Madison King

Your Guide to the Homegrown Festival Lineup

This weekend, Homegrown Music and Arts Festival will gather some of the area's biggest and most interesting bands at Main Street Garden Park. This year, the lineup is once again all Texans, after the festival's organizers decided they were losing the focus of the thing by expanding beyond the stat ... More >>

This Week's Top Show Announcements: Divine Fits, Blue Oyster Cult, Ben Folds Five, Rob Zombie and More

As we sit in our cubicles, school chairs or desks today, the Texas sky is relentless with its 73-degree beauty, tempting all of us to turn on some tunes, throw up our hands and have recess. Texas has just reached the perfect time of year when all of the alchemy is correct for hosting a plethora of m ... More >>

Indie-Verse's Eric Landrum: "I Would Put on My Grandfather's Loafers and Moonwalk on Their Stoop"

Eric Landrum has sacrificed a lot as a music fan working in radio promotions, but what's really kept him on the clock is his passion. No matter what kind of laminate or credentials Landrum has scored over the years working live broadcasts at concerts or meet-and-greets with national touring artists, ... More >>

Josh Florence Talks About Homegrown Festival, Super Moons, the Night City Tavern Was On Fire

Josh Florence has a DOMA nomination or two under his belt, and was part of the team that made Homegrown Festival such a great success again this year. Further, he's an owner of prominent music spots Dada (reopened two years this January) and City Tavern. Florence tends to be an enthusiastic force fo ... More >>

The O's, Eleven Hundred Springs, Quaker City Night Hawks and More Rep North Texas in a New Documentary Series

The North Texas Chevy Music Showcase - not to be confused with the Chevy Stage at the State Fair - is a documentary series featuring a dozen local acts, focusing on their place and time in the North Texas music community. Starting tomorrow night, the two-minute episodes will air on WFAA right before ... More >>

So Much Art, So Little Time

This Weekend's Best Concerts: KXT's Summer Cut, Meltdown Music Festival, the Avett Brothers, Japanther and More

Summer Cut w/ The Flaming Lips, St. Vincent, Fitz & The Tantrums and moreFriday, June 1, at Gexa Energy PavilionHere we are, fully immersed in this year's summer festival season, and we're already peaking. It's going to be hard to outdo The Flaming Lips, St. Vincent, and everyone else KXT 91.7-F ... More >>

Ryan Boldt of The Deep Dark Woods on the Rough Streets of Saskatoon

Hailing from the frigid confines of Saskatoon, Canada, one might think a band like The Deep Dark Woods would be happy touring the warmer climes of the Southern United States. Not so claims singer Ryan Boldt. Seems the cooler temperatures have an explicit and implicit influence on his band's music. ... More >>

The Good Friday Edition of Good Friday, With Acid Mothers Temple, The Singapore Slingers, Pontiak and More

If you live in or have passed through Deep Ellum in the last few days, you've noticed the white tents crowding the streets. That's because it's time for the Deep Ellum Arts Festival. The event, which has seen better days, is now in its 17th year, and will feature performances from The Virgin Wolves, ... More >>

Santigold, Sucre, ZZ Top and More Show Announcements

It's been nearly a four-year wait on the new Santigold album, Master of My Make-Believe, which is set to drop on May 1 via Downtown Records. On the new album, Santigold's impressive blend of hip-hop and dance music has been bolstered by production from Diplo, Dave Sitek of TV On the Radio and Nick Z ... More >>

East Soid! Join the Inaugural East Dallas Indie Crawl Tomorrow.

Remember when the city was divided into two sides and it was all East side versus West side? Just when you thought that violent feud was over, BAM, East Dallas hits hard with the first ever East Dallas Indie Crawl. The bar-hopping event starts at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, where Calhoun an ... More >>

Top 10 Local Country Songs of 2011

Bonnie Whitmore​In 2011, we witnessed a refreshing surge of new talent blend in with some of the scene's long-time favorites. Sure, 1100 Springs offered up yet another blissfully classic album, but Madison King and Gaston Light (aka Jason Corcoran) made their presence known with personal twist ... More >>

New Year's Eve Spectacular With The Polyphonic Spree, and a Very Dense List of Show Announcements

​The Polyphonic Spree certainly loves the holidays. It makes sense, seeing as they're the most joyful band on the planet. And only three weeks after they throw their annual Holiday Extravaganza at Lakewood Theater, they're throwing a New Year's Eve bash at House Of Blues on December 31. Which show ... More >>

Cha Cha's Rock and Roll Charity Gala, Adam Ant and the Rest of This Week's Show Announcements

​For the last eight years, local music advocate Chelsea Callahan has been celebrating her birthday with rock-and-roll and charity in mind. Every year, she books a solid bill of local bands and gives all the proceeds away to charity. This year, Cha Cha's Eighth Annual Rock & Roll Charity Gala o ... More >>

