The Mars Volta

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 >>

This Week's Top Show Announcements: Lil Wayne, Mumford & Sons, Keith Urban, P!NK and More

It's all pop stars and mainstreamers today. Lil Wayne, P!nk, John Mayer, Mumford & Sons ... this is a show announcement post that doesn't happen all too often. Soak it in. But let's not lie, the biggest announcement is Lil Wayne's tour, especially since we've all been wondering if he's OK since bein ... More >>

The Worst Supergroups Of All Time

A supergroup is a difficult project to make a success of. The work of previous band members overshadows any new material, and although it brings a ready-made fan base, it also brings unreasonably high expectations. Not only that, those that make up the new band might have similarly unreasonably high ... More >>

The Top Five Musical Resurrections of 2012

Top Five Musical Resurrections of 2012

2012 saw some big-name comebacks, emotional reunions, and just plain weird occurrences, proving that America's thirst for nostalgia has still not been quenched. Have recent years been the worst for this, or have I just forgotten about the last decade already? Could something as joyous as the resurre ... More >>

13 of This Weekend's Best Shows: Neil Halstead, The Coathangers, KISS and more

Neil HalsteadSaturday, August 4, at Good RecordsOnce the lead singer of one of the loudest and dreamiest shoegaze acts, Slowdive, Neil Halstead has somehow found himself far away from the style he once perfected. After a decade of playing country pop in Mojave 3, he's now strumming solo, in preview ... More >>

This Weekend's Goings On: Summerland Tour, Gigamesh, And So I Watch You From Afar and More

Summerland TourSaturday, July 7, at Billy Bob's TexasThis tour consists of bands that have, at one time or another, annoyed the hell out of everyone in the Western world. The lineup -- all platinum selling artists -- consists of Everclear, Sugar Ray, Gin Blossoms, Lit and Marcy Playground.

The Rocket Summer's Bryce Avary on Reading Ray Bradbury and Being on Double Dare

Bryce Avary, the man behind The Rocket Summer, has been doing his project for more than a decade now. On the heels of his latest record, Life Will Write the Words, he returns to Dallas on Friday, with States and The Scene Aesthetic. En route to San Diego from Las Vegas, Avary called and we discuss ... More >>

At the Drive-In, Zechs Marquise - Trees - 4/10/12

At the Drive-In, Zechs Marquise Trees Tuesday, April 10 The last time At the Drive-In graced the stage at Trees, they looked like a band falling apart. Vocalist Cedric Bixler and guitarist Omar Rodriguez stayed on stage right, bouncing off each other while guitarist/vocalist Jim Ward, bassist Paul ... More >>

Baruch the Scribe - Dan's Silverleaf - 3/2/12

Baruch the Scribe Dan's Silverleaf Friday, March 2 In what seemed like a battle for most effects processors and pedals, Denton's Baruch the Scribe headlined Dan's on Saturday night with the Coves, Botany and the very slick, very talented Gold Beach out of Austin. Their new seven-song LP, Intentions ... More >>

Penny in the Fountain: Five Texas Bands We Wish Would "Reunite" This Year

As it goes with many reunions these days, the news of At the Drive-in's reformation neatly coincided with the release of the Coachella lineup on Monday. And yes, people are excited. "One Armed Scissor" doesn't sound especially dated these days, and The Mars Volta's 26-minute solo weed jam revue was ... More >>

Zechs Marquise, New Fumes, Babar

Thursday, December 8, at Bryan Street Tavern

Between the Buried and Me

Kaleidoscopic prog-metal goes conceptual

White Arms of Athena's Tom Sifuentes: "The Metal Scene in Dallas is Getting Bigger"

White Arms of Athena​Many bands start out with big dreams and big plans. But very few of them even make it to studio, much less get a recording contract. Most bands go at it a few years, play a few bars and then the members go on to other bands or go back to their day jobs for good. This is not ... More >>

Critics' Pick: Omar Rodriguez-Lopez

Thursday, April 28, at South Side Music Hall

Giveaway: Five Pairs of Tickets to See Omar Rodriguez-Lopez at South Side Music Hall

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez​In this week's print edition of the Observer, Craig Hlavaty talks up Omar Rodriguez-Lopez in advance of the Mars Volta and former At The Drive-In guitarist's show at South Side Music Hall tonight. Writes Hlavaty of Rodriguez-Lopez's solo material:Since 2004, Rodriguez-Lopez ha ... More >>

Seven Shows Worth Seeing Tonight in Dallas

Quite a diverse collection of musical acts we have in our area tonight. Hell, there's even a Swedish hip-hop group. No joke.

