On the strength of the group’s first full-length effort, Guilty of Everything, Nothing, out of Philadelphia and led by ex-con Dominic “Nicky” Palermo (who spent two years in jail several years ago for aggravated assault and attempted murder), have quickly become perhaps the best of the current crop of blossoming…
We have to hand it to Chambers: There is, indeed, more than one way to promote a record. If you’re a major-label artist, there’s a good chance that will mean over-the-top self-aggrandizement. But for the moody four-piece from Denton, they opted to take the opposite route: complete self-laceration. And whaddya…
Pair a singer-songwriter like William Fitzsimmons with a veteran indie-rock producer like Death Cab for Cutie’s Chris Walla in the studio and there are bound to be high expectations. Will Fitzsimmons’ acoustic folk roots be maintained? Will Walla exert enough influence that we see the birth of William Fitzsimmons: Indie…
By H. Drew Blackburn The doctor prescribed that Charlsie Grace come back for a diagnosis when she’s in her 30’s; it’s not common for a 27 year old to have this illness. The physical symptoms — a loss of coordination, feeling as though your neck is a straw and your…
Finally, we have a three-day weekend. No doubt the schedule for most over the next several days will be heavy on time spent outside, preferably grilling out or in a swimming pool. (Or better yet, both.) But there are also plenty of great show to be seen, and if the…
The up and down career of Skid Row is a microcosm of just about any successful 80’s metal act. Hitting a peak with the 1991 sophomore effort Slave to the Grind, the band was quickly derailed by the grunge movement and ended up losing lead singer Sebastian Bach. Amazingly, the…
By Wanz Dover Cratedigging for vinyl is an art form that has served as the connective tissue of hip hop since the very beginning. Today that art is made all the more difficult due to far fewer retail shops to make use of. This makes infamous DJ and vinyl hoarder…
Local musicians in Dallas have it tough. We don’t have a cultivated, nationally-renowned music scene like Austin or Seattle, but there is plenty of great talent in the metroplex that is looking for a place to shine. Red Bull Sound Select is a sort of corporate incubator for local “on…
The lead single from Nashville country-rock trio, the Cadillac Three’s, self-titled debut album, “The South,” could easily be a brainless ode to Southern cliches. But it isn’t. Instead, lead singer Jaren Johnston, multi-instrumentalist Kelby Ray and drummer Neil Mason deliver a swampy, thrashing and fun tribute to their native region,…
Phil Anselmo is known by many things in the metal community. He’s been called “fucking brutal” when he takes the stage and the “Evel Kneivel” of heavy metal because of all his stage injuries. To some, he’s a brother and a tough guy; to others, he’s an asshole whom they’ll…
Besides her time fronting Concrete Blonde and maintaining a solo career, Johnette Napolitano has carved out a successful niche for herself as an author and a visual artist. And in her free time, she also cares for rescue horses. Not too bad for someone best known for the ’90s alternative…
Mike Portnoy has had an extremely productive career after leaving the band he co-founded, Dream Theater, a few years ago. With stints in Adrenaline Mob and Avenged Sevenfold, he’s found success with bluesy pop-rock trio the Winery Dogs. Matched with vocalist/guitarist Richie Kotzen and bassist Billy Sheehan, the band’s self-titled…
By Wanz Dover Drum and bass music has enjoyed a solid foundation in Dallas since the late ’90s. Even when dance music trends veered into other directions there has always been a healthy fan base for the genre locally. Founded in 2007 by Thomas AllEN, S.O.U.L.jah, and Alyx Caceres, drum…
By Hilary Hughes Unpacking this one is going to take a minute, so buckle up, because St. Vincent’s Saturday Night Live season finale was one for the ages — and it’s not necessarily for the reasons you’d think…
The folks at the Violitionist Sessions dropped a new installment yesterday, and it should be a real treat for any ambient music buffs or for fans of Jeff Ryan’s work. Ryan is a true veteran of North Texas music, having played drums in bands throughout the area for various acts…
By Wanz Dover This Saturday It’ll Do club will host U.K. garage legend and Daft Punk collaborator Todd Edwards for his first visit to Dallas. Far from a household name in America, Edwards has been a major player in dance music since the mid-’90s when his remix of St. Germain’s…
It’s about time Dallas has a throwback weekend, don’t you think? Well, even if you don’t think so, that’s a good part of what you’re going to get. From here to Choctaw Casino, bands who had their day in that exciting epoch of history between the 1970s and the ’90s…
In the past five years, the local Dallas music scene has cranked out some incredible talent. St. Vincent, Sarah Jaffe, and the Baptist Generals have all been drowned in music critic acclaim, along with their more silent partner Robert Gomez. Gomez is no stranger to critical acclaim, having been given…
If you were a dad, you’d probably have circled a certain date on your calendar months ago. (And no, it wasn’t Mother’s Day, you big silly.) What date is that, you might ask? Why, this coming Saturday, May 17. That’s the night that the whole goddamn universe is going to…
In the early hours of the morning last Sunday, Austin-based singer Mike Harmeier and his band, Mike and the Moonpies, woke up to their worst nightmare. The previous night, they’d played a gig opening for Nashville band the Kernals at the Rustic here in Dallas. But sometime during the night,…
In case you didn’t hear about it, Morrissey got tackled last week. During his own concert. By some of his own fans. Talk about a tough break. Granted, as far as we can tell, there was no ill intent in the mass attack unleashed on our fair Moz. Then again,…
England’s Band of Skulls is the perfect mixture of style and substance. For over a decade, this alternative blues rock trio have been impressing just about anyone who gets a chance to catch the band’s distorted fuzz. Although Band of Skulls has only released three full-lengths, each album has something…
