Doug Davis

Ten Must-See Concerts in DFW This Week: May 2-8

Ringing in your first week of May is a week of music that's as diverse as it gets. We've got everything from Rodriguez, the legendary musician and subject of the Oscar-winning documentary Searching for Sugarman, to the Dwarves, a group of disgusting punk badboys. Get a taste for them by watching cli ... More >>

The Five Best Concerts In Dallas This Week, March 11-14

The time has come. We are officially knee-deep in festival season. On top of that, all of the best shows happen in the springtime, when the weather is best, which means that we won't get a break until we're running on fumes, with our little engines barely puttering into summer. For now, we're going ... More >>

The Fifteen Worst Make Out Records Ever

It's a classic Valentine's Day dilema -- you've planned ahead, made the sweeping gestures, made eyes across a white tablecloth and now you're ready to express yourself with some good old fashioned parts-rubbing. Whatever you do, don't play any of these records.

Los Lobos at the Kessler Theater: Review

Los Lobos is one of a handful of American bands that have sustained a notable and distinguished presence on the American music scene for over 30 years. A crossover band before the term was coined, they write music that has been a bridge between Mexican and American cultures ever since they emerged f ... More >>

The Six Best Concerts In Dallas This Weekend

Check out more of this weekend's shows via our shiny new concert calendar Afghan Whigs, Centro-matic Sunday, October 14, at the Granada Theater Within the bowels of the '90s reunion machine, Ohio's Afghan Whigs are one of those bands you never really expected to be spat out again. Their 1993 LP, Ge ... More >>

Waltz Around Our 100 Best Texas Songs

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 >>

Best Texas Songs of All Time: #19-1

Songs #100-80 Songs #79-60 Songs #59-40 Songs #39-20 The Spotify playlist for songs #19-1 19. Billy Preston, "Nothing From Nothing" Houston pianist Billy Preston got to hang around some decent talent (The Beatles, The Stones), but his solo material went in another direction altogether. This is ... More >>

John Iskander's Got Big Ideas For Parade of Flesh

Welcome to Local Music 'Mericans, where we get to know the people behind the scenes in Dallas/Fort Worth music. John Iskander was "at dinner with a priest" when he came up with the name Parade of Flesh, his one-man live music "boutique." But it would be rather antiseptic to label what he does as si ... More >>

A Place to Bury Strangers' Oliver Ackermann Names The Five Loudest Shows He's Ever Seen

That's Ackermann, front and center, with the rest of APTBS.​As we've already discussed a bit this week, A Place To Bury Strangers have about as much a problem turning up the volume knob as Rick Perry does seeking hair product. Which makes this recent, surprise announcement all the more awesome: Ol ... More >>

Last Night: Iceage, Midnight Society at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios

Iceage, Midnight SocietyRubber Gloves Rehearsal StudiosSunday, July 17, 2011Better than: Seeing punk poseurs that don't deliver. Doug DavisElias Bender, seconds before Iceage kicked into their set.​Jesus fucking Christ! Last night the crowd at Denton's Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios was treate ... More >>

Closing Time For Jack's Back Yard in Oak Cliff

Doug DavisThe bon voyage crowd at Jack's Back Yard yesterday afternoon.​One of the better bars in Dallas to feature live music came to a sudden close last night.  Well-located in Oak Cliff, just between the Oak Lawn and Kessler Park neighborhoods, Jack's Back Yard, a re-purposed complex of bu ... More >>

Over The Weekend: Man Man, Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers at Sons of Hermann Hall

Man Man, Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers Sons of Hermann Hall May 6, 2011 Better Than: Wearing sunglasses at night. Doug DavisHonus Honus and Pow Pow before the lights dimmed​ One of the images that comes to mind when I hear the musical chaos known as Man Man, is the clown scene in the Disne ... More >>

Last Night: Deerhoof at The Loft

DeerhoofThe LoftFebruary 2, 2011Better than: Ice, ice babyDoug DavisDeerhoof​It was a stroke of good luck, aided with a bit of coaxing by Loft promoter Kris Youmans, that got two luminaries to agree to share the bill on Wednesday night at The Loft. And, for fans of more experimental music, the o ... More >>

Giveaway: Five Pairs of Tickets to Tonight's Yann Tiersen and Deerhoof Show at the The Loft

Magnificent Beard​We've already made a couple mentions of tonight's impressive bill at The Loft, which finds two experimental acts on vastly different ends of the spectrum sharing a bill, simply due to the convenient fact that they both happen to be in town on the same night -- this isn't a joint ... More >>

Giveaway: Two Pairs of Tickets To See This Will Destroy You, Ume and The Boom Boom Box Tonight at the Granada Theater

In this week's paper, Doug Davis gets pretty gaga over Austin's Ume, whose spastic, churning blend of punk and thrash has been earning the band all sorts of accolades of late, thanks in no small part to the contributions of magnetic frontwoman and bona fide guitar heroine Lauren Langner Larson, who ... More >>

