Look alive people, it's time to shake that post-turkey coma with the quickness because this weekend's show lineup waits for no one. If you're looking for a generation Y spectacle, Houston's own Riff Raff will be making his first Dallas appearance at Prophet Bar and Juicy J will return to Dallas at Trees. If you had something a little more festive in mind, check out Stage Fright: Denton Does The Band, honoring "The Last Waltz". Either way, there's plenty of cool stuff to do between gorging on your Thanksgiving leftovers.
CD Source 20th Anniversary Friday, November 29, at CD Source Record stores are essential cultural cornerstones of any healthy music scene. Unfortunately, these tastemaking hotbeds are slowly disappearing nationwide. Luckily, Dallas' regiment is still going strong -- CD Source celebrates its 20th anniversary on Friday. Coinciding with the Black Friday edition of Record Store Day, CD Source's celebration is stacked with 12 live in-store performances from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. With a heap of entertainment, more than 100 Record Store Day special releases and complimentary food from neighboring restaurants (including Freebirds, Royal Thai, and Potbelly), the question isn't why should you go, but why wouldn't you? Jonathan Patrick
Juicy J Friday, November 29, at Trees Memphis hip hop stalwart and former Three 6 Mafia member Juicy J has experienced to total career resurgence since the release of Stay Trippy in August 2013. The album's lead single "Bandz a Make Her Dance" has become a strip club classic for the ages. The long-time southern rap staple rarely disappoints live. Vanessa Quilantan
Terminator 2, Spacebeach and Fogg Friday, November 29, at Crown & Harp Wearing earplugs at a rock show is something that, before this past summer, had never seemed terribly metal to me. The purposeful employment of soft, spongy material designed to keep ears from being muddled into a gooey matter defeats the point of seeing a loud band play, well, loudly, right? This past June, a lesson in the usefulness of earplugs was brutishly handed out when Denton's heaviest band, Terminator 2, took the stage backed by an insane amount of extra amplification at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios. Eardrums were in danger of bursting, just as the walls seemed ready to crumble, as the trio plowed emotionlessly through a doom-filled set. Loud isn't simply loud when it's as moody and satisfyingly destructive as T2's music. But, just to be safe, it'd be a wise choice to stuff a pair of ear plugs into your pocket when T2 play with Fogg and Spacebeach on what will be the noisiest place outside of a Walmart on Black Friday weekend. Kelly Dearmore
Trombone Shorty Friday, November 29, at the House of Blues There is a moment on Trombone Shorty's sophomore album, For True, when his maverick musical sensibilities shine through, and that is when he lets legendary guitarist Jeff Beck do an extended solo partway through "Do to Me." The track already features various genre-bending elements, as raucous drums, energetic bass and Shorty's charismatic trombone playing combine to give the song tinges of funk, R&B and brass band jazz flair, but to relinquish the spotlight -- even to a legend like Beck -- and thus give the song true rock 'n' roll flair, speaks volumes about his desire to make each song brilliant no matter who is responsible for that brilliance. "Do to Me" already overflows with confidence and verve as the danceable, hypnotic grooves mirror the song's flirtatious wordplay, and it shows how dynamic Trombone Shorty's music is, even when he is not the one playing. Brian Palmer Stage Fright: Denton Does The Band Saturday, November 30, at Dan's Silverleaf The Last Waltz is American rock music's beloved Thanksgiving tradition. The Band's legendary farewell concert was held on Thanksgiving Day in 1976 at San Francisco's Winterland Ballroom, and filmed by Martin Scorsese for what would come to be heralded as one of the greatest concert films ever made. To honor the occasion, this Saturday at Dan's Silverleaf, some of Denton's finest musicians will come together to pay tribute to The Band. The lineup includes Ryan Thomas Becker, Scott Danbom, Tony Ferraro, Jeffrey Gruber, Grady Don Sandlin- and special guests Brent Best of Slobberbone, Isaac Hoskins, and Eric Pulido of Midlake. VQ
Screaming Females Saturday, November 30, at Club Dada There's something in the water, possibly runoff from all the smog and industry. That might explain all the people yearning to break free in spectacular fashion, a tradition upheld admirably by Screaming Females. KM
Cowboy Mouth Saturday, November 30, at the Granada Theater The long-running, roof-tearing road band first turned its hometown of New Orleans on its collective ear with hits like "Jenny Says" and "How Do You Love Someone" back in the '90s. When the rest of the country wanted to know what all that ruckus was about, they took their act on the road to raucous crowds. The members may have changed over the years, but frontman Fred LeBlanc is still leading the charge with a booming voice that makes it sound like the microphone he's singing into isn't necessary. He leads his band in delivering the kind of house-shaking rock you'd expect from a group that was raised in a city known for partying all night. Danny Gallagher
James Murphy Saturday, November 30, at It'll Do Club It's the guy from LCD Soundsystem, people. What more can I tell you? Kiernan Maletsky
Riff Raff Saturday, November 30, at The Prophet Bar What can you say about the Neon Icon that hasn't been said already? Since he was picked from obscurity to join an MTV reality show cast in 2009, Riff Raff has established himself as one of the most bizarre and fascinating personalities in modern rap music. His first Dallas outing this weekend will no doubt be something to see. VQ
Jonathan Richman Sunday, December 1, at Three Links Jonathan Richman has been making strange noises longer than nearly anyone else doing it. He helped found Modern Lovers and hasn't gotten even moderately cynical in the 40 years since. KM
Donny and Marie Osmond Wednesday, December 4, at Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie When it comes to Donny and Marie Osmond, it's very difficult not to think about the infamous sketch on SNL that concludes with the brother and sister act passionately making out. Such was the caricature of this super-clean Mormon duo, who became pop and television personalities in the late '70s. The Osmonds' brand of entertainment was a strictly corporate enterprise, an exceedingly wholesome, totally above-board proposition that harkened back to a pre-Elvis America. Occasionally, the music was passable maudlin pop and Marie was, and still is, a fantastically attractive woman. The duo's shtick, however, has always been perfectly coifed and manicured, a stage act flawlessly suited to the holiday fare that will be featured on this particular evening. Christmas music rarely demands more than the passive acceptance of songs heard a thousand times before, songs steeped in tradition presented as easily digested, family-friendly artifacts from a bygone era. Darryl Smyers
See also: -The 100 Best Texas Songs: The Complete List -The Ten Most Badass Band Names in DFW -The Best Bands in DFW: 2012 Edition -Photo Essay: The Tattoos of Dallas' Nightlife Scene
