Dallas Music Blog

​Alright: Another weekend! No sense in beating around the bush. Let's just jump right in and check out the show-going options on the DFW plate for the next couple of days. First, as always, the shows we've already plenty hyped up.

Tonight at The Green Elephant, various hip-hop and DJ acts will grace the venue's two stages--but the real highlight, surely, is a DJ set from UK-based dubstep tastemaker Mary Anne Hobbs, who's stopping through Dallas as just one of four stops on her US tour. Also tonight: Minnesota-based hip-hop duo Eyedea & Abilities will take the stage at Hailey's in Denton, and PVC Street Gang, TV Torso, New Fumes and Cocky Americans will rock The Project House.

Tomorrow night sees quite the party at the Palladium for the annual Meltdown event, this one featuring Kid Sister, A-Trak, David Guetta, Kill The Noise and others. Also going on: Dax Riggs plays The Cavern; The Slow Burners release its new disc at City Tavern; and Analog Rebellion performs a MADD benefit at The Door Plano.

As for Sunday? Well, we'll get to that when we list the rest of the weekend's noteworthy shows after the jump. Join us, won't you?

​Well, it's Friday the 13th again, folks. Hope you've planned ahead and set aside 13 bucks for a "13" tattoo at Oliver Peck's Elm Street Tattoo.

As for your show-going plans. Well, we've got your collective procrastinating backs. First, the shows we've already hyped.

Tonight, for instance, has a ton of 'em: Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit sharing a stage with Macon Greyson out at the Longhorn Saloon in Fort Worth; Thao & The Get Down Stay Down playing Lola's Sixth in Fort Worth; The Hidden Cameras performing with Gentleman Reg and The O's at Hailey's in Denton; Ha Ha Tonka performing with Ludo, Meese and Without a Face at The Prophet Bar; and local singer-songwriter Jessie Frye at Opening Bell Coffee.

Saturday, meanwhile, is pretty busy, too: The Revival Tour (featuring Frank Turner, Chuck Ragan, Jim Ward, Jon Snodgrass, Chad Price, and NX35 favorite Possessed by Paul James) stops in to the Prophet Bar; Rhett Miller performs a cystic fibrosis benefit concert with The O's and Shibboleth at the Granada Theater; The Wax Museums performs its only show of the year at Denton house venue The Lion's Den, along with Occult Detective Club; A.A. Bondy and Elvis Perkins in Dearland stop in for a gig at the House of Blues' Cambridge Room; and indie darlings Bishop Allen pop on in to Lola's Sixth in Fort Worth for a show, too.

As for Sunday? Well, we haven't yet mentioned any shows on Sunday. But that doens't mean we won't. Jump with us as we discuss the best of the rest of your weekend options...

After an almost year-long hiatus, The Party makes its triumphant return tonight at The Loft.

​Lots happening this weekend--a surprising amount, actually--so let's cut all semantics and jump right into the shows that need to be added to your weekend calendar considerations. First, some reminders of the shows we've already mentioned in this week's coverage.

Tonight's especially packed, with the show at The Lounge on Elm Street leading the way, featuring performances from HEALTH, Times New Viking, Teenage Cool Kids and Axemen. But it's not the only stellar show of the night. Right up there in contention with The Lounge's show is a show at (of all places) The Door in Forth Worth featuring Minus the Bear and The Antlers. And, lest we forget, there's also a performance from Destroyer tonight, with opening sets from Sarah Jaffe and, I just found out, RTB2. Meanwhile dance fans will no doubt pack the main room at the House of Blues for Deadmau5's set. So, yeah, tonight's pretty damn packed.

Saturday, meanwhile, boasts quite the lineup as well: There's The Crash That Took Me's CD release show with a support performance from True Widow, among others; out in Fort Worth, Lucero will bring its newly horns-infused sound to the Longhorn Saloon in Fort Worth; at The Loft, Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros will bring its impossibly happy and catchy brand of the Laurel Canyon sound to Dallas; and things could possibly get out of control, meanwhile at the punk show with Off With Their Heads and others at The Lounge on Elm Street, what with its newly renewed liquor license and all. Just don't expect to see Atlas Sound at Hailey's in Denton on Saturday night--that show's been canceled.

Sunday sees a fine dance-party bill with Fizzy Dino Pop, Ishi and Ssion at The Cavern, all there to help the crowds dance their back-to-the-work-week blues away. And, also on Sunday, The Barley House will unveil its new all-local jukebox.

