

EARTHWISE ON THE WEBearthwise-gardens.com

Grilled ribeye in marinade

2 pounds ribeye steaks1/2 cup Chipotle and Pepper-Flavored

Olive Oil 1/4 cup Pecan Balsamic Vinegar1/4 cup chopped sweet onionsalt and pepper

In a bowl, whisk together all ingredi-ents. Add a generous amount of salt andpepper. (Don’t be shy, this steak can han-dle it.) Let marinate overnight or for atleast 4 hours.

Fire up the grill and allow to reach amedium heat. Put the steak on and cookto your desired doneness. (We grilled oursmedium-rare.)

Allow to rest for 10 minutes off the grillbefore slicing into long, thin strips.

Note: Olive oil and vinegar are fromTexas Olive Ranch and the meat is fromHudspeth Farms — all available for pur-chase from Earthwise Gardens.

Corn bread salad

1 recipe crispy corn bread (left) or 3 cups of 1-inch corn bread cubes

1 1/2 pounds ripe tomatoes (4 to 6medium) chopped into 1-inch wedges

6 cups spring salad mix 2 cups bitter greens, such as arugula1 large sweet yellow onion, trimmed,

peeled, sliced crosswise as thinly as pos-sible and separated into rings

buttermilk-lime dressing (below)

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Scatter thecorn bread in a single layer on a half-sheetpan and bake until the pieces are lightlytoasted, about 7 minutes.

Place lettuce, greens, 3 cups of toastedcorn bread, onion and tomatoes to a largebowl and toss to combine. Drizzle withbuttermilk dressing, season with salt andpepper, and toss again. Serve immediately.

Buttermilk-lime dressing

3/4 cup whole or lowfat buttermilk 1 cup sour cream 5 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime

juice 2 tablespoons olive oil1 jalapeno, seeded and minced1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon honey1/4 cup finely minced fresh cilantro1/4 cup finely minced green onions1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste

Whisk all of the ingredients together ina small bowl until combined. Can covertightly and store in the fridge for up totwo days.

Thin, crispy corn bread

1 tablespoon lard or unsalted butter1 1/2 cups stone-ground cornmeal1 teaspoon baking powder1 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon sugar1 large egg1 1/2 cups whole or low-fat buttermilk 1 tablespoon honey2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Greasea 12-inch skillet with one tablespoon ofthe lard or butter, leaving any excess in thepan, and place the pan in the oven.

In a large bowl, whisk the dry ingredi-ents together. In a medium bowl, whiskthe egg until frothy, then whisk in the but-termilk. Add the wet ingredients to thedry ones and mix thoroughly. Melt theremaining butter in a small skillet (or yourmicrowave) and whisk the butter intoyour batter.

When the fat in the large skillet issmoking, carefully remove it from theoven and swirl the fat around to coat thebottom and sides evenly. Pour the batterinto the skillet; it should sizzle. Bake for 15 minutes, or until the top of the bread isgolden brown and the edge has pulledaway from the side of the skillet. Removefrom the oven and either serve hot, in sixwedges, or let cool and reserve for cornbread salad (right).

Recipe adapted from The Lee Bros.Southern Cookbook.

What I most

appreciate about

Ryan is not just what

he is doing right

now, but his vision

for what sustainable

growing and farming

in the greater

Denton area can

become for future

generations.

open on Elm Street in a renovated houseand will have everything you need to builda great meal — produce, meat, dairy, oliveoils, vinegars, honey — all grown andcrafted in sustainable farms with farmerswho are passionate about what they do.

So get to planning (our amazing sum-mer menu, that is), because we’ll be giftedwith the blessing of prime produce allsummer long from these guys — and ourtime at the dinner table will be richerbecause of it.

And here’s a not-so-subtle hint: If youwant that shop to open sooner rather thanlater, visit Kickstarter.com and sendEarthwise some love as soon as its cam-paign starts up.

As for the menu, Ryan fired up the grilland I made a salad with Southern-inspired summer flavors. We made beautiful ribeye steaks marinated in oliveoils and vinegar from right here in Texasand a salad to go with it, full of produceand herbs from local farms in the NorthTexas region.

ALYSSA JARRELL is an adventurer in thekitchen who enjoys giving her culinarycreations to family and friends. Her website is thepinkantler.com.

Continued from 12 >>


HOORAY FOR LOVEThis track sounds a bit like the Tori Amos song “Iieee”on the 1998 release From theChoirgirl Hotel. It’s spooky and flirtatious,sexy with just shade of something sinister.“Hooray for Love” could be a genuinecheer, or it could be a jeer at its latest casu-alty.

FANGSBefore you gag on yet another could-bereference to True Blood or Twilight, let’s getsomething straight: The “fangs” Jaffe men-tions are sheer metaphor. In this song, themost beautiful and soulful on the album,Jaffe muses over the human habit of beingattracted to relationships that are passion-ate but damaging. “She can be mean andunkind,” Jaffe sings. “The good needs aplace to hide/Lonelier times/there are fences to climb/water to wine/water towine/water to wine/... She’s got fangs like mine.” The worshipful chorus bringsgravitas to the track.

FOGGY FIELDBrice and Jaffe kept the impulse to write ballad-like music to this song. A prettyharp intro leads into a song about memory and dreams. “You’re my bird/I’m yourtoken cloud,” Jaffe sings, and you can almost see two people lying on the ground,eyes on the sky. “We’ll stay there in a dreamlike state/ ... Sometimes secondchances haunt me/In a moment, in a dream.” It’s the one track on the album thatcould fit comfortably on Suburban Nature.

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weird to think of a song like that, but that’sreally what I saw. And there are a lot of noisesthat Robert is doing. When we were doing thistake on a track, there were these crazy noisesand it was like it almost became a character. Iknew they had to be part of the song.”

