Dallas Music Blog

​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.

​Dallas alt-pop band The Crash That Took Me doesn't have much in common with Memphis country-rocking act Lucero, but both have albums that will get the full listening-party treatment at Deep Ellum dive bars tonight.

Adair's Saloon will play Lucero's 1372 Overton Park, which was released today, at 8 p.m. tonight. Later, less than a mile over on Commerce, the Double Wide will be the host of a Beauner Jamz set that will include an 11 p.m. listen to Chlorine Colored Eyes, The Crash That Took Me's follow-up to Orchestrated Kaleidescopes. The new album is due out November 10 on Idol Records--and Beauner Jamz, by the way, is the name of TCTTM guitarist Beau Wagner's DJ night.

Oddly enough, this won't be the last time the two acts square off locally--although, next time, it will be a lot trickier to manage both in the same night: The Crash That Took Me's official CD release show will take place on November 7 at Sons of Hermann Hall with Telegraph Canyon and Stereo Is A Lie. Meanwhile, the saloon-friendly Lucero plays that same night at the Longhorn Saloon in Fort Worth, followed the next day with a set at Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin.

Update: Just heard from the folks at Spune Productions. At one time, Telegraph Canyon was asked to play the show, but, turns out, the band will actually be in Portland, Oregon, that night as part of its west coast tour.

Can't make it out to Neverland to see Michael Jackson's body? Or perhaps you'd just prefer to appreciate Jackson in a less ghoulish way than looking at a corpse? Either way, The House of Dang is the place to be tonight.

The boutique shop will screen the King of Pop's 1988 straight-to-video feature film Moonwalker, not to be confused with the awesome Sega Genesis game of the same name, at 8 p.m. tonight. Following the movie, you can relive your dance-zombie nightmares and wish all over again that your parents had bought you that red leather jacket during the "Thriller" video--presumably not this version. It's free and BYOB.

MJ will receive a fitting send-off from this week's Dallas Observer music section, due out tonight or tomorrow, depending on where you pick up your copy. Robert Wilonsky explores Jackson's connections to the area, Pete Freedman ponders the area's reactions to his death and local musicians share their Jackson remembrances.
 

Sam Merten

This was as close as I could get to Maynard James Keenan without standing in line for hours and paying for his wine.

Tool and Puscifer lead singer Maynard James Keenan drew approximately 1,000 fans to the Whole Foods in Plano yesterday as he promoted his partial ownership in Arizona Stronghold Vineyards, signing bottles of wine from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Those seeking an autograph and a glimpse of Keenan were required to show up as early as possible to grab a numbered wine menu, which secured their place in line.

When I heard about Keenan's appearance a couple weeks ago, I jumped at the chance to get a good look at him considering I've put down 75 bucks for Tool and A Perfect Circle tickets plenty of times, only to see Keenan hide in the shadows near the back of the stage. And, heck, asking him a few questions would be the interview of a lifetime.

My obsession with the guy has even translated to his wine endeavors, as I celebrated my graduation from SMU with a bottle of 2005 Primer Paso from Caduceus Cellars, the winery associated with Merkin Vineyards, which Keenan owns.

An interview and a photo op were confirmed ahead of time with Keenan's publicist, Monica Seide. But when I arrived, things started falling apart quickly, and it had nothing to do with Seide. I never got to see Keenan, and even worse, I was left wondering if the man known for staying true to his art (releasing just four albums and one EP since forming Tool with Adam Jones 19 years ago) had finally sold out.

Jesse Hughey

The Great Tyrant, one of the local acts performing at this year's Yeast By Sweet Beast.

Inspired by Andy Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable happenings, the Yeast By Sweet Beast festival features experimental/improvised music complemented by video art. YBSB precedes South By Southwest, March 14-16, at Salvage Vanguard Theatre and Plush in Austin.

It also offers proof that the possibilities for spin-off festival names along SXSW's lines are inexhaustible.

The 2009 YBSB, now in its tenth year, includes local acts Yells At Eels, The Great Tyrant, Dust Congress and The Watchers. After the jump, you'll find the schedule for all three days...

Looks like the recent trend of 1990s music reunions isn't limited to bands. On Saturday, April 18, The Lakewood Theater will hold a reunion for The Basement, the venerable metal nightclub that rocked out on the corner of Greeenville Avenue and Park Lane from the mid 1980s until it closed its doors in January 1995.

