Charley Crockett’s Blue Bonanza is More Than a Cover Album

Calling Charlie Crockett a bit eccentric is more than an understatement. Everything from his wild youth spent strumming tunes for change to the 10-plus years of wandering that took him across the country and beyond is evidence enough of that. His history makes even more sense after you find out…

Chris Flemmons Is Nostalgic as He Works on an Archival Project

Twenty-five years ago, Baptist Generals’ Chris Flemmons was recording songs on a four-track tape recorder. Oftentimes, he would end up hating the music six months later, because he was in a hurry to find his style. As a result, a lot got left behind. In the past year, Baptist Generals…

Pearl Earl Is Aware They Are Female Musicians, Thanks

It’s 11 p.m. on a stormy Friday in Denton when band practice finally gets going. Intermittent claps of thunder and the unmistakable shriek of feedback pierce the tranquility of a quiet neighborhood. Guitarist Ariel Hartley sets up the closet-sized rehearsal space in the back of her cozy rental house. She…

Dallas Music Tastemakers Tell Us Their Favorite Releases of 2018

It’s that time of year when music fans everywhere reflect on the best releases of the last 12 months. Publications’ top-album lists have started to populate the internet to celebrate the standout albums and singles of 2018. With streaming music taking over as the dominant conduit for most listeners, sorting through…

Elton John Gave Dallas a Mesmerizing Send-Off

Lately, it seems as if nothing ever really ends in this era of endless pop-culture reboots, reimaginings and reconfigurings. Therefore, the notion of a definitive conclusion carries more weight these days than it might otherwise. That air of finality permeated Elton John’s Friday night performance at American Airlines Center, the…

Town Mountain Comes to Dallas To Feed Bluegrass Souls

Music connoisseurs with a heart for bluegrass should make it a point to stop by The Rustic on Sunday to catch Asheville, North Carolina, outfit Town Mountain. The critically acclaimed bluegrass band is swinging through Texas and Oklahoma on a short stint with Tyler Childers, promoting their sixth studio record,…

Dallas Observer Mixtape with Chrs Roze

Between a consistent stretch of residencies and dipping his toes into the production realm, Chrs Roze has come a long way since he last popped up on Mixtape three years ago. Roze has a long history as a musician but has focused on expanding his craft as a DJ the…

Alex The Great Wrote “Out of Order” About Botham Jean Killing

When news broke that an off-duty Dallas police officer shot and killed Botham Jean, an unarmed black man, in his Dallas apartment, Alex Crawford was angry. That was the feeling of many, but Crawford says it affected him on another level because he is a black artist. “Where are we safe at?”…

Somogyi Is Back With Sideways Dreams

One day, Ashley Paige Somogyi, a local musician who goes by Somogyi, was walking around the Dallas Arts District with a friend when they found a wine bottle on the ground. Somogyi picked it up and read the word “Yes” on the cork. On one side of the bottle was…

Observer‘s Picks for the 10 Best Concerts of the Year

What is there to say about Taylor Swift that hasn’t been said before? She’s the princess of pop, the queen of open letters to streaming services, the goddess of breakup and beef songs. There’s nothing she can’t or won’t do at this point. But even with all she’s accomplished, it…

Electro-Pop Goddess Devi Releases New Song ‘Senses’

Hannah Witkowski has nightmares. They’re vivid, and soon after she awakes, the electro-pop singer writes what happened. She analyzes how these vivid dreams looked, and sometimes the dreams create the foundation for her songs. That’s the case for her new single, “Senses,” and its accompanying music video. The 22-year-old, who…

A H.E.R. Performance Is An Art Gallery Put To Music

Half an hour before the doors even opened at the Bomb Factory on Sunday night, the line had snaked back to the corner of Canton and Malcolm X. The snake grew larger with more arriving, shaking their head and making the journey to the end. The wind wasn’t kind and…

The 10 Best Concerts of the Week: Elton John, Nite Jewel and More

This week offers another holiday concert if you haven’t already gotten into the spirit of things. The Polyphonic Spree plays its annual Holiday Extravaganza at the Majestic Theatre on Saturday. Catch a two-night bill with legendary Sir Elton John at American Airlines Center on Friday and Saturday. Matthew and The…