“The Body Wins” indeed takes up space.Sonically, the track moves the way LewisCarroll describe the creature in Jabberwocky.It’s a messy, dangerous song — and in the end,poetic.

Gomez delivers guitar effects in the spaciousopening strains of “Limerance” that are posi-tively creepy: a sound like a violin, long nailssquealing down a window pane, or a super-natural black bird. Synth chimes, a piano anda few faint howls lead into strings and a singledrum rapping out no cadence in particular.Jaffe sings “oohs” here and there, but nowords. The track evokes the trembling preludeto Kate Bush’s psychotic, agoraphobic tantrumon “Get Out of My House” in a manic waythat’s too familiar and primal for comfort. Itends without resolution.

Jaffe said the album is personal, but not toopersonal. On Suburban Nature, there’s noguesswork involved in the meaning of thetrack “Luv.” Using texting acronyms andmethodical yet lyrical spelling work, Jaffeexplains a relationship that has ended badly.

The title track in her latest release is moreambiguous.

“The phrase [‘the body wins’] came from aconversation my sister and I had about a rela-tionship,” Jaffe said. “It boiled down to mykind of saying how the love was not enough.And my sister, she has these really wise thingsthat she says off the cuff. She’ll say them andI’ll be like, ‘Do you realize what you just said?’We were talking about this and she just said,‘Well, you know the body always wins.’ Thatphrase, it just went down my chest like ananchor and I couldn’t forget it.

“Taken by itself, it’s a phrase that can meanso many different things. I loved how thattranslated into a song. It could be about loveor it could be about the physicality of life. Itcould be about loss, and then there’s this ques-tion about does the mind control the body? Ordoes the body control the mind? I really likedhow the song could go all these differentways.”

Jaffe said she completed some of the albumbefore recording, and other songs were fin-ished in the studio. The songwriter confessedto suffering a tweakish boredom when shecame back to Denton after touring in supportof Suburban Nature.

“I don’t want to sound like I had this crazytour schedule, because there are some artists

Track for track: The Body Wins

>> Continued on 16


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who tour their brains out. Like, they’re onthe road 300 days of the year, and thatcertainly wasn’t the case for me,” Jaffesaid. “But when I came home for like amonth, I kind of didn’t know what to dowith myself. A lot of what you hear in thisrecord comes from me trying to figure allthat out, when I was just kicking my feetin the dust not knowing what to do. I wasbored.”

When she started working on therecord in earnest, Jaffe said, she didhave to cope with the anxiety of a newproject.

“Yeah, sure. There was anxiety. Therealways is, regardless of what I’m workingon,” Jaffe said. “It’s not overwhelming, butit’s there. I did have a few small melt-downs in the studio.”

Her uncertainties melted in the face ofher colleagues’ wisdom and creativity,Jaffe said, as well as the occasional dose oftough love from Congleton.

“I remember a particular time in thestudio when I was having kind of a freak-out, and John told me something like,‘Quit being a baby and just do what youdo.’ He told me, ‘If you’re going to haveany kind of career, this is going to happenagain and again and again. It’s part of

this, and you just have to get over it anddo what you do.’ I can’t solve my ownanxiety. I have to surround myself withpeople who are extraordinary at whatthey do — and that pretty much gets meout of it.”

The Body Wins might not feel like themost logical next step for a singer-song-writer who still shines behind a guitarand a microphone stand. And yet thealbum lends Jaffe a certain mystique. Shecould reinvent herself with each newproject, but Jaffe said she’ll serve themusic.

“I don’t think of myself as an electronicartist,” Jaffe said. “I think of myself as asongwriter and an artist. In a lot of ways,Suburban Nature was a minimalistrecord. This record needed to sound big-ger to me, and we used what we needed touse to get there.

“But I consider myself a songwriter, andyou do what you have to do to create themusic.”

LUCINDA BREEDING can be reached bycalling 940-566-6877 or sending an e-mail to [email protected].

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new releases >> by lucinda breeding

D enton musicians have beenbusy producing new music

and winning over crowds with oldfavorites.

Exit 380, a band with musicians living inDallas, Fort Worth and Denton, has beenanthologized.

Hand Drawn Records — the Dallas-based label that represents and recordsExit 380, W.A. Fite and Secret GhostChampion — just released Bedrooms andBackdoors: Friends and Neighbours. Exit380 leads off the compilation album withthe opening track, “A Song About Us.”

The album is available for a free down-load at bit.ly/HWQhCQ.

Exit 380 is Dustin Blocker on vocals,Aaron Borden and Jeremy Hutchison onguitars, Bobby “Shoes” Tucker on drumsand Jon “The Hutch” Hutchison on bass.

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The Gypsy Bravado, a hard-rock bandfrom Denton, won the regional title in theHard Rock Cafe’s 2012 Hard Rock RisingBattle of the Bands and joins another 85finalists in the global contest.

After coordinating live shows across thecountry to determine which 86 bandswould represent communities all over theworld, Hard Rock Rising Battle of theBands has made the Web its next stage.

Local listeners can sample the band’sfive-track EP on Spotify and at the band’sReverbNation page, bit.ly/HUzblJ.

The Gypsy Bravado is Lou Anderson ondrums and mandolin; Jeff Dacus on bass,classical guitar and vocals; Mo Myles onkeyboard and vocals; and Shawn“Burgandy” Bratton on lead guitar andvocals.

Contest winners have a chance to per-form in concert with Bruce Springsteen.

visit facebook.com/littledtx and localspinblog.dentonrc.com.

Add us on Facebook and read our music blog:

may little d after dark 2012

Documents

free publication

love shack

amutual love of film

cover courtesy photo

sol tax

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