Arts, Entertainment, and Media

Summer Movies 2012: The Season Brings a Crop of Films Suitable for All Ages -- Including Adults

So Many Questions About The American Bible Challenge, Which Casts in Dallas Saturday

So. This happened yesterday: Hi, I hope all is well with you! I wanted to let you know that GSN (Game Show Network) is coming to Vista Ridge Mall in Dallas next Saturday, June 2nd looking for Dallas' best and brightest contestants to cast in our upcoming series, "THE AMERICAN BIBLE CHALLENGE," a ... More >>

A Not-So-Vulgar Discussion of Pantera's Vulgar Display of Power

In honor of the recent 20th anniversary reissue of Pantera's Vulgar Display of Power, two music writers sat around a kitchen table and talked about it. One is clearly older than the other one. Eric Grubbs: When that record came out in 1992, what do you remember, aside from grunge and Nirvana being ... More >>

Becki Howard: "I've Learned That Booking Only Bands You Love Isn't Always the Most Fiscally Responsible Thing To Do!"

Becki Howard's role might be more behind the scenes nowadays, but she's done her fair share in the spotlight over the years, playing violin on three Paper Chase albums, and performing live with The Crash That Took Me, Sarah Jaffe and, more recently, Bethan. It's likely her passion for performing, ... More >>

Michael Sweet of Stryper: "We Have Always Thrown Bibles And We Always Will."

When the Christian rock band Stryper first emerged in 1983, many people thought they were both a marketing ploy and tasteless joke. After 1986's To Hell With the Devil sold over two million copies, so-called Christian bands started popping up everywhere. Somehow, brothers Michael and Robert Sweet h ... More >>

Drake - Gexa Energy Pavilion - 5/16/12

Drake Gexa Energy Pavilion Wednesday, May 16 Q: How Many Writers Does It Take To Review a Drake Concert? In the span of Drake's set last night, I felt alternately excited, flummoxed and bored, which is sort of the trajectory of the first month or so of a doomed relationship, where you're waiting ... More >>

For Him, For Her, For You. Escapades.

Drake Gexa Energy Pavilion Wednesday, May 16 Q: How Many Writers Does It Take To Review a Drake Concert? In the span of Drake's set last night, I felt alternately excited, flummoxed and bored, which is sort of the trajectory of the first month or so of a doomed relationship, where you're waiting ... More >>

Hollywood Records' John Nicholson Knows How To Make Pyrotechnics Out of Tomato Juice Cans and Gunpowder

Welcome to Local Music 'Mericans, where we get to know the people behind the scenes in Dallas/Fort Worth music. Lima, Peru, native John Nicholson has helped out a lot of DFW musicians over the years. His early gigs included Sound Warehouse, Bill's Records and label promotion for Polygram, A&M and V ... More >>

The Problem With... "Payphone" by Maroon 5, featuring Wiz Khalifa

Although I pride myself in finding patterns and themes in pop music, Maroon 5's recent nostalgic theme came at me like a curveball. I should have seen it before, with song titles such as "Moves Like Jagger" and singer Adam Levine's guest gig on "Stereo Hearts" with Gym Class Heroes. But Maroon 5's l ... More >>

Seven Mainstream/Top 40 Country Acts That Don't Suck

For almost as long as country music has lived as a genre, the argument about what makes a song, album, singer or group "country" has existed. Depending on who you ask, over time, and especially in the past couple of decades, country music has either splintered into dozens of wildly different and com ... More >>

The Best Five Dallas Venues to See a Show for Free

In these economic times, the live music budget in many households is one of the first to go. When things get tight you either need superior finagling skills or a place to see free shows. Of course, there are tons of free shows in town. In fact, if you head over to Potbelly right now you'll catch a g ... More >>

Preview: Jane’s Addiction at McFarlin Auditorium

In these economic times, the live music budget in many households is one of the first to go. When things get tight you either need superior finagling skills or a place to see free shows. Of course, there are tons of free shows in town. In fact, if you head over to Potbelly right now you'll catch a g ... More >>

Tonight: Patio Sessions and a Chance To Win Homegrown Tickets

Have you been to Patio Sessions at AT&T Performing Arts Center yet? Best get thee there before the weather goes from pleasant to "blow dryer on full blast immediately in your face when you walk out the door." The event is free and you can bring booze. It's the simple things in life, really. Tonigh ... More >>

