Central Track Staff
It's All About That Bash.
Recently, a Reddit user called theonlybluecow posed a query asking chain restaurant employees what items folks should avoid ordering from their establishments.
There were hundreds of responses, which you can go check out for yourself, many of which seemed to agree that if you order a less popular menu item, there's a good chance it's been sitting out for awhile.
Much in that same way, we've compiled a helpful little list for you as well — only, instead of telling you things to avoid, we've taken the exact opposite approach. Here's a whole lot of things you should actively seek out this weekend, none of which will throw your cholesterol out of whack. — Cory Graves
Friday
JMBLYA at Deep Ellum Outdoors
Much credit where it's due to Scoremore, the entity behind the annual hip-hop and trap-merging JMBLYA festival: Them fools sure know how to draw crowds. Expect that trend to continue with this year's stacked lineup that includes performances from partynextdoor, G-Eazy, Kaytranada, Vic Mensa, Flatbush Zombies, Hucci, Mick Jenkins, Goldlink, Metro Boomin, Denitia + Sene and locals A.Dd+ and Blue, the Misfit. — Pete Freedman
Warren G at Gas Monkey Live
Commonly known as “The Regulator,” all-star (one hit wonder?) Warren G is proclaimed as one of the biggest names in West Coast hip hop. With Dr. Dre, being his step-brother, his name has only built greater buzz. While not up to anything new, the so-called legend hits Dallas, maybe for the last time. Regulating takes a lot out of you. — Evan Henry
Yelawolf at The Bomb Factory
A Yelawolf performance definitely isn't your traditional hip-hop show. Rather, it i a prime example of how different genres can intersect and flow almost seamlessly in the hands of the right performer. And though his music can be pigeonholed as hip-hop for the country fan, there is enough energy and diversity for just about anyone to find something to like — even if the audience isn't always reflective of that. — Porttia Portis
1310 The Ticket's Summer Bash at The Village Country Club (Free)
All day, hosts from America's favorite sports radio station will be broadcasting live from the Village Country Club. More interesting, though, are the weird contests they've got planned throughout the day — including kickball tournaments, putting contests and the like. Best of all, though, is that once this party is over, you'll never have to hear that triple fake “All About That Bass” promo ever again. — CG
Teenage Bottlerocket at Three Links
With the release of its latest album Tales From Wyoming, Teenage Bottlerocket pits together seriously dark lyrics and upbeat punk rhythms. This weekend the twin brother fronted, Ramones-mining outfit hits Three Links along with openers The Copyrights, Bullet Machine and How's My Driving. — Diamond Victoria
Darius Rucker at Gexa Energy Pavilion
Darius “Don't Call Me Hootie” Rucker performs some of his quite popular, but never featured on an episode of Friends, country material in Fair Park. Brothers Osborne, Brett Eldredge and A Thousand Horses open. — Stephen Younng
Dallas Tattoo Expo at Irving Convention Center
Show off your ink at the Dallas Art and Tattoo Expo happening all weekend at the Irving Convention Center. Maybe you'll find inspiration for your next one. Plus, they have a sideshow going on involving suspension. If you've never seen it, you may want to Google it before seeing it in real life. It's all happening Friday 3 p.m. – 10 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. – 10 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. – 8 p.m. — DV
Big Wheel at The Foundry (Free)
Come on, Eileen. If you feel like revisiting the glory days that were the '80s, drop by the West Dallas chicken shack for a free night of cover music from Big Wheel. It'll spin you right round, baby. — DV
Dirty South Rydaz at Hailey's Club
“Let me tell you boys something: There's a freight train coming.” Yup, that line from Fat B's verse in “Not a Stain on Me” perfectly describes the chaotic scene at DSR's most recent comeback show last month at Trees. If this one is anything like that one, expect the stage to be so packed with DSR crew members and affiliates that the venue's security staff will have to pull people off the stage for fear of its structural integrity. — Brandon Mikeal
Tommy Emmanuel at Majestic Theatre
Emmanuel was inspired to pick up the guitar after hearing his first Chet Atkins record at age seven. Since it might be fair to say he's even passed his old hero in terms of technical skill –and that's certainly no knock on Atkins. The noted finger-picker is not just the best guitarist to ever come out of Australia, he's one of the best acoustic players in the world right now. — CG
Whitney Cummings at Addison Improv
