A funny thing happened last week when Dallas pop-punk outfit Forever The Sickest Kids released their self-titled, second full-length album — namely, that the response to the album was huge, with sales figures placing the band’s album in the iTunes top 10 sales chart almost immediately. Even more surprising, though,…
Dallas-based hip-hop super-producers Play-N-Skillz have wasted no time making good use of their G4 Muzik label’s freshly created blog. Over the past few weeks, they’ve shared some new music, revealed that they’re shooting a music video with Bun B in town today, and, well, revealed some even bigger news, too.Most…
Traditional country music champion Marty Stuart hasn’t been a major force on the Billboard country charts for some time now. But don’t confuse that absence as a sign of Stuart having slowed down in the least. In fact, the man’s arguably more relevant today than he was during his wave…
Over the past three months, Denton resident Kevin McStravick has taken on a rather daunting project — finding and reviewing every single band that is playing at SXSW this year, which counts almost 2,000 acts, and ranking them on his website.For the project, which is called Operation Every Band and…
Anyone who has ever seen Midlake in concert knows that guitarist and harmony-man Eric Pulido is a pretty funny guy. In fact, at some shows, he lightens the mood by working what seems like a miniature stand-up routine into the set. So it’s safe to say that he’s earned the…
Some quick hits on the album release front to pass along this afternoon…..
Just back from the band’s first tour of Europe, Seattle’s The Head and the Heart are currently making their way across the U.S. opening up for The Walkmen. Interestingly, the two acts couldn’t be more dissimilar. But that dichotomy should mostly result in a beautiful blending of styles. Playing soft-spoken…
Perhaps, back on Monday, you caught my recap of last Saturday night’s Wanda Jackson show at the Kessler Theater in Oak Cliff? Yeah, y’know, the one I referred to as “a once-in-a-lifetime offering”? Uh-huh. That one.Well, now, courtesy of the folks over at KTCK-1310 AM The Ticket, and the lads…
Damon G. Riddick, aka DâM-FunK, is a modern funk producer and session musician from Los Angeles who stands as one of this generation’s most vocal champions for funk music. Ever the showman, his synthesizer-heavy live show and rare vinyl-heavy DJ sets have earned much acclaim from fans and critics –…
Dallas hasn’t always been synonymous with underground hip-hop, but, as the culture of area hip-hop has grown, DJ EZ Eddie D, born Eddie Murphy, has been there to witness it all.Since 1987, the KNON-89.3 FM “The Voice of the People” radio personality has served as the host of the station’s…
Just a few minutes ago, local producer John Congleton confirmed to DC9 that he is indeed currently producing St. Vincent’s third, as-yet-unnamed album at his Elmwood Recording Studio in Oak Cliff. No surprise there: Congleton played a major role in Dallas native Annie Clark’s sophomore album, Actor, earning all the…
There are a few reasons why the folks behind Gutterth Productions are perennial nominees in the Best Music Advocate(s) category of our annual Dallas Observer Music Awards — the shows they put on, the records they put out, their general fandom of all things local music.But, surely, this too comes…
Back in January, the Toadies announced that, for the fourth year in a row now, they will be hosting another Dia de Los Toadies affair this summer on August 26 and 27. Then, in February, the band announced the location: This year’s event will be taking place this year at…
If only from a commercial standpoint, today figures to be one of the bigger local release dates of the years, thanks to new albums from Eisley and Forever the Sickest Kids, both of which have formally released new LPs today. And, well, that much you should already know, as we’ve…
For those who haven’t yet heard the rumors and rumblings — or seen the small coming-soon sign in the shop’s front the window — Mad World Records is just days away from opening next door to Beth Marie’s on Denton’s historic downtown square. Yes, just in time for a certain…
On Friday afternoon, the folks at KDGE-102.1 FM The Edge announced the bill to the 21st edition of their recurring Edgefest concert series. And, after years of disappointing bill after semi-disappointing bill, this one, finally, packs an actual punch.At Pizza Hut Park in Frisco on Saturday, April 30 (yes, the…
2009 was rough year for Ian MacDougall, guitarist for the formerly Denton- and now Austin-based Riverboat Gamblers. Upon returning to Austin after finishing a tour, MacDougall was struck by a car while riding his bike, causing him some pretty serious injuries. MacDougall’s recovery was a slow process, no doubt due…
Saint Marie Records, the newest record label in town, launched its website just two days ago. But, rather than stacking the artist roster with local acts, Wyatt Parkins, the man behind the label, has chosen to take a different approach entirely. The first two releases on Saint Marie Records are…
Last Monday night, on Commerce Street in Deep Ellum, a first not only for Dallas but for the world: A museum dedicated to eight-track tapes celebrated its grand opening. Go figure, right?Maybe it’s not so weird, though: Sure, the grand opening of the Eight-Track Museum, the vision of one Bucks…
Looks that way, if Twitter is to be believed. And when has Twitter ever done us wrong? Oh. Never mind.But, hey, this actually seems fairly legit — that the North Texas-sprung Neon Indian and beloved New York City-based post-ironic hip-hop group Das Racist have worked on a song together. That’s…
Last night, the cover for XXL Magazine’s fourth annual “Freshmen Issue” leaked, revealing a picture of Oak Cliff rapper Lil Twist along with 10 other young hip-hop artists that the prominent hip-hop magazine has its eye on in 2011. At 18, Twist is already the youngest member of Lil Wayne’s…
Last year’s Dallas Observer Music Awards, if you don’t mind us saying, were pretty amazing. The winners were pretty great, the nominations on point, the ceremony a great time and, oh, the showcase.Yep, last year’s DOMA showcase was especially awesome, with Deep Ellum just feeling overrun with local music support…
