The Rocket Summer

Untapped Fest: No Matter How Crappy Things Get, There Will Always be Music and Beer

As Untapped festival headliner Deer Tick prepared to take the stage closing beer booths, an impromptu chorus of the "Star Spangled Banner" emitted from the front of the crowd, and grew louder with every verse as it felt like the entire fest joined in to sing our national anthem. Immediately after we ... More >>

The Conversation: What Role Do The Suburbs Play in the Greater Dallas Music Scene?

The burbs, brah.​The so-called urban sprawl has created an interesting scenario in the Dallas music scene these days. Back in the late '80s and '90s, Deep Ellum acted as a strong central location for the North Texas music community. But, over the years, as people have gotten more and more spread o ... More >>

Last Night: Archers of Loaf and The Globes at The Loft

Archers of Loaf, The Globes The LoftJune 12, 2011Better than: seeing a Parade of Losers reunion.Archers of Loaf, a little younger.​It was a lot to ask of people to divert their eyes away from the television when the Mavericks were one victory away from winning the NBA finals. No matter who was pla ... More >>

Local Music 'Mericans: Using The Power of Social Media, Jonathan Swinnea Promotes Your Favorite Concerts, Bands and Tours.

Welcome to Local Music' Mericans, where we meet some people behind the local music scene -- the folks who aren't necessarily members of a local band, but who still make the scene move.Jonathan Swinnea​Jonathan Swinnea's passions are music and social media. Some would say he's an element of the "ne ... 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: 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: 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 >>

Good Friday: Black Friday Edition

Eisley​If you've already picked up a copy of this weeks Dallas Observer, you might have noticed our music feature on Tyler band Eisley, who will be in town at The Loft on Saturday night with Ives The Band, and Christie DuPree. The story sheds light on the ups and downs that the band has experience ... 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 >>

Over the Weekend: The Vans Warped Tour at Superpages.com Center

Van's Warped TourSuperpages.com CenterJuly 3rd, 2010Better than: last year's Warped date. Alexander FloresWe already showed you the fans. Now check Alex's slideshow of Andrew WK and the rest of Warped's bands.​Thank you, Hurricane Alex. Were it not for your rain and wind, the thousands of folks at ... More >>

After Warped Tour, It's Off To The Double Wide.

Not A Bad First Day For The Rocket Summer's Of Men And Angels...

In the upcoming issue of the Observer, I spend some time with Grapevine native Bryce Avary, better known to most as the guy behind The Rocket Summer. And, as you'll see in the piece, it's a slightly different Avary we're seeing this time around: He's older, wiser, and, maybe most surprising of all, ... More >>

Tracklist: The Local Hang with Playlister P, Vol. 5

​Many thanks to those who stopped on by The Libertine last night for the fifth installment of The Local Hang. Yep, that's right, our fifth, which, if nothing else, proves that if you and Libertine owner Simon McDonald reach a drunken agreement, he will hold you to it for no less than five months.S ... More >>

The Chopping Block

Is legendary music venue Trees taking the phrase "out with the old" literally at the start of 2006?

Lift Off

This may be it for Lift to Experience

Remembering (Barely) SXSW

We've vowed never to do it again--but we can't wait till next year

This Week's Day-By-Day Picks

Birthday Bash

Arts Magnet High School is throwing itself a party

A Loss for Music

Dallas says goodbye to DJ Rich Soul

2001 Dallas Observer Music Awards

Narrow margins remind us that everyone's a winner

Scene, Heard

Persistence pays