Ten of This Weekend's Top Shows: Jane's Addiction, Marilyn Manson, Memoryhouse and More

Jane's Addiction, The Duke SpiritThursday, May 10, at McFarlin AuditoriumAfter seeing Perry Farrell (who is strangely older than my parents) perform a really bad set at South By Southwest a few years ago, seeing Jane's Addiction doesn't pique my interest as much as opening psych-tinged act The Duke ... More >>

So Much Better Than A Tote Bag

Jane's Addiction, The Duke SpiritThursday, May 10, at McFarlin AuditoriumAfter seeing Perry Farrell (who is strangely older than my parents) perform a really bad set at South By Southwest a few years ago, seeing Jane's Addiction doesn't pique my interest as much as opening psych-tinged act The Duke ... More >>

10 Top Acts With Dual Drummers

Tonight, The Melvins will perform at Trees. While perusing the Internet in search of photos, I realized the band has two drummers. I thought about how pointless and excessive it is to actually employ two drummers to support a band, but then I considered how powerful the result can be. Two drummers s ... More >>

Diavol-ouch

Tonight, The Melvins will perform at Trees. While perusing the Internet in search of photos, I realized the band has two drummers. I thought about how pointless and excessive it is to actually employ two drummers to support a band, but then I considered how powerful the result can be. Two drummers s ... More >>

Mike and the Moonpies Talk Gary Stewart, Alan Jackson and Uniting Cowboys and Hipsters

It's a Tuesday night at Austin's Horseshoe Lounge and two members of the band Mike and the Moonpies are here to do an interview. Frontman Mike Harmeier is wearing snakeskin boots and a Dwight Yoakam trucker cap. Lead guitarist Catlin Rutherford vaguely resembles Chris Hillman when he wears a mustach ... More >>

Beneath The Dead Eyes: Two Writers Correspond Via Letters About Boy Bands

Welcome to Dear Audra/Dear Hunter, where Audra Schroeder and Hunter Hauk correspond through a series of dramatic letters about pop culture that flummoxes us, like we're Marlene Dietrich and Noël Coward. Dear Audra, I don't know if I can handle it again. I've been seeing headlines to the effect o ... More >>

Top 10 Modern Hip-Hop Ad-Libs

Throughout hip-hop's history, rappers have sought to distinguish themselves through a variety of methods. While some have focused exclusively on lyrical content, others have focused on style and cadence. As of late, hip-hop has experienced a fundamental shift from an emphasis on substance to an emph ... More >>

13 Shows To See This Weekend: The Beach Boys, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Olivia Tremor Control & More

Beach BoysThursday, April 26, at Verizon TheatreIt's the first time the Beach Boys will feature Brian Wilson on tour in decades. Their voices aren't as pure as they were on their near-perfect album Pet Sounds, but even at half strength the performance should be good.Steve EarleThursday, April 2 ... More >>

Some Thoughts On The "Digital Resurrection" of Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes

News came this week that TLC plans on touring again. Yes, even the "L." In our post-Coachella hologram world, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes will be joining the tour through use of video projections, announced exactly ten years after her death in 2002. Cue heavy, sad, sigh. I remember MTV News sharing the ... More >>

Ben Folds Plays With the Fort Worth Symphony

News came this week that TLC plans on touring again. Yes, even the "L." In our post-Coachella hologram world, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes will be joining the tour through use of video projections, announced exactly ten years after her death in 2002. Cue heavy, sad, sigh. I remember MTV News sharing the ... More >>

11 Top Show Announcements: Roky Erickson, Linkin Park, Mute Math, The Jacksons & More

Roky Erickson, James Hall & The Futura Bold Friday, July 13, at The Kessler Theater This all-Texas bill makes for one of the best shows coming to the Kessler in the near future. Roky Erickson is a legend with a riveting story and James Hall is one of the greatest frontmen to ever grace a Dall ... More >>

Don McLeroy, Noted Texas Creationist, Braved the Colbert Report Last Night

The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive It's one of those interviews that probably would've worked better a half hour earlier on the Daily Show, since Colbert can't quite accomplish what he wants to question-wise and still let his charac ... More >>

Ray Luzier of Korn: "I Almost Peed My Pants Before My First Gig With David Lee Roth."