During its heyday, the club was crucial to the Dallas metal scene as a hangout and venue. According to a press release from former manager Jeff Schattle, bands including DT Roxx, Rodeo Love Gods, Solinger, Mister Love Dog and, of course, Pantera performed there, as did non-metal acts like The Nixons and The Toadies.

The reunion show includes performances by Lord Tracy, July Alley, Lowside and more. Tickets are $15 in advance at 214-821-7469 and $20 at the door. Better be safe and order now, though, as organizers assure us the show is expected to sell out early.

From 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday, art, music and complimentary booze will collide at Continental Gallery for Creative South's Collision 2. Featured artists are Isaac Brown, Kimberly Gloe, Clint Scism and Ange Fitzgerald, and musicians include DJ Pendergrass, Vaqueros Electronicos, Miss Flowerette and Rubba Rode.

Art will be for sale, and proceeds will benefit Arts Fighting Cancer. The poster mentions "door proceeds," but so far I haven't heard if there's a set door charge or suggested donation. I just emailed Scism for clarification, and will update the post when I find out. Should be worthwhile either way. In the most polite way possible, Scism pointed out that the suggested donation is $5, just like it says on the poster. Lower right-hand corner, in case you missed it too.--Jesse Hughey

Bassist Aaron and drummer Stefan Gonzalez, who play together as grindcore duo Akkolyte and with their father, Dennis, in jazz trio Yells At Eels, have yet another brotherly collaboration coming up. The two will provide music at 9:30 p.m. Friday for the closing party of the eNeRGy exhibit at Kettle Art in Deep Ellum. Joining them will be Sarah Alexander on electronics and vocals, Nevada Hill on guitar and former Cowboys and Indians player Jim Lehnert on saxophones. Sounds like a very interesting mix. One could say the same about the eNeRGy exhibit, for that matter, which features local artists Mark Nelson, Richard Ross and Sergio Garcia. --Jesse Hughey

Update: Lehnert will not be playing, due to an injury. Also, Aaron sent more information about the set.

Update to the Update: Bobby Taylor of Orange Coax will replace Lehnert.

Good news for those who missed last weekend's "Fantastical Film Freakout" at the Inwood Theater: Good Records will screen the Flaming Lips' years-in-the-making Christmas On Mars tonight at 9 p.m.

But if you really love those fearless freaks from Oklahoma--or if you just like free beer--get there early. The store will be tapping a keg at 7 p.m. to get the crowd properly lubricated for a 7:30 p.m Zaireeka listening party. Zaireeka, as any Lips fan knows, was released 11 years ago today and consists of a single eight-song album released on four CDs meant to be played simultaneously. For the 10th anniversary last year, the band released a fifth disc to further expand the sound. Good will be playing all five discs over its P.A., but nonetheless encourages attendees to bring their own stereos. Also, bring something to sit on and a costume, as there'll be a contest. The evening's schedule is after the jump.--Jesse Hughey

In case you hadn't heard by now, Meltdown, Lizard Lounge's enormous annual block party, has a whale of a headliner this year. Moby, the guy who provided the soundtrack to every commercial, TV show and movie released around the turn of the millennium, will be the event's marquee DJ. He follows a slew of international superstar DJs including James Zabiela, DJ Dan and Donald Glaude and Dirty South.

The Levitt Pavilion in downtown Arlington's Founders Plaza begins its premiere season of "Free Music Under The Stars" at 7:30 tonight with a bang--a nuclear polka explosion, to be more precise--when Brave Combo takes the stage. Their performance follows a ribbon cutting and appearances by "local dignitaries." Children's musician Eddie Coker performs at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow, followed by a 7:30 p.m. show from Peruvian musicians Wayanay Inka and family-friendly cover band Crawfish on Sunday.

The series continues through Halloween with performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays, along with a "Family Fun" show at 5:30 p.m. each Saturday. Each night will feature a different genre of music, including "Musica Latina," "Americana," "Family Fun," "World Music" and the all-encompassing "Music Cafe." Check the schedule here.--Jesse Hughey

Rhett Miller fans eager for a chance to see him live can breathe easy: the Old 97's frontman will perform a solo show Friday, November 21 at The Granada Theater. Brent Best of the Drams and Slobberbone will open the show, which will be MC'd by Gordon Keith.

