Just a few minutes ago, the not-so-high-speed chase that happened in Dallas passed by the Dallas Observer offices. We cheered as the carjacking suspect led about six or seven cop cars down Maple Avenue, and we discussed his motive, his determination, his lack of clothing, and, finally, his playlist. Assuming…
Just north of Dallas, in Frisco, something is brewing at Lochrann’s Irish Pub & Eatery. The bar’s enlisted the help of Spune Productions to help diversify the music scene, who, so far, has done a bang-up job. More proof: On Thursday, October 14, garage rock act The Soft Pack (formerly…
Nova Posta Vinyl, the record label that’s owned and operated by Midlake’s Eric Pulido and Robert Gomez, has been busy lately. Just last week, we found out that the Denton label will be re-releasing Midlake’s The Trials of Van Occupanther on vinyl. And now? They’re offering up a free download…
Not sure if the following news will create as big of a ripple in the music world as the time that Fat Joe left Atlantic Records, but it looks like Fort Worth-based pop-rock band Green River Ordinance has parted ways with Capitol Records. According to the band’s producer, Jordan Critz,…
It wasn’t exactly a slow weekend for local tween pop tarts. For starters, Joe Jonas celebrated his 21st birthday onstage in Pennsylvania. His birthday wish? Not a nice wine glass full of Jagermeister. Rather, he asked for something sure to make his loyal fanbase of tween girls swoon: a puppy…
The Granada Theater’s not the only venue around town celebrating an anniversary this week: On Saturday night in Deep Ellum, Trees will celebrate its own one-year anniversary. Tough to believe that it was just a year ago that the venue re-opened, but, hey, time flies. And the venue will be…
A few months ago, we did a lot of talking about Doug Burr. He’d just released his newest record, O Ye Devastator, which is possibly the best of his already shining discography. So it was a little surprising to see an email this morning announcing Doug Burr’s album release at…
Drinking beer in the afternoon, playing low-stakes poker with good friends, tubing on the Guadalupe—Grant Jones & The Pistol Grip Lassos have the innate ability to provide the perfect soundtrack to all these activities. Theirs is great music to be played while you’re doing pretty much anything other than listening—because…
Polarized, the new record from Dead Twins, comes off as a collection of songs from a group of guys who know exactly who they are—hungry veterans. The band’s members have been immersed in the Dallas rock community for a long time now, playing in notable bands Mermaid Purse and The…
A growing trend among indie-folk musicians these days is going out to the woods by themselves, living off of the land for an extended time, and writing a weirdly brilliant album. Bon Iver frontman Jason Vernon is probably the most notable, but years before he got the notion, A.A. Bondy…
Up-and-coming old-school blues act Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears hasn’t been around very long, but they’re quickly gaining a lot of steam. And it certainly didn’t take long for Black Joe to get noticed in Austin’s large music community after starting out in 2007; Spoon drummer Jim Eno took…
Sufjan Stevens didn’t get too far in his attempt to write an album for each state in the US. Of the 50, he completed two–and then he kind of disappeared for a few years after the release of his Christmas album in 2006. Maybe if he hadn’t put more than…
The members of Midlake are in the middle of the busiest year they’ve ever had: They’ve already toured the world a few times over, won a MOJO award for Best Live Act, and, ahem, perhaps most importantly, they won a DOMA for Best Indie Rock act.And now, upon returning from…
Dallas has seen many bands come and go. Some put out records that generated a lot of hype, but ultimately were forgotten. Some released albums that defined our music scene and still stand up today. Pleasant Grove is an example of the latter, and their crowning achievement is their album,…
Just a few weeks ago, Dallas native Brandon Curtis and his band The Secret Machines were playing at our Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase outdoor stage. The trio wore black as their psychedelic drones pretty much obliterated the audience. The heat from the afternoon sun took care of the rest…
The idea of having a band on a ship is nothing new, but whole rock ‘n’ roll cruise-ship thing has really started to take off in the past few years. Last year, we saw Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights join Lynard Skynard on a cruise-ship concert series, and now…
I always thought it would be kind of a great idea for a band to only play break-up or reunion shows. Think about it: You can get a lot of people to come to your last concert. And, likewise, when your band gets back together.But it won’t last long before…
Brooklyn soft-pop quintet Here We Go Magic is on a sizable world tour in support of their newest record, Pigeons, and they will be passing through town tonight at The Loft. The band’s members started as more of a folk outfit, but have outgrown the genre since signing with Secretly…
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffite, Magic Kids, Puro InstinctHailey’s ClubAugust 2, 2010Better than: Stage diving off of my couch into my television set. On Monday Night, several hundred of the area’s coolest people converged on Hailey’s Club in Denton to see a bill consisting of three blog-tested, hipster-approved acts. Ariel Pink’s…
The guys over at Spune Productions have teamed up with Gorilla vs. Bear to promote what they’re calling “The bill of the summer of 2010.” And that’s fair enough: Tonight, the much talked about Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti will be at Hailey’s Club in Denton, and with him, Pink will…
In the wake of their brilliant new record, High Violet, The National are doing what they do best–touring the world. The tour will eventually bring them right here in town at the House Of Blues on Saturday October 9. Until then, spinning the new album repeatedly will have to suffice…
The folks over at Double Wide had so much fun with their July Fourth pool party that they’re blowing up the above-ground pool again Sunday, and this time Boys Named Sue will provide the soundtrack. It’s the perfect weekend for it, too–with temperatures well over 100 degrees every day. But…
