Darryl Smyers

New Science Projects' Hard On is a Weird, Catchy Masterpiece: Preview

In this week's music feature, Darryl Smyers dove into the strange world of New Science Projects' Dale Jones. He talks about his career ambitions (Ph.D or gas station attendant) and Dallas ("My music is not flashy. I think things in Dallas are more upscale, maybe not financially, but emotionally."). ... More >>

Looking Back on 15 of Our Favorite 2012 North Texas Releases

Here are the Winners of the 2012 Dallas Observer Music Awards

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 >>

Listomania: Four Folk Acts To Follow in 2011

​Let's get this out of the w​ay from the jump: No, none of these acts are from Texas.But each has one thing in common: They're each releasing good music--right now. And, while 2010 saw handfuls of folk artist make headlines with either debut or breakthrough albums of excellent caliber (from Swed ... More >>

Our Critics' Year-End Top Ten: Darryl Smyers Turns Things Down A Notch And Screams About The Walkmen's Lisbon

In this week's paper, you may notice a piece including some of our DC9 writers' choices for best albums of the year. But, space being limited, we couldn't run all of our writers' lists. So, thanks to the power of the Internet, we're doing just that, right here.​Noted Wi ... More >>

Giveaway: Two Pairs of Tickets to See Bad Brains Tonight at the Granada Theater

Bad Brains​When a band's been around as long as legendary Washington, D.C., punk act Bad Brains has, its reputation tends to precede it. Darryl Smyers wrote at length about the band's reputation in this week's paper, when he caught up with bassist Darryl Jennifer in advance of the band's stop thro ... More >>

Giveaway: Five Pairs of Tickets to See Both Danzig and Helmet The Southside Music Hall/Loft

Trick or treat! It's Halloween weekend, folks, and we have an extra special giveaway this time--to not one, but two shows. A real treat, for sure. Here's the deal: There are two pretty awesome shows going on at the Gilley's Complex on Halloween night, and the folks over there are hooking five DC9 re ... More >>

Giveaway: Five Pairs Of Tickets to Tomorrow Night's Show From Nirvana Influences The Vaselines at The Loft

​In this week's print edition, Darryl Smyers talks up tomorrow night's show at The Loft from The Vaselines, who, after bearing an influence over Nirvana's Kurt Cobain in the early '90s, took a 17-year break after their 1992 compilation release, All the Stuff and More..., before Sub Pop released an ... More >>

Giveaway: Five Pairs of Tickets To See Dead Confederate, Ume and Futurebirds Play The Loft on Sunday Night

In this week's paper, Darryl Smyers talks Athens' Dead Confederate, explaining why Sunday night's show at The Loft is a must-see in his book:Known for their hybrid mix of alt-country and post-grunge, Athens' Dead Confederate created quite a critical buzz with the release of Wrecking Ball, the band ... More >>

Bonus MP3: The Happy Bullets -- "People In Charge"

Erica Felicella​In this week's paper, Darryl Smyers gave The Happy Bullets' preview EP for its Hydroponic at the Natatorium LP a spin--and dug what he heard. Seriously. Writes Smyers:The effort is good enough to bring some much-deserved attention to The Happy Bullets once again. Continue reading. ... More >>

Haiti Benefit Concerts Scheduled In Austin And Dallas, And Paste 'Songs For Haiti' Downloads Include Fort Worth Band

Fort Worth's The Burning Hotels are among the artists available for download once you donate to Paste Magazine's Songs For Haiti.​Perhaps the best thing about the local music scene is how generous North Texas musicians are when it comes to benefit concerts and other ways of donating to worthy char ... More >>

Giveaway: Three Pairs Of Tickets To Tonight's Dandy Warhols Gig at The Granada

The above streaming cover of the Beatles' "Blackbird" comes courtesy of The Dandy Warhols, who, as Darryl Smyers noted in his interview with the band in last week's print edition, were kinda obligated to cover the song as soon as Michael Jackson passed away. And ... More >>

Giveaway: Five Pairs Of Tickets To Brave Combo's 30th Anniversary Party At Sons Tomorrow Night

In this week's print edition, Darryl Smyers checks in with Brave Combo's Carl Finch to discuss the band's 30-year existence--a major feat for the polka trendsetters, and one that will be celebrated with a big bash tomorrow night at Sons of Hermann Hall.Also, courtesy of Finch himself, who is rightfu ... More >>

