Central Track Staff
Ink It In.
Virtual-reality is taking off in crazy exciting ways at the moment, from the videogame industry and way beyond. Over in Germany they're taking things a step further by developing a device that simulates being punched or kicked. What a joy!
Now you can watch a VR concert and feel like you're actually in the mosh pit. Or, y'know, you could always just go to a real concert tonight. Lord knows there are plenty of them going on tonight. — Cory Graves
Poison Idea at Three Links
At the stroke of midnight, Elm Street Tattoo kicks off another of its famous 24-hour tattoo marathons, this one as part of the larger, four-day Elm Street Music and Tattoo Festival. The waiting is really the hard part. In the meantime, maybe kill some time taking a quiz to figure out what tattoo you should get, and enjoying sets from a few of the fest's bands, including '80s punks Poison Idea, along with Hellshock, Wild//Tribe, Butcher and Steel Bearing Hand. — CG
Agnostic Front at Trees
On the forefront of New York's '80s hardcore scene was Agnostic Front, which heads up one of two Elm Street Music and Tattoo Festival shows tonight. Lower Class Brats, Dog Company, Punks on Parade and Ricochet also help kick off the festivities. — CG
America's Got Talent Live: The All Stars Tour at Verizon Theatre
Some of the most memorable performers from the popular NBC variety competition will be at Verizon tonight, including Season 8 comedian Taylor Williamson and hand-balancing duo The KriStef Brothers and Season 4's Stomp ripoff Recycled Percussion. — CG
Maudlin Strangers at Dada
On record, frontman Jake Hays writes and plays every instrument on Maudlin Strangers' dark, bedroom pop. When he does his thing live, though, he brings along a full backing band. Anyway the folks as Vagrant, which puts out his albums, say his band is recommended if you like Mutemath, which is promising, considering the fact that that band sold out this same venue on back-to-back nights last month. Strange Names and The Unlikely Candidates open. — CG
Brew-Haha Comedy Series at Oak Highlands Brewery
Laugh until Derelict IPA comes out of your nose at this, the final stop of this season's brewery-set comedy series. — CG
The Damnation of Faust at Meyerson Symphony Center
Not just the greatest piece of German literature, Goethe's Faust gave birth to Mephistopheles, selling one's soul to the devil tropes and influenced loads of subsequent pieces of fiction and musical works. Of the several orchestrated works inspired by the tragic play, French Romantic composer Hector Berlioz's is, perhaps, the most grandiose of them all. Conductor Jacques Lacombe and the DSO perform the master work tonight and Saturday. — CG
Chit Chat: Jason Willaford at Dallas Contemporary
Willaford's art, for the most part, is repurposed. For instance, he'll take the vinyl from old billboards and craft it into new pieces to give it a second life. Tonight he sits down with DC Assistant Curator, Lilia Kudelia talk about his exhibition “Sorry, this will only take a minute.” — CG
Crooks at Billy Bob's
Where so many other southern-sounding bands try and do things like mix in a little trumpets here and there, the Crooks is one of the few acts that actually pulls it off without coming off too cutesy or like a bunch of hipster charlatans. We've been a fan of this Austin-based, outlaw country act and its tough and convincing brand of western-themed tunes for a while now, which makes tonight's stop somewhat bittersweet. Earlier this week, the band announced it'll be parting ways in February to work on solo projects. — CG
Birds and Brew at Trinity River Audubon Center
Nothing says “North Texas Beer Week” like a little tipsy bird-watching venture. Nothing. — CG
Oskar Blues 6 Course Beer Dinner at Chimera Brewing Company
As part of North Texas Beer Week, this Colorado-based brewery is taking part in a six-course beer dinner that includes seven of its brews paired alongside dishes like bacon wrapped chili spiced pineapple and seared duck breast. Reservations required. — CG
JJ Grey & Mofro at Granada Theater
Instead of taking turns crashing in the backseat of the van between tour stops like most bands, Bluhm and her bandmates like to make videos of themselves covering pop songs in the van while it's going down the road. Their most popular video, a cover of Hall and Oates' “I Can't Go For That” quickly earned the band two million-plus views on YouTube and invitations to join several big festivals. The band's original material puts a markedly more pop country spin on The Band's brand of roots rock. The effect is a batch of tunes that are modern yet familiar. And tonight it opens for Floridian jam band JJ Grey & Mofro. — CG
Peter Case at Dan's Silverleaf
Case has had a long history of songwriting and music-making, most notably with '70s power-pop trio The Nerves. Case has often said he doesn't like to pigeonhole any of the music he listens to into any one genre. It's a courtesy we'll extend to Case, himself, too. While his music is a tad hard to define, it's certainly not hard to forget. He was ahead of his time in the '70s and now that it's 2015 –well, he's ahead again. — Jordyn Walters
The Wonder Years at House of Blues
Three-time Warped tour vets The Wonder Years brings its well-honed pop punk to Downtown Dallas tonight. Motion City Soundtrack, State Champs and You Blew It! open this rather sturdy bill. — CG
To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our events page.
