The 9 Best Concerts in Dallas this Weekend: February 28 – March 2

Spring is here and what better time to kick out the cobwebs? I personally like to ring in the season with a good deep house cleaning, lots of “Let’s Dance”-era David Bowie records, and of course some good live music. This weekend presents plenty of opportunities to get your feet moving and blood pumping after hibernating all winter. From Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings to the Pixies to Ishi, there’s a lot going on. Get out there and get some of that fresh springtime air, Dallas.

Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings Thursday, February 27, at Granada Theater True, grooving and heart-tugging soul music is enjoying a remarkable run these days. Buzzed-about bands such as Alabama Shakes, Mayer Hawthorne and St. Paul and the Broken Bones have blended R&B, blues, rock and roots to create a verdant form of the sound Motown and Stax artists perfected decades ago. Recent releases from Charles Bradley and Lee Fields and the Expressions have only added to the richness of the soul-trove. But it’s not a stretch to suggest that Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings have provided the gateway for rock, indie and hip-hop fans to shake their butt through as they dig into the exciting crop of artists baring solid soul. Jones isn’t new to this, by any means. While Jones has been recording with the Dap Kings for over a decade, it is the collective’s most recent release, Give the People What they Want, which represents perhaps their strongest statement to date. Though it was recorded before she underwent intense (and successful) treatment for Pancreatic Cancer last year, it’s impossible to not feel the joy of victory in what Rolling Stone calls “an instant soul-party.” The story here isn’t Jones’ health – it’s her spirit, and indeed, her strength of soul. Kelly Dearmore

Pixies Friday, February 28, at South Side Music Hall Asked if it felt strange recording material and writing new songs 25 years from the first Pixies release, guitarist Joey Santiago says, “It was no different from what we did in the past. It’s like, ‘What time am I fixing the overdubs? What time am I fixing my shit?'” Santiago thinks such a consistent approach comes from the band’s blue-collar background. “We’re from New England, we still have that work ethic, y’know? We’re all working class band members. The hardest thing other bands did was try to look poor.” Gavin Cleaver

FOR THE LOVE OF BRUCE or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying About ASCAP and Love The Boss Friday, February 28, at Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios You can’t start a fire without a spark. No one knows that better than Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios in Denton. When they were slapped with licensing fines from the ASCAP, they decided to educate the region’s general live music patron population on the ways big publishing unjustly fines venue owners with themed cover nights. This Friday, it’s The Boss. So throw that six-string on your back, throw an American flag bandanna in the back pocket of your skintight dungarees and strut your ass on down to RGRS. Share your favorite Springsteen cover, and learn about how evil the music industry is. Vanessa Quilantan

The Expendables Saturday, March 1, at House Of Blues Santa Cruz’s Expendables are a hard band to knock. Sure, the band’s fusion of reggae and rock is fairly generic, but it is also damn catchy. Sometimes, it’s nice to just sit back, sip your favorite beverage and nod your head to the never-ending groove. These guys have been producing their blend of ska and surf rock for the better part of two decades and their whimsy is fairly contagious. It also helps that the Expendables have a solid sense of humor that permeates all six of the band’s albums, including 2012’s acoustic offering Gone Soft. Offering pleasant tunes that are totally absent any sense of danger or urgency, the Expendables easily live up to the name. On any given Saturday night, however, the band can offer a couple hours of music specifically made not to think about. Darryl Smyers

Roky Erickson Saturday, March 1, at Granada Theater Of all the places in the world to spawn the most enduring fringes of psychedelic rock, Texas does not seem a likely candidate. But thanks in no small part to Roky Erickson and his 13th Floor Elevator bandmates, that’s exactly what happened. You don’t need to dig deep for the great feats of rock ‘n’ roll: He allegedly dropped out of high school rather than cut his hair, and he definitely avoided a prison sentence for marijuana possession with a plea of insanity. Long established as a solo artist, he comes to Dallas with fellow Austinites The Black Angels – a powerful band in its own right and in fact the night’s headliner. What’s it like having the man who made your career possible opening for you? Kiernan Maletsky Raw & Underground 9: Freestyle and Beat Battle Saturday, March 1 at Hailey’s, Denton Hosted by AV The Great and featuring a performance from Denton’s Wild Bill, this edition of freestyle and beat battle Raw & Underground will showcase some of the area’s best and brightest in hip-hop. Competitors have their work cut out for them, aiming to impress the esteemed panel of guest judges including THRWD Magazine’s Lee Escobedo, D Magazine‘s Christopher Mosley, WAR Media’s Sa’tori Ananda, and Too Fresh Productions’ Joel Salazar. VQ

Ishi Saturday, March 1, at Trees This weekend, JT Mudd’s long active house-influenced indie dance project Ishi will headline in Deep Ellum. The bill is stacked with support from local talent Home By Hovercraft, Zhora (which features former Ishi vocalist, Taylor Rhea), and At Night. This is sure to be a strong night for Dallas synth pop. VQ

Sarah Jaffe, Son Of Stan Saturday, March 1 at Shipping and Receiving There are worse places to see what North Texas music has to offer. First you’ll get Son of Stan; if his 2013 LP wasn’t the best area effort of the year it was certainly the most energetic and among the most interesting. You could say much the same about Sarah Jaffe’s most recent full-length in 2012. She, of course, reigns. KM

Super Fresh Local Fest Sunday, March 2, at Club Dada This Sunday mini-fest promises to be “a celebration of all things local and fresh- including music, food, art, and small independent businesses.” Proceeds from this event will go toward Homegrown Festival and the Texas Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association, but the lineup itself is enough reason to make it out for this one. Dead Flowers, The Auxiliary Voice, Madison King, The Van Sanchez, Bad Mountain and Katie Carroll will share the stage. VQ

See also: –The Top Ten All Time Best Replacement Lead Singers in Rock and Roll –Songs That Have Hidden Messages When Played in Reverse –The Ten Best Music Videos Banned by MTV

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