21 Things To Do in Dallas This Week

Wednesday

Eric B & Rakim, who had a five-year career together, were at the top of the DJ/emcee game during what most consider rap’s golden age in the late 1980s. This year’s 17-date tour marks the first official outing from them in 25 years. Later this year, they’ll play the Yo! MTV Raps 30th anniversary concert. 8 p.m. Wednesday, April 25, Bomb Factory, 2713 Canton St., $38-$168. Diamond Victoria

Thursday

Jerry World is home to this year’s NFL Draft Experience. The “largest festival footprint ever created by the NFL” includes interactive exhibits; games in which you can see just how poorly your vertical jump, 40-yard dash, field goal kicking and throwing skills stack up against those of prospective professional football players; autograph sessions; music; photo opportunities with the Dallas Cowboys’ Vince Lombardi Trophies from Super Bowls VI, XII, XXVII, XXVIII and XXX; and, of course, beer. All events are free, but you’ll need the Fan Mobile Pass (nfl.com/fanmobilepass) for many activities and to get on the standby list for seats inside the NFL Draft Theater in case you care to watch the actual draft in person. The draft will be inside AT&T Stadium, 1 AT&T Way in Arlington, while the festivities are in the surrounding plazas from noon to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday. Visit nfl.com. Jesse Hughey

The quintessential angry comic has plenty to be pissed off at these days, especially if that angry comic is a declared socialist. Things aren’t going his way. Or maybe they are? Lewis Black seems to thrive on the cynical, chaotic political environment we exist in, using it to fuel his humor and feed his optimism. That’s the thing about Black: As dark and acerbic as he can be, his words leave you with a subtle but pervasive feeling that maybe everything will be all right. Just think of Black’s The Joke’s On Us tour as well-crafted, thought-out and high-volume catharsis, and take comfort in the angst. He’ll be sputtering his bittersweet brand of confessional and political humor at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Majestic Theatre, 1925 Elm St. Tickets are $39.50-$49.50 at ticketmaster.com. Jennifer Davis-Lamm

Tony Bennett is one of the artistic wonders of the world. Born in 1922, he survived a bleak family situation during the Depression and served in the infantry during World War II. When he returned home, he used his GI Bill benefits to study voice while he worked as an elevator operator and waited tables. Today, he counts Lady Gaga among his collaborators and is the oldest living artist to ever chart on the Billboard Hot 100. His longevity defies reason: His career peaked in the 1950s, but he’s still a powerhouse on the stage. His pitch is impeccable, and his voice effortlessly gives life to the masterworks he performs. His shows don’t fall into that category of the late-stage cash grab that so many other artists visit upon us. Instead, they remain a transcendent view into vocal artistry and enduring passion. See for yourself as this living legend performs at 8 p.m. Thursday at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, 2403 Flora St. Tickets are $100-$150 at attpac.org. Jennifer Davis-Lamm

If one wanted to discuss the art deco, and perhaps streamline moderne, of Dallas — specifically Fair Park — Jim Parsons would be an ideal source of knowledge. The co-director of Preservation Houston has co-authored (along with PH co-director David Bush) several books featuring the iconic modernist architecture of various cities and areas of Texas. Fair Park Deco examines the buildings and landscape developed for the aspirational Depression-era 1936 Texas Centennial Exposition. The Dallas Historical Society welcomes audiences from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Hall of State, 3939 Grand Ave. in Fair Park, for An Evening with Jim Parsons as he explores Lost Fair Park, or rather, the buildings from 1936’s big party that are no longer standing. He’ll cover the Hall of Negro Life, the Ford Building and even the original “Woofus” (the landmark chimera of Texas livestock), as well as murals lost over time. A pop-up exhibit will help attendees dive deeper into the deco detail. Tickets are $10 for nonmembers ($30 for the full speaker series) at eventbrite.com. Merritt Martin

The knock on Mozart, especially from non-classical listeners, is that he’s just too easy to listen to. In other words, his music can be a little too gorgeous, can make complexity sound a little too effortless, too tranquil, too polished. Modern listeners have come to expect some edge with their beauty. The master’s Piano Concerto No. 20 is just the piece to counter such assumptions — it’s Mozart going Beethoven before Beethoven, Mozart showing there’s plenty of sharp teeth in his repertoire. For every uncomplicated moment of bliss, there’s an eerie minor key nightmare just around the corner. For every melodic bloom, an unsettling spark of dissonance. If Mozart’s ever struck you as too romantic, this program is the just the ice bath you need. DSO Assistant Conductor Ruth Reinhardt conducts. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St. Tickets start at $29. For more information, visit mydso.com. Jonathan Patrick

