Music

Alex Maples’ ghost obsession began when his sisters were almost 10 and he was still in a crib. The whole family would frequently visit his Aunt Doris in Southern Illinois. Her house was old and drafty, built on many open acres of ranch land. On a country-quiet evening during one…

Time was when the words “music” and “North Texas State University” (as the University of North Texas was known until 1988), used in the same sentence, invariably conjured the names of pioneering jazz educator Leon Breeden and his famous One O’ Clock Lab Band, as well as the sound of…

This weekend marks the sixth year of Rockers vs. Mods, “a tribute to the 1960’s British rivalry between the Mods & Rockers,” according to the event’s website. It happens over three days at different locations (so you can ride your motorcycle or scooter, duh) and will feature performances from several…

Forgive me, I don’t know who created this poster, but the lineup is pretty great. And The Lion’s Den was the scene of the infamous SlimeRave 2012, which people are still talking about in hushed tones. And the striking, strange black and white concept of this poster would be enough…

Even if you weren’t a big fan of Jay Reatard or one of his countless bands, you can’t help but tear up a bit at the trailer for Better Than Something, the new documentary about the Memphis musician, who passed away in 2010 at the age of 29. “I was…

Pour le Corps label has been on my radar for a few months now, mainly because of their limited-edition theory and vinyl/cassette format. I appreciate that approach, as someone who often feels beat down by the fleeting nature of mp3s, and misses the tactile experience of listening to music: opening…

There’s a lot that makes this video, which seems to have originated on Indiana’s River City Rocker site, great. But how many of us could recite THE ENTIRETY of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the span of a ride to the station? He even does the mid-song harmonic breakdown. Cheers to…

In this week’s edition of Covering Tracks, we turn our attention to Denton heroes Old Snack. The trio released their debut, Everything Is Happening So Fast, last fall, which tears through nine tracks in less than 20 minutes. That efficiency is particularly evident on album track “Please Please Girl,” a…

With Dallas hip-hop experiencing a surge in popularity, it’s refreshing that some of the former big dogs are coming out of the dark to join in on the fun.The A-Teem, the duo of Viz Walker and Jonathan “Fatz” Dangerfield, are bringing back what was a hip-hop staple in Deep Ellum…

Carrie Rodriguez has lived in Austin and New York City over the past several years, but thanks to her many performances in the metroplex, we like to think of her as one of our own. Heaven must also claim her as one of its own, due to how many times…

I really didn’t know what pouring vinyl entailed when local musician Daniel Huffman asked if I wanted to sit in on a job last Thursday afternoon. I envisioned the act of pouring, and then an actual record, but the in-between part was vague. I just said yes and drove over…

Bugs Henderson’s influence reaches much further than his name. “He’s the most famous unfamous person you’ll ever meet,” former bandmate and Dallas Guitar Show organizer Jimmy Wallace told me the morning of Friday, March 9, the day after Bugs died. But there’s hardly a rock ‘n’ roll or blues guitar…

In this glittering city of lists, soft openings, RSVP deadlines and plus-ones, trust me when I tell you the people behind the velvet ropes have one common denominator. They said “Yes.” A quick scan through your email or, if you’re lucky, your snail mail, is all it takes to land…

Country icon George Jones famously asked “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” back in 1985. For the most part, modern Top 40 country isn’t terribly interested in the footwear of elder greats, given the way radio playlists have tossed aside so many aging legends over the past 20 years or so…