Though Cummings may be most recognizable for being a Chelsea Lately commentator, the writer/producer of Whitney and Two Broke Girls, and the host of Love You, Mean It, her bread and butter is stand-up comedy. And, really, she's quite funny. Often drawing her material from her personal life, Cummings is never one to hold anything back — which is one reason she's no longer allowed over at Jerry Seinfeld's house anymore. Hey, maybe she'll fill you in on that one at one of her shows this weekend. — Jordyn Walters
Social Science (Adult Night) at Perot Musem (Sold Out)
So here's your chance to finally drag your old ass out of the house and for once get to enjoy the museum without having to hear screaming children — or the blathering of anyone under 21 for that matter. Grab a cocktail and a babysitter and head to this month's edition of the Perot Museum's monthly, after hours, adults-only programming. Understandably, tickets to these go pretty quick, and this month's “Naturally” themed affair is already sold out. That said, you might want to go ahead and snatch up tickets to next month's “Time” themed event asap. — Ashley Gongora
Arts District Block Party
The Dallas Arts District is hosting its annual outdoor Summer Block Party Friday evening with film screenings, live music, art shows, activity tables, pop-up shops and food trucks. And it's totally free to attend! — DV
Live From New York! at Texas Theatre
In the world of American comedy, Saturday Night Live is, perhaps, the most relevant entity. It's been around for 40 years. Ever wonder how it keeps up steam and stays fresh? Live From New York! shows a behind-the-scenes look at how much takeout and blow is required to make episodes of SNL happen week after week. — DV
The Fifth Element at Inwood Theatre The Dan Band at House of Blues Heartbyrne at Granada Theater 'til Midnight at The Nasher Alsace Carcione, Kirk Thurmond, Terrence Spectacle at Cambridge Room Mac Powell at Kessler Theater 16Bars.XXX Presents Metro Boomin at Ash Studios Glade City Rounders at Double Wide Saturday Best Little Brewfest in Texas at Old Town Lewisville Iliza Shlesinger at Sons of Hermann Hall Local Education Fest at Three Links Deep Ellum Outdoor Market at 150 N Crowdus St. Night Nation Run at La Grave Field The Octopus Project, New Fumes, Def Rain at Lola's John Digweed at It'll Do Club Grupo Fantasma at Dada Spartan Sprint at AT&T Stadium Danny Koker at Ridglea Theater The Hussy at The Foundry (Free) The Polyphonic Spree at Bar Louie (Fort Worth) Los Rabanes at Trees The Orange at Granada Theater Julion Alvarez at Gexa Energy Pavilion Girls Rock Dallas Summer Splash at Fraternal Order of Eagles “The 40 oz.” Art Exhibit at The Basement Gallery The Music of John Williams and Hollywood's Great Composers at Meyerson Symphony Center Cupcake Meet at Dallas Karting Complex (Sold Out) Sealion at Texas Theatre Sunday His Girl Friday at Strauss Square (Free) Jodeci at Verizon Theatre Mrs. Doubtfire/Taken Double Feature at Granada Theater Semicircle at Lola's Follow That Bird at Texas Theatre (Free) Vandoliers, Memphis Dawls, Venetian Sailors at Three Links J. Cole at ??? To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our events page.
Sure, Inwood waits until midnight to screen its classics, but it's still worth it to see Bruce Willis and Milla Jovovich in the late '90s sci-fi,
The Los Angeles nightlife scene staples The Dan Band first hit the national radar after appearing in a handful of Todd Phillips comedies. Dan Finnerty and his band of cronies rely almost solely on their one bit of re-appropriating female-fronted pop songs, most notably their f-bomb-laden rendition of “Total Eclipse of the Heart” that appeared in 2003's Old School. — CG
According to the Granada's website this Austin-based Talking Heads tribute act goes good with Talking Heads, David Byrne, and the '80s. Go figure. Dallas' ever-funky The Effinays opens. — CG
To accompany a family friendly edit of 1988 caper A Fish Called Wanda that'll be screened tonight at the Nasher Sculpture Center, local pop acts Quiet Company and The Walden Twins round out an evening of free activities in conjunction with the big Arts District Block Party. — EH
As we've preached before, Alsace Carcione's “Juke Join” was hands down the most slept-on song of 2014. Period. Thankfully, this year's Cryptic Conundrum LP is a worthy follow-up, and we're seeing her name increasingly show up on bills. As a bonus, the indelible Kirk Thurmond also appears at this one and bright young star Terrence Spectacle, too. — CG
Though it was his stint in contemporary Christian outfit Third Day that earned him four Grammys, Mac Powell's since returned to his folky, gospel-tinged roots. Opener Madison King has a revival-themed tune called “Raised by a Son of a Gun,” but that's about where the similarities between the church boy and the whiskey-drankin' girl end. — CG
