Tonight at Green Elephant, Poor Vida Productions sets off another installment in their Get Your Own series, which brings Houston hip-hop acts to Dallas for one night of synergy. Poor Vida's Joel Salazar says the showcase's aim is simple: "Over the last year I've been traveling down to Houston, working with another Houston promoter, and swapping out bookings. You book our acts, we'll book yours."

In addition to Houston's D-Risha and Kyle Hubbard, Dallas' -topic, Co-Op, BraySonic and
7even:Thirty will all be in attendance.

"He's one of the best on stage entertainers I've seen in a while around here," Salazar says of 7even:Thirty, a Mississippi transplant. "Plus, his music isn't that dirty South, South Dallas swag stuff. It's creative and he has fun with it."

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​Hey! Did you get to see our Wu-Tang infographic this week? Who knew Wu-Tang Clan and math went hand in hand?

Of course, after the show tonight at House of Blues, there's the requisite afterparty (math-terparty?). This poster says RZA will be there. This being Dallas, who knows who the special guests will be. Possibly the members who don't show up to the actual show? Guess you'll have to go (early) and find out.

​As we excitedly mentioned last week, the Observer's inaugural Triple Play series, brought to you in part by KKXT-FM 91.7 and the Kessler, goes down this Friday, January 13. The idea is to showcase emerging acts from Dallas, Denton and Fort Worth; Hunter Hendrickson, Spooky Folk and Exit 380 rep each part of the triangle, respectively. It will be a glorious few hours to witness.

We've also got a few upcoming lineups to share: Thursday, Feb 16 will showcase Whiskey Folk Ramblers, Salim Nourallah and Jessie Frye. Thursday, March 22 will host Little Black Dress, People On Vacation and Andrew Tinker.

You can purchase tickets for all three shows here.

Stephen Masker

Just a couple of icons...

​Here is the sad thing: Last night, I did not wear my pair of 1981 Justin cowboy boots to the Winspear Opera House. This is largely due to the fact that I have literally worn the soles through as a result of wearing them practically every day for the last eight or so years. My mom bought the boots to wear to a Willie Nelson concert that I believe was at the Fort Worth Convention Center, and I later discovered them gathering dust on a high closet shelf, claiming them for my own. So, holey soles or not, I should have worn them last night. I didn't. I wore a new pair of boots that are nice and all, but are not my mom's cowboy boots.

I tell you this because last night, Willie Nelson killed it at the Winspear, appearing as a very special guest at the Virgin America launch party celebrating the airline's new service from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to California. Why anyone would want to go to California after watching one of Texas's most talented native sons sing some of the greatest songs ever written, I don't know, but, whatever, I am fairly certain that when Sir Richard Branson wants something, he gets it.

And he got Willie.

The party was nice. The Winspear is a classy place. It has light-up screens everywhere instead of signs and lettering, so it's kind of like being in the future, if the future were a well-designed airport terminal. (I hope it is.) There were hors d'oeuvres, including a piece of smoked salmon on what appeared to be a tiny pancake, which was the most delicious. The crowd was nice and diverse -- we saw representatives from the stilettos-and-mini set, dorky people in jeans and sandals, monied cowboys, etc. -- and oh yeah, everyone talked through Willie's set.

What is wrong with you people?

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Dare to battle with a gorilla?

​I got an e-mail last week from Lindsay Lenehan over at Gorilla Productions asking if I knew of any bands that might be available for a Battle of the Bands to occur at The Curtain Club on Sunday, September 5.

Normally, I'm not much of a fan for such occasions, but unlike many of these skirmishes, there is no entry fee and the winner gets $500 cash, 20 hours of studio time and a headlining gig at the venue. Pretty cool, huh? Jump for more details. More >>

Green River Ordinance

​A few weeks ago, we gave you a head's up about Superpages.com Center's "$10 Tickets for the Last 10 Days of June" thing.

Just to recap, here's how it works: Superpages.com Center picks an upcoming concert, and offers lawn seats for that show for $10 at LiveNation.com for a 24-hour period only. Sounds like a good deal on paper, but so far the selected bills have been less than exciting: Chicago & The Doobie Brothers, Lilith Fair (so much for that, maybe), Sublime, Creed--sounds like these struggling acts needed a quick boost in ticket sales, more than anything.

