Lloyd Banks Has Been Bringing Great Shows to Denton for 16 Years

Lloyd Banks runs Rockin’ Rodeo in Denton, but he’s been perched up north doing live music venues for a decade and a half: national touring acts mixed with local and regional bands, not only as opening acts, but also plenty as standalone showcase acts. He’s managed a band or two…

Plastic Bag Ban: Don’t Be a Douche About it, Dallas

Dallas is talking about a ban on disposable plastic shopping bags. And I’m all for it. Because plastic bags are lazy. They break right when you need them. They refuse to hold as much as a paper bag. They make your cool bathroom trash can look dumb. They float around…

Should I Pay Taxes on Band Earnings?

Are you a musician? Is your group having issues? Ask Fan Landers! Critic Jessica Hopper has played in and managed bands, toured internationally, booked shows, produced records, worked as a publicist and is the author of The Girls’ Guide to Rocking, a how-to for teen ladies. She is here to…

Try Saying “I Don’t Know That Band” Now And Again

Hey, guys. Can I talk to you about something? Every year when this time rolls around we try to send you into your fall festing season with some proper tips. Usually, this is our not-so-subtle way to share with you the ways to make new friends or sneak, um, stuff…

Is Dallas Getting Smarter in the Fight Against West Nile?

You get a lot of dumb and dumber news here, so I figure I owe it to you to mention when things might be trending the other way. It’s just possible the county’s efforts to control West Nile disease could be headed in that other uncustomary direction. Smarter. Believe it…

If the Bushes Are Liberals Now, Then I Must Be a … Kumquat?

Story in The New York Times today talks about the Bush dynasty reclaiming its influence in the Republican Party by championing immigration reform. I have another idea for them, based on their legacy in Dallas: school reform. But this is grudging, man. Why do I want the Bushes to reclaim…

Whatever Happened to the Lazy Mexican?

Dear Readers: The Mexican wants to beat you to the carne asada case this Labor Day fin de semana, so behold two oldies-but-goodies I amazingly haven’t yet passed off as new in this columna. The first one is extant and one of the favorite questions the Mexican ever got; for…

How Dallas’ Barker Brothers Fight City Hall and Win

Ever have this feeling? Something pops up in the news in Dallas like, “Ribbon Cutting Today on Gigantic Mississippi Riverboat Floating Country Club for Rich People in White Rock Lake.” And you’re saying, “Wait. Ribbon cutting? Riverboat? Floating country club?” Sometimes I pick up the newspaper, and I immediately look…

Stop Sucking at Parenting, Dinnertime Parents

Welcome to Alice Column, in which Alice Laussade writes stories about things on (roughly) the same day of (roughly) every week, making it (roughly) a column. Got an idea for a column? Start your own blog and write it up, you lazy shit. You decide to go to Cane Rosso…

Should I Manage My Husband’s Band?

Are you a musician? Is your group having issues? Ask Fan Landers! Critic Jessica Hopper has played in and managed bands, toured internationally, booked shows, produced records, worked as a publicist and is the author of The Girls’ Guide to Rocking, a how-to for teen ladies. She is here to…

Last Shot: A New Chemotherapy Drug Means New Side Effects

Lindsey BestAndrew Youssef[Editor’s Note: Long-time concert photographer Andrew Youssef found out two years ago that he had stage IV colon cancer. In that time, he has continued to shoot tons of music events, on top of other freelance work and working a day job at a hospital, of all places…