Surfer BloodGranada TheaterMarch 15, 2010Better than: Watching The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, if nothing else.Surfer Blood took to the stage ahead of schedule last night–and saw a decent crowd (for a Monday night, at least) awaiting it.Not bad following a weekend of pretty much relentless partying for most of…
The Flaming Lips, Midlake, Stardeath and White DwarfsNorth Texas Fairgrounds in Denton as part of NX35 2010March 13, 2010Better than: any other concert I’ve ever seen, maybe? As the crowds filtered in to the North Texas Fairgrounds last night, Norman, Oklahoma’s Stardeath and White Dwarf’s powerful psych-rock welcomed them in…
John MayerAmerican Airlines CenterMarch 9, 2010Better than: reading Mayer’s now-infamous Playboy interview. There was definitely, um, an expected crowded American Airlines last night. And, unlike most shows at a sit-down venue, the audience actually got to sit down throughout Mayer’s performance.Don’t read that wrong–the audience wasn’t falling asleep. It’s just…
Dawes, Corey Chisel & Jason BoeselThe CavernMarch 4th, 2010 Slightly better than: waiting to battle the crowds at SXSW to see these media darlings. When it was first announced that the strong triple-bill of Dawes, Cory Chisel and Jason Boesel (with Dawes backing him) would be taking place at The…
Portugal. The Man, Port O’BrienCambridge RoomMarch 3, 2010 Better than: any Wednesday evening of music I’ve had in a long time There was definitely something in the air last night at the House of Blues’ Cambridge Room. And yes, it was something other than the pot smoke.Walking up to the…
The Rocket Summer, Analog RebellionGranada TheaterFebruary 26, 2010Better than: blowing some kickass bubblegum bubbles. Holy crap. guys. People really love The Rocket Summer. Like really really.It’s not difficult to see why: At the Granada Theater-hosted CD release show for his new album Of Men and Angels on Friday night, Grapevine’s…
P.O.S., Dessa, AstronautalisHailey’s ClubFebruary 27, 2010 Better than: waiting in line for two hours. Here’s one thing can be said with almost unerring conviction: You’ve probably never been to a hip-hop show like the one held at Hailey’s on Saturday night. There was very little of what you’d normally see…
Tegan & SaraPalladium Ballroom February 25, 2010 Better Than: Watching the U.S. women’s hockey team lose to Canada. At the Tegan & Sara concert Thursday night, everything went according to my prediction. The Palladium Ballroom was nearly filled to capacity with mallpunks, lesbians and hipsters. But I wasn’t prepared for…
Jay-Z, Young Jeezy, Trey SongzAmerican Airlines CenterFebruary 23, 2010Better than: Any other show you’ve seen in 2010. And maybe better than any other show you will… Come on, now.Thankfully, as the night continues, the rapper proves that he’s got more up his sleeve. And, live, it’s the technicality of his…
Jucifer, Vaste Burai, One Wolf, STEW! Rubber Gloves Rehearsal Studios, DentonFebruary 22, 2010 Better Than: Turning on the TV only to realize they’re not airing Big Bang Theory this week. Seventeen years on, husband-wife pair Amber Valentine and Edgar Livengood show no sign of letting up, and Monday night saw…
The Soundtrack of Our Lives, Nico Vega, SerynGranada TheaterFebruary 21, 1010Not better than: watching the US hockey team beat Canada… but still pretty good. Last night at the Granada Theater, a small crowd was lucky enough to see Sweden’s The Soundtrack Of Our Lives perform in an unusually intimate setting…
Jack’s MannequinHouse of BluesFebruary 17, 2010 Better than: spending a day sweaty and dehydrated, getting trampled and crowd-surfed on at Warped Tour. It’s incredibly cliché to say, but you’d never know Andrew McMahon survived Leukemia if you got the chance to see one of his shows. From the opening chords…
Merle Haggard, Kris KristoffersonBass Hall, Fort WorthFebruary 17, 2010Better Than: Watching classic country performances on YouTube and thinking to yourself “damn, I wish I’d seen so-and-so before he died.” Dressed head to toe in black, 73-year-old legend Kris Kristofferson looked as cool as ever opening Wednesday night’s inspired pairing with…
The English Beat, Fishbone, Outlaw NationThe Granada TheaterFebruary 13, 2010Better than: Sitting at home watching the Winter Olympics with my wife and kids. An almost-packed house at the Granada Theater enjoyed nearly four hours of ska-related rhythms this past Saturday night as three fine acts made optimism the order of…
Fair to Midland Wreck Benefit with House Harkonnen, Serosia, Bronze Whaler and Moving Atlas Curtain Club February 14, 2009Better Than: watching this year’s very underwhelming Olympic opening ceremonies. (Great job, Canada!) When asked what was on Fair to Midland’s mind the moment its van tumbled through the Arizona desert back…
Erykah Badu, Jamie FoxxPalladium BallroomSaturday, February 12, 2010Better Than: Any other All-Star event going on that night–especially considering it was free. It was a night of opposites. Crowd-pleasing pandering and natural creative energy. R&B loverman showboating and organic, funky soul. Jamie Foxx and Erykah Badu may both be Texas-born icons,…
Motion City Soundtrack, Set Your Goals, This Providence, The SwellersProphet BarFebruary 10th, 2010 Better than: sitting at home worrying about the snow’s possible effect on traffic Thursday and Friday morning. Motion City Soundtrack played–as expected–to a packed crowd in the big room of the Prophet Bar last night–and they didn’t…
The Upper Echelon Tour with Myka Nyne The Green Elephant Sunday, February 7 Better Than: The poetry that your English Lit teacher thought would inspire your love of words. To see a Myka Nyne show is truly an experience. Nearly absent are many of the conventions that sadly reemerge all…
Yo La Tengo, Times New VikingGranada TheaterJanuary 30, 2010Much better than: staying home watching the Mavericks lose to the Blazers. A sold-out crowd got out of the cold weather and into the warm confines of The Granada Theater Saturday night to catch the iconic indie rock band Yo La Tengo…
Anvil, MitraTuesday, January 26, 2010, at House of Blues, DallasBetter Than: The school-cafeteria-grade pizza House of Blues sells for $5 a slice. Vibrator guitar. Mammoth drum solo. The hungry, lean tautness of a power trio after decades of club gigs. Those elements combined for a hell of a show, no…
The CribsGranada TheaterJanuary 22, 2010Better than: Missing the show entirely. I clearly need to pay more attention to the Granada’s useful day-of-show set-time tweets. Friday night at the Granada, there was a lineup of three great bands. Adam Green (formerly of the Moldy Peaches) and The Dead Trees opened for…
Everclear, Clayton Senne, Oso ClosoHouse of BluesJanuary 2, 2009 (Barely) better than: Staying home and listening to my “best of” Everclear CD A surprisingly large and diverse crowd assembled at the House of Blues last night to catch ’90s alt-rock icons Everclear at the House of Blues. Actually, the band…
