Surprise!

The Bronx To Headline The Double Wide's Ten-Year Anniversary Party on Saturday.

I don't know that I can properly express my affection for the Double Wide in this space.

I'm not sure I can properly express it anywhere, really.

Truth is, I'm just a total sucker for all things Double Wide-related. Pretty much everyone knows this about me, too. It's easily my favorite spot in town. And I really have no issue with saying as much — even though I constantly catch flack for it. It's become a running bit among friends of mine: If I'm out, I'm probably ending up at the Double Wide. And, honestly, I might be offended by that joke if it weren't essentially the complete truth.

I can't help myself; the place just has a pull on me. I love everything about it: the friendly bar staff, the gritty aesthetic, tongue-in-cheek marketing, the weekly DJ and karaoke nights, the shows in the venue — it's all great.

Even greater, though, is the fact that I can honestly credit the Double Wide for helping me form some of the best friendships I have in this city. I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that, either.

Maybe that's a little surprising, I don't know. From the outside, the Double Wide can appear to be an intimidating spot, I'm sure; thanks to its many leather-clad and too-cool-for-school-looking faithful (not to mention the staff's very obvious affinity for blaring metal over the bar's sound system), it's not like the Double Wide is exactly throwing up peace signs and rolling out welcome mats to the public.

For the most part, though, that rough exterior's all charade. Truth is, the Double Wide just may be as welcoming a place as exists in Dallas. There's just something inherently warm about it. I can't explain it.

But I do know this: Tomorrow night, as the Double Wide celebrates its 10-year anniversary, that warmth will be wholly evident. The whole place, I guarantee you, will be slammed. Old friends will reunite, new ones will start to form. People will come out, grab some drinks, shoot the shit and pass along congratulations and thank yous to owner Kim Finch and her awesome crew. I'm sure of it.

I'm almost positive they'd do it even if the place wasn't hosting yet another sure-to-be-memorable bash to honor 10 years of staying afloat. Alas, because this is what the Double Wide does, that massive blowout will take place: Across two stages, the bar will play host to performances from local favorites all night long.

The House Harkonnen, The Roomsounds, Dead Flowers, The Hazardous Dukes, PLISKIN and Zhora are all performing. And, to put an even bigger bow on the affair, which will cost $10 to attend, there will be a special guest headliner, too — just as the Double Wide has been teasing all week long. And, now, we can reveal that headliner's identity: Los Angeles hardcore heroes The Bronx.

In other words? It's going to be a loud, crazy, awesome time. Just like every night at the Double Wide, really.

Well, OK, maybe not every night. But you get the idea. It will be great.

And, yes, I'll see you there.

The Bronx — “Past Lives”