Playlist

We were there: Reba McEntire at Allen Event Center

2009-11-07T06:28:38Z

Country superstar Reba McEntire inaugurated the fab new 8,600-seat Allen Event Center on Friday night in grand style. The new venue is a treat -- OK, it doesn't have that "wow" factor that Cowboys Stadium had when it opened, but it's a gorgeous facility, with nicely downplayed decor in golden tan and blue tones. No pretense here, but you will find reasonably priced concessions (my friend and I scored two soft drinks, chicken nuggets and fries, and a gigantic chili dog for a total of $21.50), free parking and -- get this -- excellent acoustics. My only complaint is the parking garage -- we were trapped on the top level and it took us a good 40 minutes to wait out the other three floors emptying out. So you have to either get there WAY early to snag a first-floor spot, or wait forever after the concert. Either way, it's going to add nearly an hour to your overall time outlay.

The sound, at least from our perch almost at the top of the first balcony, about halfway back in the oval-shaped mini-arena, was terrific. I could make out all the lyrics, even on the songs I didn't already know, and the sound is surprisingly warm, given the concrete and exposed-steel-beams ambience of the space. The seats are comfy, and even though I was far up, I didn't feel like I was going to sky-dive onto the floor every time I stood up (are you listening, Winspear architects? Just a hint for your next big job).

And Reba? Fabulous, glowing, perfection. Is she never not? She's a performer who always brings it, whether she's selling out a stadium, playing to a smaller house such as this, or opening for George Strait. For our full review, and more on the venue, check back here on Saturday afternoon.

PHOTO by Joy Tipping: Reba McEntire lights up the big screen while singing "Fancy" at Allen Event Center on Friday night.

Motown Records turns 50 again...and again...and again

2009-11-06T21:46:13Z

Doesn't it seem as though Motown Records has been celebrating its 50th anniversary for about a couple of years? It officially turned 50 January 12, but the celebration just keeps going. Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and the Temptations will trek on over to Detroit, the label's birthplace, for a two-night shindig Nov. 20 and 21 at various locations in the vicinity of the company's midtown headquarters. Check out Motown's classic music website.

All of this Motown talk gets me thinking about the label's 1980's heyday. Everybody always points to the 1960's and the 1970's as the quintessential Motown decades. I won't argue that. But let's not forget that Motown was very much viable in the 1980's, and with groundbreaking releases like Teena Marie's It Must Be Magic from 1981. She was so ahead of her time, particularly on "Square Biz," an intoxicating slice of R&B, funk and rap that predated the slew of female rappers to come.

Got a favorite Motown album from the '80s? Share with us.

Photo: Teena Marie's It Must Be Magic CD cover courtesy of Motown Records.

Jay-Z comes to AAC on Feb. 23

2009-11-05T22:33:50Z

Jay-Z has announced his full itinerary for his North American tour, and it includes a stop at our very own American Airlines Center.

Jay is going all out in support of The Blueprint 3; right now, he's on his first college tour. Now, we're getting the list of big cities he'll hit for some added hip-hop clout. His last tour stop here was at Superpages.com Center, with Mary J. Blige, which was -- really -- the best of both worlds for a raucous crowd that's probably still standing to applaud.

Young Jeezy will open for the "business, man; not a businessman." More tour dates will be announced later.

Tickets go on sale Nov. 13 via Live Nation.

(File photo of Mary J. Blige and Jay-Z at Superpages.com Center on April 12, 2008)

]]>

JAY-Z BP3 TOUR 2010

Previously announced dates:

Nov 07 Fresno, CA Fresno State University/Save Mart Center

Nov 08 Los Angeles,CA UCLA/Pauley Pavilion

Nov 10 Austin, TX University of Texas at Austin/Frank Erwin Center

Nov 12 Champaign, IL University of Illinois/Assembly Hall

Newly announced dates:

