Scenes From Trees' Five-Year Anniversary Bash.

Let's just say this up front: It sure doesn't feel like five years have passed since Clint and Whitney Barlow re-opened Deep Ellum's revered Trees venue and helped usher in a new era in Deep Ellum's vaunted musical history.

But, alas, the year-to-year calendar doesn't lie.

Nor, for that matter, does Trees' booking calendar: Over the course of the past five years, the Barlows have deftly established their space as a haven for acts of all kind — thanks in no small part to some clever partnerships struck with area promoters, not to mention a keen understanding of when it makes sense to do things their way and when it makes just as much sense to step aside and let the magic happen for them. In the process, the Barlows — who'd each entered into this experience with managerial experience but never as owners — have rightly developed a reputation around Deep Ellum as top-notch collaborators, while becoming a model for the neighborhood's future business processes.

On Saturday night, that respect could be seen first-hand, too, as crowds readily forked over $5 cover charges and packed out the space to help the Barlows ring in Trees' fifth anniversary. In turn, these attendees were treated to performances from Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights, The Soft White Sixties, Cody Jasper and The Roomsounds — acts that the Barlows themselves hand-picked to be on the bill. Smart choices, too: The largely roots rock-oriented bill made for a fine, booze-ready, celebratory soundtrack.

And though each band performed fine sets — especially The Roomsounds, which used this night to reestablish its reputation as one of the most primetime-ready acts in town — the highlight of the night came midway through Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights' set, as that outfit's full-on hometown lineup paused its performance to invite the Barlows to come on stage and bask in the spotlight. There, the band presented the owners with a new Cabe Booth painting of the venue, commissioned by the bar's staff.

It was a nice moment — one that paid proper, but not grossly over-the-top homage to the work this couple's put into the neighborhood, while at the same time nodding appropriately toward their future plans.

On stage, a sly move made on the part of the Trees staff came into focus: All night long, Trees' staff wore not Trees shirts but rather Bomb Factory ones that nodded toward the Barlows' next planned Deep Ellum music venue restoration effort. If attendees of Saturday night's show had missed this hint earlier in the night, they certainly noticed it at this point. And as they did, there's no doubt that the same thought rang through everyone's minds: If anyone can be trusted with that task, it's this crew.













5695_2

5695_3

5695_4

5695_5

5695_6

5695_7

5695_8

5695_9

5695_10

5695_11

5695_12

5695_13

5695_14

5695_15

5695_16

5695_17

5695_18

5695_19

5695_20

5695_21

5695_22

5695_23

5695_24

5695_25

5695_26

5695_27

5695_28

5695_29

5695_30

5695_31

5695_32

5695_33

5695_34

5695_35

5695_36

5695_37

5695_38

5695_39

5695_40

5695_41

5695_42

5695_43

5695_44

5695_45

5695_46

5695_47

5695_48

5695_49

5695_50

No more articles