Ryan Thomas Becker & Last Joke

Last Joke Band Self-released

Erykah Badu Announces Debut Cannabinoids Album, We Take Another Look at DOMA Season

Since I just stumbled across the above video of Erykah Badu and The Cannabinoids just owning the stage at our awards ceremony at the House of Blues on Tuesday night, here's one last post about the 2011 Dallas Observer Music Awards -- and then, promise, we're done. In case you missed it: Badu announc ... More >>

Get To Know Your DOMAXXIII Nominees: Best Instrumentalist, Best Radio Show, Best Blog/Website

​Welcome to our 2011 Dallas Observer Music Awards breakdown, wherein we'll use the weeks leading up to the DOMA showcases on Saturday, October 15 (which is also when voting ends), to explain the nominees in each category Today, we look at the nominees in the Best Instrumentalist, Bes ... More >>

Your 2011 Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase Performers

A closer look at all 52 acts playing this weekend's Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase in Deep Ellum

DOMAXXIII: Schedule of Performers For The Music Awards Showcase in Deep Ellum

​A little less than a month back, we passed along the ticket information and lineup of performers for our 2011 Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase on Saturday, October 15, in Deep Ellum. In total, 54 bands will be performing on 10 different stages throughout the vaunted music neighborhood.  ... More >>

The Conversation: Is Playing Other People's Songs Respectable?

Dallas disco cover band Le Freak​A well-timed cover can be just the thing to take a band's live performance from good to great. But if the execution of the song is off, it could blow the whole set. On the flip side, although playing a cover is a risky move, sometimes the rewards can make an artist ... More >>

Madison King

Darlin, Here's To You Self-released

Friends to Remember Ace McNeely With First Annual Ace-A-Thon Benefit on Saturday at Dada

Ace McNeely​A year ago, nine days before he was to turn 31, Dallas musician Ace McNeely tragically passed away after falling off a cliff following a performance in Austin.McNeely's death hit the Dallas music community hard -- so much so that House Of Blues soundman Brian Fiegelman, a close friend ... More >>

Good Friday: Kings Of Leon, Band Of Horses and The Best of The Rest This Weekend

The Kangs​The biggest show this weekend, for better or for worse, is headlined by a group of Followills known as Kings Of Leon. The show will take place tonight at Gexa Energy Pavilion. And, with Band Of Horses as the opening act, we suggest that the tour be called The Bands That Started Off Great ... More >>

MP3 Premiere: Madison King -- "Nazarene"

G. Marc BenavidezMadison King​On Saturday night at City Tavern, singer-songwriter Madison King will celebrate the release of her pretty highly anticipated debut full-length, Darlin, Here's to You, which counts among its backing performers such area mainstays as Ryan Thomas Becker, as well as membe ... More >>

Adele and Def Leppard Reschedule and Other, Equally Important Show Announcements

Adele​A few weeks ago, we were sad to announce the postponement of Adele's House Of Blues show due to an illness. However, the British singer has announced that she'll be back, only this time it'll be at the much bigger, and probably more suitable Verizon Theater on Friday, October 21. All ti ... More >>

Deep Ellum Blues: How Come These Influential Dallas Acts Don't Have Deep Ellum Murals?

​Deep Ellum is in many ways the music capital of Dallas. Yes, the area has had its ups and downs. No, it hasn't always been the center of the music scene, especially with Denton consistently pumping out artists at a rapid rate. But, fact is, without a doubt, Deep Ellum has for over a century now b ... More >>

Good Friday: Steve Earle at Billy Bob's Texas, Plus The Rest of This Weekend's Shows

Steve Earle​There are some pretty big shows coming to town this weekend -- massive ones, actually. But you'll be hard-pressed to find a more important singer than Americana legend Steve Earle, who will perform at Billy Bob's Texas on Saturday night.He's not the only legend playing in town this wee ... More >>

Wild Flag, Justin Townes Earle and a Heaping Pile of Other Show Announcements

Wild Flag​Wild Flag is something of a web phenomenon, gaining loads of notoriety before ever releasing any music. It helps, of course, that front-lady Carrie Brownstein and Wild Flag bandmate Janet Weiss were members of the legendary rock trio Sleater-Kinney. But now, with their new act, they're t ... More >>

Next To The O's, The Reverend and Ronnie Dawson, Madison King Gets Deep Ellum Mural

Madison King will watch over you when you park at Deep Sushi. Or at least this mural will.​ Pop quiz, hot shot: Name all the artists who're currently honored with murals depicting their likeness in Deep Ellum.Hmm. Tough one. Off the top of my head, let's see: Erykah Badu, The Reverend Horton Heat, ... More >>

Good Friday: Third Eye Blind at Taste Of Addison, and the Rest of This Weekend's Shows

Third Eye Blind​Not the strongest weekend we've ever had, but there are still some pretty solid shows happening around town. The show scheduled for Saturday at the Taste Of Addison Main Stage isn't really one of them, but it's definitely the weirdest bill we've seen in a long time: Third Eye Blind ... More >>

Show Announcements: True Widow, 35 Conferette Schedule, The Hope Trust, Bill Frisell, KT Tunstall, Portugal. The Man, Black Label Society, Slobberbone & More!

