The 10 Best Concerts in Dallas this Weekend, April 25-27

This weekender contains a very rare occurrence in which the majority (six out of 10) of notable live music events listed are taking place on Sunday. Maybe Dallas promoters will one day stop their tried and true method of throwing a dart at a wall calendar to pick a concert…

James Murphy at It’ll Do, 4/24/14

Thursday night in a disco club in East Dallas, the DJ spun one record into another, floating the desperate lyrics of Ace’s “How Long” over a slick beat that bumped right into sexy European saxophones. As the music washed over the crowd, hundreds of people dusted off their souls and…

Future Islands at Three Links, 4/24/14

Future Islands are an interesting case. The North Carolina synth-pop darlings are easy enough to read on first impression. Yes, they obviously make records with some approximation of David Bowie’s Let’s Dance in mind. Yes, lead singer Sam Herring is clearly obsessed with Morrissey, between his dramatic stage presence and…

J. Cole at University of North Texas, 4/24/14

It might seem that J. Cole kind of rehashed the whole university tour thing, but after headlining a few tours dedicated to his degree-seeking fan base, the guy’s a pro at it. Headlining the University of North Texas’ spring concert, Cole along with his live band brought a minimalist experience…

Mogwai at Granada Theater, 4/23/14

Here’s every Mogwai song in a nutshell: A chiming keyboard or guitar pattern repeats. Instrumentation slowly builds around it. Then, it detonates into a searing fireball of noise. Sometimes it’s major-key, sometimes it’s minor-key. Occasionally there are vocals and the tempo varies, but just about every song executes this trajectory…

Richard Haskins is Out of Jail and Ready to Perform Once Again

Handing out flyers for your band’s show, that somewhat ineffective attempt to attract even a handful of people to attend, is one thing. Doing so under the nose of Denton County Jail officials is entirely another. “I was afraid they weren’t going to send them out. They read all of…

Odonis Odonis at Club Dada, 4/22/14

On an otherwise dead night, on the nearly vacant Elm Street strip, Toronto’s Odonis Odonis headlined an impressive night of experimental synths and heavy riffs. Though the turnout was low, and the show ran unusually late for a Tuesday in Deep Ellum, something special happened last night at Club Dada…

Mogwai’s 5 Best Biblical Songs

Scottish post-rock heroes Mogwai is the band most instrumental rock groups that have started in the past decade want to be when they grow up. Beginning with 1997’s epic Young Team and continuing with the release of the group’s eighth studio LP, last January’s Rave Tapes, Stuart Braithwaite, John Cummings,…

The 10 Best Concerts in Dallas this Week, April 21-27

It’s Monday morning after a holiday weekend, and we’re all just trying to get through the day. Whether you spent the weekend record shopping, bleeding from your eyes, or observing the Sabbath, you’re probably moving a little slow today. Get caffeinated, because this week is full of shows that are…

The Old 97’s at AT&T Performing Arts Center, 4/19/14

The Old 97’s, Black Joe Lewis, Slobberbone, Madison King Annette Strauss Square – AT&T Performing Arts Center Dallas, Texas Saturday, April 19, 2014 On the most pristinely calm night we’ve seen in Dallas in recent weeks, Saturday’s sold-out Old 97’s record release show for Most Messed Up proffered a taste…

Neil Young at Meyerson Symphony Center, 4/17/14

Neil Young Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center Dallas, Texas Thursday, April 17, 2014 Don’t tell Neil Young what to do. He may have grown into some grandfatherly approximation of old age, full of rambling stories and an easy, self-deprecating sense of humor. But deep down, he’s the same prickly soul…

Your North Texas Guide to Record Store Day 2014

Between 4/20, Easter, and Record Store Day, we’re celebrating three of the holiest high holidays in one weekend this year. Record Store Day falls on Saturday, and with it comes a huge number of highly anticipated special releases and reissues, and a score of record stores hosting big day parties…

The Ten Best Neil Young Songs

Neil Young is simply beyond common musical criticism. Certainly among all of the classic folk, folk-rock and rock the man has recorded over the past 50 years, there have been some clunker albums. However, the sheer breadth of Young’s influence on an amazing array of artists in several differing genres…

The Pet Shop Boys’ 5 Best Covers

Hard to believe that England’s Pet Shop Boys have been doing the synthpop/alternative dance thing for over three decades. During that time, the duo of Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe has managed to evolve with the musical tides while maintaining a sizable audience. Although known for original songs such as…

10 Bands Worth Seeing at Austin Psych Fest 2014

A riverside ranch, a three-day weekend amongst nature and a stream of psychedelic music may sound like a cult happening (and it kind of is) but more to the point it’s the scene of Austin’s Psych Fest, a musical celebration of all things mind-bending. In seven short years, Psych Fest…

Ben Folds at ATTPAC — Can We Talk About Rock Orchestras?

You’ve got a rock band. They’re pretty good. They rock out. People seem to like them. What’s the next logical step in the progression of this band or musician’s sound? Get louder? Play faster? Dig the same groove onto the next album? Maybe even get quiet and introspective for a…

The 8 Best Concerts in Dallas This Weekend, April 10-13

Dallas, it’s beautiful outside. I don’t have to tell you how necessary it is to get out out of the house and go see some live music this weekend. Lucky for you, AT&T Performing Arts Center is hosting two different outdoor concerts this weekend, so you can soak up every…

The 5 Best Concerts in Dallas this Week, April 8-13

Alright y’all, I know you’re still basking in a Springsteen glow from March Madness Festival this weekend, but it’s a new week with new concert picks. Luckily, we’ve got some good stuff coming up. From Bad Sports to Jeff Bridges, don’t stay cooped up this week. The weather might still…

Bruce Springsteen Put On a Killer Show Last Night

Despite cold and rainy weather, fans came out to Reunion Park for Sunday’s big March Madness Music Festival finale. The Wind and The Wave, Pat Green, fun., and the man of the hour, Bruce Springsteen, put on a rain or shine show that couldn’t be stopped or even hampered by…

Final Four: The Killers Were Hot, But the Weather Was Cold

Maybe I hang out with extreme cynics or maybe my friends don’t appreciate free, outdoor concerts like I do, or heck, I probably just don’t have enough friends, but convincing someone to tag along with me to the Final Four series of concerts at Reunion Plaza proved tricky. Everyone told…

Your Guide to March Madness Festival

March Madness Festival has been making headlines around the country since it was announced last month. To accompany the NCAA’s Final Four tournament in Dallas this week, the college basketball league is throwing the city an enormous free weekend-long outdoor music festival at Reunion Park (by the old Reunion Arena…