Central Track ContributorDo it Again with Holy Ghost!
How do you feel about your job? Can you not wait to spring out of bed and race to the office the minute your alarm goes off each morning? Or is wiling away the hours at your desk more like watching grass grow?
For those in the latter category, take solace in the fact that, unlike this British woman, your job may be boring but it is not literally watching grass grow.
Still, no matter how baller your career is, everybody can use a night out every so often. To that end, check out this list of the weekend's many splendid offerings.
Friday
Hitchcock! at Meyerson Symphony Center
This isn't your run-of-the-mill symphony. The Golden Age makes a comeback tonight, bringing with it the best scores Alfred Hitchcock's films. Psychological and suspenseful movies are known for their stellar soundtracks, and since they're playing classic Hitchcock films, we know we won't be disappointed. The best part? There will be a large screen behind the classical musicians, showing scenes from the movies. North by Northwest, Dial M for Murder and To Catch a Thief will be among tonight's featured works. — Jordyn Walters
Bro Safari, ETC! ETC!, CRNKN, UFO! at Lizard Lounge
Bro Safari is the alter ego of Mad Decent DJ/producer Knick and half of the mashup duo Ludachrist. The reigning king of Moombahton also brings caps lock-loving dubstep, trap and bass acts ETC! ETC!, CRNKN, UFO! and MC Sharpness to town as part of his big Animal House tour. — Cory Graves
Tim Kasher at Three Links
Cursive fans, rejoice! Frontman Tim Kasher performs cuts from his long overdue second solo album Adult Film at this one. It's an album that builds upon the classic bright, poppy sound of his 2010 solo debut, while adding the touches of moodiness that Kasher's best known for. It's strong and delicate at once — a combination Kasher knows quite well. Plus, this album was mixed at Oak Cliff's Elmwood Recording, so it's like he's practically a local. And who doesn't like to support local musicians? OK, he's from Omaha. But, still! — JW
Crystal Stilts at Dada
It's been close to two years since these musicians have been to Dallas, which means you should probably make sure you show up. Really, though, who knows when the next opportunity will arise? The band released a new album last month titled Nature Noir, which is full of the band's trademark gloomy racket. So while their sound hasn't really evolved much since they came through town last, that's not necessarily a bad thing. — JW
Critical Mass at Main Street Garden Park
This group of cyclists is setting out to prove that two wheels are definitely a sufficient mode of transportation, despite the less-than-bike-friendly Dallas roads and monstrous SUVs that dominate them. But that's just what we need, right? Cars aren't all that great. I can store a bicycle in my apartment, but when I tried to do that with my car, all sorts of wreckage ensued. The group ride starts at 8 p.m., and, from there, the cyclists will dominate the roads, overturning every car in their wake and setting a new standard of road etiquette that demands bikes be taken seriously. — Chelsea Upton
The Dick Beldings at Queen City Music Hall
Three words: '90s. Cover. Band. As their Saved By The Bell-lampooning name sort of implies, this group's also unapologetic in its love for even the sappiest one-hit wonders and guilty pleasure bands that, for whatever reason, just didn't hold up that well over time. Oh well. Doesn't mean it's not fun. Blink 182, 311, Tonic, No Doubt, Third Eye Blind and Usher are but a few of the band's you can expect to be taken on tonight. — JW
Whitney Cummings at House of Blues
Though Cummings may be most recognizable for being a Chelsea Lately commentator, the writer/producer of Whitney and Two Broke Girls, and the host of Love You, Mean It, her bread and butter is stand-up comedy. And, really, she's quite funny. Often drawing her material from her personal life, Cummings is never one to hold anything back. Two recent incidents we think she'll be talking about tonight? Her recent breakup and how she's no longer allowed at Jerry Seinfield's house because she threw dinner glasses at his wife. — JW
KEGL Freakers' Ball at Verizon Theatre