Unexpected Influences: Denton's DJ Yeahdef On How He Became A Fan of Jazz Fusion

Welcome to a Unexpected Influences, where we talk to musicians about the music no one expects them to like. Yeahdef​Long-hailed as one of the region's Meccas for live music, Denton is a fine place to become well-known. And popularity is just what DJ Yeahdef, née Joey Lietchy, has achieved in t ... More >>

DC9er Mixtape, Vol. 28: DJ Hunter Vaughan

​Three years ago, Hunter Vaughan was just your average 17-year-old raver who frequented Dallas' nightclubs (when permitted inside) with the sole objective of having a good time. As Vaughan became more aware of the scene around him, though, he started keeping his eyes and ears out for local residen ... More >>

Bonus MP3: Gray, the New Black -- "I Don't Wanna Be With You"

Gray, the New Black, in shades of gray.​After Mike Hamilton and Alan Uhler moved to Dallas from Michigan in 2009, it took the pair little time to hook up with James Alvarez and form Gray, the New Black. The band has been busy playing around the area and recording songs for its debut full-length th ... More >>

Good Friday: NX35, St. Patty's Day Parade and After-Party, RX Bandits, David Allan Coe, Snarky Puppy and Dick Dale.

​There's many things I enjoy about the NX35 Conferette, not the least of which is the fact that it sure makes writing this here post easier. (Yes, I'm that self-centered.)As you already know: The Flaming Lips, Midlake and Stardeath and White Dwarfs are playing the North Texas Fairgounds for free o ... More >>

Neon Indian hits the national scene

Gig Reminder: The Mars Volta at The Palladium Ballroom Tonight

In this week's paper, I talked briefly about tonight's Mars Volta show at the Palladium Ballroom...It's been eight years since the break-up of At the Drive-In, the influential post-hardcore El Paso outfit that, post-dissolution, saw its members split off into the separate factions of Sparta and The ... More >>

Today In Music News: Courtney Love Is The Villain Again, DeGeneres Replaces Abdul and Mars Volta Takes A Chill Pill

Your daily dose of national music news for Friday, September 11, 2009... Sooooo, Courtney Love didn't authorize the use of Kurt's likeness for Guitar Hero 5? But Activision has a agreement signed by her? Huh. Maybe she just forgot she signed it? Who's the logical choice to replace Paula Abdul on ... More >>

The Mars Volta

Wednesday, September 16, at the Palladium Ballroom

Gig Alert: Marnie Stern at The Lounge Tonight

Meet the guitar goddess.The realm of guitar gods, much like the beardo deities promoted by organized religions for centuries, is overwhelmingly dude-centric. Whether biblical originators (see Clapton, Hendrix and Paige) or post-modern satirists (see Angus Young and Nigel Tufnel), we know the routine ... More >>

Q&A: Woven

Los Angeles band Woven play an interesting mixture of electronica and rock. Though they explore a wide variety of sounds, they generally combine  unique, dark electronic textures and heavy two-drummer percussion into straightforward poppy rock songs. After the band's 2003 album, 8 Bit Monk, Wov ... More >>

How bout some band shots?

Austin City Limits Music Festival Announces Lineup

Last Night: The Mars Volta at Palladium Ballroom

Over The Weekend: Collin Herring, Trey Johnson, Mars Volta Ticket Winner

Win Tickets to See Mars Volta

This Week's MP3 Round-up: Calhoun, Zane Lewis, Smile Smile, Pet Hospital

Mars Volta Coming to Dallas

Dipping Further Into Erykah's "Honey"

Chief Beef, Joey Kendall, Veloura

Thursday, September 6, at Andy's, Denton

Same Difference

With EITS and the Paper Chase, the song doesn't remain the same

El-P

I'll Sleep When You're Dead (Definitive Jux)

Unclear on the Concept

Prog rock lives on--like a zombie

As Tall as Lions

Sunday, September 3, at the Door

2006 Dallas Observer Music Awards

The Beatdown

If you wanna hear Denton's best-kept national dance secret, then get to the Party

Atmosphere

Wednesday, October 26, at Gypsy Tea Room

The Mars Volta

Frances the Mute (Universal)

On the Down-Low

Shovel away all that Usher, Prince and Lil Jon you've been jamming and dig this year's buried black-music treasures.

Handsome Boy Modeling School

White People (Elektra)

Playing Favorites

Local musicians pick the tops

Words of Wisdom

Hyah! Hyah! Sha-Clack-Clack! Or, the hip-hop poetry of Saul Williams.

The Mars Volta | Vendetta Red

De-Loused in the Comatorium (Strummer/Universal) | Between the Never and the Now (Epic)