I came across this video of Lupe Fiasco’s show at the House of Blues a couple months back (oddly, it was posted on March 23), and it got me a little psyched for the May 1 show. Lupe Fiasco will be taking the stage at Superpages with Kanye West, Rihanna…
Though few outside of the indie circuit recognized Verbena, critics and fans hailed the group as the second coming of Nirvana. The comparison was easy to see—and not just because former Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl produced the band’s 1999 major-label debut, Into the Pink. When Verbena emerged from Birmingham, Alabama,…
Cuban-American rapper Pitbull made his first appearance on the celebrity-news Web site TMZ.com recently. And it was for the worst possible reason: He was hit in the head with a bottle while performing at a San Antonio club. He left the stage almost immediately, but returned with a blood-soaked towel…
A few months after the November digital release of Saul Williams’ latest album, The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!, producer Trent Reznor was disheartened. Reznor, the frontman for Nine Inch Nails, had masterminded a seemingly genius, Radiohead-esque plan for letting listeners obtain Williams’ work: They could download it for…
The Snoopster uses his ultra-cool stoner persona to make up for a multitude of sins—and Ego Trippin’ will only enhance his increasingly cuddly image. Thanks to his charming obliviousness, Snoop generally gets away with lyrics and arrangements that range from timeworn to ridiculous. Despite his current reality-show stardom, he’s still…
The press release for Alopecia claims that Why? ringleader Yoni Wolf was inspired “as much by MF Doom and Lil’ Wayne as J. Newsom and Big Dylan.” I don’t hear any of that, although the disc recalls the beat weirdness of Beck’s Mellow Gold, minus the zeitgeist-capturing spirit and clever…
When it comes to musical simplicity, is there a more perfect, primary triumvirate than guitar, drums and bass? The guitar flares with warning; the cymbals and snares flash in the heat of panic; the bass drops anchor in the depths. Toronto trio Born Ruffians (not a gruff group, it should…
Before his powerhouse band Deerhunter went on hiatus last fall, Bradford Cox had already retreated into his bedroom to craft his solo debut as Atlas Sound. Even though he’s assembled a band to tour behind it, Let the Blind… is a personal, low-key record that reveals itself gradually and in…
As South by Southwest approached earlier this month, the folks in Denton-based rock quartet Record Hop faced quite the predicament: Would their soon-to-be-released self-titled album be shipped to them in time to be distributed during the band’s showcase? The band was supposed to receive each element of the packaging—discs included—just…
A couple of decades back, U.K. metal acts such as Iron Maiden ruled the hard-rock world. Since then, the market for British steel has gone soft—but Bullet for My Valentine lead singer/guitarist Matt Tuck sees signs of stiffening. “It’s something that we think about and are aware of—that we could…
By now, maybe the backlash against Tokyo Police Club has abated. Sure, the Canadian quartet’s much-hyped A Lesson in Crime debut EP sounds like a teenage Strokes tousling their sound with zippy synths and mod touches, but it doesn’t set out to be anything more than upbeat fun. There’s a…
It didn’t make any sense. Last Thursday, in the wake of four—yes, four—music venues and clubs closing in Deep Ellum and Exposition Park within the span of a month, the residents of the region were…celebrating? Couldn’t be. Yet, during a benefit party held at The Amsterdam Bar for the Deep…
Hey Hollywood There’s a lot going on this coming weekend. Those who can’t wait until Pete helps you narrow down the landscape in Good Friday, may be interested to know that Hey Hollywood is promising to play two brand new songs at its performance at the Spring Indie Fest Saturday…
Still sudsin’. According to Alison Welsh of the Deep Ellum Association, both July Alley and Bar of Soap passed their SUP hearings today. While no one truly expected much opposition to these establishments’ applications, the official word certainly comes as good news to Deep Ellum’s advocates and proprietors. — Pete…
Johnny Buzzerio The Old 97’s have a new album forthcoming, Blame It on Gravity, due in Ye Olde Record Shoppes May 13. But, good God, from the sound of this Billboard interview with Rhett Miller, posted today, you’d think this might also be the last Old 97’s album. Because he…
Return to Forever is just one new addition to your jazz to-do list. OK, so Return to Forever isn’t playing the Nokia Theater until June 1–but this show’s something of a big deal, folks. The Chick Corea-led RTF hasn’t played together since 1983. But, now, 25 years later, the band’s…
The real Public Enemy’s coming to town. In the words of Flavor Flav: “Wowwwwwww.” According to an interesting press release we just got from the folks who run publicity for Ghostbar, Public Enemy will be at the club on Thursday Tuesday, April 1, to host an afterparty for the AFI…
Every time I’ve been to the House of Blues for a show it’s been downstairs in the music hall. But I just watched this video of Roger Clyne and The Peacemakers playing in the Cambridge Room earlier in the week, and it looks like the upstairs room offers much more…
I have been spinning Protest The Hero’s Fortress nonstop for the last few weeks. The purposeful chaos is engaging, and Rody Walker’s vocal acrobatics are reminiscent of Daryl Palumbo in his early Glassjaw days. Those who love Dillinger Escape Plan or Glassjaw will want to check Protest The Hero out…
Los Lonely Boys are headlining this year’s Earth Day concert. On Sunday, April 20th, the Earth Day Network will host eight concerts around America to help raise awareness for Mother Earth and what have you. And, yes, Dallas is on board, set to host a festival at Fair Park. The…
Pikahsso, Picnic and Tahiti of PPT just posted their latest music video onto YouTube, and the Hal Samples-shot video version of the track “When We Was Kool” is flat-out phenomenal. Check it out: (It helps that it’s a killer song, too.) The timing of this video’s release is a bit…
George Michael, when he was still rocking the ’round-the-clock 5 o’clock shadow. Looks like George Michael, Dallas’ favorite adopted pop star, is hitting the road for the first time in almost 20 years. According to this Associated Press report, George Michael will be touring North America starting in June and…
