One would imagine that looking out into the audience from the stage inside the Meyerson Symphony Center must be daunting, even for the most self-assured performer. The concert hall seats over 2,000 people who, on a sold-out night, would be spread out across four levels, all the way up to…
We’re all about staying up-to-date on current events, but man, it can be a real downer sometimes. From the endless coverage of Trump’s impeachment inquiry to his latest Twitter storms, there’s an infinite supply of political craziness constantly being shoved down our throats every time we pick up our phones…
Although they may be more “pop” than “punk,” the Simple Plan members are undeniably sweethearts. Fans haven’t been able to get enough of these guyliner-wearing Canadians since we first heard their debut album No Pads, No Helmets … Just Balls in 2002, with megahits like “I’m Just a Kid” and…
Kenny Vasoli was only 14 when he formed The Starting Line back in 1999, but the Pennsylvania native’s drive to become a musician began even earlier. When he was just 9, his parents bought him a cheap bass guitar, and he started taking lessons. “I knew I wanted to start…
Who is your favorite composer? Is it Mozart? Or maybe it’s Beethoven or Brahms? Whoever it is, we’re willing to bet that the name that comes to mind is a white, probably European, male. Of course, there is Clara Schumann, wife of renowned Romantic composer Robert Schumann. She was perhaps…
The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center opened in September 1989, which means that the home of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra turned 30 this year. To celebrate, we’re letting you in on a few secrets and fun facts about this spectacular place. The Meyerson is the only concert hall I.M. Pei…
Thousands of fans woke up to an email from Ticketmaster early in September informing them that South African hip-hop collective Die Antwoord’s Sept. 24 show at Toyota Music Factory was “still on, but has been rescheduled.” The show will now take place in May 2020, but ticket holders needn’t distress…
Let’s go back in time for just a moment. Word War II is over. We all have tons of extra money because America is in the midst of an economic boom. We like Ike. Elvis, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly and The Everly Brothers are filling the airwaves with a new…
Antonio Vivaldi’s Four Seasons has been at the top of the classical music “charts,” so to speak, for hundreds of years now. One doesn’t even have to be familiar with classical music to recognize the piece, which was written in 1723 as a collection of concertos depicting each season of…
The mighty vending machine holds many of life’s greatest wonders. It’s always there whenever you desperately need a bag of Doritos, a pack of gum or simply a solid object to lean on while you gossip with your co-workers in the office break room. Yet we so often take it…
As the great Bowling for Soup once said, “high school never ends.” Let’s face it, we’re all awkward 16-year-olds at heart. Luckily, Dallas has an endless number of places for everyone, nerds and goths alike, to make good use of our disposable income. So tell us which clique you belonged…
On Friday night, I was on assignment for a concert review at Toyota Music Factory, where Third Eye Blind, Jimmy Eat World and Ra Ra Riot performed. A fellow Dallas Observer music writer, Chelsey Norris, happened to be among the 8,000 people in the crowd, after which we conversed about…
Frank Iero is a man of many names. Band names, that is. The former My Chemical Romance guitarist has always dabbled in side projects, even in the band’s heyday. But since the emo icons went their separate ways in 2013, Iero has been going at it alone. “I never set…
Julia Holter is not your average singer-songwriter. She layers orchestral and electronic instruments over her ethereal, mesmerizing vocals to create something wholly unique. Her music could be described as avant-garde, but don’t let that intimidate you. It’s captivating and has an air of mystery, which as it turns out, was…
When it’s time to tie the knot, couples understandably want their special day to be perfect. There are so many details to work out: venue, dress, guest list, theme, flowers, centerpieces — the list goes on and on. It can be a daunting task for any couple. Fortunately, there are…
Sequels don’t have to suck, and New Found Glory has proved that with their latest collection of punk rock movie covers, From the Screen to Your Stereo 3. The Florida natives have been a band for over two decades, and their history of making movie covers goes back just as…
Gas Monkey Live was the place to be on Friday afternoon, day jobs be damned. We weren’t sure what to expect from an outdoor music festival at a venue that typically holds concerts indoors, but Sad Summer delivered something good. The parking lot behind Gas Monkey Live was transformed into…
Metal music comes in many versions — from traditional heavy metal to screamo, and everything in between. Coheed and Cambria’s Unheavenly Skye Tour brought three wildly different iterations, all equally impressive, especially when paired with the bizarre story lines behind the music. Coheed and Cambria hails from Nyack, New York…
Summer is officially here, which means scorching hot temps, vacations and, of course, music festivals. There are plenty to choose from, like Coachella (in April, but we’ll still count it), Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits and Bonnaroo. But what if sad songs are what truly make you happy? If that’s the…
We sure missed Anberlin. Although the band called it quits in 2014, not a day has passed without us thinking about them. All right, we might be slightly exaggerating. Nevertheless, it’s been five years since Anberlin broke up, and their absence was clearly felt in Dallas, as proved by the…
Oppressive Texas summer temperatures may already be bearing down on us, but on the plus side, if we survive for the next 100 days, we’ll get to visit our favorite perennial event. That’s when the State Fair of Texas opens. We can’t wait to consume copious amounts of fried-whatever-the-hell-we-want as…
Everyone’s favorite soulful songstress, Erykah Badu, will be adding a new collab to her books — and it’s with our very own Dallas Symphony Orchestra. This announcement comes on the heels of the DSO’s performance with Jennifer Hudson, proving yet again that our orchestra is able to bring in internationally recognized artists…
