The 10 Best Concerts of the Week: Death Cab for Cutie, Taylor Swift and More

Catch Death Cab for Cutie as they tour in support of their latest album Thank You for Today, or Taylor Swift during her two shows at AT&T Stadium. David Byrne, Dashboard Confessional and others keep the music going this week.



Death Cab for Cutie
8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1 at The Bomb Factory, 2713 Canton St., $42 and up at thebombfactory.com

For many listeners and fans, Death Cab for Cutie has always been all about Ben Gibbard. After all, Gibbard’s instantly recognizable voice paired with his emotionally charged, sing-along lyrics created the band’s sound, right? While other fans and critics attributed the band’s sound to founding member Chris Walla, who co-wrote many songs with Gibbard. Death Cab for Cutie followed up 2015's Grammy-nominated Kintsugi with Thank You for Today, the band’s ninth studio album. It was released Aug. 17 on Atlantic – nearly 20 years to the day after the band’s debut studio album Something About Airplanes was released Aug. 18, 1998, on Barsuk Records. But Thank You is the first DCFC album without Walla, who after serving as the band's guitarist and producer for nearly 20 years left to pursue other projects. Walla, a multi-instrumentalist, also played keyboards and contributed backing vocals, and many of Death Cab’s albums liner notes give Walla a “produced, recorded and mixed by” credit. The new record and tour feature Dave Depper and Zac Rae, who have toured with DCFC since 2015. Brooklyn pop-rockers Charly Bliss opens, with the equally unmistakable vocals from frontwoman Eva Hendricks. Daniel Rodrigue


Paul Slavens
9 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, at Dan's Silverleaf, 103 Industrial St., Denton, 940-320-2000, danssilverleaf.com, free

Paul Slavens, frontman of the late '80s and early '90s band Ten Hands, is pretty well known around these parts. His radio show on KXT-FM 91.7 has earned him many Dallas Observer Music Award titles, including this year's Best Radio Show/Podcast. But he also hosts an impromptu show at Dan’s Silver Leaf in Denton. He takes song title suggestions from people and creates music based on those titles right on the spot. You can catch him at Dan's most Monday nights. Diamond Victoria


Dashboard Confessional
with All Time Low, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, at South Side Ballroom, 1135 S. Lamar St., $35

Can you claim the title of millennial if you didn’t use angsty Dashboard Confessional songs to get over a breakup? Chris Carrabba and his band have been around since 2000 and singing the words so many emo teenagers are thinking. Relive the better days when you see them live at House of Blues. Paige Skinner


Goo Goo Dolls
7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, at House of Blues, 2200 N. Lamar St., $49.50-$79.50

John Rzeznik and Robby Takac continue to have the luxury of playing large venues many years after their songs were in the Top 40. The Goo Goo Dolls have steadily put out new albums since "Iris," "Slide" and "Name" catapulted the band into massive popularity. They’ve tried to maintain the melodic sensibility of their early punk-tinged pop while also appealing to the Matchbox Twenty crowd. Lately they've been playing a couple of tunes from their Superstar Car Wash album, but don't expect anything older than that. Eric Grubbs


Residente
8:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, at South Side Ballroom, 1135 S. Lamar St., $35

René Pérez Joglar, aka Residente, is a folk hero in his native Puerto Rico. His name skyrocketed after Joglar’s former group, Calle 13, released the controversial track “Querido F.B.I.” Joglar was angered by the death of Filiberto Ojeda Ríos, the leader of Puerto Rican revolutionary group Los Macheteros, during an FBI raid. The song condemned the actions of the American government and was quickly followed up by two radio hits, “Se Vale Tó-Tó” and “Atrevete-te-te!” Calle 13, formed in 2004 and comprising Joglar, his step-brother and his half-sister has won 25 Latin Grammys — more than any artist in history and twice as many as Shakira. Residente’s self-titled album is his first as a solo act, and it's inspired by the results of a DNA test that traced his roots from locations across the world. Residente is a multi-ethnic cacophony that bounces rhythmically from Siberia to England to Spain. Joglar’s style of reggaeton-influenced hip-hop transcends cultural and language barriers. It’s entertaining no matter your background. Nicholas Bostick



David Byrne
8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 at The Theatre at Grand Prairie, 1001 Performance Place, Grand Prairie, $54-$145 at axs.com

If you missed the former Talking Heads frontman at the Winspear in April, here's your second chance. As big as Winspear is, the formerly named Verizon Theatre can hold more and should be easier for a larger crowd. On his American Utopia tour, Byrne will perform a number of solo and Talking Heads songs, all through an elaborate stage and light show. David Byrne works in his own lane, making performance art while still making listenable music. His vision has led him to create one of the finest shows people have seen this year. He's playing some of the most familiar Talking Heads songs here, from "Once in a Lifetime" to "Burning Down the House," so if your love of Byrne's work stops with the Heads, you've got a lifeline. He’s even playing a tune from his excellent collaboration with St. Vincent. Well worth your time to head out to Grand Prairie. Eric Grubbs