Oh, and all weekend long, just a couple hours south on I-35 is the Fun Fun Fun Fest, which features, Danzig, of Montreal, Yeasayer, The Cool Kids, The Jesus Lizard, Mission of Burma and many, many others. Check back here for coverage over the weekend; we've dispatched Jesse Hughey and Patrick Michels to keep tabs on the event for us.

Lastly, while it's not technically a weekend event, there's pretty much no chance that we'll be in the office early enough on Monday to remind you that the new KERA-owned, public, all-music station at KXT-91.7 FM launches at 7 a.m., so be sure to listen to that.

But there are actually a few more big shows worth your attention this weekend--including the reunion of one of the biggest DJ troupes this town has ever seen. Check that out, and more, after the jump.

Don't forget your costume. Here's one idea.

​Love it when Halloween falls on a weekend, as is the case this year. What that means for music fans is lots of costume contests and tribute nights, and bands and fans will likely be even more intoxicated than usual--so be careful out there. Recently someone told me his drinking-and-driving strategy, which is to look for someone who appears even drunker than he is and tail them. I totally do not endorse that, and only share it so you can know what to look out for: sometimes drunken drivers come in pairs.

As always, first let's recap what we've already mentioned. Tonight, The Pogues may or may not enjoy a pint or two at the House of Blues; Sleep Whale/Mom's Joel North will perform as Ourselves at a CD re-release party with Sunnybrook, Melting Season and Abacus at J&J's Pizza in Denton; The O's, RTB2 and Spooky Folk perform at the Cavern; Blood On The Moors, [DOYLE] (a [DARYL] tribute) and Brent Springsteen (Here, In Arms' Brent Engel as The Boss) rock The Double-Wide; and Paul Slavens scores The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Palace Theater in Grapevine.

As for Saturday, it's the day you've been looking forward to all year--be sure to check the excellent Halloween Guide (which includes quite a few music-related events) that calendar editors Noah W. Bailey and Merritt Martin put together. And it's a big day for House of Blues: They Might Be Giants perform an afternoon children's show there; John Lewis and others play at the venue's Cambridge Room later that night, while Robert Randolph and the Family Band as well as the amazing Black Joe Lewis hit up the main stage. Cobra Starship and some other mallpunk bands play at Nokia. Alex Flores, our new Poster of the Week scribe, gave props to the poster for Nightmare on Sixth Street with Oso Closo, the Skin & Bones Drum Cult and magician Ash Adams. Ghostland Observatory swoops into the Palladium, and Kurt Vile will violate The Lounge on Elm Street. Also, there's this sweet new chillcore (aka GorillaVsBearcore) band that nobody's ever written about called Neon Indian playing at The Granada--be sure to RSVP by e-mail.

But there is so much more fun to be had this weekend. Read on...

​Kind of a slow weekend 'round these parts. Which, y'know, is OK, actually. Feels like we've been moving at 100 mph of lat. A slower pace is kind of welcome for once.

Still, that doesn't mean nothing's happening. There certainly are a few things worth checking out this weekend--mostly smaller affairs, though, with a few major exceptions.

Among those: Tonight's Star Wars: In Concert ordeal out at Arlington's Death Star. And, competing with that this evening (although, really, in date only)? Night One of the No Thanks Fest out in Emory. And then, of course, our own Noah W. Bailey and his band, The Naptime Shake, playing a free CD release show at Bryan St. Tavern.

Meanwhile, Saturday sees Day Two of No Thanks Fest. it also offers up a second chance to see The Naptime Shake, this time at Lee Harvey's, as part of an afternoon benefit for Dog & Kitty City.

And, on Sunday, you can go catch The Bravery at the House of Blues. They might even play that one song...

As for your option options? Well, uh, jump with us, won't you?

Rivalries bring out the best in people, huh?

​Don't even begin to kid yourselves: Getting around town this weekend will be a pain. Lower Greenville in particular? It's gonna suck. So hard.

What really sucks though, is that it's a pretty packed weekend of live music, and if you're gonna head out on the town, well, you're just gonna have to put up with all the TX/OU crap. Thankfully, enough of what's happening this weekend does appear worth the while.

So, without further ado, let's just jump right in, first with the shows we've already talked up...

