32 DALLAS OBSERVER • KALEIDOSCOPE “There was a lot of common ground that we could all pull from. And I think that was metalcore,” Orozco says. “That is what bridges the gap between everybody, while also having the diverse music tastes that everyone has, which I think is really incredible.” From the melodic, “corny shit” that Barton loves to write, to the collaborative spirit that ensures every member’s influence is felt, Gene Ross embodies the very fusion Gazed and Confused aims to champion. They are a product of a scene that encourages both di- versity and unity, a perfect fit for the festival’s Friday night lineup in Dallas. Also on the bill for the festival’s final night are Daze, a Hous- ton-based band whose sound lives in the dreamy, heavy territory where shoegaze crashes into something much darker. For front- woman Nikki Perez, joining the festival was a no-brainer, espe- cially with one particular band on the lineup. “I was like, ‘Oh my God, I have to open for Bleed, this is the only way I’m gonna see them live!’” she says. Her excitement speaks to the fan-first mentality that runs through this festival. The lineup is packed with bands that other bands are genuinely excited to see, including Dallas’s own Slow Joy, a standout local talent whose presence is a testament to the city’s vibrant alternative scene. Perez notes that Daze has crossed paths with several other artists on the bill, including a mini-run with Slow Joy and a memorable show at Dallas’ Black Cat Re- cords ‘N’ Comics with Fort Worth’s Somebody Else, who also play Sunday. This web of connections reinforces the community feel that both Patani and the members of Gene Ross highlighted. Daze’s music is a powerful alchemy of sound and soul. Perez describes their style as “heavy-ish shoegaze” with pretty, ethereal parts reminiscent of Cocteau Twins and Mazzy Star. But beneath the layers of reverb and distortion, the songs are fiercely per- sonal. “The lyrics are straight from my journal,” Perez confides. “Ev- erything lyrically comes from something that hurt me.” As a Mexican-American woman fronting a band in a genre that hasn’t always been the most diverse, her voice carries a particular weight and urgency. She speaks of feeling like a marginalized person, and how that experience fuels the passion and poetry in her songwriting. It’s a reminder that even the heaviest, most ag- gressive music can be a vessel for profound vulnerability and feeling. What might sound like screaming and noise from the out- side is, for those who connect with it, a deeply emotional and ca- thartic release. This is the core truth of Gazed and Confused. It’s a festival for people who feel music deeply. It’s for the fans who crave the inti- macy of a smaller venue, who want to be close enough to see the sweat and passion on an artist’s face. The entire festival will take place on a single stage at Puzzles, a 500-capacity room that promises an up close and personal experience. “I just feel like this kind of niche, smaller-scaled festival is what people need rather than paying outrageous pricing for a one-day pass to one of those mega festivals,” Patani says. As a first-year event, she acknowledges there might be a few learning moments, but her ultimate goal is simple and pure. “I just want people to have a good time and enjoy themselves in this smaller, intimate festival,” she says. It’s a space curated by a genuine love for the music and the community that surrounds it. From the local revival of metalcore that Gene Ross’s drummer, Jack Wagner, is witnessing, to the grimy, artistic inspiration Perez finds in the city of Houston, Gazed and Confused is a snapshot of a moment. It’s a platform for the next wave of artists who are pushing boundaries, blending genres and pouring their whole hearts into the noise they make. It is, as the poster promises, “the emo-indie-grunge gaze-rock mini-fest of your dreams.” Tickets for Gazed and Confused Fest are on sale now at both Third String Entertainment’s and Puzzles’ websites. Three-day passes are $115, with individual days priced $40–$50. All shows will take place at Puzzles, 2824 Main St. credit
