Brent Best

Robert Gomez Talks Poetic Beheadings (Just Don't Ask Him to Make You a Vegas Bomb)

It's impossible to discuss the magnitude of the Denton music scene without including Robert Gomez as one of its pivotal players. Since 1993, Gomez has been everywhere from Denton to Istanbul, and the list of musicians he's played with include Norah Jones, Philip Glass and Tico da Costa. He'll perfor ... 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 >>

Ronnie Fauss goes West

Ronnie Fauss Goes West

Leading up to our November 10 showcase, we'll be getting you familiar with some of our Dallas Observer Music Awards nominees, either via past features we've done on them, or new ones. You can vote for your favorite acts, venues and more right here. The way in which Dallas singer-songwriter Ronnie F ... More >>

The 100 Best Texas Songs: The Complete List

100. Tripping Daisy, "Sonic Bloom" Before this album, the band had a grunge-pop affectation, but this song, from 1998's Jesus Hits Like the Atom Bomb, was more heartfelt than anything they'd done before. - Daniel Hopkins 99. Pleasant Grove, "The Plaque at 16ft" Bret Egner wrote "The Plaque at 16ft, ... More >>

The Best Texas Songs of All Time: #79-60

Best Texas songs, #100-80 The Spotify playlist for songs #79-60 79. Lift to Experience, "Falling From Cloud 9" From one of the best albums of any North Texas act in recent history, "Falling From Cloud 9" is one of the more accessible songs on 2001's The Texas-Jerusalem Crossroads. It's probably t ... More >>

Eleven of This Weekend's Top Shows: Gorilla Vs. Bear Fest, Nicki Minaj, Kool Keith and More

Gorilla Vs. Bear Fest IISaturday, July 28, at Granada TheaterIn its second year, Gorilla Vs. Bear Fest has (smartly) shortened things a bit, thus giving more breathing room to the bands, which included Glass Candy, Chromatics, Twin Sister, Chromatics, Taken By Trees, Laurel Halo, A.Dd and DJ Sober.

Checking In: Ashley Cromeens Talks Neeks, Def Rain

When sitting in a beer garden with Ashley Cromeens and the rest of the Neeks crew for an interview, one should be prepared for anything at any moment. Statements like, "We're really into puff paint!" or "We want to tour America in a big bus like Midlake!" And they just might be serious about it. Ne ... More >>

B.B. King at Billy Bob's Texas, The Boom Boom Box at La Grange, and More Show Announcements

​It's a far cry from B.B. King's legendary 1968 performance at Fillmore West in San Fransisco, where the story has it that he was booed by black audience members. But, as he's done many times since, King is returning to perform at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth on Saturday, February 25.Tickets fo ... More >>

Foster The People, Eisley and This Week's Show Announcements

Foster The People​If you're thinking, "If I hear 'Pumped Up Kicks' one more time, I'm gonna pull a gun on someone and make them outrun my bullets," then you should definitely not read on. The band responsible for the song, Foster The People, has strategically planned to start selling tickets to it ... More >>

Mute Math, Stardeath & White Dwarfs, Youth Lagoon, and This Week's Show Announcements

New Orleans rock act Mute Math, known for their blend of DJ Shadow-esque beats and new wave songs, have a new album out called Odd Soul. They'll be on tour this winter in support of said record, and you can catch them at the House of Blues on Saturday, January 28, for $23. Tickets will go on sale on ... More >>

A Place To Bury Strangers (Free), Portugal. The Man, and The Rest Of This Week's New Shows

A Place To Bury Strangers​The fall season is starting to shape up as expected. The fall and the spring are, after all, the prime touring seasons, and right away, it looks like the Granada Theater's got some pretty impressive bills coming our way.New York noise rock band A Place To Bury Strangers w ... More >>

Okkervil River, Chromeo and a Ton of Other Show Announcements

One of the many incarnations of Okkervil River​Still fresh from the release of their new album I Am Very Far, Austin's Okkervil River seems to be working quite hard to let everyone know about it. The album is quite solid, thanks in part to the production work of local producer John Congl ... More >>

Good Friday: Electric Daisy Carnival & All of This Weekend's Events

Moby at 2010 Electric Daisy Carnival​Last year's trippy Electric Daisy Carnival did so well that it will be back for a second time in Dallas on Saturday night in Fair Park. This year's headliners are DJs Paul Van Dyk and Diplo, along with a couple dozen other artists who will, just like last year, ... More >>

Kings Of Leon & Band Of Horses, Civil Wars, and Over 100 New Show Announcements

Kings Of Leon​The first time the Kings of Leon came to town, they played an intimate show at the Gypsy Tea Room. And what a different time that was: Critics referred to them as The Stokes of the South, and before long, Kings Of Leon found themselves as the opening act for Julian Casablancas & ... More >>

Good Friday: 35 Conferette, Toadies, Slobberbone, The Civil Wars, ADd , Big Hud, Drowning Pool, Mint Condition, Ian Moore & The Lossy Coils & More!

