Ab-NORML-y Good Music? Well, Maybe. For Once.

High on music, man. Maybe it’s a coincidence, but not long after we totally harshed on DFW NORML’s mellow about the terrible bands that perform at the organization’s events, they announced a party with music that approaches tolerability. Well, at least it’s not rap-rock. Reform-minded folks in more than 200…

Ghosthustler, As We Know It, Is Over

The rumors ran rampant through the crowd at the Palladium Ballroom on Thursday night as people settled in to watch Ghosthustler perform the opening set at Quick’s Big Thing awards show. Was it true? Was this the final time we’d see Ghosthustler perform? Turns out, yes–to an extent. The band’s…

Nicholas Altobelli: Dallas’ own Ryan Adams? Maybe.

Nicholas Altobelli (Shawn Hannon) Local alt-country singer/songwriter Nicholas Altobelli (Italian descent, you think?) has just released his debut, Streetcar Visions, and he’s cautiously optimistic about the release. “The record is not perfect,” he says, “but I’m proud of the songs even though I’m trying to stay away from the country…

More Old 97’s Video Than You Can Handle

Just came across this short, little behind-the-scenes Youtube doc on the Old 97’s’ soon-to-be-released disc, Blame It On Gravity, which includes interviews with Rhett, Murry, Ken, Philip and even the band’s locally-based producer, Salim Nourallah. Says Rhett: “We’re back, man. We’re in Dallas. I keep thinking of this record as…

Learn To Be A Baller And/Or Shot Caller

Aspiring rappers, DJs, producers and urban fashion models might want to keep their last weekends in August open: The Sixth Annual Texas Summer Music Conference will be held at the City Center Westin Hotel in Dallas on Friday, August 29, through Sunday, August 31. The TSMC is intended to educate…

Handshakes and Highfives Sign with Nightmare Records

All those who voted for Handshakes and Highfives to win Rock and Rumble back in November are about to be totally happy. The poppy screamo band from Granbury just signed with Hollywood-based Nightmare Records. The label is owned by Nick Moore from Before Their Eyes and Joey Simmrin of One…

4 Turntable Setup at The Party Tonight

This weekend The Party will be a tad different. This time out the dance party will feature a four turntable setup. We’re not sure it’ll be all that different, but since it’s free for the 21 and older set, It wouldn’t hurt to find out. As usual, Nature, Sober and…

Whiskey Folk Ramblers Inspired by Spaghetti Westerns

Whiskey Folk Ramblers’ lead vocalist Tyler Rougeux.Midnight Drifter, the debut album from Fort Worth’s Whiskey Folk Ramblers, will be available for the first time at their CD release party Saturday at Lola’s in their home city. While they won’t be selling copies until then, you can get a taste of…

If You’re Awake And Free Tomorrow At 7:15 In The Morning…

….then you might want to head over to Kidd Kraddick’s studios in Irving. Here’s why: Kraddick, host of the nationally syndicated radio show Kidd Kraddick in the Morning (heard locally on 106.1 KISS-FM), thinks he’s found a gem in a a young unsigned artist he found named Freddy Wexler. Kraddick…

White Arms Of Athena Is Starting To Reaching Out

The members of White Arms of Athena, a progressive metal act from Mesquite, are checking out studios in order to complete their debut recording. “The full-length will be called Astrodrama and it shouldn’t take longer than a month or two to complete,” says guitarist Colin McDonnell. The band just played…

Knowledge To Be Dropped On Liquid Lounge

Seekers of Knowledge, take heed. Sixty Second Ape Magazine presents The Return of Knowledge tomorrow night at the Liquid Lounge in Deep Ellum. From 2001 to 2005, Knowledge was a regular hip-hop showcase run by the Nice People collective. After taking a break to focus on recording and starting up…

Good ‘Reason’ For A Breakdown

Jordan Barrick When Dallas playwright Lacey Lalene Lynch asked Jordan Barrick to provide music for her show Reason for Referral, the acoustic singer-songwriter was eager to help. Reading the script for her play, which is about three college theater students dealing with the apparent link between their creativity and mental…

Eric Clapton Covers Buddy Holly

…oh, oh, and you’re Mary Tyler Moore. If anyone knows Maria Elena Holly, the widow of Buddy who happens to live in the Turtle Creek area, they might wanna pass along this exceptional find: Eric Clapton covering the Lubbock legend’s immortal songs “Maybe Baby” and “Peggy Sue,” both of which…

Giveaway: Tickets To The Real. Texas. Festival.

Real Texas. Real music. Word just came down that we have three pairs of three-day passes to the Real. Texas. Festival. to give away on this here blog. If you want to spend your weekend watching Chris Cagle, Stoney LaRue and Dallas’ own The Killdares, shoot me an email with…

Video: Dave Little Talks About Dallas’ Music Scene

In tomorrow’s print edition Pete will tell you all about the highlights from last weekend’s Mokah Music Summit and Showcase (M2S2), but we just couldn’t resist sharing this video FineLineLive.com put together of Dave Little talking about the Dallas music scene. Let’s just say it includes the sentence: “The Dallas…

Forever The Sickest Kids Were on The Hills Last Night

Lauren Conrad of The Hills fame. …or, at least, their song “Woah Oh (Me Vs. Everyone)” was. The Dallas-based group’s song, like, totally came on and rocked the soundtrack to the show when LC, Lo and Audrina were getting ready to go out to their new favorite Thursday night hotspot,…