LBK Now

Ahhh, the Christmas season is upon us and many of us are out scrambling to find that perfect gift. Some people thrive on venturing out to crowded places like the mall, all the while battling droves of people who are all on the same search as you. 

Many people prefer to shop online in order to avoid this mess. A site that can help you find a gift as unique as the person you are buying for is Etsy. Etsy is full of "stores" that feature anything handmade you are searching for. Etsy has stores that range from jewelry and clothing to items for pets and even supplies to make your own gifts.

Etsy also has a feature where you can shop local and purchase items from people in the same city as you. I perused the Lubbock shops on Etsy and found several gift ideas that I wanted to share with you. Besides, not only are you shopping from the comfort of your own computer, but you're also shopping local too!

Gifts for her:

Pinkstreet features classy jewelry for classy ladies at reasonable prices. The jewelry designs are unique and fun.

Sweetcocobeans features musically inspired and Texas Tech themed jewelry.

WVaTumbleweedVintage features all things vintage, from clothing to accessories and even books.

FrillyDillys features monogrammed gifts from koozies to mugs. These items feature some really pretty and feminine prints that you have to check out for yourself!

Gifts for him:

StarryConfigurations features a wide array of items for both men and women. You can find screened T-shirts with awesome designs for men.

Reaver features unique jewelry for men. I found the bottle opener ring quite unique and interesting.

Gifts for children:

Ebboutique features adorable clothing for babies and children.

ChloeAnd2Monkeys features fun onesies for babies.

BrandiJM features fun monogrammed baby bibs and cute T-shirts for kids.

Gifts for pets:

Likekittysville features pet furniture for modern pets. This is definitely one to check out for yourself!

For a complete list of Lubbock sellers, click here to see a list of local vendors who have set up shop on Etsy.

Merry Christmas!

 Do you need a break from the holiday hustle? Are Christmas Carolers not really your thing? Cheaper gas prices and a well-rounded musical playlist could help brighten your life.

That is if you happen to take a drive through one of Lubbock's best lit neighborhoods to look at Christmas lights. There are a few different areas that are well-known for having some of the better displays each year. Ransom Canyon and Lakeridge are some of the bigger attractions.

The hilly landscape of Ransom Canyon adds an element of diversity to West Texas light viewing, while the prestigious nature of Lakeridge displays elegantly lit homes. Christmas Classics or even a mix of peaceful music tend to make the drive more enjoyable. It's a relaxing experience and won't cost you a fortune right now due to lower gas prices.

Some of the more extravagant houses are nestled far back in the neghborhoods, but nearly every street is entertaining. The higher you go throughout Ransom Canyon, the better the view. Just make sure to put your hazard lights on if you stop the car. Help the holidays shine a little brighter this year by viewing Christmas lights around Lubbock. Click to view directions to Ransom Canyon and Lakeridge.

This weekend there will be lots to do in Lubbock. Not only will Tech graduate its December graduates, but there are several events occurring as well.

Enjoy sweet treats and great drinks this Friday at Sugar Brown's Coffee. There will also be live jazz music for you to enjoy!

This Saturday night the West Texas Roller Dolls Championship bout will be held at the Civic Center. If you have yet to catch these girls in action, this will be your last chance this year. To read LBK Now's article about Roller Derby, click here.

Starting Thursday, Ballet Lubbock begins their performances of The Nutcracker. What better way to kickoff the holidays by support local arts and catching a performance. Performances run through Sunday and tickets can be purchased through Select-A-Seat.

There are a lot of things in this world that drive people. For some, the drive comes from the desire to gain status and sometimes to attain fame and fortune. Something different however drives 19-year-old Ilijah Mora of Last December Records and that is 1. his absolute love of all things music, and 2. the drive to see others succeed.

Most 19-year-olds haven't a clue what they would like to do for the rest of their lives, Ilijah however, got a head start at the age of 14 when he helped to promote local shows. This Lubbock native and graduate of Lubbock High is pursuing a degree in Sound Technology from South Plains. On top of going to school, Ilijah also works at Miller Pro Audio. 

