Stephen Young
Enjoy a Special Delivery From The Postal Service.
Hey, it's Larry McMurtry's birthday! The legendary Texas author, who turns 77 years old today, is perhaps best known for writing the Lonesome Dove series and co-writing the screenplay for Brokeback Mountain.
One thing you might not know about him, though, is that he's also the curator and proprietor of Booked Up, an absolutely incredible bookstore located in Archer City, a sparsely populated former boomtown in the Texas panhandle. The store features over 150,000 books — and that's after McMurtry sold off about 75 percent of his inventory in an auction last year.
Booked Up is only a two and a half hour drive from the Metroplex, if you're looking to get away some time soon. And it's definitely worth the trip, if you ask us. There, you're sure to find something unique. And, hey, you might even see McMurtry playing with his granddaughter in the lobby of the store, too.
But you're probably looking for something a bit closer to home to do on a weeknight. With that in mind, here's what’s on tap in closer locales today.
The Postal Service at the Verizon Theatre
The Postal Service stands as unquestioned indie royalty, which is pretty remarkable when you consider that Ben Gibbard and Jimmy Tamborello's outfit has released one album and hasn't played a show in almost 10 years until doing so this past spring. Tonight's gig, which is part of a tour coming in support of the 10th anniversary reissue of Give Up, is the group's second — and perhaps last — ever show in North Texas. So try not to miss out.
Smoota and Buenos Diaz at Dada
Smoota has served as trombonist for such acts as TV on the Radio, Sufjan Stevens and Spoon — a strong pedigree, for sure. Buenos Diaz, which promises “urbanized, new-wave, Texican” sounds, opens. Sounds like a pretty interesting bill, gotta say.
Amaros Italian Cocktail Class with Chris Furtado at Windmill Lounge
Amari are a class of Italian bitters known for their digestive properties, and tonight at the Esquire-approved Windmill Lounge, veteran bartender Chris Furtado will host a class explaining how to craft before- and after-dinner drinks with the spirits.
Darren Criss at House of Blues
Singer-songwriter Darren Criss is best known as Glee's Blaine Anderson, so you've got to figure he'll do a set loaded with popular covers at this show. Head to the House of Blues to join in on the singalong fun, if that's your thing. A warning, though: This show is already sold out.
Speedwolf at Three Links
Denver speed-metal outfit Speedwolf headlines what is sure to be a hardcore evening at Three Links. Protest, Hint of Death and Kallohonka get the thrashing started.
Ra Ra Riot (DJ Set) at Sfuzzi Uptown
Another nice coup for Sfuzzi, whose Monday night DJ offerings have been on fire of late, thanks in large part to a number of impressive touring shows coming to town early enough in the week for the Uptown spot to snag a big-name opening acts to swing by its DJ booth on the way out of town. A couple weeks back, that meant a Gold Fields DJ set in the wake of that Empire of the Sun show. Tonight, it means that Postal Service's opening act, Syracuse-bred baroque pop outfit Ra Ra Riot will be swinging by to take over the sound system.
Cool Out Mondays at The Crown & Harp
Four or so years back, there was no hotter weekly DJ residency in town than Cool Out, Tony Schwa's nu disco-infused Monday Night offering in the upstairs portion of The Cavern. But, though Schwa tried moving his well-branded entity to other locations in recent years, the event lacked a certain something wherever he took it. Tonight, his weekly returns to the upstairs part of The Crown & Harp — or, in other words, back home to the Cavern, just re-branded — to try and recapture some of that old magic. We have a feeling he will.