Recalling psychotropic experiences and dreamy underwater worlds, Panda Bear’s music is pop stretched to its breaking point. As a founding member of art rock outfit Animal Collective, the producer born Noah Lennox helped pioneer some of the most dizzying pop of the last two decades. On his solo outings, Lennox pushes even further ahead. His tracks, which fuse beach moods with drones and looped percussion, make time feel pliable, suspending listeners in long, drifting expanses. Reminiscent of Brian Wilson at his strangest, a Panda Bear song is like spacing out on laughing gas — you could almost jam out to it if it didn’t swallow you so entirely. With Geologist, 8:30 p.m. Thursday, April 26, Canton Hall, 2727 Canton St., cantonhall.com, $21.50. Jonathan Patrick

Friday

Jazz vocalist and pianist Diane Schuur will lead her ensemble in a concert marking Sammons Center's 30th anniversary at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Moody Performance Hall, 2520 Flora St. Sax virtuoso Stan Getz discovered Schuur at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1979. Her latest CD, I Remember You (With Love to Stan and Frank), pays homage to Getz and Sinatra. Sammons jazz artistic director, pianist, composer and Steinway artist Arlington Jones kicks off the concert with his group, Arlington Jones & The Brethren. Sammons Center for the Arts is in the Turtle Creek Pump Station, 3630 Harry Hines Blvd., and is home to 14 arts groups. More than 100 arts organizations use the center's services and facilities. Call 214-871-5000 for tickets, $30-$150. For more information, visit sammonsartcenter.org. Reba Liner

See UNT's One O'Clock Lab Band and other performers from the school's respected jazz program during this weekend's Denton Arts and Jazz Festival. With seven stages, the event encompasses many genres and includes performances by Randy Brecker, Los Lobos and Brave Combo. You'll also find food, games, a children's art area and more from 5-11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at Quakertown Park, 321 E. McKinney St. in Denton. Admission is free. For more information, visit dentonjazzfest.com. Emily Goldstein

OK, don't get cute. Douchebagist uptownist is not a species. Neither is Bubbagist mesquititii. The City Nature Challenge is looking for volunteer amateur naturalists to snap photos and share pictures of plant or animal species — real ones — in their cities using the iNaturalist smartphone app. DFW is one of seven urban areas in Texas and more than 70 cities worldwide to see which can find the most species, and the winner gets ... bragging rights. Hey, in Texas, we kill for bragging rights. Participants can work on their own or join in one of nearly 30 group events scheduled Friday through Sunday across DFW. Find a complete list by searching “nature challenge” at tpwd.texas.gov. Patrick Williams

Slowdive got its start in England in the late 1980s. After three albums, the group disbanded, and members worked on other projects. But they’ve since been considered legends in early shoegaze. Last year, the group reunited for its self-titled album — its first in 22 years. Honing similar tones of moodiness to early Slowdive work, the album received glowing critical praise. 9 p.m. Friday, April 27, Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave., 214-824-9933 or granadatheater.com, $42-$70. Diamond Victoria

Jack White, who visited last year to promote his Dallas-based bat company, Warstic, will return for shows April 27 and April 29 at the Bomb Factory. Expect lots of guitar riffs and quite a few new numbers from his upcoming album, Boarding House Reach, a copy of which is included with each ticket purchase. 8 p.m. Friday, April 27, and Sunday, April 29, Bomb Factory, 2713 Canton St., thebombfactory.com, $85-$1135. Jeff Strowe

Dallas Music Scene started as a Facebook group bringing together local metal musicians and giving them a platform to promote their bands and shows. It's since evolved into the promotional group Dallas Metal Showcase that throws shows featuring the best in the scene. On Friday, catch Sardonic Witchery, Wyrm Chasm, The Black Moriah and Cropdust. With Sardonic Witchery, Wyrm Chasm, The Black Moriah and Cropdust, 8 p.m. Friday, April 27, Trees, 2709 Elm St., 214-741-1122 or treesdallas.com, $10. Diamond Victoria

Saturday

Every weekend, there’s a new chance to get drunk and listen to live music. This weekend is no exception. The Bath House Cultural Center and the Texas Musicians Museum host Lake-A-Palooza, a festival featuring — you guessed it — live local music, beer, wine, food and family-friendly activities from 1-8 p.m. at the cultural center, 521 E. Lawther Drive. And when you get bored drinking and enjoying live music from the likes of Jimmy Baldwin and Rickey Gene Wright and the Duck Creek Station, there will also be a music-focused art exhibit for you to indulge in. Paige Skinner

Does your child have a mild weight problem? Is he or she reluctant to exercise anything more than a pudgy thumb on a smartphone? Is your child, let's be honest, a lazy porker? We suppose you could force li'l butterball to move about by threatening to deny him food, but that might be illegal. Instead, do the skilled parenting thing and trick him. The Inflatable Run is a 1K or 5K race for kids and adults (you're looking a little rotund yourself) that adds big, bouncy inflatable obstacles to the course, so you can tell chops you’re taking him to a super bounce house and gloss over the running part. The run includes carnival games, play areas, regular bounce houses and food. (Pack a salad lunch, maybe.) Race times are at 8 a.m. and noon, but families can show up for the festival from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. It's at Fair Park, 3809 Grand Ave., and tickets range from $15-$65. Find them and more information at theinflatablerun.com/dallas. Patrick Williams