This would be a full plate for most people, but not Ilijah. Last December Records has been a dream of Ilijah's and eventually he would like it to turn into a one stop shop of sorts for musicians. Housing not only a record label, LDR will also encompass graphic design and audio producing.

Ilijah's label has promoted lots of local shows, most recently the December 1st Four Letter Lie show at Tequila Jungle.

To be successful you have to surround yourself with people who share the same ideals as you. Ilijah has put together a group of people who share one goal, and that is to promote local bands and see them succeed. These people make up his street team and pass out flyers and advertise local bands. Lubbock is rich with talent and Ilijah will do whatever it takes to help local bands, even hosting shows in his own home.

Passion for music is what drives him and will continue to drive him, "I'm doing audio for the rest of my life, I'm not giving up" Ilijah said. And we shouldn't either. Get out there and enjoy the music that Lubbock has to offer.

To learn more about Last December Records, visit their Myspace. 

Usually we would feel bad if we watched someone get shoved to the ground, but this weekend we had front row seats. I'm talking about flat track roller derby of course, where bad spills are common, but never dull.

The recent addition to Lubbock of this very unique sport has received a lot of attention over the last year.

I'm still not savvy on all the rules or the lingo, but that's alright, I was definitely entertained and got some great pictures. This weekend's bout between the Killer Kandy Stripers and the Scrappy Campers proved to us here at LBK Now, that there is something for everyone in this city. It was a bit like supercharging a roller rink and guzzling an energy drink designed by hockey fans. If you are a female and somewhere between the age of 18 and competitively active, this sport may be the answer to your routine lifestyle. It looks like a great way to get exercise and relieve stress and literally anyone can participate. If getting physical doesn't seem appealing, becoming a referee for the West Texas Roller Dollz League is just as exciting.

Ruudachris (yes that's her skate name) originally thought about becoming a derby girl and competing, but wanted to learn more about the sport and work her way into playing. She's an active participant and promoter of the West Texas League as a referee. But if you are the competitive type, just follow the lead of Marie LaRolle. She's been active in flat track roller derby for over a year and says, "It's the best thing that's ever happened to me-other than marrying my husband..." A bold statement, but apparently it's addicting. In fact, most of the girls that attend their first practice end up joining one of the three teams within the WTRD League including The Killer Kandy Strypers, The Poison Ivy League & The Scrappy Camper’s. As a whole, the leagues intentions are to gain more national attention and play a wider variety of teams, while the sport itself could be on the fast track to becoming an Olympic sport someday. So whether you feel like participating or spectating, there's one thing for sure: Lubbock is on the right track for entertainment. 

With the terms death and metal in your band name, one would logically assume screaming guitars, morbid lyrics and singing resembling animal growls would be a staple in the music. When it comes to The Eagles of Death Metal, you couldn't find a band farther from the death metal genre. 

Well John Denver and The Bee Gees may be farther, but that's beside the point. The Eagles of Death Metal released their third album, Heart On, October 28, 2008.

For those not familiar with The Eagles of Death Metal, member Josh Homme is also a founding member of Queens of The Stoneage. Jesse "The Devil" Hughes provides vocals and guitar, while Homme provides the drum beats. In a recent interview, Homme was quoted as saying, "I'm in two bands. I have musical schizophrenia and this is one of those personalities." The songs on their latest album are full of dancey beats and comical lyrics. It's quite obvious that this is a band that doesn't take themselves too seriously, which makes the album just that much more fun to listen to.

One song in particular, (I Used to Couldn't Dance) Tight Pants, Hughes sings, "I used to couldn't dance real good, I had to get some moves, I was scared on the dance floor, I had the no boogie blues." Yes these lyrics may seem a little outrageous and silly, but paired with a catchy beat and Hughes unmistakable voice, Heart On does not disappoint.

To hear Eagles of Death Metal for yourself, click the photo below to visit their website.

The music of local band The Attack! will attack you, literally. Ok well maybe not literally. They won't jump you if you walk down the wrong alley, but they may keep your eardrums hostage for awhile and that's a good thing. Think Hella meets Explosions In The Sky. Similar to Explosions, The Attack! is purely instrumental. The band consists of Tyler Hardy on guitar and Jonathan Seaborn on drums.

