Celebrate America’s Birthday Early With Some Pool Parties, Willie Nelson Shows, A Dirty Projectors Show, or a Farewell Tour of the Sweet Tooth Hotel.

According to one woman, your pet may hold the answers to all your problems. So says she: “Until I first drank my dog’s pee, I was depressed, I was sad, and I had bad acne. ”

I think I’d rather have the acne.

But there are other ways to fight the sadness and depression without guzzling dog piss. Go out, get some fresh air, hang out with other happy folks, do fun activities. Here’s a big ol’ list of places to do some of those things. — Cory Graves

Friday

Anthony Jeselnik at House of Blues
Besides his perfectly groomed hair, the other thing that makes former Jimmy Fallon writer and Comedy Central Roast veteran Anthony Jeselnik so funny is his dry, deadpan delivery. The utterly serious yet nonchalant tone in his voice makes it all the more jarring/offensive when he drops an AIDS joke into the mix — but loads funnier as well. — CG

Songs of Willie with Nik Lee & The TX Gents at The Rustic
Almost every time he opens his lips to sing, Texas Gentlemen guitarist Nik Lee draws the inevitable Willie Nelson comparisons. They do sound remarkably similar. And while he usually tries to shy away from them, he’ll be giving people what they want this weekend, fronting the band for a night of Willie covers. Fitting, too, as the original outlaw hits town himself the next night. — CG

Dirty Projectors at Trees
In a couple weeks, the Brooklyn outfit releases a new album studded with many an indie star — Vampy Weeks’ Rostam, Fleet Foxes’ Robin Pecknold and The Internet’s Syd, among others. They’re celebrating the release, the band’s eighth, with the first tour in five years. It’s something of a return to form, too, with cover artwork and a lead single both vaguely reminiscent of Bitte Orca from the band’s heyday. Still Woozy opens. — CG

Claire Morales (Album Release) at Dan’s Silverleaf
Before the show, head here for an early taste of Claire’s new single. In the new vid from her sophomore solo record, the Denton musician and her pals get a little fresh with their food. “Warning: lots of hands touching Jell-O, you might get some funny looks if you’re watching this in a public place,” Morales says of the clip. “It’s not exactly not safe, but it’s not exactly safe either.” Francine Thirteen and Daniel Markham open. — CG

The Room at Inwood Theatre
For many years now, the Inwood has held midnight screenings of this delightfully terrible movie on a monthly basis. Following the success of The Disaster Artist, James Franco’s look at the making of this horror show, there’s something of a renewed interest we’d imagine. — CG

Soluna: White Rabbit Red Rabbit at Wyly Theatre
Every time this play is put on it is different. That is because each actor is only allowed to perform it once in their career. That is because the whole idea behind the experimental play is that the actor hasn’t read the script or been given any type of overview of what they’re going to be doing. From there they just have to go with it. — CG

Shakespeare in the Park: The Taming of the Shrew at Samuell Grand Park
Tucked away off of I-30, there’s a park with a small amphitheater, the Samuel Grand Amphitheater. During the summer months, Shakespeare Dallas puts on two shows in the park. This year, they take on the classic, The Comedy of Errors, and The Taming of the Shrew. A recent show we attended began at 8:15, as the sun was setting behind the trees. The amphitheater allows for food and adult beverages (no liquor) to be brought in, so it’s the perfect date night or gathering with a group of friends. Just bring a blanket or your lawn chairs, or you can even rent chairs there, and you can feast on finger foods and beverages before the show. — Angela Jones

Salman Khan at American Airlines Center
While Race 3 is sitting atop the Bollywood box office as the highest Hindi film opener of 2018, the film’s stars Salman Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez are bringing an extravagant song-and-dance tour to the states. It’s not something you can see every day, that’s for sure. Khan hasn’t done anything like this in 12 years. — CG

John Prine, Amada Shires at AT&T Performing Arts Center
Earlier this year, your favorite songwriter’s favorite songwriter released his first album of new music in 13 years. The Grammy Hall of Famer’s songs have been recorded by dozens of mega stars throughout his 45-plus-year career. Now you can hear them as the master originally intended. — CG

Chicago, REO Speedwagon at Dos Equis Pavilion
Let’s be clear about something right up front: This is not the musical about murderous cabaret singers. Rather, the rock band that formed in 1967 will be doing its thing in Fair Park this evening with four of its six founding members (sorry Peter Cetera fans). Don’t worry, though, you can expect these experienced rockers to put on a great show. — Jessica Petrocchi

