The Toadies

Richard Thompson at the Granada Theater, 4/13/13: Review

Next month, Yngwie Malmsteen will be at the Granada Theater, the same venue where Richard Thompson played Saturday night. And while both men are celebrated for their instrumental prowess, Thompson is more than just a fantastic guitarist -- much more. In front of a sold out and very appreciative aud ... More >>

How Hating the New Toadies Album Sent Me Into An Existential Abyss

Recently, I was gently reminded that the Toadies have a new album out, called Play.Rock.Music.. I listened to the album a couple times and tried to wrap my head around it. I waited for something to grab me: A hook, a melody. Instead, I found myself wincing. I couldn't bring myself to engage in the m ... More >>

The 15th Anniversary of The Old 97's Too Far to Care and Rhett Miller's Solo Album: Does Anyone Still Care?

Fifteen years ago this month, the Old 97's released their major label debut, Too Far to Care. Last week, frontman Rhett Miller released his latest solo record, The Dreamer. Darryl Smyers and Eric Grubbs sat down and talked about the legacy of Too Far to Care, and whether or not it's a bigger deal th ... More >>

Casey Hess of Descender and Doosu Names His All-Time Top Five Deep Ellum Bands

Casey Hess​Casey Hess of the Dallas Observer Music Awards-nominated Descender (Best Hard Rock Act) is -- perhaps too quietly these days -- one of Dallas' great rock heroes. Since his stints in a few influential and popular area bands going back to the 1990s glory days of Elm, Main and Commerce, fe ... More >>

The Best Stage Faces from the Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase

Mike BrooksEven Unfair Park's Robert Wilonsky knows the glory of a good stage face​It was a good weekend. Zombies, Sarah Jaffe's badass new haircut, the Toadies and much, more. Yeah, we're gonna mark down this year's Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase as a success. Oh, and we got plenty of phot ... More >>

An Oral History of the Dallas Music Scene

Some of Dallas' most successful musicians recount the rebirth of its most storied entertainment district: Deep Ellum.

New Kids on the Block Had a Lot of Hits -- But They Didn't Leave A Mark on Ume's Eric Larson

This is Ume. That's Eric in the back.​Ume might be an Austin-based trio, but they play Dallas enough that it would be easy to think they're based here. They last came through in late July, opening for Mission of Burma. They'll be back on Thursday, September 29, at Trees in support of their recent ... More >>

After Energizing The Music Scene, Melissa Kirkendall Switched to Films (About Music).

Welcome to Local Music 'Mericans, where we meet the people in the local music scene that you don't see on stages. Melissa Kirkendall​Melissa Kirkendall is a filmmaker. It wasn't always this way. In her younger years, Kirkendall spent a good chuck of her time immersed in the local music scene -- ... More >>

Penny Lazo Works For Universal Records and Gets Celebrities To Pose for Pics With Her Taco.

Welcome to Local Music 'Mericans, where we meet the people in the local music scene that you don't see on stages. Penny Lazo. With LMFAO. And a taco. No, the taco isn't real.​Penny Lazo is a DFW-based rep for Universal Records. Despite being very rock 'n' roll in appearance, her main beat is coun ... More >>

Before They Play Artist Cabe Booth's Birthday Party, Members of Bobgoblin, Chomsky and El Gato Share Their First Show Memories

Cabe Booth​Cabe Booth's name might not ring too many bells. But if you've ever been to the Curtain Club, you've seen his artwork. Creating stunning, life-like paintings of legendary bands, you might as well stare at them for hours.Booth's birthday is coming up this week, and for his birthday ... More >>

Deep Ellum Blues: How Come These Influential Dallas Acts Don't Have Deep Ellum Murals?

