Dallas Observer Mixtape With Mr. Rid: Moog Tribute Mix

He is Mark Ridlen by day, but Deejay Mr Rid by night. There are few musicians in Dallas that have earned veteran status, but Ridlen earned the distinction as a member of seminal art and psyche bands in the ’80s and ’90s. One of the original DJs at the legendary…

Joshua Balis Is Ready to Punch His Own Ticket

Joshua Balis might have a familiar last name,  but with the release of his debut EP, Modern Gospel, he is quickly gaining his own musical identity.   The 24-year-old son of Danny Balis — Dallas musician, radio personality on The Ticket and co-owner of Twilite Lounge — has grown up…

Maren Morris Announces First Headlining Show in Dallas

Maren Morris has been working the Hero status for much of the past year. Her debut album of that name may have only come out over the summer, but the Arlington native has been marked out as a rising talent in the country world ever since she dropped “My Church”…

Dallas Observer Mixtape with Mike Kannon: Karenn, Jack Master & More

Mike Kannon is best known for his role as morning show personality on the top 40-centered radio station KVIL, but the recent Dallas transplant also happens to have a deep relationship with underground techno. For this week’s mixtape, Kannon goes hard in the paint with a mix of techno largely…

The Best Comments From the Dallas Observer Music Awards Voting

Last week, we revealed the nominees for the 2016 Dallas Observer Music Awards. With five nominees each spread across 40 different categories, the ballot — which is open until midnight on Dec. 2, the night before the DOMA showcase — offers a pretty good overview of what the local music scene…

Dallas Observer Mixtape with JT Donaldson: Omar S, Dam Funk and more

JT Donaldson is one of Dallas’ most accomplished DJs. With releases on a wide variety of labels including the legendary Chicago house label Casual, he has maintained a steady output. Along with his heavy involvement in Josey Records, Donaldson has been busy with his new record label New Math, which…

Introducing the 2016 Dallas Observer Music Awards Nominees

Last week the 2016 Dallas Observer Music Awards officially got a date, and now comes the important part: the ballot. For the 28th year running, the DOMAs are here to celebrate the artists, venues, promoters and everyone else who makes the Dallas music scene great. Voting is open as of…

Dallas Observer Mixtape with DJ Culturegang: Chromatics, 808 State & More

Cameron Brand has been active in Dallas music since the ’90s. Mostly he’s done time with bands like Blackheart Society, Bring in the Satellites, Apparatus and AT NIGHT. Nowadays he can usually be seen deejaying records from his collection as DJ Culturegang. A measured selector, he’s eclectic enough to get booked for…

Music News: Norah Jones Gets Presidential, Coolio Gets Arrested & More

There were a few ups and downs this week on the Dallas music front. Well, fortunately the main “down” didn’t happen here, and didn’t even involve a Dallas musician, but it did involve a missed appearance. With a celebrated homecoming for Norah Jones leading the week’s other news, though, there…

Dallas Observer Mixtape with DeeJay CeePee: Can, Alice Cooper and More

Chris Penn has spent a decade at the forefront of the vinyl resurgence in Dallas. He co-owns one of the city’s most beloved record stores, Good Records with business partner and Polyphonic Spree frontman Tim Delaughter. When Penn isn’t busy with day-to-day store operations, though, he moonlights as a DJ…

Gammacide Relive Their ’80s Thrash Metal Heyday With New Boxset

Timing can be everything for a band, as the members of Gammacide know all too well. They hit the North Texas metal scene in the late ’80s, when thrash metal peaked in popularity, and the band disappeared into legend shortly thereafter. The Arlington five-piece left behind a couple of demo cassette tapes and 1989’s Victims of…