Nu-metal-band-turned-rap-rock-poster-boys-turned-dubstep-misfits-turned-nu-metal-revivalists Korn headline 97.1 The Eagle's annual Halloween metal mini-fest. Kicking things off will be Five Finger Death Punch, Asking Alexandria, Beware of Darkness, Gemini Syndrome, Love & Death and Even the Dead Love a Parade. Pro tip: You might want to cut out after lunch, because this sucker starts at 4:30. — CG
South By So What: Fall Edition at QuikTrip Park
The music festival game can be a tricky business. But, listen, if you're drawing crowds of 6,000 out to a minor league baseball park in Grand Prairie for one of these deals, you're probably doing at least some things right. So, at least, goes the logic of Mike Ziemer, head of Dallas' Third String Productions. Because, after accomplishing said feat exactly with his annual South by So What!? affair back in March, Ziemer's since expanded his heavily pop-punk scene-affiliated SBSW brand to include a fall festival, too — curiously while retaining its name. No matter. With acts like GWAR, Finch, Story Of The Year, Whitechapel, and Dance Gavin Dance among the long list of bands performing on Day One of the fest, we doubt they'll have trouble repeating this spring's success. — Pete Freedman
Senor Fin (EP Release) at Dan's Silverleaf
Senor Fin's Underneath EP was, sadly, one of the most overlooked local releases of 2012. Let's not make that same mistake again: This Denton band's progressive brand of coffee shop-friendly indie-rock isn't to be missed, and the band's sophomore Spinning Circles EP — whose release the band celebrates tonight — picks up right where the last one left off. Pageantry, Roger Sellers and Bashe open. — CG
Blues Traveler at Billy Bob's
John Popper and his bandolier of harmonicas will be in town tonight with his band Blues Traveler, performing drawn-out versions of the band's many '90s hits as such jam-oriented band are wont to do when performing live. North Carolina alt-country outfit American Aquarium opens. — CG
Phantogram at Trees
In art, a phantogram is a type of optical illusion where two-dimensional images appear to actually be three-dimensional. Similarly, through the use of guitars, synths, dual vocals, and electronic elements, this Sarasota Springs-bred duo has a way of sounding like more than the sum of its parts. — CG
The Pharcyde at The Prophet Bar
Before The Phracyde began work on the Spike Jonze-directed video for its Beastie Boys-sampling track “Drop”, members of the group worked extensively with a linguistics coach to learn how to perform their raps in reverse. While it helps sell the stunning visual effects in the reverse-shot video, we can't imagine how much work it took to learn. Then again, it shows how much work the hip-hop outfit puts into its craft. — CG
The Glut Life — easily Dallas' best, if not funniest, food blog — are the masterminds behind this free-to-attend, Dustin Cavazos- and Picnictyme-hosted bash out in the Cliff. Bring your drinking shoes, too: These hard-partying bloggers have crafted three specialty Halloween cocktails just for these festivities. — PF
Saturday
Sleigh Bells at Granada Theater
Performing as just a two-piece with a guitarist and a vocalist, the Brooklyn-based electro-pop duo Sleigh Bells relies fairly heavily on backing tracks to pull off its sonically balls-out sound in live settings. But despite somewhat frequent criticism over how much of the band's live show is, in fact, “live,” that hasn't stopped the duo from selling out decent-sized Dallas venues in its past few times through town with relative ease. — CG
South By So What: Fall Edition at QuikTrip Park
Sleeping With Sirens, Memphis May Fire, & Breathe Carolina, I See Stars, Crown The Empire, The Word Alive, issues, Dayshell, Palisades, LIONS LIONS, InDirections, The Bunny The Bear, THIS ROMANTIC TRAGEDY all perform on Day Two of this fest. — CG
Jason Aldean at Gexa Energy Pavilion
Though he leans more closely to AC/DC than Hank Williams, Aldean's brand of contemporary crossover rock is what passes for country these days. And though he's been oft-criticized by purists for things such as wearing earrings, “rocker” clothes, and being a poseur that sings about farm equipment he's never actually used, that hasn't stopped the triple-platinum Aldean from becoming the genre's biggest name going these days. — CG
Surfer Blood at Trees
