Future Islands are an interesting case. The North Carolina synth-pop darlings are easy enough to read on first impression. Yes, they obviously make records with some approximation of David Bowie’s Let’s Dance in mind. Yes, lead singer Sam Herring is clearly obsessed with Morrissey, between his dramatic stage presence and…
It might seem that J. Cole kind of rehashed the whole university tour thing, but after headlining a few tours dedicated to his degree-seeking fan base, the guy’s a pro at it. Headlining the University of North Texas’ spring concert, Cole along with his live band brought a minimalist experience…
Here’s every Mogwai song in a nutshell: A chiming keyboard or guitar pattern repeats. Instrumentation slowly builds around it. Then, it detonates into a searing fireball of noise. Sometimes it’s major-key, sometimes it’s minor-key. Occasionally there are vocals and the tempo varies, but just about every song executes this trajectory…
Handing out flyers for your band’s show, that somewhat ineffective attempt to attract even a handful of people to attend, is one thing. Doing so under the nose of Denton County Jail officials is entirely another. “I was afraid they weren’t going to send them out. They read all of…
On an otherwise dead night, on the nearly vacant Elm Street strip, Toronto’s Odonis Odonis headlined an impressive night of experimental synths and heavy riffs. Though the turnout was low, and the show ran unusually late for a Tuesday in Deep Ellum, something special happened last night at Club Dada…
Scottish post-rock heroes Mogwai is the band most instrumental rock groups that have started in the past decade want to be when they grow up. Beginning with 1997’s epic Young Team and continuing with the release of the group’s eighth studio LP, last January’s Rave Tapes, Stuart Braithwaite, John Cummings,…
It’s Monday morning after a holiday weekend, and we’re all just trying to get through the day. Whether you spent the weekend record shopping, bleeding from your eyes, or observing the Sabbath, you’re probably moving a little slow today. Get caffeinated, because this week is full of shows that are…
The Old 97’s, Black Joe Lewis, Slobberbone, Madison King Annette Strauss Square – AT&T Performing Arts Center Dallas, Texas Saturday, April 19, 2014 On the most pristinely calm night we’ve seen in Dallas in recent weeks, Saturday’s sold-out Old 97’s record release show for Most Messed Up proffered a taste…
Neil Young Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center Dallas, Texas Thursday, April 17, 2014 Don’t tell Neil Young what to do. He may have grown into some grandfatherly approximation of old age, full of rambling stories and an easy, self-deprecating sense of humor. But deep down, he’s the same prickly soul…
Between 4/20, Easter, and Record Store Day, we’re celebrating three of the holiest high holidays in one weekend this year. Record Store Day falls on Saturday, and with it comes a huge number of highly anticipated special releases and reissues, and a score of record stores hosting big day parties…
Neil Young is simply beyond common musical criticism. Certainly among all of the classic folk, folk-rock and rock the man has recorded over the past 50 years, there have been some clunker albums. However, the sheer breadth of Young’s influence on an amazing array of artists in several differing genres…
There’s a lot going on that you need to know about before we get hit with a weekend full of high holidays. Easter, 4/20 and Record Store Day are important and all, but that doesn’t mean you should just stay in all week and wait. There’s plenty of fun to…
Hard to believe that England’s Pet Shop Boys have been doing the synthpop/alternative dance thing for over three decades. During that time, the duo of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe has managed to evolve with the musical tides while maintaining a sizable audience. Although known for original songs such as…
A riverside ranch, a three-day weekend amongst nature and a stream of psychedelic music may sound like a cult happening (and it kind of is) but more to the point it’s the scene of Austin’s Psych Fest, a musical celebration of all things mind-bending. In seven short years, Psych Fest…
You’ve got a rock band. They’re pretty good. They rock out. People seem to like them. What’s the next logical step in the progression of this band or musician’s sound? Get louder? Play faster? Dig the same groove onto the next album? Maybe even get quiet and introspective for a…
Dallas, it’s beautiful outside. I don’t have to tell you how necessary it is to get out out of the house and go see some live music this weekend. Lucky for you, AT&T Performing Arts Center is hosting two different outdoor concerts this weekend, so you can soak up every…
Alright y’all, I know you’re still basking in a Springsteen glow from March Madness Festival this weekend, but it’s a new week with new concert picks. Luckily, we’ve got some good stuff coming up. From Bad Sports to Jeff Bridges, don’t stay cooped up this week. The weather might still…
Despite cold and rainy weather, fans came out to Reunion Park for Sunday’s big March Madness Music Festival finale. The Wind and The Wave, Pat Green, fun., and the man of the hour, Bruce Springsteen, put on a rain or shine show that couldn’t be stopped or even hampered by…
Maybe I hang out with extreme cynics or maybe my friends don’t appreciate free, outdoor concerts like I do, or heck, I probably just don’t have enough friends, but convincing someone to tag along with me to the Final Four series of concerts at Reunion Plaza proved tricky. Everyone told…
March Madness Festival has been making headlines around the country since it was announced last month. To accompany the NCAA’s Final Four tournament in Dallas this week, the college basketball league is throwing the city an enormous free weekend-long outdoor music festival at Reunion Park (by the old Reunion Arena…
Those summer dates are starting to fill up faster and faster each week, and it looks like the coming season will be a great one for live music. The most talked about announcement this week, however, was a actually a three way tie between Too Short and E-40 at Trees,…
For the past 15 years, Dallas locals’ dirty little nightlife secret sat at Henderson and McMillan avenues. The Slip Inn may have been tiny, it may have been poorly lit, and the bathrooms might have been the most avoided on Henderson — but there was a reason that there was…
