The 10 Best Concerts in Dallas This Week: Fall Out Boy, the English Beat & More

Dallas music did pretty well for itself last week. Leon Bridges, Kelly Clarkson and Don Henley all scored Grammy nominations, and Bridges doubled down on his week by performing on Saturday Night Live. Equally important (ahem), the Dallas Observer handed out its own music awards and threw a factory-sized party in the process. So, with the end of the year in sight, Dallas is keeping its foot on the gas, with Fall Out Boy, the English Beat and — who else? — the Trans-Siberian Orchestra bringing together the metalheads and Christmas-crazed for this one special time of year. It's a Christmas miracle!
Keith Harkin Band
7:15 p.m. Monday, December 14, at Poor David's Pub, 1313 S. Lamar St., 214-565-1295, $40-$70
Keith Harkin's seen a lot in his career. He and his charming Irish twang have toured across continents for almost eight years now, sharing his acoustic folk with thousands of fans. Lyrically, he's always kept a simple and recognizable palette, singing about the ups and downs of love and appreciating the little things in life. The performance at Poor David's should be intimate and, dare we say it, fairly exclusive, so don't miss out on the chance to catch Keith Harkin live — golden locks and all. Matt Wood
103.7 FM KVIL's Not So Silent Night
With Fall Out Boy, James Bay and George Ezra , 7 p.m. Tuesday, December 15, at South Side Ballroom, 1135 S. Lamar St., 214-421-2021 or southsideballroomdallas.com, $37.50
If you didn’t get your fill of Fall Out Boy this summer at the Boys of Zummer Tour, fear not. You can feast your eyes on the pop-punk loving boys one more time this year at the South Side Ball Room, and on a Tuesday evening no less. Last week on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Fall Out Boy and Boyz II Men mashed up “Motownphilly” together, proving that Patrick Stump’s vocals do truly resonate universally. This is not as odd a pairing as one may think: Over the summer the band toured with Wiz Khalifia and bassist Pete Wentz told Music-News.com that the band is trying to collaborate with more hip-hop artists to appeal to both causal and hardcore fans. (Whatever that means.) KVIL’s Not So Silent Night also welcomes the dreamy English singers George Ezra (you know, that “Budapest” song) and James Bay. Here's to another evening of male-dominated music — I mean, fun! Sara Button
Saviours
8 p.m. Wednesday, December 16, at Three Links, 2704 Elm St., threelinksdeepellum.com, $10
There's probably no more effective way to describe Saviors than by explaining one scene from the video for their single, "Crete'n". After a bunch of gruff biker dudes have some "secret box" stolen from them, the video's protagonist (in sunglasses, with perfectly greasy hair) looks at a man on the floor, his eyes start to glow red and he makes the man start vomiting blood with sheer brainpower. If that doesn't scream "metal," nothing does. MW
Girl in a Coma
With Lonely Horse, 7 p.m. Thursday, December 17, at Club Dada, 2720 Elm St., dadadallas.com, $15/$18
Girl in a Coma is a three-piece band from San Antonio prepping for a quick Texas tour, including stops in Austin, San Antonio, Houston and McAllen, with Dallas kicking off the run. The band, whose name is a reference to a song by the Smiths, is led by Nina Diaz’s powerful and affecting voice, which has often been compared to Björk’s. They’ve opened for Tegan and Sara, the Smashing Pumpkins and their idol Morrissey, who handpicked them for a tour. This headlining event at Club Dada will deservingly put their timeless, grunge-inspired indie rock front and center for their devout fan base to revel in. Mikel Galicia
A.A. Bondy
8 p.m. Thursday, December 17, at Three Links, 2704 Elm St., threelinksdeepellum.com, $13-16
Auguste Arthur Bondy has an ear for folk. His simple, foot-thumping beats keep his songs sure and steady, and his shimmering acoustic guitar hums with a bright optimism that contrasts his frequently somber lyrics. His 2007 release, American Hearts, is aptly named, because of all the qualities it contains, it feels proudly American without beating you over the head with it. His lyrical observations, song structure and intonation all feel like warm echoes of an Americana past, but his reflections steer clear from the realm of nostalgia. He acknowledges the past and respects it plenty, but he refuses to get stuck in it as he moves forward. MW
The English Beat
7 p.m. Friday, December 18, at Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave., 214-824-9933 or granadatheater.com, $25-41