Tonight, there's The Black Crowes at the Palladium, Har Mar Superstar at The Lounge on Elm, and, as we just explained, the Red Bull Soundclash event with Erykah Badu, The Cannabinoids and Shiny Toy Guns at Victory Plaza.

On Saturday, there's the Texas Guitar Show in Arlington Convention Center, the CD release party for Daniel Folmer's third CD in 18 months at J&J's Pizza in Denton, the opening of The Info Shop in Arlington and the Baruch the Scribe EP release at Hailey's in Denton.

Sunday, meanwhile, be sure to clear your schedules for The Ramonas, True Widow, Early Man and Valient Thorr (plus a mechanical bull!) at The Double Wide's sixth anniversary party.

Now, onto the best of the rest--each of which we'll describe this week in terms of why putting up with traffic may or may not be worth it. Jump with us, won't you?

​The weekend's here, which is good news for anyone hoping to catch up on sleep and boost their immune systems so they don't catch that darn H1N1 virus going around. And good news for music fans, too, as there's enough rock going on to melt both your face and all potential germs it might be keeping on it.

(How's that for a visual?)

Anyway, let's just jump right in. First, as always, the shows we've already talked up...

Tonight's kicking off the weekend in a pretty huge way, thanks to a Palladium Ballroom performance from the noted alterna-dads in Wilco (with Liam Finn opening) and a show from noted Black Lips enemy Wavves at The Lounge on Elm Street. Tonight, also, is your last chance to catch the newest DC9 in SPACE alums, Hymns, as the band wraps up its 10-day tour of the region with a performance at Hailey's in Denton. Oh, and then there's the Hot Klub reunion taking place over at the Lakewood.

Tomorrow, meanwhile, sees the deafening A Place to Bury Strangers stopping by The Lounge on Elm Street and a great Weekly Tape Deck-sponsored bill at Rubber Gloves in Denton, featuring Bosque Brown, This Old House, My Gold Mask and Dust Congress. Saturday also sees the first of two interesting weekend shows at the Phoenix Project DIY space, this one featuring Big Fiction, Leg Sweeper and Muhammedali.

On Sunday, there's the second interesting Phoenix Project show of the weekend, this one featuring Dysrhythmia, Four Days To Burn, Waste Burai and Baring Teeth. There's a fine DayBowBow.net-sponsored show at Hailey's in Denton with Austin's Ringo Deathstarr, Dallas' True Widow and Denton's Manned Missiles, and a rockin' punk show at The Double Wide with the always-entertaining Riverboat Gamblers atop a bill also featuring The Von Ehrics and Spector 45.

But, wait! There's more! Jump with us, won't you?

​The ACL festival may be going on right now down in Austin town, but North Texas music lovers aren't going to let some silly little no-compete clause ruin the weekend.

First, let's review the shows we've already mentioned. Tonight, Telegraph Canyon releases The Tide and the Current at Lola's in Fort Worth, Wye Oak rocks The Cavern, and The Dodos bring their good vibes to House of Blues. 

Saturday brings Strung Out to The Granada and VIDEO, Intelligence, PVC Street Gang and the Fungi Girls' LP release (except now without the actual band) to the Handsome Kitten.

And on Sunday, Thievery Corporation raises awareness of AIDS in Africa by playing at House of Blues.

Also, the State Fair has a crazy variety of musical entertainment this weekend, from dancing dogs to the Celt-rock of The Killdares to Max Stalling to En Vogue. See this page for stage information and show times. 

What else is going on? Glad you asked...

​Let me apologize in advance if this week's installment of Good Friday reads a little short: I've been having trouble concentrating since lunch, when Jesse Hughey and I stopped by The Grill at Reno's and indulged in a pair of Dimebag's Blacktooth Whiskey Burgers. Seriously tasty stuff, folks. Been stuck in something of a food coma since. Jesse will have a formal review on City of Ate next week, I'm told, but--SPOILER ALERT--I'm a fan.

Anyway, onto this weekend's slate of shows, a number of which we've already discussed. As always, a quick reminder:

Tonight's especially busy: The Psychedelic Furs and Happy Mondays stopping by the House of Blues; underground hip-hop kinds Busdriver and Abstract Rude are stopping by the Cavern; The Horrors, Crocodiles and The Burning Hotels, meanwhile, are looking to turn the Granada into something of a dance party; and, out in The Fort, Good Records' newest signee, Binary Sunrise, plays a CD release show with Division Day and Soulever Lift.