Feb 22 Houston, TX Toyota Center

Feb 23 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center

Feb 25 New Orleans, LA New Orleans Arena

Feb 27 Atlanta, GA Philips Arena

Feb 28 Greensboro, NC Greensboro Coliseum Complex

Mar 03 Washington, DC Verizon Center

Mar 07 Norfolk, VA Scope Arena

Mar 11 Boston, MA TD Garden

Mar 16 Pittsburgh, PA Mellon Arena

Mar 19 St. Louis, MO Scottrade Center

Mar 20 Indianapolis, IN Conseco Fieldhouse

Mar 22 Denver, CO Pepsi Center

Mar 24 San Jose, CA HP Pavilion

Mar 26 Los Angeles, CA Staples Center

*** More cities and dates to be announced soon.

Chris Brown and Rihanna: To care or not to care

2009-11-05T22:03:00Z

Rihanna is finally making her rounds through the press - she does have an album coming out soon, don't ya know. This morning, ABC began airing Diane Sawyer's interview with the singer (watch it here).

It's been nine months since her domestic violence issues with (then-?)boyfriend Chris Brown became public after what sounded like a nasty fight in Brown's car the night before this year's Grammy awards. Before Jon and Kate blew up, all the tabloids were covering Brown and Rihanna's mess.

Brown was the only one to speak publicly after, most recently talking to popular New York radio personality Angie Martinez and Sway of MTV News. Brown has a new album coming, too, and he's bringing his "Fan Appreciation Tour" to the Palladium Ballroom on Nov. 15. With both parties now out giving their sides of the story, and their court case completed, can the public move on and just enjoy the music? Or are they the new take on Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown?

]]> ESPN's L.Z. Granderson wrote a piece for CNN saying he's not ready to dance to Brown's music, while he also hasn't deleted the four Brown songs on his iPod. Granderson has an issue with Brown seemingly tip-toeing around the words "domestic violence." That does seem to be an issue. The tour details alone, where it says portions of the proceeds will be donated to charities, doesn't say outright that one is a Los Angeles nonprofit for victims of domestic violence. Instead it reads that The Jenesse Center provides a "culturally sensitive comprehensive, centralized base of support and services."

Meanwhile Rihanna's out becoming the new spokesperson against domestic violence. More power to her, although I believe her saying she's ended things with Brown about as much as I believe Kim from The Real Housewives of Atlanta saying she's through with Big Poppa.

But it's all about the music (right?). To be honest, RiRi's new tracks from her upcoming Rated R album aren't really doing anything for me, while I finally gave in and admitted to digging Chris Breezy's single "I Can Transform Ya."

Are you having your own debate over this? Should we care about the deeper issues these two human beings have brought to the discussion? O should we forgive, forget, download and dance? And if anything, you've got to have a hate-it/love-it opinion about the covers for Rated R and Browns's album, Graffiti.

Photo: ABC's Diane Sawyer, left, interviews singer Rihanna about her relationship with ex-boyfriend Chris Brown. (AP Photo/ABC, Ida Mae Astute)

We were there: Mindy Smith at HOB

2009-11-05T06:06:49Z

Oh, Dallas, for shame. Fewer than 100 people turned out Wednesday night to hear Mindy Smith in the Cambridge Room at House of Blues. I love Taylor Swift, but it's a musical travesty when she can sell out American Airlines Center (twice in one year, if her March concert does as well as the one in September), but someone as talented and endearing as Mindy Smith can't sell out the itty-bitty Cambridge Room. C'mon, Big D, we keep bitterly muttering about how we've got the chops to be as musically hip as Austin, but we get no respect. Turnouts like this sure won't change that. Assignment: Expand. Musical. Horizons.

Those of us who did show up Wednesday were gifted with an extremely intimate 14-song set, with Smith pouring her soul into her voice and guitar. She didn't seem to mind the sparse crowd, and indeed joked with and answered questions from the audience. It was just her and her guitar, accompanied for about half the set by Lex Price on tenor guitar. And that was plenty.

Oh, and about halfway through the set, Smith made a joke on herself. "She's SO profound," she said, in perfect Valley Girl voice. "Oh, really, I never get [called] profound," she followed up with a laugh. "Patty Griffin gets profound." OK, Mindy, let me be the first to say it. With lyrics as heart-rending, sweet and thought-provoking as yours, you're definitely in "profound" territory. I laughed, sang along and teared up a couple of times during your stripped-down, no-special-effects-necessary set. In today's fireworks-and-lip-gloss driven musical environment, if that doesn't qualify as profound, I don't know what does.

