Central Track Staff
Do It Live.
Over the years, we've grown quite accustomed to telling you how to spend your evenings. Hell, we've offered up suggestions on how to spend about 1,400 of them in a row now.
This weekend, though, we're taking things a step further. Not only are we throwing a few dozen worthwhile events your way, we're also letting you know exactly where you should stand while partaking in some of them. In case you missed it, we earlier this week revealed all the best standing spots in various Dallas general admission venues.
Sorry if we sound a bit controlling. We're just concerned as to whether you're really making the most of things this weekend. — Cory Graves
Friday
Dallas Safari Club Convention & Sporting Expo at Dallas Convention Center
Aside from being one of the biggest annual gatherings of its kind, the Dallas Safari Club and its yearly convention are perhaps most well-known for being the place where a hunter bid $350,000 to shoot an endangered black rhino in Namibia. While the hunter received all kinds of death threats, a recent episode of the Radiolab podcast points out that there are actually some pretty noble, rhino-saving, conservation efforts at the heart of that notorious hunt. It's an aspect of this whole thing organizers are making a more concerted effort to highlight with this weekend's “Conservation”-themed convention. — CG
Five-Year Birthiversary at Dada
Dada celebrates the fifth anniversary of its latest rebirth this Friday with Hall and Oates cover band, The Rich Girls, as well as buzzy newer acts Cliffs of Insanity and Classic Cult, and a Son of Stan DJ set. The $5 cover is their gift to you. — CG
Billy Joe Shaver at Kessler Theater
The self-professed “wacko from Waco” never became the big name that his peers like Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson or Kris Kristofferson did, but the songs he penned for them and others became some of the biggest standards in '70s country music. The largely Shaver written album Honky Tonk Heroes helped carve out the outlaw image Waylon Jennings will forever be known for. — CG
Dave Rawlings Machine at Majestic Theatre
Not just the guy that mentioned by name in the opening track of Ryan Adams' Heartbreaker album, he also co-authored the album's second song, big Adams hit, “To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High).” When not losing $5 bets because he can't remember what albums various Morrissey songs were on, Rawlings also fronts his own rootsy outfit, which put out its second album this past September. — CG
Spinal Tap at Inwood Theatre
Truth be told: There are few films funnier than This is Spinal Tap, one of the first and best mockumentaries ever made. The core trio of Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer would reunite for Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show and A Mighty Wind, but this remains the gold standard of heavily improvised comedy. — Kip Mooney
Oh, Sleeper at Rail Club
Christian metalcore outfit Oh, Sleeper was just here, playing Third String Productions' big Unsilent Night festival at The Bomb Factory, but it's been years since its played in its hometown of Fort Worth. That changes this Friday, when the band hits up the Rail Club along with Like Bridges We Burn, Under Oblivion, With Bright Lights, Forget Conformity and Beneath A Dying Sun. — CG
Black Pistol Fire at Cambridge Room
Canadian/Austin arena rock duo Black Pistol Fire has played pretty much every big festival stage imaginable — Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, Sasquatch Music Festival, Shaky Knees, Governor's Ball and the most recent Homegrown Festival at The Bomb Factory — so it should have little trouble blowing it out of the water in this markedly smaller room. Emily Wolfe opens. — CG
Carlos Mencia at Addison Improv
Two of the best episodes of Marc Maron's acclaimed WTF podcast was the 2010 two-parter that saw Maron grilling notorious joke-stealer Carlos Mencia about decades of allegations he's lifted material from and/or treated guys he's worked with like shit. To a man, though, nobody ever claimed he was a bad comic, which is, well, something. — CG
24-Hour Book Swap at Nasher Sculpture Center
When Los Angeles-based artist Piero Golia brought his Chalet exhibit to the Nasher, it was with the goal to “extend his utopian idea of community building through carefully orchestrated social gatherings” in a “luxurious environment that encouraged interaction and led to a more developed sense of community.” Enter this 24-hour book swap that'll feature hours and hours' worth of scheduled readings. — CG