Saturday, meanwhile, boasts another Binary Sunrise release show, this one at City Tavern with Buttercup. Also playing on Saturday: Datarock at the Granada and Little Birds, with Matthew Gray, Delves Into the Humanity Pools With The Six Foot Saucer Pot People, at the Amsterdam Bar.

And, on Sunday, you're best bet so far? Asobi Seksu at Hailey's.

Now, moving onto the shows we haven't yet talked up... after the jump.

​After what has felt like weeks of rain and gloomy weather, partying outdoors is probably the last thing on most people's minds. But along with a full slate of indoor music offerings, this weekend offers several outdoor festivals, including a couple sure to bring out progressives. And there's good news on the weather front: the forecast calls for cloudy conditions but no rain on Saturday and Sunday.

First, let's rehash what we've already mentioned. Tonight, L.A.X and DJ Orion will represent Austin dance music at the Lounge on Elm, The Phuss play at the Curtain Club, and it's Britney, bitch, at the AAC.

Saturday, Warcola plays its CD release show at Muddy Waters, Vanilla Ice rocks the mic like a vandal at Trees, Motorhead will motorize the Palladium and Living Colour reemerges from obscurity for a show at the Granada.

And throughout the weekend, you can polka and chicken-dance to your drunken heart's content at the Addison Oktoberfest (be sure not to miss the dachshund race on Sunday) or check out Billy Jo Shaver, Gary P. Nunn, Mark McKinney and more at Grapevine's Grapefest.

Of course, that's not all, folks. First off, this is Pride Festival weekend, culminating Sunday with the Dallas Pride Parade which starts on Wycliffe Avenue between Cedar Springs and Maple and heads down Cedar Springs to the festival site in Lee Park. Click here for a list of other gay and gay-friendly Pride events throughout the weekend. And here are a few other musical highlights of the weekend.

Kings And Queens Pride Kickoff Party with Killtron, Schwa, Genova, DJ RedEye
Friday, September 18, at Fallout Lounge
A night of high-energy dance music opens up Pride Festival weekend in the cozy confines of the Fallout Lounge in Exposition Park. Former Dallas Observer clubs editor Rich Lopez has an interesting (if one-sided) article in the Dallas Voice about how former Suite basement promoter Mollotova ended up moving this event to its current location. 

Neon Indian plays these beautiful confines on Sunday.

​Not the busiest weekend of shows around town this time around--which I'm OK with as I'm off to Colorado to visit friends and check out Neon Indian's debut at Monolith on Sunday (and you thought we were done with them for the time being... ha!). But there are some cool shows worth looking into this weekend--and, more good news for me, we've already written about most.

Oh, and of those show's we've already hyped. A reminder:

Tonight, there's the Boys Named Sue CD release show at Sons of Hermann Hall with The King Bucks and the Great Tyrant- and Me-Thinks-led show at Lola's Sixth in Fort Worth.

On Saturday, there's Throw Me The Statues, The Brunettes and Nurses at The Cavern, there's Chairlift up at Hailey's in Denton, the Somebody's Darling CD Release show at The Granada, and, lest we forget, the Brad Paisley and Dierks Bentley show at Superpages.com Center.

And, as for Sunday, well... well, I got nothing.

But I do have a few more Friday and Saturday shows worth looking into, so let's jump and talk 'em up a bit, OK? As always, feel free to make suggestions of other shows worth looking into by adding them to our comments.

​It's Labor Day weekend, which means most of us will be taking Monday off--including us here at DC9. Nothing like a three-day weekend to honor the workingman and -woman. Or a four-day weekend, for those kids whose ignorant redneck parents would rather force their children to skip school than allow their spawn to hear a pep talk about the importance of education because it's being given by our president. I wonder if those same Glenn Beck fans will protest the Great Socialist Threat by going to work on Monday, since this holiday was created to honor labor unions--not exactly BFFs with the Republican Party.

But there's more to this holiday weekend than toasting the people who helped bring us 40-hour work weeks, minimum wages and safe working conditions. There's plenty of live music going on too, with events we've already mentioned and plenty of others.

Starting with previously mentioned events, there's Wayne "The Train" Hancock at the Granada Theater tonight.

