Dallas has definitely got a diverse group of music acts stopping through this week. Between the mass appeal of Luke Bryan and Texas roots-based artists at the country festival the Ranch Bash, anyone looking to hear some fiddles and sad songs are pretty much covered. On the opposite end of…
Slayer With Anthrax and Death Angel Gas Monkey Live!, Dallas Friday, Oct. 7, 2016 There is no group of fans more dedicated than thrash metal fans. The genre clichés of pseudo-satanism and glorified violence may seem a little tired, but for those who have been listening to Slayer and Anthrax…
Conor Oberst With Pearl Charles Granada Theater, Dallas Friday, Oct. 7, 2016 As Conor Oberst walked back to the stage to begin Friday night’s encore at a packed Granada Theater, he carried with him armfuls of brightly colored beads. “Here, take some! It’s Mardi Gras, bitches!” he yelled as he…
The State Fair of Texas is in full swing, which means justifying eating deep-fried everything just got a lot easier. But limiting the amount of beers and brats this month is probably a good thing, and with the shows happening in Big D, there are plenty of reason to spend…
M83 With Tennysons House of Blues, Dallas Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016 M83, fronted by the French-bred Anthony Gonzalez, played House of Blues on Thursday, but it was a homecoming for one of the band’s members: Kaela Sinclair. The Dentonite is a musical powerhouse in her own right. Sinclair earned best…
Die Antwoord House of Blues, Dallas Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 Saturday night’s show at the House of Blues may have been the final in Dallas for South Africa’s Die Antwoord. The rave-rap Zef trio have been touring behind their new album, Mount Ninji and da Nice Time Kid. The group announced it…
Kacey Musgraves State Fair of Texas, Fair Park, Dallas Friday, Sept. 30, 2016 I’ve never seen Texas-country musician Kacey Musgraves in concert. And after attending her show at the State Fair of Texas its opening night, I still have never seen her in concert. There were hundreds or probably thousands…
As Dallas now turns its attention to all things black and orange with the beginning of October, it may be hard to put off those trips to the wonderfully tacky, seasonally popular Halloween stores popping up all over the place. But with the first week of the spooky month offering…
Andrew Bird With Sinkane Majestic Theatre, Dallas Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016 Studies have shown a correlation between people’s names and their professions. For example, there’s a preponderance of plumbers with the last name Plummer. It’s called nominative determinism. If those studies are true, it’s no wonder Andrew Bird’s name suits him…
YG With Sad Boy, RJ, Slim 400 and more South Side Music Hall, Dallas Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2016 YG’s Fuck Donald Trump Tour is a battle cry that the West Coast rapper has adopted at the peak of campaign season. But on Tuesday night at South Side Music Hall, politics…
With the coming and going of Oaktopia and the beginning of Austin City Limits, it’s busy season for music festivals. But you don’t have to pack up and drive the hours-long journey to Austin for good live music. Rap-ravers Die Antwoord and hard rock alums Thrice are stopping through town…
Oaktopia With Norah Jones, Cat Power, Dr. Dog, Rae Sremmurd and more Denton Thursday to Saturday, Sept. 22-24, 2016 Denton had a lot of reasons to be excited about last weekend’s Oaktopia. Now in its fourth year, the downtown festival has turned into one of the best in North Texas,…
Kanye West American Airlines Center, Dallas Thursday, September 22, 2016 Is it possible to review a Kanye West concert without reviewing Kanye West himself? Almost every conversation about the 39-year-old rapper’s work turns into a referendum on his personal character, and those assessments often fall along partisan lines. But with…
Post Malone With Jazz Cartier and Larry June House of Blues, Dallas Wednesday, September 21, 2016 Moments after stepping off stage at House of Blues Tuesday night, Post Malone tweeted his appreciation to his hometown fans. “Dallas you have my heart,” the former Grapevine resident wrote to his 260,000 followers. “Nights…
Carrie Underwood With Easton Corbin and the Swon Brothers American Airlines Center, Dallas Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016 Carrie Underwood is like a Barbie doll but better. There isn’t a note she can’t hit. Her blonde hair bounces with every step, yet never gets messy. Her outfits are made for a…
Leon Bridges Lianne La Havas Music Hall at Fair Park, Dallas Monday, Sept. 18, 2016 “Welcome to the L and L show,” the always dapper Leon Bridges, clad in a black suit, said to the sold-out crowd at the Music Hall at Fair Park on Sunday night. The L’s Leon…
Vanilla Ice Eith Tone-Loc, 2 Live Crew, Young MC, Christy Ray and Tyler Sloan The Bomb Factory, Dallas Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016 Throwback concerts are a mixed business. More often than not, they can be gimmicky affairs, sad cash grabs propped up by audience participation and samplings of others artists’…
This week marks the start of fall. Usually small talk about the weather is awkward at best, but this is something to look forward to. Especially because this week also marks the fourth annual Oaktopia fest in Denton. Navigating through one set to the next will be a little easier…
Death Cab for Cutie With Bully The Bomb Factory, Dallas Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016 Ben Gibbard doesn’t need to do much to create an intimate atmosphere for Death Cab for Cutie fans. The band made what seems like an annual trip to Dallas this week and played to a packed crowd…
Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour With Puff Daddy, Erykah Badu, Lil Kim and more American Airlines Center, Dallas Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2016 When the notes from “Victory” rang out through the American Airlines Center on Wednesday night, the crowd on hand jumped out of their seats looking for Puff Daddy…
Demi Lovato With Nick Jonas American Airlines Center, Dallas Monday, Sept. 12, 2016 Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas came home last night, and they’re all grown up. Or, at least, that’s the sentiment they wanted the audience to feel at last night’s Future Now concert at the American Airlines Center. Although…
Anyone who’s been perusing the Dallas Observer’s extensive music calendar listings lately has likely noticed an influx of great artists stopping through town and local acts playing more gigs. There’s something about this time of year that brings about so many good shows. This week only further proves the point…