Slightly Stoopid at The Bomb Factory
It’s hard to really describe what genre the band falls into when you listen to their music; hip-hop, metal, punk — the list could keep going. They’ve achieved a great following, especially in the Smokers Club crowd. You know who you are. Stick Figure and Pepper open. — Sidney Johnson

Supersuckers, Speedealer at Shipping & Receiving
Twenty-five years after its hard-rocking Sub Pop debut, The Supersuckers has come full circle. After toying with genres like country and cow-punk over the years, the band’s currently on a straight ahead rock trip. The Dangits open. — CG

Sean McConnell at Kessler Theater
The Yankee’s brand of soft folk goes over well in the South. Before putting out his own stuff, he had a publishing deal where he wrote hits for Texas country stars like Randy Rogers and Wade Bowen. His own material is markedly more nuanced than that. — CG

Ray Volpe at Lizard Lounge
The grimy dubstep star leaves his emotions at home, but does come with a big bag of bass music. — CG

Metroball at S4
For two decades now, the MetroBall has been raising funds to help out members of the community battling HIV/AIDS. A dance party featuring ‘80s stars Exposé and Shannon brings ‘em in, and a giant silent auction opens the wallets. — CG

Josh Ward at Billy Bob’s
After 10 No. 1 singles on the Texas Regional Radio chart, the country traditionalist has been starting to break through a little on the national scene. He’s already selling out the biggest honky-tonks in Texas, though. — CG

Scratch Session: DJ Nu-Mark at It’ll Do Club
This summer, the team at Dallas event promotions company Banjos to Beats has teamed with It’ll Do to book a six-event series called “Scratch Sessions” that will to town some of the biggest names in hip-hop DJing history: Fresh Prince partner-in-crime DJ Jazzy Jeff, Beastie Boys jock Mix Master Mike, mash-up pioneer Z-Trip, legendary rap record producer Just Blaze, Jurassic 5 member DJ Nu-Mark and Def Comedy Jam vibe curator Kid Capri. The idea of bringing in such legendary names in the rap game, says Banjos to Beats co-owner Josh Smith, is to highlight an often-disregarded part of hip-hop history. “To understand hip-hop, you have to understand that it all started with the DJ,” Smith says. “Before the rappers took center stage, the DJ was the party starter. The DJ was the star. So, with Scratch Session, we want to help tell hip-hop’s story by paying homage to that fact — and since we happen to have It’ll Do, one of the world’s elite DJ’s clubs, in our own backyard, this series just seemed like a natural progression.” — Pete Freedman

Saturday

Urban Cowboy Party at Double Wide
Know how to two-step? Wanna prove it? Long a mecca for every Bud and Sissy in town, the D-Wide is finally throwing the shindig it was born to do all along. A trio of local country tributes perform in the venue, there’ll be a Dolly Parton look-alike contest for cash, a mechanical bull, tattoos, Easy Sliders and all the booze you can handle. — CG

Outlaw Music Festival at Dos Equis Pavilion
Willie Nelson & Family headlines this one. A whole slew of left-of-center country greats open, including Sturgill Simpson, Ryan Bingham, The Head And The Heart, Edie Brickell & New Bohemians, The Wild Feathers, Lukas Nelson + Promise Of The Real, Willie’s other son, Particle Kid and more. — CG

Eddie B at Verizon Theatre
The former Houston elementary school teacher parlayed the viral internet videos he was making about his students into a full-time stand-up comedy career. Wonder which pays more? — CG

Jerry Seinfeld at WinStar World Casino and Resort (Sold Out)
What’s the deal with casinos? Why are they so far from Dallas? — CG

Sweet Tooth Hotel
As we detailed back in March, the art installation pop-up in Victory Park is the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Cole and Jencey Keeton. It features build-outs by the three brothers behind Built by Bender. It includes art from Dallas-area artists Dallas-area artists Rob Wilson, Jeremy Biggers, Shamsy Roomiani, Jojo Chuang and Chelsea Delzell. And it also features in its gift shop trinkets from such brands as Leatherology, JOY Macarons and Kendra Scott. In person, the concept — located inside a storefront at 2316 Victory Park Lane — very much lives up to its palpable hype, with its popping neon lights, its eye-grabbing staging and its surprises that lurk in every nook and cranny. Rather impressively, it also feels substantial bigger than its 1,250 square feet implies, many thanks to its clever use of mirrors placed strategically throughout its setup. It’s a space that you can easily lose yourself in for an hour — which is fitting, since that’s the length of the tours offered by Sweet Tooth Hotel – well, until it shuts down for good after Saturday. — PF