The two met while they were both in different bands, The Kennedy Assasination and Ohnocircuitry! They then decided to start their own band, a two-piece instrumental project and compose what they call "thoughtful compositions." Their music incorporates many genres which allows for more diversity.

Not having any lyrics in their compositions means more freedom with their music. When it comes to writing the music, Tyler will come up with a riff and Jonathan will write his own part for drums. A lot of their music is created during jam sessions. 

Their music is thought provoking and completely open for each person's own interpretation. The fact that their compositions have no lyrics makes it even more enjoyable. Let's face it, sometimes lyrics simply get in the way of a good song.  

Great music isn’t just something you hear, it’s something you can feel as well. The feeling in the voice of local singer/songwriter Cory Dutton is full of emotion and can turn country music skeptics into country dancers…..just ask Taylor with LBK Now!

The Cory Dutton Band includes Cory on vocals/bass, Jason Newton on drums, Jeff James on guitar and newest member Tina Gola on fiddle. Tina is a classically trained violinist but found that classical music isn’t as much fun to play as country music.

If you attended the Threads, Locks and Rock fashion show at Klusoz on Saturday night, or if you have viewed the pictures from the event, you’re probably wondering who styled the model’s hair. With so many models, one would assume that a team of hairstylists was involved in pulling off such a feat. Incredibly, only one stylist managed to create all the unique hair designs.

To view more pictures from the Threads Locks and Rock Fashion Show, click here

 Living in Lubbock, one might not truly embrace the opportunity we have to attend sporting events hosted by a premiere NCAA Division 1 conference. The inaugural academic year for the conference was 1996-1997 and consists of 12 teams (hence the 12). Listed alphabetically are the participating schools in the conference: Baylor, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech.

If Texas Tech and UT were to make it into the game both undefeated and each in the top 10, there is a very good chance that ESPN’s College Gameday would be setting up studio at Jones Stadium. I won’t go into much detail now because as stated Texas Tech must continue to win in order for this to take place. But check back closer to Nov. 1^st with instruction on how to participate in the airing as a member of the “audience." What better way to support Lubbock and The Red Raiders?

While scientists are trying to utilize alternative fuels to reduce pollution and conserve energy, Alternative Fuels comedy troupe is finding different ways to make people laugh. That’s what the Texas Tech comedy troupe is all about. A group of twelve students love to make people laugh, and they do it with witty improv.

When I sat down to talk to this energetic bunch, they told me that the best part about the whole thing for them was making the audience feel uncomfortable. David Woodward, a Texas Tech Advertising major, further explained that, “we put people out of their element and try and make them laugh.” The troupe is full of diversity and diverse types of humor. All of their improv is on the spot and requires audience participation. A series of clever games is the usual format, and they are hoping to slowly move more in the direction of sketch comedy in the near future.

In the fall, they perform on TTU campus as part of their Fall Campus Comedy Tour and in the spring, they venture to bars and coffee shops to show off more of their chuckle skills. Legend has it that the name Alternative Fuels was completely random, as one of the former troupe members saw a sign with nothing but that name on it while traveling on I-20. They decided at that moment to call themselves a random, but very fitting name.

Just as alternative fuels is a cleaner way to approach transportation, Alternative Fuels works best when the content is clean. They mentioned that they don’t rely on cheap jokes to get by and sometimes audience suggestions are hard to accommodate without going too far. Drunken volunteers can be a bad thing, but for the most part, it helps to draw the crowd in and increases the fun. It has to be exciting to be in this group, where your hobby is making people laugh and excuses for not showing up to rehearsals are as easy as telling someone you have some shopping to do that day.

I asked them how they deal with personal stuff and still deliver good performances at their shows. They told me they used to do something called “airing grievances”, but had to stop because people were wasting large amounts of valuable rehearsal time to discuss what was bothering them. They have just three performances left this semester. Their next show will be this Wednesday, inside Horn Knapp Lobby at Texas Tech, starting at 8:00 PM. They will also be performing October 29th at Chitwood Weymouth and November 5^th at the Escondido Theater. For more information about Alternative Fuels visit their website.

