While the demo tape-carrying waiters and baristas of Nashville fantasize about hitting it big as a session player, songwriter or performer, Darrell Scott has been a key figure in each of those realms for some time now. After getting noticed for his solo albums, Scott had a fortuitous streak of…
With the release of Coachella’s lineup yesterday, we decided to ask our resident curmudgeon and “good old days” music expert, Indie Grandpa, what he thought of the annual desert festival, which has now expanded to two weekends. What do you think about Coachella’s lineup? First of all, morning everyone. Second,…
More acts are trickling out for Bro Fest 2012, which happens March 18 at Club Dada. In addition to the Handsome Furs, Cerebral Ballzy and Coliseum, seven more acts have been announced, including Irish janglers And So I Watch You From Afar; Atlanta badasses The Coathangers; West Coast punks Crystal…
Burning Hotels – Party Rock from Burning Hotels on Vimeo. I’m not going to say why*, but I spent good portion of New Year’s Eve randomly listening to LMFAO’s “Shots” on an iPhone as I was driven VERY SOBERLY around town. I’m not proud of it, and I also don’t…
The jaunt to The Texas Theatre is among my favorite through the city. I take a roundabout way down Main Street, through Dealey Plaza to 35. Nothing beats Jefferson Street in this town: All faded jewel tones, party supply stores and beautiful Quinceañera boutiques. It looks frozen in time in…
Following the birth of his and Beyoncé’s daughter, Blue Ivy, on Saturday night — an event which took over an entire wing of Lenox Hill Hospital — Mr. Carter, ever the businessman, has already written a song about her. “A younger, smarter, faster me,” he declares. How long until she’s…
The longer I’m in Dallas, the more I’m coming to realize Ishi is a very divisive band. Zhora features former Ishi members Taylor Rea and Rob Bastian. Their free four-song EP just dropped, and it features some amber electronic waves of ’80s grain, as well as a song that smells…
Blackstone Rangers, Kiwi Sisters, Jakkk-E-Chan 2826 Arnetic Saturday, January 7 Better than: Playing Christian Death albums alone in the dark. Dallas Distortion Music, a fairly new catchall site for DFW’s weirder sounds, hosted this triple-header at 2826 Arnetic Saturday night. I’d just missed opener Jakkk-E-Chan, who was playing a wind…
Even Cameras Lie CD Release The Door Saturday, January 7 Better than: Hanging out with my own dysfunctional brood over the holidays. It was easy to spot who belonged and who didn’t belong at Saturday night’s Even Cameras Lie CD release show. Stashed in a back corner of The Door…
No Rest for the Wicked, 76, Here Holy Spain Double Wide Saturday, January 7 Better than: Listening to “live” records that were never recorded in front of live audiences. Saturday night at the Double Wide was a mixed bag that ran pretty late, even for a weekend show. A few…
It feels kind of weird writing the words “Dada turns one,” seeing as the place has been a Dallas rock and roll institution since I spent my Friday nights watching TGIF. Granted, that was only up until a few years ago, but the place has been around forever. In 2010,…
Tonight at Texas Theatre, catch a premiere screening of the controversial Ministry documentary Fix, which chronicles the life and times of the seminal ’90s industrial group. Perhaps there’s some footage from their heady mid-’90s days in Texas (and maybe that was part of Al Jourgensen’s lawsuit). Afterwards, stick around for…
Back in December, we reviewed Jacques Renault’s hyped set at Rio Room. And then, House of Plates, a Dallas blog that gracefully mixes music with food, documented Renault eating at Lockhart Smokehouse. Yes, barriers were broken. As food and music continue to culturally intersect, and as restaurants become more and…
Dallas jazz trumpeter Dennis Gonzalez and New Orleans drummer Alvin Fielder met in New Orleans close to 30 years ago, and have been collaborating ever since. It’s a relationship that’s lasted longer than most marriages, and listening to Gonzalez’s latest Yells At Eels collaboration with Fielder, Resurrection and Life (review…
About the middle of last month, the unavoidable “best of” lists for every conceivable cultural endeavor began sprouting in major media outlet and fringe blogs around the world. Truth is, I’m a sucker for these when it comes to the music category. Part of me wants validation that, once again,…
“Van Halen announces 2012 North American tour” is one of those email subject lines I was almost afraid to open. Because, really, the world doesn’t need any more Hagar. Yes, I know it’s fashionable to hate on the “other” Van Halen singer, but let’s be honest: “Poundcake” was his best…
Terry Glaze and Taz BentleySingle WideThursday, January 5Better than: Listening to a guy slaughter songs on an acoustic while trying to eat your lunch at Potbelly.The Single Wide doesn’t normally host shows, even if it’s just a guy and a guitar. Last night’s double bill was a very special one,…
Oh, look. City of Ate’s got a nice photo report on last night’s Sundown grand opening. The Granada’s new bar and restaurant was lovely and copious amounts of booze were had by all. A friend had enthused, “This will be a great place for drinks before and after Adam Ant!”…
Prolific doesn’t begin to describe Drawn By Jaymz’ James Porter, the East Dallas artist who has obsessively written and recorded his own music since he was a kid. Yesterday, however, marked the end of a certain era for Porter, who released Farewell, his 21st and final proper album under the…
Bummer for folks of a certain age and musical disposition: Adam Ant’s upcoming tour dates have been postponed due to circumstances beyond his control — i.e., his new album being delayed. The tour has been rescheduled for the fall. (Update: The Dallas show has been rescheduled for September 21.) Mr…
What’s the deal with owls, am I right? They’re everywhere. No, really, they are. And it’s weirding me out. If I ever saw a bunch of owls congregating on power lines like I see birds do every evening, around 5 p.m., I’d head for my underground bunker. The “owls have…
