The Best Concerts In Dallas This Weekend: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Geto Boys and More

You've earned this weekend. Congrats. There's some awesome stuff as far as concerts go. Lynyrd Skynyrd is playing an awesomely classic-rock-radio-friendly show at Verizon with Blue Oyster Cult and Eddie Money. Oil Boom is playing at Shipping and Receiving. Sarah Jaffe has a free show in Arlington. Garage rock forefathers the Sonics are at the Texas Theatre to close out the Oak Cliff Film Fest. The Geto Boys even explain how great it feels to be a gangster at the House of Blues. There's plenty more too. Jon Bellion
Friday, June 12, at Trees, 2709 Elm St., 214-741-1122 or treesdallas.com, $18
Jon Bellion cites Kanye West as a major influence — so major that he even went as far as dropping out of college to take on music as a career. Just like Yeezus himself, it seems like his determination paid off. Bellion wrote the hook to the Eminem and Rihanna single "The Monster," and ever since then Bellion's been garnering more and more attention. As a pop artist, Bellion has let the rap influence change up the usual pop artist plan of action by releasing a slew of mixtapes before a proper release. The latest is The Definition which opens on probably the most recognizable thing Kanye West has ever said (well, on an actual song), "Wait 'till I get my money right," and is filled to the brim with grandiose pop ballads. H. Drew Blackburn

Lynyrd Skynyrd
With Eddie Money, Blue Oyster Cult and Stone Cold Sweat, Friday, June 12, at Verizon Theatre, 1001 Performance Pl., Grand Prairie, 972-854-5050 or verizontheatre.com, $9.25-$86.75
Technically, Lynyrd Skynyrd hasn't existed since 1977, when Ronnie Van Zant and several other band members died tragically in a plane crash. Nevertheless, Ronnie's younger brother Johnny Van Zant has insisted on keeping the band touring pretty consistently since 1987. Only one of the founding members, guitarist Gary Rossington, is still with the band, and nothing the second-generation version has done could even approach the band's original work, like "Simple Man," "Gimme Three Steps" or "Sweet Home Alabama." As such, there is really no reason to see Lynyrd Skynyrd live for the music — your records at home will sound much better — but there's no better people-watching than at a show like this. Lynyrd Skynyrd appeals to a certain rowdy type of crowd, so you'd better be ready to duck some elbows, drink some beer and maybe if you're lucky, see some boobs. Amy McCarthy

Sarah Jaffe
8 p.m. Friday, June 12, at Levitt Pavilion, 100 W. Abram St., Arlington, 817-543-4308, Free
Sarah Jaffe used to make for the quaint folksy guitar singer-songwriter. You know, the unassuming and harmless one where the singer and the songwriter play the star as the music takes a back seat and acts as a pleasantry. In recent times, though, she's switched up the program and gone electro and brought out the electric guitar with a full band to do a bit of shredding. She's been on a song with Eminem along with Waco-bred producer, S1, whom he's also started up an electronic project with called Dividends. Jaffe's new direction is full of exciting records, like "Vision," which is a fuck-you to this entire blurb. HDB

Oil Boom
With War Party, Siberian Traps, Saturday, June 13, at  Shipping & Receiving, 201 S Calhoun St, Fort Worth, $10
Oil Boom’s Red Metal was one of the best local records from last year. It’s packed with an unflinching groove throughout and a bit of a retro take through the eyes of modernity. Kind of like when Marty McFly played Chuck Berry at prom and ended up sliding across the floor playing metal riffs. Oil Boom has an exceedingly charismatic take on garage and punk rock and are without a doubt one of the most fun local bands around. HDB

The New Division
With Iris, NITE, 8 p.m., Saturday, June 13, at Club Dada, Three Links, 2704 Elm St., $12-15
The New Division is a project from the mind of electronic producer John Glenn Kunkel. The music is sunny and pre-packaged for dancing thanks to melodic guitar hooks and bright synths. The New Division currently has two albums and EPs out and a new album Gemini on the horizon, as it comes out at the end of this month. With a five-member band and stellar catalog, the New Division is a must for synth-pop fans everywhere. HDB

