Ryan Thomas Becker

Denton's All Stars Pay Tribute to Jason Molina: Preview

The passing of Jason Molina in March was met with much sadness amongst the musician community of Texas -- Molina had a wide influence on many in the state. Now a group of Texas based artist have teamed with curator Randy Reynolds to create Lone Star Horizons: A Texas Tribute to Jason Molina. See a ... 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 >>

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 >>

Jumberjack Fest IX: No Egos and Bearded Grinding

It all began quite simply enough. As the PVC Street Gang was finishing up their set at this year's Lumberjack Fest in Denton at Dan's, venerable guitarist and all-around goofball, Ryan Thomas Becker, began grinding suggestively against a slim, petite brunette just near the front door. He slithered ... 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 >>

Libertine's 13th Annual Toy Drive

Monday, December 17, at Libertine Bar

RTB2, Nervous Curtains, Ice Eater at LaGrange

RTB2 On Their New Album: "Every Record Should Feel Like The First"

"We felt a certain level of exhaustion," drummer Grady Sandlin admits, discussing his band, RTB2, and their now-legendary rate of playing shows. "I've never been criticized to my face about playing too much, but I've heard others say that people criticized us for it," he says. Weary from their wor ... More >>

The Best Five Dallas Venues to See a Show for Free

In these economic times, the live music budget in many households is one of the first to go. When things get tight you either need superior finagling skills or a place to see free shows. Of course, there are tons of free shows in town. In fact, if you head over to Potbelly right now you'll catch a g ... More >>

Tonight: Patio Sessions and a Chance To Win Homegrown Tickets

Have you been to Patio Sessions at AT&T Performing Arts Center yet? Best get thee there before the weather goes from pleasant to "blow dryer on full blast immediately in your face when you walk out the door." The event is free and you can bring booze. It's the simple things in life, really. Tonigh ... More >>

Ten of This Weekend's Top Shows: Jane's Addiction, Marilyn Manson, Memoryhouse and More

Jane's Addiction, The Duke SpiritThursday, May 10, at McFarlin AuditoriumAfter seeing Perry Farrell (who is strangely older than my parents) perform a really bad set at South By Southwest a few years ago, seeing Jane's Addiction doesn't pique my interest as much as opening psych-tinged act The Duke ... More >>

Preview: Big Folkin' Festival at The Prophet Bar

Saturday, March 31, at the Prophet Bar

Lumberjack 8 - Dan's Silverleaf - 2/18/12

Lumberjack 8 Dan's Silverleaf Saturday, February 18 This yearly mini music festival is Harlan Anderson's brainchild, and he was the one grilling on the back patio, cheerfully putting up with the rain in his "Meat Guns" apron, hob-knobbing with attendees and shooting the shit with Dan Mojica, owner ... More >>

DJ Contest at Artopia and the Best Shows in Town This Weekend

​As we mentioned on Tuesday, this year's edition of the Dallas Observer-sponsored Artopia event on Saturday at Dallas Contemporary will have a music angle. Three DJs -- Skrause, DJ-O and The Latin House Krew -- all compete for a chance to perform at Lights All Night, December 30 and 31. If you wan ... More >>

Ryan Thomas Becker & Last Joke

Last Joke Band Self-released

Meet Ryan Thomas Becker's New Band, Not Quite The Same As His Other, Older Bands

​As if Ryan Thomas Becker needed more outlets for his musical creativity, the prolific Dentonite has now added another entity to a stable that already includes his cherished solo eforts and his electrifying work in RTB2. Well, kind of. Becker's latest project, called Ryan Thomas Becker & Last ... More >>

Get To Know Your DOMAXXIII Nominees: Best Male Vocalist, Best Female Vocalist

​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 Male and Best Female ... More >>

Posters of the Week: Granada Honors SRV, RTB and DJ Sober with New Propaganda Posters

​Earlier this week, the Granada Theater debuted a series of posters on their Facebook page that aim to honor some local music heroes and maybe shed a little light on the their building's 65-year history. So far, three in this "Support Local Music" series of "Granada Propaganda" designs have b ... 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 >>

Good Friday: The Independence Day Edition

Bettmann/CorbisWillie Nelson at his second annual Fourth of July picnic in 1974​It's hot as hell and the area burn bans are in full effect, which can only mean one thing: It's time to celebrate our independence! This weekend's live music offerings are fairly strong, but at Billy Bob's Texas in For ... More >>

RTB2 Premieres "Goon," Bowling For Soup Releases "Saturday" and The Cush Get Refueled.

