Danny Balis

Ten of This Week's Top Show Announcements: Wanda Jackson, Helio Sequence, John Legend and More

Check out our amazingly comprehensive concert calendar for more Wanda JacksonThursday, September 27, at Granada Theater, $24-$49The last time the incomparable Wanda Jackson came to town, she was backed by the King Bucks at the Kessler Theater. On air on 1310-AM The Ticket a few days later, King Buck ... More >>

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks, Delta Spirit and This Week's Show Announcements

​It's been eleven years since Stephen Malkmus released his self-titled debut with The Jicks, and on that first tour, during a stop at the old Gypsy Tea Room (on the big side), he made good use of the musical elbow room his new band allowed him, ripping solo after solo. He also proved he's strong e ... More >>

Ten Local Music Entities Ready for Reality TV

​Dallas has always been a wellspring of source material for reality show producers looking to put some squick-worthy drama on television. Along with the new Most Eligible: Dallas and Big Rich Texas shows that make up the crust on the bottom of the basic cable reality barrel, we've seen some me ... More >>

For Your Weekend Listening Pleasure: The Night Doug and Glen and Danny Swapped Songs

​Had a few other things in mind for this work-week wrap-up; maybe I'll get to 'em tomorrow morning ... if you're really that eager for a couple of Reunion Arena shows, one I attended in '83 and another I wish I'd gone to in '89. But whilst looking for something unrelated this morning on Archive.or ... More >>

Mayoral Candidates Go For Bike Ride. That May Not Be Enough to Get Voters to the Polls.

Photos by Andrea RobertsClick to embiggen​Oh, right -- there's a runoff Saturday, or did you already forget? Apparently you did: Toni Pippins-Poole, Interim Dallas County Elections Administrator, tells Unfair Park this afternoon that as of Sunday, 15,451 people have cast their ballots in early vot ... More >>

Tonight, Tonight: Cool Out at Bar Celine, Big J Mondays at The Crown & Harp and Brasuka at Dan's Silverleaf

The pretty slim musical pickings on this evening after Easter just got slimmer, as tonight's scheduled free gig from Danny Balis at Bar Belmont has been postponed until next week. Still, there's at least one interesting show going on that's worth your while. Plus, there's some serious drama attached ... More >>

Tonight, Tonight: Jeff Beck at Verizon Theatre, Papercuts at The Loft, Chris Johnson at Bar Belmont, and Smells Like Green at Hailey's

Not a bad bunch of shows we have this Monday evening, especially if you like legendary guitarists and cool indie pop.

This Week In Dallas Music History: Steve Holt Breaks Up Tablet

​This week 14 years ago, Dallas's then-next-big-thing, Tablet, suddenly decided to call it quits. Well, actually, according to the story written by former Observer music scribe Matt Weitz, the only one who was ready to break up the band was lead singer Steve Holt (no, not the guy from Arrested Dev ... More >>

In the Last Two Days, the Dallasite and The Old Monk Were Robbed at Gunpoint

​Danny Balis just called with the heads-up: In the last two days, two local bars have been robbed at gunpoint. Danny wondered if perhaps they were related.According to Dallas Police reports, the first stick-em-up occurred around 1 a.m. Tuesday at the Dallasite on Bryan Street, across the street fr ... More >>

Club Dada Announces First String of Shows At Renovated Space Set to Open on New Year's Eve

The current state of things at Club Dada. Will it open on time? Its owners say so...​We've been following Club Dada's progress fairly closely ever since City Tavern owner Josh Florence and some investors announced plans to buy and renovate the iconic Deep Ellum venue. Florence, you may recall, w ... More >>

Good Friday: Festival At The Switchyard, Free Energy, Los Campesinos, Dawes, Valient Thorr, The Thermals, AC Slater, Bush, Paul Oakenfold, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, and More!

