Blackstone Rangers

Record Store Day 2013: Your Guide to DFW Events

April 20 might be the biggest music day in North Texas this year. We have Untapped Fest in Fort Worth, Har Mar Superstar will turn Bryan Street Tavern into the area's best dance party and Dada will have some of the best local hip-hop in the area. 4/20 is also the date of of this years' annual Record ... More >>

The Top Ten Must-See Concerts in DFW This Week: April 18-24

Can we just take a second to acknowledge that the weather in Dallas-Fort Worth these past couple of weeks has been glorious? Optimal for outdoor shows, BYOB events and the like, the weather should remain this awesome--barring a tornado or two--for a short while longer (before the inevitable Texas su ... More >>

Happy Nerd Christmas!

Top Show Annoucements: Record Store Day, Limp Bizkit, Styx, Kid Rock, Matchbox Twenty and More

It's a little strange, but I don't know what's happening with all of the show announcements that have been pouring in this week: Limp Bizkit, Matchbox 20, Goo Goo Dolls and Kid Rock? It feels like 1999 all over again. Well, in 2013 news, Good Records just announced a kick-ass local lineup for Reco ... More >>

It's Pretty Simple: Show Up and Give a Crap. Just Ask Dallas Distortion Music

The amount of new band names they can spin at you is dizzying...and endearing. And most of all, uplifting. They're possibly the biggest fans of modern, often-as-yet-uncategorizable new music this side of the Rio Grande. It's fun to watch to Dallas Distortion Music, aka Matt Vickers and Evan Henry, g ... More >>

The Five Best Concerts In Dallas This Weekend, February 21-24

Electric Six Saturday, February 23, at Dada, $15 Electric Six, the warhorses of heavy and frantic disco-rock, roll into Dada to spray high-energy chaos over Dallas' most extensive corner stage. After the release of their latest album in October, a live greatest-hits number, "The Six," as I have arbi ... More >>

Meet Dallas' Marlhy Murphy, the Youngest Performer in SXSW History

SXSW is bringing in their youngest performer ever; her name is Marlhy Murphy and she happens to be from the great city of Dallas. See her in action on Sonicbids. Murphy and bandmate Lydia Night came together to form their band Pretty Little Demons and will be playing this year at SXSW. "We both went ... More >>

Looking Back on 15 of Our Favorite 2012 North Texas Releases

Spune's Annette Marin: "Music Promotion is a Lot Like Running a Grassroots Political Campaign"

For three years now, Annette Marin's been a mover and shaker at Spune Productions, alongside Lance Yocom, and had a hand in this year's Index Fest and Untapped Festival. In 2013, she's helping ready new releases from Air Review and Datahowler. As a student, Marin set out to pursue a career in polit ... More >>

Deep Dallas' Jessica Martinez Wants to Be Your Guide to the Music Scene

Jessica Martinez has been running a Facebook fan page called Dallas Music for close to two years. She's kept it simple and reliable, posting local music content and gigs, and she's let her fandom for our artists shine through, something reflected in her some 2,600 followers. They've covered hundreds ... More >>

Nervous Curtains/George Quartz

Friday, December 7/ Saturday, December 8, at Double Wide

The Five Best Concerts In DFW This Weekend, Dec. 6-9

Mark Kozelek Thursday, December 6, at Granada Theater, $29-$39 I've been hard on Kozelek's past band, Red House Painters, mainly because in college they radiated an air of preciousness I couldn't accept. As I've gotten older and softer, though, Kozelek's music, namely Sun Kil Moon, has grown on me. ... More >>

Here are the Winners of the 2012 Dallas Observer Music Awards

The Winners of the 2012 Dallas Observer Music Awards Are...

Best Group Act A.Dd Best Song "Wait For Us," Mind Spiders Best Solo Act Sarah Jaffe Best Album Sarah Jaffe, The Body Wins Best New Act Blackstone Rangers Best Blues Act Jason Elmore Best Country Act Somebody's Darling Best Americana/Roots Act The O's Best Electronic Act Cutter Best Experim ... More >>

The Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase: A User's Guide

We're taking over Deep Ellum on Saturday. Come along, will you?

A Guide to the 2012 Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase

It occurred to me recently that, within the DFW music scene, people really love to draw county lines. So what we were trying to illustrate with our 2012 Dallas Observer Music Awards nominees is that Dallas, Fort Worth and Denton aren't three separate entities, but rather one big music community that ... More >>

First Round of SXSW 2013 Acts Announced, Including Blackstone Rangers and The Relatives

With the announcement of 35 Denton's initial lineup, it was only a matter of time before you felt that tightening in your chest, aka the first round of SXSW acts. North Texas' Blackstone Rangers, Ronnie Fauss, the Relatives, Somebody's Darling, Sarah Jaffe and Tedashii are all represented. Thurston ... More >>

Here's The Lineup For The 2012 Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase

In the past few weeks, we've been getting you familiar with some of our Dallas Observer Music Awards nominees, and nudging you to vote daily, all leading up to our November 10 showcase, which is currently packing 60 acts across eight stages in Deep Ellum. We've got the lineups, venues and times b ... More >>

What Can $10 Buy? A Ticket To The Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase AND Art Con 8.