The show is a benefit for the Breathe Easy Foundation, which raises funds for treatment of cystic fibrosis, and is part of the CF Concert Series. Last year Miller performed with 97's bandmate Murry Hammond for the same cause. Tickets are $25 for the little people and $75 for VIPs here.

After the jump is a video with Miller talking about the show and the cause.--Jesse Hughey

If you're nostalgic for the warehouse parties of your youth, you've got the chance to relive those bygone days. Even better, you probably won't have to worry about the police busting up the party. The fourth annual Art Conspiracy, set for Saturday, December 6, will take place in a 40,000-square-foot warehouse at 4011 3011 Gulden in West Dallas.

This year's performers will include Mount Righteous, Paul Slavens' electro-classical symphony Chameleon Chamber Group, Aton and DJ sets from Sober and Select, along with video installations from Edward Ruiz.

As in past Art Cons, artists will create artworks on site during the 24 hours before the event. During the event, the pieces will be auctioned off between band sets. Proceeds from this year's event will go to Preservation Link, which teaches media literacy and self-esteem to South Dallas and Fair Park students through photography and videography programs. The cause was announced at the SEED fund-raiser at Sons of Hermann Hall in June. This year, some 150 artists will participate.

The venue is a break from the organization's tradition of using historic venues like the Texas Theater, Longhorn Ballroom and the Door (site of the former Gypsy Tea Room).--Jesse Hughey

Beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday, you can help Fairmount bartender Ryan Kerr celebrate his 40th birthday and help hungry and homeless Texans, all while enjoying some of Fort Worth's best Americana, folk and country musicians.

The birthday celebration is continuing a tradition Kerr began while tending bar at the now-closed MacHenry's in Fort Worth. Last year, the event raised some $800 for a relative whose husband was dying of cancer, Kerr says. This year's event was spurred by the death of a former customer, which underscored the importance of providing shelter from the elements.

"I had a customer [at MacHenry's] last year who was a homeless man who died of heat exhaustion," Kerr says. "There are too many of them out there."

Among the nine solo acts and three bands performing are Scott Copeland, No Class and Jody Jones with the great Theater Fire as headliner.

Monetary, canned food and blanket donations will be collected and distributed to the Presbyterian Night Shelter and an area food bank during the show. Additionally, some performers will donate proceeds from CD sales, Kerr says.--Jesse Hughey

For all you Beatles enthusiasts out there, or anyone looking for a new way to drop a few grand today, Dallas' own Heritage Auctions is holding a live auction in their showroom on Maple Avenue, with some rare records, ticket stubs, sketches and other items from the band.

Even if a $4,000 EP is just a skosh out of your price range, checking out that live auction, and seeing some of this stuff in person, beats the hell out of another "Antiques Roadshow" rerun.

The good people at Heritage were kind enough to take some of the pieces out of their locked cases, so we can bring you this slide show of select items up for grabs. --Patrick Michels

True story: This morning I sign on to Gmail, where one of my girlfriends notices that I am active before 10 a.m. Yay, me. We chat a bit about random stuff and then she IMs, “are you going to the karaoke fundraiser tonight at barbara's pavillion?” at which point I think to myself, “I haven’t heard about it, deadline-deadline-deadline, tonight is 16-year-old dog sitting…” Then I read the event page and think, “Hopefully I can make it.”

It’s true. I do hope I can make it. The event is a small but seriously cool fund-raiser out of a series of fund-raisers hosted by Barbara’s Pavillion, Lee Harvey’s and The Petropolitan to raise money and awareness for dog and cat rescue/adoptions. (The full story/event release on how Bacon the dog came up with this fund-raising series is after the jump.) And yeah, it’s a good cause, but there’s also drink specials and karaoke games, so even the coal-hearted and animal h8rz can live it up and inadvertently earn some good karma. Local creative dynamos (and brothers) Erik and Ean Schuessler (if you ever went to an XPO Lounge [may it rest in peace] karaoke night, you may have been graced with a show by one or both of them) promise to once again kick out some unforgettable stunners, while Lee Harvey’s staff peeps (you know them, you tip them, you love them) will perform endearing feats of self-humiliation or shocking talent--you be the judge.