For a full review of the show, check back here on Thursday afternoon.

PHOTO by Joy Tipping; Mindy Smith shows big heart despite a small crowd Wednesday night at House of Blues.

We were there: AC/DC at AAC

2009-11-03T06:11:03Z

AC/DC made a return stop at American Airlines Center Monday night on its Black Ice tour, following its first visit in January. Fans were treated to songs spanning the band's extensive career.

The band opened with "Rock 'N Roll Train" and played three other tracks from "Black Ice," but the new songs failed to rivet the crowd like old favorites such as "Hell's Bells," "Shoot to Thrill" and "You Shook Me All Night Long" from 1980's "Back in Black." AC/DC finished with a strong stretch of classics, ripping through "TNT," "Whole Lotta Rosie" and "Let There Be Rock" before exiting the stage and returning for encores "Highway to Hell" and "For Those About to Rock (We Salute You)."

]]> As you might expect, the show was attended by mostly 40-plus folks pumping their fists and dancing to tunes they loved in middle or high school.

But there were plenty of teenagers in the crowd, and that always makes me wonder. I didn't like my father's favorite singers growing up. My sons, ages 16 and 13, won't be caught dead listening to anything from my CD cabinet. Why so many younger fans at shows such as AC/DC then?

I asked a father and his two sons sitting behind me Monday night. Fred, 40, of Melissa, Texas, was there because he liked the band when he was young and he said that AC/DC puts on a great show. Simple enough. How about his sons? Willie, 15, said he knows AC/DC's music because the band is always cited as an influence for contemporary bands such as Avenge Sevenfold. His brother, Jack, 12, had another reason: "They just have a lot of cool sounds," he said.

Good enough for me. I wonder if my sons would buy that?

Belfast rockers The Answer opened Monday's show with an energetic 45-minute set. The band was promoting its new CD "Everyday Demons."

NPR searching for 50 greatest voices

2009-11-02T22:17:23Z

Last month, I noticed that NPR had put out a call, asking its audience to give them suggestions for the greatest voices of all time.

Well, they received thousands of submissions. Now, they've narrowed it down to "about 100." Here's where you come in. You get to vote to whittle down the list to 50 voices, which NPR will examine starting in January 2010. The "about 100" includes some old favorites in almost every genre, including Busta Rhymes, Elvis and Martha Wash.

I was glad to see Solomon Burke and Toots Hibbert on that list, along with Robert Plant, Harry Belafonte and Celia Cruz and so many others.

While you're clicking over there on NPR giving your Top 5, come back and tell us.

(Photo of Martha Wash from www.martha-wash.com)

Jet postponed

2009-11-02T21:19:55Z

This just in from AEG Live:

Jet at the Palladium Ballroom has been postponed. We'll have more information for you as we get it.

We were there: David Wilcox at Uncle Calvin's

2009-10-31T04:20:03Z

Friday night marked yet another terrific concert at Uncle Calvin's Coffeehouse. The inimitable David Wilcox made his debut at Uncle Calvin's, where, incredibly, he had never played. Wilcox has a loyal cult following, and the place was packed. His adoring troupe of fans included a delightful couple, Mike and Mer Dunbar, who attended a Wilcox concert at McDavid Studio in Fort Worth on their first date in 2006. They were married last May and now share the distinction of having attended additional Wilcox shows during 2007, 2008 and Friday night. Mike is 27, Mer is 22, so they're a bit younger than the regulars who return like homing pigeons each Friday night to Fellowship Hall at Northpark Presbyterian Church, where Uncle Calvin's is based. I, like most of the Ballad Tree types who go there, vastly prefer seeing shows at Uncle Calvin's than having to endure the crazy din of American Airlines Center. Those days are gone, and you can have them. There's nothing better than a quiet corner at Uncle Calvin's, a slice of hot apple pie and several cups of hot, black, steaming, flavorful, delicious coffee. Uncle Calvin's offered the chance to fully appreciate Wilcox's rare blend of pristine vocals, dynamic guitar play and songwriting that merges the best of music and storytelling. At times, you feel like you're hearing Jackson Browne, at others F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Photo: David Wilcox, who has just released his 16th album, Open Hand

