Welcome to our 2011 Dallas Observer Music Awards breakdown, wherein we’ll use the weeks leading up to the DOMA showcases on Saturday, October 15 (which is also when voting ends), to explain the nominees in each category Today, we look at the nominees in the Best Indie Act, Best Jazz Act, and…
Banjo hero Bela Fleck has long been ahead of the curve when it comes to the often misunderstood stringed instrument that’s now become a practical necessity to forming an indie hipster band. You see, in the 1970s and even into the 1980s, Fleck was a country guy. As a member…
Got some Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase details to pass along to you this morning.For starters, the updated schedule of performers can be found here, and you can read up on all 52 acts playing this deal on Saturday right here. Might as well check out an oral history of…
Detroit’s Electric Six is all about one Dick Valentine. Also known as Tyler Spencer, Valentine has led some form of his band since 1996. And he’s been largely successful: The band has become renowned for its chaotic live shows and interesting mixture of punk, funk and alternative rock. Electric Six…
From the Raymond Pettibon album art, which invokes his classic album covers for his brother Greg Ginn’s band, Black Flag, to the thundering downstrokes, rubbery machine gun rhythms and brash spirit, Off! is a time machine to the early days of West Coast punk. And the band boasts two illustrious alumni…
Although originally conceived as a pop-punk outfit, Chicago’s Plain White T’s have evolved into a more mainstream, alternative rock band. Having a number one hit will do that to you. 2007’s “Hey There Delilah” was the single that exposed the band to the world. Light, sentimental and catchy, the song…
Welcome to our 2011 Dallas Observer Music Awards breakdown, wherein we’ll use the weeks leading up to the DOMA showcases on Saturday, October 15 (which is also when voting ends), to explain the nominees in each category Today, we look at the nominees in the Best Folk Act, Best Venue, and Best…
Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Kevin Devine is such an avid fan of the New York Mets that he named his first band Miracle of 86 in honor of that baseball club’s surprising victory overthe Boston Red Sox in that year’s World Series.But Devine is far more than a fan of The Great…
Erykah Badu seems like a pretty awesome mom. I got a solid glimpse of as much first-hand about a week back when interviewing the famed Queen of Neo-Soul and proud Dallasite as part of a Dallas Observer Music Awards preview story that’s going to run as the cover in this…
For a few years now, venerable Denton venue Dan’s Silverleaf has adopted a policy of not allowing cigarette smoking inside its venues during shows. Later this month, the venue plans on making its no-smoking policy a permanent fixture of the room.According to a press release announcing the change, “Dan’s will…
Welcome to our 2011 Dallas Observer Music Awards breakdown, wherein we’ll use the weeks leading up to the DOMA showcases on Saturday, October 15 (which is also when voting ends), to explain the nominees in each category Today, we look at the nominees in the Best Solo, Best Country, and Best Alt-Country/Roots…
Not all open-mic rap competitions are as friendly as the ones down in Deep Ellum these days, apparently: Multiple guns were reportedly fired and eight different people were injured by gunfire late on Friday night during a “Rap-Off Contest” taking place at Rolls Royce Club in North Dallas, near the…
Welcome to our 2011 Dallas Observer Music Awards breakdown, wherein we’ll use the weeks leading up to the DOMA showcases on Saturday, October 15 (which is also when voting ends), to explain the nominees in each category Today, we look at the nominees in the Best Cover/Tribute Act, Best Label and Best…
Last night, on the northeast corner of the Denton Courthouse Square, just above Andy’s Bar, the five members of Midlake held a soft opening for their new drinking establishment, Paschall Bar, which will celebrate its official grand opening on Friday, October 21.As DC9 mentioned a few weeks ago when we…
Welcome to our 2011 Dallas Observer Music Awards breakdown, wherein we’ll use the weeks leading up to the DOMA showcases on Saturday, October 15 (which is also when voting ends), to explain the nominees in each category Today, we look at the nominees in the Best Experimental/Avant Garde and Best Talent Buyer,…
Being the opening act for a megastar like Taylor Swift can be both a blessing and a curse. Let’s face it: Stadium crowds are not known for their patience when it comes to waiting for the headliner; still, the chance for some big-time exposure is just too much for most…
Minneapolis’ After the Burial plays a brand of progressive metal that is technically impressive and catastrophically heavy. They’re somewhat self-destructive, too: The band has been around for seven years, and they are already on their third singer and drummer. Such turmoil would certainly tear apart most bands, but guitarist Trent…
Welcome to our 2011 Dallas Observer Music Awards breakdown, wherein we’ll use the weeks leading up to the DOMA showcases on Saturday, October 15 (which is also when voting ends), to explain the nominees in each category Today, we look at the nominees in the Best Male and Best Female Vocalist categories…
A little less than a month back, we passed along the ticket information and lineup of performers for our 2011 Dallas Observer Music Awards Showcase on Saturday, October 15, in Deep Ellum. In total, 54 bands will be performing on 10 different stages throughout the vaunted music neighborhood. For now, tickets…
Talking to Skot Alexander of the Los Angeles-based punk act 400 Blows is like conversing with your drunken uncle. It can be pretty funny, but also a little frustrating: One moment, the guy expresses a well thought out opinion about the sterilization of punk rock; the next moment, the guy can’t…
Adele was originally set to play the House of Blues back in June in support of her phenomenal, surefire album of the year contender, 21. Everyone seemed super stoked on it at the time, too. But, because of laryngitis, that gig got canceled. It was soon rescheduled, though, and this…
Welcome to our 2011 Dallas Observer Music Awards breakdown, wherein we’ll use the weeks leading up to the DOMA showcases on Saturday, October 15 (which is also when voting ends), to explain the nominees in each category Today, we look at the nominees in the Best Album, Best Electronic/Dance and Best Punk…