Saturday, DayBowBow has an excellent 14-act lineup that's heavy on new groups scheduled at The Schoolhouse in Denton, This Will Destroy You plays at The Granada, Los Straitjackets provides a welcome break from Trees' usual metal and post-grunge and Cross Canadian Ragweed's 4th Annual Red Dirt Roundup brings plenty of great country, alt-country, roots rock and more to the Stockyards in Cowtown. 

Sunday brings Drop Dead Gorgeous, From First To Last and others to town, along with local mall faves The Secret Handshake and PlayRadioPlay! to Plano for the third annual September To Remember--and they really will remember it, as it will be a booze-free all-ages affair--as well as dreamy Scottish pop singer Paolo Nutini to House of Blues.

And on Monday, Wade Bowen, Bleu Edmonson, Stoney Larue and others will be Pickin' For Preemies at Billy Bob's.

Here are a few other options for you to consider this weekend.

​Another week bites the dust, which leads us to this weekly inevitability of us offering up our top choices for musical entertainment each weekend. And, well, there's a lot this weekend, actually, so hold on tight.

First up, as always, a reminder of the shows we've already hyped up plenty...

Tonight in particular is packed with goodies: Hip-hoppers C.S. Rucker and Dustin Cavazos (who has been working on new material, I hear) will be playing at Mokah Lounge in Deep Ellum; rapper SHO. will be joined by Dem Southernfolkz and others at Liquid Lounge's Final Fridays event; up in Denton, Hailey's kicks off its back to school festivites with an event tonight called Back to Coool, featuring, among others, Fizzy Dino Pop and the debut of Corporate Park; Wanz Dover's new residency at Fallout Lounge, The Atomic Party, will feature sets from Dover's own Blixaboy moniker, as well as sets from Juan Solo, Nervous Curtains and Akkolyte; San Antonio's Buttercup joins Salim Nourallah and I Love Math at Bryan Street Taven; and, in case you can't catch 'em tomorrow in Fort Worth, you can catch Red Animal War tonight at the Prophet Bar, performing with Record Hop, The Timeline Post and Sunrise Cemetary. Also? Don't bother going to Suite Basement...

Saturday's got fewer shows, but maybe a little more pop to it: Red Animal War plays Lola's Sixth in the Fort alongside True Widow and The Me-Thinks; Peter, Bjorn & John opens up for Depeche Mode at Superpages.com Center; Telegraph Canyon, Matthew Gray and The Hand Combine headline Spune's (free) Back to School Ice Cream Social; and, uh, the Toadies are throwing some sort of festival, I think? Yeah, sounds about right.

As for Sunday? Well, nothing we've already mentioned.

But we do have some more options for Friday and Saturday, and, sure, one or two for Sunday too, after the jump. If you think you can handle it.

​Feels like this week has flown by, but maybe that's because I'm back in the saddle again here at DC9. Which means, yep, it's on me again to put together your weekend show list. So, without further ado, here it is. First, the show's we've already brought to your attention--and there were a bunch of 'em.

Tonight, as just mentioned, your options include: the Granada Theater's five-year anniversary party with Slobberbone, Macon Greyson and Danny Balis; the Old 97's and Telegraph Canyon gig at Bass Hall out in Fort Worth; and the Behind The Music-esque lineup of Cheap Trick, Def Leppard and Poison out at Superpages.com Center.

As for Saturday: Incubus and the very underrated The Duke Spirit play Superpages.com Center; Dungen, Matthew and The Arrogant Sea and Woods play The Loft; The River Mouth, Spooky Folk, Rio Rasco and Manned Missles play J&J's Pizza up in Denton; and Television City and others take to Alliance Skate Park in Grand Prairie.

And, finally, on Sunday: Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy and Soulja Boy will spit hot fire to cap off Superpages.com Center's busy weekend; and Captain Incredible and others take to Skillman Street Bar.

Now, onto some other top choices to fill out your calendar. As always, if you've got more shows worth mentioning that we don't get to, post 'em in the comments...

It's been fun, and yet... we are so done with this week.

​OK everybody. Show me some grace here, because this Good Friday you're reading marks the first time Mr. Pete Freedman has trusted your mostly-friendly neighborhood Denton correspondent to offer up the show-going options for the weekend. There's loads of release shows this weekend, but before that:

First, I kinda regret not talking to Pete about letting me do a Good Thursday for yesterday, because last night blessed the area with a mess of good shows. But, I digress, because the rest of your weekend promises some good shows as well.