With production work for Future, Migos, Young Thug, Travi$ Scott, Nicki Minaj and Wiz Khalifa to his name, the 21-year-old St. Louis rap producer known as Metro Boomin stands one of the masterminds behind the soundtrack of today's youth. At this late-night bash, he'll be joined by another prominent producer — Dallas' own Blue, The Misfit — as well as a litany of others as he performs a set of his own. — PF
Middle-Tennessee jug band Glade City Rounders heads up a supremely twangy bill that also includes hobo honky-tonker Randall Conrad Olinger and steam powered Fort Worth Americana bunch Bomber Spur. — CG
Leon Bridges (Album Release) at Scat Jazz Lounge (Sold Out)
The Man of the Hour's pair of album release shows at Fort Worth's tiny Scat Jazz Lounge sold out pretty instantly. If you're really dead set on going, there are a few up on sites like StubHub, though they'll cost you a few hundred bucks. Oh well, you can always stream Bridges' debut album over at NPR's site and wait for his next Dallas stop, which will come at the Majestic Theatre in November. — CG
Texas has a brewfest in it. Lord have mercy on our souls. Lots of craft beer drinkin' going on, going on, going on. — CG
Comedian Iliza Shlesinger (which is really fun to say, by the way,) performs at Sons of Hermann Hall Saturday night on the heels of her special Freezing Hot , which just hit Netflix. She's a Dallas native, too, for whatever that's worth. — DV
Celebrating his appreciation for local talent, Dallas-based talent buyer King Camel Productions hosts its first Local Education Festival, an entire day devoted to local music, a good portion of which most folks haven't heard. But, hey, that's the point, to educate yourself of bands like Black Dotz, Fogg or Sudie. In the end, you'll feel smarter and more proud to be in Dallas we're sure. — EH
As if hanging out in Deep Ellum wasn't cool enough already, today is the Deep Ellum Outdoor Market! It's offering local artists, vendors and food trucks. Snag some handmade jewelry or vintage apparel along the way. — DV
Trotting on a national scale is the Night Nation Run, aka the world's first running music festival. You'll literally race along to light shows and different DJ's and selfie-stations to capture the entire experience. The illuminated trek is open to all, children included. — EH
Most times Austins's The Octopus Project hits North Texas, it's on the Dallas side of town. This time, however, the so-called indietronica wizards are off to Fort Worth. Sharing their magic are Dallas' New Fumes and Denton's Def Rain. As a whole, this should be nothing short of expansive. — EH
Go get wild with one of the planet's most renowned electronic DJs, the one and only John Digweed. The British house aficionado heats things up at It'll Do. — DV
The nine-member, Grammy-winning Latin funk orchestra from Austin, Grupo Fantasma, will surely inspire a dance party tonight at Dada. Having sold over 20,000 albums independently and collaborated with acts like Spoon and Wu -Tang Clan previously, you won't want to miss it. — DV
Think you're up for one of the world's toughest obstacle course/races in one of the world's premiere stadiums? Oh yea? Prove it. — CG
Successful automotive entrepreneur, Danny “The Count” Koker's frequent appearances on The History Channel's Pawn Stars led the network to give him his own show, Counting Cars. Here, though, he is set to speak on his struggles, journeys and successes — and in person, no less. Feel inspired to rev up your engines and follow your dreams at the historic Ridglea Theater. — EH
Playing a free show at none other than The Foundry is Milwaukee-based “two-piece trash band,” The Hussy, which continues to have album after album repressed throughout the underground scene they represent. Austin's Beth Israel open following a tour of their own. — EH
We've known for a few weeks now that, kinda out of nowhere, the folks at Bar Louie's Fort Worth location had decided to make a commitment to live music this summer by teaming up with the folks at Good Records to present a free concert series in its space. Among the acts set to perform at the intimate space over the course these next few weeks? The Tontons, Reverend Horton Heat and Bob Schneider. Not bad, not bad. More immediately, Polyphonic Spree will attempt to fit on the joint's confined stage this weekend. — PF
Ska's not totally dead. At least not everywhere. It's doing alright, at least, in Panama, where Latin Grammy-winning ska-punk outfit Los Rabanes hails from. The band will hit up Trees this weekend along with Parrkos, Revolution Oi and Elyze. — CG
Centered around the recently revived, The Orange, the Granada Theater hosts the rare all-local bill. Tonight the 1,000 capacity theater hosts such blooming locals as Jetta In The Ghost Tree, Dove Hunter, Exit 380 and The Azalea Project. — EH
Julión Alvarez y Su Norteño Banda has received plenty of attention for its proper studio efforts, sure, topping the Latin Billboard charts and whatnot. But the fact that he once recorded a live album in Mazatlan, the title of which roughly translates to “Shake Your Little Ass” tells you all you really need to know about how these guys roll onstage. — CG
