19 December 28, 2023 - January 3, 2024 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents After prison, Louie traded in his white getup for an aesthetic that was reflective of his proud Texas roots. Today, Louie’s fashion staples are a pair of Rock Revival jeans, an opened leather button-up with pearl snaps and a muscle shirt underneath, gold chains and visible tattoos. He complements his ap- parel with a nice cowboy hat, hanging low enough to cover his eyes, but high enough for him to see what’s going on. The final touch is a pair of Lucchese cowboy boots. Fans and critics are still vocal about his aesthetic, about how he doesn’t look like a country singer. He gets a lot of “you look like a criminal” and other bits of criticism for breaking what’s perceived as country tradition. “When people see me, anybody that hates, they’re not hating because they think it’s a lie; they’re hating because they’re scared that it’s real,” Louie says. “They’re intimidated. They don’t like it. They’re like, ‘Holy shit. This is a real guy. This is real.’” Louie has utilized social media effec- tively, shifted genres, embraced his wounds and grown into his identity. Now, for the next part of his journey, he’s trailblazing into country music as a one-of-one artist. “We’re not trying to be Mexican American as a marketing scheme, we’re Mexican Ameri- cans,” Zenteno says. “This has been our time more than ever; the culture, it’s just booming. Everything is clicking for the culture and there’s just no representation in country music like Louie. It’s just the right time.” And now he’s backed by the UMG Nash- ville powerhouse. Louie joins a star-studded roster that includes Brad Paisley, Brothers Osborne, Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood and Darius Rucker. “I am so inspired by Louie’s energy, pur- pose, and intention to expand the sound of country music through his own personal story and his songs,” Mabe said in a press re- lease. “I am so proud to bring Louie into the Universal Music Group Nashville family!” With a big record label backing him, it’s all gas, no breaks for the rising star. “Now that I have the major deal, I don’t want to stop,” Louie says. “I want to go harder. I don’t want to just make music, I want to make my mark in music.” The Best Dallas Concerts of 2023 OBSERVER WRITERS SHARE THEIR FAVORITE DALLAS CONCERTS OF 2023. BY CARLY MAY GRAVLEY AND EVA RAGGIO T he year 2023 was a massive one for live music in DFW. North Texas got to witness some of the most spectacular and buzzwor- thy stadium tours in recent memory, and our music writers were there every step of the way to cover them, includ- ing Beyoncé’s dazzling Renaissance Tour at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Our reviewer, Vanessa Quilantan, was in awe of the show, calling it a “euphoric opus of love, sex, glam- our and gay celebration.” While many of us weren’t blessed to be able to worship Queen Bey in person, we were fortunate to experience other facets of what this insane year had to offer. Namely, that other blockbuster stadium tour that dominated the news cycle this year: Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. Observer Music and Culture Editor Eva Raggio reviewed the first of Swift’s stagger- ing three-night run at AT&T Stadium and confirmed that the hype is real and that the proof is not just in Swift’s undeniable art- istry but in her connection with her fans. “For the audience, no song was a non-an- them, no missed opportunity to close their eyes to best feel the lyrics,” Raggio wrote. Of course, there’s more to life than flashy stadium shows starring buzzy pop stars. There are also flashy arena shows with ag- ing rock stars. More than one of our writers named Peter Gabriel’s first Dallas show in 12 years as one of their favorites of the year, in- cluding Preston Jones, who called the show “nothing short of blissful, a vivid moment in time, one to be fondly remembered in the days and weeks to come.” Sting’s My Songs Tour came through The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving, and writer and photographer Andrew Sher- man was impressed with his stamina. “Sting turned 72 this month, and other than his displaying a few more wrinkles, it was like watching the 20-year-old version,” wrote Sherman. Dallas also saw several highly anticipated hip-hop shows come through, including