Quite a variety of musical happenings this weekend; and it's a nice mix of national and local fare.
First the shows already covered in print or in the blog:
Jesse did a nice job hipping you to tonight's Chalie Louvin/AM Ramblers show in Fort Worth. I initially and erroneously told you about Richard Lloyd's Wednesday performance at Dada that turns out to be tonight. And we gave away some tickets to tonight's Eleven Hundred Springs show, also in Cowtown.
Pete's great story on Slow Roosevelt clued you into their return to the Curtain Club on Saturday and the print edition also offered a piece on Sleepytime Gorilla Museum who will abuse the Longhorn Saloon tomorrow night as well. We also mentioned the 100 Damned Guns City Tavern show and gave away more tickets, this time to Jason Isbell's show at the Granada. And Daniel Francis Doyle's album release in Richardson got a recommendation on the home page calendar for Sunday.
Now, how about some other choice choices?
Terri Hendrix, Lloyd Maines Friday, May 1, at Dan's Silverleaf This pair tours frequently and each time they make it to our area, it's always a songwriting clinic. Maines, besides being the father to Dixie Chick Natalie Maines, is an acclaimed guitarist and producer who has worked with a who's who of Texas music. Hendrix, who hails from San Marcos, is a vastly underappreciated performer who has quietly released nearly a dozen high quality efforts, including 2007's The Spiritual Kind. True Texas country/folk doesn't get much more pure than that of Hendrix and Maines.
Jessie Frye, Free Sleep Arena, Andrew Tinker & The Goodnites, The Donatellos Friday, May 1, at Liquid Lounge Although she's the opener on this crowded local bill, Arlington's Jessie Frye is an interesting pop/alt-country up and comer who recently released her debut EP. Frye doesn't make it to Dallas as often as she should and this is a nice chance to catch her appealing, NPRish folk noir. Caleb Flores and Corey Bivings are a rather homely duo who ply their craft under the banner Free Sleep Arena. They have an EP in the works and have an interesting, lo-fi, Yo La Tengoish sound. Andrew Tinker is an earnest pop/rocker from Denton whose music fits the mood and groove of Frye's quite nicely. On the whole, an intriguing collection of acts from all over the metroplex.
Bob Schneider, Charlie Mars Friday, May1, at House of Blues Schneider is the guy from Austin who basically fell asleep on me during a phone interview. Hell, even my own wife doesn't fall asleep on me! Anyhow, despite the snoozefest, Schneider's an energetic performer who never fails to thrill any women in attendance. His genre hopping pop/funk is well suited to the cougar-infested confines of the House of Blues. Opener Charlie Mars is just as hunky as Schneider, so expect quite a bit of between song screaming.
Kenny Chesney Saturday, May 2, at Pizza Hut Park Chesney's one of the few megastars in current country music who ain't a sap. Sure, he pushes his hat too far down on his head and his sleeveless t-shirt look is cheesy eye candy for the yentas, but the guy's songs are pretty damn solid. A ballad such as "I'm Alive" wouldn't sound out of place on a primo Merle Haggard album and that's some high praise.
Dave Matthews Saturday, May 2, at Superpages.com Center Anyone ever see the kids' movie "Because of Winn-Dixie"? Dave Matthews has a role in it as, you guessed it, a singer who just happens to work in a pet store. How adorable is that? Matthews is the musical equivalent of s'mores, super-sweet and not real good for you, but he has definitely struck a chord with the middle-aged house frau.
Ghoultown Saturday, May 2, at Doublewide Celebrating the horror/country-punk band's 10-year anniversary, Ghoultown's Lyle Steadham--I mean, Count Lyle--promises a show to remember. Hell, it's free and the band hasn't been seen out very much lately. Austin's The Skeletons open up, so just consider this as Halloween in Spring.
The Uncontrollable Urge CD Release Party Saturday, May 2, at Reno's Chop Shop It seems like ages since Jacob Sereno and the other mutants in the Uncontrollable Urge have ventured out and played a show. Looks as if these experimental rockers have a debut CD to unleash upon an unsuspecting public. Any band named after a Devo song is OK in my book. If you're looking for something truly wrong to witness, you need to check out just how uncontrollable these urges can be.
