16 December 7 - 13, 2023 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Hayes Carll 7 P.M. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, DEC. 8 AND 9, THE KESSLER, 1230 W. DAVIS ST. $32 AT PREKINDLE.COM Texas country artist Hayes Carll has been stomping around these parts for nearly two decades now, making North Texas a second home for the South Texas singer. Carll has always been a small-town singer, with lyrics that are as down-to-earth as they are poetic. In 2016, Carll was recognized by the Recording Acad- emy with a Grammy Award nomination for “Best Country Song” for “Chances Are,” a song that had been released nearly five years prior on his fourth album. Carll’s most recent album, 2021’s You Get It All, peaked at the No. 14 spot on the Billboard folk chart. Carll has kept things pretty quiet since his last release, putting out just two singles this year, one of which is “Christmas in Prison,” a holiday song recorded with Melissa Carper. Carper will be joining Carll for his Grateful For Christmas Tour along with Emily Gimble and Allison Moorer. DAVID FLETCHER JD McPherson 7 P.M. FRIDAY, DEC. 8, TULIPS, 112 ST. LOUIS AVE. $25 AT PREKINDLE.COM Rock ’n’ roll’s analog revivalist JD McPherson helped usher in a new interest in the way music was recorded when he first hit the scene in 2012. The Oklahoma singer-songwriter is something of a roots rock purist, not only capturing that old sound on his instru- ments but in using recording equipment from the 1950s as well. McPherson has extended his musical reach, using his recording philosophy to produce music for bands such as The Cactus Blos- soms, who are keeping the old blood harmony sound alive. Back in 2018, McPherson released his Christmas album, Socks, which consisted of 10 original Christmas songs. It was actually his most recent release of original material. McPherson toured that album five years ago, and he is back at this year on his SOCKS: A Rock N’ Roll Christmas Tour with Joel Paterson. DF Black Pumas 8 P.M. FRIDAY, DEC. 8, THE FACTORY IN DEEP ELLUM, 2713 CANTON ST. $59.50+ AT AXS.COM Black Pumas had barely been a band for two years when they were nominated for “Best New Artist” at the Grammys in 2020. Not only that, but “Colors” received nominations for “Record of the Year” and “Best American Roots Performance,” and the band’s self-titled debut was nominated for “Album of the Year.” Before the band had a chance to blink, they were performing dur- ing President JoeBiden’s Celebrating America special as a part of his inauguration activities. Later that year, Black Pumas would re- ceive two more Grammy nominations. “Know You Better (Live From Capitol Studio A)” was nominated for “Best Rock Perfor- mance,” and Capitol Cuts (Live from Studio A) was nominated for “Best Rock Album.” Of these six nominations, Black Pumas have yet to win one, which is something that the band is looking to change with its October release Chronicles of a Diamond. Danielle Ponder opens for Black Pumas on Friday in Deep Ellum. DF Old 97’s 6:30 P.M. SATURDAY, DEC. 9, LONGHORN BALLROOM, 216 CORINTH ST. $34+ AT PREKINDLE.COM Formed in Dallas in 1993, the Old 97’s have a storied history in North Texas beginning with the band’s first releases on Dallas- based label Idol Records. No matter where their career has taken them, they have consistently shouted out their hometown, most notably in “A State of Texas” from the 2010 release The Grand Theatre, Vol. 1 with the line “What a time we’ll have on Greenville Avenue with the big shots in Big D.” The Old 97’s have long been known for romanticizing barroom dramas, using so- phisticated lyrics to tell tales of love, hate and having a good time (or at least trying to). It was during the recording of the band’s 2014 album Most Messed Up, however, that singer Rhett Miller decided to get sober. The ups and downs of sobriety can be heard all across the band’s most recent release Twelfth. Old 97’s Holiday Hoopla kicks off Saturday night with special guest Good Looks. DF Queens of the Stone Age 8 P.M. SUNDAY, DEC. 10, THE PAVILION AT TOYOTA MUSIC FACTORY, 300 W. LAS COLINAS BLVD. $64.50+ AT LIVENATION.COM One thing that many of people forget about Queens of the Stone Age is how deeply the band is rooted in grunge. The band was formed in 1996 in the birthplace of grunge, Seattle. Lead singer and guitarist Josh Homme had been a member of Southern California desert rock band Kyuss before moving to Seattle to work with Screaming Trees, but that was short-lived. Homme founded Queens of the Stone Age under the name Gamma Ray, but he changed it when a German power metal band of the same name threatened to sue. As Queens of the Stone Age’s only consistent member, Homme has continued to work with folks from his grunge past, notably Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Mike Johnson of Dinosaur Jr. The band’s The End is Nero Tour comes through Irving Sunday night with opening support from Spiritualized. DF Rachel Parker | LET’S DO THIS | t Music Black Pumas play Friday, Dec. 8, at The Factory in Deep Ellum.