Lil Uzi Vert’s Pink Tape Tour. Writer Eric Diep described the show at South Side Ballroom as “underrated as hell.” In the realm of indie rock, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs played their first show in Dallas since 2006 at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving. Staff writer Carly May Gravley wrote that the band “cast a sex spell” on their fans. Finally, writer David Fletcher had high praise for Metallica and Pantera’s massive co-headlining weekend at AT&T Stadium. “From its legions of fans to its produc- tion, from its sound to its showmanship, from its hits to its legacy, Metallica’s very presence is powerful,” Fletcher wrote of the first night. “Regardless of where your loyalty to the band lies, you can’t help but be swept into its presence.” We asked our music writers what their top five shows of 2023 were, seen on assign- ment or otherwise. Here are some of their responses: Eric Diep 1. Sexyy Red at House of Blues Dallas, Nov. 21 2. 50 Cent at Dos Equis Pavilion, Aug. 25 3. Lil Uzi Vert at South Side Ballroom, Nov. 8 4. Drake and 21 Savage at American Airlines Center, Sept. 14 5. Onyx and R.A. The Rugged Man at Echo Lounge and Music Hall, April 7 David Fletcher 1. Bruce Springsteen at American Airlines Center, Feb. 10 2. Metallica and Pantera at AT&T Stadium, Aug. 18 3. Seal at Music Hall at Fair Park, April 30 4. Robert Earl Keen at Floore’s Country Store in Helotes, Texas, Sept. 4 5. The Offspring at Dos Equis Pavilion, Aug. 13 Carly May Gravley 1. Yeah Yeah Yeahs at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, May 9 2. Taylor Swift at AT&T Stadium (Night 1), March 31 3. Boygenius at Re:SET Concert Series, June 9 4. Lana Del Rey at Dos Equis Pavilion, Sept. 9 5. Arctic Monkeys at Dickies Arena, Sept. 16 Garrett Gravley 1. The Magnetic Fields at The Kessler, March 22 2. Greg Puciato at The Studio at the Factory, June 1 3. John Waters at Longhorn Ballroom, Oct. 14 4. Nuclear Daisies at Rubber Gloves, July 21 5. Liz Phair at The Majestic Theatre, Dec. 3 Vera “Velma” Hernandez 1. High Vis at Sons of Hermann Hall, Sept. 19 2. Franz Ferdinand at South Side Ballroom, June 24 3. Donny Benet at Deep Ellum Art Company, Feb. 24 4. NIIS and GBH at Trees, June 7 5. L.O.T.I.O.N. at Double Wide, Sept. 1 Preston Jones 1. Pearl Jam at Dickies Arena, Sept. 13 2. Peter Gabriel at American Airlines Center, Oct. 19 3. Ben Folds at Kessler Theater, May 10 4. Emmylou Harris at Longhorn Ballroom, April 22 5. Lyle Lovett at Majestic Theatre (Night 1), April 13 Andrew Sherman 1. Peter Gabriel at American Airlines Center, Oct. 19 2. Bob Weir and Wolf Brothers at The Majestic Theatre, March 9 3. Sting and The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory, Oct. 14 4. Love and Rockets at The Factory in Deep Ellum, June 15 5. Greta Van Fleet at Dickie’s Arena, July 27 Eva Raggio 1. Taylor Swift at AT&T Stadium (Night 1), March 31 2. Doja Cat at American Airlines Center, Nov. 16 3. Lana Del Rey at Dos Equis Pavilion, Sept. 9 4. Metallica (Night 2) at AT&T Stadium, Aug. 20 5. Pussy Riot at Tulips, Nov. 26 Bonus best local concert Vandoliers at Longhorn Ballroom on Nov. 22. It’s possible the Longhorn stage hasn’t seen this kind of energy since the Sex Pis- tols’ infamous set in the late ’70s. And watching co-headliners Joshua Ray Walker and Jarret Reddick cheering on from the front of the stage made it extra memorable. >> p20 Venues We Lost in 2023 Lola’s (Fort Worth): Opened in 2007 The Twilite Lounge (Fort Worth): Opened in 2017 Sherlock’s Bar and Grill (Addison): Opened in 2001 Downtown Cowtown at the Isis Theatre (Fort Worth): Opened in 1914 Amplified Live (Dallas): Opened in 2021 The Green Room (Dallas): Opened in 1994 Thunderbird Station (Dallas): Opened in 2020 Top-Grossing Deep Ellum Venues in 2023 BASED ON TABC REPORTS OF ALCOHOL SALES. Trees: $12,066,543 Double Wide: $10,926,363 The Free Man Cajun Café & Lounge: $10,637,376 Punk Society: $10,615,925 The Factory in Deep Ellum: $10,358,259 Louie Louie’s: $9,465,993 Twilite Lounge: $8,514,504 Armoury D.E.: $7,976,976 Club Dada: $7,345,714. Reno’s Chop Shop: $5,932,220. Three Links: $4,700,040. The Prophet Bar: $2,571,712 Mama Tried: $1,434,160 Rodeo Dallas: $982,257 RBC: $863,845 Sons of Hermann Hall: $320,021 Canton Dallas: $285,224 Sources: Texas Music Office, Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission
