Things To Do This Weekend.

Turn Up With Brenmar at Pop That.

So. The Affordable Health Care Act sure has proven to be divisive, huh? I guess that much is to be expected. Really: When was the last time our government agreed on anything?

Thing is, even as our government remains in shutdown mode over the matter, most actual Americans aren't even really sure if they're as against the act as they think they are.

It's a head-scratcher. It's frustrating. For some, it's even infuriating.

But if even Chris Brown and Drake can work things out, maybe there's hope for our nation's contingent of republicans and democrats yet.

All we really know, I guess, is that we're not shutting down. Not this weekend, at least. There's just way too much going on around town this weekend to even consider it.

Friday
Pop That! w/ Brenmar at It’ll Do Club
Did you miss the rousing first edition of Central Track and DJ Sober's new monthly Pop That party with Spank Rock? No worries. We'll be popping off the first Friday of every month with equally talent-filled, all-out dance parties from now into perpetuity. All you need to now at this point, though, is that Pop That! Vol. 2 will feature the insanely talented Chicago-bred DJ Brenmar, who just might be as well known for his undeniable mixes and edits and borderline '90s obsession as he is for his smooth image and trademark haircut. Getting the party started at this one are Houston's Dayta and, as with every edition of Pop That!, the always-stellar DJ Sober. — Cory Graves

Dallas Comicon Fan Days at Irving Convention Center
This list of guests at this weekend-long Fan Days expo is enormous. Highlights include Lou Ferrigno, Peter “Chewbacca” Mayhew, Gus from Breaking Bad, Anthony “C3PO” Daniels, the green Power Ranger, Ron “Hellboy” Perlman, Robert “T-1000” Patrick, and Tom “Draco Malfoy” Felton. Of course, those are just the tip of the iceberg here. Plenty of autograph sessions, photo ops, cosplay, and panels will be happening throughout the weekend, too. But that much you probably could have already guessed. — CG

Shuggie Otis at Kessler Theater
Otis has led quite the interesting life, picking up the guitar at age two, performing often sexually explicit material as a teenager as part of his legendary father Johnny Otis' band, writing and releasing the song “Strawberry Letter 23” at age 18, and writing and arranging every instrument on his masterpiece Inspiration Information at age 21. Though his endless touring has helped him retain a cult following to this day, Otis remains a far unappreciated talent. — CG

Expanded Cinema at Omni Dallas Hotel
Dallas Video Fest doesn't kick off until tomorrow, but, for the opening celebration tonight, the artists are doing something really cool. Just as they did to kick off last year's Video Fest, artists will be taking control of the lighting at the Omni Hotel, while simultaneously broadcasting a soundtrack that they made on KXT for a mesh of visual and audio art. — Chelsea Upton

The Pretty Reckless at House of Blues
We're told this is the third national headlining tour The Pretty Reckless have embarked on in support of their Going to Hell album. From the looks of things, the tour is also sponsored by Blue eCigs. Do with that information what you will. — CG

Joe Pug at The Live Oak
Though a handful of tracks from his pair of full-lengths feature a full backing band, Pug often does the ol' solo acoustic thing at his live shows, showcasing a sound that's more akin to his early EPs. Still, that hasn't been a big detractor for Pug, who has managed to catch the attention of folk-rock powerhouses like Steve Earle, Josh Ritter, or M. Ward. — CG

The O's, Paul Varghese, Madison King at Three Links
As many undervalued musicians and comedians as there are in town struggling to find audiences, it really is a wonder we're not seeing more bills that combine the two art forms. Really: Why are these two forms of entertainment so mutually exclusive? Hopefully this one-night marriage of two of the most adored acts in town with Dallas' most popular comedian will jump-start some sort of trend. — CG

Mint Condition at Medusa
Since taking over the old Cirque spot behind The Majestic back in June, this dance club has already hosted performances by Eric Benet, Fantasia, and Don Omar among others. Tonight, they'll host '80s R&B heroes Mint Condition. Maybe it's just us, but their '91 hit, “Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)” totally holds up. — CG

Nothing Fits at Texas Theatre
For a preview of the all-encompassing nature of this art opening, check out this time-lapse video of Erik Schuessler and Nina Harp at Texas Theatre's Safe Room. It's a good inside look at not only the lengthy process of creating the art, but the large scale and lengthy process of completely transforming the space. — CG

DanceAfrica at Winspear Opera House
Baba Chuck Davis will return for this eighth annual edition of this celebration of African culture and heritage. Like last year's first edition of the event at the opera house, the weekend will include performances by Bandan Koro African Drum and Dance Ensemble, students from the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and Dallas Black Dance Theatre. — CG