Tim DeLaughter and The Polyphonic Spree perform at Festival At The Switchyard on Friday.​Well, we've finally recovered from our Austin City Limits Music Festival hangover--and just in time, too. This weekend's Festival At The Switchyard in Carrollton is yet another suburban rock fest featuring som ... More >>

Show Announcements: We Shot JR Is Dead, Justin Townes Earle, Bosque Brown, Brave Combo, Telegraph Canyon, Three Days Grace, Overscene, Jason Isbell, Nelo, K-Ci & JoJo, Course Of Empire, Black Tide & more

Steve SatterwhiteWe Shot JR's Stoned Ranger is about to close the book after a five year run.​We talked a little about the demise of Denton's blog We Shot JR last month when they announced that the end is near. Well, on the blog's last day, Saturday, October 30, hipster and all-around nice guy Fre ... 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 >>

Show Announcements: Buck Pets To Rock Trees Once Again, More

Yet another reunion show recalling Deep Ellum's glory days is in the works as The Buck Pets, whose history Jeff Liles tackled in Echoes and Reverberations last year, will play Trees Saturday, April 10. We haven't heard any kind of formal announcement yet, but the calendar on the Trees MySpace page c ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2009: St. Vincent's "Marrow" Chills Us To The Core at No. 3

[Editor's Note: Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be presenting my favorite local songs of the year, counting down from No. 25 to No. 1, one track a day. Today we take an in-depth look at song No. 4 on the list--and, please, feel free to click after the jump for a free download of the track. Lastl ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2009: RTB2 and "When Hammer Hits Stone" Come Together at No. 6

[Editor's Note: Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be presenting my favorite local songs of the year, counting down from No. 25 to No. 1, one track a day. Today we take an in-depth look at song No. 6 on the list--and, please, feel free to click after the jump for a free download of the track. Lastl ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2009: Max Moon Sells Us On "Urban Outfitters" at No. 10

[Editor's Note: Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be presenting my favorite local songs of the year, counting down from No. 25 to No. 1, one track a day. Today we take an in-depth look at song No. 10 on the list--and, please, feel free to click after the jump for a free download of the track. Last ... More >>

Picture Show: Fourth Annual Orphanage Christmas Benefit

Rachel ParkerThe Orbans onstage Saturday night at The Double Wide​Danny Balis and Davey Lane, hosts of The Ticket's Saturday show The Orphanage, raised cash for the Gladney Center for Adoption Saturday night at their fourth annual Christmas benefit at The Double Wide.Along with performances by Dem ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2009: The O's and "You've Got Your Heart" Folk Around at No. 15. (And You Can Catch 'Em For Free Tonight at Vickery Park, Too.)

[Editor's Note: Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be presenting my favorite local songs of the year, counting down from No. 25 to No. 1, one track a day. Today, we take an in-depth look at song No. 16 on the list--and click after the jump for a free download of the track. Lastly, keep checking bac ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2009: Seryn and "We Will All Be Changed" Grab Our Attention at No. 18

[Editor's Note: Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be presenting my favorite local songs of the year, counting down from No. 25 to No. 1, one track a day. Today, we take an in-depth look at song No. 18 on the list--and click after the jump for a free download of the track. Lastly, keep checking bac ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2009: Damaged Good$ and "Follow The Leader" Lead Off The Top 20.

[Editor's Note: Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be presenting my favorite local songs of the year, counting down from No. 25 to No. 1, one track a day. Today, we take an in-depth look at song No. 20 on the list--and click after the jump for a free download of the track. Lastly, keep checking bac ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2009: Air Review's "Jura" Harmonizes Its Way To No. 21

[Editor's Note: Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be presenting my favorite local songs of the year, counting down from No. 25 to No. 1, one track a day. Today, we take an in-depth look at song No. 21 on the list--and click after the jump for a free download of the track. Lastly, keep checking bac ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2009: Sleep Whale's "Cotton Curls" Coos Its Way to No. 23.