You know that thing when somebody you really like does something really, really shitty and makes it hard to like or respect anything and everything they make or do afterwards? This is sort of the dilemma many folks are face tonight with Surfer Blood frontman John Paul Pitts, who was accused of domestic violence against his girlfriend in March of last year. Though no charges were filed and the case was eventually dropped, the situation did manage to take a little sheen off Surfer Blood's magnificent 2010 debut, Astro Coast. — CG
Holy Ghost! at Dada
The Brooklyn-based DFA Records product has collaborated with everyone from Michael McDonald to Alan Palomo and James Murphy. More recently, though, the band churned out a timely cover of Drake's immensely popular “Hold On (We're Going Home)” that many are calling funkier than the original. Them's some strong words, to be sure. If you're in the mood to dance, it might be worth checking out whether it's a feat the band can pull off live as well. — CG
Paramore at Verizon Theatre
Paramore's future certainly seemed in doubt when two-thirds of the band left the group. Earlier this year, though, frontwoman Hayley Williams regrouped the band and released a self-titled LP that went on to become the band's first to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard chart. Not they're in town for the second time this year, this time with Metric and Hellogoodbye in tow. — CG
Artful (of Artful Dodger) at It'll Do Club
Ask around around some and you'll find that no one's quite quite sure why Artful, one half of the iconic late-'90s U.K. garage outfit Artful Dodger is in town. They just know this: The man born Mark Hill is here, he may or may not be (but probably is) working with Ishi, and he wanted to spin at the It'll Do this weekend. Oh, and there's this, too: It will be Hill's first stateside gig in a decade. Not a bad get, considering just how last-minute this show announcement was. Not bad at all. — PF
American Painting Now (Opening) at WAAS Gallery
By including such stylistically different artists in this exhibition as Jaques Seronde, HENSE and Adnan Razvi, guest curator Erin Joyce hopes to create an active dialogue on the current state of contemporary painting in America. — CG
Blues, Bandits & BBQ at Kidd Springs Park
Expect plenty of local blues music and a hotly contested barbecue competition to go down at this one. As for the bandits? Well, two out of three ain't bad. — CG
White Mystery at Rubber Gloves
They may be a drums and guitar, boy/girl rock duo with the word “white” in their name, but White Mystery are in no way another of the long line of White Stripes rip-offs that have saturated the blues-driven indie-rock scene throughout the past decade. For one thing, Alex White and Francis Scott Key White are actual siblings. Then there's their fuzzed up guitars, tendency to mix a little psychedelic flavor into their '60s garage rock leanings, and the big, matching mops of curly red locks they bang around tirelessly for most of the duration of their sets. — CG
Quintron and Miss Pussy Cat at Lola's
This husband-and-wife musical and puppeteering team straight out of New Orleans brings its eclectic type of entertainment — known as “swamp tech” — to Funky Town tonight. Fun fact: Quintron is known for inventing the crazy machines he uses in his performances, such as the “spit machine” and the “disco light machine.” Dutch band zZz and locals Dove Hunter, New Fumes, Fungi Girls, Nathan Brown and DJS Wild in the Streets and Talambas also perform. — Erika Lambreton
Moondoggies at Good Records
The Washington-based psych-influenced, alt-country outfit hit up the Astro Turf this evening in support of Adios I'm A Ghost, its third full-length released on Sub Pop imprint Hardly Art. — CG
Oak Lawn Halloween Block Party
Happening on the 3900 Block of Cedar Springs (a.k.a. “The Strip”), this event is free for any and all. Expect plenty of scary rainbow paraphernalia and drag queens. The event starts at 7 p.m. and runs through closing time. — Trace McCaslin
Halloween War at Zouk
This one bills itself as one of the biggest Halloween parties in town. And, based on the fact that once again this year's bash is one of three officially-sanctioned Maxim parties around the country, we tend to believe them. Other bullet points for this affair? They'll be giving away $5,000 in prizes during their costume contest, and they'll stay open until 3 a.m. — CG
