I happened to be home this week and picked up a copy of the Dallas Observer, the local alt weekly along the lines of the LA Weekly, etc. In the weekend picks section I was glad to see King's X listed as they were playing in Ft. Worth on friday night (I couldn't go as my flight back to the tour was friday afternoon... isn't that always the case?) But, in reading the massive paragraph telling of their appearance, I found a truly dissapointing tone from the writer, Andrea Grimes:
from the Dallas Observer, May 25th, 2006, Arts and Entertainment section, Picks:
King's Scene
Theater's show is rated X
By Andrea Grimes
I have seen prog metal band King's X in concert. I'm not saying I enjoyed it, but I am saying I sat on a barstool in leather pants with a freshly applied tramp stamp on my lower back in that smoky club that used to be attached to the Bronco Bowl. I was dragged there by a male friend whose hair was long enough to reach his shoulder blades, and I do believe I fell asleep halfway through. Sadly, I will not be redeeming myself during their Friday show at the Ridglea Theater, 6025 Camp Bowie Blvd. in Fort Worth.
Tickets are $15 advance and $18 at the door. Call 817-738-9500. Ridglea Theater, 6025 Camp Bowie Blvd. , Fort Worth.
Is it just me or is this posting a pretty crappy thing to say about a weekend "pick"? Is there some kind of humor that I'm missing? Is she sorry and making up for her poor showing during the dark ages or is she blowing them off completely this time? It hit a nerve for me and I wrote the editor, something I very rarely do. If she is in fact a fan and went and paid to support the band, I'll retract the following...
Well.
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. My wife often questions my reading of the Observer as she says that she finds almost all of your reviews and comments "mean spirited". I, being a somewhat cynical and critical being myself have always tried to roll with it and agree to disagree with your more snarky comments.
This week included a small paragraph mentioning the fact that King's X would be playing in the area and for some reason chose someone who had a bad date the last time they saw the band to comment. Here is a band that has been working hard for 25 years, has remarkable ability, songs and integrity and they are blown off by someone (Andrea Grimes) who I wouldn't presume to guess what they have in their iPod.
Why bother?
Why even mention they are around if you are telling us you disliked them last time and won't be going this time? Why would it be in the picks section? Here is a band that has kept going despite a shallow flavor-of-the-minute culture and even though other bands were in awe of their ability, they never rose to the level they deserved. You should read Doug Pinnick's recent post about how hard it has been recently to survive in the current musical wastelands.
Here's a deal; if you're going to have someone blow off a band in your paper, at least let them have some valid argument; they could also try doing it to one of the countless bands that have no pedigree and that will have no place in rock and roll history.
Aron Michalski
I hope she just felt she was being honest about her last experience and felt bad, but that's not what I got. I guess I'm in the mood to defend the band this week!
12:29:43 PM 
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