How Bret Michaels turned fronting a rather mindless hair metal band into a multimedia career lasting nearly four decades is one of those mysteries that may never be solved. Belting out syrupy power ballads like “Every Rose Has Its Thorn” is one thing, but becoming a reality television star, screenwriter…
Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx was in town yesterday, announcing that he’s bringing his radio show, Sixx Sense, to the 6- 10 a.m. morning slot on 97.1 The Eagle KEGL-FM, starting Monday, May 7. It’s co-hosted with Casey Kasem’s daughter, Kerri, who was also on hand. A sampling of some…
The first time I saw Screaming Females was 2009 at The Parlor in Austin, a small, narrow pizza place that sends gusts of warm pizza dough wind into the venue every time the oven is opened. Within five minutes of their set, guitarist and singer Marissa Paternoster ripped into her…
It’s a Tuesday night at Austin’s Horseshoe Lounge and two members of the band Mike and the Moonpies are here to do an interview. Frontman Mike Harmeier is wearing snakeskin boots and a Dwight Yoakam trucker cap. Lead guitarist Catlin Rutherford vaguely resembles Chris Hillman when he wears a mustache,…
Quirky instrumental act Shibboleth hasn’t released any new music in the four years since their 2008 album Experiment In Error. Chalk it up to the trio’s work in other acts. Keyboardist Rich Martin plays with Salim Nourallah and John Singer Sergeant, and guitarist Don Cento, who recently moved to Austin,…
Denver quartet The Fray are one of those successful pop bands that are pretty easy to dislike. Their songs pop up on shows like Grey’s Anatomy and the band has built a loyal fan base within the Christian music market. However, despite massive popularity, songs such as “Over My Head…
Providence, Rhode Island’s Deer Tick is all about John J. McCauley III. The singer/guitarist formed the band in 2004 and his warped wit and croaking vocal style define Deer Tick’s sound. Speaking from a Pittsburgh restaurant and in anticipation of Saturday’s show at The Loft, McCauley spoke about Deer Tick’s…
A few weeks ago, Will Kapinos, formerly of Jetscreamer and currently of Dim Locator, sent out an email explaining two shows The Telescopes are playing in DFW tonight and tomorrow, and how they came to be: “Our friends in the Cush played in the UK last year and met those…
Percussionist Mickey Hart has devoted his life to rhythm. Whether performing as the drummer for the legendary Grateful Dead during two different stints totaling 15 years, or as the author of multiple books which discuss the origins of sound, rhythm and ultimately, music, Hart has kept busy. Mysterium Tremendum, Hart’s…
by Craig Hlavaty The Texas Music Office, a division of the Office of the Governor, announced Friday the creation of the Live Music Grant Program, funding free concerts across the state. But don’t get all excited yet. This is the Texas guv’ment we are dealing with, after all, so there…
Even if you’re not a rich girl or a maneater, you’ve probably had one of Hall & Oates’ songs stuck in your head for a considerable amount of time. These days, most people start to listen to the ’80s duo purely out of irony, but once they dig into the…
Before earning a spot as the drummer for Korn, Ray Luzier played some high-profile gigs with David Lee Roth and Stone Temple Pilots. So the guy obviously knows something about working with temperamental frontmen. Speaking from a car while driving from Abilene to Lubbock, and in anticipation of Korn’s show…
2826 Arnetic, the Deep Ellum venue with a name that stands for Absolutely Reluctant In Everything That Is Conforming, is reluctantly conforming to the law surrounding the Dallas Special Use Permits issued for local bars and clubs.From a very long-winded Facebook status update, the club says, “We had to close…
Just a reminder: The first round of Rock The Park happens tomorrow, April 21, at The Shops At Park Lane, starting at 7 p.m. On Monday, we announced the eight bands that will be vying for a spot on the Homegrown Fest lineup, so start placing your bets. Or rather,…
Over the course of the past year, Jesse Porter, with the help of CoffeeMusicHub, has been an instrumental part of the local hip-hop scene, providing a platform for talented up-and-comers to flex their skills and gain the notoriety they need. We covered the scene back in September, but these days…
Switchfoot is one of those bands critics love to hate: religious, relatively clean cut and exceedingly family-friendly. But over the years, the band’s has shown an admirable independent streak. Forsaking a major label in 2009 was just the start. Speaking from the San Diego airport in anticipation of Sunday’s Edgefest…
So, you can probably already tell this summer is going to be rough, right? Like, “Fireballs From the Sky” b/w “Heat Gusts From Hell.” Enjoy that breeze while you can. With that in mind, the Observer, Spune and Dan’s Silverleaf have partnered up for a concert series that actually puts…
Like the beast it’s named after, Atlanta’s Mastodon is fairly ugly and makes a hell of a racket. In just over a decade, the band has released five albums and each has been better than the last, culminating in 2011’s The Hunter. Speaking from the tour bus and in anticipation…
Last night, Dresden Dolls singer Amanda Palmer was in town, mixing her new album with the ubiquitous John Congleton. Not only did she do a Violitionist Session with Neil Gaiman (yes, Neil Gaiman was in Denton, let that sink in), she also donated money to Girls Rock Dallas. They’ve declared…
Remember just last month, when were were asking bands to submit demos to be part of Homegrown Fest? Remember when I proposed that instead of a musical battle, bands actually had to physically battle for favor? Oh, memories. Well, we’ve narrowed Rock the Park down to the top eight, four…
Good RecordsIt’s hard to beat Good Records’ yearly Record Store Day celebration. They always manage to put a solid lineup together, but this one trumps any from years past. Thanks to Sunday’s Edgefest, Good’s Chris Penn was able to procure performance slots for Ting Tings, Civil Twilight and Switchfoot, along…
Hugely influential on the local metal scene, Rigor Mortis’ violent live performances throughout the mid-to-late-’80s are the stuff of legend. Vocalist Bruce Corbitt was fired in 1989 and the band was never the same. Luckily, after a 20-year cooling off period, the original line-up has been playing reunion shows since…