[Editor's Note: Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be presenting my favorite local songs of the year, counting down from No. 25 to No. 1, one track a day. Today, we take an in-depth look at song No. 23 on the list--and click after the jump for a free download of the track. Lastly, keep checking bac ... More >>

Now, the Voices of KXT

Gini Mascorro ​We've already told you when KERA-FM's all-music offshoot, KXT, launches -- November 9 at 7 a.m. But the question remains: Who's gonna do the talkin' while the station gets to rockin'? This morning, we have some idea: Jeff Ramirez, veep of radio, sends word that former Ticket traffic ... More >>

KXT Announces New Hosts, In-Studio Performances For Debut Month

​Big news to report this early afternoon on the new KERA-owned all-music station coming to your 91.7 FM frequency, oh, two weeks from today--and, of course, Robert somehow beat me to posting it, the jerk.But while he focuses on the new hosts at the new station--KERA's own Gini Mascorro will handle ... More >>

I Know I'm Not Supposed to Say Anything Nice About The Ticket, But ...

​Those new "Most Interesting Radio Station in the World" promo spots are sheer genius. I'm only typing LOL because I actually laughed out loud. Whoever does the tag line - I think it's Gordo? - absolutely nailed it. "I don't always listen to the radio. But when I do, I listen to The Ticket." ... More >>

Picture Show: The Granada's Five-Year Anniversary Party

Dylan HollingsworthSlobberbone headlined Friday's festivities.​The folks at the Granada Theater must've been pleased as pie on Friday night, having sold out of tickets for its fifth anniversary celebration an all.Of course, it helps that the venue had some local favorites on the bill to help draw ... More >>

Two Years After Albrecht's Death, FDA Forces "Mental Health Events" Chantix Warning

To this day, people still post comments to the September 4, 2007, Unfair Park item concerning the smoking-cessation drug Chantix and its troubling effect on users. Andrea Grimes wrote the piece because Sorta's Carter Albrecht and his girlfriend had begun using the Pfizer-made medicine shortly before ... More >>

Gig Alert: The King Bucks' Final Monday Night Residency Performance At Adair's Saloon

Sarah Jane SemradThe Bucks' final Adair's show takes place tonight. For the last, oh, I dunno, but it seems like forever, The King Bucks have managed to turn the otherwise pretty low-key Monday nights around town into something of a big deal, packing country music and drinking fans alike into Adair' ... More >>

Bonus MP3: The King Bucks -- "Autumn Leaves"

Sarah Jane SemradThe King Bucks, never too far from a Shiner. Last week, Ms. Merritt Martin reviewed the debut disc from the greatest (and only) band currently holding down Adair's on Monday nights. And, in it, Merritt had this much to say:It's not quite as gritty as the Bucks' live show, but, in th ... More >>

Girls 61, Boys 44

Mike Rhyner actually drained this 3-pointer. The rest of Team Ticket's night was considerably suckier. One player wore low-top running shoes and - duh - sprained his ankle. A guy in only a diaper was escorted out by security. And, in the end, the teen-aged girls reduced the mid ... More >>

Bonus MP3: Sorta -- "Fool's Gold"

Pfizer No Longer Ruling Out Chantix Side Effects: "Depression and Suicidal Behavior"

How to Be a Good Cover Band

A Day Later, More Questions Than Answers

Sad News Travels Fast

No DOMA Drama

This is s'posed to be fun, remember?

Go, TJ Rebels! (Then Again...)

Jingle Bell Jock

The Ticket rocks and other notable news

Magical History Tour

Misunderstood

Obscurity, delays and ill-fitting genre labels: It's just another Strange day for Sorta

Odds & Ends

At this week's Dallas Video Festival, local audio gets the spotlight treatment

That's the Ticket

A Kinky Wednesday

Hell Hath No Fury

Plus: Cash for Candy; Tee’d Off

Best Sports Talk Show

The Hardline KTCK-AM 1310, The Ticket

Sparrows

Songs EP (Sidearm Entertainment)

Good Vibrations

Changes at Good Records, plus news on the Polyphonic Spree and a royalmea culpa

Kinda Sorta

Sorta Plays for Lovers, and other musicians, on its debut

Scene, Heard

The hiatus is over for The Legendary Fritz