Central Track Contributor
Let's Get Folked Up!
The weekend is upon us once again, which means it's time to party presidential style.
Now, to be clear, we're not saying you've got to necessarily get lit up to enjoy the weekend's goings on. But, y'know, if it's good enough for Obama's Secret Service agents, then it couldn't be the worst thing in the world.
Besides, it's not like you've got to wake up and protect the most powerful man in the free world the next day or anything.
Friday
Brony Fest 2014 at Hilton Garden Inn & Lewisville Convention Center
When did North Texas fall so in love with niche conventions? Horror fanatics have Frightmare Weekend. The Anime-obsessed have A-Kon. The Trekkies and their minions have the Dallas Sci-Fi Expo. And then, of course, there's the big one: Dallas Comic Con. Just how much niche-ier are we going to get? Well, this much, turns out: Returning to Lewisville this March is Brony-Fest 2014, a three-day convention almost exclusively tailored to male fans of the 2010 My Little Pony re-boot,Friendship is Magic. These men proudly refer to themselves as “Bronies.” The locally-based Rowdy Rough Bronies club has organized the three-day affair to include cosplay, arts and crafts panels, fan fiction readings, a live taping of their self-titled podcast and, somewhat inexplicably, a screening of The Big Lebowski. — Cory Graves
DL Hughley at Addison Improv
Comedian D.L. Hughley, known for, um, The Hughleys and for having a show on CNN for a while will be at the Addison Improv all weekend long, performing a whole slew of shows. The first one's tonight at 8 p.m. — Mikel Galicia
VNV Nation at Granada Theater
Is it completely fair that folks were quick to call Weezer sellouts after playing aboard a cruise ship while British synth-pop duo Victory Not Vengeance Nation have gotten a completely free pass? Would it surprise you to find out they've been together two years longer than Weezer, too? — CG
Chelsea Handler at Verizon Theatre
The openly foul-mouthed and funny Chelsea Handler will be stopping by at the Verizon Theatre tonight. Little do people know, Handler waited tables until she was 26 before she “hit it big.” She also recently told Howard Stern that she wants to leave E! Network in the near future in order to stream her show on Netflix where her fans could watch her whenever they want. Until then, you've got but one chance to catch her act live, and that's in Grand Prairie. — Porschia Paxton
The House Harkonnen, Spacebeach, Distort and Duell at RBC
The newly re-opened Deep Ellum punk club keeps things going with another strong, all-local, heavy-leaning lineup. — CG
Big Folkin' Fest at The Prophet Bar
At last year's second annual Big Folkin' Festival, which took place across four stages within The Prophet Bar venue and out in its parking lot, there was all of one national act featured on the eight-hour-long, almost 30-band-deep bill. And, still, seemingly almost in spite of this fact, close to 1,000 people made it out to the event. To that end, they've expanded to a two-day affair this year, adding more bands in the process. Check out the full schedule of band's playing here. — Pete Freedman
Egyptian Lover at Crown and Harp
There aren't many rappers or DJs that can say they've been at it for 30-plus years. And whereas his hip-hop-pioneering contemporaries were busy releasing singles, The Egyptian Lover's 1984 debut LP, On the Nile, was one of the first full-length hip-hop LPs ever released. Even more remarkable is the fact that early tracks from his catalog — songs such as “Egypt, Egypt” — have remained legit club staples even all these years later. He'll spin records and perform live cuts as well at this one. After all, what is a DJ if he can't scratch? — CG
Texas Pinball Festival at Frisco Hotel and Convention Center
The first thing we noticed when we arrived at 2012's Texas Pinball Festival was that there was absolutely no music playing; just the din of 200-plus pinball machines at once. And it was loud. It turns out that pinball festivals are actually pretty awesome. What happens is you show up, pay your entrance fee and then you're faced with a 15,000-square-foot convention room full of pinball machines and arcade cabinets set for free play. You bounce from machine to machine, making your way through the hall. It's definitely fun comparing some of the older machines against the later models. The older machines just have this really satisfying feel. And their noises? So classic. — Jeremy Hughes
Deborah Gaspar Trunk Show at Willow Bend Mall
Not only will Deborah Gaspar be having a trunk show at Neiman Marcus' Willow Bend mall location tonight, but the Dallas-based jewelry designer will be there to show off the pieces in her latest collection in person, too. Gaspar was recently featured at the Sundance Film Festival this past year, where she was personally invited to bring her handcrafted creations. — Porschia Paxton
Beenie Man at Heroes Lounge
The self-proclaimed king of dancehall is stopping in Dallas on his Hottest Man Alive tour. The Jamaican music veteran has more than two decades in the industry under his belt, so there's no shortage of high-octane tracks for you to sweat away your problems to. — Porttia Portis
Ben Taylor at Kessler Theater
The progeny of James Taylor and Carly Simon will perform as part of the Encore For Advocacy concert series. Since 1991, the organization has benefited the Dallas Children's Advocacy Center to help heal and provide hope to children from abusive situations. The event also features local finger-picker Emily Elbert. — Porttia Portis
The American Fuse and Blood Saints at Double Wide
Tonight, one of Dallas' newest rock outfits will open for one of its finest. This occasion, we should note, will mark the live debut of Blood Saints, which is comprised of Descender's Casey Hess, former Dead Twins frontman Gabe Cardinale, and ex-The Boom Boom Box drummer Clay Stinnett. — CG
Saturday
Betty Who at Three Links
Betty Who comes off as an Australian alternative to Katy Perry. Her goal is to make pop music that's generational. So if you like your pop to be simple, catchy and a motivator for dancing, then her music is perfect for you. Her tour comes just in time for the release of her debut album, Slow Dancing, which is set to drop on April 8. Expect a lot of sugary-sweet sounds and good vibes. — Porttia Portis
