21 November 7 - 13, 2024 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Linkin Park 6 P.M. FRIDAY, NOV. 8, GLOBE LIFE FIELD, 734 STADIUM DRIVE, ARLINGTON. $65+ AT TICKETMASTER.COM Seven years ago, the alt-rock sextet Linkin Park suffered a devastating blow when charismatic lead vocalist Chester Bennington took his own life. The band, understandably, went on hiatus to grieve, and to figure out what came next. (Drummer and founding member Rob Bourdon also departed from the group during the hiatus.) Earlier this year, there were stirrings as the group revealed it had chosen someone to follow in the late Bennington’s footsteps: Emily Arm- strong, a co-founder of Los Angeles rock band Dead Sara. (Her selection was not without con- troversy, as some fans took issue with her ties to the Church of Scientology, among other things.) With new drummer Colin Brittain on board, Linkin Park has readied its first album in seven years — From Zero — which will drop just one week after the re-activated band passes through North Texas. With Bad Omens, Jean Dawson and Helmet. PRESTON JONES Chief Keef 8 P.M. FRIDAY, NOV. 8, SOUTH SIDE BALLROOM, 1135 BOTHAM JEAN BLVD. $49.50+ AT TICKETMASTER.COM Chicago rapper Chief Keef was originally sched- uled to bring his “A Lil Tour” through town back in August, but in mid-July, on the eve of the month-long run beginning, he abruptly post- poned the dates, saying in a statement that, “due to a medical emergency, I’ve been ordered to stay home to recover.” Whatever ailed the 29-year-old has, it would seem, been cleared up, as Chief Keef returned to the road in late Octo- ber in support of his fifth studio album, Almighty So 2, which features contributions from Tierra Whack, Sexyy Red, G Herbo and Quavo, among others. The LP is merely the latest project in which Keef has had a hand this year: He also participated in Dirty Nachos, a mixtape with Mike WiLL Made-It, and joined forces on singles with both Sexyy Red and Lil Yachty. With Lil Gnar and the Glo Boyz. PJ JD McPherson 8 P.M. FRIDAY, NOV. 8, KESSLER THEATER, 1230 W. DAVIS. $26+ AT PREKINDLE.COM Singer-songwriter and guitarist JD McPherson, who hails from just outside Tulsa, Okla., might be one of the most low-key, high-profile musi- cians to emerge from the state in some time. Al- low us to explain: In addition to his own burgeoning solo career, built on the strength of his sizzling live shows and sturdy records like 2012’s Signs and Signifiers and 2015’s Let the Good Times Roll, the now Nashville-based McPherson also completed a stint, in 2022, as the lead guitarist for Robert Plant and Alison Krauss on the pair’s “Raise the Roof” tour (dou- bling as the opening act). A co-sign from a guy who’s logged time with guitar god Jimmy Page seems like solid confirmation — expect hot licks, cool melodies and plenty of tracks from Nite Owls, his first studio album in seven years. Kate Clover will open. PJ John Oates 8 P.M. SATURDAY, NOV. 9, ARLINGTON MUSIC HALL, 224 N. CENTER ST., ARLINGTON. $35+ AT EVENTBRITE.COM There was a time, not so long ago, when the name Hall & Oates conjured breezy visions of chart-topping 1980s hits — soulful, melodic pop songs, like “Maneater” or “Kiss on My List” — but all that bonhomie dissipated at the end of 2023, when Daryl Hall sued John Oates over the latter’s decision to sell his share of the pair’s company, Whole Oats Enterprises. With that, a multi-platinum partnership was uncere- moniously ended; the pair has continued to re- cord and tour separately. (In a 2022 interview with the Los Angeles Times, it didn’t seem as though Oates would be sad to see the band fade away: “It’s very annoying to be a duo. People always say, ‘Oh, you’re the tall one, you’re the short one.’”) The singer-songwriter, whose solo catalog stretches back over 20 years, is touring behind his sixth and latest LP, Reunion. PJ Cyndi Lauper 8 P.M. TUESDAY, NOV. 12, AMERICAN AIRLINES CENTER, 2500 VICTORY AVE. $22+ AT TICKETMASTER.COM It hardly seems possible that the mainstays of 1980s radio and MTV are embarking upon fare- well tours, but life, as is often said, does come at you fast. Singer-songwriter Cyndi Lauper is cur- rently touring arenas on her colorfully (if un- wieldly) titled “Girls Just Want to Have Fun Farewell Tour,” which will doubtless sate her long-time fans with all the hits, a full-bore dose of nostalgia and a few wacky costumes. Step- ping back, it’s remarkable to consider how much Lauper has achieved to date: Lauper is only an Oscar shy of an EGOT; she’s sold more than 50 million albums worldwide and her 1983 debut, She’s So Unusual, stands as the first debut al- bum by a female artist to generate four top five hits on the Billboard Hot 100. A victory lap is more than deserved. With Aly & AJ. PJ Jason Kempin/Getty Images Cyndi Lauper will make her final headlining appearance in Dallas on Nov. 12. | LET’S DO THIS | t Music HOLIDAY GUIDE 2024 SCAN HERE FOR MORE INFO ON STANDS NOVEMBER 28
