School of Seven Bells

Ten Must-See Concerts in DFW This Week: May 23-29

Hello again, all! So, what you may not know is that each week I try to decide which picture of which band should go at the top of this weekly blog post. This week I settled on Guns N' Roses, since their fans span several generations; even though the tickets to their show this week are so totally out ... More >>

Jeff Liles Tells Stories From Dallas' Past and Looks to its Bright Creative Future

There it is. Nestled in South Dallas, rescued by caring souls of our local arts. The beacon that is The Kessler. A majestic Texas juke joint, pampered with TLC and vision that only a handful of true music fans could bring. The Kessler (or rather, "The Kessler X " as our subject refers to it) is o ... More >>

The Five Best Concerts In Dallas This Weekend, January 24-27

A.Dd , Brain Gang Blue, -Topic, Tunk Saturday, January 26, at Granada Theater, $12-$35 Dallas hip-hop duo A.Dd are starting off 2013 by releasing a new mixtape and headlining their first show at Granada. Listen to the first single, "Suitcases," off their upcoming DiveHiFlyLo release for a little ta ... More >>

California Wives on Vagrant Records and the Musée d'Orsay

Chicago's California Wives, featured most recently in a commercial for Sharpie, will grace Dallas on Saturday, when they open for Stars. Jayson Kramer took some time out to share with us about being on Vagrant Records, museums and touring with Stars. Since you're on Vagrant Records, I'm curious as ... More >>

This Week's Show Announcements: Perfume Genius, Bryan Street Tavern's Anniversary and More

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Five Local Venues That Need To Step Up Their Game

Not sure if you caught last week's Show Announcements post. There was some pretty good stuff in there, especially now that we're entering live music's busy season, but week after week the House Of Blues listings catch my eye. It's one of the best venues in town. In fact, we gave it a Dallas Observer ... More >>

News And Notes: Josh T. Pearson's Christmas EP, School of Seven Bells' Forthcoming Album and More

​This news from former Lift To Experience frontman Josh T. Pearson comes as a bit of a shock. In our story about the painful release of his record Last Of The Country Gentlemen earlier this year, he told us, "I called it Last Of The Country Gentlemen because I didn't know if it would be my last or ... More >>

Austin City Limits Goes Mainstream

The Homegrown Fest Bore Some Nice Fruits

Notes on The Second Homegrown Festival. Plus: Video of Neon Indian Debuting A New Song.

Danny HurleySeryn's Trenton Wheeler. For more of Danny Hurley's shots from the event, check the slideshow.​In this week's print edition of the Observer, we'll have more -- much, much more -- on this past weekend's Homegrown Music and Art Festival in downtown Dallas' Main Street Garden Park. But, f ... More >>

Good Friday: Homegrown Music & Art Festival, and the Rest of This Weekend's Shows

Seriously: Does anyone have any new photos of Neon Indian?​This weekend's biggest show will give local music fans a good reason to get outside: On Saturday, Homegrown Music & Art Festival will feature performances from Neon Indian, School of Seven Bells and a handful of other bands with local ... More >>

At This Will Destroy You's First Show, A Fan Offered To Sing For The Band "For Free"

​These days, This Will Destroy You have their hands full. With good reason, of course: Today marks the arrival of their newest LP, Tunnel Blanket, an album that finds the band growing even darker and denser and, somehow, even bigger than their epic offerings have showcased to date. Meanwhile, the ... More >>

Show Announcements: Here We Go Magic, The Books, This Will Destroy You, The Death Set, I Love Math, Widespread Panic, Selena Gomez, Devin The Dude, Cinderella, Dolly Parton & More!

Here We Go Magic​Last time Here We Go Magic came to town, it was as the odd-fitting support on a tour with Dr. Dog. And on the night of their performance, Here We Go Magic stole the show from the Beatle-esque roots rockers, despite Dr. Dog's overpowering light show. Sure, Here We Go Magic's record ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: Sarah Jaffe Reaches Her Potential, and "Clementine" Is The Best Song of the Year.

