Frankie Campagna

Amber Campagna is Deep Ellum Royalty and a Boundless Musical Spirit

As you've recently read in DC9, Amber Campagna's family is practically the subject of a new documentary on fallen Dallas musician Frankie Campagna Jr.'s local punk assembly, Spector 45. We got a chance to know Frankie Jr. pretty well here at DC9 over the years, as well as his father, Kettle Art Stud ... More >>

45 Fest

Saturday, October 20 at Dada

Live Fast But Die Slow

The Top Ten DFW Punk Albums

See also: The top 10 North Texas blues albums See also: The top 100 Texas songs The Telefones, Vibration Change Released in 1980, this album is more punk in spirit than execution. Songs like "Rocket Rocket" and "The Ballad of Jerry Godzilla" fuse punk rock's oomph with a new wave sensibility. Th ... More >>

What Are You Thankful For?

Sitting around the house waiting for Turkey Day to roll around got me to thinking about all the things I'm thankful for. Of course, I'm lucky to have my family and friends and, these days, I am very thankful to have a job. But musically speaking, the Dallas scene has provided many a band, show and ... More >>

Tonight's 45 Fest at Dada Remembers Frankie Campagna and Adam Carter

It's been nearly a year since the devastating news of Frankie Campagna's suicide rattled the Dallas music community. Only three months later, when the wound was still fresh, Campagna's Spector 45 bandmate, bassist Adam Carter, followed in his footsteps.Now, a year later, the dust has settled for som ... More >>

Nine Bands Confirmed For First Annual 45 Fest Set To Take Place on October 21 at Dada

The late, great Spector 45.​Hello Lover, Jim Suhler, The Mike Haskins Experience, The Marfalites, Dog Company, Here Holy Spain, The Assassins, The Phuss and Houston's The Sellouts are the first nine bands confirmed for the first annual 45 Fest, which will honor late Spector 45 members Frankie Camp ... More >>

Todd Rundgren Dedicates His Latest Album to Memory of the Late Frankie 45

​There are at least two notable local music connections to noted pop experimentalist Todd Rundgren. The first is the fact that Neon Indian's chillwaves rode not one, but two Rundgren samples on their debut album Psychic Chasms, with "Deadbeat Summer" using some of Rundgren's "Izzat Love?" track an ... More >>

Spector 45 Song Used For New Dallas Harley-Davidson Dealer TV Spot To Air This Fall

About a year ago, before tragedy twice struck the much-adored area greaser-punk three-piece Spector 45, first with frontman Frankie Campagna on New Year's Day and then again in March with bassist Adam Carter, the band had been approached about having their music used in an upcoming TV ad promoting t ... More >>

Sons of Hermann Hall to Erect Plaque Honoring The Fallen Musicians Who've Played The Venue

Patrick PerezMany greats have played Sons' stage.​Mike Snider is sick of area musicians dying. Worse, he's sick of seeing how the whole community comes together in the wake of a death -- not because there's anything wrong with that, he's quick to say, but because he doesn't understand why we can't ... More >>

Last Night: Warped Tour Kickoff Party at the Double Wide with Against Me!, Lucero, Mike Herrera, The Aggrolites and Missile

Warped Tour Kickoff Party with Against Me!, Lucero, Mike Herrera, The Aggrolites and Missile The Double Wide June 23, 2011 Better than: any house party you've ever attendedDavid WilsonAgainst Me! put on a thrilling performance last night at The Double Wide. For more photos from the event, check ... More >>

See Some Cool Scooters and Bikes, Support Deep Ellum, Check Out Some Music and Maybe Get Famous at the 2011 Rockers Vs. Mods

​It's an annual tradition around these here pars, when those oh-so-hip folk with the leather jackets and motorcycles fake square off against the ones in square-framed glasses and their Italian scooters. Yes, it's Rockers vs. Mods weekend. And this weekend's festivities are once again quite full of ... More >>

Last Night: Adam Carter Memorial Concert at The Bone

Adam Carter Memorial ConcertThe BoneMarch 23, 2011All photos by Danny FulgencioFriends gathered at The Bone last night for a concert memorializing the life of Adam Carter.​It was a somber scene at The Bone last night, a scene tragically all-too-familiar in the local music scene of late. Since Augu ... More >>