Almost!​Lots of news coming down the pipeline today on the local music video front, as two longtime area favorites debut new music videos and a third act -- once a local, then not a local, and now a local once more -- gets a little shine in the form of a taped performance. Hit the jump to take it ... More >>

Good Friday: The Actual Good Friday Edition

Those Darlins perform at Rubber Gloves tonight.​We've already had a busy week of shows, but that doesn't mean the weekend's shows will be spare. There's actually quite a few nice choices this weekend. Let's start by re-capping the oneswe've been mentioning all week.Tonight, Those Darlins will brin ... More >>

Tonight, Tonight: Owen Obel at Absinthe Lounge and Ryan Thomas Becker at The Belmont Hotel

Tonight, we start out the week a wee bit on the slow side. Don't worry, though: Thinks get sufficiently hectic once again tomorrow night. And, hey, there are still a couple of cool local shows tonight.

Watch: Ryan Thomas Becker & Last Joke Cover New Science Projects at 35 Conferette

Allison V. SmithRyan Thomas Becker​Ryan Thomas Becker was a busy man during 35 Conferette, putting on performances with RTB2 and the now-defunct Eaton Lake Tonics, as well as his other project, Ryan Thomas Becker & Last Joke, which features Tony Ferraro of Eaton Lake Tonics, Andy Rogers of Oso ... More >>

35 Conferette Panels: Making Sense and Cents Of The Modern Music Industry Models.

​At the beginning of yesterday's "Monetizing Music in a Free Economy" panel, moderator Nico Marini raised an interesting question: Should music be free? Turns out, the musicians pretty much thought so -- despite their mostly humble backgrounds. "I might represent the musician still doing laund ... More >>

Tonight, Tonight: Deerhoof and Yann Tiersen at The Loft, Cradle of Filth at The South Side Music Hall, Doug Burr and Ryan Thomas Becker at Club Dada, and The Aces & Angels Salute to the Troops at Centennial Hall in Fair Park

Despite the terrible weather, there is still a bunch of shows to look out for on this hump day evening -- two of which are even taking place in the same building.

After Six Years, Denton/Fort Worth's Eaton Lake Tonics Calls It Quits

Eaton Lake Tonics​ Denton/Fort Worth band Eaton Lake Tonics sent out a press release this morning announcing that, "after 1,240 beers, 20 some-odd hissy fits, 6 years, 4 LPs, 2 EPs, 0 deaths and 200 live performances," they'll be calling it quits.The band, whose members most recently included To ... More >>

Matthew Gray at The Kessler, Lo-Fi Chorus at Dan's, The Virgin Wolves at Lochrann's and Within Chaos at Trees

We've got a nice and busy Thursday evening of shows for you this time around. Looks like Friday got here a little early...

Tonight, Tonight: The Local Hang With Playlister P and Ryan Thomas Becker, Children of Spy at The Moon

Still nursing a New Year's hangover? Well, have some of the hair of the dog that bit you and head out to one of these Monday night options after the jump.

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: Ryan Thomas Becker Goes Solo, Turns Down The Volume And Ups The Ante at No. 12

[Over the next few weeks, we'll be presenting our favorite local songs of the year, counting down from No. 25 to No. 1, one track a day. Today, we take an in-depth look at song No. 12 on the list -- and, please, feel free to click after the jump to hear a stream of the track. Also after the jump, c ... More >>

Where Have All The Bassists Gone?

Good Friday: Elton John & Leon Russell, Calhoun, The Orbans, Celtic Thunder, Senses Fail, Bayside, Miniature Tigers, The Dandy Warhols, The Felice Brothers, David Allan Coe, The Derailers, Hed PE and More!

