Letters

Furthermore, Dallas defies genres. The West Coast thrives on the latest trends in music, and everyone in the crowd dresses the same and drives on punk ethos. A show is either a "punk show" or a "ska show" (and those are the only two "cool" genres here now), a "metal show," or whatever. Rarely did I ever hear anyone classify what type of music a local band was in Dallas. Everyone was called by the name of the band. Every band sounded relatively different from the next band. Oh man, I don't even want to go on about this; I could write a book on just this difference between Dallas and most other places.

Well, OK--it's off my chest, there you go. I'm pretty damned open-minded, and all eight Las Vegas bands just seem up their asses bent on the mega-record deal, yet they brag about their punk ethos. In Dallas, you can find the Toadies--a platinum record seller--in the crowd watching fellow bands and walk up and talk to them like any other Joe. You can't do that here.

Ah, well, there's my rant. Like I said, I could write a book on the differences. Dallas outdoes the entertainment capital of the world (where there's not much to do), the city that never sleeps (until everything closes at 6 p.m.)--viva Las Vegas.

Matt
Via e-mail

Tops ZZ Top
Thanks for the article on Rory Gallagher ["Rory in the sky," November 27]. I was at that Thanksgiving show after a heated argument that rock and roll should have precedence over another boring evening with the in-laws. Rory was always a favorite of mine, even though radio virtually ignored him. I remember being happy for Rory when I heard he was being considered as a replacement for Mick Taylor in the Stones, but ultimately glad that he wasn't chosen because this would have meant a stop to the continual flow of Rory's solo material. His show at the Tarrant County Convention Center opening for ZZ Top was one of his best. Although my loyalty to ZZ Top prevents me from saying that Rory "blew them away," I will say that 15,000 people, along with the three boys from Texas at side stage, saw a man who had passion and licks and knew how to entertain in an arena as well as in a bar. Once again, thanks for the article, and here's hoping everyone out there who appreciates great guitar work will check him out when his albums are rereleased.

Rick Rieckhoff
Farmers Branch

Correction
Dallas Observer's November 27 cover story, "Courthouse coup," understated the hours worked by state District Judge Mike Keasler. According to Texas Lawyer, Keasler averages five hours a day--which amounts to an estimated 25 hours a week. We regret the error.