Giveaway: Three Pairs of Tickets To Old Crow Medicine Show Tomorrow At The Granada

Aaron FarringtonThough Old Crow Medicine Show singer Keith Secor doesn't sound particularly enthusiastic about life on the road in Lance Lester's preview story, I know quite a few fans who are excited for the chance to see his old-timey string band perform tomorrow night at The Granada Theater. Maki ... More >>

Gig Alert: Off With Their Heads, Over Stars and Gutters at Rubber Gloves

Hailing from Minneapolis, Off With Their Heads continues the impressive lineage of Twin Cities punk rock that began with Husker Du, Soul Asylum and The Replacements back in the '80s. From the Bottom, the band's most recent effort, is packed full of spite and bile, just as good punk record should b ... More >>

The End Of The End Of Year Lists: Darryl Smyers' Favorite Albums Of 2008

Sure, 2008 may be done, but the list-making still continues... This year, five contributors to the Dallas Observer's music section were asked to participate in the Village Voice's annual Pazz & Jop critics' poll, which compiles the lists of hundreds of music critics across the country into one m ... More >>

Best in Dallas Music, 2008: The Podcast

For whatever reason, we were feeling like a real team last week--so much so that we gathered up most of the music writing crew here at the Observer and packed everyone into my spacious fake college dorm room office to talk about our favorite local releases of the year (and to take very unlively pict ... More >>

Well, Actually, This Is A Little Refreshing: Forever The Sickest Kids Enters The End-Of-Year List Game

Listen: We've done our fair share of Forever The Sickest Kids dogging here at DC9 over the past 12 months or so--sometimes for good reason, and sometimes because, well, we were just bored.But, fact of the matter is, these guys had themselves a hell of a year: They released their debut, Underdog Alma ... More >>

Gig Alert: Check Out Sleeping in the Aviary at Rubber Gloves Tonight

Yes, the weather outside is indeed frightful but, if you're done shopping, I can't think of anything better than heading to Denton and catching Sleeping in the Aviary tonight. The Madison band's core of Elliott Kozel (guitar/vocals), Michael Sienkowski (drums) and Phil Mahlstadt (bass), recently add ... More >>

Q and A: Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick

Rick Nielsen and his quintuple-neck guitar, which is perhaps one of the reasons writer Darryl Smyers refers to him as "uber-nerd." Last week, Sony Legacy released a 30th anniversary edition box set of At Budokan, Cheap Trick’s remarkable entrance into popular culture. Sure, the Illinois quartet ... More >>

A Free Show (If You’re of Age) That Definitely Shouldn’t be Free

Bonus MP3: Mad Mexicans -- “United”

Hey UNT Alums: Need An Excuse To Attend Homecoming This Weekend?

Swing State Rock: Ohio’s Two Cow Garage Release CD, Set Tour Stop in Denton

Tonight: Lucinda Williams Listening Party At The Double Wide

No Depression Website Relauched, And Looking Good

Tonight: Skip The Debate And Catch Jonezetta At The Loft

Because There's Nothing Like White Boys Singing About Jesus...

Bonus MP3s: Two Tracks From Exit 380

It's Tough Not To Think Of Jackson Browne When Discussing Somebody's Darling, Huh?

Tiger Moth Breaks Up, Loses Camera

Line Up Set for Austin’s Fun Fun Fun Fest. Fun? You Bet.

The Cut*Off Come Home After East Coast Shows With Old 97’s

Imaad Wasif Would've Surely Improved Our Independence Day Celebrations

How About a Father’s Day Worth Celebrating?

Bonus MP3: Airline -- "Farewell Republica"

Bonus MP3: Eleven Hundred Springs -- "Every Time I Get Close To You"

Bonus MP3: The Cut*Off -- "Luggage For Light Years"

Q&A: Quiet Life's Sean Spellman

Best Bets for New Year's Eve Concerts

You Gave Me What? Part 5: Reliving Husker Du

You Gave Me What? Part 2: Worthwhile Beatles Bio

You Gave Me What? Part 1: Badfinger's Back

The Ballad of Jerry Dirkx

Holy Holly! Actually Good Christmas CDs

R.I.P., Ray Nasher | Widespread Outrage | The Death of Cool

Panic Attack

Time to Widespread the Love

2006 TOP 10

More Top 10 lists from our writers

Venom

Metal Black (Sanctuary)