Imagine inviting local artists and producers over for recording sessions, drinks and BBQ all in one place without ever leaving your driveway. That’s just what Mike Ziemer did with his time during the pandemic. After feeling disconnected from a silent music scene, a huge staple in his life after 17…
Dallas music maven and 14 Records store owner Bucks Burnett dedicated a large part of his life to the career of the eccentric and incomparable Tiny Tim, the mischaracterized “novelty” musician who became one of music’s most uniquely eclectic pop stars. A new documentary called Tiny Tim: King for a…
As made evident with the mass popularity of K-pop and reggaeton, language is not a barrier in pop music. Artists and bands such as BTS and Bad Bunny, whose 2021 concert tickets are on resale for $18,000, are proving that fans can enjoy music regardless of their language. This is…
A few minutes into talking to Jacob Sereno, he makes an arguable statement. “The press doesn’t cover ASS.” ASS is an acronym for his band American Shit Storm, of which he’s the lead singer. The band’s next show is on April 30 at Three Links, which will mark the release…
Burette and Gabrielle Douglas have been playing together since they met through mutual friends. Their first a music project, Buck Jones, broke up three albums and several tours later, but Burette and Gabrielle never did, and have been married for nearly 30 years. The couple founded Fort Worth psych-rock band The…
This weekend, a lot of acts we haven’t seen in a while are coming back to the stages we love. Miranda Lambert makes her return to North Texas, celebrating her 15-year career at Billy Bob’s Texas 40-year anniversary. Meanwhile, acts that went completely underground, such as Ghoulsby, are reemerging from…
The trial of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has reopened some wounds for artists still trying to heal from the trauma stemming from the killing of George Floyd. La Bell, a Dallas rapper, singer and producer, processed her emotions over Floyd’s death in a song and music video titled “Floyd’s…
The pandemic surely kept everyone in a post-apocalyptic mood, starting with our half-covered faces and sizzling political climate. Kaylee Howard tapped into this dystopian energy through a new musical project, drawing inspiration from science fiction literature and from the scenes of one bizarro nightmare of a year. In October, Howard delivered…
Joseph McClellan is a busy man. On a gloomy day in Nashville, he is rehearsing for an upcoming performance at the Academy of Country Music Awards, where he’ll help open the festivities backing Miranda Lambert and Elle King as they perform their duet “Drunk (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home).”…
This Thursday through Saturday offers North Texas music fans a wide array of genres and venues to choose from as we welcome the warmer weather. From a three-night residency from an old country singer who came up on the punk stages of LA to hip hop with a community perspective, these ten shows are sure to get you ready and into action. They should also give you a pretty solid idea of the local bands to be looking out for weekly.
Milan Merlo just wasn’t feeling creative out in Arkansas. A Dallas-girl, born and raised, she decided to move back closer to home, transferring to the University of North Texas, where she found a community. “I just started meeting like a lot of creatives like photographers, videographers and musicians,” Merlo says…
On April 9, the world lost rough-voiced rapper DMX. He was 50. Born Earl Simmons, he claimed his spot in hip-hop around the world in the 1990s and early 2000s with hits such as “Slippin'” and “Ruff Ryders’ Anthem.” The rapper had reportedly suffered a drug overdose and died a…
Think you’ve seen all the outdoor concerts that you need and if you’ve heard one you’ve heard them all? Well, you’re wrong if you haven’t witnessed Covert Concerts in Mineral Wells. To be fair, with a name like “Covert,” it’s no wonder it seems like a secret. Venture outside Dallas,…
Whether we like to admit it or not, boy bands shaped the music industry and pop culture. The OG boy band, The Beatles, practically invented the “fangirl” prototype. While the Fab Four quickly matured into a rock band, they undoubtedly paved the way for New Kids on the Block, *NSYNC,…
As we begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel, Texas country trio Midland is grabbing life by the horns and making a return to the stage with three concerts at Billy Bob’s Texas in Fort Worth on April 8, 9 and 10. These shows mark some…
And we’re back. With so many people getting vaccinated (not to mention the governor’s revocation of the mask mandate) things are starting to feel like they’re finally getting back to normal—for now anyway. Thus, it is our duty here at the Observer to bring you the best of what’s coming up in live music this week.
Last Friday, rapper Tay Money took the stage at Southern Junction in Irving, opening for fellow rapper NLE Choppa. In her first show since COVID-19 struck, she was thrilled to feel the energy of the audience, reminding her of her favorite part of being a rapper. While COVID has hit…
What happens when you make a video and it goes viral? You run with it. That’s what Devante Fields did after releasing a music video for his song “Regrets” in 2011, which received hundreds of thousands of views. He was in high school at the time, and more than five…
Since 2007, hip-hop magazine XXL has promoted up-and-coming artists in their annual “Freshman Class” feature. The editorial staff picks the first nine spots, and fans pick the 10th. This year, Dallas rappers Erica Banks, Kaash Paige, Tay Money and Bobby Sessions are all candidates for the last spot on the…
Lil Nas X made quite a statement this past week with his latest music video for his new single “Montero (Call Me By Your Name),” in which he’s seen pole-dancing his way down to Hell and giving the Devil a lap dance. In the aftermath of the controversy, the artist…
It’s noon on a weekday, and Jay Gavit is stepping into his car to do an interview on his lunch break — a familiar tactic for those who live life with their right foot in the corporate world and their sinister foot in the counterculture. By day, Gavit is a…
Only one genre seems to befit the mindfuck caused by a trippy pandemic year: psychedelic. The genre has expanded within the last few years as artists explore different forms of psychedelic sounds within trap, trance, drill and more. This musical evolution continues as independent artists embrace the “new wave” by drawing…