Before earning a spot as the drummer for Korn, Ray Luzier played some high-profile gigs with David Lee Roth and Stone Temple Pilots. So the guy obviously knows something about working with temperamental frontmen. Speaking from a car while driving from Abilene to Lubbock, and in anticipation of Kor ... More >>

Opeth, Mastodon, Ghost - Palladium Ballroom - 4/19/12

Opeth, Mastodon, Ghost Palladium Ballroom Thursday, April 19 Last night started with Sweden's Ghost, a wonderfully over-the-top six-piece that lit uncountable amounts of incense before they even hit the stage. I felt like I had entered a heavy metal meditation therapy session. Featuring costumes th ... More >>

Catching Up With Dallas' Open Mic Emcee Jesse Porter: "When You Create Different Lanes, Everybody Eats."

Over the course of the past year, Jesse Porter, with the help of CoffeeMusicHub, has been an instrumental part of the local hip-hop scene, providing a platform for talented up-and-comers to flex their skills and gain the notoriety they need. We covered the scene back in September, but these days the ... More >>

NPR Voice Diane Rehm Speaks Out on Parkinson's

Over the course of the past year, Jesse Porter, with the help of CoffeeMusicHub, has been an instrumental part of the local hip-hop scene, providing a platform for talented up-and-comers to flex their skills and gain the notoriety they need. We covered the scene back in September, but these days the ... More >>

The Arts District's Food-Truck Plaza is Back, But It Really Shouldn't Be This Hard, Dallas

Yesterday the Dallas Morning News reported that food trucks serving the Arts District had received notices of violations. They were operating in a public right of way and that's no good. The trucks responded by moving from where they were -- a plaza across from the AT&T Performing Arts Center -- in ... More >>

AV The Great: "The Hip-Hop Coming Out Of Southeast Denton Is Strong."

You could call it a tale of two cities. Within Denton city limits lie two distinct communities separated by nothing more than railroad tracks and a sign. On one side, you have the Denton everyone thinks of: Dan's Silverleaf, great indie bands, and the Courthouse. On the other side, you have Southeas ... More >>

2 Chainz - Main Event Center - 4/6/12

2 Chainz Main Event Center Friday, April 6 Friday night, precipitous persona 2 Chainz arrived in a white stretch Hummer limousine, packed full of women and choice entourage at the Main Event Center. With a wingspan rivaling most NBA power forwards, 2 Chainz's menacing frame appeared not a moment to ... More >>

Preview: 2 Chainz at Main Street Event Center

Friday, April 6, at Main Street Event Center

Santigold, Sucre, ZZ Top and More Show Announcements

It's been nearly a four-year wait on the new Santigold album, Master of My Make-Believe, which is set to drop on May 1 via Downtown Records. On the new album, Santigold's impressive blend of hip-hop and dance music has been bolstered by production from Diplo, Dave Sitek of TV On the Radio and Nick Z ... More >>

East Soid! Join the Inaugural East Dallas Indie Crawl Tomorrow.

Remember when the city was divided into two sides and it was all East side versus West side? Just when you thought that violent feud was over, BAM, East Dallas hits hard with the first ever East Dallas Indie Crawl. The bar-hopping event starts at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, where Calhoun an ... More >>

Anoushka Shankar: "All Music, Unless Made by Aliens, Should Be Considered World Music."

Sitar virtuoso Anoushka Shankar, daughter of legendary sitar master Ravi Shankar and half-sister to North Texas' Norah Jones, is an extraordinary talent who lets her inventive work introduce her vision. Shankar sees a wide, blank canvas from which to work, using regional and sonic traditions as mer ... More >>

Nicholas Altobelli: "I Learned How To Play Guitar On Pat Green Albums. Did I Just Lose My Indie Cred?"