Eclectic is the perfect word to describe local band Kevin Bruce and The Austintacious Seeburgers. Blending several musical styles together, it’s hard to put this three-piece into just one category. The band is made up of Kevin Bruce on drums/vocals, Jobe Seeburger on bass/vocals and Austin Davis on electric banjo. Yes that’s right, electric banjo.

While most live music only allows for the occasional dancing or inebriated fan to make an appearance on stage, the concept of the dueling piano bar allows the audience to all participate at the same time. It’s almost like karaoke went to a party, had its first drink and hooked up with a couple pianos. We were entertained just waiting in line at Louie Louies this weekend!

Dueling piano bars have been around for a while, but were somewhat old fashioned at first. Pat O’Brien’s Piano Bar in New Orleans is a well known and historically popular bar. As it gained popularity, a new sensation would emerge in Dallas Alley with the opening of Alley Cats Piano Bar. The original musical format was changed from old-style songs to rock and roll requests. The revolution started and dueling pianists have been adding genres to their memory banks to appeal to mass audiences ever since. Now people can request almost any song they want from classics to contemporaries. Lubbock now has its very own dueling piano bar: Louie Louie's.

Pittsburgh’s own Girl Talk (aka Gregg Gillis) recently released his 4th album entitled “Feed The Animals” on September 23, 2008. The album itself has already received a lot of buzz and many are calling it the most illegal album ever. Why might it be the most illegal album ever? Well that’s because almost the entire album is made up of samples of other artists.

At LBK Now, we love introducing you to awesome local bands that are really making a name for themselves here in the Hub. One band doing just that is The Electric Parlor Band. This threesome is made up of brothers Douglas (guitar/vocals) & Ben (bass/vocals) Bloom and Justin Olejnik (drums).

Douglas is a Junior Electronic Media and Communications major, whereas Ben is a Sophomore Theatre Arts major. Both are from San Antonio. Justin moved to Lubbock from Houston and received his degree this past August in Music with a minor in German. Currently, he is attending South Plains where he is studying Sound Technology.

By watching The Electric Parlor Band perform, you would never guess they have only been playing together for approximately 6 months. The trio has recorded a few original songs and they are currently in the process of recording more. The band hopes to put out a 6 song EP in just a few months, which we at LBK Now are looking extremely forward to!

The Bloom brothers take on lyric writing for the band and each member creates their own musical part of each song. The entire band is involved in revisions. The band credits their musical influences to The Beatles, Radiohead, Kings of Leon and The Killers. Some may even think that crediting The Beatles may sound a bit cliche, but once you hear these guys, complete with Ben's throwback bass reminiscient of Paul McCartney, those thoughts soon go right out the window.

The Electric Parlor Band sound is a mix of The Killers + Kings of Leon + a little bit of The Cure thrown in. Brothers Ben and Doug have been in other bands in the past, in fact they may even be considered rock stars in Guam. Guam you ask? Ben and Doug's father is a retired Air Force Jag and at one point the brothers formed a band that played local parties and school dances. Ok, well maybe they weren't exactly rock stars, but hey, all rock stars have to start somewhere!

The trio performs locally and have played at Whiskey Dix, Shooterz, The Bright House, The Thirsty Turtle and the oddest of locations, a tractor trailer out in the middle of a field. Currently the band has no shows scheduled, but you can visit their Myspace in order to keep up with the latest info on what will soon become one of your favorite bands. To hear The Electric Parlor Band's songs "Prodigal Son" and "The Girls We Write Songs For," click here to visit their Myspace.

Whether you are in the mood for coffee shop friendly music or electro-pop, Andrew Cotney and Troy Luedeker are two guys you will want to know. The duo perform in two bands that couldn't be more opposite of one another: the radio friendly Make Yourself Comfortable and the not so sure Lubbock is quite ready for this, The Lesbian Breakfast. Make Yourself Comfortable has a third member, drummer Landon Cotham and The Lesbian Breakfast also has third member and his name is iPod. He provides the drum beats.