]]> During a live show, Wilcox's songs follow a beguiling pattern: He opens with a short story-like narrative punctuated with daring musical licks before wrapping up the moment like a novelist polishing off a truly good read. Wearing a long-sleeved black shirt, honest-faded jeans and hiking boots, he opened with "Perfect Storm," which proved to be a perfect choice, especially with these lyrics:

Life is change, and change looks frightening
Watch that wind I've been warned
But I live to feel this lightning
In this perfect storm

He is quite the animated performer. He bares and grits his teeth when playing and gathers momentum throughout the evening. "Start with the Ending" was a clever riff on marriage, about how you should start with the ending and then enjoy everything leading up to it. "Guitar Shopping" waxed eloquent on having lived a good life, like the best old guitars. But my favorite was "Winter at the Shore," which as much as any song all evening, carried with it a pointed, literary feel. He introduced it by saying that it was inspired by the New Jersey shore at winter, which he called "one of the most desolate places in the universe." A sad song of love lost, or never fully realized, he sang of how "the ghost of you dances through the memories of this town." He even took shots at the sanctimonious who abandon spirituality in the face of the most frightening expressions of religion, including those who flew the planes into the Twin Towers. To underscore his point, he offered the next song, "God Knows Your Native Tongue:"

Start a bridge with what's behind you
And God picks up where you've begun
'Cause where you look is where love finds you
And God knows your native tongue

The biggest crowd-pleaser of the night had to have been "Johnnie's Camaro," which emerged as one of the best examples of a song starting out as a song, delving into a short story and finding its way once again to the closing warmth of a song. As if that wasn't enough, Friday night's warm-up act was also terrific. Grace Pettis, the daughter of gifted songwriter Pierce Pettis, whose songs have graced Uncle Calvin's for years, shared her own exquisite ballads, including "Turning Too," "Love Is There" and "Nine to Five Girl," about the travails of a working girl, which recently won the Best Song award at the Mountain Stage NewSong competition. Other winners in the overall Mountain Stage NewSong contest included yet another Uncle Calvin's alumnus, Austin's Betty Soo. Grace can be heard on the Mountain Stage show on National Public Radio during the weekend of Nov. 13 to 15. Remember the name: You're bound to be hearing a lot more from Grace. No less a talent than Sara Hickman recently chose to cover one of Grace's songs, the moving "Love Is There." Grace's Web site is here, at www.gracepettis.com.

We were there: R. Kelly at Nokia Theatre

2009-10-30T04:55:03Z

You know the drill. R. Kelly, the king of salaciousness, was all about his libido Thursday night before a packed house at Nokia Theatre in Grand Prairie. His "Ladies Make Some Noise" tour stop was exactly what you would expect -- 70 percent sex romp filled with tunes such as "Your Body's Callin'," "Strip For You," "Bump N' Grind" and a few others that would make some blush. He's so one-note. But the women in the audience loved it. And the men in the crowd loved the women. Musically, however, Kelly needs less repetitive beats and interchangeable lyrics, and more of the material during the final 30 percent of the show. "Step In the Name of Love" and "Happy People" were actually musical, with old-school grooves and feel-good vibes. Do more of that, R!

Did you go to the concert? What did you think?

Photo: Kelly sexed it up Thursday night (Kye R. Lee/DMN).

We were there: Gary Allan at Superpages.com Center

2009-10-25T06:00:57Z

Gary Allan and his seven-man band rocked Superpages.com Center Saturday before 8,500 fans. Emphasis on rocked since the California native has all but transformed himself from a rugged country honky-tonker to a super cool arena rocker. And that's just fine. Allan's been steadily moving in that direction for years, so nothing felt forced or calculated. The show was loud, though, and very guitar-heavy. He employed two guitarists, one of which wore a kilt. Plus, Allan's drummer loved to pound on the skins. So tracks such as "Still Learning How to Bend," "I Just Got Back From Hell" and "Watching Airplanes" were amped up and raucous. Even the countrier cuts, "It Would Be You" and "Songs About Rain," ripped to maximum effect.

If you were at the show, tell us what you thought.

For a full review of the Gary Allan concert, go to www.dallasnews.com/entertainment Sunday or pick up GuideDaily Monday.

Photo: Gary Allan (MCA Nashville).

