Cory Graves
This Week, Erykah Badu Kept Boomin'.
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.
Well, it's another one of those weeks in the North Texas music scene when any one of five to 10 artists could've made an honest claim for the top spot of our weekly, local music power rankings.
As it were, Erykah Badu's star-studded birthday bash at The Bomb Factory helped The Queen earn her 16th Buzz No. 1. Yes, it's gotten to the point where all she has to do these days is mark another trip around the sun to be the talk of the town — but, hey, Dallas is certainly better for it.
Then again, the man in the No. 2 spot had a pretty astounding week himself. In a week's span, Leon Bridges not only appeared in a Macklemore video, but performed at The White House for President Obama, and then at another event for Oprah. Pretty, pretty baller. Oh, and joining Leon at The White House, and releasing a music video of her own this week was Demi Lovato.
Speaking of big shows: Eleven Hundred Springs headlines the Granada this weekend, and Bobby Patterson and The Relatives will share a joint, free bill at Fred's in Fort Worth. Farther out, John Congleton & The Nighty Nite will return to Double Wide for its first show since some five years ago. Also: Post Malone was added to the JMBLYA lineup.
Earning their spots due to new releases this week were bands such as Parallel Play, which celebrates its new EP at Sundown this Saturday, and Sam Lao, whose new LP will be celebrated at RBC tomorrow night. Oh, and Vanessa Peters, Dead Mockingbirds and Tony Ferraro had new ones out as well.
Elsewhere: Jessie Frye's beer comes out on Saturday; Kelly Clarkson performed on Idol, where Dalton Rappatoni competed, Francine Thirteen premiered a new video; and Snarky Puppy got the documentary treatment from NPR.
(Also receiving votes this week: Chris Holt, Cure for Paranoia, Sudie, Pageantry, Bravo, Max!, -topic, Andy Timmons, Quaker City Night Hawks, Lecrae, Duell, Old 97's, Party Static, Luke McGlathery, Son of Stan, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Vandoliers, Loudiene, Pearl Earl, BeMyFiasco, Tablet, Dead To A Dying World, Kim Nall, Jose Gomez, Classic Cult, Mountain of Smoke, Daniel Markham, Whyte Noyze, Joe Gorgeous, Rise & Shine, 88 Killa, Pinkish Black, Monoculture, Plain Jane Francis, The Ramone and Bad Mountain.)