Whitechapel, The Black Dahlia Murder at Gas Monkey Live
Whitechapel’s latest album Mark of The Blade, is a celebration of the 10-plus years the band has spent rocking out and touring the country. In the album, the band sticks to its death metal roots while throwing in some added blends its Dallas fans are sure to live. The even-longer-running Black Dahlia Murder also performs. — Obed Manuel

DAMN: Dallas Ambient Music Nights XXXI
Utilizing the entire plain, Texas Theatre succumbs the usual visual oceans common with the DAMN series. Expect all that more for only 10 bucks. — Evan Henry

Picasso: Matador de Málaga at Ochre House
A year after it debuted as part of the Dallas Flamenco Festival, Matthew Posey’s exploration of the unique and passionate mind of famed painter and lover Pablo Picasso has been getting a second run at the Ochre. That run ends after Saturday’s stagings, though. — CG

Local Education Fest IV at Three Links
For its fourth time out, King Camel’s celebration of the hippest bubbling under bands du jour will play host to Poppy Xander, LOAFERS, the first Son of Stan show in a bit, Duell, Lizzie Boredom, Polystarra, Blu H3ron and Rei Clone. Rawk. — CG

Shakey Graves, Paul Cauthen at The Bomb Factory
A week after making his Grand Ol’ Opry debut, Paul Cauthen brings his Johnny Cash-channeling new Have Mercy EP to his hometown. Before opening up for Austin alt-country star Shakey Graves, he’ll do another instore set over at Good Records, too. — CG

Bob Schneider at Kessler Theater
Long a mainstay in the Austin’s music scene, Schneider brings his genre-bending ways to the Fort. You should check him out. He’s known for being a great performer. And for once dating Sandra Bullock. As he typically does at the Kessler, he’ll be doing an early and a late show. — H. Drew Blackburn

Ramon Ayala at Billy Bob’s
Catch this pioneer of modern Mexican music as he shows off his master accordion skills. — OM

Arty at Lizard Lounge
The Russian trance DJ and model will pose behind his decks while you do your little dance on the catwalk. — CG

Robotaki at RBC
The Canadian DJ’s jazzy debut EP is called Science, after the subject the young twentysomething was studying before he started making electronic music instead. — CG

Out to Sea with BvB Pool Party at SiSu Uptown Resort
It’s not douchey if a portion of your bottle service check goes to benefit Alzheimer’s research and awareness. So hit up this Uptown pool party worry-free. — CG

Urbane Escape IV at W Dallas
It’s another pool party with bottle service, this time located high atop the Dallas skyline. There will be no Alzheimer’s donations. White clothing from head-to-toe is required to enter. — CG

Cody Johnson Throwdown at Panther Island Pavilion
The mainstream country star rocks the river. Float at your own risk. — CG

Hypnotic Donuts + Beer Pairing at Oak Highlands Brewery
Sometimes two wrongs do make right. Don’t worry, it’s cheat day – that is if you get your advance tickets at the link above in time. — CG

Sunday

Raul Malo at Kessler Theater
The vocalist for Grammy-winning, Latin-infused alt-country band The Mavericks does his croony solo stuff here. Dan Dyer opens. — CG

Hobo Johnson at Trees
Earlier this spring, the shitty I’m-not-a-rapper rapper went viral when his Tiny Desk Concert contest submission racked up over 7 million plays on the YouTubes. This venue holds far less people than that, so I expect it’ll be pretty fully nonetheless. Sigh. — CG

Chris Brown at Dos Equis Pavilion
Chris Brown is a lunatic. He’s legit crazy, but the little asshole can sing and dance like hell. Check him out at DEP if you believe talent is better than morals as, let’s face it, most of us do. We won’t judge (too much). — HDB

Paul Thorn, Blind Boys of Alabama at Levitt Pavilion
Ex-boxer and keyboardist for ’90s country band Shenandoah, Paul Thorn will sing is latest batch of positive Americana anthems to the Arlington crowd. Blind Boys of Alabama also perform. — CG

Dan and Phil at Verizon Theatre
The British radio hosts are traveling the world presenting their “Interactive Introverts” tour. Says the duo, you can expect from the show: “an epic interactive experience of rants, roasts, battles, stories and surprises that will make you laugh, cry, cringe and puts the audience in control unlike anything before!” — CG

Summer Sundaze: ‘Merica Pool Party at W Dallas
Celebrate America’s birthday a whole three days early with a dip in a pool 16 stories above Dallas. Probably a good spot to catch an early fireworks show or two. — CG

Cover photo by Jonathan Zizzo, courtesy of the Sweet Tooth Hotel.

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