Sleigh Bells, CSSGranada TheaterApril 22, 2011Better than: sticking around for the headliner, apparently. Perhaps it was to be expected given the circumstances at the Granada Theater on Friday night — Sleigh Bells, who couldn’t be hotter at the moment but only have 35 minutes of material, had to tour with…
William FitzsimmonsThe LoftApril 22, 2011Better than: having to stuff used ear plugs in my ears. On Friday night, at The Loft, William Fitzsimmons brought the quiet.Interesting, too, since throughout the entire 90-minute set performed by the Pennsylvania-raised Fitzsimmons performed there seemed to be a tonal tug of war in the…
In this week’s paper, Pete wrote of a dirty secret about local music: the rallying cry (“If only people would start supporting the scene, it could grow!”) is the same in every city.But the Dallas-Fort Worth-Denton music scene has some hulking support. In honor of that, DC9 at Night has…
Fitz & The TantrumsHouse of Blues’ Cambridge RoomApril 20, 2011Better than: a child throwing a tantrum in a public place. As if the band’s name alone didn’t already imply it, Los Angeles’ buzzing rock ‘n’ soul outfit, Fitz & The Tantrums, still riding high from a successful 2011 South by…
Cut Copy, Foals, Holy Ghost! and The Naked & FamousGranada TheaterApril 20, 2011Better than: going to see Foals and Cut Copy headline separate shows. Last night was a serious two-for-the-price-of-one experience. Blue lights hovered over the stage, as the crowd anxiously awaited Cut Copy’s arrival at the Granada Theater last…
Titus Andronicus, Soviet, Fight AmpClub DadaApril 20, 2011Better than: missing any of the number of shows that were going on last night. The name Titus Andronicus, taken from a Shakespearean tragedy, implies the anger, frustration, and a desire for the kind of vindication that the band’s musical material struggles with…
A-Trak, Kid Sister, The Gaslamp KillerTreesApril 19, 2011Better than: a rousing game of DJ Hero. There weren’t any grand entrances at Trees last night. Mostly, there were just transitions.And, in many regards, that was fitting. This show, after all, was curated by a DJ — one of the best, actually…
The KillsGranada TheaterApril 19, 2011 Better than: sweating in a real sauna. The early evening rain made for a swampy atmosphere at the Granada last night — entirely appropriate for the greasy sonic assault of The Kills, who played to a packed house of ecstatic fans. On a stage made…
Welcome to My First Show, where we give bands a chance to talk about the first shows they ever attended — no matter how uncool and embarrassing those tales may be. If you happened into Fallout Lounge on a Friday night a few years ago, chances were good you saw…
By the time 10 o’clock struck along Lowest Greenville on Saturday morning, the line of people waiting to get into Good Records stretched well past the confines of the store’s parking lot — and the music planned to take place over the course of the day within the store hadn’t…
British Sea Power, A Classic Education, ColourmusicThursday, April 14, 2011The LoftBetter than: being caught in a lightning storm anywhere else. When we spoke with British Sea Power lead singer Scott “Yan” Wilkinson earlier this week, he talked about the band’s lack of new fans. “I can’t really say we’ve got…
Marina and The Diamonds, IshiGranada TheaterApril 14, 2011Better than: seeing Marina and the Diamonds a year from now, after touring with Katy Perry, when she’s playing to sold-out venues. “I’ve never been here before” Marina Diamandis, the mastermind behind Marina & The Diamonds announced to her crowd at the Granada…
Welcome to My First Show, where we give bands a chance to talk about the first shows they ever attended — no matter how uncool and embarrassing those tales may be. Mwanza “Wanz” Dover has been a fixture around the Dallas area for what feels like forever at this point…
The Raveonettes, TamarynGranada TheaterApril 11, 2011Better than: quoting the raven nevermore. After a hazy, ethereal opening set from the San Francisco-by-way-of-New York-based, Mexican Summer-signed Tamaryn, who provided a fine example of how to best use the Granada’s projection screens, what with their performance fully engulfed in encapsulating visuals, the stage…
Warpaint The Loft April 11th, 2011 Better than: finally getting to punch the jerk that yells “Freebird!” at every concert. Even an hour before Warpaint were slated to perform at The Loft last night, it was already clear: The show was either sold out, or very close to it. Inside…
Band of Horses, MidlakeVerizon Theatre in Grand PrairieApril 7, 2011Better than: seeing a band of actual horses, which the group of people behind me seemed to think was the funniest joke possibly ever. With certain performers, it’s all about the voice. And so it was last night at the Verizon…
The BooksThe Modern Art Museum of Ft. WorthApril 6, 20011Better than: taking a musicology class at the University of North Texas Augmented by a third, and sometimes a fourth member, the duo known as The Books thrilled a packed and energetic audience for 90 minutes last night at the Modern…
Welcome to My First Show, where we give bands a chance to talk about the first shows they ever attended — no matter how uncool and embarrassing those tales may be. Whether you’ve seen him behind a drum kit or a camera (which he sometimes uses as a contributor in…
Chris CornellHouse of BluesApril 3, 2011Better than: open mic night at any given local bar, although not by much. Let’s get something out of the way right up front: I’m a pretty huge Chris Cornell fan. I’ve seen him live a few times before, and he’s always exceeded my expectations…
Big K.R.I.T., Freddie Gibbs and A.Dd+Trees April 2, 2011Better Than: Staying at home on a Saturday night? The headlining performers on Saturday night’s bill at Trees were supposed to be big draws. And rightfully so: Big KR.I.T. and Freddie Gibbs are two of the bigger names to emerge in the…
Strand of Oaks, Joe Pug The Loft April 2, 2011 Better than: any “new Dylan” comparison you could dream up. A year ago, in the low-lit underfloor that is J&J’s Pizza in Denton, Joe Pug played a set for a tiny, but dedicated crowd at NX35 Conferette. The Flaming Lips…
Akron/Family, Delicate Steve The Loft March 31, 2011 Better than: staying home and watching the Mavericks lose to the Lakers. True believers in Akron/Family’s brand of psychedelic folk showed up in relative force to worship at the altar of all things bizarre and wonderful last night at The Loft, and…
