Used to be that you went to South by Southwest to find out about new bands, to discover a couple acts on your own, to see the few bands everyone would rave about over the next few months and, if you found something really amazing, the next few years. Used…
Talking with Roger Clyne is a lot like playing a slot machine. Boisterous and colorful, Clyde speaks so rapidly that you never know what you are going to get out of him—but sometimes you manage to get lucky. The forthcoming and likable former leader of The Refreshments discusses the upcoming…
Every Easter, millions of Americans celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ—a rebirth that, if you follow the tenets of Christianity, saves the believer’s soul. We music lovers here at the Dallas Observer, however, can’t help but wonder what musical artists could be resurrected this holiday to save their genres. Might…
El Gato had some big expectations to meet. It’s been almost six years since its last release, and the beautifully rich, layered orchestral pop of 2002’s We’re Birds would have been a tough act to follow even without the long wait. Surrender! may not quite be the equal of We’re…
The only weakness this show’s got is non-musical; local fans of loud, challenging and sometimes just plain strange punk rock may be dedicated, but how many will visit Carrollton for an Easter Day show? Pools is a promising young guitar/drums thrash-punk duo from Rockwall. Wax Museums from Denton plays loud,…
Austin’s Band of Heathens has a nice little notch on its belt: being named the best new band in Austin at last year’s Austin Music Awards. Not too shabby. But maybe it was just an off year? Nah, the fellas in the Band of Heathens bring it just fine, thank…
A word of warning: Punk Bunny shows aren’t for the prude. In fact, don’t even bother heading to this show unless you’re super horny and/or strong-stomached. The only thing you know for sure when you watch Punk Bunny perform is that you’re going to get figuratively—and, actually, maybe literally too—sexed…
Is this not the right Big Red Rooster? One of the more popular links being sent around in the aftermath of SXSW 2008 sends you to a story written by a man named Paul Ford. Ford is not a music critic — he’s an editor at Harper’s, and he blogs…
Just came across this video, and it’s pretty funny. Comes to us via the Teenage Prayers, an indie rock act out of NYC with some heavy ’60s pop influences. It’s part of the touring band’s video diary. In this clip, the band swings through Dallas on the way to SXSW,…
I’m a huge sucker for college basketball — sports-wise this is my favorite time of year, with the first round of the NCAA tournament getting underway this afternoon. And, music-wise, CBS doesn’t do too poorly when it comes to the whole March Madness deal. You telling me the CBS college…
Normally, we wouldn’t assail you with tons of videos first thing in the morning. (Hate for your boss to want to block DC-9 for killing your bandwidth — it happens.) But we just came across a live video of The Burning Hotels playing at the Palladium Loft. Sometimes this local…
When music-industry experts advise fledgling musicians how to achieve success, few probably suggest developing a weird blend of rock, pop and exotic folk music. DeVotchKa has done so anyhow, though, and A Mad & Faithful Telling is the highly enjoyable result. Because the group stays true to the rudiments of…
Swooping synthesized strings, throbbing bass lines, pounding drum machines and heart-on-the-sleeve vocals: PlayRadioPlay’s Texas sounds like what a sensitive, horny teenager would come up with if he were locked in the bedroom with a keyboard and a swimsuit calendar featuring the ladies of One Tree Hill. Single-handedly created by Dan…
While I spent last Sunday driving back from Austin and icing my newly broken big toe, others were at the Jens Lekman show in town. Haven’t heard feedback from too many of you. Did anyone on here hit up the show? Well, for those of us who were otherwise engaged,…
Well, sometimes, Willie can still bring it. Technically, he’s not a Dallas artist. But Willie Nelson only lives, what, an hour and half from here in Abbott? And by continuing to perform around the region, like he did just this month with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra at the Myerson Symphony…
So your friends in Handshakes and Highfives are a little bored –- or maybe they’re really dedicated. Not sure. Either way, they’ve posted a video answering fan questions. Whether you like the band or not, the video is entertaining. — Chelsea Ide P.S. We hear the band will be posting…
PlayRadioPlay! just released Texas yesterday.It’s spring, and you know what that means? It’s recording time in DdFW. Bridges and Blinking Lights Bridges and Blinking Lights will be going into the studio this weekend to record a new song to be featured on a compilation disc benefiting cystic fibrosis research. The…
Missed a lot of email over the past week or so because of SXSW. A lot of it’s some serious junk. But some of it you should definitely know about… Let’s start with some Idol Records news, m’kay? Like, for instance, how you’re definitely gonna wanna check out this trailer…
Rock on, Jack. Rock on. Jack White and the members of his kickass side project, The Raconteurs, made some big industry news last week, making the surprise announcement that they’ve got an album to release, like, right now. The idea behind that move–aside from just getting the music out to…
[So we decided to try our hand at some live recording this weekend at South by Southwest. We did it on the same equipment we tape our interviews on, so the quality ain’t gonna blow you away. But the crowd noise and whatnot do make these taped versions pretty fun…
Curious what Michelle Shocked is sounding like these days? We were, too. Here’s your answer (for your downloading pleasure…): This is track 4 off ToHeavenURide. Enjoy. — Pete Freedman…
Welcome back, Ms. Shocked. We haven’t really heard from soulful Dallas native Michelle Shocked since she released her live disc, ToHeavenURide–a recording from her performance alongside a gospel choir at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival–in September 2007. Well, we just got an update: She’s coming to town on April 24 for…