[Over these last few weeks of 2010, we've presented our favorite local songs of the year, counting down from No. 25 to No. 1, one track a day. Today, we end our countdown by revealing the top song of the year. Click after the jump to watch the song's official video. There, y ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: Neon Indian Gets Corporate Backing and Pens Its Strongest Track to Date at No. 3

[Over these last few days of 2010, 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. 3 on the list -- and, please, feel free to click after the jump for a free download of the track. Also after ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: Erykah Badu Strips Back To Reveal Her Old Self at No. 4

[Over these last few days of 2010, 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. 4 on the list -- and, please, feel free to click after the jump for a stream of the track. Also after the jum ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights Explore The Dark Circles of Hell at No. 5

[Over these last few days of 2010, 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. 5 on the list -- and, please, feel free to click after the jump for a stream of the track. Also after the jum ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: The Other Guys From Ghosthustler Create Kimberly And Gloriously Recall The John Hughes Era at No. 9

[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. 9 on the list -- and, please, feel free to click after the jump to grab a free download of the track. Also after the j ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: Mind Spiders Rises Valiantly From The Ashes of The Marked Men at No. 10

[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. 10 on the list -- and, please, feel free to click after the jump to grab a free download of the track. Also after the ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: PlayRadioPlay! Becomes Analog Rebellion and Overtakes The Machines at No. 11

[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. 11 on the list -- and, please, feel free to click after the jump to grab a free download of the track. Also after the ... More >>

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 >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: Midlake Wants To Be Left To Its Own Ways at No. 13

[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. 14 on the list -- and, please, feel free to click after the jump to grab a free download of the track. Also after the ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: With An Assist From "Young Folks," Sore Losers Free Loads Its Way to No. 15

[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. 15 on the list -- and, please, feel free to click after the jump to grab a free download of the track. Also after the ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: The Secret Handshake Turns Back The Clock and Drops The Auto-Tune at No. 17

[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. 17 on the list -- and, please, feel free to click after the jump to grab the song as a free download. Also after the j ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: A.Dd , Picnic and Sore Losers' Brown Are Out To Prove That They're Ready To Blow Up at No. 18

[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. 18 on the list -- and, please, feel free to click after the jump to grab the song as a free do ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: Blending A Whole Slew of Sonic Elements, Blixaboy Reaches His Tantalizing Potential at No. 19

[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. 19 on the list -- and, please, feel free to click after the jump to grab the song as a free download. Also after the ju ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: Dondria Gets Us Nostalgic For Classic R&B at No. 21

[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. 21 on the list -- and, please, feel free to click after the jump to watch the track's official video. Keep checking bac ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: With Some Help From Sarah Jaffe, The Flowers of God Channel The Velvet Underground at No. 22

[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. 22 on the list -- and, please, feel free to click after the jump for a free download of the t ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: Doug Burr Goes Electric at No. 23

[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. 23 on the list -- and, please, feel free to click after the jump for a stream of the track. Keep checking back to see how ... More >>

The Best Songs in Dallas Music, 2010: The Burning Hotels Make A Case For Post-Punk at No. 24

[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. 24 on the list--and, please, feel free to click after the jump for a free download of the track. Keep checking back to s ... More >>

Listomania: The 50 Best Local Songs of 2010.5

Check out these jams!​In last week's paper, I listed my picks the eight best local album releases of the year. Mostly because, well, it's been a hell of a year. From expected delights from Erykah Badu to unanticipated treats from The Beaten Sea, yes, the first half of 2010 has been an incredibly f ... More >>

Dallas Native and Secret Machine Member Brandon Curtis To Join Interpol's Live Set-up

"Hey, dude on the left: Wanna join Interpol?"​Yesterday, on its MySpace page blog, soon-to-be-returning-to-the-spotlight buzz band Interpol (which is slated to release its fourth studio album, a self-titled release, in September) announced that it was adding two members to its live set-up--former ... More >>

Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights Made the Best of a Rainy Saturday at ACL.

Tracklist: The Local Hang With Playlister P, Vol. 1

​Thanks to all the area musicians, DJs, loacl music fans, and, well, everyone else who stopped on in The Libertine last night to check out the little experiment we're calling The Local Hang with Playlister P. It was a night not without flaws--I'll admit that it took me a while to figure out the so ... More >>

SXSW Dispatches: The O's Let Us Read Their Diary

[Last week, we asked a few bands to check in with us from time to time over the course of the week to tell us about their SXSW experiences. Now, with the fest over, those diatribes are starting to show. Here's The O's' take on SXSW...]Steve VisneauThursday, March 19, 2009Dear O's Journal, It's 10:3 ... More >>

What It Was Like: Chin Chin, Silversun Pickups, Amanda Blank, Thunderheist, Headlights, Asobi Seksu

Pete Freedman Thunderheist gets things moving at Club De Ville.Act: Chin Chin, a group of would-be yacht rockers from BrooklynWhere: Club De VilleWhat It Was Like: Trying to figure out if the whole thing was a joke or not, really. The band's blue-eyed soul sound was a little hokey, and no do ... More >>

Secret Machines

Secret Machines (TSM Recordings)

Welcome Back, Curtis

The Secret Machines return to Dallas minus a Curtis brother—but still with plenty of confidence, nonetheless