21 APRIL 17-23, 2025 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER CLASSIFIED | MUSIC | DISH | CULTURE | UNFAIR PARK | CONTENTS Fancy Hagood 8 P.M. FRIDAY, APRIL 18, CAMBRIDGE ROOM AT HOUSE OF BLUES, 2200 N. LAMAR. $27.50+ AT LIVENATION.COM Although his name may not be immediately rec- ognizable, Arkansas-born and Nashville-based singer-songwriter Fancy Hagood has quite the musical pedigree. After an initial foray into country in the 2010s — and his discomfort with the industry’s indifference to a proudly out gay artist — Hagood veered into a pop lane, collabo- rating with the likes of Ariana Grande and Me- gan Trainor, among others. Now, Hagood is back in Music City, armed with co-signs from Kacey Musgraves and TJ Osborne, to drop his second solo studio album, American Spirit. The record’s title track delivers a pointed message, according to its creator: “The song is mostly a nod to … be- ing an openly queer person dealing with others who aren’t open, but are addicted to your open- ness and freedom and not being able to let that go,” Hagood told The Bluegrass Situation last year. Abbey Cone will open. PRESTON JONES Soul Coughing 9 P.M. FRIDAY, APRIL 18, LONGHORN BALLROOM, 216 CORINTH ST. $25+ AT PREKINDLE.COM There was a time, not so long ago, that the notion of a Soul Coughing reunion — never mind a tour — was so far-fetched as to border upon fantasy. The influential alt-rock foursome splintered in ugly fashion 25 years ago, as singer Mike Doughty forged an acclaimed solo career and of- fered less-than-charitable remembrances of his bandmates in his 2012 memoir The Book of Drugs. But, as can happen, time healed all wounds: Soul Coughing (Doughty, Sebastian Steinberg, Yuval Gabay and Mark degli Antoni) reconstituted itself for a series of shows in 2024. Those initial gigs yielded a larger, national run of dates, and for the first time in more than a quar- ter century, Soul Coughing’s bristling, galvanizing music (Doughty has called it “deep slacker jazz”) will emanate from a stage in North Texas. PJ Earth 8 P.M. SUNDAY, APRIL 20, RUBBER GLOVES REHEARSAL STUDIO, 411 E. SYCAMORE ST., DENTON. $25+ AT PREKINDLE.COM Its second time around, Washington state drone metal pioneers Earth — currently the duo of gui- tarist Dylan Carlson and drummer Adrienne Da- vies — has demonstrated a bit more staying power. Earth’s first iteration lasted less than a decade, but upon restarting in 2003, it has re- mained active for more than 20 years and counting. The pair has hit the road for the evoc- atively titled “The Evening Redness in the West” tour, which is supporting the 20th anniversary of the band’s fourth studio album, Hex; Or Printing in the Infernal Method. Hex remains a record of enormous force and mood. Carlson cites Cor- mac McCarthy’s Blood Meridian, among other inspirations, as a sizable influence on this partic- ular collection of songs — which should make for an utterly transfixing evening. PJ Diana Krall 8 P.M. TUESDAY, APRIL 22, WINSPEAR OPERA HOUSE, 2403 FLORA ST. $69+ AT TICKETS.ATTPAC.ORG Canadian jazz singer and pianist Diana Krall is easing into her third decade of activity, with no indication of a slowdown in sight. Although it’s been five years since the Grammy winner’s last studio album (2020’s This Dream of You), she’s remained a steady presence on the road, and her 2025 touring will kick off with this stop in Dallas. It comes as little surprise the acclaimed Krall has sustained such a varied, enduring ca- reer. The 60-year-old sees no gap between cre- ating and existing: “Improvising in life is important, how to navigate your next move,” she told Variety in 2020. “Today’s different, so how are we going to choose our next response? One thing we hopefully do as jazz musicians is take risks within certain structures and make it sound right — listen, respond, and be helpful. Be empathic.” PJ J Balvin 8 P.M. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, DICKIES ARENA, 1911 MONTGOMERY ST., FORT WORTH. $45+ AT TICKETMASTER.COM Who knew our neighbor to the north (Okla- homa) played a role in the growth and develop- ment of J Balvin, the man dubbed the “Prince of Reggaeton”? Born in Colombia, Balvin was sent to Atoka in the southern part of the state when he was 17, as part of an exchange program to help him learn English. He later moved to New York City and began his music career in earnest: “That’s what I wanted to see,” he told Ellen De- Generes in 2022 on her now-defunct talk show. “This is where my inspiration to become an artist comes from and conquer the world with music, but gotta be grateful for Oklahoma.” The sing- er’s tour is in support of his sixth studio album, Rayo, which features guest appearances from Carin Leon, Bad Gyal and Mambo Kingz. PJ Red Light Management Fancy Hagood is charting his own course in country music. | LET’S DO THIS | . Music
