Last Night: Chris Cornell at House of Blues

Chris CornellHouse of BluesApril 3, 2011Better than: open mic night at any given local bar, although not by much. Let’s get something out of the way right up front: I’m a pretty huge Chris Cornell fan. I’ve seen him live a few times before, and he’s always exceeded my expectations…

Over The Weekend: Big K.R.I.T., Freddie Gibbs and A.Dd+ at Trees

Big K.R.I.T., Freddie Gibbs and A.Dd+Trees April 2, 2011Better Than: Staying at home on a Saturday night? The headlining performers on Saturday night’s bill at Trees were supposed to be big draws. And rightfully so: Big KR.I.T. and Freddie Gibbs are two of the bigger names to emerge in the…

Over the Weekend: Joe Pug at The Loft

Strand of Oaks, Joe Pug The Loft April 2, 2011 Better than: any “new Dylan” comparison you could dream up. A year ago, in the low-lit underfloor that is J&J’s Pizza in Denton, Joe Pug played a set for a tiny, but dedicated crowd at NX35 Conferette. The Flaming Lips…

Last Night: Akron/Family, Delicate Steve at The Loft

Akron/Family, Delicate Steve The Loft March 31, 2011 Better than: staying home and watching the Mavericks lose to the Lakers. True believers in Akron/Family’s brand of psychedelic folk showed up in relative force to worship at the altar of all things bizarre and wonderful last night at The Loft, and…

Picture Show: Bret Michaels Rocks Out at Fair Park

After more than 14,000 runners racked up 13.1 miles on Sunday morning as part of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Dallas Half Marathon at Fair Park, they were met with a Bret Michaels performance. Michaels followed Candy Coburn (that’s who he’s hugging after the jump) in serenading the runners’ tired limbs…

Over The Weekend: Destroyer, The War on Drugs at The Loft

Destroyer, The War on DrugsThe LoftMarch 26, 2011Better than: listening to karaoke Wham!, I guess. The bottom line: I wish I had thought to bring a Kindle to read at The Loft on Saturday night — not unlike the guy helping me hold up the column in the middle of…

Last Night: Adam Carter Memorial Concert at The Bone

Adam Carter Memorial ConcertThe BoneMarch 23, 2011 It was a somber scene at The Bone last night, a scene tragically all-too-familiar in the local music scene of late. Since August, five members of the local music scene have died — Ace McNeely, The Will Callers’ Bradley Kyle Schroeder and Chase…

Picture Show: BRO FEST Says Screw SXSW At Club Dada

And then there was BRO FEST.For those who had SXSW hangovers that were too sharp, or got stuck in the biblical nightmare that was traffic on I-35 (where are you Third Man Records truck?), Parade of Flesh’s 2011 BRO FEST boasted, as Daniel Hopkins mentioned in this week’s print, its…

Over The Weekend: Toro y Moi, Cloud Nothings and Ishi at Club Dada

Toro y Moi, Cloud Nothings, IshiClub DadaMarch 19, 2011Better than: rushing halfway across downtown Austin to cram into an at-capacity venue, club or the ever-popular Fader Fort for a rushed 25-minute South-by-Southwest-style set. With more than 300 presale tickets sold before Saturday’s show, Dada’s “Backyard” — lit by the “supermoon”…

Over The Weekend: Peter Murphy at the Granada Theater

Peter MurphyGranada TheaterFriday, March 18, 2011Better than: Staying in and watching The Hunger. Blue lights blinded the packed crowd at Granada Theater on Friday night as the King of Goth took his stance at front and center stage. The one-time Bauhaus frontman may be 53 years old these days, but…

Best Of SXSW Saturday-Day: Owen Pallett, Rock Screams and Rumors

The final day–and night as Rocks Off discovered–of SXSW was a long one. After perusing an absolutely epic line for Rachel Ray’s Feedback Party at Stubb’s (yeah, you read that right), we ventured over to Peckerheads to meet Dallas-friends Gorilla Groove. While the lineup there doesn’t really rank high on…

Picture Show: Street Scenes from SXSW

It was perfect weather for taking it to the streets yesterday in Austin, which is why our feet were a couple of blood-filled balloons by late last night. Good thing there’s plenty of street pizza and bizarre performances on 6th street to stop and (rest) watch. Yesterday was no different;…

The Best Of SXSW Music Wednesday: Folk Beards, Nite Jewel and Nudity

People drunk. After day one-ish of SXSW Music, it’s a new term. People drunk is the dulled sensation, the open-mouth brain shock of trying to figure out which great band to catch in a completely huge crowd. Looking at yesterday’s schedule (and today’s…and tomorrow’s), it’s an overwhelming choice. So, yeah,…

Last Night: Lady Gaga at the American Airlines Center

Lady GagaAmerican Airlines CenterMarch 14, 2011Better than: missing out on the chance to see a pop icon like Gaga at her peak. “I am certain that Jesus must love EVERYBODY,” Gaga roared into her mic at American Airlines Center last night. “Jesus loves everybody.”Gaga was preaching.”I told you we were…