Chris Holt

This Week's Top Show Announcements: Ben Kweller, Will Johnson, Kreayshawn, Sleigh Bells and More

KreayshawnFriday, November 2, at Palladium Ballroom, $17.50The controversial rapper, whose proper debut album Somethin' 'Bout Kreay is out in late September, will be here in early November. It's one of Parade of Flesh's biggest shows yet.

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 >>

Korn, Boots Electric, Pure X, and This Week's Show Announcements

​It would be a stretch to say that this week's show announcements are all that strong. There are some notable ones -- though perhaps not for the right reasons. For instance: On Sunday, November 20, the Palladium Ballroom has Korn and a handful of opening acts with names that don't mean anythi ... More >>

You've No Doubt Seen "Crazy Picture Guy" At Area Shows. Now Learn His Backstory.

Welcome to Local Music 'Mericans, where we meet the people in the local music scene that you don't see on stages. Scotty Mankoff, aka "Crazy Picture Guy."​Scotty Mankoff can be a bit menacing to witness at a live music show, with his hulking frame draped in black clothing, a flowing, curly ma ... 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: The Spectre of Frankie 45, Onward We March, Arson Anthemn, Retribution Gospel Choir, People on Vaction, Montonix, Whiskey Folk Ramblers, Florene, Menkena, Telegraph Canyon, Salim Nourallah, JJ Grey & Mofro, Mind Spiders and The Phuss.

​Before his death in the early hours of New Year's Day, Frankie Campagna and his bandmates in Spector 45 had only gotten around to booking one single show for 2011 -- a gig to take place this Saturday night at La Grange. Obviously, tomorrow night's show won't feature the late, great Frankie 45. Bu ... More >>

Get Epically Stoned Tonight At The Common Table, Meet Jim Koch Friday At Ginger Man

​Paul Hightower at Dallas Craft Beer Examiner has a good round-up of the month's beer events on his January Craft Beer Calendar, and Brian Brown of Plano Craft Beer Examiner has a more thorough run-down of the week's area beer events. Both of them mention something I've had penciled on my calendar ... More >>

Show Announcements: Lucero, Hellyeah, The O's, Robern Earl Keen, Miranda Lambert, REO Speedwagon, Bob Schneider, Genitorturers, Corrosion Of Conformity & More!

Ben Nichols​Yesterday, we mentioned the first batch of shows listed for the next few months over at Club Dada -- but we still thought that Lucero's performance set for Thursday, February 24, was worth mentioning again. Last time they came through, they didn't really get a fair shake, playing at 1 ... More >>

Show Announcements: Sebadoh, Quasi, WeDentonDoIt Christmas Special, Tokyo Police Club, Colin Hay, Alter Bridge, The Cool Kids, Vallejo, David Cassidy, Clay Aiken and More!

Sebadoh​Few bands are as synonymous with indie rock as Sebadoh, whose original members, including the prolific Lou Barlow, reunited in 2007 and have since been touring in support of some early record reissues. They've got more on the way in 2011, too, which is why we can expect them to be in top f ... More >>

Show Announcements: The Walkmen, The Octopus Project, Sarah Jaffe, Will Johnson, Devin the Dude, Pete Yorn, Mogwai, Ke$ha, Bobby Patterson, Lions, Hayes Carll & More!

The Walkmen don't actually look like this.​Over the last 10 years, The Walkmen have released acclaimed album after acclaimed album, with only a few duds along the way. 2008's You & Me proved the band's longevity, and 2010's Lisbon fortified it. And they'll be bringing their raucous fly-by-the- ... More >>

Show Announcements: DJ Shadow, Jason Bonham, Slobberbone, Rhett Miller, Ben Kweller, Marc Cohn, Nitzer Ebb, TECH N9NE and More

Dirk LindnerDJ Shadow​When DJ Shadow released his game-changing record Endtroducing..., he pretty much left all other DJs, well, in the shadows. The records he released following his monster debut haven't quite lived up to Endtroducing..., but he continues to push the envelope. And, next year, we' ... More >>

Show Announcements: Eisley, Ishi, Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights, Merle Haggard, Uncle Kracker, Brave Combo, Bosque Brown, Frontier Ruckus, Aaron Lewis, Reverend Horton Heat & more

Eisley--not so green anymore.​After spending the better part of a decade on the rollercoaster ride that comes with being on a major label, the Tyler-based band Eisley is back on the road. And much has happened for them in the last two years: "We had four weddings in 14 months," says band manager a ... More >>

Show Announcements: Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Ariel Pink, Os Mutantes, Dresden Dolls, Girl In A Coma, NOFX, Free Energy, Harlem, Dignan, Deftones, Cake, Danzig, Thousand Foot Crutch, The Gourds, Godsmack, Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, Papa Roach & More

Tessa AngusBRMC​Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's 2010 album Beat The Devil's Tattoo isn't quite as popular as their previous efforts, but they still have some pretty big tour plans in support of the disk, including a few Texas dates with Stone Temple Pilots. Initially, though, the band wasn't coming ... More >>

Show Announcements: Dawes, The Soft Pack, Glen Campbell, Magic Kids, Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit, GWAR, Earl Harvin, Aaron Neville, Archeology, Gaslight Anthem and More!

