With Arms Wide Shut: Creed To Play Verizon Theatre

Looks like the 2012 apocalypse predicted by the Mayans is taking a completely unexpected form. That’s right: Creed has announced a tour that will come to Grand Prairie’s Verizon Theatre on Wednesday, May 12 — right around the time their forthcoming record is rumored to be released.Ticket prices range from…

So Much Whiskey: Whiskey Folk Ramblers on Daytrotter, Plus a New Video

This morning our inbox had a note about yet another North Texas act given the Daytrotter treatment. Fort Worth’s Whiskey Folk Ramblers recorded a four-song-session for the website, including tracks “Pies of Old Kylene” and “Leavin’ Here.” The session highlights the band’s sinister gypsy — and, at times, klezmer — folk…

Rex Emerson of Boxcar Bandits Talks Bob Dylan and Playing Gator Farms

Denton’s Boxcar Bandits have been playing their warped version of Americana for just over half a decade. In that time, they’ve played countless shows and produced two albums: 2008’s Smells Like Grass and the recently released Live at Dan’s Silverleaf. And while live efforts are often perfunctory product issued to…

Things Overheard During the Shepard Fairey DJ Set

If you’re like me, you wondered what exactly Shepard Fairey would spin at Saturday’s Dallas Contemporary Phenomenon event. Sadly, Tuvan throat singing and Icelandic death metal were not in the cards. Instead, it was sort of like being at a really fun wedding reception: House of Pain’s “Jump Around,” Young…

Mat Kearney Explains “Mat Kearney For Dummies”

Mat Kearney is a crossover human. He’s had one foot in pop music (see 2006 pop hit “Nothing Left To Lose”), and another in hip-hop. His most recent album, Young Love, sees him incorporating more of a hip-hop/spoken word element than ever before. And so far, it’s been his biggest…

The 20 Best Madonna Songs You Won’t Hear at the Super Bowl

I’ve paid entirely too much attention to Madonna since the age of six, when I stood in front of a neighbor’s TV, captivated by the “Lucky Star” video. And, no matter how annoying and schoolmarmish the artist has become in her 40s and 50s, part of me will always stop…

Sexual Nintendo: Neon Indian’s “Fallout” Video

Neon Indian is back with a new single, “Fallout,” from 2011 album Era Extraña. The song is accompanied by a video, directed by what looks to be the makers of Heathcliff lilfuchs.Watch as a totally hot cartoon babe cruises the desert in an ’80s Corvette. She pulls up to a…

Revenge of the Nerd: They Might Be Giants at the Granada

They Might Be Giants Granada Theater Thursday, February 2 When nerds sell out a show, you know you’re in for it. Scanning the crowd at the Granada last night, I could tell there were quite a few folks paying babysitters until 11 p.m., who were maybe a bit pudgier than…

Steve Aoki Talks Production Skills, Badminton and Tacos

Electro house musician Steve Aoki is much more than your run-of-the-mill remixer. Besides running the influential Dim Mak record label, Aoki also owns two restaurants, works with artists as diverse as Duran Duran and Drake, has a clothing line, invented his own brand of headphones and plays more than 250…

Rock Around Doc’s at Their Grand Opening

The new Doc’s Records & Vintage in Fort Worth has been open for a couple months now, but they’ve no doubt been letting all that vinyl smell settle in. Good news for record nerds and fans of that smell: They’ve finally set a date for their grand opening. On February…

In Defense Of… David Guetta’s “Turn Me On” feat. Nicki Minaj

Among the electronic music producers who have cashed in on dance music’s popularity in the States, I’m most ambivalent about French DJ/producer David Guetta. Last year’s album, Nothing But the Beat, took its title pretty literally with two discs of beat, and a couple cameos to keep things interesting. Guetta’s…

Craig Finn Stays Positive at Dada

Craig Finn, Mount Moriah, Beau Jennings & the Tigers Dada Wednesday, February 1 Craig Finn stepped on stage with his four bandmates and declared, “I’m Craig Finn. This is my band. We need a name.” Serving as the opening date for a two-month tour ahead of them, the erstwhile Hold…

Legsweeper and More Come Out of the Swamp

Hey, swamp thing. Phoenix Project is now 406 Arts, and they’re throwing an appropriately crusty punk-rock house party. Dallas duo Legsweeper, fresh off their star turn covering Bun B’s “My Block” for 35 Denton, will rattle the windows along with hardcore heads Guiso and Cleric, Austin’s Cabra and hip-hop act…

Fate Lions Rally ‘Round a New 7-inch

Forth Worth’s Fate Lions just dropped some hot wax on Plano’s 7-inch-centric Tree Fall Sounds to follow up their 2009 full-length Good Enough For You, and the three songs pick up where they left off. Lead Lion Jason Manriquez has a way with a melody, and “Natural Champion” showcases that,…