People of a certain age, the millennial bunch, will always remember Sarah McLachlan for her contribution to Myspace. She was the one who made "Angel," the sad-as-shit song that played during all of the videos about animal abuse. Well, she's at Winstar World Casino this weekend, which means you can relive that experience. Also playing shows this week, Key!, a charismatic rapper from Atlanta; the one with that "bass," Meghan Trainor; the band with the macabre name, A Place to Bury Strangers; and much more.
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Meghan Trainor 7 p.m., Friday, February 27, at Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave., 214-824-9933 or granadatheater.com, Sold out Remember Carly Rae Jepsen? How about Foster the People? Gotye and Kimbra ring any bells? Icona Pop? Bauer? The Wanted? You still "Heying" and "Hoeing" to the Lumineers? I could go on, but I think get the point that things look less than promising for Meghan Trainor, the young lady who's debut album has led to one too many jokes who's punchline is the word "bass." Who knows, maybe that's not how it will go for her. She can always buck the considerable odds against her and make more music that gets played to death on pop stations nationwide. It just depends on how the system treats her new work. She not only went to the Berklee School of Music, but she also spent time in Nashville ghostwriting for other artists, so the skill set is there for her to succeed. But it may all depend on whether super producer L.A. Reid feels like doubling down and pushing her into the cycle all over again. If not, she'll probably wind up one more forgotten flavor of the month. Jaime-Paul Falcon
A Place to Bury Strangers With Creepoid and the Orange, 8 p.m. Friday, February 27, at Club Dada, 2720 Elm St., dadadallas.com, $12 A Place to Bury Strangers is that rare breed of modern indie band that actually gets what made the '90s such a great decade for sonic guitar worship. Channeling the best parts of noise merchants like the Jesus and Mary Chain, Sonic Youth and My Bloody Valentine, they have created a dark, apocalyptic sound that often eclipses their predecessors in noise, feedback and fury. They swing through Dallas this weekend supporting their fifth studio album Transfixation, an album that manages to up the ante of sonic superiority and post-punk angst. APTBS shows aren't so much concerts as they church services where feedback is the lord and the audience are the congregation undergoing a musical absolution. As exciting as the upcoming JAMC Psychocandy tour is, APTBS have been one-upping that album since their conception. Bring earplugs. You will need them. Wanz Dover
Key! With DoLA, Brother Misfit, BeMyFriend, Kosta, 9 p.m., Friday, February 27, 2809 Canton St., $15-$20 Key! has a wonderful song in which he asks dutifully, "Guess who is fucking your bitch?" Is it Key!? Why, yes it is Key! Make no mistake, he is indeed fucking your bitch. He's one of the most interesting folks coming out of Atlanta's rap scene, which has a talent pool like no other. The good folks of Provide the Wave teemed up with Apply Pressure out of Florida to bring Key! to Dallas for what I believe is the very first time. Check out the show; it's one to remember. Just make sure to keep your spouse away from him. HDB
Ishi With Sam Lao and Tru Def, 8 p.m., Friday, February 27, at The Prophet Bar, 2548 Elm St., $10-$12 One of the most eccentric things you can see in Dallas is an Ishi show. I've been to one where seemingly everyone with a date and/or a blood alcohol content above 0.08 was grinding on one another. It's a grand time. The band's electro-funk-folk sound is sure to send a jolt through you and it can turn a wallflower into the most gifted dancer in the soul train line. HDB
Criminal Birds With Henry The Archer and Mink Coats, 9 p.m., Friday, February 27, at Rubber Gloves, 411 E Sycamore St, Denton, 940-387-7781, $5-$7 It's one of those nights where it's maybe just a good idea to pop over to Rubber Gloves, the place that's not exactly DIY anymore but still has the spirit of it out in Denton. There are three pretty awesome local acts on the bill: Criminal Birds, a lively indie rock outfit; Henry the Archer, an alternative band that incorporates elements of electronica, indie rock and punk; and Mink Coats, a psychedelic garage rock outfit with a ton of promise. HDB
Sarah McLachlan 8 p.m. Saturday, February 28, at Winstar World Casino, Thackerville, Oklahoma, 1-800-622-6317 or winstarworldcasino.com, $60-$90 We've all seen the commercials: The single human face among the montage of sad, helpless abused animals, all guilting you into donating money for their rescue. That lone face, of course, belongs to Sarah McLachlan, and for better or worse that's what we'll all remember her for the most years from now. But once upon a time she was best known as her serene singing on hits like "Angel" and "I Will Remember You." In the late-'90s boom of strong, solo female singers in alternative music, McLachlan cleverly rounded them up to create one of the landmark all-female festival Lilith Fair. She's since mostly disappeared from the mainstream, save for the occasional under-the-radar album or charitable appearance, but her work holds up. She shows near antipathy towards upbeat songs, like the musical equivalent of a Nicholas Sparks novel, scientifically designed to provoke immense sadness. So grab the tissues, make the drive to Winstar and have a great, cathartic cry. Eva Raggio
Fungi Girls With the Zoltars, Blessin', 8 p.m., Saturday, February 28, at Three Links, 2704 Elm Street, http://www.threelinksdeepellum.com, $10 Fungi Girls originally garnered the attention from bloggers and music scenesters around North Texas when they were just teenagers. Like teen in the sense that they weren't even 18 years old yet. They were always wise beyond their years in some ways, drawing samples of the underground and indie to craft their music. Fungi Girls have a lo-fi psychedelic surf rock thing going on. they're one of many solid surf rockish band's in this area, which is weird because there ain't any surfing, but who care bruh, wide the wave. HDB
Quiet Company With Oil Boom, Calhoun 8 p.m. Saturday, February 28, at Club Dada, 2720 Elm St., dadadallas.com, $10-$12 Quiet Company's cinematic rock, in which a piano makes some guest appearances, is enough to overwhelm you in a small and well-put together venue like Club Dada. The band, which hails from Austin, packs a great indie rock punch as they add soaring choruses to the frequent guest stars like the aforementioned piano and bright brass notes. HDB
Styx 8 p.m., Saturday, February, 28, at Billy Bob's Texas, 2520 Rodeo Plaza, Fort Worth, 817-624-7117, $20-$50 Styx is an old-school rock band. Hell, they were formed in the late '60s and released their first album in the '70s. They're the type of band that maybe if you're going to this show, you lost your virginity on the hood of a pick-up truck while their single "Lady" was playing. Styx was a pioneer of the arena rock days with their massive hooks and guitar riffs that are just as melody driven as the choruses themselves. They also have the sweetest piano-meets-rock ballads know to man. HDB
Pierce the Veil With Sleeping With Sirens, 7 p.m., Sunday, March 1, at South Side Ballroom, 1135 S Lamar, 214-421-2021, $43 The love for post-hardcore emo Vans Warped Tour circa early to mid aughts music will never falter. Especially considering the fact that all of the extravagantly dramatic teens of a decade ago now have a disposable income. And teens and the suburbs still exist too. Pierce The Veil is one of the hottest bands of the emo ilk. They released their first album, A Flair For the Dramatic, and it was met with a lot of feelings and emotions. Aside from the tour, they've got a brand new album on the docket for 2015. HDB
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