Cory Graves
This Week, Leon Bridges Won Out.
Each week, we take a survey of the local music scene and try to determine which acts in town are really putting in work and seeing it pay off. Which bands have the most intriguing shows coming up? Which bands are getting the most press around town? Which bands have accomplished the most notable feats of late? Based off these criteria, our music writers submit a list to be weighted and compiled into a master list revealed each week in this here space. We like to think it's fairly revealing. Check out our previous Buzz Rankings here.
Forget our own backyard: Leon Bridges is about the most buzzing artist in the country at the moment.
So, no, it's probably no big surprise then that he tops our weekly list of local buzz-makers for the fourth time in the last six months.
Indeed, the Fort Worth retro soulman has done a lot of winning of late. Earlier this week, Billboard and a whole slew of others declared Mr. Bridges the “winner” of last weekend's SXSW — a claim that The Daily Dot would later scientifically prove. Then, just last night, Leon continued the ride, appearing as the second-ever music guest on the newly revamped The Late Late Show.
Good on him. There's probably never been a more clear-cut No. 1 in the now 163-week history of this column.
That said, it's big week for Dallas-Fort Worth music, to be sure. The next biggest story is the long awaited opening of The Bomb Factory, which has been met with much fanfare, and then some. Leon aside, it's been about all anyone around these parts has talked about this week. Erykah Badu, Sarah Jaffe and The Dividends open that sucker later this evening, and Toadies, Brutal Juice and Baboon will also perform at the storied venue during its opening weekend.
Elsewhere, a lot of ink was spent nationally on Rhett Miller, who released the first single from his upcoming solo record. The song, called “Most in the Summertime,” finds Miller backed by members of The Decemberists and R.E.M. Pretty cool stuff.
Closer to home, another big collaboration drummed up quite a bit of local press, too. We're referring, of course, to the fact that St. Vincent will perform with the DSO in the coming weeks.
Elsewhere: Valise, Lower Dens and Eli Young Band released new albums; Lil Twist got himself in hot water with the law; Black Milk headlined a far underappreciated bill at Three Links; Power Trip and Crown the Empire shined at last weekend's South By So What?!; and Mystery Skulls, Young Ejecta, Son of Stan and Party Static did likewise at Spillover.
(Also receiving votes this week: Dirty South Rydaz, Bethan, Party Static, Young Ejecta, Blue, The Misfit, Luke Wade, War Party, Sam Lao, Larry g(EE), The Hope Trust, Vulgar Display, Sudie, Kublai Khan, A.Dd+, Picnictyme, Tony Q & Plain Jane Francis, Buffalo Black, Ronnie Fauss, -topic, Son of Swan, Panda X, Anna Robyn Thomas, Jack Thunder & The Road Soda, The Apehangars, SPCCMP.)
