Erykah Badu, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, The GritzProphet BarSeptember 7, 2011Better than: an after-school special. Because here’s an undeniable truth about after-parties: Sometimes they can be as good as, if not better than, the real thing.That, at least, was the hope held by those who turned up last night at…
Black Star, Playdough, Topic House of Blues September 7, 2011 Better than: being blown away by a firearm. Although each has enjoyed a remarkable solo career as one of the most important names in hip-hop today, Mos Def and Talib Kweli are perhaps most loved when together as that unstoppable…
Japandroids, Bass Drum of DeathBryan Street TavernSeptember 7, 2011Better than: staying in and playing the Republican Debate Drinking Game. Hyped as ‘a big bill in a tiny venue’ by promoter Parade of Flesh, last night’s Bass Drum of Death and Japandroids bill turned out to be more of a medium-sized…
im Kasher, Aficionado, Sea Lion The Loft September 7th, 2011 Better than: filming your own version of Say Anything’s proposed sequel. Given the turnout for last night’s show, with the floor in front of the stage not even half-full, Tim Kasher could have played for less than an hour and…
Back in March, our own Kelly Dearmore was among the many who caught New York band O’Death’s stunning set at the 35 Conferette (now 35 Denton). He loved it, as you can see form what he wrote:As Josh T. Pearson and his beard watched on, New York’s O’ Death began…
Tim Kasher, on a break from recording with Cursive and The Good Life, is trekking through the states on his own at the moment. And he’s doing so in support of a couple of solo release, too — last year’s The Game of Monogamy, and a new EP featuring some…
Buddy Guy, Buddy Whittington, Jim Suhler, The Rick Kelly Band, othersBedford Blues & BBQ FestivalSeptember 4, 2011 Better than: sitting outside and soaking in the blues when the summer hasn’t ended. As a stiff breeze blew the last remnants of excessive heat from the area, legendary bluesman Buddy Guy headlined…
Drive-By Truckers, Centro-maticGranada TheaterSeptember 2Better than: “Freebird.” In the Drive-By Truckers documentary The Secret to a Happy Ending, a young female fan jokes that she often wears diapers to DBT shows, just so she won’t miss any of the show waiting in a bathroom line. That might sound crazy at most concerts,…
DiploRio RoomSeptember 1, 2011Better than: watching the movie Rio, I assume. Still, it was a price many were willing to pay nonetheless to catch a two-hour DJ set from one Thomas Pentz, who performs and produces under the name of Diplo. In the electronic world, he’s a bona fide superstar, regular…
Active Child, Com Truise The Prophet Bar September 1, 2011 Better than: doing then homework at the local coffee shop There’s a stark difference between electronic music that is made for partying and electronic music that is made for listening. Last night at The Prophet Bar that difference was evident…
The Dodos, The Luyas The Loft September 1, 2011 Better than: rummaging through your closet for Star Wars merchandise to put in a bonfire. As soon as The Loft opened last night — a little after 8:30 — the very long line waiting in the downstairs bar got some relief. Most…
Selena Gomez Gexa Energy Pavillion August 31, 2011 Better than: hearing your 12-year-old sing lyrics about probing aliens and ménage a trois. To the sounds of screams the likes of which I’ve never heard before, the lights went down at 8:22 at Gexa Energy Pavillion last night. When they came…
Leagues, The Old Home Guard, Katie Caroll, Stephanie PolskiThe Prophet BarAugust 30, 2011Better Than: watching A League Of Their Own followed by Major League. The crowd at The Prophet Bar stayed pretty full for the pretty much the entire show — pretty impressive stuff considering that the venue had booked…
DMX, Charlene Renee, IcebergHouse of BluesAugust 31, 2011Better than: another stint in jail, among other things. Earlier this year, DMX wrapped up an eight-month stint in prison for violating his probation (he refused a drug test). He was released back in June. Then, just this past weekend, he got arrested again…
If you haven’t seen The Dodos play live before, do yourself a favor and check them out when they hit town again this week. Comprised of principals Meric Long and Logan Kroeber, the band plays folk, but with a kick to it. It’s no skiffle or twee — it’s just…
Identity Festival Gexa Energy Pavilion August 29, 2011 Better than: sneaking a flask and some glowsticks into a movie theater to watch The Electric Daisy Carnival Experience. Last night, the Identity Festival, billed as the first-ever touring festival exclusively featuring electronic dance music artists, stopped at the Gexa Energy Pavilion…
Keith Urban American Airlines Center August 28, 2011 Better than: Walking along the boardwalk, sipping sweet tea and holding hands. It was an evening of warm fuzzies last night at the American Airlines Center. Keith Urban, on his “Get Closer,” tour opened with “Put You in a Song”from his latest…
Toadies, The Sword, Black Angels, Ume, Quiet Company, The Orbans, othersWhiteWater Amphitheater in New BraunfelsAugust 27, 2011Better than: getting chased by a serial killer around Possum Kingdom Lake. Four years into their comeback, which has come with the creation of their own annual August festival known as Dia de Los…
Handsome FursClub DadaAugust 27, 2011 Better than: getting all hot and bothered for nothing! The Handsome Furs are hot. Hotter even than the 100-plus degree evening air in Deep Ellum.They played hot music. They looked hot. Their love for each other and the fun they have performing together was hot. But…
Randy Rogers Band North Texas State Fair & RodeoDenton Fairgrounds August 26, 2011 Better than: having to sit through the North Texas State Fair & Rodeo’s Saturday night Tracy Lawrence concert, most likely. There are many things that can be said about the rowdy, predominantly college-aged crowds that engulf each…
Sunny SweeneyThe Glass Cactus in Grapevine August 25, 2011 Better than: having to complain that Modern Country Radio ignores all talented Texans. Texas native Sunny Sweeney is a star. Most of the country music-loving world knows that, too, thanks to her Top 10 hit single “From A Table Away.” On Thursday…
Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center August 25, 2011 Better than: Wearing a fake arrow through your head. Most comedians are lucky to have one straight man. When Steve Martin plays the banjo, he has five. Of course, those five men are kick ass musicians –…