Giveaway: A Free Poster and A Pair of Tickets for Tonight's Kurt Vile Show at City Tavern

​In this week's dead tree edition of DC9, Doug Davis wrote a little preview for tonight's pretty phenomenal bill at City Tavern, featuring Kurt Vile & The Violators, Purling Hiss and Dallas' own True Widow.It should be a great show, for sure, given the recent successes Vile has had. Writes Dav ... More >>

Staff Trax: Suuns, Bobby Bare Jr., Phil Selway, Puscifer, Disfear, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yelstin

Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. Consider it a chance for you readers to get some more insight into ou ... More >>

Giveaway: Two Pairs of Tickets to See Jamie Lidell at the Granada Theater Tomorrow Night

Doug Davis caught up with Jamie Lidell recently in advance of the genre-blending blue-eyed soul and electro artist's upcoming gig at the Granada Theater tomorrow night. Read the fruits of Davis' labor, as saeen in this week's print edition, right here--but pay special attention to this telling quote ... More >>

Staff Trax: Black Mountain, of Montreal, Miranda Lambert, Rhys Chatham, Daniel Lanois & Bambi Lee Savage, Grinderman

Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. Consider it a chance for you readers to get some more insight into ou ... More >>

Giveaway: Five Pairs of Tickets To See Autolux Tomorrow Night at The Loft

In this week's paper, Doug Davis catches up with Autolux's Greg Edwards to talk about the shoegaze-y Los Anegeles-based band's return to the spotlight with the recently released Transit Transit, the band's sophomore release and its first after six full years of absence. It's a fine release, Davis ex ... More >>

Staff Trax: Röyksopp, Trippple Nippples, Ride, Jawbox, Buffalo Tom, Wilco and Toto

Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. Consider it a chance for you readers to get some more insight into ou ... More >>

Staff Trax: The Apples in Stereo, Arcade Fire, Paul Brill, Built to Spill, Twin Sister and The Futureheads.

Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. Consider it a chance for you readers to get some more insight into ou ... More >>

Staff Trax: Happy Birthday, The Walkmen, Stars, Sarah Jaffe, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart and, uh, Rammstein?

​Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend dominate our coverage. Consider this a chance to get some more insight into our personal tastes. And a chan ... More >>

Staff Trax: Oberhofer, The Henry Clay People, Chin Up Chin Up, Blockhead, Jamey Johnson, Beastie Boys and Crowded House

Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. Consider it a chance for you readers to get some more insight into ... More >>

Staff Trax: Roadside Graves, Goo Goo Dolls, Jimi Hendrix, Little Dragon, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, Alice in Chains, Fan Death and Beth Orton

Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. Consider it a chance for you readers to get some more insight into ... More >>

Giveaway: Three Pairs of Tickets To See The Buzzcocks at The Loft Tomorrow Night

In this week's paper, Doug Davis checks in with Pete Shelley, frontman for legendary Brit punks the Buzzcocks, who, tomorrow night, stop through Dallas for a gig at The Loft--the second-to-last stop on the band's two-year world tour. One of the original pop-punk acts, Davis extols the Buzzcocks' eff ... More >>

Staff Trax: Hot Chip, LCD Soundsytem, Caribou, King Crimson, Johann Johannsson and Meat Loaf

Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. Consider it a chance for you readers to get some more insight into our ow ... More >>

Giveaway: A Pair of Tickets To See Megafaun at Hailey's Club in Denton Tonight

The last time Megafaun, an Americana act with experimental flair and an offshoot of now-defunct DeYarmond Edison, was at Hailey's, it was opening up for the Bowerbirds in August of 2009. Doug Davis gave his take on the band:Megafaun is a trio who might be described as post-rock meets bluegrass. At t ... More >>

Picture Show: Yann Tiersen at the Granada Theater

Andrew ShepherdYann Tiersen at the Granada Theater last night.​In previewing last night's Yann Tiersen performance at the Granada Theater, Observer contributor Doug Davis promised a rare treat--and from the looks of Andrew Shepherd's slideshow of Tiersen's and Sleep Whale's performances last eveni ... More >>

Giveaway: Three Pairs of Tickets To Tonight's Yann Tiersen Show at the Granada

​In this week's print edition, Doug Davis gets to thinking about Yann Tiersen, the man behind the Amelie soundtrack and, in turn, maybe the whole baroque twee movement of the mid-'00s. Writes Davis:A classically trained musician, Tiersen's a multi-instrumentalist who rarely tours and, when he doe ... More >>

Giveaway: A Pair of Tickets To Tomorrow Night's Yeasayer Show at the Granada

Tomorrow night at the Granada Theater, the ever-buzzing Yeasayer will offer up a sure-to-be-well-attended headlining performance in support of its latest release, Odd Blood. The disc, however is a bit of a departure for the band--more poppy than its 2007 debut and breakthrough All Hour Cymbals, that ... More >>