Sudie, Sam Lao at Double Wide
The author behind one of our favorite local albums of 2015 headlines this all-local bill at D-Dub. Sam Lao and DRIP also perform. — CG
From Parts Unknown at Three Links
One day, the moon will align to the left and the stars will form a line to the right and one of the best live bands in town will headline a Tuesday night bill in Deep Ellum. Low key, From Parts Unknown's rockabilly-esque stylings are pretty engaging to catch in person. Black Habits, Ten Can Riot, It Hurts to Be Dead and Revolucion Oi open. — CG
Dark Rooms, The Midnight Stroll, Wrestlers at Trees
Richardson High School has birthed some wildly successful folks in its day. The names range from famed gothic novelist Anne Rice to wacko televangelist, Robert Tilton. At one point in the early '90s, though, an especially cool crew roamed the halls, as filmmaker David Gordon Green and composer David Wingo attended classes alongside esteemed Dallas musician Daniel Hart. Throughout his illustrious career, Hart's had the pleasure of being one of the flower children in the Polyphonic Spree while also planting his flag as a fixture in Dallas' music scene as both a solo artist and with his band Dark Rooms. Additionally, as a touring member for the Oklahoma-based outfit Other Lives, he's even opened up for Radiohead. For the evening, he'll take a break from his career composing film scores to play a sexy rock show. — Javier Fuentes
Bubba Ho-Tep at Alamo Drafthouse
What if Elvis didn't actually die on a toilet in 1977, and we were all fooled by a doppleganger he had swapped identities with to escape the massive fame and live a more normal life? What if that Elvis later found himself rotting away in a nursing home forced to battle weird mummies with a partner that thinks he's JFK? There's one way to see how that alternate reality might play out. — CG
Troy Cartwright at Twilite Lounge (Free)
It was a hell of a year for Dallas country boy Troy Cartwright, who played more than 100 shows and had a pair of singles spend a cumulative five months on the Texas Music Chart. Those songs — “Next Flight Home” and “My Girl (She's All Mine)” — says The Texas Regional Radio Report, were two of the 150 most-spun Texas Country songs of 2015. Tonight the fast-rising songsmith plays for free. — CG
Saturday
Michael Che at Dada
Live from Deep Ellum, it's Michael Che, the newest anchor on SNL's Weekend Update segment, the first African-American to hold the position. Along with returning anchor Colin Jost, they also represent the first-ever male-male co-anchors. This weekend he brings his political humor live to Dada. DJ-turned-comedian Cipha Sounds opens. — CG
Curren$y at Gas Monkey Live
Being known as “New Orleans' hardest working stoner” may sound like a pretty contradictory descriptor, but, in Curren$y's case, it is entirely fitting. The Louisiana rapper has released a handful of studio albums and 17 mixtapes since 2008. His prolific output is all the more impressive when one considers how much of his catalog is comprised of songs mentioning the amount of marijuana he smokes. — CG
Pat Green at Billy Bob's
Pat Green is something of a legend in the Texas country music scene — and not just locally, either. Case in point: We once met a female fan with, count 'em, three Pat Green tattoos — and she didn't even live in the Lone Star state. Expect wave on wave of adoring fans to pack into the World's Largest Honky-Tonk for this one. — CG
Catz 'N Dogz at It'll Do
Cats and dogs living together? Only in the peace-, love-, unity- and respect-inclined climes of the DJ booth it seems — and, OK, in name only. Catz 'N Dogz is the stage moniker of two best friends from Poland who've earned respect in the electronic realm by combining elements of deep house, minimalist techno and live instrumentation into their sonic stew since 2003. At It'll Do, their showcase represents something even greater, though: It's the first event from new Dallas production and promotion agency Wildfire Engineering, an entity that's rising from the ashes of the once-dominant Full Access. Expect more Wildfire coverage from us next week. — Pete Freedman
Lavell Crawford at Majestic Theatre
