Picture Show: KISS Fans at Pizza Hut Park

In Darryl Smyers Q&A with Tommy Thayer, who has played guitar in KISS since 2002, Thayer mentioned his weight-loss from the strain of the tall shoes and heat of the lights. Bottom line: it’s hard work to dress up like KISS. Clearly, fans don’t mind. This past Saturday, KISS headlined…

Last Night: Crystal Castles, Mr. Kitty at House of Blues

Crystal Castles, Mr. KittyHouse of BluesSeptember 14, 2010Better than: the last time Crystal Castles came through town. A blown-up, ghostly image of the cover of Crystal Castles II served as the band’s backdrop, while blue strobes intermittently illuminated the stage. Then Ethan Kath emerged, and stood behind his synths–where he…

Over The Weekend: Sarah Jaffe at the Granada Theater

Sarah Jaffe, Seryn, Jonathan Evan ClarkGranada TheaterSeptember 11, 2010Better than: Jaffe’s CD release show at Sons of Hermann Hall back in May.There still remain a sign or two of her youth and inexperience–like when, just a few songs in to her headlining slot at the Granada Theater on Saturday night,…

Picture Show: Tegan & Sara Pack Good Records

The first 50 people in line for Tegan and Sara’s in-store on Friday, September 10, got to meet the adored duo. But plenty others waited for the chance–and early, too. Good Records’ Chris Penn reports that people were lining up at the Greenville Avenue record store as early as 5…

Over The Weekend: Autolux, Golden Panda at The Loft

Autolux, Golden PandaThe LoftSeptember 10, 2010Better than: waiting six years between albums. The distinctive, spectacular drumming of Autolux’s Carla Azur is enough to draw a crowd. Consider, too, though, the elegant mystery of this credit for her work with Joe Henry on the album Fuse: “Carla Azur appears like the…

Night Moves: Your Labor Day Weekend In Photos.

Some people spend their Labor Days grilling by the pool. Others wallow pool cues and eat fire. The Hellzapoppin Sideshow Revue, which features “electrical death defying stunts” and fire eating, stopped by Trees on Friday night–and it was merely one of our photographers Ray and Peter Lek’s stop this Labor…

Night Moves: Ruthless Hookah

Not sure when the last time we posted show photos from a hookah lounge was, but it’s probably time for a new one. Those bubbling up at the H2O hookah lounge (over in Denton) caught DJ Baby Ruthless, DJ Vivid and the Dub Commission crew playing Dubstep and Drum ‘n…

Last Night: Hot Hot Heat, The 22-20s at The Loft

Hot Hot Heat, The 22-20sThe LoftAugust 26, 2010 Better than: Sitting alone in your efficiency apartment making mixtapes. It’s not hard to believe that Canadian New Wavers Hot Hot Heat have been around for over 10 years now. Credit the fact that the band was quick to step into the…

Last Night: Green Day, AFI at Superpages.com Center

Green Day, AFI Superpages.com CenterAugust 26th, 2010(Way, way ) better than: reading Marc Spitz’s book, Nobody Likes You: Inside the Turbulent Life, Times, and Music of Green Day. How is it possible to put on a three-hour arena rock show that doesn’t lag or feel self-indulgent? Green Day has somehow…

Last Night: Memoryhouse, Twin Sister, SLEEP ? OVER at The Loft

Memoryhouse, Twin Sister, SLEEP ∞ OVERThe LoftAugust 25, 2010 Better than: ironing out the kinks of that new Windows XP installation. Each of the two non-Texan touring bands who took the stage last night at The Loft have enjoyed a busy summer of touring the United States, with Memoryhouse even…

Last Night: Chromeo and Holy Ghost! at the Palladium Ballroom

Chromeo, Holy Ghost!Palladium BallroomAugust 25, 2010Better Than: Hearing a Dallas DJ drop Chromeo on a very suspecting crowd in some dingy club.             Before the band even stepped out onto the stage at the Palladium Ballroom last night, the crowd was chanting “Chro-me-o-ooh, Chro-me-o-ooh.” On stage, giant glowing…

Picture Show: Heart Totally Hearts the House of Blues

Who covers Led Zeppelin better than Heart? If you’re skeptical, which I was as a massive Led Zeppelin fan, well, then you haven’t heard their spot-on, no-Black-Crowes-members cover of “Black Dog.”But I digress.Heart brought its particular brand of rock, along with with the tunes of Dreamboat Annie, to the House…

Over The Weekend: Tanya Morgan at the Green Elephant

Tanya Morgan, Bodega BrovasGreen ElephantAugust 20, 2010 Better than: Any hip-hop concert you would see at an American Airlines Center bill filled with marquee acts that get paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to destroy your ear drums. Tanya Morgan has been touring the country sporadically for the past few…