We were there: 'Star Wars in Concert' at CS

2009-10-24T04:44:50Z

For about 15 minutes Friday night, I was 16 again, transported back to 1977 and experiencing the thrill of seeing Star Wars for the first time. At Cowboys Stadium, a full symphony took up those opening notes, and BAM, it was all fresh again via the wonderful Star Wars in Concert.

The concert was splendid, with a symphony sounding WAY better than it has any right to in Jerry Jones' Death Star of a football stadium/palace. The film clips were themed, showing scenes from all six Star Wars movies not in sequence, but according to various topics such as battles, droids or romance. Anthony Daniels, remembered fondly as C-3PO from the films, provided live narration that put everything in chronological context. As he noted in an interview we did with him, if you've somehow escaped the films by having been on Tatooine for the last 35 years, this gave you plenty of ammo to bluff your way through a cocktail conversation.

PHOTO by JOY TIPPING: Lasers were a big part of the Star Wars in Concert experience.

]]> As much fun as the concert was, it was equally amusing to see all the costumed Jedis and Princess Leias and itty-bitty Yodas (Yodi?) wandering around, and the display of teensy light saber keyrings during a particularly touching part of the score was actually quite affecting. Well, at least to a woman who was Princess Leia three years running for Halloween. Yes, that would be me. I still have my white ballet-slipper boots somewhere.

What wasn't fun, however, was getting out. No, not out of the parking lot -- out of the floor area. Jerry, you and your people need to give some serious thought to the potentially deadly chaos that would ensue if, say, a fire broke out some night when that floor area was packed with eventgoers. Only about a third of the floor was in use tonight, but there was an absolute dearth of ways in and out. Only four (or possibly five, I was counting quickly) staircases led down from the balcony onto the floor, and the crush getting out was horrific.

Trying to avoid bruising, we followed a group of people out the end zone (Ooh! Look! The Cowboys' locker room!) and then wound our way endlessly through the bowels of the stadium, looking for a stairwell or elevators leading up. All around, security guards and other personnel stood around yawning, offering no direction or help whatsoever. The entire crowd of several hundred people went right past a stairwell where a security guard stood silently; then we all had to turn around and go back when the elevator line threatened, once again, to make breathing difficult.

All in all, it took us at least 15 minutes to find our way out and up, only to be deposited exactly opposite of where we came into the stadium. So much for having parked close in for a change; we still had to walk all the way around to get back to our car.

I'm not grousing about the walk; I expect that at any stadium event. But I'd like to feel that I could get out of the building quickly if a crisis called for it. And that the stadium personnel would give a hoot.

Is early Madonna the best Madonna?

2009-10-23T00:18:25Z

As I listened yesterday to the 2-CD, 36-tracks Celebration, the new Madonna career retrospective, I found myself skipping back to cuts from her 1983 self-titled debut album. I'm talking about "Lucky Star," "Holiday," "Everybody" and "Burning Up." Yes, "Borderline" is on there, too. But I always thought that song lacked the vibrancy that permeates the rest of the album. "Lucky Star," "Holiday" and "Everybody" are effervescent examples of dance-pop with personality. Then we have "Burning Up," perhaps the best slice of high-energy dance from Madonna Louise Ciccone. The bouncy rhythm, the pulsating synthesizer line and Madonna's pouty-sexy lyrics about female domination all created an irresistible tune.

OK, what's your favorite Madonna song and why?

Photo: The Celebration CD cover (Warner Bros. Records)

Bon Jovi at AAC on April 10

2009-10-22T20:12:34Z

This just in: Bon Jovi announced its world tour, starting in Seattle on Feb. 19 with a stop at Dallas' American Airlines Center on April 10. "The Circle World Tour" was announced today as Bon Jovi played at the new Meadowlands Stadium in N.J.

The band will be the first to play at New Meadowlands Stadium on May 26-27, 2010.

"The New Meadowlands concerts go on sale beginning at 10 a.m. on Oct. 31. Additional tour dates go on sale Nov. 9 and Nov. 16. "

Jon Bon Jovi, Richie Sambora, David Bryan and Tico Torres performed for a group of 5,000 contest winners, fan-club members and construction workers building the new stadium.

The band also plans a run of shows at London's O2 Arena in June 2010 before they return to the states for the second leg of a nationwide tour.

