In concert, Hello Lover’s carousing, swaggering stage antics boast a sort of cock-of-the-walk, booze-in-hand charm to go with the band’s “rainy U.K.” instrumentation a la Sisters of Mercy and Jesus and Mary Chain. It’s a rather carefree, loose approach. But what’s underneath? On record, the band seems to have a…
At first, it appears the kind of local album we see all too often. Take, for instance, the terrible-looking presentation. The CD cover is laughable and silly: Stu’s sitting on his bed, strumming, and sporting a lipstick kiss on his right cheek. A random cartoon of Lennon, Little Richard and…
Ames’ voice, at the very least, is above average—and it certainly doesn’t lack charm. But, to her detriment, her music has a bit of a more customary coffeehouse sound. In many ways, it’s nothing you haven’t heard before. What’s exciting, though, is where Ames seems to be headed as a…
AC/DCAmerican Airlines CenterNovember 2, 2009 Better than: sleepwalking through another night of the World Series snoozefest… AC/DC didn’t rip a page from the Rolling Stones playbook last night and dig deep into its early catalog. Rather, with few exceptions, the band played it by the numbers, sticking predominantly to its…
Buddy GuyHouse of BluesOctober 15, 2009 Better than: hob-nobbing at the foundation room bar upstairs. “Hi, can I ask you a question?” your author said to the sound engineer at the front of the house. “Yes?” “I’m a journalist for the Dallas Observer, here to cover the show. I was…
“Aww, y’all got to shut the fuck up, now!” he said while playing The Red Jacket in 2002. “Shut the fuck up!” He said it with a smile, sure, but he meant it. Every once in a while—especially in Dallas, I imagine—the younger side of Buddy Guy’s audience gets a…
Hendrick doesn’t sound like it’s setting out to change the world on its latest full-length, Exhale, nor does the band even indicate that it’s necessarily trying to do anything of the sort. Rather, this sophomore release seems to be more about simpler conveyance: moving listeners emotionally. What Hendrick does especially…
Dia de Los ToadiesRough Creek Ranch, Glen RoseAugust 29, 2009Better than: planting your ass at a sports bar in the asphalt jungle. Rough Creek Ranch is a scenic patch of olive Texas prarie centered around a modest swimmin’ hole. To the north, a shallow creek babbles in. To the South?…
Reel Big Fish, The English BeatGilley’sJuly 26, 2009 Better than: Going to bed early out of loyalty to a 9 to 5 job you don’t like anyway.”Hey, after the show, you wanna turn this energy around and ride the rollercoaster on the ceiling?” says Reel Big Fish frontman Aaron Barrett,…
Last year, at our 20th annual Dallas Observer Music Awards, there was a distinct theme of tradition behind all the festivities. And rightfully so: 20 years is indeed a long time. Countless great acts have passed through and risen up in Dallas during that time period. But there’s just something…
Rx Bandits, Dredg, Good Old WarGranada TheaterJuly 14, 2009 Better Than: Staying in to watch that overrated jackass on Hell’s Kitchen. They look unwashed, unshaven, lazy and listless. They’re wearing what looks like the same clothes they pulled on days ago. They resemble Austin street-hippy people. …
B Real, Bizzy Bone, Smooth Vega, Qween $ching & Clark Perry, SKS, Steve Victory.June 20, 2009PurgatoryBetter than: just slowin’ down in an Escalade to peep.Live hip-hop is what it is: Pound-for-pound against traditional live music, it’s a step-sister of the karaoke family–vocals set to a recording. It’s a crapshoot, at…
New York DollsHouse of Blues’ Pontiac GarageJune 3, 20009Better than: When I caught the Dolls last year and I fell down backstage, drunk, while looking for an autograph. The New York Dolls came to town last night, undoubtedly bringing greatness in tow. Expecting anything less, of course, would be futile…