Matt Pond PA at The Prophet Bar
For those who missed the Pennsylvania-by-way-of-Brooklyn singer-songwriter at June's edition of Barefoot at the Belmont or at Fort Worth's Live Oak Music Hall, he'll be back in town tonight, this time with his full band project. Vandfald opens. — CG

An Evening With Molly Ringwold at State Fair of Texas
When pretty much anyone hears the name Molly Ringwald, they think Pretty in Pink (or another John Hughes movie from the '80s) and little else. But the actress, whose recent PR campaign has focused primarily on destroying that one-trick-pony image, is actually an accomplished author and, now, a jazz singer. Her father was something of an accomplished jazz musician himself, so we suppose it makes some sort of sense. Today, she'll be performing selections from her recently-released collection of jazz standards at the State Fair. — CG

Soundings: New Music at Nasher Sculpture Center
This operatic event was composed as a collaboration between Mexican- and American-born composers, and is inspired by a real-life sex-trafficking ring between San Diego and Tijuana that was dismantled in 2001. Expect a touching performance at what some in town regard as the city's best live music venue. — CG

An Evening of Gershwin at Meyerson Symphony Center
This weekend, the DSO celebrates the music of one of America's greatest composers. Among the hits from the Gershwins’ celebrated catalog you'll hear this weekend include the overtures from Funny Face and Cuban, as well as “An American in Paris” and, of course, “Rhapsody in Blue.” — CG

Fireworks Show at Reunion Tower
After five years of renovations and setbacks, Reunion Tower's observation deck finally opens back up tomorrow. It's an event worth celebrating, to be sure. To mark the occasion, the tower's owners will be launching some fireworks, which we're told can be seen from anywhere the tower is viewable. The company putting together the show is also the entity responsible for displays at Walt Disney World and the Macy's Fourth of July show, so it should be a pretty solid show. — CG

Saturday
Queens of the Stone Age, Savages at Verizon Theatre
This performance brings the power-rock dudes QOTSA to town for the first time as a band since 2007. The band's new album, …Like Clockwork, was recorded during a densely foggy period for the band's founder and frontman, Josh Homme. After medical complications he suffered in 2010, the band convinced him to help work on a new album, fog intact. They wanted to face the difficulties head-on, tear down the manic years, and ride the wave of lunacy. The resulting LP pulled Homme out of his darkness and let him fall in love with music all over again, just like the crowd at this one surely will. — JW

Franz Ferdinand at House of Blues
After emerging from the post-punk revival period with Arctic Monkeys and Kaiser Chiefs, Franz Ferdinand remains one of the most popular indie rock bands still around. With certified gold albums, Grammy nominations, chart-topping singles and loads of awards, these rockers from Glasgow are not to be missed. Their current tour comes in support of their latest effort, Right Thoughts, Right Words, Right Action, which many have deemed the indie rock album of the summer. Our take: It's a good soundtrack to the end of the summer-long heatwave. — Jordyn Walters

Dane Cook at Majestic Theatre
The oft-slighted Cook should be, perhaps, considered the Creed of comedy. Stay with us here: Like that band, he's a popular target to dump on, he's uncool to admit you're a fan of, he's sold a bajillion albums, and, to be fair, he probably isn't quite as bad as most people will tell you he is. Look: It's perfectly OK to like Creed and/or Dane Cook. At the same time, we wouldn't judge you for not telling any of your friends you went to this one, either. — CG

1310 The Ticket’s Dogtoberfest at Coyote Drive-In
Formerly known as Barktoberfest, this annual dog-centric radio-sponsored event will take place in Fort Worth this year. The rest of the day's happenings will be exactly like years past, so be sure to bring your pet-lookalike contest, stupid-pet-trick and doggy-costume contest A-game. — CG

Canned Festival at Downtown Denton
Aluminum cans rule. They preserve taste with their tight seal, and keep our brews at their highest quality in the process. They get cold faster and stay colder longer than bottles, too. Plus, they're, like, crazy easily recyclable. Generally, though, they are smaller than bottles. But, really, that's the whole idea behind Spune Productions' Canned Festival, which the area concert and event promotions company is spinning off from their successful Untapped Festival brand as a more mid-sized market concept, beginning with a debut that'll feature 25 breweries, 50 beers, and seven bands, including Menomena and The Helio Sequence. — Jessica Petrocchi

