Charges Against DISD’s Mike Miles: More Bullying Bullshit?

Which event are we talking about here? Individual Dallas school board members — job-defenders who are sworn enemies of the ongoing school reform program — violate normal process to release an internal school district report highly critical of Dallas Superintendent Mike Miles. Before folks have time to read the thing,…

Bankrupt Detroit Will Survive the Wolves Howling at its Door

Ah, Detroit. This morning, saddened by the bleak news of bankruptcy and shame, I pulled from the shelf my worn copy of a book of Detroit legends and re-read my favorite of all, the story of the Loup Garou. French 17th century settlers on the shores of Lake St. Clair…

When it All Goes South: 24 Hours of Disasterous Drinking On Tour

This week’s Dallas Observer is our Drinking Issue, featuring reviews, columns and 24 hours of drinking in Dallas. For the music section, we asked a few DFW musicians to share their drinking stories. Here’s the first. Many artists are afflicted/blessed with some form of mood/personality disorder. What do people with…

JFK 50th Anniversary Will Be Hell in a Handbasket. Goody.

JFK assassination 50th anniversary news: City of Dallas releases video showing Dealey Plaza was occupied by Indians long before JFK assassination. Suburban library presents speech by guy who gave Lee Harvey Oswald ride to work. Boston auction announces it will hawk Oswald’s wedding ring. Mind if I slip something else…

An Ode to Galaxy Drive-In

Welcome to Alice Column, in which Alice Laussade writes stories about things on (roughly) the same day of (roughly) every week, making it (roughly) a column. Got an idea for a column? Start your own blog and write it up, you lazy shit. Me: “Going to the movies is so…

Knocked Out of Being Loaded

The good thing about growing up in the daily newspaper business back when I did: You were surrounded by a lot of really good drinkers. I don’t use that language facetiously. A good drinker is somebody who really does know how to drink, even drink a lot and still keep…

Last Shot: Quicksand Helps Me Survive Cancer

Lindsey BestAndrew Youssef [Editor’s Note: Longtime concert photographer Andrew Youssef found out almost two years ago that he had Stage IV Colon Cancer. In that time, he has continued to shoot tons of music events for our sister paper OC Weekly on top of other freelance work and working a…

For 17 Days, Dallas is Metal Heaven: Five Must-See Shows

Consider this your advance warning, Dallas. Amplified rock and roll is coming, and it’s not only coming hard, it’s coming at times that are mainly not weeknights, meaning you can combine two pursuits, metal concerts and binge drinking, that go hand in hand like butter on toast or rabbits and…

Artist Scott Krakowski Grew Up on DFW Music

Recently I was on a search to hire a poster artist for a project of my own, and I happed across Scott Krakowski, and his new poster for a show coming up at The Crown and Harp. I loved his work. I found his prices to be expensive-leaning, but I…

Does A Band Owe Their Fans A Farewell Show?

Are you a musician? Is your group having issues? Ask Fan Landers! Critic Jessica Hopper has played in and managed bands, toured internationally, booked shows, produced records, worked as a publicist, and is the author of The Girls’ Guide to Rocking, a how-to for teen ladies. She is here to…

Zimmerman Verdict Shows the Shortcomings of a Trial by Media

The New York Times has a story on its front page today about the Trayvon Martin verdict reporting not only that Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law was not invoked by the defense but also quoting a legal expert who calls the law’s exclusion from defense arguments “a brilliant strategic move.”…

Six Tips for a Perfect Summer. With Boobs.

It’s hot outside. And sunny. We call this “summer.” I’m told it’s the time of year we’re all supposed to “Get that beach body!” At first, I was extremely excited about this concept: “Who wouldn’t want to treasure hunt for a body at the beach, right? Maybe it’s a Dexter-ish…

Dallas Has a Lesson to Learn About Segregation from Scary Detroit

Stories about my old hometown, Detroit, are no longer merely depressing. The word, depressing, just doesn’t get it. Detroit is beginning to be fascinating. Its plight is almost mesmerizing, in a science-fiction post-apocalyptic kind of way. Terrible awful unbelievable story in The New York Times today saying, among other things,…

Why Can’t My Band Land A Record Deal?

Are you a musician? Is your group having issues? Ask Fan Landers! Critic Jessica Hopper has played in and managed bands, toured internationally, booked shows, produced records, worked as a publicist, and is the author of The Girls’ Guide to Rocking, a how-to for teen ladies. She is here to…