Central Track Contributor
Shake It For The Man of The Year.
The NCAA tournament finally got underway yesterday, thus spawning a three-week period of so-called basketball-related madness — or, in this year's case billion-dollar prize fever, as Warren Buffet has promised to pay that much in winnings to anyone who fills out a perfectly predicted version of the 64-team bracket, which is a seriously improbable mathematical feat.
Is your bracket already busted, just like ours?
Oh well.
Luckily, there are plenty of things going on this weekend, each more than capable off distracting you from your sports sads.
Friday
Gin Blossoms at Kessler Theater
Are the Gin Blossoms Arizona's version of the Toadies? Think about it: They had one massive radio hit in the early '90s, “Hey Jealousy,” followed by three just-as-good-but-not-quite-as-popular singles in the next couple of years. They broke up in 1997 and re-formed in 2002 with most of the core members returning, and they released three albums most folks outside of their home region have never really given much of a chance. And now they'll have each have been in the Kessler within a couple weeks of each other. Spooky. — Cory Graves
Grand Re-Opening at RBC
After a 2007 stabbing sealed the fate for Dallas punk spot Red Blood Club, the venue is set to re-open tonight under the name RBC. While owners say those initials stand for “Rock, Blues and Country,” the celebratory sets from Wild//Tribe, Spazm 151, The Sentenced, Steel Bearing Hand and Pissed Grave say otherwise. — CG
Scott H. Biram at Gas Monkey Bar & Grill
Hillbilly blues and punk rock are brought together by genre veteran Scott H. Biram at this one. Biram's great, fully dedicated to keeping old time musical genres alive and making use of his no-fucks-to-give attitude to make sure his efforts aren't ignored. Openers Larry & His Flask and Whiskey Shivers may be somewhat newer to the hillbilly jamboree, but their passion for showmanship will surely help them keep up. — Porttia Portis
Dallas Comedy Festival at Dallas Comedy House
For the penultimate round of performances at this year's week-long comedy fest, it's a triple-header of improv and sketch comedy courtesy of nine troupes from around the country. — CG
Decibel Tour 2014 at Trees
For the ninth year, Philadelphia metal rag Decibel is putting on a touring show of the most extreme and nasty that metal has to offer. This year's bill includes performances from Carcass, The Black Dahlia Murder, Gorguts and Noisem. — PP
Luke Wade & No Civilians at Queen City Music Hall
Fort Worth's Luke Wade & No Civilians celebrates the release of its latest LP, The River. Barrett Barber, Cody Culberson, and The Voice veterans Dawn & Hawkes open. — CG
Arts District Wine Stroll (Sold Out)
A wine stroll that includes a whiskey stop? Now we're talking. — CG
Def Rain and Party Static at Texas Theatre
Def Rain may be the ones getting a bit of national attention of late, but it was Dallas' Party Static that recently renewed our faith in live music performances. The outfit draws a lot of comparisons to the B-52's — maybe because both are infectiously fun dance-rock outfits that feature dual female vocals? — but these locals are about a million times more bratty. We mean that in the best possible way, of course. — CG
Ice Eater, Ronnie Heart and Zhora at Crown and Harp
We heard a rumor that during his band's official SXSW sets last weekend Ice Eater frontman James Jardine might have actually kept his shirt on. We've yet to hear if he plans on repeating the feat here. — CG
Charlie Robison at Granada Theater
Because Houston honky-tonker Robison and his brother Bruce are both performing in town this weekend, let us get something straight up front: Bruce is the one that wrote “Travelin' Soldier” for the Dixie Chicks, and Charlie's the one that dueted with Dixie Chicks singer Natalie Maines on “The Wedding Song.” — CG
Saturday
Dallas Stars Alumni Game at American Airlines Center
Following the Stars and Senators' game in the afternoon, forwards Vernon Fiddler and Ray Whitney will “coach” teams made up of Stars legends like Mike Modano, Jere Lehtinen, Marty Turco, Jason Arnott, Stu Barnes, Ed Belfour and Joe Nieuwendyk, plus current Stars broadcasters Craig Ludwig and Brent Severyn (and others) in this charity exhibition game. Current stars Tyler Seguin and Jamie Benn have even promised to skate a shift or two. — CG
Flogging Molly at House of Blues
It being March and just a week past St. Patrick's Day, it's no surprise to see famed Celtic punk rockers Flogging Molly in town for a gig at the House of Blues. No, the Los Angeles band's annual tour and its Dallas stop have pretty much become tradition at this point, as Flogging Molly hits the road every year at this time, bringing their own brand of St. Patrick's Day cheer to the masses, knowing all the while that they simply can't be in every city they're asked to be in on that party-filled holiday. The fact that this tenth-anniversary incarnation is sub-titled “The Final Round,” though, means it's also one that soon might come to an end. Oh well; you can still drink like it's St. Patty's as you pour out a little green beer on the sidewalk. — Lenzi Jo Gall
Blackstreet at Verizon Theatre
The Grammy-winning one-hit wonders will no doubt perform “No Diggity” and a bunch of other stuff you may recognize from such places as the CB4 soundtrack. El DeBarge and Joe will open. — CG
Bruce Robison's Honky-Tonk Band at Dan's Silverleaf
Unlike the last several times through town, in which he's performed duets with his wife Kelly Willis, Robison will be rolling stag tonight, fronting his aptly-named honky-tonk outfit. Guys night out? — CG
Valve, Pop Unknown, Macavity at Three Links
According to Valve head man Casey Di Iorio, the impetus for this triple-headed reunion gig was the decision by long gone Austin band Pop Unknown to get the old band back together for good. After tonight, though, Di Iorio says, the two long-dormant Dallas bands on this bill will go back on permanent hiatus. — CG
40th Anniversary Pop-Up Shop at Buffalo Exchange
If you've noticed a lack of good pearl snap shirts and chic vintage western wear on the Greenville Avenue resale shop's racks, it's because for a few months now they've been hoarding them in the back, saving them for this very occasion. In celebration of its 40th anniversary in business, the Arizona-based chain's vintage Airstream trailer will be onsite and chock full of specially curated, western-inspired duds. — CG
“Miami in Dallas” Poolside Fashion Show at SISU Uptown
The name says it all. It's a fashion show. It's located in close proximity to a pool. A quote-unquote real housewife from Miami will also be located near said pool. — CG
Dallas Comedy Festival at Dallas Comedy House
A dozen more nationally touring improv and sketch comedy troupes wind down the final day of performances at this year's festival. — CG
Lucy Dang Fashion Show at WAAS Gallery
Dallas designer Lucy Dang will show off her 2014 autumn/winter collection, which she says is inspired by “dark” events like the Salem Witch Trials. Her new “Lady” collection for Belk department stores will be on display as well. — CG
Sunday
Schoolboy Q at South Side Music Hall
Despite debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 a few weeks back, the third album from weed enthusiast/bucket hat poster boy Schoolboy Q is anything but spectacular. If you're into pretty mediocre rhymes that are almost exclusively about drugs, money and women, though, you should have a pretty good time here. And, OK, some of the album's singles are OK. but that's it. Isaiah Rashad and Vince Staples also perform.– CG
Dallas Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon
It's like a real marathon. Only shorter. — CG
North By Northwest at Alamo Drafthouse
We see what they did there. — CG
To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our events page.