Hard to believe that it's been 36 years since Ranking Roger and Dave Wakeling first formed the Beat and exposed the disaffected youth of England to the sound of ska. The influence of Wakeling and Roger cannot be overstated. Beginning with 1980's I Just Can't Stop It, the band became major stars in England and Australia while creating quite a buzz in the United States. Singles such as "Mirror in the Bathroom" and "Too Nice to Talk To" showcased a gifted band having fun while tackling the thorny issues of unemployment and racial inequality. Needless to say, since 2003, the band discovered financial considerations enough of a reason to reform and tour, although a group of individuals this talented certainly doesn't need an excuse to play: On this night at the Granada, the beats will be solid, the politics earnest and the crowd surely compensated for whatever trifle they are asked to part with at the front door. Darryl Smyers
Steel Panther
With Generator, 9 p.m. Friday, December 18, at House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar St., 214-978-2583 or houseofblues.com, $20-$27.50
Steel Panther — formerly known as Metal Shop, Danger Kitty, Metal Skool and Jam Prancer — play comedy rock. Touring on albums like Balls Out and All You Can Eat, the quartet is known for their exaggerated stage presence and profane lyrics. This is a parody of glam metal and its ridiculous 1980s lifestyle. Glam metal was the wicked stepchild of glam rock like T. Rex and David Bowie. Awful (there, we said it) bands like Mötley Crüe, Poison and Bon Jovi were sleazy, poppy and hairy. But with the support of MTV back when it used to play music videos, hair metal became huge. It had tragic effects on American culture until Nirvana came along and more or less blew these bands off the face of the earth. They disappeared overnight and then no one wanted to be called metal for a long time. But all of us are prone to nostalgia, no matter how embarrassing. A few years ago, a Mötley Crüe cover band played Double Wide and that was actually a blast. Steel Panther will be fun, like a one-night stand you won’t admit to later. Jeremy Hallock
Donny & Marie
8 p.m. Saturday, December 19, at Winstar World Casino and Resort, 777 Casino Ave., Thackerville, Oklahoma, 580-276-4229 or winstarworldcasino.com, $70-125
When it comes to Donny and Marie Osmond, it's very difficult not to think about the infamous sketch on SNL that concludes with the brother and sister act passionately making out. Such was the caricature of this super-clean Mormon duo, who became pop and television personalities in the late '70s. The Osmonds' brand of entertainment was a strictly corporate enterprise, an exceedingly wholesome, totally above-board proposition that harkened back to a pre-Elvis America. Occasionally, the music was passable maudlin pop and Marie was, and still is, a fantastically attractive woman. The duo's shtick, however, has always been perfectly coiffed and manicured, a stage act flawlessly suited to holiday fare. Darryl Smyers
Aaron Watson 
9 p.m. Friday, December 19, at House of Blues, $2200 N. Lamar St., 214-978-2583 or houseofblues.com, $15-$25
This year has been one full of notable, surprising victories for country artists with a higher quality brand than what is typically offered on the radio. In February, west Texas native Aaron Watson tipped the domino that has led Jason Isbell, Chris Stapleton and a few select others to bust boundaries and make headlines when his album The Underdog landed at the top of Billboard’s Country Albums Chart. Watson, a Texas country veteran of 12 albums and thousands of honky-tonk and rodeo gigs, didn’t do anything new on this album to separate himself from the pack. What he did, though, was offer up an album packed with earnest, heartfelt tunes ranging from lilting gospel-tinged tracks to stomping, galloping outlaw-style songs, all while being one of the most reliably fun and energetic live performers from Texas who has managed to reach far north of the Rio Grande. Though mainstream radio may still not be knocking down Watson’s door, that’s no matter, because he is now well past the days of playing a show here to anything less than a packed house — and he’s gotten there simply by doing what he has always done, and doing it well. Kelly Dearmore
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 20 at American Airlines Center, 2500 Victory Ave., 214-222-3687 or americanairlinescenter.com, $36.50-$76.50
The holidays are upon us once again. That means time for family visits, eggnog (the real stuff, please), half-lit strands of tree lights that you swore you just bought and symphonic metal Christmas music. It almost isn’t Christmas if you don’t hear Trans-Siberian Orchestra at least once. Luckily for you, the head-banging holiday metal group will have two performances during their Sunday stop in Dallas at the American Airlines Center. Their first show will be an afternoon matinee of sorts at 3 p.m. and the second is at 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Hallmark Channel, the Ghosts of Christmas Eve is a brand-new show for the symphonic metal group. TSO will play their most popular material as well as material from their new album, Letters From the Labyrinth. Caroline Basile