VNV Nation Trees Thursday, February 23 A lanky blonde, clad in black pumps, fishnet stockings, satin booty shorts, elbow-length gloves and a red corset that didn’t leave much to the imagination, stepped up to the bouncer guarding the front door of Trees last night. The young girl frowned when the…
Uncle, I’ll toss a few things in the “pro” column of the 12:30 A.M. Dallas club arrival time. I knew you weren’t going to be out ’til late, so I opted to get a few chores done instead of getting irritated. I got a manicure, I went to the gym,…
When a vibrator mysteriously ended up in my mailbox recently, I got scared. I checked my apartment for video cameras and recording devices. I asked friends if they were pulling a prank on me. Had I “accidentally” ordered one in the early morning hours and “forgotten” about it? (Very possible.)…
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks Granada Theater Tuesday, February 21 There was a noticeable difference between the Jicks of last night and the reunited Pavement I saw at Stubb’s in Austin in 2010, mainly in that the Jicks looked happy to be there. Stephen Malkmus walked onto the Granada stage…
You’ve seen the white and black Sealion sticker at most bars around Deep Ellum. Luckily, the band is worth the attention, and they’re even hitting the road with the Toadies at the end of March. Friday, they play “the final Annex House show” at the fabled Lakewood crash pad. All…
Yelawolf Trees Saturday, February 18 Yelawolf went on stage at 11:30 p.m., a pretty average start time for a Saturday show, but those assembled were chanting his name for so long and so aggressively that it felt like ages before he finally hit the stage. If this wasn’t the experience…
The newest diamond on Dallas’ shiny exterior is Tommy DeAlano’s joint, The Dram. Housed in what was formerly the Wooden House on Henderson, the once furniture and import boutique now boasts one beautiful renovation. All plush velvet, tufted couches and jewel tones, you can expect plenty of new Facebook profile…
Lumberjack 8 Dan’s Silverleaf Saturday, February 18 This yearly mini music festival is Harlan Anderson’s brainchild, and he was the one grilling on the back patio, cheerfully putting up with the rain in his “Meat Guns” apron, hob-knobbing with attendees and shooting the shit with Dan Mojica, owner of the…
Let me make myself clear: I love Chris Botti’s music. Not in an ironic or tongue-in-cheek way. Yes, Botti, the trumpet player who’s played with everyone from Sting to Josh Groban to Steven Tyler. He’s the kind of guy your parents love, along with Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand. This…
Patrick “Taz” Bentley, the powerful drummer behind Rev. Horton Heat, Burden Brothers, and Tenderloin, will be back in action this week with his latest band, 76. Since their sound owes a lot to the sonic messiah that is mid-’70s arena rock, it’s no surprise to hear Bentley saw some of…
Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra, The Angelus Sons of Hermann Hall Sunday, February 12 As snow flurries turned to rain Sunday night, Canadian five-piece Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra performed in Dallas for the first time. And they played for almost two hypnotic hours. Frontman Efrim Menuck was…
Five Best Performances 1. Jennifer Hudson Grammy host L.L. Cool J had a hard enough job presiding over a celebration undercut by tragic circumstances, and he achieved a perfect, almost pastor-like tone from the get-go. But Miss Hudson’s musical tribute to Whitney Houston – a subtly searing but still reverential…
Thurston Moore The Texas Theatre Friday, February 10 After re-listening to last year’s Demolished Thoughts a few weeks ago, there was an added psychic layer to the experience. When I heard Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon had divorced a few months ago after close to three decades of marriage, I…
Mind Spiders, Low Culture, Brain Attack, Occult Detective Club Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios Friday, February 10 With two drummers, two guitarists, one bassist and one keyboardist, Mind Spiders didn’t sound lopsided Friday night at Rubber Gloves.Throwing in some new material from their sophomore effort, Meltdown, along with songs from their…
Doomtree Dan’s Silverleaf Tuesday, February 7 In a year spent throne-watching, Doomtree’s 2011 release, No Kings, was an interesting comment on hip-hop’s climate. Excessive in its own right, the Minneapolis collective has no less than seven official collaborators contributing to the final sound of their latest record. Not the baroque…
Dallas five-piece The Blurries are riding high from the accolades of last year’s Paper Cuts. With upcoming appearances at Dada and 35 Denton, bassist Andy Lester took some time out to talk about the first shows he saw and played, including when PJ Harvey scared him. What was the first…
King Khan & the Shrines Sons of Hermann Hall Monday, February 6 It’s hard to tell who King Khan is channeling when he gets on stage. James Brown comes to mind first, as does Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. He sings about the important things: Mainly sex, food and rock ‘n’ roll…
If I had to explain Madonna’s Super Bowl performance in one word that isn’t followed by question marks and exclamation points, it would be synergy. She was in a commercial before the event, and her new song, “Give Me All Your Luvin'” was featured afterwards. OK, fine, the Super Bowl…
Well, the weekend is over and I am still trying to remove my neon pink lipstick from the super fun wedding reception the Observer staff ingested too many jello shots at. All in the name of art, we are cultural consumers around these parts. Be it a new pop-up bar…
If you’re like me, you wondered what exactly Shepard Fairey would spin at Saturday’s Dallas Contemporary Phenomenon event. Sadly, Tuvan throat singing and Icelandic death metal were not in the cards. Instead, it was sort of like being at a really fun wedding reception: House of Pain’s “Jump Around,” Young…
Thursdays in Dallas are getting unruly, reworking my school night routine a bit. I make sure the laundry, nails and hair are did a day or two early since we are all bound to run into each other once the sun sets. Last night, Dallas overfloweth. I love Parks and…
They Might Be Giants Granada Theater Thursday, February 2 When nerds sell out a show, you know you’re in for it. Scanning the crowd at the Granada last night, I could tell there were quite a few folks paying babysitters until 11 p.m., who were maybe a bit pudgier than…
