Central Track Contributor
Grow Your Own.
There's a lot of marquee events to speak of this week, chief among them being the much-anticipated fifth annual Homegrown Music and Arts Festival.
And lest any of us forget, a little something called Mother's Day also goes down this weekend.
That said, you shouldn't need too much more ammo to get geared up for all that lies ahead.
Still, a video of tiny hamsters eating tiny burritos couldn't exactly hurt.
Friday
The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger at Dada
Unlike his older half-brother Julian, who didn't spend a whole lot of time with his famous father growing up, Sean Lennon was doted on quite a bit by John Lennon for the first five years of his life, as his birth prompted the former Beatle to become a stay-at-home dad. Sure, Julian was the first to chart with 1984's “Too Late for Goodbyes,” but, of the two, Sean has definitely been the one to have had the most lasting impact. Beginning with his first taste of the spotlight when co-starring in Michael Jackson's Moonwalker, Sean released a handful of semi-experimental solo albums, spent a brief stint in Cibo Matto, and now performs with his current avant-pop duo The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger. — Cory Graves
Godzilla: The Japanese Original at Angelika Film Center
When Ishiro Honda's 1954 Godzilla finally made it to our shores in 1956, Perry Mason actor Raymond Burr had been spliced into much of the movie, not only needlessly Americanizing the film, but somewhat skewing its original message in the process. For the first time ever — 50 years after its original release and ahead of next weekend's latest addition to the franchise — the full, uncut Japanese version will finally screen in the United States. — CG
Kevin Parmer: Spirits (Opening Reception) at Two Bronze Doors
Located just off Lower Greenville, the recently launched house venue Two Bronze Doors will host its first-ever art opening this evening. For his part, UNT graduate Kevin Parmer says he's created works that he hopes will instigate some paranormal activity from the six ghosts that are said to inhabit the dwelling. — CG
Old Man Markley at Three Links
Fat Wreck Chords is a punk label started by NOFX's Fat Mike. Old Man Markley isn't a punk band at all, though. So how on earth did that band end up on this label? Because they play their instruments fast enough to be considered bluegrass punks, I guess? That's my best guess, anyway. Because, beyond that very loose connection, I'm kind of at a loss, given that this L.A.-based seven-piece's lyrics and aesthetics are otherwise way too sentimental. It's all fairly catchy and upbeat, though. Whiskey Folk Ramblers and The Hazardous Dukes open. — Pete Freedman
Spirited Away at Inwood Theatre
The highest-grossing film in Japanese cinema history — and one of the most important animated films ever released — will play during Inwood's Friday and Saturday Midnight Madness screenings. Don't worry xenophobes: This is the version that's been re-dubbed in English. — CG
Radioactivity at J&J's Pizza
Though the band just released its debut effort in October, Vice's Noisey entity revealed that the outfit has already begun recording a sophomore effort that'll be released sooner rather than later. That's certainly good news for fans of Mark Ryan and Jeff Burke's trademark brand of lo-fi rock — especially considering the fact that the site called the group's self-titled debut “so good that you want to listen to every song at the same time through two different stereos at once.” We're inclined to agree. That is to say, theirs was one of the very best local albums released all of last year. — CG
Benefit for Matt Vickers at The Where House
The friends and family of Dallas Distortion Music co-founder Matt Vickers have organized a fundraiser on his behalf to help relieve some of the medical costs he's racked up over the course of the past several weeks while recovering from a serious car wreck back in March. Tonight's benefit show will feature performances from Spacebeach, Doom Ghost, Jack Thunder & the Road Soda and Tidals, with 100 percent of the money collected at the door going directly to Vickers' bills. Of course, if you want to donate more than just the $5 entry fee to that show — or perhaps you're not able to attend — you can also donate any amount to Vickers' online benefit fund here. — CG
