Alan Ayo

The Dwarves Left the Stage at Three Links in Shambles Halfway Through Their Set

We're fewer than five songs into the Dwarves' set, Friday night at Three Links, and the music has stopped, the drums have been kicked over, and the band has left the stage. No one seems immediately clear on what happened at that moment. No one, that is, except the guy standing right in front of me. ... More >>

The Fifteen Worst Make Out Records Ever

It's a classic Valentine's Day dilema -- you've planned ahead, made the sweeping gestures, made eyes across a white tablecloth and now you're ready to express yourself with some good old fashioned parts-rubbing. Whatever you do, don't play any of these records.

This Week In Print: Tiger Dick, Dallas Distortion Music and More Ringing in the Ears

This week in print, I check in with Sarah Alexander and Nevada Hill, two Denton musicians who host Tiger Dick, a weekly radio show devoted to the unheard and unseen. Dallas Distortion Music chats with Alan Ayo about their first year in business. Kelly Dearmore asks Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial ... More >>

Watch: Descender -- "Armor"

The cover of Descender's latest.​In this week's upcoming dead-tree issue of DC9, Alan Ayo takes a close look at Descender's sophomore release, Dark Water, which he sees (SPOILER ALERT!) as a fresh beginning for a band, which, despite featuring members of Deep Ellum mainstays Doosu and Burden Broth ... More >>

Staff Trax: The Philistines Jr., Typhoon, Kylesa, Amy Cook and Fences

Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. Consider it a chance for you readers to get some more insight into ... More >>

Staff Trax: The Futureheads, Fake Problems, Small Black, Ashley Ray, Alex Parks

Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. Consider it a chance for you readers to get some more insight into ... More >>

Staff Trax: Röyksopp, Trippple Nippples, Ride, Jawbox, Buffalo Tom, Wilco and Toto

Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. Consider it a chance for you readers to get some more insight into ou ... More >>

Staff Trax: Beat Connection, Spinnerette, The Mavericks, Coheed & Cambria, Killing Joke

Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. Consider it a chance for you readers to get some more insight into ou ... More >>

Gig Alert and Bonus MP3s: Andrew Delaney & The Horse You Rode In On Pass Along A Few Songs, Play City Tavern Tonight

Andrew Delaney​Even though local alt-country singer/songwriter Andrew Delaney released his last album, Scoundrels, this past June--which Alan Ayo gave a positive review in print a few weeks back--the guy is already prepping a new album.The new record is to be called Would I Lie To You? and it coul ... More >>

Staff Trax: Crystal Castles, Galaxie 500, BrakesBrakesBrakes, Christina Aguilera Covering John Lennon and The Bouncing Souls.

Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. Consider it a chance for you readers to get some more insight into ... More >>

Staff Trax: Slayer, Future Islands, The Lilys, Dinosaur Jr, Be Your Own Pet and Captain Beefheart

Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. Consider it a chance for you readers to get some more insight into ... More >>

Staff Trax: Bear in Heaven; Does It Offend You, Yeah?; The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy; The Swell Season; The Go! Team

Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. Consider it a chance for you readers to get some more insight into ... More >>

Staff Trax: Bad Brains, The Broken West, Humble Pie and The Cooper Temple Clause

​Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. Consider it a chance for you readers to get some more insight i ... More >>

Staff Trax: Thieves Like Us, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Yeasayer, KISS, Goldrush and Owl City

​ "Drugs In My Body" - Thieves Like UsI first staggered upon Thieves Like Us a few years back while carelessly clicking in and out of the blogospherem, and my first exposure to the electro trio was via its video for "Drugs in My Body." Since then, the band has produced several videos, EPs and, las ... More >>

THE CRAZY IVANS

Dive! (Self-released)

Good Friday: MFM, Jacob Wick, Yells At Eels, Matthew Gray, Slobberbone, Misfits And More

​If you're not too busy on this Black Friday weekend--collecting everything you're owed and striking all the big red words from your little black book--you ought to go catch some live music. First, the shows we've already mentioned. Tonight, Cursive plays at Hailey's in Denton and Ryan Bingham and ... More >>

Dallas Observer Music Awards

Among Those Laid Off By Clear Channel Are Three Familiar Local On-Air Talents

Courtesy George Gimarc/94.5 ReunionVery Edge-y: The Edge's Josh Venable with U2's The EdgeBack in January, Clear Channel laid off 1,800 employees, several of whom were good Friends of Unfair Park and most of whom worked in ad sales. Today comes news that the San Antonio-based conglomerate has laid o ... More >>

What's Left of the Dial

Radio Ready

How The Vanished's "My Favorite Scar" became my favorite guilty pleasure

Best Radio DJ

Ayo, KDGE-FM (102.1)

Meet the (High School) Press

Rock, journalism and school kids: Can you say "corrupting the youth"?

Scene, Heard

Selected songs disappear from the playlists at Clear Channel stations