The Flaming Lips, Neon Indian, New FumesFebruary 3, 2011Palladium BallroomBetter than: realizing that you have the most beautiful face. In many regards, last night’s performance from the Flaming Lips was exactly like the two previous ones we’d seen in the past year — first at NX35 2020 and again at…
This morning in Uptown, a couple of Steelers fans — they were wearing ponchos — drank coffee in the ankle-high snow. Store owners raked mounds of white off their walk-ins, and Dallas folks screamed at cars driving slowly on McKinney avenue: “Go home!” Several hours before this morning’s snowpocalypse, which…
The NFL Pepsi Fan Jam with Kid Rock, Duran Duran and Jason DeruloVerizon Theatre, Grand PrairieFebruary 3, 2011 Better than: Finding out your girlfriend has Hepatitis C On a night where camera crews were absolutely everywhere (including two large camera cranes) and where directors kept giving instructions over the PA…
DeerhoofThe LoftFebruary 2, 2011Better than: Ice, ice baby It was a stroke of good luck, aided with a bit of coaxing by Loft promoter Kris Youmans, that got two luminaries to agree to share the bill on Wednesday night at The Loft. And, for fans of more experimental music, the…
Welcome to My First Show, where we give bands a chance to talk about the first shows they ever attended — no matter how uncool and embarrassing those tales may be. Don Cento is a familiar face around town, given his time as a keyboardist with Chomsky and as a…
Before the sleet made the roads look like a scene from The Mighty Ducks, legendary crunkmaster and rapper Lil Jon held a Super Bowl week kickoff party last night at Zouk. This, of course, is the first of many parties to come this week — all of which you can…
Welcome to My First Show, where we give bands a chance to talk about the first shows they ever attended — no matter how uncool and embarrassing those tales may be. Beau Wagener might be best known around town as the bassist for Macavity and, more recently, as one of…
Escape the Fate, Alasana, Motionless is White, Get Scared and Drive ASouth Side Music HallJanuary 24, 2011Better than: taking my kid to Hot Topic. The crowd at South Side Music Hall looked as if every secondary school in the area had bused in any kid who looked even remotely punk…
Against Me!, Cheap Girls, FencesTreesJanuary 24, 2011Better than: seeing some lo-fi band that thinks it’s punk rock. The easiest way to describe the 80-minute onslaught Against Me! offered up to its enthusiastic Trees audience last night? To say that it was a cathartic experience. And, really, that’s as apt a…
Best Coast, Wavves, No Joy Granada Theater January 24, 2011 Better Than: Being separated from your best friend/cat. Over the past year, the relationship between Nathan Williams and Bethany Cosentino, lead singers of Wavves and Best Coast, respectively, has been the go-to story in the world of indie rock romance…
The Get Up Kids, Steel Train, River City Extension The Loft January 23, 2011 Better than: polishing your multi-colored Hot Water Music vinyl records. Aren’t you glad when a reunion tour isn’t a fluke? Fifteen months ago, The Get Up Kids triumphantly returned to the DFW area with a…
Ozzy Osbourne, SlashAmerican Airlines CenterJanuary 20, 2011Better than: a stirring competition of Rock Band. The greatest trick the Prince of Darkness ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist. And, make no mistake, that’s just what The Osbournes did. The four-season MTV reality series that focused on Ozzy Osbourne,…
Ghost of a Saber Tooth TigerDan’s Silverleaf, DentonJanuary 18, 2010Better Than: Dhani Harrison’s band with Ben Harper. Here’s the thing: It may be in bad taste, but when there’s the son of a Beatle in the room, it’s difficult to get past that. Especially when we’re not just talking any…
Leg Sweeper, B L A C K I E, XryCanton Co-OpJanuary 18, 2010Better than: seeing a show at a venue that actually makes me pay for beer. Tuesdays sometimes seem like the neglected middle child day of the week — the one that always minds his own business, really likes…
Jim Suptic co-founded The Get Up Kids back in 1995. Their first practice came on his 18th birthday. And, in the following years, his band became a touchstone in the emo community. But their beginnings were pretty humble: Eons before Weezer’s Pinkerton was worshipped and the members of Paramore got…
Datahowler, Gallery Cat, Damaged Good$, Hoyotoho Club Dada January 15, 2011 Better than: staying home to “avoid all the crazies on the road” while your friends have a ball celebrating the New Year (again). Honestly, if I wasn’t sick and running a fever right now, I’d try to come up…
Every few years it seems a new pandemic sweeps the nation. Usually occurring on or around television sweeps weeks, diseases like SARS and swine flu become hot-button topics that dominate news coverage as well as most other forms of popular media. Formerly innocuous water cooler conversations become monopolized by coworkers’…
Girl Talk Saturday, January 15, 2011 The Palladium BallroomBetter than: Listening to a bunch of actual girl talk. Whether you can dance or not, you know you want to. You just need a good excuse and, in some cases, a little lubrication. Saturday night Girl Talk provided the excuse. An…
Royal Bangs, Goldilocks and The Rock and Land Animals Hailey’s January 14, 2011 Better Than: The Falcons performance against the Packers on Saturday. A small but dedicated crowd fought the cold wind and drizzle Friday night to hear Knoxville’s Royal Bangs play at Hailey’s Club in Denton. While the weather…
Welcome to My First Show, where we give bands a chance to talk about the first shows they ever attended — no matter how uncool and embarrassing those tales may be. T.J. Prendergast of Maleveller has played drums for a variety of acts over the years — Sons of Sound,…
A heavy metal feud is brewing between California and Dallas. Seems Southern California’s Def Leppard tribute band is pretty pissed off at Dallas’ Def Leppard tribute band, according to Spinner and NME. Perusing the Huntington Beach-based Leppard tribute band’s website confirms that, alas, it is true: Seems there is a…
No Age, Total Abuse and Rene HellJanuary 10, 2011Sons of Hermann HallBetter than: making the trek to The Smell for such an eclectic, entertaining bill. Whether the folks that showed up to last night’s show were new to No Age or “long-time” fans of the act’s 2007 Fat Cat debut,…
