Cory Graves
Think Inside The Box.
Recently, a guy with way too much time on his hands spent an entire weekend computing the optimal search strategy to find the titular character from the Where's Waldo? books. Spoiler alert, never look for the striped-shirt wonder in the upper left or lower right corners.
Similarly, we've spent way too long combing over everything going on in Dallas tonight and developing a system of highlighting all the coolest findings. That's a lie, but we do hope the following list saves you a little bit of time just the same. — Cory Graves
Jukebox the Ghost at Trees
For over a decade now, the D.C.-sprung power pop trio Jukebox the Ghost have been crafting harmony-rich, Ben Folds-ian pop ballads. While it may seem overkill to use the word “pop” twice in one sentence, as we just did, it's only because pianist/lead vocalist Ben Thornewill and his bandmates are so adamant about using the term to describe their output. To hear Thornewill tell it, that's because the band doesn't think of “pop” as a dirty word, or find it demeans what they do– quite the opposite, really. In a recent phone call, Thornewill told us writing a good pop song was perhaps the hardest thing a band can do. Fortunately, it's something Jukebox the Ghost is pretty good at, as evidenced by the band's new, hook-filled fourth LP, which was released back in October. For more info on the show, check out our interview with Ben Thornewill here. — Allie Williamson
Sam Hunt at House of Blues
He's been called “the next Luke Bryan,” but to lump former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback prospect-turned-songwriter in with the rest of the bro country lot isn't exactly fair, or necessarily accurate. He releases similarly over-produced tracks, sure, but Hunt definitely boasts a bit more soul in his vocals than those other lunks. He's also penned a few chart toppers for other Nashville heavyweights, including his own “Leave the Lights On” from his October debut album. — CG
Bobby McFerrin at Murchison Performing Arts Center (Sold Out)
Bobby McFerrin is a ten-time Grammy-winning musician. His latest album, spirityouall, has a nice blues, feel-good recording, an unexpected move from the one-hit singer of “Don't Worry, Be Happy.” At this concert, held on the UNT campus, the vocal innovator will perform alongside the university's lauded One O'Clock Lab Band, who he has spent the past four days mentoring. — Lauren Rushing
First Thursdays at The Joule at Tenoversix
Tonight Tenoversix kicks off its new, monthly happy hour series that'll pair cheap drinks, free nibbles, complimentary valet and tuneage courtesy of Spinster Records owner David Grover. — CG
Israel Nash at Three Links
Missouri-born Israel Nash, is out on tour promoting his latest Americana album Rain Plans. It's not just straight up Americana, though, as the now-Dripping Springs-based musician mixes a fair amount of Crazy Horse-style pysch rock into his alt-country offerings. Taylor Craig Mills and Quaker City Night Hawks frontman Sam Anderson open up with solo sets. — LR
Denitia & Sene at So & So's
Brooklyn R&B group Denitia & Sene will be bringing down the house tonight at So & So's. This fabulous duo takes the genre to the next, sexiest , hippest level sonically and dresses up like they're stuck in the '90s because that's what's appropriate these days. Hey, it's cool by me. Here's hoping we see parachute pants tonight. — Chase Whale
Oscar-Nominated Short Docs at Texas Theatre
Movie buffs, you've still got time to catch every single film nominated in the “Short Documentary” category at this year's Academy Awards before this month's ceremony. Tonight Texas Theatre is showing Joanna and Crisis Hotline: Veterans Press 1. And on Sunday they'll screen Our Curse, White Earth and The Reaper. — CG
Carlos Mencia at Addison Improv
Two of the best episodes of Marc Maron's acclaimed WTF podcast was the 2010 two-parter that saw Maron grilling notorious joke-stealer Carlos Mencia about decades of allegations he's lifted material from and/or treated guys he's worked with like shit. To a man, though, nobody ever claimed he was a bad comic, which is, well, something. — CG
Rick Springfield at Majestic Theatre
Like he did around this time last year, Rick Springfield will be performing a “stripped down” solo set in Dallas this evening. We assume that means enough versions of “Jessie's Girl” to fill 45 minutes, followed by a Q&A session. But maybe that's just a best-case scenario. — CG
Lily and Madaleine at AllGood Cafe
Indianapolis-raised siblings Lily and Madeleine Jurkiewicz craft ethereal tunes that combine well-worn Dust Bowl-era folk with forward-looking pop and the kind of close harmonies only sisters really can make. Pick up a copy of the duo's NPR-approved sophomore record and a side of chicken-fried steak at this one. — CG
To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our events page.
