Rachel Watts

Spooky Folk Fans Explain What the Band Means to Them at the Farewell Show

It was an emotional night for more than a hundred who gathered for Denton's folk-pop quintet Spooky Folk's farewell show at Dan's Silverleaf on Monday night. The beloved five are putting their live shows on hiatus so that singer Kaleo Kaualoku can marry and move to Denver at the end of the month. Se ... More >>

The Ten Best Jukeboxes in Dallas

Jukeboxes serve a simple yet critical role in bars everywhere. They can help you cope after a breakup, relax you after a long day of work, remind you of what you love mos or fire you up and give you something to dance to. A jukebox used to be the imprint of a bar's spirit, hosting a select set of ... More >>

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 >>

Top Ten Must-See Concerts In DFW This Week: April 25-May 1

As this final week in April comes to a close, we can all take a deep breath that we've conquered (a lot of) the festivals, survived the wannabe tornado season and seen the types of amazing concerts that Texas weather has so kindly afforded us. Oh -- no, no -- don't get me wrong, we've still got a lo ... More >>

The Rihanna Plane has a Commemorative Fragrance, and it is Insanely Expensive. Here's 25 Things it Does Not Smell Like, But Should.

We all remember the Rihanna Plane, right? Where 150 journalists and contest "winners" spent a week being cattle-herded around the planet in the vague, but not immediate, proximity of Rihanna? How anarchy broke out around day four, with no access to any stories of any kind, extended stretches quarant ... More >>

The Top Ten Must-See Concerts in DFW This Week: April 18-24

Can we just take a second to acknowledge that the weather in Dallas-Fort Worth these past couple of weeks has been glorious? Optimal for outdoor shows, BYOB events and the like, the weather should remain this awesome--barring a tornado or two--for a short while longer (before the inevitable Texas su ... More >>

Ten Must-See Concerts in DFW This Week: April 4-10

Editor: April showers, right? But a little water isn't stopping anyone, which is good because there are excellent shows happening this week. Including the blissfully strange Danny Brown, touring with beat master and unexpected meme star Baauer. -topic and his TeamFromNoWhere are throwing a party on ... More >>

The Nine Must-See Concerts in DFW This Week: March 28 to April 3

Editor: Welcome to our weekly rundown of our nine favorite shows, all of which are better than this new Lil' Wayne album. It's terrible, guys. If you're looking for loud, head to Dada for The Casualties and awesome friends. If you're looking for something a little more multi-generational on this E ... More >>

When Texas Was the Center of the Music Universe

This week's cover story chronicles the 11 day stretch in early March when Texas becomes the center of the music universe. There were festivals in Denton and Austin and Dallas and Grand Prairie and on and on. We were at a lot of them, and in case you find tons of blog posts presented in backward chro ... More >>

The Ten Must-See Concerts in DFW This Week: March 21 to 27

We're changing it up here a bit, guys. For the past several months you've seen two blog posts outta me each week, breaking up the area's best concerts into two separate blog posts: Freakin' Weekday and Freakin' Weekend. Starting today, you'll get just one: Freakin' Week; which is a go-to guide for w ... More >>

Photos and Observations From The Drunkest Place on Earth: St. Patrick's Day in Dallas

This was my first time braving Greenville for St. Patrick's. I was expecting it to be bad. What I was not expecting was the last days of Sodom and Gomorrah. As I, the only sober person on the entirety of Greenville, struggled through a crowd roughly comparable to the population of Ireland itself (an ... More >>

The Five Best Concerts In Dallas This Week, March 18-21

Spooky Folk, Babar, New Science Projects, Peopleodeon, Cool Womb Wednesday, March 20, at J&J's Pizza, Free They should rename this show "Musical Chairs of Denton." In celebrating his 20-somethingth birthday, Chris Bryan of Peopleodeon has put together a hefty bill of bands, considering the mere thre ... More >>

Snoop Dogg's St. Patrick's Day Concert: Review and Photos

Snoop Dogg delivered an hour-plus of his finest yesterday on Greenville Avenue for the Observer St. Patrick's Day Concert. We had a fine contingent of writers there, but I, your highly addled editor, was sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-35 on the Megabus headed back from Austin. Throughout t ... More >>

The Best of 35 Denton Night Four: Herb, Jameson and Finding Our Limits

Yes, we were there for the music, but if you weren't a local, you were also had a town to explore. The Denton trip is a short one, but for a Dallas lady like me it's generally just for a show. Maybe from the window at Paschall's I can sit and day dream about an afternoon spent roaming the charming D ... 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 >>

13 Things That Make for the Perfect House Show

The other day I told you about all of the super cool unofficial house shows and day parties that this 35 Denton has to offer. Turns out they don't disappoint. Or, at least the one all-day house show at 1401 Bolivar St. yesterday didn't. It had all of the correct elements for a perfect Denton house s ... More >>

