The wait is almost over: American Idol alum and former Fort Worth resident Casey James will release his self-titled, major-label debut album March 20.
James, who co-produced the album with Chris Lindsey, co-wrote nine of the 11 tracks on the album. To celebrate the release of Casey James, the man himself will return to Billy Bob's Texas on March 23 for his second headlining performance at the venue in less than a year. Tickets for that gig go on sale Monday.The lineup for the next Modern 'til Midnight event -- taking place April 14 at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth -- has been announced: School of Seven Bells will headline, with support from Air Review, Calhoun, the Angelus and Skeleton Coast.... The new album from Eleven Hundred Springs, Midway, arrives Feb. 3, but is available for advance purchase online starting Saturday.... UNT grad Norah Jones's fifth studio album, the Danger Mouse-produced Little Broken Hearts, hits stores this spring.... Congrats to Dallas' Smile Smile, whose irresistible tune Tempo Bledsoe is soundtracking a current Reese's Valentine's Day TV ad. The band has a new album, tentatively titled His & Hers, due out this year.Sarah Jaffe's sophomore LP is ready for public consumption. The Body Wins, the follow-up to her extremely well received 2010 debut, Suburban Nature, will arrive April 24 on Kirtland Records. Produced by John Congleton, the new record finds her leaving the acoustic guitar and folk idiom behind, much as she did on her 2011 stopgap release, The Way Sound Leaves a Room.The next benefit for the ailing Bugs Henderson has been set for March 4 at Dallas' Palladium Ballroom. Tickets are on sale now.... Belak-a-Thon, which kicks off 9 p.m. Saturday at the Where House, will benefit the children of the late Wade Belak, one of three NHL players who committed suicide last year. Ex- Soviet drummer Sam Dobbin (Belak's cousin) organized the event, which will feature music from Dobbin's new band, Tiger of Bengal, as well as Sealion, the Clean-Up, and Tony Ferraro and the Satans of Soft Rock. Cover is $12, and all proceeds will go toward Belak's children's college scholarship fund.What exactly can one expect from an event titled " Improvised Silence"? Billed as "an invitational forum for improvised/experimental music and sound art," one of Fort Worth's most intriguing, avant-garde-inclined outfits, Hentai Improvising Orchestra, is responsible for booking this monthly event at the Cellar (which, thus far, has confirmed acts through May). This initial installment will feature Darrin Kobetich (whose new album, The Long Winter, is due any day) playing sitar, as well as Giri Akkaraju on a mridangam (a percussion instrument of Indian origin) and other percussive elements. Whatever happens -- things get going at 9 p.m. Sunday -- it's sure to be one of the more unique experiences in town.Preston Jones is the Star-Telegram pop music critic, 817-390-7713Twitter: @prestonjonesHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