No, the Dog Daze of Summer Karaoke Fundraiser (its given name) isn’t a traditional live music rec for the DC-9 set, but trust me, it’s a good suggestion. Why not go let off some steam and try your vocal chords as the lead singer you never got to be? See how hard it really is to command a crowd … and a tip jar. C’mon, it’s fur charity (ba-dum-bum!). Fun starts at 8 p.m. at Barbara’s Pavilion, 325 Centre (214-941-2145). Pooch Prom comes up in September. We’ll speak again then.--Merritt Martin

In celebration of the AFI Dallas International Film Festival, Texas fashion institution Neiman Marcus has collaborated with The Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas to present the unique AFI event Through the Lens Clearly: Icons & Images from The Harry Ransom Center.

Through the Lens Clearly showcases a very cool hodgepodge of relics and regalia from classic Hollywood with a special focus on wardrobe and photography. Five of the six floors of the couture capital of the South have been eloquently integrated with exclusive icons of the film industry. The classic layout of the flagship Neiman Marcus integrated with the gallery-style displays (for the most part) flow seamlessly, creating a window shopper’s paradise of glitterati paraphernalia.

However, beyond the alluring materialism of celebrity and film, Through the Lens exposes the behind-the-scenes process of filmmaking, and this is the exhibit's most titillating element. Long before pre-production houses were dominated by Power Macs and frantic interns, an elementary style of creative collaboration existed and this nostalgic process of creation remains magical. The voyeuristic adventure of this exhibit unveils the mechanics of famous Hollywood magic -- and that’s fantastic for those with an insatiable curiousness as to how things work.

We spent our weekends with indie rockers (Centro-matic), geeks (All-Con) and guitarists (Texas Guitar Competition). And you?

Centro-matic at Granada Theater

Despite things being cold outside, the Granada was packed Saturday night when we showed up to see Centro-matic, Robert Gomez and South San Gabriel (photos). It's always a thrill to watch Centro-matic's Scott Danbom on stage – the man appears so at home. He and the three other members of the Denton indie rock group kept the crowd engaged. Openers South San Gabriel and Robert Gomez impressed, too.

All-Con

We took a trip to geek heaven this weekend. Who knew we could find geek nirvana in Addison? Admittedly, we weren't as impressed by the appearances (e.g. Aaron Douglas of Battlestar Galactica) at this weekend's All-Con, but it was quite possibly the best people watching we've done in a bit. Lots of costumes. The best part of all the costumes? Easy. The superhero pageant.

I would never, ever attempt to trap a Blitzen or any of his reindeer friends, but I would want to spread the word that tomorrow at 3 p.m., Good Records is hosting a free in-store with Blitzen Trapper. So you may want to tell the in-coming inclement weather to high-tail it out of Big D so you can leave your house. Sure, attending the show might throw a wrench in your actual, you know, "work" day but it's a perfect neighborhood destination for if any snow cancellations come up. —Merritt Martin

With musical accompaniment from country-folk singer Annie Benjamin and CityChurch of Dallas music minister Neeki Bey, local playwright David Marquis will perform his new monologue, "The Purple Finger," about the importance of hands-on democracy, at 7:30 tonight at CityGallery. (The term “purple finger” refers to the ink-stain used by election administrators to mark voters who have cast ballots in certain countries, including Iraq.)

Marquis, an activist and Oak Cliff resident, describes tonight's event as an “old-fashioned Woody Guthrie/Pete Seeger rally.” He will recount his experiences as an elections observer in El Salvador and as a democracy advocate in Dallas as well as other countries. One story he’ll share is about an El Salvadorean fashion designer who stood in front of a tank sent to quell a demonstration.

“Back in the 1980s, I traveled to El Salvador, Nicaragua, South Africa, the Philippines, India and Pakistan to research freedom movements around the world,” Marquis says. “This particular monologue is about the importance of democracy and how we have to go out and really put our hands on it. Get the purple finger and vote and really put your hands on it.”

There'll be music, too...

So, leap day was busy. I know last week I asked who actually celebrates leap day, but there were lots of killer shows on February 29. We managed to get into the sold-out Marilyn Manson show (and brought our camera, of course), caught Dan Dyer's two-hour set and witnessed a real-life School of Rock. And that was just Friday.

