Double Time

Much like Bo Jackson’s dual membership in the Los Angeles Raiders and the Kansas City Royals, or Jared Leto’s mediocre turns as an actor and a member of the rock band 30 Seconds to Mars, Henri Matisse traveled many avenues of the art world. He may be best known for…

Double Time

Much like Bo Jackson’s dual membership in the Los Angeles Raiders and the Kansas City Royals, or Jared Leto’s mediocre turns as an actor and a member of the rock band 30 Seconds to Mars, Henri Matisse traveled many avenues of the art world. He may be best known for…

A Voice for Radio

Her infamous tenacity, notable (if slightly tarnished) résumé and James Bond villainess name may have helped establish NPR legal affairs consultant Nina Totenberg as the Lois Lane of the public radio airwaves. But it was her Peabody Award-winning coverage of the Clarence Thomas sexual harassment allegations that first brought her…

Monday Nite Fights

When an open mike or amateur night advertises itself as “one of Dallas’ great unknown treasures,” you get the cynical inkling that it’s perhaps “unknown” for a reason. And if such a description is applied to a weekly 8 Mile-esque rap battle and dance-off that happens to be held at…

Posin’, Poison Cherry

Everyone loves a good time. And nobody had a better time than ’80s glam-metal hitmakers Poison. Not only did they revel in many good times, they desired to have nothing but, a pursuit meticulously chronicled in their hit single “Nothin’ But a Good Time.” Because when you want nothing more…

Can You Badu?

Erykah Badu’s accomplishments as a local community activist and charitable giver are almost as well-known as her incomparable grace and style as a musical artist. And we’re not talking about your everyday celebrity tax write-off kind of “charity.” Badu continuously immerses herself in giving, knowing full well it’s simply not…

Singin’ Carroll

Down-home Texas singer-songwriters aren’t just a dime a dozen ’round these here parts; they’re a penny a gross. What keeps Adam Carroll from being just another drop in the guy-and-his-guitar bucket is an approach to the well-heeled genre that is both effortless and expert. More akin to storytelling than songwriting,…

Tectonic Laughs

Some stand-up comedians seem custom-made for crossover sitcom stardom (see: Cosby, Seinfeld or Bernie Mac), while others probably should have stuck to playing nightclub open-mike nights in between shifts at the video store. Earthquake’s sitcom pilot for ABC may have flopped a few years back, but the man is back…

Totally Extreme

While still a relatively new sport compared to baseball, basketball or couples ice dancing, freestyle motocross has already forged its own memorable history within a few short years. We all remember where we were that fateful day in 2000 when Carey Hart first pulled off a backflip in competition. I…

Dance, Magic Dance

Urban Gypsy’s upcoming symposium of writhing tribal gyrations features a class called “Dancing Darkly—Introduction to Gothic Belly Dance.” Despite the ominous title, we’re guessing it has little to do with listening to Bauhaus and ritualistically burning your forearms with a lit cigarette. Sorry to disappoint. But there are still a…

Top 10 Things That Did Not Happen in 2006

1. PPT was neither calm, nor silent, nor filled with shame. They were, in fact, quite the opposite. 2. The Xaglaxian mothership did not retrieve the Polyphonic Spree and return them to their home planet of Quarzallium-72. 3. Despite our many phone calls and letters, the Burden Brothers did not…

5 x 2 = 10

It was either philosopher-poet George Santayana or actor-celebrity sibling Don Swayze that once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” It’s also a popular quote amongst hack writers trying to drum up a quick intro to a “year-in-review” piece. With this in mind we peek…

Oh, What a Night

Finally, a family-friendly film has come along that doesn’t fill us with the indomitable desire to get a vasectomy. Not to be confused with Unaccompanied Minors (the recently released kid comedy about a group of grade-school students trapped in an airport who have to avoid being systematically deflowered by Wilmer…

The Big City

In Dark City, Rufus Sewell plays John Murdoch, an Everyman who could be anyone. Or he could be a serial killer. He’s not too sure because, while he’s somehow gained telekinetic powers, he’s also completely lost his memory. Poor John barely has time to enjoy the fact that he’s married…

Elfin’ Magic

The stage adaptation of David Sedaris’ contemporary Christmas comedy classic, The Santaland Diaries,/B>, returns for its spectacular sixth season, this time in the Studio Theatre of the Addison Theatre Centre. Ted Wold fills Crumpet’s tiny, bell-toed booties and relives the tales of Sedaris’ brief employ as a department store elf…

Like Father, Like Son

What does Dweezil Zappa have to prove? He’s already made a name for himself despite the daunting shadow of his father’s legacy. Before he was old enough to vote, Dweezil was an established guitar virtuoso, blossoming briefly into an adorable MTV personality in the late ’80s and appearing more recently…

Far East Dippin’

We’re pretty proud of our comic book collection. It’s modest but well-organized. But the Spinnaker Collection of 17th-century Chinese snuff bottles makes our enthusiasm for obsessive gathering seem comparatively reserved. The bragging rights that came with our near-mint, first-print edition of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #3 don’t seem as impressive…

Merry SeXmas

‘Twas a week before Christmas, when all through Grand Prairie, Slow jams were straight stirring, courtesy KR&B. A Grown and Sexy Christmas, you get the idea; A half-dozen new jack swingers performing at Nokia. The kids were nestled all snug in their beds, While an overpaid sitter watched over their…

No, Not Those Killers

If you’re one of Howard Stern’s faithful followers who long ago migrated over to Sirius Satellite Radio, then you’re probably already familiar with the performers on his Killers of Comedy tour, and you’re most likely reading this with a ticket to the upcoming show clutched tightly in your meaty paw…

Elfin’ Magic

The stage adaptation of David Sedaris’ contemporary Christmas comedy classic, The Santaland Diaries,/B>, returns for its spectacular sixth season, this time in the Studio Theatre of the Addison Theatre Centre. Ted Wold fills Crumpet’s tiny, bell-toed booties and relives the tales of Sedaris’ brief employ as a department store elf…

Hip Hopp Astra

By their own admission, Hip Hopp Astra’s lyrical game is a refreshing change of pace from the “dumb fucks that got nothin’ better/To rap about except for bling-bling, hos and chedda.” Rhymes of the more cerebral variety trade bong rips with some twisted third cousin of Sly and the Family…

Various Artists

Kid-friendly Ramones merchandise is nothing new. There’s already a universe of products emblazoned with the band’s likeness or logo: diaper bags, baby bibs, onesie jumpers and, of course, those motherfucking tot-sized T-shirts. Produced by ex-L7 bassist Jennifer Finch, Brats on the Beat features members of established and obscure punk bands…