Terror Vault: Hex Cult, Cutter, Vulgar Fashion at Crown and Harp
Two-thirds of this bill (read: Hex Cult and Cutter) recently came together to open for Jamaican Queens at Dan's. At that show, Hex Cult in particular put forth a very raw and super noisy energy — a fine backbone to band's music, which seemingly forever teeters on the edge of unraveling but never does. The dark, pulsating and heavily synth-based Cutter similarly offered a strong showing, its sound having substantially tightened up since its 35 Denton performance from earlier this year. DJ Death Church will be spinning between acts. — Jeremy Hughes
Denton's Dia De Los Muertos Festival
There's lots of interesting-sounding events lined up for this Day of the Dead celebration: Clowns on Fire, Circus de la Morte, Cirque du Horror, Coffin Races and a 48hrs of Hell Screening. You had us at “coffin races.” — CG
Halloween Bash at Lakewood Brewing Company
Lakewood Brewing Company will be hosting a very special Halloween bash this afternoon, and for a $10 at-the-door cover charge you'll have access to several special beers brewed just for the occasion. Among some of the specialty brews being offered up are a Red Wine Till & Toil, a wine barrel-aged Zomer Pils and a bourbon barrel-aged Punkel, and three extremely experimental to-be-announced brews that beer fans will only get to sample during these festivities. — EL
Sunday
Concentrations 56 (Opening) at Dallas Museum of Art
The full name for this exhibition is Concentrations 56: coffee, seasonal fruit, root vegetables, and “Selected Poems.” That's because, in his first U.S. museum solo show, Dallas-based artist Stephen Lapthisophon incorporates everyday objects and foods into his installations in order to break down the barrier between art and daily life. And maybe by doing so observers will start seeing the beauty in the everyday objects they're constantly surrounded by. Y'know, kind of like a plastic bag floating in the wind. — CG
Master Pancake: Halloween at Alamo Drafthouse
Back when popular Austin cinema hecklers Master Pancake got started, they were called Mister Sinus Theater 3000. Understandably, the Mystery Science Theater 3000 folks were not too pleased, partly because of the similarity in names and partly because they didn't approve so much of all the cursing that went on during the running commentary. Since rebranding as Master Pancake the group patched up its relationship with the MST3K folks, and have even been joined in its live movie mockery by Mystery Science creator Joel Hodgson on occasion. Tonight, they'll be making the three-hour drive north to send up Halloween. — CG
Rock 'n Roll Rummage Sale at Lola's
Once a month, Lola's offers a chance for people to come and trade/buy music, equipment, collectibles and more. And it's happening today this month. Luckily, you've been trying to find a better way to get rid of that accordion other than throwing it away. — TM
Pumpkin Carving Contest at Barcadia
Come find out if newcomer teams from Trader Joes and/or Disco Kids have what it takes to knock off back-to-back champs Capitol Pub in this annual pumpkin carving contest. Or maybe you have what it takes? Pumpkins will be provided for those who want to compete, and costumes are strongly encouraged. — CG
Film Race at Four Corners Brewery
Unlike Dallas' other big annual film race, this one gives you a bit longer than 24 hours. Interested teams should meet up at Four Corners by 4 p.m. today. The drop-off date for completed films is November 3, and winners will be screened at next month's Oak Cliff Film Festival. Even better? The top prizes are tickets to the festival, a keg of beer and the right to name an upcoming Four Corners brew! — CG
4th Annual Halloween Bash at Black Swan Saloon
The best unmarked bar in Deep Ellum is hosting its fourth annual Halloween bash this weekend, with DJ Elizabeth Farrell rocking the ones and twos, prizes handed out to the best celebrity-centric costumes and all the infused liquors you can handle. That last part's true of most any night at the Swan, sure. But, when you're rocking a costume, it's easier to forget that you might have to work the next morning. — PF
To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our events page.