Second, my show descriptions will be brief, and I'll probably miss a several shows that I "should not have missed, etc." But, look, I just got home from my day job, and, like you, I'm tired and ready to open a cold Carta Blanca and listen to some music. Lastly. Yeah, I'm going to tell you about more Denton shows than Pete might, but Pete'll be back next week, right? Complain to him.

Hopefully, by now, you've already got your hands on our latest print edition, and got a pretty good idea of some of the shows this weekend offers. But, for those of you who, like me, can't remember much you read past a day, here's a recap of the stuff we've already mentioned. And, thankfully for me, we've already mentioned a bunch of shows.

As for Friday, get ready for some: Live. Loud. Music. Because, as you've probably read by now, a new venue is opening in Deep Ellum. The club, called Trees, is in the exact, same, location where Trees used to be. Tonight, the new venue is hosting a Slow Roosevelt reunion show, which reminds me of Trees. I can't wait to step foot inside and reminisce, but I have to keep reminding myself that my memories of begging the sound guy for a cassette tape after many a shows there are nothing but watercolor ponies. (Yeah, I just made that reference.) Get ready for some brand new memories this weekend Dallas!!

On Saturday, Dan's Silverleaf is hosting Nerd Bar Presents. Also, there's the Mayhem Festival with Slayer, Marilyn Manson, etc. at Superpages.com Center. Hailey's Club plays host to the release show for Fishboy's NOM EP. Iji and Watercolor Paintings open (both bands worth catching), and I was told The Om Nom Noms will be front-and-center to observe. Those of you who missed the bands' sets in Denton on last night get another chance to catch The Smith Westerns along with Los Campesinos! and Girls at Granada Theater

On Sunday, The Heartstring Stranglers CD release show at The Schoolhouse should be cool, because, no matter how hot the DIY venue gets, there'll be plenty of fans. As in portable fans. (It's a "B.Y.O.F Party," get it?) New Science Projects, Ryan Thomas Becker, Roy Robertson and Febrifuge are also booked.

Keep reading post-jump for a few more events worth checking out....

​This is one of the biggest music weekends in recent memory, and it seems like there's something for everyone regardless of budget or musical taste.

First up is the Bob Dylan/Willie Nelson/Johnny Cougar show at Quiktrip Park in Grand Prairie. There are still tickets available, according to the Airhogs Web site. Doors open, like, now. Brooklyn's The Wiyos open at 5:30 p.m., followed by Willie at 6:10, that "Jack and Diane" asshole at 7:35 and The Bob Dylan Band headlining at 9:10. Also tonight, Art Conspiracy will have its SEED benefit at Sons of Hermann Hall at 7 p.m. with True Widow, Glen Farris and Airline performing. And Broken Social Scene gets a do-over tonight at the Palladium Ballroom.

Saturday, Method and Red are gonna put on a smokin' set at House of Blues, with Ghostface Killah opening. If Ghost's last album had even sniffed (so to speak) the greatness of Fishscale or even More Fish, that order would be reversed. Just don't ask Meth for an autograph. Burntsienna Trio, Joe Fletcher, Samuel James and Spooky Folk will be at Hailey's in Denton. Also, The Shapes, A. Square and DJ Mark Ridlen perform at The Cavern. For the wee ones in your life, The Wiggles go bananas at Nokia.

And on Sunday, Chris Isaak brings his wicked game to House of Blues.

Now, for the best of the rest...
 

The weekend's finally here, boo-yah, and it's a deceptively crowded one music-wise, actually. You should already know about the weekend shows we've already discussed here and in the print edition, but, in case you forgot, well, let's recap.

Well, now that I think of it, pretty much every show we've already discusses in happening tonight: LehtMoJoe's CD release show at the Granada with Mount Righteous and Anonymous????; De La Soul at the House of Blues; Kim Lenz at the Double Wide; William Fitzsimmons at Good Records and then at Lola's Sixth; and El Ten Eleven, Bizarro Kids and Ishi at Hailey's.

After the jump, a few more Friday options, a couple choice Saturday gigs to liven up your night, and a few more to end your weekend right on Sunday.

It's Friday! Party time! Excellent!

 After Tuesday's festivities, it almost feels redundant to have an actual weekend. But there are plenty of musical reasons not to waste the weekend catching up on all the things that hangover kept you from finishing on Wednesday.

