Rusko, Dub AssemblyTreesApril 30, 2010 Better than: anything that has been at Trees since its re-opening. This was the Trees of old. By 9:30 p.m., the room was already buzzing and already a quarter full; the line outside already wrapped to the parking lot between the venue and Franzini’s Pizza…
Dr. Dog and Deer TickThe LoftApril 30, 2010Better than: Dr. Dog’s last two shows in the Metroplex, which featured cramped conditions (Lola’s) and bad sound (the Lone Star Room at Gilley’s) nearly as memorable as the band’s actual sets. By the time Dr. Dog took the stage Friday evening at…
Coheed and CambriaPalladium BallroomApril 29, 2010Better than: “Slappin da bass” or any other potential live offering ever attempted by Rush. All work and no play definitely makes Coheed and Cambria anything but dull. From the opening chords of their set Thursday night to the very last note played at the…
Beach House, Washed OutGranada TheaterApril 21, 2010 Better than: Watching vintage Jazzercise clips on YouTube. As soon as the video screen lifted from the front of the Granada Theater’s stage on Wednesday night, all eyes in the room were glued to Victoria Legrand, the lead singer of Baltimore’s Beach House…
Acid Mothers Temple, O.G.O.D The Loft April 16, 2010 Better Than: This week’s Stargate Universe. The scenery look great when it was called Kobol in Battlestar Galactica. The dim attic of The Loft saw Japanese experimental rock group Acid Mothers Temple grace its small stage on Saturday night. And though…
Owl City, Paper Route, Hot Chelle RaeNokia Theatre Verizon Theatre, Grand PrairieSaturday, April 17, 2010Better than: Having my daughter hear from her middle-school friends about how totally awesome Owl City was, and how she missed the BEST SHOW EVER OMG!!! Rarely have an artist and venue been so perfectly matched…
Big Boi, Girl TalkSouthern Methodist UniversityApril 15, 2010Better than: Big Boi’s set getting canceled as well. Many unsuspecting local music fans had the same reaction upon hearing that there would be a free concert on the SMU campus featuring Outkast’s Big Boi and mash-up artist Girl Talk. The consensus response,…
Julian CasablancasHouse of BluesApril 13, 2010Better than: I thought it was going to be! “Seriously! I love Dallas, Texas! Yes!” an excited Julian Casablancas shouted out to the crowd at the House of Blues last night. Then, next thing you know, The Strokes frontman, on tour in support of his…
Vampire Weekend, Abe VigodaHouse of BluesApril 11, 2010Better than: That stomach virus that’s going around, that’s for sure. The curtain was already drawn and the floor already packed by the time the four members of Vampire Weekend nonchalantly sauntered onto the House of Blues’ stage last night, sheepishly waving to…
1100 Springs, Roger Alan Wade, Lucero & Shooter Jennings at MusInk’s Second nightFair Park Centennial BuildingApril 10, 2010Better than: Watching the Rangers continue to fail to come anywhere near our already low expectations. Seeing a lively crowd enjoying the beautiful weather at the outdoor music stage for MusInk festival, it…
The Big Pink, A Place To Bury StrangersGranada TheaterApril 9, 2010Better than: Tinnitus, but only by a little. Heading into Friday night’s show at the Granada Theater, you had the feeling it was gonna be a special night. Electro-rock act The Big Pink was making its concert debut in Dallas…
Seryn, Doug Burr, Telegraph Canyon & the Old 97’sFair Park Centennial BuildingApril 9, 2010Better than: getting a forehead tattoo like one of the guys I saw get ink last night. A bringing together of skin and ink wasn’t the only attempted matrimony on the first night of Dallas’ Musink Festival…
Yeasayer, JavelinGranada TheaterApril 8, 2010Better than: Staying home and doing laundry, that’s for sure. “Anybody got an extra ticket?!” one Yeasayer fan yelled frantically over a sea of others congregating outside the Granada Theater Thursday night. At 9 o’clock, a lengthy line was wrapped around the edge of the Granada…
Bad Sports, The Fresh & Onlys, King Khan & The Shrines Sons of Hermann Hall April 6th, 2010 Better than: eating mushrooms while already on mushrooms. You wouldn’t have been able to guess it from the bright, punk opening at the start of last night’s Sons of Hermann Hall bill,…
Alkaline Trio, Cursive, The Dear and DepartedPalladium BallroomMarch 27, 2010Better than: Paying good money in hopes of seeing Georges St. Pierre knock out Dan Hardy in the first round of UFC 111. At this point in its career, Alkaline Trio could take the easy route and pander to the portion…
Fear Factory, Winds of Plague, Dirge Within, Periphery, By Any Means NecessaryHouse of BluesMarch 26, 2010Better Than: The mid-season finale of Caprica. Dammit Joe, who’s gonna call out for Tamara now? With all the stage lights turned off, Fear Factory appeared on the stage at the House of Blues on…
The Dillinger Escape Plan, Darkest Hour, Iwrestledabearonce, Animals as LeadersGranada TheaterMarch 20th, 2010Better than: driving three hours north and wondering what kind of trainwreck might occur at the Stone Temple Pilots’ show at WinStar Casino… The Dillinger Escape Plan had not been in the DFW area in almost two years,…
Ray Davies, The 88The Palladium BallroomMarch 17, 2010Better than: Being the oldest person in the crowd, which I seemed to be at NX35. What a fickle position to be Raymond Douglas Davies. To be simultaneously a rock-and-roll oldies generation entertainer and a darling to the indie-pop set. In his nearly…
BTHouse Of Blues DallasMarch 16, 2010 Slightly better than: The Stars’ upset victory a few blocks away. I don’t know much about hockey. How often does a team win by six points? Brian Wayne Transeu, a.k.a. BT, is, if anything, a huge music nerd. His experience with electronic music and…
Surfer BloodGranada TheaterMarch 15, 2010Better than: Watching The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, if nothing else.Surfer Blood took to the stage ahead of schedule last night–and saw a decent crowd (for a Monday night, at least) awaiting it.Not bad following a weekend of pretty much relentless partying for most of…
The Flaming Lips, Midlake, Stardeath and White DwarfsNorth Texas Fairgrounds in Denton as part of NX35 2010March 13, 2010Better than: any other concert I’ve ever seen, maybe? As the crowds filtered in to the North Texas Fairgrounds last night, Norman, Oklahoma’s Stardeath and White Dwarf’s powerful psych-rock welcomed them in…
John MayerAmerican Airlines CenterMarch 9, 2010Better than: reading Mayer’s now-infamous Playboy interview. There was definitely, um, an expected crowded American Airlines last night. And, unlike most shows at a sit-down venue, the audience actually got to sit down throughout Mayer’s performance.Don’t read that wrong–the audience wasn’t falling asleep. It’s just…