Marilyn Manson at House of Blues

Back when this show was announced, we got excited. Sure, Marilyn Manson tours plenty. This show, however, is our first time to see Manson reunited with bassist Twiggy Ramirez. The BFFs have electric chemistry on stage, and it showed at Friday night's show. To get a feeling of what the show was like, check out DC-9 photographer Jonathan Finley's concert photos.

Dan Dyer at Bend Studio

After watching Dan Dyer's two-hour set Friday night, our writer Darryl Smyers was left wishing he could grow a suave beard like Dyer's. That's the kind of effect the singer/songwriter has on people. Darryl told us the crowd was mostly female and audience members even cheered when Dyer took a sip of water. While we're pretty sure Darryl didn't let out any girlish screams at the show, he did find Dyer's set impressive.

F6 Gallery One-Year Anniversary Party
February 23, 2008

F6 Gallery

Better Than: Most anything else happening in Arlington on a Saturday night.
Download: See who was at the gallery's birthday bash in our slideshow.

Sometimes what begins as a capricious whim or an idealistic toss of the dice manifests into a force greater than one could have imagined. This is how the story goes for the F6 Gallery, an awesome little warehouse-turned-art house hidden in the scrappy city landscape off Division Street in Arlington.

Last night F6 Gallery celebrated its one-year anniversary with the kind of warm, jubilant vibe symbolic of the best kind of Saturday night house parties –- and it’s that exact funky-feel-good energy that spurred the almost instant success for the sizzling F6 movement. Not just a gallery but an homage to raw, frenetic self-expression, F6 brings the party –- melding street inspired art, dance, DJs and style into one cool event after another. In the past year, F6 has hosted unique monthly events such as the Lock In Show (featuring work created in one night of sleep-depravity), Uppercase (an adventure in the art of the alphabet) and Electroshock (art inspired by all things electronic).

These wildly popular monthlies have generated a creative vitality that co-organizer Guy Black points out was so desperately needed in the sleepy trenches of the curious city famed for big ticket entertainment, not underground art movements. “I don’t know if you know this, but there’s not exactly a lot of culture in Arlington,” says Black in a reluctant whisper.

Black, along with founders Mike Smith, Kevin Thornton and Jeremy Gabriel, has transformed the former boat storage space into a mission –- a sacred space exalting street-style art as a vital and incendiary element of modern society. And when you bring the art, you bring the people –- the collective of artists, musicians and fanatics who live and breathe the renegade fervor that fuels the scene.

...and you can read said mention here.

Snobbish hipster types around Dallas jump for joy! All together now: "Validation! Validation! Validation!"

Meh. We give Pitchfork's coverage here a 6.3 rating.

But if you're itching for more--and I know that you are--Rich Lopez broke this ish down for ya in this week's print edition of the Observer (dare I say, the paper version of DC-9? Take that, Wilonsky!).

Organizer Wanz Dover has managed to pull together some major hype heading into this thing. It'll be interesting to see how it plays out. -- Pete Freedman

...and Rich Lopez and I will be in attendance at Lift Lounge helping a panel of judges choose the best of the five competing local DJs. The winner of this little competition will be repping Dallas at the Ultra Music Festival in Miami on March 28. We here at the paper are apparently sponsoring this deal, which starts at 10. Stop by and say hi. Should be a good time. Rich and I will be the high-and-mighty, egotistical ones standing with arms crossed near the back of the room. -- Pete Freedman

We feel like we were all over the place this weekend. We checked out the latest art exhibit at the DMA, oohed and aahed over custom cars and managed to get into The Paper Chase show. If your weekend lacked any of those, then you need to keep reading.

Late Night at Dallas Museum of Art

Love was definitely still in the air Friday night at the February installment of the Dallas Museum of Art's Late Night series (photos). The museum offered up readings of classic love poems (we particularly dig Keats), a performance of love songs by the Arts District's Chorale, some very tasty wine at the happy hour and more couples attending that we've seen before. We also enjoyed hearing author Nancy Horan speak. (She signed copies of her book Loving Frank, too.) Also, the DMA just acquired the J.M.W. Turner exhibit, which features stunning landscapes. The paintings are breathtaking. The DMA will show the collection through May 18, so you've got plenty of time to get down there.

