Over on Unfair Park earlier this week, we told you about Duncan Brannan, the God-fearing voice actor behind the Chuck E. Cheese mascot, who was let go after close to 20 years of service to the Irving-based chain. How did he find out? He heard “Chuck’s Hot New Single,” which…
This week, America got two helpings of fantasy in the theaters: The Amazing Spider-Man and Katy Perry: Part of Me. As of July 4, both were rated 71% on Rotten Tomatoes. So why did a dude like me choose to see Katy Perry: Part of Me? Well, when I saw…
It’s been a couple of years since Dallas’ Grant Jones & the Pistol Grip Lassos released their last album, a self-titled disc of supremely straight-forward country. For the new album, however, Jones chose to follow an inspired vision he’s harbored for the last few years. Saints, Sinners & Liars will…
Summerland TourSaturday, July 7, at Billy Bob’s TexasThis tour consists of bands that have, at one time or another, annoyed the hell out of everyone in the Western world. The lineup — all platinum selling artists — consists of Everclear, Sugar Ray, Gin Blossoms, Lit and Marcy Playground…
Swans, Xiu XiuSunday, September 16, at Trees, $20In 1997, post-punk act Swans went on hiatus and didn’t return until 2010, when they released My Father Will Guide Me Up a Rope to the Sky. A successful tour followed. Seems the band has settled back in nicely, as they’re set to…
We are having a conversation about Frank Ocean’s sexuality. We are living in a time and space where a talented, mainstream R&B singer admits to same-gendered romance. It’s news. Or a Twitter sensation. Or a Tumblr-wave. Or whatever entertainment news is referred to as these days. Late Tuesday evening, Ocean…
In the native tongue of hip-hop heads, the notion of the Four Elements is as familiar as the boom-bap of an 808 drum machine. Allow us this quick primer for those who may be less familiar. Hip-hop culture is composed of four distinct disciplines, or elements, that together make up…
New York by way of Texas husband-wife duo The Mastersons are too perfect of an idea to never happen. Chris Masterson has performed and produced for many others (Jack Ingram, Son Volt, Bobby Bare Jr.) while also releasing a bit of his own material in the past. Same for his…
Free shows at The Common Table are one good reason to hang out in Uptown, and this lineup of Denton regulars is another. Ryan Thomas Becker seems to play Dallas pretty frequently, but you don’t get to see Tony Ferraro’s impeccably named Denton “supergroup” Satans of Soft Rock that often…
This show is being touted as “a night of decadent and debaucherous Moon Rulers celebrating their descent from the womb,” and it’s at Queen City Hall, which has been showcasing some of the more interesting and challenging local music as of late. To wit: Cleric, Small Talk, Deflowered Electric Flesh…
Saturday, July 7, at Dan’s Silverleaf The Angelus return to the town of their birth, where they’ll slowly massage the stage at Dan’s Silverleaf with their hypnotic live show. Opening for the Angelus is Warren Jackson Hearne’s new outfit (though he hasn’t changed his signature black suit in over a…
Progressive rock titans Dream Theater hit Verizon Theatre for the second time on their A Dramatic Turn of Events tour. It’s another chance to see the band with newest member Mike Mangini filling the seemingly-impossible-to-fill shoes of original drummer/mastermind Mike Portnoy. And yeah, this is metal/rock for rocket scientists and…
Atlanta worsdmith Rittz raps like he’s either a lost member of Three 6 Mafia or Yelawolf’s psychic twin, and he owes a bit to both his Southern counterparts. He dropped his White Jesus mixtape last year, and followed it up with White Jesus: Revival this year, pairing his rapid-fire flow…
In the native tongue of hip-hop heads, the notion of the Four Elements is as familiar as the boom-bap of an 808 drum machine. Allow us this quick primer for those who may be less familiar. Hip-hop culture is composed of four distinct disciplines, or elements, that together make up…
Back in the ’80s and ’90s, when Ronald Shannon Jackson was touring the world with his band the Decoding Society, the legendary drummer-composer was a regular visitor to the Metromess, appearing at storied venue Caravan of Dreams in his hometown of Fort Worth. He was a magisterial onstage presence, stoking…
Warped Tour Gexa Energy Pavilion Tuesday, July 3 See also: Talking to Evan Weiss of Into It. Over It See also: The fans and bands of Warped Tour Per usual, the gates to Warped Tour opened a few minutes after 11 a.m., and what was available to see was spotty.Though…
Music is like the mob: Just when you think you’re out, something pulls you back in. At least that’s how it worked for Adam Bertholdi of Denton’s Cozy Hawks. Bertholdi, like many musicians, has always pulled double shifts in numerous local bands, sometimes as a guitarist and background vocalist, other…
See also: Photos of Wolfdance at Lone Star Park, June 30 For those paying attention to area booking, a curious string of events has been occurring this summer. Grand Prairie’s Lone Star Park has cornered the market on Texas country with their Lone Star Music series, which has already drawn…
As we look upon the massive machine Texas country has made chug along over the past several years, it’s easy to see 1997 as a pivotal time. In college towns and major metropolises alike, the masses were demanding more music from people that shared their pride, enthusiasm and thirst for…
There are plenty of places to go in Dallas to get music equipment. Whether you’re a professional musician, the parent of a tween or just a person with a rather expensive hobby, there are six Guitar Centers in the metroplex. Truth is, Guitar Center has almost everything you need: Plenty…
Schoolboy Q The Door Saturday, June 30 On a night defined by sweat and hype, Schoolboy Q showed that sometimes you can be too good. Taking the stage after a litany of local artists, Q stalked the stage and effortlessly shifted gears between songs, taking control of style after style,…
Randy Rogers, Wade Bowen, Casey Donahew, Reckless Kelly, Bart Crow, Brandon Rhyder and more converged on Lone Star Park, as part of Saturday’s Wolfdance 2012, 99.5 FM’s Red Dirt jam. Here are some of the sights…
