If only 30 people show up to see the Mike Dillon Band play Dan’s Silverleaf in July, it won’t be a reflection on Dillon’s music or the music he’s brought out of the bands he’s been in over the last 20 years.
Dillon is a Louisiana guy (by way of Texas) who has written probably one song to make it onto the radio. He’s a full-time touring musician who has driven his career with a mix of persistence and curiosity.
Dillon is a jazz man who has played with some of Denton’s favorite acts — Ten Hands, the sonic laboratory supervised by Denton’s mad musical scientist, Paul Slavens, and Brave Combo, and drummer Earl Harvin — and the It girl of the indie music movement, Ani DiFranco. Dillon’s probably most noted for his tenure leading Billy Goat, a ’90s Dallas group that might have eclipsed its own chops when its members shucked their clothes onstage. Dillon is a vibraphonist, percussionist, singer and musical detective.
The Mike Dillon Band is a fresher project, but is bound to have the rhythm, groove, feel, defiance, impulse and communication its leader has shown in all of his musical endeavors. The common thread among every group is Dillon’s electrified, psychedelic, Coltrane-induced vibraphone playing, a tabla jam on a level that few have witnessed in person, seemingly rehearsed yet sporadic auxiliary drum jams, and half-spoken, half-sung lyrics about issues like drilling for oil, the war in Iraq, cellphones and six-breasted puppets.
THE MIKE DILLON BAND IN DENTON
10 p.m. July 13 at Dan’s Silverleaf, 103 Industrial St. Cover is $8. No smoking.
THEY’RE WITH THE BAND
Mike Dillon — vibraphone, percussion and lead vocals
Carly Meyers — trombone, Moog Taurus pedals
Adam Gertner — drums
Cliff Hines — guitar, bass and keys