DC9er Mixtape, Vol. 6: R.A. Four

​Kenny Lucas aka R.A. Four has been spinning vinyl for a little over a year now, starting only last March. The electro, ambient DJ got his start at Murray Street Coffee Shop, when owner Doug Davis sent out a Tweet looking for a sub-DJ for a Wednesday night. One of Lucas' friends volunteered him, ... More >>

Staff Trax: Thieves Like Us, Carolina Chocolate Drops, Yeasayer, KISS, Goldrush and Owl City

​ "Drugs In My Body" - Thieves Like UsI first staggered upon Thieves Like Us a few years back while carelessly clicking in and out of the blogospherem, and my first exposure to the electro trio was via its video for "Drugs in My Body." Since then, the band has produced several videos, EPs and, las ... More >>

Staff Trax: Sparklehorse, Priestess, Amelia Curran, and The Delfonics

​Welcome to Staff Trax, the weekly feature here on DC9 where we shed some light on the music we've been enjoying of late, regardless of the touring or album release schedules that tend to bear the focus of most of our coverage. It's a chance for you readers to get more insight into our own persona ... More >>

Giveaway: Five Pairs of Tickets to Friday Night's Granada Theater Show with The Cribs, Adam Green and The Dead Trees

In this week's dead tree edition of DC9 (out tomorrow in certain hotspots around the Metroplex!), you'll be able to read Doug Davis' profile on The Cribs, in which he and band bassist/vocalist Gary Jarman talk about the recent changes in the band's sound--and namely the recent addition of Smiths gui ... More >>

One Last Year-End List: 2009's Best Concerts

​Listen: My job description requires me to see a lot of concerts. More than is probably healthy, to be honest. I'm out at least three nights a week (often more like five or six) seeing local or national shows around town. Believe me, I'm not complaining. But, when you see that many shows a year, y ... More >>

Giveaway: A Pair Of Tickets To Tonight's Hope Sandoval Show At Sons of Hermann Hall

Hope Sandoval​ In this week's print edition of DC9, you won't see an interview with Hope Sandoval. Rather, I think, you'll see something a little more interesting: an interview with the Mazzy Star singer's current musical and household partner Colm O'Ciosoig, better known to many as the drummer of ... More >>

Giveaway: Two Pairs Of Tickets To See Bat For Lashes At The Loft Tonight

​In this week's print edition, Observer contributor Doug Davis talked shop with indie rock chanteuse Natasha Khan, or, as he puts it, "the wildly creative force behind Bat for Lashes." It's a great interview, explaining the British Khan's love/hate relationship with America, and how that relations ... More >>

Dallas Observer Music Awards

Picture Show: Grizzly Bear at the Granada

Hal SamplesDoug Davis had the last word on last night's Grizzly Bear show at the Granada... until now. Because Hal Samples was there to document the show from the front row--maybe even closer, from the looks of it--and we'll close out the day on DC9 with his look at the show.You can check out more s ... More >>

Picture Show: The Octopus Project, This Will Destroy You and Ume at the Granada

Caity Colvard These three Texas acts made for a fine night of diverse sounds at the Granada Saturday night, and you can read more about the show in Doug Davis' show review from earlier today.But don't miss out on of Caity Colvard's fine work photographing the show for us, in this slideshow. (I'm jus ... More >>

Giveaway: Three Pairs Of Tickets To Tomorrow Night's Octopus Project, This Will Destroy You and Ume Show At The Granada

In this week's print edition of DC9, Observer contributor Doug Davis checks in to hype up tomorrow night's The Octopus Project, This Will Destroy You and Ume bill at the Granada Theater tomorrow night, saying that the show "showcases a trio of excellent Texas bands that bring shoe-gazing--leavened ... More >>

Giveaway: Four Pairs Of Tickets To Catch The Thermals Tonight At The Loft

In this week's print edition of DC9, Observer contributor Doug Davis had this much to say about tonight's show with The Thermals at The Loft:The Thermals are a Portland-based trio (they've gone through a troop of drummers) that retains the energy and anger of punk and grunge that famously flowed ou ... More >>

Giveaway: Three Pairs Of Tickets To See Cut Copy Tomorrow Night At The Granada

Tonight, down a ways on I-35, Cut Copy, Matt & Kim and Knightlife are playing a sold-out date at Stubb's. But there are still tickets available to tomorrow night's show, when the three danceable acts make their way to the Granada here in Dallas. As Observer contributor Doug Davis mentioned in h ... More >>

Doug Out?

Will Rangers lefty Doug Davis finally make good, or is this the end for him in Texas?

The Buck Starts Here

New Texas Rangers manager Buck Showalter makes the team much better. Problem is, he can’t hit leadoff, play center field or pitch.

The A-Team

Love it when a plan comes together? Not so fast. Sure, they've got A-Rod and I-Rod, but what about Rusty Greer hitting leadoff, Tim Crabtree closing, and Johnny Oates acting human? John Gonzalez goes to Texas Rangers spring training to look for answers.

Careless Wish

He's white