From well-established houses that served as faithful club-alternatives to the occasional blow-out party with great bands performing for one night only, Denton has long-served as the perfect kind of town for house shows.

These days in Denton, they are a regular thing, and one can usually find a party or a house show to check out on any given weekend. But today’s shows are a chapter in a long tradition here. Stories abound, as I found out by asking a few folks.

In the 80’s and early 90’s house shows were the only venue choice for a lot of bands - both local and touring. Deron Pulley, who played in The Banes and Breadbox and ran legendary house Hell’s Lobby says, “In the beginning, the only real place to play was The Main Event. It was very scruffy, but still a little uptight and even though shows cost maybe 3-5 bucks, no one could afford it. It was a good place to see Brutal Juice or Baboon though, because it actually had a PA. You could also attempt to play Rick’s Place, but it was mostly fratty and none of our bands were quite the type to open for Tripping Daisy or Deep Blue Something!”

Even what became the behemoth (and now defunct) Fry Street Fair started out as a house show. “In the beginning years it was all in the backyard and it just spilled out onto the street,” says Denton musician Paul Slavens, “It was still under the city’s radar, an event of the scene. It was all local bands. All you had to do was give them a cassette of your crappy band and you were probably in.”

An integral part of Denton’s character for many, part of a music scene that is so voluminous, it necessitates DIY invention, it is hard to imagine this town without them.

(1995-1997) Flyer courtesy Rhonda Boaz.

Long-time repeat Dentonite Darci Ratliff reminisces, “After I had moved away to NYC, I came back to Denton to visit and heard about a show at the Bonnie Brae House. The Sillies were playing, but it was late when I got there, so their set was almost over. As usual, Jeff Sillie was singing in his dirty granny panties. I stood in the back of the room against a wall. Just as the last song was ending, the crowd started to disperse. Jeff saw me standing at the back of the room, and I saw that the underpants were off. And before I could process what was happening, the skinniest, tatooedest, sweatiest, nakedest Sillie boy jumped off stage and came tearing through the crowd and leapt onto me, bear-hug style. It’s the kind of greeting I wish for every girl returning to an old home town.”

And it goes back even farther (and even farther still), one famous story involved long-time favorite sons and Grammy winners Brave Combo. Steve Carter (Little Jack Melody) remembers, “back in the late 70s or early 80s, Brave Combo, very new at the time, played at a house a few blocks off the square– the house was known as Shipley Manor. They rocked it so hard that the wooden floor broke through when too many dancers took to the pier-and-beam foundation.”

(1997-1998) Flyer courtesy Rhonda Boaz.

Denton house shows will likely always be a part of the scenery here. The spirit of this music town is best expressed in Slavens’ seemingly universal summing up of what is best about a house gig: “It ramps up the feeling of artistic community. It infuses the art with a lot of energy because people feel invested in it, they feel they are a part of the creation.”

That sentiment seems shared by everyone involved with them, both past and present, and some who bridge the gap. Musician Samantha Moss says, “I’m sad that we [Jetscreamer] never got to play Austin Street or Majestic Dwelling of Doom/Wisconsin, but that’s okay. I look forward to being able to do so soon! House shows have always been Jetscreamer’s (and my) favorite place to play. There is less separation between audience and band, and it just feels more raw, alive and suited to my initial reasons for playing music.”

The ongoing and ever-evolving house show scene in Denton is an essential ingredient in a long-time music town that always has more to offer than anyone expects.

Katey Margolis

Big thanks: Deron Pulley, Steve Carter, Jeff Humper, Darci Ratliff, Rhonda Boaz, Matt Barnhart, Paul Slavens, and Samantha Moss.

Tags: Your History