This week, both Elm and Main Street were sleepy by non-pandemic Thursday night standards, but there was a sense of optimism in Big D s barhopping crowds. The vibe at Deep Ellum Candy Co. was joyful; people were smiling, laughing and having fun.
Delilah DuBois, a maskless burlesque dancer, brought the house down with her seductive sashay on the same stage where BB King once made “Lucille” sing. Her tip bucket-toting assistant, however, was masked up perhaps as a safety precaution or possibly as a wardrobe strategy to keep the focus on DuBois.
Bottled Blonde had DJ Zillamatic playing an open format set until 2 a.m., and while the bar had the green light to party like it’s 2019, they said they’re taking baby steps. A few folks were wearing masks (most were not); the decision is left to the people.
Perhaps the biggest story in local music news has to do with Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to lift the statewide mask mandate and open Texas back up entirely while the pandemic is still very much going on and this state is ranked 48th in vaccine rollout.
The owners and operators of several
Dallas music venueshave responded to the governor by maintaining their mask policies for the sake of protecting their staff, and, well, all of us. Dallas musicians have also spoken out about their preference to continue performing at drive-in concerts and low-capacity crowds for their own and their fans’ protection.
Women are rockstars in business, and that s just a fact. There are countless women-owned and women-run businesses in Dallas, but here are 60 to get you started. In honor of Women’s History Month, support one of these local shops, restaurants and services run by a bevy of badass bosses.
Bars and Restaurants
3510 Commerce St. A longtime pillar of the Dallas music community, this trailer chic-themed dive bar and music venue isn’t currently booking shows, but they’re still serving up frozen Yoohoo Yeehaws and Twisted Tangs to thirsty patrons. Safely celebrate your hard-earned ‘Murican freedom by sipping a cold one here: They’re protecting their staff and patrons by adhering to CDC guidelines.
St. Vincent released the new single “Pay Your Way in Pain” on Thursday. Reminiscent of
Young Americans-era David Bowie, the song mixes funk rock and soul with St. Vincent’s signature surreal songwriting style. The new video also brings to mind Bowie’s performance of “Fame” on
The Cher Show in 1975 with its low-budget cinematography and visuals. This is the first single from St. Vincent’s upcoming album
Daddy’s Home, out May 14.
One day, singer-songwriter Jonathan Hodges, who records and performs as
Bomethius, saw a terrible wreck on U.S. Highway 75 that left at least one passenger dead. The incident inspired the new single and video for “Traffic,” which came out last weekend. Drawing on inspirations spanning from Buddy Holly to Elliott Smith, Bomethius finds a deeper meaning in a horrific event without getting too morose.
In February 2020, singer-songwriter
Vanessa Peters was in Italy preparing for a European tour when the country went on a national lockdown. The tour was canceled and the recording sessions that had been scheduled in Texas after the tour were scrapped. Working instead in a farmhouse in Castiglion Fiorentino in Italy for 10 days, Peters and her Italian bandmates worked to finish some new songs for her upcoming album
Modern Age. Released Feb. 25, the video for the first of those songs, “Crazymaker,” was shot in Lucca, Italy.
The long-awaited collaboration album from Fort Worth psych-rock legend Johndavid Bartlett and modern psych-rock purists Acid Carousel is finally out on Feb. 26.