The Naptime Shake at Twilite Lounge
The Wilco-influenced roots rock of Noah Bailey's Naptime Shake is a great mood-setter for a chilled out night at Dallas' best New Orleans-inspired bar. Even better? There's never a cover to get into Twilite. — CG
Mudbug Bash at Main Street Garden Park
You don't generally have much opportunity to get your country living on in Dallas proper, but the Mudbug Bash at Main Street Garden is here to change all that, offering up 4,000 pounds of crawfish, live music and even some crawfish races. — H. Drew Blackburn
The Internet at Trees
We know it's hard to keep all the Odd Future side projects straight, so we'll help you out here: This is the one that involves Syd Tha Kyd and Matt Martians. Now you know. — CG
House of DIFFA 2014: Masquerade at Omni Dallas Hotel
Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids (DIFFA) helps raise funds for organizations bringing awareness to Aids/HIV. The Dallas chapter formed in 1984 and, each year, it completes the season with its annual black tie gala. It is ultimately the mixture of fashion, philanthropy and art in one single night that makes this affair so special. The theme for this year's House of DIFFA event is “Masquerade,” with focus on the Carnival of Venice and all proceeds will go towards grants for HIV/AIDS service organizations in North Texas. — Porschia Paxton
Selena Party at Country Burger
A couple days before the 29th anniversary of Selena Quintanilla's murder, members of the revered Sour Grapes art crew will host a party in the late Tejano crossover star's honor. They'll have locally-crafted, Selena-inspired art for sale, a Selena look-alike contest, et al. DJ Sober will spin, too. Not that anyone needs extra incentive to swing by the Country Burger on a lazy Saturday evening. — CG
Meat Puppets at Dada
Folks fall into two pretty distinct camps when it comes to the continuing career of the Meat Puppets. There are those who cite that, beyond influencing Nirvana and Pavement, they really haven't done much. And, sure, their only really big hit was 1994's “Backwater,” and their biggest moment in the limelight (playing a handful of their tunes with Nirvana during that group's MTV Unplugged taping) wasn't even their own. But, having seen them live in recent years, we fall distinctly into the other camp. These guys still bring it. — CG
Opera Shots at The Foundry
A couple weeks before it opens its 2014 season, members of the Fort Worth Opera will perform al fresco out in West Dallas. Though they'll still be performing the same operatic classics on The Foundry's shipping pallet stage that you can see at Fort Worth's lovely Bass Hall, you certainly won't be able to have a cold draft beer in hand at the latter — or enjoy the great outdoors, for that matter. — CG
Big Folkin' Fest at The Prophet Bar
They'll keep on folkin' on at Night Two of this year's bash. — CG
Design District Market at Community Beer Company
In addition to the brewery's regular Saturday tours — which always include rounds of pool, cornhole, giant Jenga, live music, and food trucks — the Design District Market will bring an addition 70 vendors and a few hundred extra beer-thirsty masses to the party. — CG
Yonder Mountain String Band at Granada Theater
You say “progressive bluegrass,” I say “poor man's Bela Fleck and the Flecktones.” Let's call the whole thing off. — CG
Chelsea Peretti at Dallas Comedy House
Just because the Brooklyn Nine-Nine star isn't the only Chelsea in town doing stand-up this weekend doesn't mean she isn't the better option of the two. — CG
Betsey Johnson at NorthPark Center
The proud 71-year-old designer has been known to shake things up and be as unconventional as possible to set herself apart from other designers. She loves people who go outside the box — like Pharrell Williams did with his infamous Grammy outfit. She's been in the game for 40-plus years now, and has remained popular through it all. Basically, she's a total badass. Maybe she'll even do her famous cartwheel at tonight's personal appearance at Dillard's? We can only hope. — Porschia Paxton
Jamey Johnson at Billy Bob's
Nashville country sucks, sure. But this ain't that. This is some real Alabama ish. — Trace McCaslin
Rockers vs Mods at The Belmont
The central crux of this rally is to celebrate European, two-wheeled transportation and to recall the old rivalry of the kids into rock music and motorcycles and, well, the mods on their scooters. It's a homage to those old days, with lots of live music and partying to go along with it. The point is for all the participants to have plenty of reasons to ride their scooters or cafe-style motorcycles all over town and an excuse dress up in their finest gear, shine up their rides and go cavort with their friends while celebrating this culture. — JH
Martyn at Sandaga 813
Somehow, of just four worldwide tour dates, Dallas was lucky to score one from the genre-bending Netherlands-based producer this weekend. We shouldn't have to stress to you how cool that is. Let's maybe show him we're grateful for the nod. — CG
Sunday
The Wonder Years at The Prophet Bar
Following last week's Bayside-topped bill at this venue, we're left to wonder whether The Prophet Bar is only booking band's named after '90s sitcoms these days. Shout out to Kevin Arnold and Paul Pfeiffer. — CG
Dallas Jazz Age Sunday Social at Dallas Heritage Village
Dress in your best '20s garden party attire and get ready for an afternoon of retro good times. The afternoon's agenda includes a costume contest, croquet matches, vintage dance lessons, a Model A Ford show, handmade ice creams from Carnival Barker's and live music courtesy of throwback outfit the Singapore Slingers. — 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. Fortunately for you, it's this weekend, as you've been trying to find a better way to get rid of that accordion other than just throwing it away. — TM
To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our events page.
