When Bill Wisener died in January, many mourned both the loss of a local music scene icon and an institution, his shop Bill’s Records. Now, the owners of Josey Records, Waric Cameron and Luke Sardello, are buying what remains of the business, Cameron tells the Observer. Josey is a favorite…
Over the past few years, post-punk outfit Rosegarden Funeral Party has made a name for itself as one of Dallas’ most hyped “it” bands of the 2010s. Sadly, the momentum its members have spent the past three years steadily cultivating was abruptly stymied by COVID-19’s merciless economic onslaught against the…
It was a California summer day like any other when a group of four or five little boys got together to play on their street. They were tired of walking around the basketball court and moved on to the steps of the church on their block. They were 9 years…
It’s a brisk Friday night in late January and a long, single-file line of ticket holders snakes around the House of Blues in Dallas. Tayla Parx sits in the green room, preparing herself for her homecoming show. She’s played arenas as a supporting act before and isn’t entirely overcome with stage fright…
On Thursday, country music outfit Lady Antebellum announced that they would be changing their name to “Lady A.” Concerning the word “antebellum” (which means “pre-war” and is usually associated with the pre-Civil War era South), the band said in a lengthy Instagram post that they “did not take into account…
We celebrate Father’s Day this month not just with tacky new neckties or economy-sized packs of whitey tighties, but through the power of music, songs written by loving dads that amplify the father-child bond. We’ve included dads of all stripes — chart toppers from decades past to local songwriters who’ve shared…
This past April, Dallas-based singer-songwriter Averi Burk released her debut album, Paradise, on which she speaks to a universal and deeply personal issue: mental health. As someone who suffers from depression and anxiety herself, Burk finds solace in creating meaningful art. While only two months have passed since the release…
Remaining aware of modern events can take a toll on one’s mental health, especially in the days of a pandemic and police brutality becoming more visible than ever. Dallas-based rapper Bryson Cole has recently taken some time to reflect and embark on a mental health journey of his own. On…
Ramon Mallow was a self-proclaimed hippie. People knew him as Mr. Troll in the Dallas-Fort Worth music scene, a moniker from his old biker days. His family called him Danny, after his middle name Daniel. His sister Faye Price said she always called her brother a bohemian. He prided himself…
The killing of George Floyd may finally propel the early stages of what could be a significant era for police reform — a cause that has long been part of Bobby Sessions’ work. For the Dallas native, police brutality is part of his family history. The rapper has frequently spoken about…
Police brutality and systemic racism have an ugly history that stems from slavery and colonialism, but the resulting social unrest of late culminated following the death of George Floyd. Not since the 1992 Los Angeles riots have we witnessed a collective furor of this magnitude. Yeah, it’s a confusing and…
While the last two weeks have seen an outpouring of solidarity for protesters demanding racial equality, not everyone is joining in on the cause, so prominent Dallas DJs are on a mission to call out racism within the industry, starting with the racially insensitive posts made by their colleagues. In…
As America burns and the revolution-within-a-pandemic rages on, many entertainers have spoke out about their support for social justice reform. Run the Jewels dropped its fourth album early, with critics heralding it as the “soundtrack of the George Floyd protests.” Doja Cat donated $100,000 to the Breonna Taylor fund to…
Big Sammy found her voice through rap music. Now, the 20-year-old is organizing protests to help others find theirs. Also known as Sammy Cooper, the artist has lived in Arlington most of her life. She was practically a toddler when she began singing, she says, but took a break for…
During quarantine, many people have tons more time on their hands to turn inward. To help combat coronavirus-induced anxiety, some are picking up meditation, learning yoga or spicing up their reading with self-help books. Dallas songwriter Ward Richmond’s way ahead of the self-improvement curve. The former partyer-turned-yogi broaches personal growth…
Music venues have not been spared by the recent curfews enacted around North Texas in response to recent protests against police brutality. Finally beginning to recover from the COVID-19 closures, the curfews are a second financial blow. Opening Bell Coffee Shop sits right across the street from Dallas police headquarters…
The music industry came together on Tuesday to support the Black Lives Matter movement. There were, of course, critics. The Rolling Stones, Rhianna, Drake, Quincy Jones and other artists joined organizations like United Talent and major labels including Warner and Def Jam Records in sharing the hashtag #theshowmustbepaused, a call to…
2020 went from being a year of clamor stemming from COVID-19 to being a year of clamor stemming from social unrest. Social unrest, of course, has been a constant in American history since before America’s founding. In that spirit, we thought it would be opportune to reflect on 10 protest…
Punk and metal are commonly perceived as two separate genres, but between the two is an important nexus that remains largely overlooked. For as long as metal and punk have existed, they have built on each other, opening new worlds with new possibilities that are still being explored to this…
While most bands are struggling to stay afloat amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Dallas’ Big Story is finding success at SiriusXM satellite radio. The band’s new single, “Rabbit,” released in March, has been receiving regular airplay on Octane SiriusXM radio, boosting the four-piece project into the national air waves. Singer Randall…
The history of racism in America may be vastly complex, but the crux of it is so simple that it evades a lot of adults. Kids, however, always know how to simplify the straightforward truths lying at the bottom of prejudice. “Please respect all races because this racism is not…
Heavy metal has gone through two unequivocal golden ages — in the 1980s and once again in the 2000s — and some of the most cutting-edge artists contributing to the genre’s expansion in each era were based in North Texas. DFW has rightfully earned its reputation as a metal breeding ground, and…
