Far from the dark-clouded pessimist he’s often portrayed as on the radio, singer-songwriter/radio producer/radio host Danny Balis is, at least on this day, in a great mood. And why shouldn’t he be? The former Sorta and current King Bucks bassist is just about to self-release his debut solo effort, Too…
Formed in Tucson, Arizona, but now residing in Austin, the band Harlem makes its way to our area quite often, delivering a unique brand of noise that takes inspiration from the fuzziest bands of the late ’60s. Often erroneously compared to Nirvana and the Pixies, Harlem’s clatter is much less…
The lineup for this year’s Austin City Limits Music Festival is being set and worthy bands are being encouraged to sign up for something called The Sound and The Jury competition.Here’s the scoop that got sent to me via email this morning: “Round One is live now and bands can…
Back in 2006, Nick Nowell fronted a great local metal band called Thorn vs. Side. The band put out a great EP, Arson, before Nowell imploded the band and decided to become a teacher. Over the past three years, Nowell has kept his instrumental chops in order by playing with…
Legendary ’80s California punkers D.I. make a rare local appearance this evening at the Lakewood Bar and Grill. Although lead shouter Casey Royer is the lone original member of D.I., the band’s sound hasn’t changed all that much from the froth and snarl approach first introduced on Ancient Artifacts, the…
Tom Araya, bassist and vocalist for legendary metal band Slayer, is unapologetic about the controversy that has always surrounded the group—whether it’s charges of devil worship or having sympathies for Nazis or terrorists. “I don’t look at any controversy as negative,” Araya says from Slayer’s tour bus as it heads…
Awhile back, I posted an mp3 from a local act called Three Cities Burning. In that post, I commented that the band’s country/rock sound didn’t suit its post-punk moniker. Well, lo and behold, it seems that’s now been taken care of. In a recent email, drummer Guy Cramer informed me…
The guys in Moving Mountains prefer the terms “indie rock” and “post rock” instead of “emo” in describing their sound. And why shouldn’t they? Gregory Dunn and Frank Graniero lead Moving Mountains into sonic territory never imagined by most bands of the emo contingent. Hell, the guys in Moving Mountains…
For over fifteen years, the Canadian quartet known as Our Lady Peace has been parlaying its version of slightly grunge-influenced rock while racking up CD sales of well over 5 million. Over that time, the band has gone through the predictable bouts with major labels, even losing founding member Mike…
Last year, brothers Mick and Raul Espinoza were plying their new wave craft under the moniker Mahteo. They even recorded a pretty cool debut album, The NuWave Republic. Although that record mined the classic ’80s influences of Joy Division and The Cure a little too blatantly, it nevertheless had its…
Sad to say I’ve never had the pleasure of attending a gig at Denton’s Hydrant Café, but tonight’s bill at the little eatery just off the square might warrant the trip northward.Headlining country bluesman Charlie Parr has a story almost as good as his music: The 40-year-old from Duluth, Minnesota,…
Normally, I find the terms “Christian” and “Metal” so mutually exclusive that I generally run from just about any band that uses both words in describing its music. Yet the generically named The Showdown are definitely a metal band (with southern rock roots) with lyrics that speak of certain themes…
Last week, I blogged about how one of my favorite local alt-country acts, The Texas Red Legs, were competing in the most recent installment of the Shiner Rising Star Contest.Well, lo and behold, Richard Davis and crew went out last week and won the contest’s first installment at Plano’s Love…
Yeah, yeah. I know that these oldie tours are an easy target for the cool, indie rock naysayers out there, but most of the acts on tonight’s Hippiefest bill at Nokia Theatre are just a wee bit older than Aerosmith and ZZ Top, and I didn’t hear anyone complaining about…
Unbeknownst to me, semi-local singer/songwriter Guthrie Kennard has set up a sort of residency at the Los Colinas nightspot Cadillac Ranch. If I’d been paying better attention, I would have already hustled my ass up John Carpenter Freeway and caught Kennard’s fine examples of Americana much earlier than this tonight.Relatively…
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…
Deprived of caffeine and pastries by a seemingly endless series of interviews, Jason Molina is, at the moment, even more edgy (but no less talkative) than usual. From a hotel room in Indiana, the singer-songwriter best known for his work with Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co. speaks (prolifically) about…
Yesterday, Gerard Dirkx, leader of the legendary Dallas new wave band The Telefones, sounded a bit unsure if the rumored reunion of his band was going to take place.But today things seemed to have changed for the better. Turns out there’s great news in my inbox this morning from Dirkx…
Since The Nervebreakers reformed and played a gig this past April, it seems fitting that Dallas’ other great new wave/punk band of the late ’70s/early ’80s, The Telefones, do the same.Via email, one-time Telefones frontman Gerard Dirkx says he has been asked by the fine folks at the Lakewood Theater…
Care Bears On FireJuly 19House of Blues First off, I am a father of a 9-year-old daughter and, as such, I sometimes have to succumb to the musical tastes of a girl whose obsession with Taylor Swift is beginning to become disconcerting. So when my daughter asked me to take…
In the past couple of years, two of our area’s best alt-country acts, Darryl Lee Rush and Somebody’s Darling have been the recipients of a free album recording session, care of the fine folks at Shiner Records. This honor was bestowed upon them once they’d won the annual Shiner Rising…
Quite an interesting mix of area talent coalescing tonight at Lakewood Bar and Grill: Amber Farris, front person for Somebody’s Darling, will be joined by Taylor Davis, Cully Woods and Nicholas Altobelli for an evening of sensitive, acoustic meanderings. Possessing a powerhouse set of pipes, Farris can deliver the goods…
