Will Schutze Is a Master Puppeteer for the Dallas Music Scene

If all of this world is a stage and men and women merely players, as Shakespeare suggested, then Will Schutze is a director. While most of us remain unaware of our various stages and roles, Schutze builds his and dreams up the beings to populate them in puppet form, whether they…

Dallas Band Sub-Sahara Says ‘Blue Lives Don’t Matter’

In a battle of political slogans, critics of the Black Lives Matter movement often come back with their own version: Blue Lives Matter. But blue lives don’t matter, Dallas punk band Sub-Sahara wants to make clear with its song “13-12,” which was released in late July. “1312” is derived from…

Rapper Lou CharLe$ Keeps Finding and Chasing Success

Sure, he’ll admit it: Did rapper Lou CharLe$ imagine one day owning a gleaming Lamborghini? Yes. Was there an ocean view involved? Of course. Supermodels and tequila? You bet. All of that was on his vision board, he jokes, but alas, there’s no extravagant whip in his garage, nor an…

Early 2000s-Inspired Songs That Are, Like, Totally Off the Hook

There are few things trendier than embracing styles and sounds of the past. Sampled choruses from classic songs and tracks from artists of a different era are nothing new; this year has seen a heavy increase in appreciation for the early years of the new millennium. What is it that…

The 8 Greatest Posthumous Albums of All Time

We’re not going to mince words here: We’re all in hell right now, and 2020 is a year that seems never-ending. No amount of tragedy fatigue will ever make the deaths of local musicians such as Riley Gale and Trini Lopez less devastating. No matter how turbulent this election cycle…

Danni and Kris Start an ’80s Dance Party as Popwave Duo Prizm

Danni James and Kris Williams grew up in the same Fort Worth neighborhood and never knew it. When the musicians finally met 10 years ago in their 20s, they had a lot of play time to make up for. Like most meaningful modern relationships whether romantic or professional, the pair…

Through Loss, Singer LO Found Her Musical Purpose

On her upcoming album Holy Wars, LO creates a dark and dreamy pop landscape, evoking a whirlwind of  emotions, not unlike what the year 2020 has felt like. The work will be a two-part album expressing the 25-year-old singer-songwriter’s duality. Holy Wars was preceded by the lead single “Lost in Translation,”…

The Best Live and Livestreamed Concerts, Sept. 7-13

Catch a tribute show, three Denton acts and two new music series this week. If you’re itching to get out but still feel unsure about crowds indoors, Klyde Warren Park hosts a new weekly concert. The Ranch at Las Colinas and Haywire both start a weekly country music concert series,…

Kyoto Lo-Fi Finally Releases a Debut Record

Thousands of monthly Spotify listeners tune in to listen to Kyoto Lo-Fi’s previously released singles and 2016 EP Black Rainbow. Their single “Flowering Boulder,” which earned the group 130,000 streams, was only released in 2019, the year they also received a Dallas Observer Music Award for “Best Rock Act.” Despite all…

Ferris Wheelers’ Co-Owner Is a Baby Saver

It was a typical Friday for Cody Hand, co-owner of Ferris Wheelers, the barbecue joint and music venue in the Design District. He just happened to partake in a simple high-speed chase and rescue a kidnapped 2-year-old. Hand posted a video, which has nearly a million views on TikTok, explaining his…

Rapper Duche$$ Is Trying to Stay Sane

Lately, Duche$$ has felt like she’s being followed by a cloud. It’s not normal for the 24-year-old rapper to be gloomy. While her songs are often suffused with somber storytelling, the musician herself is typically upbeat. Whether in the studio, at a friend’s place or at work at the Boys…

The 5 Best and Worst Rapper Names of All Time

Hear us out: As much as we engage in good old-fashioned music criticism, we recognize how tough and unforgiving the world of music is. Every musician who isn’t an R. Kelly or Varg Vikernes deserves at least an iota of baseline respect for baring their soul to the public and…

A Pandemic Survival Guide for Musicians

As the Texas heat reaches its peak, the effects of the pandemic continue to levy a heavy toll on local musicians. Traditional gigging opportunities are returning at a slow drip, but they remain far below sustainable levels for most. Despite that, DFW musicians are proving their resilience. Here are things…