Sueños, Daze: Retro Reverie and Sonic Escapes at Dallas' Black Cat Records 'N' Comics

On Sunday night, June 22, at Black Cat Records ‘N’ Comics, there was a fusion of nostalgia, atmospheric tunes and raw energy. Nestled among retro posters, dusty TVs and an enviable vinyl collection, the intimate space became the perfect backdrop for the multifaceted emotions and genres on display. With a six-song set from each band, it was an evening that celebrated contrast, connection and creativity in a way only a local scene can. The Fort Worth band cleverly named Somebody Else opened the evening with a heartfelt alternative rock set that immediately grabbed the packed room’s focus. The band’s fiery mix of emotion and aggression filled every corner, pulling the crowd into a tight, vibrant space that felt both urgent and communal. The heartache in their music was palpable, with tracks like “Red Again” making their rawness undeniable. Somebody Else’s rallying cry between songs stood out as they encouraged the audience, shouting, “Come up close—I promise it’s okay!” That simple, unpretentious confidence mirrored perfectly the ethos of their sound. Hands rose in bursts of energy when the guitar pierced the air, and it was impossible not to feel the punk flame coursing through the crowd. California’s Sueños, making their Texas debut, followed with a heady shoegaze set that transported the room into a dreamscape. Their opening track, “Dreamwalk,” was brooding and cosmic, layering hazy guitar riffs over a low, magnetic vocal delivery that brought to mind Stephin Merritt of The Magnetic Fields. Oscillating between shoegaze’s whispery introspection and seismic crescendos, Sueños expertly painted wide emotional landscapes. Tracks like their closer “Celestial” swirled from meditative hums to My Bloody Valentine-esque chaos, leaving a lingering hum of transcendence in the room. While the band expressed gratitude between songs, exclaiming, “Thank you for making our first trip to Texas incredible!” the audience swayed, heads bowed, as if hypnotized by their words and tones. The energy shifted as Daze from Houston took to the stage. After a postponed North Texas appearance in April, the band proved they were well worth the wait. Their brand of shoegaze was immersive and cinematic, blending the reverb-drenched melancholy of Slowdive with the urgent textures of Pale Saints. Songs like “She Said” evoked a reflective longing, perfect for a nighttime road trip, while the ethereal “Vacio” transported listeners to a space where emotion eclipsed reality. Live, their precision was breathtaking—not one distorted note consumed the room without purpose.

Vocalist and guitarist Nikki Isabelle remarks were minimal but effective, giving way to sustained walls of sound that engulfed and uplifted in equal measure. It was a communal catharsis as the audience oscillated between nodding introspection and primal cheers when distortion pedals exploded into climactic brilliance. Sucio closed out the night with a performance that transformed the once-stoic audience into a dancing, pulsating crowd, as hypnotic rhythms rippled effortlessly through the room. Rooted in Arlington’s rich cultural fabric, the Latinx darkwave band weaves a mesmerizing soundscape that stands apart in the local scene. Their music, steeped in tradition yet fearlessly forward-looking, blends the brooding allure of ‘80s goth with Mexican keyboard textures and European post-punk flair.

Tracks like “Kletka Fantasma” and “Say My Name” from their latest release, Bloc, deepened the room’s collective immersion, seamlessly uniting melancholy melodies with irresistible grooves. Adding a playful, human touch to the performance, the band’s Ana Vasquez lightened the mood with quips about needing to burp and fart, drawing laughter and further endearing herself to the crowd. It was a performance that paired intensity with authenticity, leaving a lasting impression on everyone in attendance.

Beyond the music, Black Cat itself became a silent fifth performer. The dust clinging to its old tech, the shelves of records telling decades-old stories and the coolers stocked with offbeat drinks created a space that felt built to nurture artistic expression. At times, it felt like jamming in a friend’s basement, amplifying the intimacy of the moment.

Sunday’s show wasn’t just about the bands; it was about a space where art and community converge. Each performance, from Somebody Else’s rock fury to Sucio’s midnight synth-disco, felt like a shared experience forged on the foundation of a venue that celebrates authenticity and intimacy. For those who attended, it was a reminder of why these spaces matter.

And if you missed it? Don’t worry. Black Cat and the local scene will no doubt offer another sonic escape soon. All you have to do is step a little closer.