It’s no secret that local musicians are being hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Bars and restaurants are closed and people are advised to avoid gathering in groups of more than 10 people. Consequently, concerts and all types of live performance have been canceled. This has sparked a trend in…
Nipsey Hussle’s music made him a star, but his message of financial empowerment and community activism propelled him into icon status. In 2013, Hussle launched his innovative Proud2Pay campaign, whereby he sold physical copies of his Crenshaw mixtape for $100. He sold 1,000 copies within 24 hours. Fans were rewarded with…
Do you remember Trapt? Their 2002 single “Headstrong” was all the rage back when white people wore chain wallets and sported dreadlocks with nary an accusation of cultural appropriation. Lately, the California alt-metal band has been having a Twitter meltdown of Azealia Banks proportions. First, it started with right-wing tirades…
As concerts and festivals are shut down for the time being, musicians of all stripes are taking to the internet for performances and outreach. Be sure to check your points of purchase and artist websites if you had tickets for any upcoming shows. Refund policies vary, but many shows have…
We live in a world where calamity and disarray are only being exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic, and it’s moments like this when we look to seasoned experts for guidance, and to cultural figures to lend a voice to a confused generation. Tom MacDonald falls into none of these contingents,…
In the course of Justin Pickard’s musical pilgrimage, his songwriting has covered a gamut of subjects: smoking to drinking, the ins and outs of grave-robbery, love and loss, and UFOs that resemble bananas. His subjects fall somewhere in between old cult movies from the turn of the century to vintage…
In the fifth grade, 28-year-old Arlington rapper and producer Kris Minor started writing his first lyrics. His English teacher, Mrs. Billups, would grade the songs he wrote and correct any grammatical errors. As a teen, Minor continued developing his writing ability as a member of novice rap crews — one…
Leave it to Erykah Badu to find a way to entertain crowds during a global pandemic. The neo-soul icon announced Tuesday, via a post on Instagram, that she’ll be performing a livestreamed concert from her bedroom, a show called Apocalypse One, that will cost $1 to watch. The concert will…
Texas music does not fit neatly inside a box. Just as its landscape varies from arid deserts, to lonesome pines, to lush hills, so too does Texas music traverse a wide range of genres. It might best be described as a melting pot wherein artists have both honored their musical…
The term “side project” is inherently a tad belittling, really. It’s especially so when discussing a musician’s hard work, determination and artistic expression. Sure, if the artist is the one deeming their efforts outside of their primary gig a side project then it’s cool, but who are the rest of…
Our crush this week is Vera “Velma” Hernandez, a guitar-playing punk scene fixture whose music photography is so rich in grit and punch that you can live vicariously through the sweat and blood that spill from her concert shots. Also known as “Vicious Velma,” Hernandez may be tougher than the…
Dallas based independent blogger and hip-hop curator Rodrick Rules released his latest visual for the single “Us,” featuring Que-P, 7 Tha Great, Rakim Al-Jabbaar, and N’Dygo Jonez. March 19 marks the official beginning of spring, but “Us” is a few seasons ahead, presenting viewers with Halloween-esque themes typically reserved for…
There are plenty of things we can recommend for your period of social distancing, but we know that you’re most likely going to strip down to your underwear and clean your house in a panic — whether you have roommates or not. And you might as well use this time…
Yesterday, Chris Stapleton and Willie Nelson’s Saturday co-headline bill at Arlington’s Globe Life Field fell victim to the coronavirus and was postponed. That show wasn’t the only casualty. Thursday morning, Billboard reported that Live Nation is suspending all its tours because of the pandemic. In the afternoon, The New York…
Heart pumping, eyes darting, Abby Cole races down the highway toward her family home. Her gaze flits between the road and the clock. As the pedal inches toward the floor, she wills time to go slower. It’s a chilly night in September 2019, and her song “Dandelion Wine” is being…
There’s a legitimate reason that ZZ Top: That Little Ol’ Band From Texas, the documentary that premiered on Netflix last week, currently boasts a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score: It’s simply fantastic. There’s also a major reason the iconic trio with over 50 years under its belt has long been worthy…
If you’re still reeling over the news that SXSW was canceled because of growing concern over COVID-19, you can take some consolation in the fact that there are still plenty of shows you can catch here in Dallas. This Saturday, March 14, Four Corners Brewing Company will host ChingonX, a…
Many local artists have talents and interests that stretch beyond their main gigs. They possess skills that have been lovingly nurtured over the years and are given the same care and attention to detail that’s afforded their primary musical vocation. For Rhett Miller, the idea had always been germinating, but…
This past week, Elvis Costello announced that he will perform at the House of Blues on April 22 alongside his backing band The Imposters. The show is set to be Costello’s first North Texas performance since his solo show at The Majestic Theatre in 2016. Seeing as Costello has 30…
A hairpin turn along the roller coaster of life made one North Texas musician realize that grief ain’t all that bad. Matthew McNeal bares his soul while sharing that sentiment in his newest album, Good Grief, which is scheduled for release April 3. The heartfelt album follows McNeal’s sophomore release,…
Jake Quillin never expected to move to Texas. Last February, the 26-year-old guitarist was making pizzas at his day job when his phone vibrated. It was an Instagram direct message from Dallas producer Jason Burt, one of the men behind Medicine Man Revival. Burt had a proposition for Quillin. “I…
It was Dec. 4, 2018, when the one-man show that is King Camel’s Jeffrey Brown took to the Canton Hall stage to accept the Dallas Observer Music Award for Best Talent Buyer, hoisting his trophy in the air and telling the cheering audience, “We fucking rule, dude! Suck my ass!”…
