21 December 21 - 27, 2023 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents Homage Nation: A Tribute to Mark Linkous 6 P.M. THURSDAY, DEC. 21, THE KESSLER, 1230 W. DAVIS ST. $25 AT PREKINDLE.COM Every year, The Kessler Theater hosts an event called Homage Nation, which offers a rotating col- lection of notable North Texas musicians. These musicians are tasked with paying tribute to an art- ist or band that has made some impact on their own careers. In the past, the musicians playing Homage Nation have paid their respects to Talking Heads, Joni Mitchell and Daniel Johnston. This year, artists from all around North Texas will come together for one night only to pay homage to Mark Linkous (aka Sparklehorse) and honor him by playing songs from the posthumous LP, Birdma- chine, that was just released on Sept. 8, along with selected tracks from his catalog. Artists listed to perform include Tim DeLaughter of The Poly- phonic Spree and Tripping Daisy, John Dufilho of The Deathray Davies and Chris Flemmons of Bap- tist Generals. The Kessler will also be showing the recent documentary film This Is Sparklehorse before the show. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the nonprofit organization Foundation 45, which raises awareness for suicide prevention, addiction and mental health. DAVID FLETCHER UnityTX 7 P.M. FRIDAY, DEC. 22, TREES, 2709 ELM ST. $20 AT AXS.COM Formed in Dallas in 2014, UnityTX has been mak- ing a lot of noise with its blend of hard rock, hip- hop and metalcore in the city’s underground for nearly a decade. The band’s music essentially embraces all the things that made nü metal great while rejecting all the commercial gimmickiness that led to its undoing. Back in September, Uni- tyTX released its debut LP, Ferality, on Pure Noise Records, the home of bands The Bouncing Souls, Cloud Nothings and Hawthorne Heights. UnityTX’s previous EPs on the label landed it on tours opening for Silverstein, The Amity Affliction and Poppy. This Friday, however, the band is headlining a night in its home town, and it’s going to be a mostly-Texas affair highlighting the rise of bands blending hip-hop with metal in all of its forms. The night will see performances from HourHouse from New Orleans, Post Profit from Longview and Ballista, Deepincision and Gagging Order, who are all from Dallas. DF Ten Hands 6 P.M. SATURDAY, DEC. 23, TEXAS THEATRE, 231 W. JEFFERSON BLVD. $20 AT PREKINDLE.COM Founded in Denton in the mid-’80s, iconic locals Ten Hands have received much acclaim while de- veloping a massive following in North Texas. The band’s fusion of the Frank Zappa’s jazz-art-rock- art and the psychedelic punk of the Meat Puppets has captivated audiences with its high-energy art-funk accompanied by Paul Slavens’ interest- ing vocal stylings and lyrical content. While Ten Hands has definitely had its share of political con- tent, it always brings the fun. That is to say that the band both plays music and plays with the music, making the absurdist lyrics a means of coping with the absurdity of politics in general rather than asserting a specific political agenda. The Ten Hands concert film will go on before the Ten Hands full band set. DF We Them Grays 7 P.M. SATURDAY, DEC. 23, ECHO LOUNGE & MUSIC HALL, 1323 N. STEMMONS FWY. $27.50+ AT LIVENATION.COM We Them Grays is a soul-jazz-funk-fusion band composed of three sibling musicians, Kwinton, Ki- erra and KJ Gray. As part of an ongoing tradition, the family band comes together Sunday night to play re-imagined versions of all of your favorite Christmas (and some Disney) songs. This is an event that never fails to dazzle crowds of all ages. Not only are The Grays incredibly talented family members, but their effortless chemistry on stage has been developed over many years of playing residencies around North Texas. They know how to get a crowd moving, and they love watching it happen. Every time The Grays do one of their Dis- ney shows, many local artists have made guest ap- pearances. It’s likely the band has some special collaborations in store for this show as well. The DJ and drummer duo Branoofunk opens the show. DF Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat 7 P.M. WEDNESDAY, DEC. 27, THE KESSLER, 1230 W. DAVIS ST. $24 AT PREKINDLE.COM Jim Suhler and his band Monkey Beat have been around the North Texas music scene since 1992 playing blues-inspired rock ‘n roll, releasing seven albums of solid songwriting that have taken the band on tour across North America and Europe. The band’s 2009 album Tijuana Bible earned a nomination for “Best Rock/Blues Album” at the 2010 Blues Music Awards by The Blues Foundation in Memphis. Suhler has also been nominated for a few Dallas Observer Mu- sic Awards. Outside of his role as a solo artist or the leader of Monkey Beat, Suhler has also known as the lead guitarist and songwriter for George Thorogood & the Destroyers since 1999. Most recently, Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat re- leased the new single “Get Your Head Right.” Blues artist Mike Zito will also play Wednesday night at The Kessler. DF Exploredinary We Them Grays (from left) Kwinton, KJ and Kierra Gray, put on a family-friendly Christmas show filled with Disney magic. | LET’S DO THIS | t Music since 1978! New Location! 7501 N. Stemmons Frwy • 214 696 8958 Dream Jobs - Dream Talent Since 1998 FUN Sexy jobs are just more Scan Me