Andrew and Troy met back in February when they were introduced by mutual friends and began collaborating soon after. While other spring breakers were busy at the beach trying to obtain that perfect tan, Andrew sat alone in Lubbock and recorded 10 songs in his home studio. Once Troy returned, the two began working on what Andrew recorded. One song in particular was a song Andrew's father wrote for his daughter's wedding about how her love had touched him. The song quickly turned into something a little questionable, but yet downright hilarious.

One can even say that The Lesbian Breakfast is a family affair, as Andrew's Mother got in on the action too. Using her "Mom" skills, she monogrammed "The Lesbian Breakfast" on the definitive garment worn at every LB show, their signature sweatbands. The LB also throws out free sweatbands to party-goers, a must have for any Lesbian Breakfast fan.

With a name like The Lesbian Breakfast, it's easy to see why Lubbock may not be ready for this duo. The LB's signature song, "Is That a Banana In Your Locket?" was essentially written because of a promo at a gift shop where Troy's Mom worked. The promo went like this: spend x amount of money and receive a free heart locket. When a customer inquired about said locket, an elderly patron exclaimed, "I've got a heart on right now!" If you read that last sentence and don't see the humor in it, then be sure to check out the song on their Myspace page to fully understand!

The LB performs mostly at house parties, but have performed at Whiskey Dix, The Bright House, Tequila Jungle and TheThirsty Turtle. The first LB show took place in Andrew's living room where he fashioned his bed into a stage and spent $20 at Sam's on a pool and spa light show to create the perfect ambiance in his living room. To date, this is the best $20 they ever spent.

Don't worry if you don't feel like The Lesbian Breakfast is for you. Make Yourself Comfortable may be more your speed. Adding drummer Landon Cotham to the mix, Andrew, Troy and Landon perform their blend of Rock n' Roll music. Andrew and Troy also perform acoustic shows with just a keyboard and a guitar. Make Yourself Comfortable will be performing at The Bright House on Sunday October, 26 with Buxton, a touring band out of Houston and local band Your Axis on a Tilt. Admission for the show is only $1 which is a price you definitely won't find anywhere else in Lubbock.

So there you have it, you literally get the best of both worlds with Andrew and Troy. Not everyone may be ready for you guys just yet, but LBK Now sure wishes they were. To hear The LB for yourself, check out their Myspace by clicking here. The Lesbian Breakfast's ep "Are You Hungry" is also available for download on iTunes. To hear more of Make Yourself Comfortable, visit their Myspace by clicking here.

Next week Lubbock's very own Cyrus will be the opening act for The Toadies during their stop in Lubbock on their national headlining tour. This four piece is made up of members Nathan Timmons on guitar/mandolin, Michael Sanford on bass/vocals, Chris Knight on percussion and Jude Machin on vocals/guitar and piano. Cyrus draws their sound from many different genres, as each member of the band brings a different style to the table. Their musical influences include a diverse range as well, from Muse to U2 and Beck to Radiohead. Cyrus describes their band as a type of relationship, where they are constantly learning something new about each other every day.

Jude and Michael take on songwriting duties for Cyrus, where the basic rule is if you wrote it, you sing it. Their songs serve as a type of release, a dropping off of the proverbial baggage. Cyrus currently has two CD's under their belt. They describe their first CD which was released in 2003, as a type of learning experience. Their sophomore album "Source" was recorded right here in Lubbock at The Electric Ear which houses Jude's recording studio. According to the band, their second CD is more true to what Cyrus is today.

Cyrus is not your normal run of the mill every day Alternative Rock band. Despite the setting, Cyrus has proven time and again that they can win over crowds. Whether they are playing for hippies in Amarillo or metal heads in Abilene, Cyrus has a mass appeal to suit every genre. And yes I did say metal heads in Abilene. Earlier this summer, Cyrus was on the bill during the Moshpit Mayhem Festival held in Abilene.