Elton John & Leon Russell​The biggest show coming to town this weekend is, without a doubt, Elton John and Leon Russell at the Fort Worth Convention Center on Saturday night. The two piano-playing legends of yesteryear have teamed up on a new album called The Union. And with producer T-Bone Bu ... More >>

Our 22nd annual music awards honor a thriving, collaborative scene that's finally getting its due.

Locals on Locals: Ryan Thomas Becker Covers New Science Projects' "The Train"

We've got a couple more local-on-local cover songs to share with you today, adding to our growing catalog, which already includes covers from Air Review (doing Ishi), Ishi (doing Sarah Jaffe) and Shiny Around the Edges (doing Neon Indian). First up this afternoon? The above clip from the multiple DO ... More >>

Sherilyn Segrest

Through The Night (EP Self-released)

DOMA XXII: And The Nominees Are...

​Well, we did it. Just minutes ago, we reached 300 followers on Twitter for our @DOMATweets account. Which means, as promised, it's time to reveal the ballots.After the jump, feel free to peruse the ballot for your 2010 Dallas Observer Music Awards. And, in the comments, go to town on your thought ... More >>

Gutterth Records Puts Entire Catalog Online For Free Streaming

The Gutterth Records mascot​There's a relatively short list of record labels in town, and Gutterth Records might be the shrewdest: Yesterday, the home to Daniel Folmer, The Timeline Post, Ryan Thomas Becker and others, made every release it's ever put out up as a free stream over at the newly crea ... 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 >>

Yesterday at NX35: RTB2 at Dan's Silverleaf

Danny FulgencioRyan Thomas Becker of RTB2 at Dan's Silverleaf last night.​Band: RTB2Venue: Dan's SilverleafTime: 10 p.m. When RTB2 bashed out the first few thunderous thumps of the appropriately titled "When Hammer Hits Stone," the Dentonites almost seemed to be shooting the starting pistol for N ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2009: RTB2 and "When Hammer Hits Stone" Come Together at No. 6

[Editor's Note: Over the next couple of weeks, I'll be presenting my favorite local songs of the year, counting down from No. 25 to No. 1, one track a day. Today we take an in-depth look at song No. 6 on the list--and, please, feel free to click after the jump for a free download of the track. Lastl ... More >>

Bonus MP3: Ryan Thomas Becker -- "Where Your Father Didn't Go"

Allison V. Smith​As you no doubt read in the current print supplement to DC9, Ryan Thomas Becker--who plays with The Slow Burners, Eaton Lake Tonics, and the Rymandas, and who is the RTB of RTB2--stays plenty busy with his bands, yet somehow finds time for solo efforts as well. Becker's latest sol ... More >>

The Release of a New Solo Disc Caps a Busy, Busy Month For Ryan Thomas Becker

DC9 in SPACE, Ep. 5: RTB2

Last week, at our weekly, Wednesday night DC9 in SPACE taping, the duo of Ryan Thomas Becker and Grady Don Sandlin, otherwise known as RTB2, stopped by SPACE Studios for an intimate, low-key, 40-minute-or-so performance for a pretty good sized crowd, actually. It all made f ... More >>

To Hell With The Music Scene's Good Intentions

Good Friday: Ludo, Derek Trucks, Brave Combo, Awkquarius, Screaming Red, The Southern Sea, Southern Culture On The Skids, Jessie Frye, Darktown Strutters, Plants & Animals, The Make Believers, Inner City All-Stars, White Tie Affair, Brent Best

Learn how to handle your liquor, chump.It's Friday, everybody, case ya didn't know. An, as such, it's time to look at the weekend calendars and plan out your, um, plans. Let's do this. First, the shows we've always talked on...Tonight, there's the Dr. Dooom vs. Dr. Octagon show at the Loft and ... More >>

Poster Of The Week: The Slow Burners, Stumptone and Shibboleth

The Slow Burners

Denton Bands Like South San Gabriel, The Drams Twist Traditional "Texas Music" Sound

Good Friday: Mom, RTB2

Lumberjack Fest III featuring Spitfire Tumbleweeds, jetscreamer, Pinebox Serenade and more

Saturday, February 24, at Dan's Silverleaf, Denton