Cory Graves
The Queen Takes The Throne.
Each week, we take a survey of the local music scene each and try to determine which bands 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 (at the Observer, at Pegasus News, at D Magazine's FrontRow blog and at various other outlets)? Which bands have accomplished the most notable feats of late? Based off these criteria, three of our music writers submit a list to be weighted and compiled into a master list to be revealed in this here space. We like to think it's fairly revealing.
The leader atop this week's Buzz Rankings list? No surprise: Erykah Badu, who, after watching her Malaysia concert get canceled, topped international headlines as well as local ones.
Surprisingly, though, last week's chart-toppers, Mind Spiders, gave the Queen of White Rock a solid run for her money, still riding high off of their recent well-received sophomore release.
Close behind them: The Polyphonic Spree, who announced a Dan's Silverleaf show this week and whose frontman made his acoustic solo debut at the Kessler Theatre; and A.Dd+, who bid Dallas adieu for their first-ever national tour after tearing the roof off of Dada last Friday night.
Next up is a batch of bands announced to perform at the inaugural KXT Summer Cut — Smile Smile, Telegraph Canyon and Air Review (plus St. Vincent a little lower down) — and New Fumes, who will appear on an upcoming Flaming Lips release for Record Store Day. Nervous Curtains follows, still riding high off of their recent release, with the Toadies (who just announced a new Dallas performance date) close behind. Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights and The Relatives fall in line shortly after, as both bands are slated to perform at this weekend's Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge opening, with JT and the gang also scheduled to perform at the Observer's St. Patrick's Day event in a few weeks. Beyond that, this week's rankings are filled out with bands doing well for themselves on smaller scales, be it with electric performances in their belt (see: Dustin Cavazos) or new ones just announced (see: Wild//Tribe, who will perform tonight at Trees).
(Also receiving votes this week: Peopleodian, DJ Sober, Oso Closo, The Vliets, J. Charles & The Trainrobbers, Somebody's Darling, Whiskey Folk Ramblers, Larry Gee, Ynfynyt Scroll, Burning Hotels, Sealion, Mystery Skulls, Prince William, Diamond Age, Black Stone Rangers, Bad Design, The Hope Trust, People On Vacation, Final Club, Bethan, Blixaboy, Fate Lions, Burning Hotels, Soviet, Hormones and The Deadbirds.)