As somewhat serious as AMC's wildly popular Breaking Bad proved to be in its five-season run, it's kind of wild to think about how many comedians played substantial roles in the series. Think about it: Bryan Cranston was primarily known for his role as Hal on Malcolm in the Middle; Bob Odenkirk, who played Saul, starred in Mr. Show; stand-up comedians Bill Burr and Lavell Crawford played Saul's con-man Kuby and bodyguard Huell, respectively; and DEA Agent Steven “Gomie” Gomez was played by stand-up Steven Michael Quezada. — CG
MXPX, Five Iron Frenzy at Trees (Sold Out)
Coming up in the '90s, Christian ska outfit Five Iron Frenzy and vaguely Christian skate punk band MXPX were a couple of those safer alternative groups your parents would reluctantly be cool with you listening to. Anything to keep you away from the Black Flags and Descendents of the world. These days members of both groups have renounced Christianity, and some have turned their backs on religions and/or deities altogether. How do you like that, mom? — CG
MMA Fight Night at The Bomb Factory
Back in November, Deep Ellum concert venue The Bomb Factory seamlessly transformed itself into a kickass boxing arena, hosting a nationally televised championship bout in its first go-round. Is there anything they can't do over there? The bunch of locally-based mixed martial arts fighters that'll step into The Bomb Factory's octagon say absolutely not. — CG
Color TV at Double Wide
It's been a long, strange musical journey for Dallas' Noah Jackson since the dissolution of the short-lived Denton “electro-synth giants” of Ghosthustler several years ago. Just as that band started receiving heaps of national attention — before ever releasing a full-length — it broke up. But musicians keep on making music. It's what they do. And while Jackson's former bandmate Alan Palomo has since stuck to a pretty similar sonic path with his subsequent VEGA and Neon Indian projects, Jackson's ventured all over the place. After leaving behind the dance music world, he's dabbled in things like gospel, shoegaze and, more recently with his new Color TV project, some neo-psychedelia that recalls the work of Tame Impala's Kevin Parker. This new project finds Jackson collaborating with Dallas producer/musician Jason Burt, who has backed the similarly-minded Natural Anthem, as well as Chucho, Jonas Martin and others of late. Rounding out the live lineup is Nik Lee (Wesley Gieger, The Texas Gentlemen) and bassist Christian Rios (Jonas Martin, Natural Anthem). Seriously, it's it's pretty cool. Seres and Foreign Language open. — CG
“Cityscapes and Blurbanism” at {neighborhood}
Tonight marks the opening reception of Kurt Griesbach and Daniel Driensky's new joint photo exhibition at Bishop Arts' {neighborhood} gallery. Drinks will be served starting at 7 p.m., and the show runs through the 28th. — CG
Best Beards in Dallas at Sundown
Beards have been all the rage among men for the past several years at this point, with grizzly growing out their neck manes to varying degrees — all the while catching the attention of potential suitors. Yeah, beards are considered sort of sexy nowadays. And in the tradition of those collections of beautiful women posing in an at least somewhat artful and empowering ways in the form of a calendar, one local man is using beards to put together a male counterpart this January. Dallas photographer Brent Baxter has put together a collection of the Best Beards In Dallas for your coffee table. He says that, initially, as most photography projects begin, this was just a personal thing he did with friends for fun. Only after he really got rolling did he envision turning his project into a full-on collection. Now, he says, his photographs are intended to capture these men in particular environments that reflect their personas. The book's release party, which is free to attend, will feature music from Charley Crockett and Shotgun Friday. Naturally, there will also be a best beard contest for those who feel like they've been snubbed in the book. — H. Drew Blackburn
Dale Watson at Longhorn Saloon
Austin-based alt-country musician has long been a mainstay in the genre thanks to his healthy catalog of mostly truckdriving songs. He owns a few bars now, too, and was one of the original proponents of chicken shit bingo, for whatever that's worth. There won't be any animal excrement at this show, though, I know how disappointing that is. — CG
The Molly Ringwalds at House of Blues