The Best of 35 Denton Night Three: Thunder and Other Noises

There is no physical way you could carry or wear enough clothing to properly prepare for Texas weather. I thought at the beginning of the day that a sweater might have been overkill. About two hours later I felt distinctly underprepared. Actually, given that it was too much in warm weather and soake ... More >>

The Best from 35 Denton Night Two: Metal Wrestling and Fence Repair

By the calendar, we're halfway through 35 Denton 2013, though much of the good stuff is yet to come. Keep checking DC9 for daily updates from the fest. The highlights below are in a very (very) loose chronological order. In cases where the photos don't refer directly to the words on either side of t ... More >>

Six Musicians Show Us What's in Their Pockets at 35 Denton

The nerd. Joey Liechty, also known as DJ Yeahdef, has the following in his pockets: - Nintendo DS -Envelope full of cash -Cutter cassette tape

The Best from 35 Denton Night One: The Dancing, The Technological Advances and The Artisanal Jello Shots

Work is miles away; the real world is even further. It is festival season. We begin at Hailey's in Denton. Terminator 2 kicks off the official portion of 35 Denton with a flexing of enormous sound. My everything shakes involuntarily, and it is perfect. --Kiernan Maletsky Before there was a note fro ... More >>

The Six Best Concerts in DFW This Weekend, March 7 to 10

I know this is hard, trust me. This weekend's options seem almost endless. Between 35 Denton's four-day lineup of hundreds of musicians, and other major names like Eels and Andrew W.K. rolling into town, it feels like you'll never sleep again, right? Well, that's probably true--at least for now--but ... More >>

The Six Best Concerts In Dallas This Week, February 25-28

Tame Impala Wednesday, February 27, at Granada Theater, $22/$24 There is no edge to the earth, but if there were, Perth, Australia, would probably be in spitting distance of it. So it's unexpected for a band to overcome such geographic remoteness to find a place on the world stage. Tame Impala have ... More >>

The Five Best Concerts In Dallas This Weekend, February 21-24

Electric Six Saturday, February 23, at Dada, $15 Electric Six, the warhorses of heavy and frantic disco-rock, roll into Dada to spray high-energy chaos over Dallas' most extensive corner stage. After the release of their latest album in October, a live greatest-hits number, "The Six," as I have arbi ... More >>

Trebuchet Exposes their Unusual Process in a Documentary and After-Party Performance

The Film: Denton rock experimenteers Trebuchet have a recording idea, and it sounds a little cockamamie. 'Course, the way they write music isn't exactly some safe-bet formula either, but we'll get to that. Four Nights in December, their new making-of documentary (initially meant to be only music vi ... 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.

The Five Best Concerts In Dallas This Weekend, February 14-17

Patti Labelle Thursday, February 14, at The American Airlines Center, $31-$86 KSOC-FM "Old School" 94.5 has earned the nickname "The Baby Making Station," as the station's nighttime programming of "Old School Lovin'" has become a go-to staple of gatherings in the area. So it comes as no surprise tha ... More >>

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

The xx Wednesday, February 13, and Thursday, February 14, at The Granada Theater Achingly hip Londoners the xx have a two-night stay at The Granada this week, meaning twice as many Dallasites will be swept away by songs from their now-ubiquitous debut album and the recently released Coexist. We're k ... More >>

The Six Best Concerts In Dallas This Weekend, January 31-February 3

Toro Y Moi Friday, February 1, at Trees, $17 Fans of Toro Y Moi have been eagerly awaiting their January release, Anything In Return. Buzz from the album leak earlier this year was that Chaz Bundick, Toro Y Moi's frontman-producer, had created a piece of pop art that will take the chillwave movement ... More >>

The Five Best Concerts In DFW This Week, January 28-31

Lady Gaga Tuesday, January 29, at American Airlines Center, $65-$200 Jan 29th sees the Dallas leg of Lady Gaga's latest attempt to put some relevant words in front of the word "Ball" and successfully market it as an event. To be fair to Lady G, she's one of those rare pop phenomenons who managed, at ... More >>

Of Mice & Men

Tuesday, January 22, at Trees

The Five Best Concerts In Dallas This Week, January 7-10

The Growlers, The Vacant Lots Thursday, January 10, at Dada, $13/$15 Since 2006, Orange County has claimed a band of revved-up boys looking to start a fire, although more often than not they stick to creating the experimental surf sounds that mimic California's beachy landscape and add a twist of dr ... More >>

The Five Best Concerts In Dallas This Weekend, January 3-6

Night Game Cult, Shiny Around the Edges Saturday, January 5, at New Media Recordings House, $5 Shiny Around the Edges and Night Game Cult soundtrack this night dedicated to the legend of Bozo Texino. Texas filmmaker Bill Daniel's 2005 documentary on the rail-car graffiti, which has appeared on train ... More >>