How do you plan an event that encourages children to have fun while improving their health? After the crucial step of changing an "S" to a "Z," you schedule free activities such as rock climbing, an obstacle course, basketball, golf, tennis, rowing, jump rope, aerobics, Zumba, volleyball and soccer. Then throw in some information for parents about incorporating physical activity and nutritious food into everyday life. The 11th annual Get Kidz Fit Fest, presented by the Dallas Area Coalition to Prevent Childhood Obesity, will be from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday at Fair Park's Centennial Building, 1300 Robert B. Cullum Blvd. Learn more at getkidzfitccgd.wordpress.com. Emily Goldstein

Although the band formed in Brooklyn, Parquet Courts frontman Austin Savage is indelibly linked with his hometown of Denton. While Savage started a number of fan favorite groups in DFW, Parquet Courts has been his most enduring project yet. The group’s latest release, Wide Awake, dropped in March to much acclaim. Grammy Award-winning producer Danger Mouse produced what could be the band’s catchiest album to date. Featuring funky beats and Savage’s characteristically raw vocal delivery, Parquet Courts is one of the coolest bands to come out of DFW, and its current seems to be taking its further than ever. Last year, Savage was up for a Grammy Award for the cover art on 2016’s Human Performance, and the band’s collaboration with Italian composer Daniele Luppi on last year’s Milano was also met with critical acclaim. It seems like 2018 is Parquet Court’s year. That’s great news for longtime fans but even better news for recent enthusiasts. Now’s your chance to hop on the bandwagon. 8 p.m. Saturday, April 28, Sons of Hermann Hall, 3414 Elm St., 214-747-4422, $20-$22. Nicholas Bostick

Fort Worth’s Fortress Festival is back for its second edition with a wonderfully diverse lineup that seamlessly includes a wide variety of genres and equal gender representation. It’s sure to deliver a lasting musical experience for anyone. The two-day affair takes place in the heart of Fort Worth’s cultural district and is anchored by headlining performances from indie rock stalwart Father John Misty, who just announced a new album called God’s Favorite Customer; the funk lordz from Chromeo; hip-hop legend De La Soul; and Courtney Barnett, one of the best songwriters in the world, who also has a new album on the way called Tell Me How You Really Feel. Aside from providing the opportunity to be one of the first to see your favorite artists perform new tracks, Fortress Festival also includes an outstanding lineup from North Texas-based acts such as The Texas Gentlemen, The Vandoliers, Francine Thirteen, Pearl Earl, Midnight Opera and Andy Pickett. With Father John Misty, Courtney Barnett, Chromeo, De La Soul, RZA, Chicano Batman Rapsody and more, 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, April 28-29, Modern Art Museum, 3200 Darnell St., Fort Worth, 817-738-9215 or fortressfestival.com, $59 and up. Mikel Galicia

Judas Priest is still a powerful and intense band after almost 50 years in existence. Founding member Ian Hill on bass, longtime vocalist Rob Halford and longest-tenured drummer Scott Travis are touring their latest, Firepower. Axe man Glenn Tipton has Parkinson’s disease and cannot tour full-time with the band, so producer Andy Sneap has stepped into his role. Alongside Richie Faulkner, who joined in 2011, expect the patented dual guitar lines to vaporize the audience. It's incredible Halford remains one of the best metal vocalists around, and respect must be given to one of the most influential metal bands ever. With Saxon and Black Star Riders, 8 p.m. Saturday, April 28, The Bomb Factory, 2713 Canton St., thebombfactory.com, $72.25. Eric Grubbs

Sunday

If we told you that Cotton Bowl Stadium would be filled with dogs one Sunday afternoon, would you even question why? Do you need this small part of a newspaper to tell you why you should attend an event that includes a football field full of dogs? Dogs. Puppies. Dogs running. Dogs playing. Dogs probably pooping. Dooooooogs. Friends of Fair Park will host the Dog Bowl from 1-5 p.m. Sunday at the Cotton Bowl, 3750 The Midway in Fair Park, and you and your pet are invited. There will be local dog rescue groups, clubs and pet-related vendors. And dogs. To play. And do other dog things. There are going to be dogs, we say! Parking is $10 but the event is free. For more information, visit fairpark.org. Paige Skinner

The Melvins released their 27th studio album, Pinkus Abortion Technician, on Friday, and include dual bassists Steven McDonald and Jeff Pinkus (Butthole Surfers). The Washington-bred sludge metal band has been around for 35 years, greatly influencing the grunge movement that saw likes of Nirvana, Soundgarden and others from Seattle. 8:30 p.m., Sunday, April 29, Trees, 2709 Elm St., 214-741-1122 or treesdallas.com, $20-$22. Diamond Victoria