Steve VisneauTrue Widow​It's been three years since local slow-grinding act True Widow released their self titled debut album to local acclaim. But their debut grabbed the attention of Kemodo Records, who signed the band just last year. And now they are poised to release their follow up, the ridic ... More >>

Local Music 'Mericans: Renee Benson-Short Has Seen Plenty of Music From Behind The Bar

Welcome to Local Music 'Mericans, where we'll be meeting some people behind the local music scene who aren't musicians, but more behind-the-scenes folk.Renee Benson-Short​She's helped flood a bar. She's seen fights between drag queens and other bar employees, and been exposed to (not without recip ... 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.

Show Announcements: Sebadoh, Quasi, WeDentonDoIt Christmas Special, Tokyo Police Club, Colin Hay, Alter Bridge, The Cool Kids, Vallejo, David Cassidy, Clay Aiken and More!

Sebadoh​Few bands are as synonymous with indie rock as Sebadoh, whose original members, including the prolific Lou Barlow, reunited in 2007 and have since been touring in support of some early record reissues. They've got more on the way in 2011, too, which is why we can expect them to be in top f ... More >>

Gig Alert: The Ace McNeely Memorial Concert/Fundraiser at Sons of Hermann Hall on Sunday

​Back in mid-September, when the Ace McNeely Foundation was announced as a response to the death of 30-year-old area musician, sound engineer and music teacher Ace McNeely, we passed along word that an eight-hour memorial and benefit concert was in the works, so as to help the fledgling foundation ... More >>

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 >>

Newly Created Ace McNeely Foundation To Hold Eight-Hour Benefit Concert On October 10

Ace McNeely was 30 years old.​On Sunday, October 10, two months to the day after the Dallas music community lost Ace McNeely, a benefit concert will take place at Sons of Hermann Hall with the aim of raising funds to back a newly created charity in McNeely's name. Featuring performances from the B ... More >>

Gig Alert: Ace McNeely Memorial Concert Set For Saturday Night at City Tavern

Ace McNeely was 30 years old.​As anticipated, City Tavern will remember fallen sound engineer Ryan "Ace" McNeely with a memorial concert set to take place on Saturday night at the downtown establishment, starting at 9 o'clock.McNeely died Tuesday afternoon after spending much of Monday in an Austi ... More >>

Show Announcements: Of Monteal, Ratatat, Dungen, Yellow Fever, Stars, Los Lonely Boys, AA Bondy, MAE, Maroon 5, One Republic and others

The cover of of Montreal's new record. Also, the cover of my 10th grade notebook​Flamboyant indie-glam act of Montreal has had a busy year. They were just in town a few months ago, and they'll be back at the Granada Theater on Tuesday, November 2, in support of their new record, False Priest. Get ... More >>

Show Announcements: Christina Aguilera, Sundress, Maxwell, Here We Go Magic, Pleasant Grove, Blues Traveler, and Creed

Frank MicelottaChristina Aguilera​As Lady Gaga proceeds to hog the female pop-star spotlight, our Britneys and our Jessicas are slowly fading into the background--but not without a fight. Christina Aguilera recently teamed up with electroclashers Le Tigre for the track "I Hate Boys" on her new rec ... More >>

Gig Alert: The Ultraviolet Benefit at the Double Wide Tomorrow Night

​For fairly obvious reasons, this year's annual Ultraviolet concert to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will not take place at Club Dada, its home for the past few years. Rather, it will take place a little bit east in Deep Ellum (right at the end there) at the Double Wide. It's a somewhat s ... More >>

Good Friday: Centro-Matic, Sir Silky, Ben Folds, El Gato, Sundress, Eluvium, Sleep Whale and others

Centro-matic​If you're even vaguely familiar with music in Dallas, the word "Centro-matic" has almost certainly worked its way into your vocabulary. You are probably familiar, too, with the fun affairs their concerts tend to be.But if the number of times you've seen them is somewhere in the double ... More >>

Good Friday: RTB2, Tantric, The Weight, MATAS, This Old House, The Gourds, Grant Jones, Hawk Vs. Dove, Shaolin Death Squad, Bad Veins, The Black and White Years

​Another week bites the dust, which leads us to this weekly inevitability of us offering up our top choices for musical entertainment each weekend. And, well, there's a lot this weekend, actually, so hold on tight. First up, as always, a reminder of the shows we've already hyped up plenty...Tonigh ... More >>