Cory Graves
This Week, Mystery Skulls Found That Magic.
Each week, we take a survey of the local music scene and try to determine which acts in town are really putting in work and seeing it pay off. Which bands have the most intriguing shows coming up? Which bands are getting the most press around town? Which bands have accomplished the most notable feats of late? Based off these criteria, our music writers submit a list to be weighted and compiled into a master list revealed each week in this here space. We like to think it's fairly revealing. Check out our previous Buzz Rankings here.
Last month, Dallas ex-pat Mystery Skulls released his major label debut for Warner Bros. — one that features guest spots from acclaimed guitarist (and recent Daft Punk collaborator) Nile Rogers, as well as the singer Brandy. For his efforts, he's been lauded by every music-minded publication in town, including our own.
It's also helped Mystery Skulls land atop our weekly, local music power rankings for the first time ever in the going on 148 weeks we've been keeping track of these things now. Also helping Mystery Skulls edge out the competition this week is his inclusion as part of the recently announced Red Bull #Yearender concerts, happening on December 17 and 18.
Speaking of which, Son of Stan and Dark Rooms are also on those bills, though that's not the only thing that earned them their respective spots in the Rankings, either. Dark Rooms also performs at this weekend's Crown and Harp anniversary party, and Son of Stan, which we also profiled this week, is playing a couple times this weekend, most notably on a bill at The Where House that'll see another band featuring some of its members, Epic Ruins, reuniting for a one-off show.
Other big shows from the week included Erykah Badu at the eighth anniversary of The Prophet Bar's Wednesday Night Jam, Wesley Geiger's upcoming album release show at the Kessler, Reverend Horton Heat's annual “Thanks For Giving” show at Trees, Future Punx's pair of reunion shows and True Widow's opening turn for Purling Hiss at Dada.
Also? Bummer Vacation and Sealion kicked off the first of In The Garage Alliance's benefit shows and three-fourths of the Old 97's and The O's similarly performed a CF benefit at the Granada last weekend.
Then there's Street Arabs, which will release its second batch of tunes of the year as part of a Black Friday Record Store Day shindig tonight at Good Records.
Elsewhere: Spinderella pops up alongside her old pals Salt-n-Pepa in a new Geico ad; Craig Wayne Boyd and Luke Wade moved on to the Top 8 in The Voice; The Jack Kerowax, Problem Dogg and Oil Boom played album release shows; and Jonathan Tyler led a handful of locals already tapped to play next year's SXSW.
(Also receiving votes this week: Mr. Kitty, Colly T, Sarah Jaffe, iill, John Congleton, Dark Rooms, The Outfit, TX, Vincent Neil Emerson, Cashmir, Bedhead, TEAM*, The O's, The Orbans, Pentatonix, Somebody's Darling, Centro-matic, Jessica Simpson, DJ Duffey, Freddie Jones, Lindby, Jenny Robinson, Convoy & The Cattlemen, Reagan James, Cosmic Trigger, A.Dd+, Blackstone Rangers, Daniel Markham, Ty Herndon, French 75, -topic, Bludded Head, Goodnight Ned.)
Cover image of Mystery Skulls by Sarah McColgan.
