Merle Haggard

Matt Hillyer of Eleven Hundred Springs Talks About the Evolution of Deep Ellum and Writing Bumper Sticker Songs

In the early '90s, Matt Hillyer and his band, Lone Star Trio, were packing venues with a rootsy sound about the same time that Rhett Miller and Murry Hammond were forming the Old 97's. Since 1998, Hillyer's fronted Eleven Hundred Springs, an old-school honky-tonk band that's released several top-not ... 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 >>

Tommy Stinson Talks Working With Axl Rose and Paul Westerberg, Possible New Guns N' Roses Album.

When Tommy Stinson joined Guns N' Roses way back in 1998, there were many people who didn't have a clue who he was. Stinson's career path just hadn't taken the route that one would think might lead to playing on stage with Axl Rose. Starting out in the Replacements when he was barely a teenager, ... More >>

Solo or Sweaty, The Katy Trail Ice House is Welcoming (and Worth the Calories)

Just don't get lazy when you're ordering beer and expect Milk to let you get away with it.

The King of Country Music Videos: The Five Most Quintessential Dwight Yoakam Clips

Dwight Yoakam​Dwight David Yoakam, the modern savior of the Bakersfield-style of electric country music, is actually a native of Kentucky and he's now been a staple of Hollywood productions for years. Such a quizzical mélange makes sense, really. Give a listen to the way in which Yoakam has blen ... 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 >>

Show Announcements: Eisley, Ishi, Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights, Merle Haggard, Uncle Kracker, Brave Combo, Bosque Brown, Frontier Ruckus, Aaron Lewis, Reverend Horton Heat & more

Eisley--not so green anymore.​After spending the better part of a decade on the rollercoaster ride that comes with being on a major label, the Tyler-based band Eisley is back on the road. And much has happened for them in the last two years: "We had four weddings in 14 months," says band manager a ... More >>

Gig Alerts: Jon Wolfe at House of Blues' Voodoo Lounge and Kevin Deal at the The Ranch in Los Colinas

Jon Wolfe​Fans of Americana and country have a nice choice of singer/songwriters to choose from this evening.Hailing out of Tulsa, Jon Wolfe has the looks to be easily dismissed as (yet) another Garth Brooks wannabe. But don't let the big black hat and tight fitting jeans fool you. Wolfe has a kil ... More >>

Jeff Bridges, The Master Of Dudes, Shines As A Country Music Has-been In Crazy Heart. Will The Elusive Oscar Finally Be His?

Echoes And Reverberations: The Ghosts Of The Longhorn Ballroom

Steppin' Out

Girl leaves the grind behind for a li'l two-stepping where the dry turns wet

2006 Dallas Observer Music Awards

Young Gun

Collin Herring hits somewhere between Merle Haggard and Husker Du--and that's a good place to be

That's Not Him

When Jack Ingram chose the path of most resistance, he stumbled across himself

What To Do

On its latest, The Promise Ring changes everything except its name. Almost.

All These Years

Early success was almost the end of Ray Wylie Hubbard

Listen Up

Who says 2000 was a bad year for music?

Johnny Cash

American III: Solitary Man (American Recordings)

Smells like Leif Garrett

Fifteen years later, The Melvins are still willing to provoke and confuse

Hank's for the memories

Hank Williams III hopes that country gold comes in threes

Taking the Wheel

For the second time this decade, Ray Benson pays tribute to Bob Wills

Love Hurts

A new record pays homage to Gram Parsons, a hero before his time

Rhett's exploding

Rhett Miller wanted to be famous for as long as he can remember. Will the Old 97's upcoming Fight Songs finally make him a star?

The blues and zip-a-dee-doo-dah

Ana Egge picks up her guitar and takes it to the River

Back in black

Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash are still our greatest Storytellers

Pen pal

Jim Lauderdale is the write man in the wrong place

1998 Dallas Observer Music Awards Nominees

Exile on Fry Street

Slobberbone is still a little bit country and a lot rock and roll

Gathering steam

Brian Houser hopes that a new album will add momentum to his career

The ghost of Xmas passes

Landmark local band packs it in

Timeless flights

The Byrds soar though the changes

Young Country repellent

With the Cicadas, Rodney Crowell exits Nashville's cocoon

Truckin' man

New traditionalist Dale Watson

Back on the bus

HighTone's Roadhouse tour revives rock and roll caravan

Collyers of the wild

Lone Star Trio offshoot sprouts deep country roots

1995 Dallas Observer Music Awards (Part I)

A brighter shade of blues

J. Bone Cro presents Brian Eno and John Lee Hooker to the aliens