Miguel Correa
Audio By Carbonatix
A new generation of North Texas musicians took the stage on a stormy Wednesday night in July at Club Dada.
Opener Gracen Wynn, a 23-year-old singer-songwriter and Plano native, is no stranger to Club Dada. Though she has only been pursuing music seriously since 2023, she’s found an early home here, this being her second show at the venue.
A steady downpour early in the evening caused a delay at Kesha’s show (again), miles from Deep Ellum at Dos Equis Pavilion. But here, the rain delivered the ambiance to Wynn’s serene vocals. On stage, Wynn shared some of her influences; artists like Ellie Goulding and Olivia Rodrigo were named specifically. The universal themes of first love, heartbreak and self-discovery were all present in Wynn’s music and serve as a reminder that while the world changes rapidly around us, some things thankfully remain the same.
As the second band of the night, Willy and the Wildcards turned it up a notch and got the crowd moving. The high-energy set kicked into gear just as the rain subsided and the room filled. Not missing a beat, mkn coffee followed up with their own blend of indie rock/pop and a solid Pearl Jam cover.
mkn coffee is a busy, up-and-coming band from Dallas, made up of vocalist and guitarist Blake Kleisinger, lead guitarist Nate Iturrino, bassist Junior Rosas and drummer Kyu Jin Ham. Led by a strong vocal performance from Kleisinger, mkn coffee brought a stellar performance playing songs off their latest EP The Get Down to the stage, evidenced by the raucous crowd applause after each song. With a steady string of shows in neighboring Denton and Fort Worth under their belt, it will be exciting to watch as the band grows its Dallas following.
David Archibald brought the house down to close out the evening. Powered by his mustache and 2025-approved “wife pleaser” tank top, Archibald channeled the charisma of the character Billy in Stranger Things to turn the crowd from live music appreciators into something more feral. This was Archibald’s first time on the Club Dada stage, but you wouldn’t know it by his command of the homegrown crowd.
See more photos from Wednesday’s show:
Wynn felt comfortable on this familiar stage.
Miguel Correa
The early crowd hung onto every note, respectfully.
Miguel Correa
Gracen’s aura.
Miguel Correa
WIlly and the Wildcards cranked it up to start their set and got the crowd moving.
Miguel Correa
Willy and the Wildcats brought the experience with them, and their electric performance was a treat for the early crowd.
Miguel Correa
Willy performing an Alice In Chains cover.
Miguel Correa
Religion is a theme throughout mkn coffee’s music.
Miguel Correa
Blake found God a couple of years ago and has provided him with positive direction.
Miguel Correa
The band easily slides into their indie rock heritage.
Miguel Correa
mkn coffee has been playing steadily since 2022.
Miguel Correa
Blake’s personal relationship to his music is evident in his sincere performance.
Miguel Correa
David Archibald or Billy from Stranger Things?
Miguel Correa
Donned in all white, Archibald opens his set under dramatic lighting.
Miguel Correa
Feeding off the crowd, Archibald delivers.
Miguel Correa
When the lights converge, the intensity cranks up.
Miguel Correa
Archibald sings back to the crowd being sung at him.
Miguel Correa