​As we've reported, Denton's 35 Conferette is well underway, and the first set of reviews have already trickled in. We'll have plenty more for you as the festival continues on over the weekend, so if you find yourself with a little extra dough, head north for the weekend. But if you'd rather stay ... More >>

Mad World Records Hopes To Fill a Void in Denton

Show Announcements: Primus, Real Estate, Ha Ha Tonka, Titus Andronicus, Motley Crue, Poison, New York Dolls, Def Leppard, Matt and Kim, Del The Funky Homosapien, Fishboy, Rooney, Das Racist & More!

Les Claypool of Primus​Among the many arguments that dominated our corner of the high school cafeteria was the topic of world's best bass player. One kid was confident that Flea was the greatest. Another kid was a really big fan of Dave Matthews Band, so he thought that guy was really good. But in ... More >>

Mad World Records, The New Record Shop Set To Open Soon On Denton's Square, Is Hiring.

​For those who haven't yet heard the rumors and rumblings -- or seen the small coming-soon sign in the shop's front the window -- Mad World Records is just days away from opening next door to Beth Marie's on Denton's historic downtown square. Yes, just in time for a certain walkable music festival ... More >>

Show Announcements: Rihanna, Cee Lo Green, Dierks Bentley, Loretta Lynn, George Thorogood, Liz Phair, The Twilight Singers, Snoop Dogg, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Pinback, Wild Party, Stryper, Crosby and Nash, The Moody Blues & More!

Cee Lo Green, practicing his best Chris Brown pose for his upcoming tour with Rihanna.​A few days ago, we received a press release stating that pop star Rihanna will be performing at the American Airlines Center on Friday, July 8. We thought "Cool!" and went on about our business. But this morning ... More >>

Last Night: Neil Young at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center

Neil YoungMorton H. Meyerson Symphony CenterJune 7, 2010Better than: Almost anything. When I'm old and grey I'm pretty sure my shortlist of best life experiences will go something like this: my wedding day, the birth of my children and the night I saw Neil Young at the Meyerson.Danny HurleyNeil You ... More >>

Good Friday: The Phuss, Florene, Fear Factory, Hats & Statues, Musem Creatures, ODYSSEY, Bridges & Blinking Lights, Salim Nourallah, Exit 380, The Rocketboys, Odis, Plumbrella, Automorrow, The Cut*Off, Darktown Strutters and Grassfight

Because we mention 17 shows after the jump. Get it?​Raise your hands if you're glad you don't have to drive north or south on I-35 this week to catch a festival? Great! Too bad there's still plenty to see around the Metroplex this weekend, suckers.No more histrionics--let's just dive right into yo ... More >>

The Best Area Album Releases of the '00s

Good Friday: Tre Orsi, The O's, Eleven Hundred Springs, Pet Hospital, Record Hop, Hendrick, Whiskey Folk Ramblers, Yppah, John Lefler, 100 Monkeys, August Burns Red, Rick Springfield, Devildriver, Toby Keith, Ellotio Levin Trio, Charlie Daniels Band

The weekend's finally here, boo-yah, and it's a deceptively crowded one music-wise, actually. You should already know about the weekend shows we've already discussed here and in the print edition, but, in case you forgot, well, let's recap. Well, now that I think of it, pretty much every show we've ... More >>

The Texas Red Legs

Rattlesnake Inn (Self-released)

Echoes and Reverberations: Mad Chops and Culture Jamming on Fry Street

Check out our accompanying slideshow for more images from this week's installment of Echoes and Reverberations.Sly Stone was born there. Roy Orbison and Don Henley went to school there. Pat Boone and Dr. Phil even made the scene. But enough about all that: Let's talk about skronk monkeys trippin' b ... More >>

Good Friday: Ludo, Derek Trucks, Brave Combo, Awkquarius, Screaming Red, The Southern Sea, Southern Culture On The Skids, Jessie Frye, Darktown Strutters, Plants & Animals, The Make Believers, Inner City All-Stars, White Tie Affair, Brent Best

Learn how to handle your liquor, chump.It's Friday, everybody, case ya didn't know. An, as such, it's time to look at the weekend calendars and plan out your, um, plans. Let's do this. First, the shows we've always talked on...Tonight, there's the Dr. Dooom vs. Dr. Octagon show at the Loft and ... More >>

The Vampire Lounge, Back in Business, Hopes Not to Suck

Also: Rhett Miller returns to Dallas to champion a good cause

Isaak Hoskins Found Denton to be a Songwriter's Shangri-La

Drew Glackin Memorial Show With Brent Best, Scott Danbom and Matt Pence

Wednesday, February 13, at Dan's Silverleaf

MySXSW

Austin's biggest music fest was anything you wanted it to be. Dallas acts made theirs a blast.

Forever and Now

When Little Grizzly comes to an end, they will not stand alone

Product Placement

Volkswagen + Apple = Good news for Polyphonic Spree

Scene, Heard

Local bands release a few more albums this week -- though not necessarily in the U.S.

Scene, Heard

Dallas-Denton-Forth Worth bands make their biggest impact yet at SXSW

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?

Rock and roll eyes

For Matt Barnhart, Quality Park Records is job one

Jailhouse rock

Erik Thompson is a one-man Lo-Fi Chorus, but looks are deceiving

Every which way but loose

The Dallas scene flourishes beneath the chaos

Big drummer boy

Funland's Will Johnson steps out from behind the kit