15 April 23 - 29, 2026 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Spilling Out Local troubador Paul Schalda will play two shows in North Texas while opening for Built to Spill. BY PRESTON BARTA T here is a distinct, soulful grit to Paul Schalda’s voice. It has this warm and weathered sound that feels like a long drive down a dusty Texas highway. If you caught his triumphant opening set for Midlake last November in Fort Worth, you already know the Dallas-based troubadour possesses a rare ability to quiet a restless room. Now, Schalda is packing up his gui- tars and taking that singular sound on the road alongside Boise indie-rock legends Built to Spill. This fall, the tour swings through the Lone Star State for five highly anticipated stops, including back-to-back North Texas shows on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23. For Schalda, hitting the road with Built to Spill is more than just a prime slot on a mas- sive indie-rock tour. It is a full-circle mo- ment tied directly to his musical DNA. The initial spark between Schalda and Built to Spill frontman Doug Martsch happened years ago under festival lights. “When I was touring with Charles Brad- ley, we played a festival in Boise with Built to Spill, and I introduced myself to Doug,” Schalda tells the Observer. “We hit it off and kept in touch.” That casual backstage introduction laid the groundwork for this upcoming fall run. But Schalda’s reverence for Martsch’s pio- neering guitar work and songwriting ethos runs much deeper than a passing festival friendship. Long before he was sharing a bill with them, Schalda looked to Built to Spill as a guiding light for his own creative pursuits. “Without making too much of a thing of it, Built to Spill was one of the most influen- tial bands for me when it came to me want- ing to pick up a guitar and start writing my own songs,” Schalda says. He points specifically to the band’s 1997 sweeping opus as a major catalyst. “Perfect From Now On just sat so well with me,” he says. “I loved the changing moods throughout each song. The fact that Doug put together a record of eight-minute- long epics on a major-label release spoke a lot about how he viewed music and how an artist should never stray from what they want to release to their audience. That senti- ment is one I’ve always shared.” The connection to the band’s discogra- phy even echoes through Schalda’s earlier days living in West Texas. “When [1999’s Keep It Like a Secret] came out, I was living in El Paso taking care of my grandmother and the few friends I had made out there, and I would listen all the time,” he notes. When Schalda steps up to the micro- phone in Fort Worth and Dallas this Sep- tember, fans can expect a sprawling journey through his diverse musical catalog. His blend of raw soul, folk and indie sensibilities translates beautifully to the live stage. “My set will consist of songs from the new record Lately as well as songs from the family band The Sha La Das and old projects Paul & The Tall Trees and Las Los,” Schalda says. He also hints at some unreleased surprises: “Maybe a couple of new ones, as we’ve tracked a new record earlier this year.” The synergy between the two acts prom- ises a stellar night of music for Texas fans. But the camaraderie won’t stop when the venue doors lock. If you live near a local park, you might just spot the musicians blowing off steam before soundcheck. “Doug is as big a basketball fan as I am, so you might catch us playing a pickup game at a park in the cities we perform in,” Schalda adds. The Fort Worth show will take place at Tannahill’s Tavern and Music Hall on Sept. 22, while the Dallas show is set for the Echo Lounge and Music Hall on Sept. 23. Whether you show up for the masterful gui- tar tones of Built to Spill or the deeply poetic soul of Paul Schalda, these Texas shows are destined to be a highlight of the fall concert season. Tickets are on sale now. ▼ CONCERTS MAY’S BEST HIP-HOP AND R&B CONCERTS WHEN POST MALONE IS IN WACO, WE’RE CALLING IT NORTH TEXAS. BY BRYSON “BOOM” PAUL I t has been hard to be a Dallasite this April. With sporadic rain showers nearly every weekend and warm-ish weather, the entire month felt like we were battling Houston for the title of Worst Place on Earth. One of our few solaces has been live music, which began to pick up last month as the touring season resumed. There were good shows. Peso Pluma, one of the city’s favorite artists according to Spo- tify, sold out months before, and with good reason. Bruno Mars made his anticipated re- turn to Dallas and had to add a second show date because tickets sold out so fast. We’re grateful to be a top-slotted tour spot for our favorite artists. And we’re even more grateful to have gotten our tax returns done in time to score a few last-minute tick- ets, because as nice as April was, May is even better. We may even be able to fully enjoy an outdoor concert without the fear of mosqui- toes and frizzy hair. Here’s what we’re most looking forward to. May 1: Lil Yacthy & Concrete Boys at The Echo Lounge & Music Hall 1323 N. Stemmons Freeway Lil Boat revamps his label and promotes the new album, It’s Us Vol. 2, with a tour to kick off the summer. At Echo, Lil Yachty will cel- ebrate his chart-topping catalog and show- case his proteges’ next-generation styles. Tickets start at $28. May 2: Kid Cudi at Dos Equis Pavilion 1818 1st Ave. Mr. Rager brings the rage back to South Dallas with The Rebel Ragers Tour. Joined by Outkast’s Big Boi, M.I.A. and A-Trak, the tour celebrates Kid Cudi’s game-changing career. The setlist will be filled with a mix- ture of fan-favorite and chart-topping hits, like “Day ’n’ Nite,” “Teleport To Me, Ja- mie” and “Memories.” In support of his 2025 album Free, the tour will celebrate Cudi’s creative evolution. Lawn tickets start at $47. May 8: BigXThaPlug At Dos Equis Pavilion It’s BigXThaPlug’s birthday extravaganza featuring lots of special guests. North Texas is invited to Fair Park to celebrate BigX- ThaPlug turning 28 with performances of songs from his three albums and a compila- tion album from 600 Entertainment, 6WA, released March 20. From the local rap scene to the biggest names in country music, this birthday celebration promises to be one of the biggest moments ever in North Texas music. The lawn starts at $40. May 10: Floetry at Texas Trust CU Theatre 1001 Texas Trust Way Marsha Ambrosius and Natalie Stewart re- unite in Grand Prairie after 10 years to em- bark on their first-ever nationwide tour. The tour highlights the enduring appeal of R&B music. The experience delivers a rare align- ment of poetry, purpose and power. R&B legends Raheem DeVaughn (“Customer”) and Teedra Moses (“Be Your Girl”) will join Floetry on tour. May 16: Tech N9ne & E-40 at the Bomb Factory 2713 Canton St. Since the ’90s, Tech N9ne concerts have been known as legendary. In addition to E-40 taking the stage as co-headliner, the tongue-twisting indie GOAT’s mosh pits will meet the Bay Area Ambassador’s hyphy movement, creating an unforgettable experience. The Strange Wid’ It Tour promises to be an unforgettable experi- ence. Tickets start at $64. Preston Barta Paul Schalda captivates the crowd at a Fort Worth show in November 2025. ▼ Music Vera “Velma” Hernandez When Post Malone is in Waco, we’re calling it North Texas. >> p16