The Paper Chase at Sons of Hermann Hall

The Paper Chase lived up to our expectations at Friday's show. The melodies were enchanting, the band members engaging and the crowd was alive. Maybe it was the wait for this show, but the indie group's performance was totally what we needed this weekend.

Cindy Chaffin of FineLineLive's got a pretty interesting offer for all you agoraphobes out there: Stay at home this weekend, she'll bring the music to you.

She'll be streaming live video of Jay Johnson (four downloads after the link), straight from Johnson's living room as a sort of Internet launch party for his upcoming digital-only release TruthWagon. The feed goes live at 11:30 tomorrow morning on both FineLineLive.com and JayJohnsonMusic.com. -- Pete Freedman

So, it’s Valentine’s almost weekend. And while for some that means a celebration of love and romance via kitschy American Greetings cards and sinful cornucopias of chocolate and nougat, for us Valentine’s Day serves as a kick off to a weekend of laughs, thrills and uninhibited booty-shakin’. Whether you’re the puppy-loving couple in search of a twist to your mandated evening of love or a proud single looking for a fun night out with the homies, our weekend recommendations are sure to keep the blood pumping to your vital and voracious hearts. Thump, thump.

Thursday, February 14

Treat your ticker to a night of out with writer, comedian and best-selling author Greg Behrendt at the Addison Improv. Behrendt’s cynical yet sensible quips on love, rejection and the general mayhem of the dating game has garnered him a Comedy Central standup special, writing creds on HBO’s Sex and the City and the outrageous success of his co-authored New York Times best-selling relationship handbook He’s Just Not That Into You. Although, Behrendt’s fame was solidified through his insights into unrequited love, the self-proclaimed “uncool” artist has been tickling audiences with his confident and clever social commentary long before his relationship revelations. Laughter, beer and the humorous dissolution of the labor of love – you can’t go wrong.

Any play including the word “nipples” in the title piques our attention, of course. And Paula Coco’s clever collection of monologues Nipples to the Wind certainly deserves a keep-’em-up gesture of adulation.

Stand-up comedian Coco, along with Dallas resident and actress Janye Anderson, performs quirky insights into 14 heroines of the Bourgeois in this two-hour play showing at the Dallas Hub Theater through February 24.

The garrulous female characters deliver a funny, spastic and uncomfortably realistic depiction of the types of colorful women that most of us Gen-Xers grew up with – our boomin’ grannies, busybody aunts and nutty, neighborly babysitters. The sensationalized yet common women explored in Nipples celebrate many of the peculiar and defining ideals of the American middle class woman: celebrity obsession, retail therapy, gossip, fervent accessorizing and family matters.

Although, the 10 funny vignettes are performed by women and ultimately about women, the themes are accessible to men and women across the social spectrum. And if, at times, the material does become slightly less relatable, the acting is so captivating and outrageous that the entertainment value remains elevated to a degree that keeps the audience engaged and smiling.

This weekend was a blur – the good kind. There was drinking, dogs, dancing and, oh yeah, Diamond Dave. Dig in:

Hooch and Pooch by Kitchen Dog Theater

The folks at Kitchen Dog Theater went all out for the 2008 Hooch and Pooch gala Saturday night. There were Hoochinis and Poochinis available at the vodka bar, doggy bags filled with gift certificates to a variety of stores, a silent auction (one item up for grabs was an original Al Satterwhite print of the Houston Astrodome) and a lively dance floor thanks to DJ DeLuxe. We were a little bummed that we didn't run into anyone with their dogs – who were invited to the shindig, too.

Keller Williams at House of Blues

In addition to enjoying the jam band vibe at the Keller Williams and the WMD'S show Friday night, our reviewer Darren Burgfeld was fully impressed by the band's musical ability. We always prefer to see bands who have, you know, real talent.

Van Halen at American Airlines Center

Dude, what can we say? We're happy to see Van Halen (not Van Hagar) back in action. More than 20 years after the fact, and the group still entertains. If you missed it, don't worry. Van Halen returns to the AAC on March 3.

Sundance Closes

While our resident film guru Robert Wilonsky returned from the 2008 Sundance Film Festival last week, his LA Weekly counterpart Scott Foundas filled us in on the Sundance winners Sunday afternoon. -- Chelsea Ide