Love it when Halloween falls on a weekend, as is the case this year. What that means for music fans is lots of costume contests and tribute nights, and bands and fans will likely be even more intoxicated than usual–so be careful out there. Recently someone told me his drinking-and-driving…
Fort Worth’s Paul Hightower may make his living as a technical writer, copywriter and indexer, but one of the great passions in his life is beer. On his Dallas Craft Beer Examiner blog, he is a relentless and well-informed cheerleader for the best beers available in North Texas, whether they’re…
When I look into the sky, I don’t see the ancient hunters, bears and scorpions of Greek mythology. Orion the Hunter? Thing looks more like a shot jigger to me. Having never ladled water from a well myself, the Big Dipper reminds me more of a frying pan. As for…
At Dallas bars, female patrons tend to slut it up for Halloween costume contests. But to win you’ll need some clever hook too. For instance, create a wraparound fabric model of a Calatrava bridge to go as eye candy. Or if you’re busty, wear a black tank and carry an…
Unless you’ve seen his Monday night improv act at Dan’s Silverleaf, you wouldn’t guess from Paul Slavens’ deadpan delivery as DJ of KERA’s 90.1 at Night what an odd sense of humor he has, though the jarring transitions between songs by, say, Ted Nugent and Bongwater hint at a great…
Both times I’ve seen Todd Barry live were during music festivals, so perhaps my perspective on him is skewed. But my favorite part of his act is when he unleashes hilariously withering critiques of hipsters, bands, photographers and the entertainment industry as a whole, all delivered in his bone-dry deadpan…
Maybe it’s because they’re part Irish. Maybe it’s because the tear-jerking ballads and raucous Celtic-folk rock jigs just inspire audiences to have a few pints of their own. Or maybe it’s frontman Shane MacGowan’s disheveled appearance, horrendous teeth and spotty attendance to his own band’s gigs. Whatever the reason, The…
DOMA-nominated punk-rockers The Lash Outs, the guys who griped that “The Kids Don’t Wanna Dance,” continue their role as cultural commentators on this new track, “Contemporary Music.” It’s one of two new tracks just posted to the band’s MySpace page, and will be included on the band’s upcoming album. They’ll…
Chesterfield’s Food & Spirits2555 Inwood Road No. 143214-353-9268Dude Factor: 9, or Recently Deceased Celebrity, on a scale of 1 (Not Wearing A Costume Because Halloween Is Satanic) to 10 (Devil)Chesterfield’s is a sports bar located at Maple and Inwood in an eclectic strip center that also includes a tattoo shop,…
The members of Audrey Easley’s bewigged and electrified classical gas Chameleon Chamber Group certainly looked like they were having a blast at its DC9 In SPACE taping back in July. They must have liked the results, too, as they’ll be recording a live album from 7 to 10 tonight at…
Even though it makes no difference to most City of Ate readers, Dunkin’ Donuts coffee is the official coffee of the Dallas Cowboys and the new stadium. To promote the partnership, participating DFW locations of the doughnut chain are offering 25-cent medium-size hot coffees to all customers until noon every…
Blues club Hole In The Wall on Harry Hines will return to its roots as a burger restaurant at the end of the month, as owner Tom Ford has opted not to renew the club’s liquor license. Some of the area’s most popular blues performers, including Jim Suhler (who performs…
Round Rock artist Todd Slater designed this week’s featured poster, which promotes tonight’s bill of Built To Spill, Dinosaur Jr. and Lou Barlow and the Missingmen at The Granada. Look closely and you’ll see that the ants crawling all over the woman’s face; the design was inspired by the lyric…
A beer tasting event like last Saturday’s Fall Beer Festival at the Fort Worth Flying Saucer is an easy way to try several new beers at once, hang out with fellow beer people and see a lot of hilarious T-shirts. However, as I discovered, it’s also an easy way to…
You don’t need an explanation of who Jim Gaffigan is, do you? The “Pale Force” cartoons on Conan? Sierra Mist, Saturn and Rolling Rock commercials? Perhaps single-handedly launching the Great Bacon Craze of 2006? OK, surely you know him from his absurd obsession with Hot Pockets. Yeah, that guy. Even…
Having somehow missed the team’s three games leading up to the crucial penultimate contest, I’m not confident predicting how Dallas Desire matches up to the Los Angeles Temptation in the Desire’s Lingerie Football League home finale–particularly because the Desire’s Web site doesn’t include statistics beyond player height and weight (what,…
It’s crappy out right now, but this weekend is supposed to be mostly sunny and cool. In other words, perfect camping weather. Which is good news for the punk and metal bands and their fans making the hour-and-a-half drive out to Emory this weekend for the third annual No Thanks…
Remember last month when The Lounge On Elm Street co-owner Glenn Jackson said his bar would be getting back its liquor license in a week or so? That’s still the case, as the payment and paperwork for the club’s late renewal are seemingly ensnared in the bureaucracy of the Texas…
Do you love scotch? Sevy’s Grill will have a Scotch Club tasting this evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. featuring five premium whiskys and a complementary dish for each. Dishes and drinks include crispy 5-spice duck cigars (sounds classier than “duck taquitos,” no?) with apricot ginger dipping sauce with…
As if a convention center full of instruments and gear weren’t exciting enough, this weekend’s Texas Guitar Show at the Arlington Convention Center also includes a chance to be part of a world record: At 2 p.m. sharp on Saturday, attendees and exhibitors alike will put their Buckethead-vs.-Zakk-Wylde arguments to…
The Arlington Info Shop’s Grand Opening tomorrow proves that Dallas isn’t the only North Texas city with music-loving bicycle activists. The community venue’s opening fete includes performances from an eclectic array of experimental acts–all donating their time–all day Saturday from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Performers include The Decency Project,…
Brent Frishman of Gutterth Productions created this week’s featured poster, which promotes Daniel Folmer’s Dead End CD release Saturday at J&J’s in Denton. Should be an excellent show, with Dust Congress, Glen Farris and Sabra Laval also on the bill. I like the strapped-down figure, the crumpled background and the…