The softer side of The Soft Pack​Just north of Dallas, in Frisco, something is brewing at Lochrann's Irish Pub & Eatery. The bar's enlisted the help of Spune Productions to help diversify the music scene, who, so far, has done a bang-up job. More proof: On Thursday, October 14, garage rock ac ... More >>

Gig Alert: Ace McNeely Memorial Concert Set For Saturday Night at City Tavern

Ace McNeely was 30 years old.​As anticipated, City Tavern will remember fallen sound engineer Ryan "Ace" McNeely with a memorial concert set to take place on Saturday night at the downtown establishment, starting at 9 o'clock.McNeely died Tuesday afternoon after spending much of Monday in an Austi ... More >>

Show Announcements: Black Tie Dynasty, Happy Birthday, Sundress, The Black Angels, Deer Hunter, Best Coast, Blitzen Trapper, Better Than Ezra, David Allan Coe, and others

Bill EllisonI can't tell if Black Tie Dynasty is saying hello or goodbye.​I always thought it would be kind of a great idea for a band to only play break-up or reunion shows. Think about it: You can get a lot of people to come to your last concert. And, likewise, when your band gets back together. ... More >>

DOMAXXII: Announcing Your 2010 Dallas Observer Music Awards Winners!

​Well, we made it through the madness. Many, many, many thank yous to everyone who attended last night's awards ceremony and/or Saturday's showcase. Both were shockingly well-attended, and both were, really, fun beyond our highest expectations.Also, real quick: A special shout-out to Observer mark ... More >>

DOMA XXII: And The Nominees Are...

​Well, we did it. Just minutes ago, we reached 300 followers on Twitter for our @DOMATweets account. Which means, as promised, it's time to reveal the ballots.After the jump, feel free to peruse the ballot for your 2010 Dallas Observer Music Awards. And, in the comments, go to town on your thought ... 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 >>

Good Friday: The Slack, This Old House, Spooky Folk, Hendrick, Big Red Rooster, Telegraph Canyon, Menkena, Ishi, The Orbans, Gary Allan, Mike Doughty, Days of the New and Nick Oliveri

It's Friday night and the weekend's here, which means it's time to unwind, et al. Got plans? Nah? We've got your hookup right here. First up, as always, the shows we've already discussed. Kind of a slow weekend, though: A bunch of the bigger shows we've talked up are coming after the weekend. As of ... More >>

Good Friday: Shapes Stars Make, The Slack, Forever The Sickest Kids, The Slow Burners, Bobby Fisha, Telegraph Canyon, Nicholas Altobelli, Daniel Folmer, Coot Out, RTB2 and This Old House

We do what we like, and we like what we do.​Many apologies for the slow blog day today--hell the slow blog week, really. Things have been especially hectic this week, for reasons I won't bore you with. On the promising front, though, the weekend is here--and when the work-week kicks back up on Mon ... More >>

Echoes and Reverberations: Without You, I'm Nothing

"Well, I was passing by a pawn shop in an older part of town, something caught my eye and stop and turned around / I stepped inside and then I spied in the middle of it all, was a beat up old guitar hanging on the wall / 'What do want for that piece of junk?' I asked the old man / He just smiled and ... More >>

Sorta Like Sorta: Trey Johnson, Danny Balis, Ward Williams and Friends To Play AllGood Tomorrow Night

Mark Fuentes​ For obvious reasons, a full-blown Sorta reunion just ain't in the cards. But, tomorrow night at AllGood Cafe, fans of the DOMA-winning favorite are in for pretty much the next best thing, as four former Sorta members, (and some friends) are slated to share a performance stage once m ... More >>

Carter Albrecht's Final Disc; Raised By Tigers' Sendoff

Good Friday: The Mother's Day Weekend Edition

We already reminded you once, but what the heck, let's do it again: Sunday is Mother's Day. Remember it. Write it in permanent ink on your hand. Don't spend the next year in the doghouse with mom, because, really, moms rock. Now, onto some actual rock. As always, let's lead with the show's we'v ... More >>

Gig Alerts: Eric Neal and Anna Thomas at Dada, Owen Temple and Adam Carroll at Dan's Silverleaf

Eric NealIf you're done with your taxes (unlike, say, me) there are a couple of shows worth venturing out for this deadline Wednesday...Local singer/songwriter Eric Neal headlines a nice local bill at Dada's Listening Room. Back in August, Pete did a nice post on Neal's Birthday Bash, also at ... More >>

Dashboard Confessional, Fun Fun Fun Fest, Tom Gabel, and The Prophet Bar are Full of Surprises

A Dashboard Confessional member actually chose to live in Dallas. Also: Austin's Fun Fun Fun Fest Brings another Spillover, and—Hey—have you seen the Prophet bar's upcoming show calendar?

Kinda Sorta

Just more than a year after Carter Albrecht was killed, Sorta releases its final disc—as its members grapple with how to properly present it

Closing Day: CD World and Meridian Room Are Now Officially Out of Business

Some Notes On Last Night's Carter Albrecht Memorial; Also: A Retrospective From Sarah Hepola

DOMA XX: And The Nominees Are...

Happy Christmas, Your Arse

Local musicians weigh in on their favorite—and least favorite—Christmas songs

Guiding Big D's Sonic Pilgrims

Enough with the turkeys, now for a little locally baked dessert

Digging Deep Holes for the Future

Because You Really Don't Have Anything Better To Do Tomorrow Night

Pictures of You (Or Someone You Like?)

"Do" It One More Time

Reviewing the Revue, Part One

Hey, Before We Forget...

Magical History Tour

Odds & Ends

Good Records affixes its label on the city of Dallas

Best City Ever

If you think Dallas' music scene is slipping, then you're obviously missing the shows

Dull Edge

102.1 FM is killing rock music one mid-'90s hit at a time

Musicians Unite

Local bands to play benefit concert for Cory Helms

Beyond the Red Carpet

Once a year we find ourselves on the other side of the curtain. It isn't easy. It can be fun.

Behind the Music Awards

Artists' secret riders reveal true character, fascinating pickle relish fetish

Odds & Ends

Rock Lottery, rock for charity and rock GoGirls-style