Panther Robe at The Foundry (Free)
Panther Robe is the still-new-ish outfit that features members of popular North Texas bands The Theater Fire, Stumptone, Ghost Car, Dovehunter, Eyes Wings & Many Other Things and The Boom Boom Box, among others. Unlike any of those groups, though, this bunch performs a rather convincing brand of old school dub music, as evidenced by this live recording from a recent performance. — CG
ArtCon Presents: The Theater Fire at Kettle Art
You wanted more Art Conspiracy? Now you've got it. Starting tonight, the newly dubbed ArtCon(cert) series will pit popular local acts in unconventional, intimate settings. First up is Fort Worth's The Theater Fire, which'll kick things off at Deep Ellum's Kettle Art gallery. — CG
Say Hi, Big Scary at Prophet Bar
Australian indie-pop duo Big Scary brings its brand of atmospheric, vaguely danceable electro-pop tunes to Deep Ellum tonight. Perpetually juvenile Seattle-based indie-rocker Say Hi (formerly Say Hi To Your Mom) co-headlines this one. — CG
Lady Antebellum at Gexa Energy Pavilion
The band will perform its biggest hit — a very faithful cover of Alan Parsons' “Eye in the Sky” — at one of the biggest venues in town. — CG
Soul Track Mind at The Rustic
The Austin R&B/soul/funk hybrid will bring its mix of faithful covers of '60s soul classics and its batch of originals that sound like they could have just as easily come from that same era to a country-themed bar in Uptown. In other words? It should be a total recipe for success! — CG
Missing Persons, Bow Wow Wow, Gene Loves Jezebel at Gas Monkey Bar and Grill
A few of the remaining members of the one-hit wonder '80s outfits responsible for songs like “I Want Candy” and “Destination Unknown” perform tonight at a place with the words “bar and grill” in the name. Sounds about right. — CG
Protohype at Lizard Lounge
Spinning the dulcet tones of sex, dubstep and puppies. — CG
Saturday
Homegrown Music & Arts Festival at Main Street Garden Park
Can't wait until September to catch the Toadies celebrating the 20th anniversary of its breakthrough effort, Rubberneck, from front-to-back atop a bill featuring nothing but Texas-based talent? Fret not! Dia East Homegrown will see the local luminaries doing just that. Austin's …And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead will do the same in honor of the 10th anniversary of its own Source Tags & Codes, and Sarah Jaffe, Seryn, Wild Moccassins, The Suffers, Black and White Years, Goodnight Ned, The Phuss, Son of Stan, Calhoun, Mystery Skulls, Sam Lao, and Baptist Generals will perform sets throughout the day as well. In any event, this event always tends to be one of our single favorite days in Dallas all year long. — CG
Homegrown After-Party at Dada
After the Toadies finishes up its 20th anniversary set a few blocks down the road, Seattle grunge/cow-punk outfit the Supersuckers will keep the heritage rock rolling with a set of its own. To wit: this year marks the 22nd anniversary of the band's debut LP for SubPop. — CG
North Texas Beer and Wine Festival at Irving Convention Center
Do you spit or swallow? That's really the biggest question when it comes to tasting events. Sure, if you swallow, you stay sober enough to taste more of the literally hundreds of brands that'll be at this thing. But swallowing is so much more fun. — CG
Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis (Album Release) at Kessler Theater
We wonder how long ago these married country performers got tired of being called things like “adorable” and/or “sweethearts.” Their relationship status aside, these two are pretty qualified songwriters in their own right, penning hits for acts including The Dixie Chicks over the years. Tonight's show will serve as the release party for the duo's soon-to-be-officially-released LP Our Year, which takes its name from the Zombies tune, “This Will Be Our Year,” which the duo covers on the album. It could be the second time in as many weeks that you've heard a version of that glorious tune at this theater, if you saw the Zombies there last week. — CG
Jurassic Park at The Underpass (Free)