(Photo by Mel Evans/The Associated Press)

Lil Wayne pleads guilty, could get year in jail

2009-10-22T17:26:03Z

The hearing concerning the validity of the DNA testing of a gun found on Lil Wayne's tour bus has ended. Why? Well, Lil Wayne pleaded guilty to attempted weapon possession. He's expecting a sentence of a year. Sentencing isn't scheduled until February; the actual trial wasn't scheduled until January.

By JENNIFER PELTZ
Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK -- Lil Wayne, who owned last year's best-selling album and is currently No. 1 on the pop charts, pleaded guilty to attempted weapon possession on Thursday, and expects to receive a one-year jail sentence.
The performer, arguably rap's most popular artist and one of pop's biggest acts, previously had pleaded not guilty to illegal gun possession charges that carried at least 3 and 1/2 years in jail upon conviction. He remains free on bail while awaiting his February sentencing.
The somber-looking rapper did not speak as he left the courthouse with members of his entourage, who piled into four SUVs.

(Photo by Louis Lanzano/The Associated Press of Lil Wayne entering Manhattan criminal court.)

]]> By JENNIFER PELTZ
Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK -- Lil Wayne, who owned last year's best-selling album and is currently No. 1 on the pop charts, pleaded guilty to attempted weapon possession on Thursday, and expects to receive a one-year jail sentence.
The performer, arguably rap's most popular artist and one of pop's biggest acts, previously had pleaded not guilty to illegal gun possession charges that carried at least 3 and 1/2 years in jail upon conviction. He remains free on bail while awaiting his February sentencing.
The somber-looking rapper did not speak as he left the courthouse with members of his entourage, who piled into four SUVs.
Police said a gun was found on his tour bus in Manhattan in 2007.
The rapper, born Dwayne Carter, won last year's best rap solo performance Grammy for "A Milli." His albums include "Tha Carter," "Tha Carter II" and "Tha Carter III."
His trial had been due to start Jan. 20. The judge had been holding a hearing on a debated DNA profiling technique used to tie the rapper to the gun.
Lil Wayne, 27, also is scheduled for trial in Arizona on felony drug possession and weapons charges. He has pleaded not guilty in that case, which arose from a January 2008 arrest at a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint.
In New York, he politely answered the judge's standard questions with "yes, Sir" and "no, Sir" as he entered his plea to second-degree attempted weapon possession, a felony.
He acknowledged he had a .40 caliber semi-automatic loaded gun on bus.
When the judge warned that he would not be able to withdraw the plea as some people try to do, the rapper said, "I'm not one of those people."
Prosecutors said small amounts of DNA found on the loaded weapon connected it to the platinum-selling artist. Defense lawyer Stacey Richman said the gun wasn't Lil Wayne's, and the testing technique was too problematic to prove otherwise.
Police pulled over Lil Wayne's tour bus in Columbus Circle on July 22, 2007. They said they had seen and smelled marijuana smoke wafting out the door before the bus left a concert venue minutes earlier.
Police said that as an officer approached, the rapper tossed away a Louis Vuitton bag containing a gun.
The defense disputed officers' basis for searching the bus and noted that more than a dozen other people were aboard.
Over the past two years Lil Wayne has not only emerged as the best-selling figure in rap but in all music. His "Tha Carter III" topped all album sales in 2008 with 2.8 million copies sold off of hits like the No. 1 smash like "Lollipop."
A rapper since he was a teen, Lil Wayne's popularity exploded thanks to his voluminous output on the mixtape circuit and collaborations with other artists. He currently has the No. 1 song in the country with Jay Sean, "Down."
Lil Wayne is the latest in a long line of rappers to face incarceration after topping the charts. Tupac Shakur, Lil Kim, Beanie Sigel, Shyne, Mystikal, C-Murder are just a few of the names who have done a few months to several years behind bars for crimes committed after they became famous.
Earlier this year, T.I., who is also one of rap's top sellers, reported to prison in May for his conviction on weapons charges. He's expected to serve a year and a day.
While some rappers have not regained their chart status after prison or jail, Shakur became even more popular, and T.I. remains popular on the radio.
------
AP Music Writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody contributed to this report.