As for stuff going on Friday, we've already told you about Kixpo (which kicks off [sorry!] with a pre-party Friday before the Saturday event and afterparty), Magnolia Electric Co. at Rubber Gloves in Denton, Jack's Mannequin at Starplex and Cage at Hailey's in Denton.

Saturday brings you the sold-out (in more ways than one?) Tool show.

Rod Stewart swings by the Nokia on Sunday, and The English Beat and Reel Big Fish skank it up at the Palladium.

But that ain't all, folks, not by a long shot...

This weekend is jam-freakin'-packed, huh? Kinda overwhelming, actually. So, let's just jump right in. Cool? First, the shows we've already talked up a bit...

Tonight, there's Eleven Hundred Springs., Rodney Parker & 50 Peso Reward and Homespun Remedies at the Granada; Deer Tick and Dawes at Hailey's; The Strange Boys, Coathangers and Bad Sports at The Lounge on Elm Street; Summer Fried Summer Jam '09 at QuickTrip Park with Bun B, Slim Thug, Paul Wall and others; Manya and Clay & The Electronic Cowboys at Rembrandt Cafe; and, though Nico Vega won't be playing, The Cavern will still feature My Wooden Leg, Cocky Americans and The Effinays (awesome name, by the way).

On Saturday, there's Matt & Kim and Giggle Party at the House of Blues' Cambridge Room; J-Live at The Lounge on Elm Street; and the School of Beats reality competition tryouts in Irving.

On Sunday, it's the last Plano Centre show ever for Third String Productions, with Forever The Sickest Kids, Ryan Cabrera, Drop Dead Gorgeous and many others scheduled to perform.

Now, onto the best of the rest... after the jump.

So, first and foremost: Happy (almost) Fourth of July, everyone!

Now, let's talk about the weekend in music, per protocol. As always, the stuff we already discussed up first.

Tonight's pretty busy, actually: Asylum Street Spankers, Porterdavis and The O's play the Granada; The Edge gets the 20th Anniversary treatment at the Lakewood Theater with the likes of Pop Poppins, the Bat Mastersons, Cottonmouth, TX and Deep Blue Something all set to perform; Dirt Nasty (aka former MTV VJ Simon Rex) takes to Ghostbar's ones and twos; DJ Select spins the early evening at Murray Street Coffee; DJ El Macho brings the FEVER to Fallout; and the first of DayBowBow.net's two "New Independence" shows takes place at The Cavern, with Iris Leu, Matthew Gray, Jason Reimer and St. Philistine.

Saturday's holiday sees night two of DayBowBow's "New Independence" shows at The Cavern, with performances from Western Giants, Touch Tongues, Disco:Hate and Manned Missiles; meanwhile, DC9 in SPACE subjects Damaged Good$ head up to Hailey's in Denton for a packed bill that also features Darktown Strutters, Sore Losers, Fizzy Dino Pop, Kashioboy and Cartright, as well as DJs Nature, Females, Yeahdef, Tommy Boy, and Fur.

Sunday, of course, is the day of the Warped Tour, which this year features Less Than Jake, P.O.S. and countless others. Plus, Candlebox plays the House of Blues.

After the jump, a few more choice events worth looking into...

Weekend's here and I'm sure we're all eager to get it launched. So, without further ado, let's get right into it. First, the shows we've already talked up...

Tonight, Ben Kweller stops in for a homecoming gig of sorts at the Granada Theater, Cryptacize stops by Rubber Gloves for a set with Fishboy and Shiny Around The Edges and Erykah Badu stops by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon for a televised performance with The Roots.

Tomorrow night, Brave Combo takes to Sons of Hermann Hall to celebrate thrity years of polkin' fun and THe BAcksliders stop by City Tavern for a final hometown gig before heading out on the road for all of July.

Now, onto the best of the rest. But first? Let's jump.

This particular weekend offers an interesting mix of local and national talents, many of which are playing unheralded venues scattered about the Metroplex. The mix of genres represented in our area in the coming days is quite remarkable.

First off the shows that were already covered in print or online.

Tonight's a full plate to be sure: The Peaches/Drums of Death show at The Granada should prove to be an ear- and an eyeful; up in Denton, the triple-bill of Viva Voce/Cut Off Your Hands/Robert Gomez should keep a person occupied well past midnight.