Today's pool party is brought to you by Girls Rock Dallas, and it's an event that promises more than just lemonade and a few handful of chips. There'll be a live DJ, water balloons, hamburgers and hotdogs, and more — all in the name of teaching area girls how to throw up some devil horns! — Chelsea Upton
Pay homage to an icon of the streets at The Basement Gallery's “The 40 oz” exhibhit tonight. Some of the best local artists around town are bringing a new way to look at the 40 oz, “a symbol of subculture,” as the gallery says. There will be free drinks, but no word on whether or not brown paper bags will be provided. — DV
If you've ever been in high school band, you know the works of John Williams very well. If not, you've heard his music in Jurassic Park and Star Wars, among other great films. He's kind of a composer god. The Dallas Symphony Orchestra is bringing to life many of his compositions tonight, as well as that of some of Hollywood's other most recognizable scores. — DV
One of our favorite car appreciation groups used a recent crowd-funding campaign to shut down Dallas Karting Complex for the day, selling out all 200 potential spots in the process. It's too bad, because we hear this place has go-karts that can exceed 80 MPH. That doesn't sound dangerous at all. — CG
Following the screening of Live From New York…, (Read: the SNL doc), Dallas surfer babes Sealion will infuse pop hooks with wild guitars behind the screen. Often memorable and doused in shenanigans, this show should be nothing short of shear fun as Vogue Machine and Nathan Brown open. — Evan Henry
Laura Marling at Kessler Theater
Compared to Nick Drake and Joni Mitchell, Laura Marling has gained huge success in a short amount of time. She's reserved and quiet, believing that she doesn't need to speak unless it's necessary. She's soft-spoken, shy on stage, and the type that enjoys being alone without being lonely. That's what brought her to Los Angeles from London. Stuck in the constant pull of “Netflix or pub?” she says she feels more at ease on the West Coast, like she can finally breathe. She's more content and fixated on simplicity, which she says she easily finds here rather than in England. The move has changed her music a little as well. It's still soft and birdlike, but there's an effortlessness within her words now, like she knows where she should go from here. — JW
Rom-coms are nothing new, but this '40s Cary Grant classic set the standard. The charming and racy for its time < His Girl Friday , screening under the stars at Strauss Square Sunday evening. So romantic. — DV
Fronted by K-Ci and JoJo, the so-called “Bad Boys of R&B” were all the rage in the early '90s, cranking out a trio of multi-Platinum albums in that time. The foursome is reunited for this one, along with fellow '90s “bad boys” Tony! Toni! Toné! and Troop. — CG
After decades of doing respectable work by playing noble, real-life title characters in Schindler's List, Michael Collins and Kinsey, Liam Neeson truly found his calling in the mid-aughts — first as Ra's Al Ghul, the villain in 2005's Batman Begins, and then as the ass-kicking dad on the hunt of his daughter's kidnappers in 2008's Taken, the film that best established Neeson for a second act and a world of previously unavailable roles. That one screens at the Granada this Sunday following Robin Williams' glorified Tootsie remake. — Kip Mooney
Starting off as a noisy, almost wholly improvisational side project for a couple of the guys in Reptar, the band's since evolved into something a little more Wilco-esque. That's not a bad thing. — CG
The '80s-era Muppets movies were just the greatest. Here's a chance to relive your youth and remember how to get to Sesame Street with a free screening of 1985's Follow That Bird. Stick around afterwards and the theatre will also be showing a documentary about the woman inside the Big Bird costume, too. — CG
With their debut full-length Rooted In The Bone — which was recorded in part at Sun Studios — gaining traction of late, Memphis folk trio, The Memphis Dawls take to Three Links in Deep Ellum as local “Ameri-kinda” supergroup the Vandoliers perform the first of hopefully many headlining performances. Venetian Sailors open. — EH
North Carolina rapper J. Cole is no stranger to surprising his North Texas fanbase, but his next stunt just might be his coolest yet in the area — namely because it'll presumably affect more than one person and her circle of friends. On Sunday, Cole will kick off the third edition of his “Dollar and a Dream” tour series in Dallas, performing at an as-yet-unannounced location, with entry to the show costing attendees all of $1. Details on the show — its location, how to get tickets, etc. — will be announced on the day of the event, via Cole's Twitter page. — PF
