The 10 Best Concerts in Dallas This Week: Mötorhead, Slipknot and More

Breathe easy, folks: A three-day weekend is just around the corner. So too is the end of the summer, which means it's about time to make the most of the hot weather. Dallas has been hopping with shows the past few weeks and this next one — on the first of September — is no exception. Lemmy Kilmister's health allowing, Mötorhead are hitting The Bomb Factory, The Kessler Theater hosts a fundraiser for the long-sought-after memorial to Jimmie and Stevie Ray Vaughan and artists you love to hate such as Nickelback and Hank Williams Jr. take the stage as well.
Blackbear
9 p.m. Wednesday, September 2, at House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar St., 214-978-2583 or houseoflbues.com/dallas, $15
Blackbear puts out '90s R&B mixed with modern electronic indie beats to create a surprisingly untapped genre. Besides maybe Drake, there aren't many other hyperemotional male vocalists crooning over atmospheric, eerie beats. And though Blackbear likely won't be the best representative of this pairing, he's definitely a case for its expansion. Matt Wood War Club Wednesdays
With Blue, the Misfit, 10 p.m. Wednesday, September 2, at Crown & Harp, 1914 Greenville Ave., 214-828-1914, Free
Loner child Brandon Blue, who once barricaded himself from the outside world with anime, Linkin Park and System of a Down, has grown into a pre-eminent talent in Dallas' rap scene and his confidence onstage has played a large part in making it happen. When performing, Blue, the Misfit has the ability to make strangers adamant believers. He has the magnetism and charisma of a cult leader. It's led to him becoming arguably the hottest musician in North Texas, culminating in five nominations (more than anyone else) at last year's Dallas Observer Music Awards. Now is the time for Blue, the Misfit, and he knows it. H. Drew Blackburn
Vaughan Brothers Art Project Fundraiser Concert
With Smokin' Joe Kubek, Jim Suhler and Carolyn Wonderland, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, September 3, at The Kessler Theater, 1230 W. Davis St., 214-272-8346 or thekessler.org, $75
Dallas is long overdue in getting a proper memorial to its late, great blues guitarist, the recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Stevie Ray Vaughan. Last week marked the 25th anniversary of Vaughan's death in a helicopter accident, and now The Kessler, along with When Dallas Rocked director Kirby Warnock, is hosting a fundraiser to help erect a statue of Vaughan and his brother Jimmie in Kiest Park, less than a mile from their childhood home in Oak Cliff. Aside from the bands who will be performing, the fundraiser will also include an auction of art and memorabilia, including a signed guitar from Vaughan's old friend Eric Clapton. Jeff Gage
2nd King Camelversary
With Hank & Cupcakes, Sudie, -topic and Moon Waves, 8 p.m. Thursday, September 3, at Three Links, 2704 Elm St., threelinksdeepellum.com, $8/$10 at the door
Electropop duo Hank & Cupcakes met each other in the Israeli Army, which isn't quite the first place you'd typically look for burgeoning indietronica talent. But the group puts out wickedly electric '80s-inspired tracks that are just begging to be danced to. So make sure to be at least slightly neon-clad, because the band surely will be. As the second-year anniversary party for local promoter King Camel, the bill is also full of local artists, including sultry singer-songwriter Sudie, backflip-landing rapper -topic and teenaged psych rockers Moon Waves. MW
Mötorhead
With Saxon and Crobot, 8 p.m. Friday, September 4, at Bomb Factory, 2713 Canton St., thebombfactory.com, $39.50-$59.50
Known for high-speed, driving rhythms and a lean, hard rock sound, Mötorhead are on their massive 40th anniversary world tour. The “world’s loudest band” will be performing at The Bomb Factory just a few days after the release of their 22nd album, Bad Magic. Everyone knows and loves Lemmy Kilmister, the English frontman with a voice that sounds like he drinks whiskey with broken glass in it. But perhaps the secret to Mötorhead’s massive success and longevity is the broad appeal of the music. You could classify it as all sorts of different metal, but they have a sound that’s best referred to simply as rock ‘n’ roll. With a stripped-down sound and aesthetic that hasn’t changed since they started, you could say that Mötorhead are the Ramones of metal. No matter what year it is, Mötorhead will always look and sound the same. Don’t forget your earplugs. Jeremy Hallock
Nickelback
Friday, September 4, at Choctaw Casino, 4216 S. Highway 69/75, Durant, Oklahoma, $85-195
You either love to hate Nickelback or you just plain love them. The latter group is usually the quieter one (except when the band comes to town), and the former tends to be pretty vocal in its disdain. Even though it's fun and easy for haters to laugh at the expense of Nickelback's cheesy lyrics and music, the band has been laughing all the way to the bank for nearly 20 years now. You've got to give 'em props for somehow staying relevant (and profitable) since 1995; who knows how they've done it. Kelley Knickerbocker
Slipknot
With Lamb of God and Bullet For My Valentine, 6 p.m. Saturday, September 5, at Gexa Energy Pavilion, 1818 1st Ave., 214-421-1111 or gexaenergypavilion.net, $30-$80
Shock and awe have always worked for Slipknot. Even though they’ve had to work through a few lineup changes of late, the oddly masked, nine-piece heavy metal band from Iowa have been selling out arenas and amphitheaters since 1999, when they broke out as one of the faces of the nu-metal wave. Known to put on one of the best and most intense live rock shows around, metal fans will be flocking to Gexa Energy Pavilion for their Summer’s Last Stand tour in support of their 2014 release .5: The Gray Chapter. This might be the last chance to see the band for a while: Between previous albums and touring cycles, Slipknot have been known to go on hiatus. Just this month, singer Corey Taylor announced the band will be taking an extended break to begin work on an ambitious double album. Mikel Galicia
Hank Williams Jr.