Bill Holston's Take On Last Night's Adam Carter Memorial at La Grange

Allison V. SmithRest in peace, Adam.​I made it to the concert memorializing the life of Adam Carter at The Bone last night, but other obligations kept me from making the earlier event held at La Grange, where friends and family gathered to share stories, listen to recorded songs, and watch video m ... More >>

Memorial Concert For Adam Carter Set To Take Place On Wednesday Night at The Bone

Allison V. SmithAdam Carter​I'm really torn with how we should be handling coverage of Spector 45 bassist Adam Carter's recent suicide. Adam was a sweet guy, a great sound man, a heck of a musician (in addition to his role in Spector 45, he played in a number of other great bands, including The Ma ... More >>

Spector 45 Bassist Adam Carter is Dead.

Allison V. SmithAdam Carter, just three months ago, performing at the memorial concert held for his Spector 45 bandmate Frankie Campagna at Club Dada.​ Former Spector 45 bass player Adam Carter is dead of an apparent suicide. He was 27. Details are still trickling in, but those close to Carter con ... 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 >>

A Look at That Tanker Crash and Burn on I-30

No doubt you've heard about, or read about, the fuel-tanker spill that closed down I-30 west of downtown early this morning. So happens good, good friend of the show Jeff Liles, who was on his way back to Oak Cliff after the Frankie Campagna memorial show at Club Dada at around 1:30 a.m, came across ... More >>

Last Night: The Frankie 45 Memorial Concert at Club Dada

Frankie 45 Memorial ConcertClub DadaJanuary 6, 2010Better than: a traditional funeral -- so much better.Danny FulgencioFrankie 45's motorcycle was set up as a memorial outside Club Dada last night for all to see.​After losing an adored member of their inner circle earlier this week, the family and ... More >>

Details Set for Frankie 45 Memorial Show

​Pete's asked me to share with the Friends of Unfair Park a link to the rundown for Thursday night's show at Club Dada, a memorial for Frankie Campagna, who died early New Year's Day. I'm happy to oblige -- not only because I'd known Frankie 45 since he was a little boy, no older than my own son i ... More >>

This Week In Dallas Music History: Frankie Campagna's Hard Knocks Christmas of '04

Spector 45​In this edition of This Week In Dallas Music History, former Dallas Observer music editor Sarah Hepola offers one of the earliest stories we ever published on the late Spector 45 frontman Frankie Campagna. In 2004, when the story was written, the then-17-year-old Campagna was already a ... More >>

Tonight, Tonight: Toy Drive at The Libertine, KC Turner at Opening Bell, Dave Semans Combo at Lakewood Bar & Grill and Owen Obel at the Absinthe Lounge

Not the craziest Monday night ever. But, considering that it's Christmas week, there's still a nice selection of musical options this evening -- including a cool touring duo and four dependable local acts.

Picture Show Tracklist: The Local Hang's One-Year Anniversary at The Libertine

All photos by Eric GarciaSpector 45, always the showmen.​Well, last night, as promised, we indeed celebrated the one-year anniversary of The Local Hang at The Libertine, with some help from top-notch local performers The O's, Leg Sweeper, Spector 45 and A.Dd .Our one regret? Not bringing ear plugs ... More >>

Gig Alert: Benefit for Rockin Ralph of Hollywood 5 and Dime

​Frankie Campagna of Spector 45 passes along word today of a benefit taking place tonight to help the man known as "Rockin' Ralph" of Expo Park retail outfit Hollywood 5 and Dime. Last week, Ralph sustained several injuries while in an accident on his motorcycle. A benefit concert, where all of th ... More >>

Dallas Observer Music Awards

Bonus MP3: Spector 45 -- "I Love You"

Evil M After first performing its new song, "I Love You", two Thursday nights ago to a warm reception at a Club Dada performance, area greaser punk act Spector 45 headed into January Sound Studio early last week to pop off a quick recording of the track so that it could be released as a valentine's ... More >>

Spector 45's Frankie Campagna Isn't Shy About Speaking His Piece

About That Deep Ellum Town Hall Meeting: Love It Live!

Deep Ellum Town Hall Meeting Set For Tomorrow Night, Frankie Campagna Set To Open

Bonus MP3: Spector 45 -- "Teenage Plague

And Another Band Gets Its Van Stolen...

Odds & Ends

What good would a 20-year punk scene reunion be without a scuffle?

Crappy Holidays

It wasn't always a holly, jolly time for Dallas musicians