Graceland

Richard Thompson On Getting Older and Losing Meaning

Besides being a stellar guitarist, Richard Thompson is a superb songwriter and one hell of a witty dude. Over the course of four decades, Thompson has evolved from an above average, British folk rocker to a legendary guitarist plying his craft across several genres. Speaking from a tour stop in Ne ... More >>

At T3, Royal Flop Idols of the King Hardly Honors Elvis

The 15 Worst Local Band Names

Inputting hundreds of music listings per week to be featured online and in print in the Observer, I see the occasional band name so bad I question my existence on this earth. Some are funny. Some are vile. Some are embarrassing. In fact, the idea of having a band name is kind of stupid. You don't ro ... More >>

Blackstone Rangers Make You a Summer Mixtape

In preview of the release party for debut EP Into the Sea, tonight at Bryan Street Tavern, we asked local trio Blackstone Rangers to give us a few of their favorite summer songs. Not necessarily songs about summer, but ones that they associate with the season. Derek Kutzer, guitar Weezer," Surf W ... More >>

Burning Hotels at Granada, Triple Play at the Kessler and Your Weekend Shows

​There's a good handful of shows in town this weekend, including The Local Edge's showcase with Burning Hotels, Mon Julien (Cory Watson of Black Tie Dynasty), Air Review and Menkena at the Granada Theater tomorrow night.Triple Play: Hunter Hendrickson, Spooky Folk, Exit 380Friday, January 13, at t ... More >>

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Sunday, January 15, at Winspear Opera House

Foster The People, Eisley and This Week's Show Announcements

Foster The People​If you're thinking, "If I hear 'Pumped Up Kicks' one more time, I'm gonna pull a gun on someone and make them outrun my bullets," then you should definitely not read on. The band responsible for the song, Foster The People, has strategically planned to start selling tickets to it ... More >>

Yukon Blonde's Graham Jones on seeing Bob Dylan and Moneen, and playing Dallas for the first time

Canadian four-piece Yukon Blonde hits the Double Wide tonight, and nestle up to the cavernous harmonies of Fleet Foxes and early My Morning Jacket. You'll hear plenty from the band's 2011 EP, Fire/Water, as well as their self-titled debut. In advance, we talked with drummer Graham Jones about his ... More >>

Fool's Gold's Luke Top Talks Singing in Hebrew and Not Sounding Like Vampire Weekend

Fool's Gold​The Los Angeles-based indie rock band Fool's Gold has always been a work in progress. That is, until recently. The band is notorious for incorporating and African flavor into their music and their second album Leave No Trace, which dropped on August 16, holds true to that style. But fr ... More >>

Ten Musicians' Ghosts That Still Stalk The Earth (And How To Dress Up As Them For Halloween)

​Now that the calendar has official turned to September and the back-to-school fervor is over, we've come upon that special time once again when big-box retailers to start rolling out their Halloween merchandise. Since we here at DC9 love Halloween, we think it's never too early to begin planning ... More >>

Kings Of Leon & Band Of Horses, Civil Wars, and Over 100 New Show Announcements

Kings Of Leon​The first time the Kings of Leon came to town, they played an intimate show at the Gypsy Tea Room. And what a different time that was: Critics referred to them as The Stokes of the South, and before long, Kings Of Leon found themselves as the opening act for Julian Casablancas & ... 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 >>

Show Announcements: British Sea Power, Band Of Horses, Randy Travis, Dawes, Devotchka, The Kills, Cut Copy, Ice Cube, Guster, The Crystal Method, Appleseed Cast, Warpaint, Freelance Whales, Helmet & More!

British Sea Power​Brighton's explosive British Sea Power are fresh off the release of their fourth studio album, Valhalla Dancehall, which, unfortunately, doesn't quite match up to the power chord anthems on their previous record, Do You Like Rock Music. Rather, the new album hearkens back to thei ... More >>

Q&A Giveaway: Bosco Delrey Talks Combining Dancehall and Retro Rock Into One Sound

​You may have not heard of New Jersey's Bosco Delray yet, but if the early buzz is a signal of things to come, you will certainly know the guy soon. Mixing early rock and roll (Elvis Presley and Chuck Berry) with dancehall and hip-hop, Delrey is plying his craft in a genre all of his own. He recen ... More >>

Vampire Weekend Doesn't Suck.

Show Announcements: N.E.R.D, Women, Menkena, Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Needtobreathe, Tame Impalla, Paul Oakenfold, Lifehouse, Sarah McLachlan & more

N.E.R.D.​A few weeks ago, the Gorillaz show at Verizon Theatre on Wednesday, October 20 slid in under the radar. There's no doubt that the show from the animated band will be huge--but it just got a little bit bigger: N.E.R.D has just been announced as the opening act. N.E.R.D is touring to promot ... More >>

Picture Show: Theatre Gallery Reunion at the Prophet Bar

Melissa Davis HenningsThe Bat Mastersons onstage Saturday night at the Prophet BarMuch ink has been spilled on this blog to relate the significance of Saturday night's Theatre Gallery reunion show at the Prophet Bar. With Shallow Reign, Decadent Dub Team, The Bat Mastersons, Graceland and more, it w ... More >>

Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend (XL)

Warrior's Work

Ladysmith Black Mambazo performs at Bass Hall

Use Your Illusion

Slayer's leader talks spirituality, slaughterhouses and Simon

Deathless Tiki Tacky

Kitsch is cool again at Trader Vic's

Sacred and Profane

Al Green may be saved, but he's still sexy

Paul Simon

Surprise (Warner Bros.)

Rockin' Run

The King's loyal subjects pound the pavement

Capsule Reviews

Our critics weigh in on local theater

Get FIT

Independent theaters' home away from home

Dave Tapley and other Elvis impersonators

January 8

Of No Concern

Lisa Marie Presley is a singer-songwriter to be reckoned with

Open Houses

Munger Place puts out the welcome mats

So What?

Ministry isn't on a major label anymore, but Al Jourgensen still loves his job

Big Death

Fading flashiness marked the year in Dallas dining

Multiple Artists

Our writers clean out the CD bin

A Little Less Conversation

Plus: Cheer Up, Gal

The Rebel's Waltz

For 10 years, Joe Strummer made little noise. Finally, the Clash front man returns with a record he can call his own.

Kids Inc.

The Get Up Kids' independent success is still Something to Write Home About

The sideman

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame acknowledges Scotty Moore, the guitarist behind the King

Identity crisis

Boys Don't Cry, unless he's a she in this heart-wrenching true tale

Here Comes Rhymin' Simon

And his pocket full of oldies

The preacher and the Prophet

Why can't we all just get along? The history, or not, of Russell and Jeff's Deep Ellum

Roadshows

Out There

Unlikely hybrid

The cocktail country of the Lucky Pierres proves to be the right mix

"I'll Fight for You!"

You want Brian Loncar on your side, all right. Ask anyone who's made the mistake of crossing him.

Out Here

Out There

Big star

Robert Gordon's new book reveals Memphis is once and forever music's Shangri-La

Events for the week