Among the many avenues Cyrus uses to promote their band, the internet has been most successful in this endeavor. Earlier this year Cyrus placed their music on OurStage.com. OurStage.com is a worldwide internet site where artists upload their music. People who normally wouldn't have the chance to hear a particular band are afforded that opportunity through this site. In March of this year, their song "Delusional" was voted #1 song in the Alternative Rock category. Because they were voted #1 in their category, they were then eligible to compete for best song overall in 26 different genres. Votes for Cyrus came in from around the world and although "Delusional" didn't take the top prize, it came in a very close second, still an extremely impressive feat for a little band from Lubbock, Texas.

Adding to their ever-growing list of accomplishments is that Cyrus was handpicked by Toadies bassist Doni Blair to open the show at their September 25 tourstop here in Lubbock. The band credits this opportunity to nothing more than being in the right place at the right time. Blair picked up a copy of "Source" from a friend in Amarillo and after listening to it, deemed Cyrus perfect as an opening band for their Lubbock show. Touring with The Toadies is The Lions, an Austin based band with a Wolfmother sound. Tickets are available online at Front Gate Tickets and are $20.50 in advance, or you can purchase them at Ralph's Records for $25.00.

Want to see Cyrus live in concert? One lucky LBK Now reader will win two free tickets to attend the show as well as a Cyrus CD and T-Shirt. Want your chance to win? Just sign-up for the LBK Now newsletter for your chance to win. It's that simple. Don't worry, for those of you out there that have already subscribed, you're automatically entered in the drawing. We will draw the winner Sunday September 21 and will notify the winner via email.

Haven't had your Cyrus fix yet? You can download their sophomore album "Source" on iTunes or you can swing by Ralph's Records, Sugar Brown's Coffee Shop or The Electric Ear to pick up your copy. Want to be friends with Cyrus? Visit their Myspace page by clicking here. To visit their official website and to hear songs off their albums, click the album cover below.

*All photos courtesy of Cyrus' Myspace page

Are you looking for jewelry that will quietly let people know just how classy and chic you really are? Well look no further, because Lubbock's very own Sarah Timmons creates pieces that are unique and extremely reasonable considering that every piece is handmade by Sarah herself. Rarely are two pieces alike.

By viewing Sarah's pieces, you would never know she has only been making jewelry for less than a year. What began as a Christmas gift making project, quickly became a hobby which has now turned into a business for Sarah. Sarah is no stranger to designing objects that please the eye. For three years during undergrad at Tech, Sarah worked as a floral designer at College Flowers, a local floral shop known for their unique floral design.

It was a friend who told Sarah about Etsy.com, a website where people can not only sell items they make, but also a place where designers like Sarah can purchase items for use in jewelry making. The site has an Ebay feel to it, but without the clutter. Sarah has sold pieces off her Etsy site to people all over the world including Belgium, Japan and the UK. 

Lots of Sarah's work is featured in other artist's "treasuries," which is a place where people can showcase the work of others. Sarah enjoys this feature on Etsy because of its altruistic nature.

Sarah uses vintage materials in her jewelry designs which means that most pieces have been sitting in a warehouse and have never been used. Some pieces used in Sarah's designs date back to the 1960's. Sarah likes to peruse antique stores as well and sometimes uses items she finds as accent pieces on her jewelry.

Custom work is something that Sarah really enjoys. In the past, she has designed custom wedding jewelry for friends and welcomes custom orders. Her pieces have a sort of New York or L.A. flair to them and Sarah never designs anything that she wouldn't wear herself.

Currently Sarah's work can be purchased online at her Etsy shop or at T.C. Elli's right here in Lubbock. A store in Indiana as well as one in Georgia found Sarah's work on Etsy and now carry Sarah's custom designs in their stores. Every First Friday Art Trail, Sarah can also be found at Alderson Mercedes where her pieces are available for purchase.

One lucky LBK Now newsletter subscriber will win a necklace designed by Sarah Timmons herself. If you'd like to win the piece pictured below, simply sign-up for the LBK Now newsletter. Don't worry, if you've already signed up for the newsletter, you are automatically entered in the drawing. To visit Sarah's Etsy site, Pink Street, click here.

*All pictures courtesy of Sarah Timmons