7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 5, at Verizon Theatre, 1001 Performance Place, Grand Prairie, 972-851-5111 or verizontheatre.com, $39.75-$96.75
Last year, Hank Williams Jr. was playing at a casino in Oklahoma. This year, he’s upgraded to the Verizon Theatre, but you shouldn’t expect anything different from country music’s favorite racist uncle. The son of country’s most legendary crooner hasn’t written any new music in the last year, but people will still to Grand Prairie to celebrate ’Merica and listen to their favorite songs about homophobia and racist caricatures. This is not to suggest that Bocephus, who has written such stellar entries to the country canon as “The Blues Man” and “Family Tradition,” is a man without talent; he just prefers to exercise it as the musical equivalent of Donald Trump. Expect plenty of those Confederate flags that even Kid Rock had the good sense to quit with, and the sort of people who get really excited about hollering while holding a can of beer in the air. You’ll likely catch a few moments of country gold at this show, but you’re much more likely to endure a stomach-turning rant (or five) about the president. Amy McCarthy
Passion Pit
With Atlas Genius, 8 p.m. Sunday, September 6, at House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar St., 214-978-2583 or houseofblues.com/dallas, $35-$45
It’s difficult to find someone who hasn’t heard at least one Passion Pit song; the band has put out some seriously popular music since the Chunk of Change EP dropped back in 2008. “Take a Walk,” “Sleepyhead” and the most recent “Lifted Up (1985)” are proof of Michael Angelako’s knack for producing electronic dance tunes heavy on synth, drums and androgynous vocals that stick in your head for days. Currently on tour in support of their third full-length album, Kindred, the indie-electro-synth-pop group is bringing their passionate, hyperactive energy to House of Blues on Sunday for a show that promises to get your ass shaking. Atlas Genius, the indie-rock viral success story from Australia, open the night. Brandon Mikeal
Riverboat Gamblers
With Millencolin, 7 p.m. Sunday, September 6, at Gas Monkey Bar 'N Grill, 10261 Technology Blvd. E., 214-350-1904 or gasnmonkeybarngrill.com, $18-$35
Okay, so technically Millencolin are the headliners, but it’s hard to get excited about them when the Riverboat Gamblers are involved — even if they just played Denton last month. After almost two decades, the Texas punk rock legends are still going strong. Known for their rowdy, Southern-tinged, party-punk anthems and balls-to-the-wall performances, the band is a remnant of the late-’90s, early-’00s Denton punk music scene. You know, the one that your dirty, old, skateboarding co-worker reminisces about, back before the college town had anything to do with the monster music festival that is 35 Denton and the Tomato still existed on Fry Street. The Gamblers’ sound is definitively drinking music ­— whether you’re with the buds or by yourself. In fact, their song “Drink Alone” is probably the most fun song on the subject to ever grace your ears. Since their meager beginning here in the DF-dubs, the group has put out six studio albums, two of which were produced by Texas punk elder Tim Kerr of the Big Boys. Eventually, and before it was the trendy thing to do, the band moved to Austin. They haven’t released an album since 2012, but they’re still partying it up and staying punk for their long-time fans. Pablo Arauz