It's not all that unusual for the House of Blues to book cover bands on the weekend. That fact alone says a lot about the place. But then again, says The Molly Ringwalds' website, these guys aren't just another “cover” band. Case in point: unlike competing outfit the Spazmatics, who dress up in nerd garb while they cover '80s tunes, these guys dress like members of Devo, Twisted Sister, Pee-wee Herman and the like when they perform. — CG
The Chrome Mags at The Boiled Owl
Surfy Fort Worth instrumental Western band The Chrome Mags returns after a brief break, playing its first show with new bassist Robert Kramer. CT favorite Vincent Neil Emerson opens. — CG
Atomic Frolic Naughty New Year Burlesque at Kessler Theater
Burlesque and the Kessler. A mix of the naughty and the nice. Now in its sixth year, this annual holiday-themed show should be a crowd-pleaser, for sure. This La Divina production will feature Los Angeles' Ruby Champagne and April Showers and Vegas' Ms. Redd in addition to your local favorites. — CG
“The Flat Files: 12 Years in 30 Drawers” at The Public Trust
While the gallery's still prepping its next show, it's decided to do a little house cleaning in the meantime, hosting this little show/sale featuring a pretty sizeable assortment of past screen prints, et al., from the past decade-plus of shows. — CG
“Duck in the Water” at Galleri Urbane Marfa + Dallas
Brooklyn artist Royal Jarmon's new contemporary art exhibition opens this Saturday. His “Duck in the Water” show, he says, is meant to “[point] out the inescapable saturation of computers in in our lives.” He's got a point there, I mean, you're definitely reading this off of a screen right now. The show runs through February 13, and the artist will be in attendance at Saturday's opening. — CG
Table // 32° 47' 56.6678'' N 96° 50' 9.5598″ W at Liliana Bloch Gallery
Bogdan PerzyÅ„ski's first solo exhibition at this gallery includes a large scale photo installation and a drone video. As with most all of these things, refreshments will be provided. — CG
Sunday
No Pants Subway Ride
Pants, am I right? They suck. At this event, you can be like all those cool New Yorkers who started the No Pants Subway Ride in 2002 and ride the DART Rail with no pants. But, please, keep your underwear on. — Mikel Galicia
The Legendary Shack Shakers, The Yawpers at Gas Monkey Bar N' Grill
Maybe we're just a little biased because the last time we saw the Shack Shakers it was at a clusterfuck of an outdoor festival in Tennessee during what can only be described as a monsoon. Bands were disgruntled, gear was ruined and a tiny makeshift stage was erected — and, by that, we mean that a flatbed was haphazardly backed under a little tent. It's a situation many bands simply would have opted out of — and yet th' Shakers managed to rip the roof off that thing and make us all forget we were up to our knees in mud. Bloodshot signees The Yawpers and Dallas' own The Van Sanchez open. — CG
Hypnotic Polar Plunge at Fraternal Order of Eagles
We already knew the guys over at Hypnotic Donuts were crazy — it takes little more than taking a gander at their massive chicken biscuits or doughnut offerings, which are topped with things like bacon and crumbled-up Pop Tarts, to construe as much — but this event really takes the cake. We get it: Their idea to have folks swim the length of the FOE's pool — on a day when the high temperature will only reach the low 40s — will help raise funds for the North Texas Food Bank. But wouldn't it be wiser to have folks pay their $10 to avoid taking the icy plunge? — CG
Thinking Plague at Kessler Theater
The pair of progressive bands sharing this bill really have to be seen live to be fully appreciated. Colorado's Thinking Plague has been merging rock, jazz and noise since the '80s. Dallas trio Unconscious Collective hasn't been around for nearly as long, though what they lack in longevity, they make up for with bombastity and wild tribal stage dress. — CG
Star Wars: Is the Force Strong? at Texas Theatre (Free)
Between the 5:45 and 8:50 screenings of Episode VII, panelists Robert Wilonsky (Dallas Morning News), Kenneth Denson (Red Pegasus Games and Comics), Jason Reimer and Adam Donaghey (Texas Theatre), Devin Pike (bigfanboy.com) will settle in for a debate as to whether the latest Star Wars movie was the reboot everyone's waited so long for, or just a ripoff of the original installment. — CG
To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our events page.