But, hey, today's the last day of June, which means there's just one last chance to cash in on the offer. And it looks like they saved the best for last--relatively speaking. Today's discounted tickets are good for lawn seats at the Goo Goo Dolls and Switchfoot show at Superpages.com Center on Saturday, August 21. And in the fine print, you'll notice that Fort Worth's very own Green River Ordinance will be opening the show.

If that peaks your interest, you have until 10:59 p.m. to visit LiveNation.com and get your tickets.

If not? Carry on.

​With Polyphonic Spree ringleader Tim DeLaughter holed up to work on new music, Good Records manager Chris Penn says, the Dallas symphonic indie-pop band will not be doing its Holiday Extravaganza this season.

But that doesn't mean the record store is being completely Scrooge-like this year.

From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, the store will hold a family-friendly Good Santa party with holiday music from Chameleon Chamber Group, free Santa photos, milk and cookies, eggnog, and probably some beer as well.

It will also start the store's Toys For Tots and North Texas Food Bank donation campaign, which sounds like a good deal for anyone who wants to combine gift shopping with charitable contribution. A donation of either a toy or a non-perishable food item will give you a 15-percent discount at the store all the way until Christmas, Penn says.

Penn's a bit bummed about having to miss the Extravaganza for the second time in three years. But, he says, not having the holiday show gave him time to put together this event, something he'd been wanting to try for years.

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​Denton's own Grammy-winning, Simpsons-appearing, Bob Dylan-inspiring, nuclear polka-creating Brave Combo will brave the elements 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, December 12, for an outdoor poolside performance at the Belmont Hotel.

But the real star of the Belmont and Smoke Family Christmas Bash will appear an hour earlier, when Santa Claus makes a 7 p.m. appearance. Tickets are $10 per person and free for children under 12.

The ever-busy Combo has several other local stops as well, including a gig at Scatt Jazz Lounge in Fort Worth Friday, a January 2 opening slot for The Gourds at The Granada and a January 15 Late Night At The DMA performance.

After the jump are a few other notable show announcements.

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​The Barley House has long been a hangout for local musicians. Beginning this weekend, it will be a hangout for their CDs as well.

At 8 p.m. Sunday, the SMU-area beer joint and venue will unveil the Home Grown Jukebox, which is the bar's original jukebox, except now featuring only local musicians. Even better, all proceeds from the machine will benefit the Carter Albrecht Music Foundation, which provides music scholarships and aims to help improve the education, skills and quality of life of area musicians.

Donated CDs so far include, naturally, Albrecht's solo CD, Sparrows and Sorta albums. Also featured are offerings from Deathray Davies, Deep Snapper, Baboon, Dixie Chicks, Tomorrowpeople, Polyphonic Spree, The Funland Band, Centro-matic, Danny Balis and many others. But the collection is far from exhaustive, so local musicians are encouraged to bring CDs to add to the jukebox.

Look out, Windmill Lounge--next year's Best Of Dallas Jukebox competition just got a whole lot more interesting.

Click to enlarge

​The DIY space Phoenix Project has a busy weekend, with Saturday's lineup of Big Fiction, Muhammadali, Leg Sweeper and The Sleepies followed by Sunday's show with Dysrhythmia, Four Days To Burn, Waste Burai and Baring Teeth.

But the capper is an early Halloween treat Sunday afternoon: a Zombie Walk from the Fair Park-area venue to Deep Ellum and back before the Dysrhythmia show.

Note: This is not to be confused with the Deep Ellum Zombie Crawl two weeks later.

As detailed on the poster, participants should come to the Phoenix Project (406 S. Haskell Ave.) dressed as a zombie at 2 p.m. for make-up, which will be provided. The walk will depart at 4 p.m.

And if you need to bring some headphone fodder to put you in a stupefied and addled zombie state of mind, may I suggest any of the four excellent tracks recorded by Michael Chamy at the Project's September 26 Improv Lottery? Description of the event, personnel information and a link to download are after the jump.

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