You know why I'm here. I'm just trying not to get fined. Poetry. From a man, Marshawn Lynch, a.k.a. Beast Mode, who is in fact about that action, boss. Oh wait, sorry. Who cares about the Super Bowl? That may be the biggest event that people around the country will be talking about this weekend, but we can think of a lot of reasons to do something else in Dallas. Like, 10 of them. That's right, here's our picks for the best concerts in Dallas this weekend.
See also: What the Hell is a Ragonk-a-Thon, and Why Are We So Excited for It? The 2014 Dallas Observer Music Awards Winners
Yonatan Gat With Fun Button and La Migra, 9.p.m, Friday, January 30, at Rubber Gloves, 411 East Sycamore Street, Denton, TX, 940-387-7781, $10-$12 Yonatan Gat was once in a garage rock band called Monotonix. The band, from Tel Aviv, Israel, broke up in 2011, but that wasn't before they released two albums, Where Were You When It Happened? and Not Yet on Drag City Records. As a solo artist, the music Gat makes is as high-energy and strident as anything he ever did in the past. His latest effort, an EP with Portuguese drummer Igor Domingues, marries Eastern music influences with rock 'n' roll and is philosophically a child of jazz. Your face gets melted at a whim, so just close your eyes and let the abstract shredding hit you. H. Drew Blackburn
Vacationer With Valise, 8 p.m. Friday, January 30, at Club Dada, 2720 Elm St., dadadallas.com, $12-$14 You ever wonder what happened to the guy from the Starting Line? I'm talking about singer Kenny Vasoli, whose vocals and coming-of-age lyrics made the band a staple of the 2000s pop-rock scene. Well, it shouldn't be too hard to get you caught up: Vasoli has been in Vacationer. What is Vacationer, you ask? They are an acclaimed "nu hula" (yeah, the subgenre game has gone too far) band based out of Brooklyn. Formed in 2010, Vacationer has made a lot of, forgive the pun, waves in the indie rock community touring with many of the genre's hottest acts. They released their debut LP Gone in 2012, incorporating elements of tropical music styles (hence hula) along with a lot of contemporary music elements (notably electronic). This is all in keeping with Vasoli's original designs for his new, post-Starting Line band, as he wanted to do something that incorporated electronics after seeing LCD Soundsystem at Bonnaroo in 2010. Catching Vacationer at Deep Ellum hotspot Club Dada is as good a place as any to pick up on those warm-weather vibes. James Khubiar
Paul Collins and The Beat With The Rich Hands, The Lash Outs, The Gabies, 9 p.m., Saturday January 31, at Rubber Gloves, 411 East Sycamore Street, Denton, 940-387-7781, $10-$12 Paul Collins has had a long and fruitful career in music. He studied music at the Julliard School in his hometown of New York City. He was in a power pop trio in the The Nerves in the 1970s. He's toured and released albums as a solo act. This Saturday, Paul Collins will bring his cult favorite power pop band, The Beat, to Denton. Since its incarnation in 1979, The Beat has influenced many a band's that have followed and featured a revolving door of musicians. The King of Power Pop title for Paul Collins has been well earned. HDB
The Roomsounds 10:30 p.m., Friday, January, 30, at Adairs Saloon, 2624 Commerce Street, Free With roots finely tied to Southern blues rock, Dallas' The Roomsounds are all at once an ode to the past and the South itself. Upbeat guitar riffs and lyrics full of nonchalant melancholy power the band. The obvious influences of Tom Petty, the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin rear their head in a comforting manner. Their self-titled debut album from 2012 is full of the band's signature catchy hooks charismatic thunder, which is even more of a delight to witness in the flesh. HDB
Dark Rooms With The Orange, and Adam & Ev, 9 p.m. Saturday, January 31, at Double Wide, 3510 Commerce St., double-wide.com, $5 Dark Rooms is fronted by seasoned violinist and vocalist, Daniel Hart. The band is an indie-rock outfit that incorporates said violin and electronic sounds to create a sensual noir atmosphere. Dark Room's self-titled debut album from 2013 finds itself being mysterious and melancholy at times and throttling us into a groove the next. Generally, when we're welcomed into Dark Rooms' luminescent territory, the production is warm and full, developing a photo of unrest coupled with escape. When you hear it (and see it) live, it becomes a wild, rollicking beast, the modern-day incarnate of Talking Heads a la Stop Making Sense. HDB
Shinyribs With The O's, 6 p.m. Saturday, January 31, at Kessler Theater, 1230 W. Davis St., 214-272-8346 or thekessler.org, $20 It's a funny story how Shinyribs started. Kevin Russell bought his family a new car in 2007 and took up playing at Under the Volcano in Houston once a month. He drove all the way from Austin to do it. This has since developed into a full-fledged band. Russell was a member of the currently on hiatus country act the Gourds beforehand. Presumably this is because Shinyribs are going pretty strong in all of their country-soul-electric-blues glory. It's wise to pop by and catch their spirited original songs or reinterpretations of pop classic's that transform into a whole 'nother animal. HDB
RAGONK-A-THON With Son of Stan, Sealion, the Outfit, TX, Bummer Vacation, -topic, Bobby Sessions, the Azalea Project and surprises guests, 7 p.m. Saturday, January 31, at Trees, 2709 Elm St., 214-741-1122 or treesdallas.com, $10 Poor T.C. Flemming. He made one verbal miscue while talking about Renaldo McClain and "Ragonk" was born. And since that faithful moment fans of the Ticket have run with it, and run with it, and run with it ever since. There's Ragonk songs, #RAGONK is all over Twitter, there's merch, an interactive web site, a radio 15 for 15 segment, RAGONK signs are making it on TV and now we have the RAGONK-A-THON, a five-act concert that's invading Trees this weekend. It's as if we collectively deiced the right thing for our bottoms was to have a Ragonking good time at the expense of poor Flemming's pride. So, if you're a P1 to be one you'll make sure to be at Trees to cheer along as some of the best local acts flat the five and play special sets complete with Ragonk songs and TC's heart break. There'll even be "special guests." Sounds downright ragonkulous to us. Jaime-Paul Falcon
Cannibal Corpse With Behemoth, Aeon, Tribulation 7 p.m. Saturday, January 31, at House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar, 214-978-2583 or houseofblues.com/dallas, $$28-$33 Cannibal Corpse hails from the frigid land of Buffalo, New York. Since 1988, they've risen in the ranks among heavy metal acts across the globe. That's thirteen studio albums worth of work they put in. They've also crafted on of the most disturbing songs ever in "I Cum Blood," which is premise that can make anybody vomit, vomit and an affliction that we recommend you go see the doctor if it is plaguing you. HDB
Raquel Nguyen w Blu Pearl, 10 p.m. Sunday, February 1, at Sundown at Granada Theater, 3520 Greenville Ave., 214-823-8305 or granadatheater.com, Free Raquel Nguyen and Blu Pearl have a residency going on at the Sundown at Granada Theater. You'll catch them every Sunday at on Lower Greenville for the next couple of weeks. What you'll run into here are some heartfelt, soulful blues. It's the type of music where you feel like the guitar is speaking to you, bemoaning and sharing its pain. And as per usual, being a show at the Sundown means it's free, which is always a very welcome occurrence. HDB
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