Music

With his raspy voice and elegant way with words, Psychedelic Furs frontman Richard Butler just oozes cool. Off and on for nearly 30 years now—from the band’s humble post-punk beginnings in 1977 to Top 40 success throughout the ’80s—Butler has led some version of The Psychedelic Furs with an artistic…

When the metal titans in Metallica play Dallas this week, they will do so in triumph, on the heels of their late 2008 release, Death Magnetic, an album many are calling the group’s best in 20 years. Good thing, too. What with drummer Lars Ulrich’s anti-Napster testimony to Congress and…

Given that this is a man who spends the bulk of his time singing about sunshine and the other glorious things in life, maybe it shouldn’t be surprising to hear Tim DeLaughter in such a gleeful mood. Surely it’s more than is to be expected from a man who, just…

Two decades ago, Kurt Cobain dogged Pearl Jam as sellouts, dismissing his grunge rivals as “cock-rock fusion” and its gala debut, Ten, as insufficiently “alternative” because it had too many guitar leads. Ever since, Vedder has been out to prove the dead guy wrong, overtly or covertly. But with the…

…and for the Youtube fans, here’s your link.It was two Wednesdays back now that longtime DC9 favorites Dem Southernfolkz stopped through as the second act performing at the celebratory 20th taping of our ongoing DC9 in SPACE series. Candid, humble and thoughtful, this trio–Big Ben, Kinfolk Jack and Saturday Aldridge–spoke…

More and more frequently, indie rock acts are not only proving that the typical guitar-bass-drums formula isn’t necessarily the only path to success, but that no more than two band members are really needed. As a result two-piece bands are simply everywhere.Take, for example, our own fair city, in which…

Maybe you already read my review of the Motorhead and Reverend Horton Heat show at the Palldaium on Saturday night? Yeah? You did? Awesome–’cause, no lies here, it really was a great time. Didn’t make it yourself? No worries–check the pics from Roger Caldwell’s slideshow from Saturday night and, at…

Should be something of a dance party as The Horrors, Crocodiles and Fort Worth’s own The Burning Hotels gather on Friday night to share a bill at the Granada Theater. Wanna see the madness for yourself? You’re on: The fine folks at the Granada Theater have hooked us up with…

Our trusty nightlife photographer tandem Ray and Peter Lek made the rounds this weekend, finding some low turnouts at a few places, but eventually hitting gold at their old stomping grounds at The Green Elephant for sets from favorite local DJ collective Dub Assembly and touring act Ultrablack. And what…

The funny thing about The Pains of Being Pure at Heart–aside from the band name–is that the band, uh, really never meant to become a band. No, seriously. In this week’s issue–out on certain newsstands already, out on others tomorrow morning–Observer contributor Chris Parker learns that the band’s first gig…

Those with a little time on their hands tonight–y’know, those who aren’t already planning on attending either Blink-182 at Superpages.com Center, Pink at the American Airlines Center, Ra Ra Riot at the Granada, Nobunny up at Mable Peabody’s in Denton, Every Time I Die at the House of Blues, our…

We’ve had our fair share of Monotonix geek-outs in the past year or so. So let me apologize in advance: We’re gonna do it again. Like clockwork, yes. But, dammit, because it’s fun. Need a refresher? Check the photgraphic evidence (not all as gross as above, not all safe for…

Had an interesting conversation last night, which basically boiled down to, well, this: How is it that something can be viewed as utterly uncool in Dallas–and yet thought of as the most awesome thing ever (if only ironically) in Denton? Chew on that for a minute as you peruse this…

As we mentioned yesterday, Will Johnson joined Monsters of Folk last night on The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien, drumming and singing backup vocals. Fortunately for those of us who missed it, the video has already made its way to YouTube. The Centro-matic frontman, looking dapper in a dark suit…

Not in this coming week’s paper but in the next (assuming all goes according to plan), we’ll be publishing a conversation Observer contributor and noted emo expert Eric Grubbs will have with one of the members of the recently reunited, legendary emo rock outfit Sunny Day Real Estate–all relevant since,…

No, it’s not exactly new–came out back in early July, actually. Still, I somewhat regret not including it in my overly exhaustive coverage of all the “Ice Cream Paint Job” remixes, covers and parodies. Not sure which I’d classify this one as, though…..

With the suspicious (and relatively recent) death of bandmate Charles Cooper, it is both surprising and uplifting that Joshua Eustis would continue making music under the Telefon Tel Aviv moniker.The duo of Cooper and Eustis had been creating remarkable electronic music for nearly a decade. The group’s third full length…

In this week’s paper, Cory Graves tackles to subject of tomorrow night’s Ra Ra Riot-headlined gig at the Granada. In short, he writes:Not only was the band’s debut album, 2008’s The Rhumb Line, widely regarded as one of the year’s best, it established the band as chamber pop pioneers in…