Email Author Zac Crain

2003 Stories by Zac Crain

• Eisley

  published December 25, 2003

  A year ago, Eisley was still MossEisley, and the band was still on the verge of something instead of in the thick of it. But you could hear it... More >>

• Mr. Cheap Shot

  published December 11, 2003

  During the Mavericks' December 4 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash became the latest victim to be taken down by one of Karl... More >>

• The Man Comes Around

  published December 4, 2003

  The whole point of rock and roll, as Placebo front man Brian Molko sees it, is never growing up. That's what everyone who straps on a guitar or... More >>

• Fresh Meat

  published November 27, 2003

  For one thing, since I'm not actually leaving the Dallas Observer, just changing jobs, I didn't really wanna do this. Writing a goodbye... More >>

• Under Control

  published November 6, 2003

  The five young men in the band had to deal with more bullshit than a cattle drive, but they never seemed to mind. All they cared about was the... More >>

• Def Jams

  published November 6, 2003

  Many bands coveted Deftones' support slot on this year's Summer Sanitarium Tour, opening for Metallica, Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit. If singer... More >>

• Following Suit

  published November 6, 2003

  When a label signs one Dallas-area band, you can almost count on said label signing another one. It may take a few months, maybe a year, but it... More >>

• Mr. Misery

  published October 30, 2003

  It was one of my best stories at parties and such, a great icebreaker, sure to get a laugh. It was May 5, 2000, and I'd just seen Elliott... More >>

• They Just Wanna Dance

  published October 23, 2003

  Here's something to think about: Mayor Laura Miller has become the city's mother. Or she'd like to be, at any rate. Sure, so far, her attempts to... More >>

• State Pen

  published October 16, 2003

  If I didn't know any better--and I don't, actually--I'd swear Jim James is higher than Rush Limbaugh on an OxyContin binge right now. More than... More >>

• Second Chance

  published October 16, 2003

  This is what ESPN.com Page 2 columnist Bill Simmons wrote about Sunday's Dallas Cowboys-Philadelphia Eagles... More >>

• Houston Scores

  published October 9, 2003

  Over the years, we've wondered why some of the bigger rock shows don't come to Dallas but do, on occasion, schedule a stop in Houston. Or near... More >>

• Jackpot!

  published October 2, 2003

  Back in the day, and we're talking about maybe five or six years ago, the Good/Bad Art Collective could be counted on for at least one genius... More >>

• Sacred Heart

  published September 25, 2003

  It's a simple philosophy, one that Kenna Zemedkun offers up with little prompting. "It doesn't matter what size the stage is. I give... More >>

• Sum 36

  published September 25, 2003

  As much as we would like it to be, the North Texas New Music Festival will never be South by Southwest. But that's OK, because its lower... More >>

• Johnny Cash, 1932-2003

  published September 18, 2003

  Never got to see Johnny Cash, and now I never will. I had a chance in 1996. I was living in Austin at the time, a couple of months shy... More >>

• Can't Boogie No More

  published September 11, 2003

  When Jay Winborn lived in Miami, no nightclub closed before 5 a.m. Most places, the night was just getting started around then. Some clubs didn't... More >>

• Carrying On

  published September 11, 2003

  We are not the only ones who miss the late, great Robot Monster Weekend ("Geek Out," September 4). If we were, well, we wouldn't be... More >>

• Geek Out

  published September 4, 2003

  In the military, they call it a debriefing. In other circles, it's an exit interview. Three of the people at this table at Sol's in Deep Ellum... More >>

• Talented Success

  published September 4, 2003

  Is the Mermaid Purse a supergroup? Sort of. All the members of the band are in other bands: singer-guitarist Eric Shutt (Doosu),... More >>

• Richard X

  published September 4, 2003

  On the back cover of the CD booklet that accompanies Richard X's first full-length is an anti-piracy statement from EMI Music (Astralwerks'... More >>

• Down With the Ship

  published July 31, 2003

  Many of you know Jeff Liles, either from his frequent contributions to these pages, his various local bands (among them: Decadent Dub Team,... More >>

• Making Waves

  published July 24, 2003

  "What in the world is going on?" Midlake's Eric Nichelson is speaking into the phone, but he isn't talking to the person on the other... More >>

• Strong Foundation

  published July 3, 2003

  "Never thought I'd still be doing this," Charlie Gilder says, laughing a little. On July 9, it'll be 20 years since Gilder and his partner,... More >>

• Velvet Revolver

  published July 3, 2003

  Little point to picking up the Hulk soundtrack, unless you feel like owning another Danny Elfman score for a comic-book film adaptation... More >>