A Dozen of Our Favorite Posts and Stories of 2012

As the sands in the hourglass run out here at DC9 HQ, and making year-end lists feels more like penance than pleasurable mental exercise, we thought we'd take a break from quantifying albums and concerts, and instead qualify some of our favorite posts from the last year with an, "Oh man, that was a ... More >>

Starparty

December 31 at Hailey's Club

The Overserved Has Some Ideas for Dallas in 2013 (That Still Involve Being Overserved)

Resolutions. I have only ever kept one. Still, the year's end is a moment to take inventory of what I want less or more of, and it's hard not to get swept up in the promise-keeping to our newer, shinier, skinnier, well-read selves. I will get eight hours of sleep. I will not consume simple carbs. ... More >>

The Five Best Concerts In DFW This Week, December 17-20

Libertine's 13th Annual Toy Drive Monday, December 17, at Libertine Bar/Single Wide, Donations accepted More than a dozen acts are slated to play this annual benefit show, now taking place at Libertine and Single Wide. The O's, Ryan Thomas Becker, Grant Jones & the Pistol Grip Lassos, Cutter, J. Cha ... More >>

The Five Best Concerts In DFW This Weekend, December 13-16

The Babies Saturday, December 15, at Bryan Street Tavern, $8/$10 Formed in 2009, when Woods bassist Kevin Morby and Vivian Girls guitarist Cassie Ramone met at a party in Brooklyn, The Babies started making noise in 2010 with "Meet Me in the City," a gloriously energetic trip that features some of t ... More >>

George Quartz, Midnight Movie, At Night - Double Wide - 12/8/12

George Quartz', Midnight Movie, At Night Double Wide Saturday, December 8 In a last-minute switch-up, The Atomic Tanlines, who were slotted to open the three-act bill at Double Wide Saturday night, were replaced by a local electronic band called At Night. It was a pleasant surprise though, as the w ... More >>

The Five Best Concerts In Dallas This Week, December 3-6

Revolutionary Pants Fundraiser with Yells at Eels Monday, December 3, at Texas Theatre, $25 Revolutionary Pants, a local DIY organization which focuses on creative urban development and city planning in Dallas, is hosting a fundraiser to fund the cost of filing for 501(c)3 non-profit status, and its ... More >>

Here are the Winners of the 2012 Dallas Observer Music Awards

Odes To Our Favorite Burgers: In Which City of Ate Reflects on the Best Meats

With burgers, like many things, beauty is in the mouth of the be-eater. While I've been running around town looking for my perfect burger, I realize that everyone has their favorites, and no amount of smackdownin' is going to change the mind of a devoted burger enthusiast. I polled the staff of the ... More >>

The Eight Best Concerts In Dallas This Weekend, November 8-11

Dallas Observer Music Awards Saturday, November 10, in Deep Ellum, $10 The 2012 Dallas Observer Music Awards are here! We're inviting you to come party with us at our 24th annual local-music showcase, which celebrates the North Texas music community and its various contributions this past year. More ... More >>

The Seven Best Concerts In Dallas This Week

Nas and Lauryn Hill Monday, October 29, at the Palladium Ballroom, $54.75 This pairing is an inspired one, and especially notable for fans of Lauryn Hill, who have been wondering where the follow-up to 1998's The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill has been hiding. That (hopefully) comes with the release of ... More >>

The Five Best Shows In Dallas This Weekend

Ben Kweller Friday, October 26, at The Kessler Theater, $22.50-$30 Texas native Ben Kweller is currently finishing up the handful of shows on his 62-date worldwide tour, in support of his February release, Go Fly a Kite. A now happily-married father of two, Kweller's most recent album is a little mo ... More >>

The Five Best Concerts In DFW This Week

Norah Jones Monday, October 22, at McFarlin Auditorium, $60.55-$71.32 Norah Jones is making her way back to her old stomping grounds tonight at McFarlin Auditorium, after kicking off her fifth world tour this past May. After pairing up with Danger Mouse for her fifth release, Little Broken Hearts, J ... More >>

The Five Best Concerts In Dallas This Weekend

Madonna Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, October 21, at American Airlines Center, $48.50-$358.50 Get your outfits ready, Madonna is upon us. When she kicked off her world tour back in May, thus began her gigantic seven-month, 89-date trek through Europe before hitting North America, and she'll event ... 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 >>

Free Pussy Riot Benefit

Saturday, September 29, at Rubber Gloves

The Five Best Concerts In Dallas This Weekend

Find more of this weekend's best shows in our shiny new concert calendar. Fort Worth Music Festival Will Rogers Memorial, Friday, September 28 and Saturday, September 29 Whether it's the deep soul of Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires, the tears-in-my-beer ballads of Hayes Carll, or the smooth ... More >>