M.I.A. and Holy Fuck May 2, 2008 Palladium Ballroom Better than: Confusing the African Anteater Ritual with the latest dance craze, as seen in the 1987 classic Can’t Buy Me Love Very few people actually took the bait. M.I.A.’s set was “over” after a 50-minute performance ending with “Galang,” almost…
The Glow in the Dark Tour featuring Kanye West, Rihanna, N.E.R.D. and Lupe Fiasco May 1, 2008 Superpages.com Center Better than: Battlestar Galactica. The lights are off, and an LED screen floating above the stage showcases a passing starscape. The crowd, enthused by what’s to come, starts chanting Kanye West’s…
UltraViolet Rock Show April 26, 2008 Club Dada Better than: Just being satisfied with the awesome compilation CD that was pulled together for the benefit as well. The good music vibes from last weekend were apparently still in the air last night, because the UltraViolet Rock Show and Art Auction…
The Recording Academy and T-Mobile present Kid Rock and Gretchen Wilson Wednesday, April 23, 2008 Granada Theater Better Than: Trolling around on facebook all night long, waiting for your friends to finish up their turn in a game of Scrabulous. Last night was the second time I’d attended a Kid…
The punk icons The New York Dolls at the Granada. (Daniel Kramer)New York Dolls April 20, 2008 Granada Theater Much Better Than: expected, and way better than getting your punk thrills via an over-coifed trio of emo bands at Nokia. Download: See photos from Sunday night’s show. Critic’s Notebook: With…
Record Hop at Rubber Gloves Friday, April 18. (Melanie Gomez) Pete made a good point on Friday when he complained about Denton hosting a badass showcase the one weekend Dallas has awesome showcases. Your DC-9 friends were all over the place this weekend. Luckily, our photographer Melanie Gomez was more…
Al Jorgensen looking more scary than he did last night.Ministry April 17, 2008 Palladium Ballroom Better Than: Getting your teeth pulled while watching a building being demolished, just barely. According to leader Al Jorgensen, this will be the last time Ministry comes to Dallas. Ever. That’s why he’s calling it…
Bruce Springsteen doing his thing at the AAC. (Melanie Gomez) We had a few glitches Monday morning, and so we didn’t have our Bruce Springsteen photos to compliment Pete’s review. Well, now, we finally have the photos of The Boss (and the E Street Band) for your viewing pleasure. Better…
Megadeth is metal. (Matt Mueller) Gigantour featuring Megadeth, In Flames and Children of Bodom April 15, 2008 Nokia Theater Better Than: Taste of Chaos and Take Action tours combined. Download: Check out Matt Mueller’s photos from last night’s show. No one has been able to tell me why this year’s…
Oh, ohhhh, it’s Magic! Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band April 13, 2008 American Airlines Center Better than: Actually going to New Jersey and having to put up with all the meatheads on the Shore. Texans got all the New Jersey they could possibly handle at the American Airlines…
Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige April 12, 2008 Superpages.com Music Center Better Than: “Louboutins with the red bottoms.” R. Kelly got it wrong. Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z are actually the best of both worlds. I mean, bumping a track is one thing; I’d even seen them perform together on…
Ra Ra Rioting. (Cameron Muilenburg) Ra Ra Riot April 10, 2008 Lola’s, Ft. Worth Better than: Dancing with yourself in your bedroom mirror–you loser, you! I can’t help it. I dig Ra Ra Riot. I like their sound. I like how it manages to be grandiose and intricate at the…
The Mars Volta at the Palladium Ballroom Tuesday, April 8.The Mars Volta April 8, 2008 Palladium Ballroom Better Than: Listening to your old At The Drive In discs. I was damn excited when this show was announced in February. Damn excited. I hadn’t had the pleasure of seeing The Mars…
As AFI Dallas wrapped up, the Polyphonic Spree took to the House of Blues stage Saturday night as AFI Dallas finished up. Over on Unfair Park, Wilonsky said the PSpree “bewitched the audience of mostly outta-towners and/or Preston Hollowinners (Holloweeners?) where the Polyphonic Spree bewildered, then absolutely bewitched the audience…
Collin Herring, Austin Collins April 5, 2008 The Cavern Better than: pretending to be alt-country by drinking Lone Star while listening to The Drams or Old 97’s. Fort Worth’s Collin Herring and Austin’s Austin Collins put on an Americana song writing clinic Saturday night at The Cavern in front of…
Taste of Chaos 2008 featuring Atreyu and Avenged Sevenfold April 1, 2008 Nokia Theatre Better Than: This week’s Rob & Big. (Oh, we TiVo’d it.) Download: Avenged Sevenfold live photos. Avenged Sevenfold live at Nokia. (Matt Mueller) After a handful of hassles trying to get into the Taste of Chaos…
Rich’s newest girl crush: Allison Russell of Po’ Girl.Hoots and Hellmouth with Po’ Girl March 14, 2008 Bend Studio Better than: Being in Austin watching their show amidst drunken revelers and secondhand smoke. In one night, I may have a new favorite band, a girl crush and a man crush…
The Feds’ Matt Slider at Wednesday’s show. (Chelsea Ide)Most of the songs I’ve heard by Dallas’ The Feds had me thinking they were a radio band. But, I tell you, The Feds are straight-up rock when it comes to the live show. The band had great stage presence at its…
Every Time I Die March 5, 2008 House of Blues Better than: Practicing your hardcore vocals with The Zen of Screaming. Download: See our slideshow and video. Every Time I Die guitarist Jordan Buckley on stage at the House of Blues Wednesday night. (Matt Mueller) The five guys in Every…
If only we could grow beards like that. (Dan Dyer) Dan Dyer February 29, 2008 Bend Studio Better than: … going to the same venue for yoga and discovering you’re about as limber as week-old garlic bread. Dan Dyer hit the stage at a packed Bend Studio and within seconds…
60 or so bands played the Melodica Festival this weekend, and it would have been literally impossible to catch each and every performance during the three-night fest. Still, we ran ourselves ragged trying. The result: About 12 acts caught in full, another handful of performances seen mostly in full, and…
Maceo Parker with Grand Pianoramax February 27, 2008 House of Blues Better than: Pretty much anything, save a second performance. Self-described on his live album Life on Planet Groove as “2 percent jazz, 98 percent funky stuff,” Maceo Parker brought a funk explosion to the House of Blues Wednesday night…
