Email Author Darryl Smyers

2008 Stories by Darryl Smyers

• Greater Good

  published August 21, 2008

  This local sextet has the influences down pat: Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, The Faces and Stone Roses are all incorporated into a... More >>

• They Shall Be Comforted

  published August 21, 2008

  When I walk into the modest house in North Garland, the children—McKayla and Matthew Butler Jr.—quickly latch onto my legs,... More >>

• Blazing a Trail

  published August 7, 2008

  A few days before going out on tour, Alex Bhore, drummer for alt-country rockers The New Frontiers, wants people to know that his group is... More >>

• Fair to Midland, The Feds, Oso Closo, The Timeline Post

  published July 31, 2008

  Rarely will one find a bill of metal-related shenanigans better than what will take place at the House of Blues this particular night. Local... More >>

• Home Grown: Kessler

  published July 31, 2008

  Like so many who ply their craft under the seemingly all-inclusive banner of emo, the members of local rock quintet Kessler appear to have it... More >>

• Welcome Back, Curtis

  published July 31, 2008

  Some musicians who leave Dallas have negative things to say about the city and the music scene. Not Brandon Curtis, though. As the leader of... More >>

• The Romantics, Missing Persons and Tommy Tutone

  published July 24, 2008

  Most every male who went through puberty in the early '80s had fantasies involving Dale Bozzio, lead singer for Missing Persons. With her flare... More >>

• Dave Koz

  published July 24, 2008

  For better and worse, saxophonist Dave Koz has always suffered from a physical and musical resemblance to David Sanborn. While both men ply... More >>

• Monsters of Rock

  published July 24, 2008

  Wanna start a heavy metal band? OK, then you should probably name it after a prehistoric beast. Most are large, bloodthirsty monsters that... More >>

• Our 20th Music Awards

  published July 24, 2008

  Twenty years ago we launched this annual tradition called the Dallas Observer Music Awards—way back in April of 1988. "Our... More >>

• Hello, It's (Still) Me

  published July 17, 2008

  Having just turned 60, legendary singer/songwriter/producer/video director/computer programmer Todd Rundgren might want to slow things down,... More >>

• Rx Bandits, Portugal. The Man., Facing New York

  published July 17, 2008

  The term "indie" barely describes the Alaskan combo Portugal. The Man. While maintaining ties with soul, blues and folk, the band's... More >>

• Alkaline Trio

  published July 17, 2008

  Not really a threesome (tour manager Nolan McGuire often plays guitar for live shows), Chicago's Alkaline Trio is nonetheless one of the best... More >>

• Peter Murphy

  published July 10, 2008

  He's about to turn 51, and Peter Murphy, the godfather of goth, still has that maniacal look to him, that flamboyant edge that set him and his... More >>

• Not So Fast

  published July 3, 2008

  Huffing and puffing, Casey Wescott, keyboardist for Seattle's Fleet Foxes, makes it to the phone just minutes after sound check. Judging by his... More >>

• Ageless Spirit

  published June 26, 2008

  Dean Spunt, drummer/vocalist for unconventional rock band No Age, doesn't mind being referred to as a punk rocker. After all, Spunt was first... More >>

• Reckless Kelly, South Austin Jug Band, The Gougers

  published June 26, 2008

  Reckless Kelly more than lives up to the implications of its moniker (inspired by a infamous Australian bank robber) and its hometown... More >>

• A.M. Ramblers

  published June 26, 2008

  When listening to country-folk-bluegrass bands that clearly have rock leanings, the first question becomes: Why not have a drummer? Take... More >>

• Grand (Re-)Entrance

  published June 19, 2008

  Although Mat Brooke isn't anxious to talk about his departure from the highly acclaimed Band of Horses, he is still amazed at how quickly his... More >>

• Islands

  published June 19, 2008

  With such a generic moniker, it'd be easy to confuse Islands with some Jimmy Buffet cover band hailing out of Denver. But there's nothing at... More >>

• Who is Mr. Sensitivity?

  published June 12, 2008

  The fact that women prefer sensitivity to sexuality is well documented. After all, it wasn't that long ago that Woody Allen was People... More >>

• Swinging States

  published June 5, 2008

  Being married to your bandmate isn't easy. Just ask Jason Hammel, half of the twosome that makes up indie pop act Mates of State. "I... More >>

• I Love Math

  published June 5, 2008

  These days, it's nearly impossible not to see, hear or read about Old 97's. Rhett Miller and crew have just released Blame It on... More >>

• Candlemass

  published June 5, 2008

  Bassist Leif Edling has been the de facto leader of this epic doom metal band for more than two decades now, picking and firing bandmates... More >>

• The Dresden Dolls Bring Visuals Back Into The World of Sound

  published May 29, 2008

  For someone in a band whose sound has been described as grotesque vaudeville, Brian Viglione, drummer of The Dresden Dolls, sure comes across... More >>