Weekender

Very slow weekend as far as the number of quality shows, but there are some really good ones happening:

FRIDAY

Carl Craig (Minc): I'm actually embarrassed that I forgot to add this to our "Shows of Note" list for the week, because Carl Craig's apparent Dallas debut (according to one flier I saw) is a pretty big deal in my book. After starting his career as a protege to the legendary Derrick May (and indirectly of Juan Atkins, both of Cybotron fame), Craig has become well known for the diversity of his musical endeavors and his many names, which he has used to create such a variety of electronic dance music that listing it all here would be pointless. The guy is a critical legend of the Detroit techno scene, and he is still creating cutting edge dance music today. This isn't just a "hey, check out this old legend to up your indie cred" show, this is a "hey, its friday, lets have fun" show.

Lions/The Tah Dahs/Record Hop (Doublewide)

SATURDAY

Timbaland (Palladium): If you listen to Movin' 107.5 as much as I do, then you're probably well aware of the influence that Timbaland continues to have over urban top 40 radio. The funny part is that ten years ago, his profile was just about as high as it is today, making him the rare hip hop producer with the longevity to sustain a career for a decade and the talent to keep expanding his musical horizons. Of course, Timbaland has released some crap in his day, and will probably continue to do so, but I think you do have to admire his ability to take fairly strange songs and shoot them to the top of the charts. Lets put it this way: pretty much ANY Timbaland song is just as or more interesting sound-wise than pretty much ANY hit "indie" rock song (looking at you Feist). This show is free, and you can get your name on the "guest list" by rsvping at Scionevents.com

BIrth To Burial /Medicine Window /Douche (Secret Headquarters): Birth To Burial never played a proper "last show", so the sorely missed act gets their chance Saturday night at SHQ. The group's hiatus left a gap in quality local bands that wrote catchy, fast-paced rock songs that were devoid of cliched riffs and stupid lyrics. Another Denton-rooted rock act, Medicine Window, also seemed to disappear off the face off the earth around the same time. Medicine Window isn't as speedy in their delivery as Birth To Burial, but they share some of the same pummeling influences. No official word on whether these reunions continue past Saturday, as they often do. Douche is a newer band mining Chicago/DC hardcore territory a little more harshly than the reunion acts, and they're brilliant live.

SUNDAY

Tech Support with Wanz Dover, Ineka and Robert Taylor (Zubar): They'll be focusing on a Berlin style mish mash of tech genres at this one, with what I'm guessing will be a focus on things like space disco, IDM and minimal. It will probably be the most contemporary elctro weekly in Dallas, so those who crave something new should be sure to swing by.

DJ Wild in the Streets (Hailey's)