It was going to be one of those tough choices on Saturday, November 10: Do you go to the Observer's Music Awards showcase, which will take place in Deep Ellum and feature more than 60 local bands? OR, do you head over to Art Conspiracy 8, which is happening the same night at 960 Dragon Street, and f ... More >>

It's Here! The Lineup For the 2012 Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase!

Last week, we alerted you to our 2012 Dallas Observer Music Awards nominees. Today, we've got the yankin' lineup for our showcase on Saturday, November 10, which serves as the big ol' drunken party in Deep Ellum before our November 13 awards ceremony at House of Blues. Take a look at the 50-plus a ... More >>

Six Acts to Catch at this Weekend's Index Festival

The Six Best Concerts In Dallas This Weekend

Astronautalis, Friday, October 5, at Granada Theater This time last year, former North Texas rapper Astronautalis had just released his 11-track gem, This Is Our Science. This Friday, he opens for Flobots, a Denver-based prog hip-hop group signed to Motown Records. On his website, Astronautalis enco ... More >>

Six Acts We're Excited For At This Weekend's Index Festival

With the arrival of fall, we're knee-deep in festival season, and Spune Productions is testing its fest powers in the heart of Deep Ellum with this weekend's first-ever Index Festival. The roster features a handful of locals (Yells At Eels, The Cush, Datahowler, The Angelus, Telegraph Canyon, A.Dd , ... More >>

A Dispatch From the Untapped Beer and Music Festival

See also: The people of Untapped Festival Listen: Dallas, Texas has become unstuck in time. At least that's how it felt in the short break between the shot glass full of beer and the guy in front of me wearing a Vonnegut jersey that bore the number five. That's a Slaughterhouse Five reference, rig ... More >>

Untapped Festival

Saturday, September 8, at Trinity Groves

Eight of This Weekend's Best Shows: Starring Untapped Festival, Ab-Soul and Jay Rock, Ariel Pink and More

Consult our shiny new concert calendar for more goings-on this weekend and beyond. Untapped FestivalSaturday, September 8, at Trinity Groves ParkIt's hard to tell what the biggest draw will be at Saturday's Untapped Festival. It's a music/beer festival that pairs bands like Givers, The Antlers, Akro ... More >>

Blackstone Rangers, Zhora at Double Wide

Friday, August 17 at the Double Wide

DC9er Mixtape, Vol. 43: DJ Redsean

See also: Vol. 42, Gabe Mendoza See also: Vol. 41, Sissy Ross We featured DJ Redsean (Sean Humphrey) nearly two years ago for the DC9er mixtape series. So when the local DJ reached out with a new mix, we didn't see any harm in featuring him again, especially since we feel like this one makes for ... More >>

Lauren O'Connor Opens the History Books For Girls Rock Dallas

You might have seen a little blurb here or there on DC9 about Girls Rock Dallas, a new non-profit summer camp for girls, in which they learn how to play, write, record and market their own songs. The first session starts July 23, and Lauren O'Connor is one of the ladies who rocks the operation. O' ... More >>

15 of This Weekend's Best Shows: Miguel Migs, Oak Cliff Film Festival, Iris DeMent and More

It'll Do Club Grand OpeningSaturday, June 16, at It'll Do ClubEver driven eastbound on Elm Street until it hits the dead end? Then chances are you've seen the It'll Do Club. Shrouded in the long-forgotten East Ellum neighborhood, this club opening marks another step in Deep Ellum's expansion. Plu ... More >>

Blackstone Rangers Make You a Summer Mixtape

In preview of the release party for debut EP Into the Sea, tonight at Bryan Street Tavern, we asked local trio Blackstone Rangers to give us a few of their favorite summer songs. Not necessarily songs about summer, but ones that they associate with the season. Derek Kutzer, guitar Weezer," Surf W ... More >>

Five Local Songs Worth Checking Out Right Now: Blackstone Rangers, Picnictyme, Mystery Skulls, Lincoln Durham and New Science Projects

We've reached the halftime portion of 2012, where everyone's scrambling to tally their faves from the past six months. Instead of looking back, we thought it'd be more productive to address what you should be listening to in the future. Here are a few DFW songs to check out, as you ease into Memoria ... More >>

Girls Rock Dallas Gets a Little Help From Amanda Palmer, Goes IndieGoGo

Last night, Dresden Dolls singer Amanda Palmer was in town, mixing her new album with the ubiquitous John Congleton. Not only did she do a Violitionist Session with Neil Gaiman (yes, Neil Gaiman was in Denton, let that sink in), she also donated money to Girls Rock Dallas. They've declared today Ama ... More >>

Big K.R.I.T., Gomez, Katie Herzig and the Rest of Your Weekend

Big K.R.I.T.​It's a big weekend for music, y'all. We mentioned shows from Mind Spiders and Blackstone Rangers in print this week, as well as Texas Theatre's Soul Train Dance Party. But the biggest show comes to us from Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T., who will perform at Trees on Saturday night. L ... More >>

