“I’ve been in bands since I was 17 and I’m now 34. My self image is that of a jammer. A scroungy jammer. If I don’t have a band and don’t play shows, am I still a jammer? If not a jammer then where do I fit in?” That’s a…
“I’ve been in bands since I was 17 and I’m now 34. My self image is that of a jammer. A scroungy jammer. If I don’t have a band and don’t play shows, am I still a jammer? If not a jammer than where do I fit in?” That’s a…
Drummer Alvin Fielder has one of those origin stories that makes your jaw drop, having played with the likes of Sun Ra and Kidd Jordan. His technique is something to behold as well, bobbing and weaving and defying gravity. Most recently, he collaborated with Oak Cliff free-jazz patriarch Dennis Gonzalez…
If you missed The Relatives last month as part of Bridge-o-Rama, you’ve been granted another divine chance to see the light. The West Dallas gospel-funk group put on a marathon set that day, filled with songs from 2009’s Heavy Light Records retrospective, Don’t Let Me Fall, as well as a…
As someone who didn’t grow up in Texas, I’ve been looking through Jeff Liles’ recent Dallas concert video postings and feeling oddly nostalgic. Skinny Puppy at the Bronco Bowl in 1992, The Dwarves at Club Clearview in 1991, Throwing Muses and KMFDM at Trees in 1991.These were shows I was…
Tatsuya Nakatani Smoke and Mirrors Art Gallery Tuesday, April 3 Drummer Stefan Gonzalez and saxophonist Mike Forbes opened last night’s intimate gig at Smoke and Mirrors, which I was bummed I missed, but Japanese percussionist Tatsuya Nakatani more than made up for it. He is a natural force, and it…
Just as I pressed play on Pinkish Black’s new track, “Bodies in Tow,” which debuted on Pitchfork today, we at the Observer were ordered into the stairwell. So the track was just playing over the WFAA coverage I was watching of flying trailers and lightning strikes and darkening skies, creating…
I’ve been jamming this new, uh, jam from Ynfynyt Scroll, one of the DJs and producers behind the decks of DFW’s Track Meet collective, all morning. You may have heard his Bill Nye remix, in which he chopped up the theme song from Bill Nye the Science Guy, last month…
I know it’s only Tuesday, but this poster from Justin Blanks for White Denim’s Thursday show reminds me of one of those coming-of-age movies from the ’80s where a boy has a mythical, imaginary friend that helps him defeat a bully and learn the value of being himself. Let’s ask…
There are quite a few notable local albums coming down the mountain, either now or in the near future. Look, I even made a short list: Power Trip, “Brainwave” Dallas’ finest thrash mechanics just released their three-song EP on Lockin’ Out Records, and one of the songs is a Prong…
Final Club’s 2011 LP, Blank Entertainment did that neat trick of forging an old sound into a new sound, which there’s nothing wrong with, as long as it advances your art somehow. The Denton quartet recently got back from tour, so they’ve no doubt been able to work out that…
Forgive me, I don’t know who created this poster, but the lineup is pretty great. And The Lion’s Den was the scene of the infamous SlimeRave 2012, which people are still talking about in hushed tones. And the striking, strange black and white concept of this poster would be enough…
Even if you weren’t a big fan of Jay Reatard or one of his countless bands, you can’t help but tear up a bit at the trailer for Better Than Something, the new documentary about the Memphis musician, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 29. “I was…
Pour le Corps label has been on my radar for a few months now, mainly because of their limited-edition theory and vinyl/cassette format. I appreciate that approach, as someone who often feels beat down by the fleeting nature of mp3s, and misses the tactile experience of listening to music: opening…
There’s a lot that makes this video, which seems to have originated on Indiana’s River City Rocker site, great. But how many of us could recite THE ENTIRETY of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the span of a ride to the station? He even does the mid-song harmonic breakdown. Cheers to…
This inaugural Deep Ellum “folk-alternative event” promises to take an “under-appreciated genre” and showcase it in an “underrated, historic neighborhood.” I wasn’t aware folk was so misunderstood and in need of a makeover in Dallas, especially since there seem to be between 10 and 15 bands that could be categorized…
The concept of Hotel Tesseract is spatial, with eight “rooms” filled with stories, just like any other brick-and-mortar hotel. Except this one also features visuals by VJ S(eye) and the musical accompaniment of Longear, with special guest Paul Quigg; Laura Harrell and Trey Pendergrass of Romp Almighty; pianist Adam Pickrell;…
I really didn’t know what pouring vinyl entailed when local musician Daniel Huffman asked if I wanted to sit in on a job last Thursday afternoon. I envisioned the act of pouring, and then an actual record, but the in-between part was vague. I just said yes and drove over…
The term battle of the bands is sort of an antiquated one, yes? I mean, bands are battling every day to keep their heads above water on the Internet, to get their music to the people (and, in turn, to get people to come see their music), to keep the…
I didn’t know Lee Jackson, a North Texas music writer who passed away on Sunday after a battle with ALS. But the number of mutual friends we have dictates we were most likely in the same room or at the same show in Austin at some point, where he lived…
Perfume Genius Dan’s Silverleaf Monday, March 26 “Thank you for being sad,” Mike Hadreas said last night. “Thank you for staying sad throughout the whole show.” Fine, you got me. I’ve been on a sad music kick lately, and seeing the Seattle singer and pianist at Dan’s was just the…
The all-Texas lineup for the third annual Homegrown Fest is quickly expanding, with the addition today of Austin’s Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears and The Bright Light Social Hour, plus the Ticket’s own George Dunham. Add those names to a roster including Hayes Carll, Robert Ellis, Octopus Project, Centro-matic,…