If you've been around Deep Ellum for the past six months, you've probably heard about Nicholas Altobelli. This weekend is no different, as he's a part of the first annual Deep Ellum Big Folkin' Festival, along with The O's, Telegraph Canyon and Dovetail. Altobelli shared his first show experiences ... More >>

Dear Internet: All The Snickering About Madonna's Age Is Getting Real Old

This week Madonna's 12th studio album and dive into the deep end of the EDM pool, MDNA, came out. I didn't like it very much. But what I like even less is the sexism-tinged age-baiting that the record seems to be inspiring in so many critics. Forbes was likely the worst offender of the bunch, going ... More >>

Uptown Players Do It Their Way; In the Heights Hits the Skids

This week Madonna's 12th studio album and dive into the deep end of the EDM pool, MDNA, came out. I didn't like it very much. But what I like even less is the sexism-tinged age-baiting that the record seems to be inspiring in so many critics. Forbes was likely the worst offender of the bunch, going ... More >>

Back to the Barrio, via Broadway

This week Madonna's 12th studio album and dive into the deep end of the EDM pool, MDNA, came out. I didn't like it very much. But what I like even less is the sexism-tinged age-baiting that the record seems to be inspiring in so many critics. Forbes was likely the worst offender of the bunch, going ... More >>

A.Dd+ Can't Sit Still

This week Madonna's 12th studio album and dive into the deep end of the EDM pool, MDNA, came out. I didn't like it very much. But what I like even less is the sexism-tinged age-baiting that the record seems to be inspiring in so many critics. Forbes was likely the worst offender of the bunch, going ... More >>

Support Kids, Hate Cancer and Gawk At Cheerleaders

This week Madonna's 12th studio album and dive into the deep end of the EDM pool, MDNA, came out. I didn't like it very much. But what I like even less is the sexism-tinged age-baiting that the record seems to be inspiring in so many critics. Forbes was likely the worst offender of the bunch, going ... More >>

SXSW Coverage Ahead. Plus, We're Sponsoring 50 Cent, Big K.R.I.T. and More

"What I want from each and every one of you is a hard-target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in that area." -- Tommy Lee Jones, The Fugitive You don't have to spend much time at South By Southwest to know that all of the above building ... More >>

Wayne Hancock: "The Whole Alt-Country Thing is Bullshit."

Even though country singer Wayne "The Train" Hancock was born in the '60s, he comes across like a man from an entirely different generation. His look, mannerisms and style of music are much more akin to someone raised in the Roaring Twenties, though Hancock's first album was released in 1995. Speak ... More >>

New Fumes Covers Gary Numan's "Observer"

Today, we mark Gary Numan's 54th birthday with a Covering Tracks homage by Dallas' own New Fumes. The godfather of synth-pop is still going strong, touring extensively last year, performing 1979's The Pleasure Principle in its entirety and providing guest vocals on the Battles track "My Machines." W ... More >>

Dance's Brightest Toes All A Flutter

Today, we mark Gary Numan's 54th birthday with a Covering Tracks homage by Dallas' own New Fumes. The godfather of synth-pop is still going strong, touring extensively last year, performing 1979's The Pleasure Principle in its entirety and providing guest vocals on the Battles track "My Machines." W ... More >>

Radiohead - American Airlines Center - 3/5/12

Radiohead American Airlines Center Monday, March 5 Around 9:30 last night, the sold-out American Airlines Center was singing along to the climactic roar of Radiohead's 2003 single "There There": We are accidents / waiting to happen Here's the question: Who is Radiohead? Are they rock music's mos ... More >>

Gigantour Featuring Megadeth, Volbeat and Lacuna Coil - The Palladium Ballroom - 3/1/12

Megadeth,Volbeat and Lacuna Coil The Palladium Ballroom Thursday, March 1 Not better than: Seeing Motörhead on this bill. So, if a ticket for a hot co-headlining tour with two legendary metal acts costs $50, wouldn't it make sense for the price to be lowered if one of those bands couldn't play? ... More >>

Haveron Hits a Nerve

Megadeth,Volbeat and Lacuna Coil The Palladium Ballroom Thursday, March 1 Not better than: Seeing Motörhead on this bill. So, if a ticket for a hot co-headlining tour with two legendary metal acts costs $50, wouldn't it make sense for the price to be lowered if one of those bands couldn't play? ... More >>

That's a Circus? I Don't See No Elerphants

Megadeth,Volbeat and Lacuna Coil The Palladium Ballroom Thursday, March 1 Not better than: Seeing Motörhead on this bill. So, if a ticket for a hot co-headlining tour with two legendary metal acts costs $50, wouldn't it make sense for the price to be lowered if one of those bands couldn't play? ... More >>