Hector Berlioz first laid eyes on Harriet Smithson in 1827 at Paris’ Odeon Theater, where she was portraying Ophelia in a production of Hamlet. It was love at first sight for the French composer, although “obsession” might be a more accurate description. He knew that he had to meet her…
It seems like just yesterday that we were all following along with Deryck Whibley and Avril Lavigne’s punk-rock romance and hoping she could get him on the straight-and-narrow. (“Everybody’s got their problems,” amiright?) But that ended almost 10 years ago, which means that yes, we are old. Whibley and his…
Last week, Dallas got its first real introduction to the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s new music director, Fabio Luisi, and it was magical. It’s been quite some time since our orchestra had an artistic change of this magnitude, as Jaap van Zweden held the reigns for an entire decade. The DSO…
The DSO’s annual SOLUNA Festival kicks off this week with performances of the Sibelius Violin Concerto, featuring virtuoso Augustin Hadelich. Contemporary music has been a key part of SOLUNA from the beginning, which makes for the perfect time to introduce Dallas to Julia Wolfe, the DSO’s composer-in-residence. “Composer-in-residence” is a…
Anyone who had even the most fleeting emo phase knows Taking Back Sunday. Those of us who’ve never outgrown ours were treated to something special this weekend in celebration of 20 years with them — two “Decades Under The Influence,” if you will. The band is out on a commemorative…
Albany, New York, natives Derek DiScanio and Tyler Szalkowski founded the pop-punk band State Champs back in 2010 when they were seniors in high school. In the years since, they’ve become known as one of the best bands on the scene today. They’re in the midst of a nationwide tour…
Andy Leo met Hayden Tree and Brandon Hoover when they were high school students in Colleyville. Leo recalls that he “heard that a few guys were putting together a band” and as a member of the high school choir, he thought he’d try out. “My mom was like, ‘You can…
Taking Back Sunday has stood the test of time, continually evolving and giving fans new music to connect with. It’s hard for us to believe that they’ve been a band for 20 years. Are we old? John Nolan, Taking Back Sunday’s lead guitarist, assures us that the band members feel…
The DSO announced today that Jennifer Hudson will appear with the orchestra as the headlining performance of this year’s SOLUNA Festival. You may remember Hudson as a finalist on season 3 of American Idol, but her talents go far beyond that. She’s since won two Grammys for her work as…
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is under new management — both artistic and administrative — with CEO Kim Noltemy, who took the reins in the middle of the 2017/18 season, and new music director Fabio Luisi. Amidst these monumental changes, the DSO has teased several new initiatives and fresh programming, many…
Underaged emo fans flocked to Deep Ellum in droves Tuesday night to see AS IT IS at Prophet Bar — some were even accompanied by a parent. The U.K.-based pop-punkers have traveled across the pond this winter for a nationwide tour supporting their third studio album, The Great Depression. Centering…
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s annual SOLUNA International Music and Arts Festival is back for its fifth iteration, and with it comes some intriguing programming as always. In years past, SOLUNA has given us a mixed bag of sorts as it’s worked toward finding a true purpose within the DSO. Odd…
If you weren’t at Gas Monkey Bar N’ Grill freezing your butt off to watch Bayside’s acoustic show Saturday night, we feel sorry for you. You really blew it big-time. And if you missed it to watch the Cowboys lose, we’re sending even more sympathy your way. Acoustic material is…
Performing any of Gustav Mahler’s symphonies is no easy feat, as most musicians know well. While not a symphony in name, his Das Lied von der Erde (German for “Song of the Earth”) is no exception. Most consider the piece to be his ninth symphony, although Mahler himself didn’t want…
It’s the most wonderful time of the year, which means there’s no shortage of fun things to do around DFW to get in the holiday spirit. One of our favorites is the Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s Big Brassy Christmas and Organ Extravaganza. This extravaganza features the DSO’s brass and percussion sections…
Album anniversary tours are becoming more and more popular, and we’re not mad about it. It’s no secret that the rise of streaming has changed the way we listen to music. You can skip around from song to song and artist to artist at will, which has its advantages, but…
The last 15 years have taken emo-pop trio Mae on quite a journey. The band’s name, which stands for “Multisensory Aesthetic Experience,” was inspired by drummer Jacob Marshall’s studies at Virginia’s Old Dominion University. He was interested in “the perception of beauty, awe and wonder … how the senses cross,”…
Say what you will about Good Charlotte, but damn, they know how to put on a fun show. The pop-punk giants have been around for more than 20 years, and their show Sunday night at House of Blues proved they’re not going anywhere. The Generation Rx Tour is promoting Good…
German conductor Claus Peter Flor was the last person to have the title of principal guest conductor of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. He left the role in 2008 after a nine-year tenure. Now, 10 years later, the DSO has announced that 31-year-old New Zealand native Gemma New will take the…
Metalcore is not for everyone. You have to listen closely and keep an open mind — especially when there’s so much screaming going on. And the guys of Fit For A King know that their fans are more than willing to do that. We caught up with frontman (and screamer…
The Dallas Symphony Orchestra’s ReMix concert is the perfect night out if you want to get a little bit fancy but you don’t want to break the bank. Or perhaps you’ve just been dying to try this trendy cocktail. Whatever the case, it’s worth the $19 ticket. Billed as “Mendelssohn’s…
The Spill Canvas fueled our early-2000s teenage angst with artfully depressing hits like “All Over You,” “Our Song” and “All Hail the Heartbreaker.” But the fact is, much like many of our other emo favorites, they haven’t stopped making new music. They’ve been through a few ups and downs over…
