After what has felt like weeks of rain and gloomy weather, partying outdoors is probably the last thing on most people's minds. But along with a full slate of indoor music offerings, this weekend offers several outdoor festivals, including a couple sure to bring out progressives. And there's good news on the weather front: the forecast calls for cloudy conditions but no rain on Saturday and Sunday.
First, let's rehash what we've already mentioned. Tonight, L.A.X and DJ Orion will represent Austin dance music at the Lounge on Elm, The Phuss play at the Curtain Club, and it's Britney, bitch, at the AAC.
Saturday, Warcola plays its CD release show at Muddy Waters, Vanilla Ice rocks the mic like a vandal at Trees, Motorhead will motorize the Palladium and Living Colour reemerges from obscurity for a show at the Granada.
And throughout the weekend, you can polka and chicken-dance to your drunken heart's content at the Addison Oktoberfest (be sure not to miss the dachshund race on Sunday) or check out Billy Jo Shaver, Gary P. Nunn, Mark McKinney and more at Grapevine's Grapefest.
Of course, that's not all, folks. First off, this is Pride Festival weekend, culminating Sunday with the Dallas Pride Parade which starts on Wycliffe Avenue between Cedar Springs and Maple and heads down Cedar Springs to the festival site in Lee Park. Click here for a list of other gay and gay-friendly Pride events throughout the weekend. And here are a few other musical highlights of the weekend.
Kings And Queens Pride Kickoff Party with Killtron, Schwa, Genova, DJ RedEye
Friday, September 18, at Fallout Lounge
A night of high-energy dance music opens up Pride Festival weekend in the cozy confines of the Fallout Lounge in Exposition Park. Former Dallas Observer clubs editor Rich Lopez has an interesting (if one-sided) article in the Dallas Voice about how former Suite basement promoter Mollotova ended up moving this event to its current location.
RTB2, Dem Southernfolkz, Slider Pines
Friday, September 18, at The Double-Wide Bar
Two
highlights of the Dallas Observer Music Awards ceremony were the
performances by rootsy rock duo RTB2 and organic hip-hop act Dem
Southernfolkz (who have been recording for a forthcoming free EP). Here's a great chance to catch them together again. This
is a solid bill all the way, and a refreshingly diverse one.
Matthew Gray Delves..., Spooky Folk, Seryn
Friday, September 18, at Opening Bell Southside
Good news for those who don't like crossing LBJ: you don't have to leave Dallas to hear three solid Denton folk acts.
Bavu Blakes, Verbal Seed, Crew 54, Original Soul
Saturday, September 19, at The Lounge on Elm Street
Mr. Blakes, Verbal Seed and Original Soul ought to be familiar to
Dallas hip-hop heads by now. Crew 54 is a soulful hip-hop outfit from
Killeen that swings from throwback gospel to gritty minimal East Coast
beats to Southern bounce. The show is $15, but if you say "Twitter" at
the door you can get in for $10.
Spector 45, DJ Sista Whitenoise
Saturday, September 19, at Dad's Broadway Skateland, Mesquite
The Best Punk Act DOMA must have gone to Frankie 45's head. Not only is the band performing at this Assassination City roller derby bout, but apparently the guys will be taking on a team of AC derby girls in a quick bout. Amazingly, the roller derby trend is not only still going strong but even going mainstream, as Drew Barrymore proves. There are still plenty of young women who hate their dads and haven't moved on to burlesque yet.
Heart Eyes Open, Monahans, The Rain Horses
Saturday, September 19, at The Double-Wide Bar
Back in the mid-90s at Lake Highlands High School, Rob Sanchez was widely regarded as the school's best drummer until he graduated and UFOFU's Ben Curtis took that honor. It doesn't take long to hear that Sanchez, now going by Roberto, is still a monster behind the kit; in fact, his drumming is the first thing this Pitchfork review mentions about the Austin band's Misra debut Dim Aurora. But the Centro-matic labelmates, formerly known as Milton Mapes, create textured roots- and folk-influenced rock that's equally bombastic and subtle--and much more than just a drum nerd's fantasy. After that, stick around and open your ears to Heart Eyes Open's shimmering, sweeping shoegaze. Oh, and you can also catch Monahans Friday night at Hailey's in Denton
Leonard Cohen Tribute featuring New Science Projects, Starhead, Bobby Weaver, more
Sunday, September 20, at Dan's Silverleaf in Denton
A very diverse lineup of folkies and rockers will pay tribute to Cohen in honor of his 75th (!) birthday.
Fish Fry Bingo, more, at the Block Party Peace Festival
Sunday, September 20, in the Bishop Arts District
I can't find much information about what's going on at this Dallas Peace Center event, but I do know that along with the usual festival activities (music, children's events, face-painting), it's supposed to include umbrella painting as part of the Umbrellas For Peace global art project. Hopefully the weather will stay dry and there'll be no practical need for the umbrellas.
