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Your Guide to 2013 Summer Music Festivals in DFW

Summertime goes hand in hand with music festival season, even down here in the 100-plus-degree heat. This area will be hosting festivals in the months of June, July and August, ranging from genres of heavy metal to indie rock. So the next time you're wanting to lose your voice in unbearable heat, th ... More >>

The Rise of the Texas Atheist

With help from a former church boy from Dallas, the state's "nones" are getting organized and going public.

Texas Now Serves Fewer Family Planning Patients and Spends More Money To Do It

In the last legislative session, Texas lawmakers cut the state's family planning budget by two-thirds, a loss of around $73.6 million over the next two years. The reason behind this, naturally, was that "family planning" is clearly a secret code word for "abortion." "Of course this is a war on bir ... More >>

On the Death of SXSW's Brent Grulke

Much has already been shared on the death of SXSW creative director Brent Grulke, who passed away yesterday after a heart attack, at age 52. It's our modern way to try to console each other via links, texts, emails. Amassing and distributing information to make sense of death. I was a music editor ... More >>

Chaos in Tejas Leaves a Trail of Bruises and Scars

Chaos in Tejas Brings Out the Tribes

The scar ran from behind his right ear to the center of his cheek, pink and waxy in contrast with his dyed black hair. His skinny arms were covered with crude tattoos, and he was wearing a black t-shirt inside out, black jeans and black boots. He stood about 6-feet-1, which left me eye-level with th ... More >>

The Cool Ranchification of SXSW 2012

A Sucker For Your Marketing: A Conversation

When Observer Web Editor Nick Rallo and I shuffled down to SXSW last week, we both noticed the same thing: The somewhat icky marketing that seems to have inundated the Austin music festival, to the point where even the fans themselves were part of the brand. Here's an excerpt of a conversation we ha ... More >>

Before the Calatrava's Switched On, Breaking News: The Relatives to Play Bridge Opening

Justin Terveen's already taken his place on the west side of the Continental Avenue Bridge for tonight's lighting of the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge, set to begin glowing at 6:15, give or take. He says it's filling up fast, no joke. I'm about to head that way myself; why not. But before I split, this ... More >>

Hello, Is It Me You're Looking For?

I'm still trying to pull myself together and deal with this piece of news, but I wanted to say hello, Dallas. I'm finally in you. Still trying to find some tear-away pants -- they're just so drafty in the winter. Anyway, I'm the new music editor for the Dallas Observer. I spent the last five years ... More >>

When You've Lost Someone You Love: Doyle Brahmhall Has Died at the Age of 62

Garage HangoverDoyle Bramhall in 1967, as one of the Chessmen​Thirteen days from now, Doyle Bramhall was to return to the Granada, scene of this performance in 2007. But that show will not take place: The Dallas-born singer-songwriter and drummer -- a former Chessman with Jimmie Vaughan, a frequen ... More >>

Audra Schroeder, Alt-Weekly Vet and Jock Jams Enthusiast, Named Dallas Observer Music Editor

Earlier today, when she formally accepted our offer to become the Observer's next music editor, Audra Schroeder included in her email the above video, along with this message: "Feel free to blast this in the office to get people ready. I'll work on somersaults/tear-away pants." I wish that was al ... More >>

An Overlooked SXSW Highlight: Black Joe Lewis and West Dallas's The Relatives

Pete and Nick did a bang-up job covering South by Southwest's music fest over on DC9 at Night. But Friend of Unfair Park Big Jon Daniel directs our attention to this holy-effing-ess moment: Black Joe Lewis and the Honeybears' Friday-afternoon lunchtime treat at the Austin Convention Center featuring ... More >>

Kirtland Records Is Looking For Submissions For Planned Upcoming Toadies Tribute Disc

​More proof that the Toadies are bigger today than they've ever been: Kirtland Records just passed along word that, in addition to the just-released Feeler, the hugely successful Dia de Los Toadies Tres (called "the Willie's Picnic of a new generation" by the Austin Chronicle) and another album of ... More >>

Franklin Barbecue: Three Hours From Now, You Could Be In Brisket Heaven

​Franklin Barbecue 3421 N. I-35, Austin 512-653-1187 Hours: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday (or until sold out) All the food trailers on South Congress Avenue in Austin are awesome and delicious and all, but they've become super touristy. We love the food, but there's something too squeaky-c ... More >>

North by Unrest: Chris Flemmons Wants To Put Denton Music on the Map With NX35-If it Doesn't Kill Him First

Will Johnson Joins Monsters of Folk, Preps Other Collaborations...

​Some interesting Will Johnson news pouring in this week, as the Centro-matic frontman's keeping  himself quite busy these days. Just a couple nights ago, in fact, a little birdie told me that Johnson, always the busy touring musician, is the newest addition to the Monsters of Folk lineup, jo ... More >>

Environmentalists Plenty Steamed About Possible Nominee to Head EPA's Dallas Office

EarthFirstWhen it comes to the new regional Environmental Protection Agency head, environmental groups are tired of sending pointed letters. Tomorrow, the campaign to dethrone John Hall as the front-running potential nominee for administrator of the EPA's Region 6 (which includes Texas, Oklahoma, Ar ... More >>

Tonight at NX35: The Out-of-Towners Come Into Play.

Aubrey Edwards Moth FightWell, for all the folks who were complaining that NX35 featured too many local acts, you can't really complain about tonight. There's Monotonix (Tel Aviv, Israel), Casiotone for the Painfully Alone (Chicago), Beep Beep (Omaha), Sybris (Chicago), Black Gold (Brooklyn) ... More >>

Harvey Pekar To Speak About Jazz At NX35

Sarah Jaffe and Dove Hunter Stubb's Sets Wow Austin Chronicle

Wine, Wine, Wine

Texas Film Industry Spends Money to Make Money

DMN Sends City Hall Reporter to, uh, Austin

Art and Death

Ssh! We don't talk about suicide here.

Bubble Brains

Think a strong mayor is a good idea? See who agrees with you.

The Kids

The dynamic duo of Rock and Hank Jr.

Del Castillo

May 28

Letters

What a Dildo Same Old Tune

Dallas on Display

Area acts get their share of shout-outs

South by So What?

In defense of Austin's overhyped, overblown music fest

Writer's Block

Texas prisons start barring book authors from inmate interviews

Welcome to the Jungle

Our new music editor dips her toe in the waters of Dallas music

Letters

Break Away

There's more to ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead than wrecking stages. No, seriously.

Conference for Cynics

SXSW offers up dreamchasers, diatribes and some darn good music, too

Tired of Waiting

The center of the musical universe, Austin welcomes the beautiful and the ugly

Hijinks at Trees

Long-overdue debuts

Across the Bar

X'd out; Columbia compiles rockabilly; Hellions tribute to the Circle Jerks; Gig plugs galore; And Street Beat is ch-ch-ch-changing?

Scene, heard

Conspiracy theories; Bella Union strikes; a Wreck of a Room; X marks the spot

Truth in advertising

A tour through music misses a stop

Dream a little dream

During South by Southwest, the harsh reality is always a free drink away

Events for the week

Going against typecasting

Don't call Carolyn Wonderland and the Imperial Monkeys a blues band

Pop mart

South by Southwest '97: Will guitars give up the ghost? Yes and no, but mostly no

Roadshows

Sink hole, uh

Austin's great alt-rock hope swings for the empty bleachers

Events for the week

Farewell from Cracker Eden

Texas journalism loses a great writer and friend in Grover Lewis

Trance-induced state

Austin label showcases some of the best Texas has to offer