The Sonics
With Mind Spiders, 10 p.m. Saturday, June 13, at Texas Theatre, 231 W. Jefferson Blvd., 214-948-1546 or thetexastheatre.com, $25-30
In their day, the Sonics fwere a staple band of garage rock in the early 1960s. Today the Tacoma, Washington natives, now in their 70s, defy the dated stereotype that screaming, angsty, noisey rock is just for the youth. The band is well known for a deep influence on rock 'n' roll from punk to Nirvana to Bruce Springsteen. In April, they came out with their first album featuring all new material in 49 years titled This is the Sonics. The album was produced by Jim Diamond of The Dirtbombs, famed for producing the first White Stripes album. Now they're on tour promoting it as a big time band who "Like It Small," as one of their new songs implies (irony intended). The band's vocalist Gerry Roslie still knows how to scream up a number backed by a simple chord progression, which comes courtesy guitarist Larry Parypa. Another new song on the album, "Bad Betty," still has the howling upbeat sound found in the early material. The band's second stop on tour is at the Texas Theater on June 13 to close out the Oak Cliff Film Festival with Fort Worth's Mind Spiders. Pablo Arauz

Geto Boys
With Young Nino, 8:30 pm, Sunday, June 14, at House of Blues, 2200 North Lamar Street, 214-978-2583 or houseofblues.com/dallas, $35
Reunited and it feels so good: Houston rap legends the Geto Boys, who for years seemed certain never to get back together, are staging a reunion tour this summer. The trio of Scarface, Willie D and Bushwick Bill were true pioneers of Texas hip hop in the late '80s, known for their controversial lyricism which covers themes of police brutality, misogny, psychotic experiences, gore and politically conscious concerns over violence within the urban community. They helped put the South on the hip-hop map and inspired a myriad of rappers, such as 2PAC, the Notorious B.I.G., Eminem, Jay-Z, OutKast, UGK and Goodie Mob. Their songs have even been featured in multiple cult classic films – two singles, “Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta” from Till Death Do Us Part (1993) and “Still” from Resurrection (1996), were written as soundtrack singles – so it's appropriate that the reunion tour, dubbed The Office Space Tour, is a nod the Mike Judge film that also featured “Gangtsa.” There's even talk of a new album being in the works, but catching Geto Boys at House of Blues will be worth it for the classic, hard-hitting flows. Morganne Cameron


Allen Stone
With Brynn Elliot, 8 p.m. Sunday, June 14, at Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave., 214-824-9933 or granadatheater.com, $24
Like most soul singers, Allen Stone began in the church (the son of a preacher man), singing for the Lord. Amen. Over time, he got introduced to the likes of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway and Bill Withers. Again, like most soul singers, it would only be a matter of time before he'd go the secular route. Stone made a name for himself catching the eye of American readers through the New York Times and viewers on Jimmy Kimmel Live a few years ago. He did it by going the independent, self-released route, too, with his albums Last To Speak and Allen Stone. His major-label debut is set to be releases through Capitol Records some time this year, which is sure to spread his sultry voice and blue-eyed soul at an even more rapid pace than it did once before. HDB

2015 Dallas Dub Show
With Future, August Alsina, Kevin Gates, Mike Jones, Dorrough, B-Hamp, Paul Wall, Slim thug, Z-Ro, and more, 11 a.m., Sunday,  June 14 at Dallas Convention Center
650 S Griffin St, http://dubshowtour.com, $22-$120
If you're this, you're probably (presumably, hopefully) a music fan. There's a good chance you're a fan of rap music, specifically. But what about cars? Because if you like all three of those, we got good news for you, bro. Dub, a car magazine focused on "urban custom car culture," has a roving festival. It's part car show and part concert. a smattering of are on the bill and the show lasts from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m., so I'm not 100 percent sure how long these sets will lasts, but Future, Z-Ro, Dorrough and Slim Thug will all be there. Plus, of course, lowriders, so it's almost certainly going to be worth your time. Did we mention FUTURE? HDB

bemyfriend Benefit Show
With DJ Sober, Devy $tonez, DJ Junk food, Herrick & Hooley, Yung Wave, 8 p.m. Sunday, June 14, at Club Dada, 2720 Elm St., dadadallas.com, $10
We told you last week about how bemyfriend lost his labtop to a rowdy crowd at the 16Bars.XXX party that rounded out Dallas Week. Now, aside from the gofundme there's a benefit show to help the guy. It's $10 bucks to get in. Aside from that the lineup is pretty great. DJ Sober is spinning along with Yung Wave, and Junk Food. Devy $tonez, who always puts on a great energetic rap show, is performing and Herrick & Hooley, the recently graduated jazz and funk trio, is performing. Should be a helluva time. HDB

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