And, on Sunday, former Talking Head main man David Byrne brings his multi-cultural, dance theater experience to the haughty confines of the Majestic Theater.

There's tons more, though. So let's jump!

Why, yes, that is R. Kelly playing from my computer speakers in the office right now. Which means it must be the weekend. And means I must be running late on posting Good Friday.

My sincerest apologies.

Here are your weekend plans, friends. First up, the shows we've already hyped.

Tonight's kinda crazy, actually. There's the Brutal Juice reunion at Club Dada, for one (catch 'em again on Saturday at the Rock 'N' Roll BBQ at Dan's Silverleaf in Denton). Also: The Flatlanders at House of Blues; Constantines and Crystal Antlers at Sons of Hermann Hall; The Strange Boys, Mika Miko, Bad Sports and Rocket for Ethiopia at Rubber Gloves in Denton; The Helio Sequence will perform at The Loft; and some awards show at the Granada Theater with Damaged Good$, The O's, Play-N-Skillz, RTB2, Mount Righteous, New Science Projects and DJ Sober.

On Saturday, there's the highly anticipated Bonnie "Prince" Billy show at the Granada. And that show with new acts This Old House, Western Giants, Younger Sons and Baruch the Scribe at The Treehouse in Denton.

But, as always, there's more. Jump with us, won't you?

Not exactly a ton of big names swinging through our area this weekend, but it's a decent mix of local and out of town talent who will ply their craft this last weekend in May.

First the shows we've already clued you to in print or via the blog: Tonight's one-man band meltdown with Bob Log III, Williem Maker and El Paso Hot Button at Dada; Paramore opening up for No Doubt and The Sounds Saturday night at Superpages.com Center; also on Saturday, it's the poster of the week show featuring The Atoms and The Drams at Dada.

Now, onto some other weekend musical options:

Alpha Rev, The Campaign
Friday, May 29, at House of Blues Pontiac Garage
Austin's Casey McPherson started Alpha Rev in 2005 after his first band, Endochine, broke up. Good thing too because Alpha Rev is a much better musical proposition. The Greatest Thing I've Ever Learned, the band's debut, came out in 2007 and showed McPherson to be an earnest guy with a semi-literate way with a mope-rock melody. Although Alpha Rev's sophomore effort was never released due to legal hassles, the band's third effort is set to come out this fall.

There are so many options for music lovers this weekend that it's almost overwhelming. Remember, back in the days when you used to go to video stores to rent movies, how it felt to just stare at the cases with no idea what you wanted to watch, and there were so many choices that you got a headache by the time you got to about the Q-through-T section of the New Releases shelf, and finally you'd just grab something and go to the checkout counter? It's kind of like that this weekend.

Here's what you already know, if you've been reading as diligently as you should: Tonight, electronica duo Fischerspooner will be the featured entertainment at the Granada Theater, Alan Jackson won't rock the jukebox at Nokia Theater, former president James Taylor makes a Fair Park appearance and Junior Brown and 100 Damned Guns keep it country at the Longhorn Saloon.

Saturday, The Dears make it as far south as Denton to play at Hailey's while THe BAcksliders invite friends Somebody's Darlin(g), Escort Service, The Monco Poncho and Cocky Americans Austin Brown Sounds to their CD release at House of Blues; cover includes a copy of Thank You. 

And Sunday, TV On The Radio bring their arty-yet-accessible indie-rock to House of Blues.

As if that's not enough, here are a few other options for your weekend...

Darryl is totally stoked that this guy is coming to town.

Quite a variety of musical happenings this weekend; and it's a nice mix of national and local fare.

First the shows already covered in print or in the blog:

Jesse did a nice job hipping you to tonight's Chalie Louvin/AM Ramblers show in Fort Worth. I initially and erroneously told you about Richard Lloyd's Wednesday performance at Dada that turns out to be tonight. And we gave away some tickets to tonight's Eleven Hundred Springs show, also in Cowtown.

Pete's great story on Slow Roosevelt clued you into their return to the Curtain Club on Saturday and the print edition also offered a piece on Sleepytime Gorilla Museum who will abuse the Longhorn Saloon tomorrow night as well. We also mentioned the 100 Damned Guns City Tavern show and gave away more tickets, this time to Jason Isbell's show at the Granada. And Daniel Francis Doyle's album release in Richardson got a recommendation on the home page calendar for Sunday.

Now, how about some other choice choices?