Night Sky Theater presents a free, outdoor screening of Jurassic Park tonight at this new-ish Expo Park dive. Hold onto your butts! — CG
Bobby Bare Jr. at Magnolia Motor Lounge
Despite sharing a name with his country legend father, Immortal Records really had no idea about Bare's lineage when it signed him to his first record deal. How else can you explain the fact that his labelmates were Korn and Incubus? Before he hits the road with Guided by Voices this summer, Bare will bring his brand of rootsy Americana to this Fort Worth eatery. — CG
Dallas Pet Expo at Dallas Market Hall
Don't have a pet to bring to the Dallas Market Hall this weekend to take advantage of this pet expo's low-cost vaccinations, grooming opportunities or talent contests? No worries, you can just adopt one once you get there. — CG
DOAP at Crown and Harp
It's the second Saturday of the month, meaning that Beauty Bar resident DJs Colly T and Redsean will pull a tag team set at this Lower Greenville hotspot. — CG
Christina Perri at House of Blues
A month after releasing her sophomore effort, Perri brings her soaring, piano-driven, lovelorn pop ballads to Dallas. — CG
Joe Ely at Granada Theater
At his concert in Houston this past Tuesday, Bruce Springsteen asked longtime pal and onetime collaborator Joe Ely to come onstage with him, where the pair performed covers of “Great Balls of Fire” and “Lucille.” While there's no chance in hell Springsteen returns the favor tonight, Ely's own merits stand pretty well on their own. Chief among them is the fact that his band The Flatlanders is responsible for the most famous song about Dallas. And, unlike some of his other recent performances in town, Ely will be playing with a full backing band tonight. — CG
Cartoon Cereal Party at Alamo Drafthouse
It's the return of the theater's monthly cartoon/cereal/pajama party! This month's Marvel theme will feature clips from the Spider-Man, Avengers, X-Men and the Fantastic Four cartoons. And really, what better place to get your pre-Homegrown carbo-load on — or, at the very least, just delay putting on pants for another couple hours — than in a darkened theater while wearing your pajamas and feasting from an extensive cereal bar? — CG
Caroline Wright Bake Sale at CityCraft
Head over to the Design District from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. this afternoon where Wright, the author of Twenty-Minute Meals, will be selling $20 cakes and $5 cookies in order to benefit Cafe Momentum (read: a Dallas-based restaurant-training facility that provides at-risk youths with culinary skills). Where else are you going to find a last-minute Mothers Day gift that's this tasty? — CG
Sunday
Kishi Bashi at Dada
Kaoru Ishibashi is a multi-disciplinary artist who has performed with the likes of Sondre Lerche, of Montreal and Regina Spektor in the past. More recently, though, he's struck out on his own under the Kishi Bashi moniker and released a total masterpiece of a debut album back in 2012. While the transcendentally joyous 151a is full of lush instrumentation, Ishibashi tours as a solo performer, wowing audiences with combination of loops (which he builds live), a violin played three different ways, and beatboxing. His smile is contagious and on display pretty much the whole time. More impressive? He's one of the few artists who can talk a lot during a set and not come across as totally pretentious. — Jeremy Hughes
Wolfmother at House of Blues
In very Beyonce fashion, frizzy-haired Aussie Andrew Stockdale put out his March-released third LP without prior announcement or promotion. Unlike in Bey's case, though, Wolfmother's New Crown was released via BandCamp as opposed to iTunes. Similarly Stockdale and his band will be at House of Blues tonight while the reigning queen of pop will performs in front of countless thousands at Jerry World later this summer. — CG
Hellzapoppin Circus Sideshow Revue at Three Links
Hailed as “The Greatest Show in Hell” — it seems the second greatest show in hell is Lucifer's rhythmic jazz routine — Hellzapoppin is a reinvigorated vaudeville act and freakshow. It's a circus sideshow act that promises a Swedish Sword Swallower, a Torture King and something called “Mr. Buggles the Wonder Dog.” — Chelsea Upton
To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our events page.
