We know that the weekend is your favorite chunk of days in the week because you aren't crazy. Or are you? Well, that's neither here nor there. We welcome loony and sane folks alike to check out these concerts this weekend. We've got Nipsey Hussle over at The Prophet Bar. Doomtree's at Trees. Robyn Hitchcock's playing The Kessler. The Four Tops have a set at Winstar. And Pageantry does Dan's Silver Leaf in Denton. There are also a few more. Here are our picks for the weekend.
See also: Denton's Pageantry Find Out What the Fuss is About at the CMJ Music Marathon True Widow Signs to Legendary Label Relapse Records
Doomtree With Open Mike Eagle and Buffalo Black, 8 p.m. Friday, February 6, at Trees, 2709 Elm St., treesdallas.com, $14 A hip-hop collective from Minneapolis since 2001, Doomtree will perform in Dallas a week after releasing their third album, All Hands. In the Twin Cities, this group of seven rappers, producers, singers and writers is known for their annual "Doomtree Blowout" events that showcase the group as well as other local talent, with most of the performances being held at the legendary First Avenue club in downtown Minneapolis. Doomtree is also a record label, releasing the group's albums as well as releases from several other projects they are involved with. P.O.S is perhaps the group's best-known member, with solo albums and countless side projects including Marijuana Deathsquads and Gayngs. Another well-known member, Dessa, is a part of Welcome to Night Vale, the bizarre and addictive podcast that sold out Lakewood Theater last March. The members of Doomtree come from different musical backgrounds, so genres like punk, jazz, rock, and pop are all absorbed in the melee. Expect a set filled with infectious beats and dynamic vocal interactions. Jeremy Hallock
Pageantry With Deerpeople, Jacob Metcalf, 9 p.m., Friday, February 6, at Dan's Silver Leaf, 103 Industrial St, Denton, TX 76201, http://www.danssilverleaf.com, $7 Pageantry could be the next band to emerge as an indie darling from Denton. The band had the honor of playing at last year's CMJ Music Marathon, the country's biggest music industry event, out in New York City. Their mix of elements of dreamy lo-fi, pop and shoe-gaze has set them apart as a unique voice in a town filled to the brim with bands. Catch this three-piece before they blow up. H. Drew Blackburn
Mingo Fishtrap 8 p.m. Friday, February 6, at House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar, 214-978-2583 or houseofblues.com/dallas, $20 Mingo Fishtrap once belonged to us. They were formed in the mid '90s north of the dial up in Denton. Now they're based in the live music capitol of the world, Austin. (How original, right?) The soul and funk band is an eight-piece with various brass, woodwinds and guitaris. Check them out for a gritty, modernized take on the legendary stuff you've heard from the definitive soul people at Motown and Stax Records. H. Drew Blackburn
Nipsey Hussle 8 p.m. Friday, February 6, at The Prophet Bar, 2548 Elm St., 214.742.3667 or theprophetbar.com $28 Nipsey Hussle is one of Los Angeles' new generation of rappers. Along with the likes of YG, Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q, he's amongst the new guard of MCs who are holding it down for the city's proud rap tradition. Nipsey has been a star within the rap community playing a brand of West Coast rap similar to the one that's made YG famous. This new generation has not lost sight of their predecessors and do their best to honor the likes of Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Not necessarily being a megastar à la Kanye West, but more of a "your rapper's favorite rapper" type thing. His latest album, Mailbox Money, was released on New Year's Eve, including a limited edition batch of 100 CDs being sold for $1000 each. He has sold 60 at the time of his writing. We wonder if he'll sell any more while he's in town at the Prophet Bar on Friday. James Khubiar
Pharmakon With Awen, Sin Motivo, 8 p.m., Saturday, February 7, at Sons of Hermann Hall, 3414 Elm Street, $12 Born Margaret Chardiet, Pharmakon has been an integral part of New York City's industrial and noise scenes for the better part of over seven years, since she was only 17. Her sound is brash, abrasive, and confrontational. It's an expressive audio manifestation of night terrors and anxiety. Pharmakon isn't here to make us ponder love, dandelions and butterflies, but rather the grime beneath the surface. H. Drew Blackburn
Chipper Jones With Cantina, Holiday Mountain, Catamaran 8 p.m. Saturday, February 7, at Club Dada, 2720 Elm St. Dallas, TX 75226, $9-$12 Chipper Jones is a legendary baseball player. He played third base for the Atlanta Braves for 19 years, got a world series ring in 1995 and was the NL MVP in 1999. He's a first ballot hall of famer. It's bewildering to think of why a duo from Austin decided to name their band Chipper Jones, as this is terrible for Googling. But, this ambient pop rock band makes a case for why you should let room in your brain for another Chipper Jones. The guitars are bright and carry out a melody just as beautiful as any voice could. H. Drew Blackburn
True Widow With The Cush and The Angelus, 9 p.m., Saturday, February 7, at Three Links, 2704 Elm St., threelinksdeepellum.com, $7-$10 Thanks to this band, one of the longest album titles you'll most likely ever come across exists. For the record, the band's sophomore album is called As High as the Highest Heavens and from the Center to the Circumference of the Earth, which is a definite mouthful. Hailing from Dallas, the drone metal band True Widow's mantra is to punch you with a heavy, lethargic, sludgy punch. They're a cross between an insightful indie band and loud metal band. It's a match made in stoner rock heaven. H. Drew Blackburn
Robyn Hitchcock With Emma Swift, 6:30 p.m., Sunday, February 8, at The Kessler Theater, 1230 W. Davis St., 214-272-8346 or thekessler.org, $20-$30 Robyn Hitchcock has recorded over 500 songs, which is a helluva lot. To add to that feat, Hitchcock's released 20 studio albums and a handful of live albums, rarities and B-side records as well. Basically, he's a prolific guy. The London-born musician first gained notoriety when he founded the art-rock band, the Soft Boys, in 1976. Since then he's become a cult favorite with an expansive solo catalog that's full of rich songwriting and a dedicated fan base. It's yet another show that will be perfect for the intimate environs of The Kessler. H. Drew Blackburn
Motion City Soundtrack 6:30 p.m. Sunday, February 8, at House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar, 214-978-2583 or houseofblues.com/dallas, $35 Motion City Soundtrack is a band that is known for making a particular genre of music that is referred to as emo rock or post punk. The band is sad and they aren't shy about letting you know just that. Yes, the hooks are bright and poppy, but it's important that you should know that melancholy is the real deal out here. Though it is dark, there is a light that never goes out. (Wait a minute, that sounds like a different band, doesn't it? Oh well.) H. Drew Blackburn
The Four Tops 3 p.m. Sunday, Feburary 8, at Winstar Casino, 777 Casino Ave. Thackerville, OK, 800-622-6317, $18-$42 The Winstar nostalgia train makes another stop in Motown this weekend as the Four Tops pull into Thackerville to attract lovers of classic big band soul and penny slots. The classic vocal four piece has been pumping out upbeat jams since the group was formed as the Four Ames in 1953, peaking in the '60s and riding the wave of soul love through the next five decades. And, while this isn't the original Four Tops (cancer sucks, people), it's still an opportunity to catch some history. All you have to do is make the short trip up I-35, avoid the cigarette smoke and try not to get stuck at the Dolly Parton slot machine. Sounds like a hell of a Sunday afternoon to us. Jaime-Paul Falcon
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