Dawes at South Side Music Hall
For the second time this year, Dawes' visit to town can be directly attributed to its performing at a big-name festival in Austin at around the same time. Remember when the band dropped by Good Records just after this spring's SXSW? Tonight's performance comes just ahead of the band's performance at ACL. Oh, well. No sense in complaining why the band's here. It's an event worth appreciating just the same. — CG

Memphis Dawls at AllGood Cafe
The Memphis-based band (shocker I know) appeared at this year's Untapped Festival in Fort Worth and will be back in a few weeks as part of the second annual Index Fest. This decidedly more low-key offering finds the band performing in this Deep Ellum restaurant on its way to ACL. Unlike most of the shows the restaurant hosts, this one involves a $10 cover. — CG

Four-Year Anniversary at The Hacienda on Henderson
The vegan-friendly Knox-Henderson eatery celebrates its fourth anniversary with cheap tacos, deals on margaritas and specialty cocktails and performances by The Venetian Sailors, Hazardous Dukes, Sugarfoote and more. — CG

Yo Gotti at Trees
One of the dozen or so rappers to derive part of their stage names after former New York Mafioso John Gotti, Yo Gotti sets himself apart just a bit with his blend of styles. His music features elements from the No Limit generation of Southern rappers, the N.W.A. flavor of West Coast gangsta rap and the Dirty South stylings of outfits like Three 6 Mafia, who coincidentally also hail from Memphis, where Yo Gotti is from. — CG

Grambling vs. Prairie View A&M at The Cotton Bowl
Though it doesn't always get the same shine the annual Texas-Oklahoma game does, the State Fair Classic, as this game is sometimes called, is steeped in just as much tradition. Most years, it's just as exciting a contest, too. Plus, it has a better halftime show. — CG

Lake Highlands Oktoberfest at Lake Highlands Town Center
The Old 97's are all about family-friendly venues these days. After performing at the Gas Monkey Bar & Grill last week, you can find them headlining Lake Highlands' Oktoberfest happenings this afternoon. No word yet as to whether Rhett Miller's allowing the rest of the band to don lederhosen during the performance, but we do know there'll be plenty of beer, food and even a homebrew contest. — CG

Kelly Rowland at State Fair of Texas
Ah, the distant second-best member of Destiny's Child, current X Factor judge and sometime Big Boi and/or Nelly collaborator. She'll be performing on the Silverado main stage, and tickets are free once you pay your fair admission charges. — CG

Fry Fest on Fry Street in Denton
Because one outdoor festival per city per day just isn't enough? While the Canned festival taking place across town will boast exponentially more beer vendors than bands, this Fry Street affair will be decidedly more focused on music. Stoney LaRue and a dozen other Texas country acts will play throughout the day. — CG

Sunday
Earth, Wind & Fire at Verizon Theatre
The one band your parents, grandparents and you all agree upon will be rolling into our city, performing their funky, disco-rock, jazzy guitar riffs and soulful vocals. But there's something else special happening at this one: These Chicago boys are teaming up with Artists Against Hunger & Poverty to — as you might expect with a name like that — fight hunger and poverty. They ask (it's not required for the show) that you please bring three non-perishable food items to donate or donate $3 to the local food bank that will be there. In return, you'll receive a download card for three new and unreleased tracks from the band. Tonight, help fight against hunger and feed your own hunger with some groovy dance tunes. — JW

Kylesa, Pinkish Black, Sierra at Dada
Georgia-based sludge-meets-psychedelic outfit Kylesa swings by Dada in support of its new album, Ultraviolet. The band's tourmates for this stretch are Fort Worth duo Pinkish Black, whose debut for Century Media Records was released just weeks ago. Before you head out, be sure to check out Chris Steffen's interview with Kyllesa frontwoman Laura Pleasants from before her band's last stop in town. — Stephen Young

Jim Hodges: Give More Than You Take (Opening) at Dallas Museum of Art
Tonight is the opening of contemporary American artist Jim Hodges' work at the DMA, which features 80 pieces picked from the artist's 25-year career so the viewer can see the multi-layered work and style of his path. — JW

Silversun Pickups at Trees
Since the release of its first EP in 2005, the LA-based shoegaze band has really made a name for itself in the alternative music scene, and especially on the festival circuit, which is why this band's once again in the region. Anyway: With distorted guitars, melodic piano and soft-to-loud vocals, Silversun Pickups has been compared to everyone from The Smashing Pumpkins and Coheed & Cambria to Kill Hannah. The band's newest album, Neck of the Woods has a certain psychedelia about it, with blissy bass-tones and spirited riffs and vocals. — JW

To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our events page.