Leon Bridges Had A Fab Week.
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.
It's probably no big shock that Fort Worth phenom and current “it” boy du jour, Leon Bridges would this week find himself atop our weekly, local music power rankings for his fourth time of 2015. It also shouldn't be a huge surprise that he's the only artist in town to find himself in that spot in every month so far this year.
It just kind of comes with the territory.
Listen: When you share the stage with both surviving members of The Beatles, how is anyone else in town going to top that? After that, even the rest of Bridges' accomplishments this week (read: performing at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's induction ceremony, headlining the Dallas Art Ball, getting written up in Rolling Stone and Texas Monthly, and recording with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis) kind of pale in comparison.
So good on him.
In the No. 2 hole is Hall of Fame inductee — and last week's No. 1 — Stevie Ray Vaughan, who was honored at that ceremony by his brother Jimmie, along with John Mayer, Gary Clark Jr. and Doyle Bramhall II.
Not far behind those guys are acts like Radioactivity, Doug Burr, The Birds of Night, Post Malone, The Outfit TX and Jake Paleschic, each of which are celebrating the release of well-received new singles and/or albums this week. Similarly, Sarah Jaffe, LEV and Enertia McFly each debuted nice new videos this week.
Then, aside from weekend release shows from Burr and The Birds of Night, other upcoming local shows of note include the following: Jub Jam 2015, which will feature performances from The Bird Dogs and Prophets and Outlaws; Vice Palace's One-Year Anniversary, which will feature a set from Plain Jane Francis & Tony Q, among others; Ray Wylie Hubbard's two-night stand at the Kessler; and Wo Fat's next Dada gig.
(Also receiving votes this week: Ronnie Heart, -topic, Ronnie Fauss, Paul Slavens, Daniel Markham, $kaduf, Moth Face, Wo Fat, The O's, Lily Taylor & Sean Miller, Toadies, Troy Cartwright, Mothership, Parallel Play, Natural Anthem, The Fieros, Jessie Frye, Pinkish Black, Smoothvega, Pleasant Grove, Old 97's, Zhora, Kirby Brown, Dove Hunter, Sad Cops, Chucho, The Misteries, Dripping Wet, Cashmir, Van Sanchez, Duo Contra, Bryan Simpson, Claire Morales, Brian Lambert.)