​Deep Ellum is in many ways the music capital of Dallas. Yes, the area has had its ups and downs. No, it hasn't always been the center of the music scene, especially with Denton consistently pumping out artists at a rapid rate. But, fact is, without a doubt, Deep Ellum has for over a century now b ... More >>

For Decades, DJ Merritt and DJ Jeff K Have Snuck Local Electronic Music Onto The Edge

Welcome to Local Music 'Mericans , where we meet some of the people behind the local music scene -- those who aren't necessarily members of local bands, but more the people who make the scene move.DJ Jeff K and the Old 97's at a Dallas Stars game.​In 2011, both DJ Merritt and DJ Jeff K remain s ... More >>

Whitt's End: 8.6.10

​Whether you're at the end of your rope or merely the end of your week, welcome to Whitt's End: *Since you guys salivate over local radio news, here's a zesty taste: Starting August 16 the new program director at 105.3 The Fan will be Bruce Gilbert. Yep, the same Bruce Gilbert who helped buil ... More >>

Echoes and Reverberations: Without You, I'm Nothing

"Well, I was passing by a pawn shop in an older part of town, something caught my eye and stop and turned around / I stepped inside and then I spied in the middle of it all, was a beat up old guitar hanging on the wall / 'What do want for that piece of junk?' I asked the old man / He just smiled and ... More >>

Macon Greyson Is Smarter Than You Think.

Bonus MP3: The Phuss - "Preacher, Preacher"

Joshua Flemming, singer and guitarist for the relatively new local duo known as The Phuss, is hyped about the band's debut effort (which hits the streets this summer), as well as the band's big show this weekend, opening up for the Flametrick Subs and The Von Ehrics at the Longhorn Saloon on Saturda ... More >>

Radio, Radio: Ayo Says Adios, While We Look at Just What Passes for "Quality Rock"

Two follow-ups in this particular radio round-up. First, I exchanged a few messages with Alan Ayo via Facebook, and the long and short of it is, he's not at all upset that Clear Channel gave him his walking papers yesterday. Writes the former midday host and music director at KDGE-FM:I'm feeling rat ... More >>

Polyphonic Spree's Holiday Extravaganza Haunted by Tripping Daisy

Even amidst the spectacle of the Polyphonic Spree's annual holiday extravaganza show, reminders of Tripping Daisy abound

Our 20th Music Awards

1988-2008: Two Decades of DOMA

Letters

Record Setter

Stuart Sikes has worked on albums by The White Stripes and Loretta Lynn. His next project? Dallas.

2002 Dallas Observer Music Awards

These are your choices, not ours, for the best musicians in town

The Who?

Little Grizzly finds itself, and its new album, somewhere along the way

Tired of Waiting

The center of the musical universe, Austin welcomes the beautiful and the ugly

Scene, Heard

The hiatus is over for The Legendary Fritz

Scene, Heard

Another drummer steps to the mike

Everyone's a Critic

Or at least a handful of musicians and music-industry types are, for a few brief moments

Scene, heard

Bluh; Pleasant Grove in Germany; The Early Line; Trees turns 10; Rubber Gloves gets wet; And so much more

Across the Bar

[DARYL]'s Communication; Centro-matic is almost automatic; Captain Audio has The Cure; And more

Scene, heard

DOMA 2000 (of course), Baboon takes it live; Elliot Smith helps The Toadies; and much, much more

Please kill me

A handy guide to the worst local records of the '90s

Signing off

Local talent scout Teresa LaBarbera-Whites discovered singing sensation Jessica Simpson the way she always does: without even trying

I don't want my MP3

Or: How the Internet could kill the album

1999 Dallas Observer Music Awards

Show us your hits

The Toadies and South Padre go together like spring break and unprotected sex

Redrumm is the case

Local rap label gets no love at home and takes its show on the road

Getting the business

With the new Jesus Hits Like The Atom Bomb, Tripping Daisy has made the best record of its seven-year career. So what took so long?

Letters

1998 Dallas Observer Music Awards Nominees

Two for the Road

When Houston's 1st Amendment rights were threatened, a bus full of female porn stars came bouncing to the rescue

Bass player for mayor

Ex-Killbilly member Richard Hunter runs for Fort Worth office--no, seriously

Rapper's delight

Erykah Badu emerges from nowhere with a record deal and vast ambition

Silver linings

Rainmaker Records gets the credit line it deserves

Red hot

Local jazz label discovers lost recordings by Dallas-born piano great

Rock and rollercoaster

After mulling its future for two years, Funland releases its first album

Hank, junior

Wayne Hancock rides shotgun down the Lost Highway

1995 Dallas Observer Music Awards (Part I)

Scene, not heard

A few clubs and a few bands do not a "music town" make