My Chemical Romance, Circa Survive and The ArchitectsThe House of BluesMay 21, 2011(Just Barely) Better Than: Staying home and watching the Mavericks beat the Thunder. New Jersey’s alt-rock outfit My Chemical Romance put on a fierce and fun performance in front of a packed and sweaty, multi-generational horde at the…
Portugal. The Man, Telekinesis, Unknown Mortal OrchestraGranada TheaterMay 20, 2011Better than: trying to put on your own laser show. Die-hard fans lined the front of the stage for Friday night’s Portugal. The Man show, a group ranging from the young fans attempting to conceal their conspicuously X-ed hands to Gen…
Around 9 p.m. last night, the Mavericks were finishing up the first half, warm peanuts sat in a barrel at Jack Daniels Saloon, and Bravo, Max! began tuning up for Locals Only, part deux. Meanwhile, the mechanical bull was chucking back and forth on the patio.A quick recap: Locals Only…
Just before The Mavericks packed fans into the American Airlines Center and Bravo, Max! opened up Locals Only part deux (we’ll be along later with photos), the AT&T Performing Arts center hosted Patio Sessions–a free music series showcase of local bands sponsored by, well, us.This week? Cary Pierce and Booker…
Kylie Minogue Verizon Theatre at Grand Prairie May 18, 2011 Better than: Tuesday Karaoke night at the Cedar Rapids Holiday Inn where the cocktail special is that they have cocktails. The drinks were fruity. The guys were hot. And the atmosphere was Saturday night at a fabulous gay dance club,…
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. Even though they play cover songs, you’d be remiss to think of The Mumbles as a bunch of guys…
In this week’s print edition of the Observer, we’ll have more — much, much more — on this past weekend’s Homegrown Music and Art Festival in downtown Dallas’ Main Street Garden Park. But, for now, some brief notes…
Fleet Foxes, Cave SingersPalladium BallroomMay 11, 2011Better Than: Seeing a bad band in a good venue. Based on the release of the Fleet Foxes’ brilliant, self-titled 2008 debut — along with their new record Helplessness Blues, which was released last week — it wouldn’t be hard for one to predict…
These days, This Will Destroy You have their hands full. With good reason, of course: Today marks the arrival of their newest LP, Tunnel Blanket, an album that finds the band growing even darker and denser and, somehow, even bigger than their epic offerings have showcased to date. Meanwhile, the…
Man Man, Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers Sons of Hermann Hall May 6, 2011 Better Than: Wearing sunglasses at night. One of the images that comes to mind when I hear the musical chaos known as Man Man, is the clown scene in the Disney movie Dumbo. Live performances…
Wilco, Smith WesternsUNT AuditoriumMay 7, 2011 Better than: The female country singer loudly covering “Smells Like Teen Spirit” at some bar near campus after the show, and many, many other things. I’ve seen Wilco in venues large and small, but I’d never seen them in a jungle before Saturday night…
Editor’s Note: This review was written by Jenny Block Brett Dennen, Dawes Granada Theater May 7, 2011 Better than: Hula hooping in your front yard on the first day of summer vacation, sun in your face, knowing that your mom will call you in for grilled cheese and grape Kool…
Tobacco, Beans May 2, 2011 Club Dada Better than: any joke I can make about getting cancer. To say that Tobacco, who also performs as the frontman for electronic group Black Moth Super Rainbow, came onto the stage at Club Dada with little fanfare would be a gross exaggeration. Beginning…
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. These days, you see Glen Reynolds in the crowd at shows more than you see him on the stage…
Donald Glover/Childish GambinoSouth Side Music HallMay 2, 2011Better than: open mic night at the Dallas Comedy House. There’s no doubting the popularity of actor/comedian Donald Glover and his maybe-not-moonlighting-gig as rapper Childish Gambino. The ticket sales for his Dallas show last night sure stand as a testament to that: After…
The Moody Blues Verizon Theatre in Grand Prairie May 2, 2011 Better than: attending an AARP convention. Seeing that most of the original members of The Moody Blues are well into their 60s and 70s at this point, it was no surprise that the audience that gathered together last night…
Arcade Fire, Okkervil RiverGexa Energy PavilionApril 30, 2011Better than: any other show you’ve seen in 2011. More than five years have passed since Arcade Fire last played Dallas — something of which the crowd that came to see the band play the freshly minted Gexa Energy Pavillion (nee a bajillion…
Edgefest 21 with Jane’s Addiction, Weezer, Social Distortion, Flogging Molly and othersPizza Hut Park in FriscoApril 30, 2011 Better than: staying at home, engaged in a rousing game of Tetris. Every year, in the cruel summer heat, KDGE-102.1-FM The Edge’s annual Edgefest concert draws large crowds for equally large acts,…
The Decemberists, Other LivesHouse of BluesApril 29, 2011 Better than: sitting in your bedroom, reading Melville, and wondering what it might be like to love someone as much as you love the sea. Friday night’s “sold out” show at the House of Blues didn’t really seem sold out. By the…
Joan As Policewoman, The New Mary Jane, Jessie FryeClub DadaApril 29, 2011Better than: superstars seen from great distance, and police from up close. Sometimes, expectations get exceeded. And, on Friday night at Club Dada, Joan Wasser, who performs under the monikers of Joan as Policewoman, easily exceeded those of her…
Technically, the doors to Travis Street’s Rio Room have been open for some time now, dating all the way back to the venue’s Super Bowl weekend festivities. But, last night, as we reported earlier this week, the Headington Companies-owned spot (along with the Joule Hotel, PM Nightlife Lounge and other…
Black Lips, Vivian GirlsThe LoftApril 28, 2011Better than: holding your dirty hand. You can tell that the Black Lips have been around for almost a decade at this point. It’s clear from the very start of their performance — although not necessarily because their offerings are especially crisp.Actually, it’s quite…