This Week in Print: Mind Spiders, Violent Squid and More

Eric Grubbs talks with Mark Ryan of Mind Spiders about Meltdown and his first shows. I spoke with Aaron Barker about graduating from ice cream college. North of the Dial checks in with Denton experimental supergroup Violent Squid. Plus recommendations for Big K.R.I.T., Blackstone Rangers and Di ... More >>

Thurston Moore, Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra and More Riffs For Your Weekend

One of the most anticipated shows of the last few months has definitely been Thurston Moore at the Texas Theatre tonight. The Sonic Youth guitarist has been carving out a nice little solo career with last year's Demolished Thoughts and 2007's Trees Outside the Academy (I always sort of thought of hi ... More >>

Dallas Distortion Music Is In the Front Row

​Welcome to Local Music 'Mericans, where we get to know the people behind the scenes in Dallas/Fort Worth music. It blogs. It books cool local music shows. It's a must-follow Facebook and Twitter page. It promotes bands, free of charge. So what is Dallas Distortion Music, exactly? Essential ... More >>

Over the Weekend: Blackstone Rangers and Kiwi Sisters Blackout 2826 Arnetic

Blackstone Rangers, Kiwi Sisters, Jakkk-E-Chan 2826 Arnetic Saturday, January 7 Better than: Playing Christian Death albums alone in the dark. Dallas Distortion Music, a fairly new catchall site for DFW's weirder sounds, hosted this triple-header at 2826 Arnetic Saturday night. I'd just missed op ... More >>

Dada Turns One, Willie Nelson at Billy Bob's Texas and This Weekend's Shows

​It feels kind of weird writing the words "Dada turns one," seeing as the place has been a Dallas rock and roll institution since I spent my Friday nights watching TGIF. Granted, that was only up until a few years ago, but the place has been around forever. In 2010, however, it closed and with a n ... More >>

MP3 Dig: Blackstone Rangers "I Won't Tell"

​Dallas synth and guitar duo Blackstone Rangers are hard at work on a debut EP, out next month, and a song has appeared out of the ether. "I Won't Tell" sounds a bit like the Vaselines filtered through the moodier '80s pop of those C86 bands of yore, and the duo has recently been augmented as ... More >>

DJ Contest at Artopia and the Best Shows in Town This Weekend

​As we mentioned on Tuesday, this year's edition of the Dallas Observer-sponsored Artopia event on Saturday at Dallas Contemporary will have a music angle. Three DJs -- Skrause, DJ-O and The Latin House Krew -- all compete for a chance to perform at Lights All Night, December 30 and 31. If you wan ... More >>

[DARYL] Reunion at Sons of Hermann Hall, and This Weekend's Best Shows

Daryl at Sons of Hermann Hall​There are lots of big shows this weekend, and the one about which much ado has been made is the [DARYL] reunion at Sons of Hermann Hall tonight. Since the band broke up several years ago, members have continued playing around town in various other capacities. Tonight, ... More >>

Rhett Miller Benefits Cystic Fibrosis Research at The Granada & Other Weekend Shows

Rhett Miller​There are loads of great shows this weekend, but probably the most notable is the Cystic Fibrosis benefit concert at Granada Theater on Saturday night. For the fifth year in a row, Rhett Miller will be headlining, this time with the help of Sarah Jaffe and The O's. If helping people i ... More >>

The Rapture, Bush & Chevelle, Phantogram and The Rest of This Week's Show Announcements

The Rapture​It's been a while since we've heard from New York dance band The Rapture; their last release Pieces of the People We Love came out five years ago. But now they're back with a new album, In the Grace of Your Love, which will earn its release on September 6.In tandem with the releas ... More >>

Show Announcements: Death Cab, Arctic Monkeys and 110 New Show Announcements

It's a tight squeeze in the Death Cab.​With only about a month until Death Cab For Cutie releases their seventh album, Codes And Keys, it's a good time to ask yourself: "What would Zach Braff do?" Easy answer: He'd buy tickets for their upcoming concert. Death Cab, as they're known by those "in th ... More >>

Good Friday: Black Friday Edition

Eisley​If you've already picked up a copy of this weeks Dallas Observer, you might have noticed our music feature on Tyler band Eisley, who will be in town at The Loft on Saturday night with Ives The Band, and Christie DuPree. The story sheds light on the ups and downs that the band has experience ... More >>

Show Announcements: Flaming Lips, Neon Indian, The Orphanage Christmas Party Benefit, Yellow Fever, Reel Big Fish, Aquabats, Kristy Kruger, Junior Brown, Monotonix, Eric Benet & more

The Flaming Lips​The Flaming Lips have been performing in Dallas for over two decades. The last time they came through town, they stopped short just north of Big D, for a headlining performance at the 2010 NX35 Conferette, during which the power blew several times. Hopefully, they won't have as mu ... More >>