Garbage & Blondie
Aug. 12, 8 pm
South Side Ballroom
Their biggest heydays came almost decades apart, but these two bands have much in common. Blondie and Garbage are both two-syllable words, for example. Debbie Harry and Shirley Manson are, respectively, two of the most ineffably cool women to ever front a rock group. Each group has an omnivorous musical appetite—disco and punk make better friends than enemies—and a rabid fanbase. Most of all, we can never get their songs out of our head.
Casanova: The Seduction of Europe
Aug. 27–Dec. 31
Kimbell Art Museum
The 18th century’s most notorious loverboy was also one of its keenest social observers, and the artistic works and lavish items assembled in this exhibition reflect his uniquely European eye.
Gorilla vs Bear VI: Curated by Washed Out
Aug. 12, 8 pm
The Bomb Factory
The tastemaking indie music blog’s flagship event returns with a starring role for Washed Out, whose faded synthpop is perfectly suited to Gorilla vs Bear’s humble hipster aesthetic.
Picasso/Rivera: Still Life and the Precedence of Form
Aug. 6–Nov. 5
Meadows Museum
Early still-life paintings by these two masters show the artists mining a strikingly similar vein, their respective work complementing and deepening one another. (Or, if you take Rivera’s perspective, showcasing Picasso’s plagiarism.)
The Guerilla Girls
Aug. 18, 7 pm
Dallas Museum of Art
A leading voice of the feminist art collective whose members don gorilla masks to throw poop at the patriarchy, Kathe Kollwitz will talk about how every revolution needs a sense of humor.
Ambreen Butt | Pia Camil | Keer Tanchak
Through Aug. 20
Dallas Contemporary
Camil’s sprawling and elevated installation of T-shirts, stitched together here after a long journey through the pathways of global commerce, gets all the attention. But Butt’s elaborate geometry and Tanchak’s aluminum experimentations also make for compelling exhibitions.
Fran Lebowitz
Aug. 1, 7:30 pm
Winspear Opera House
Her scheduled March appearance was postponed until now, giving the quick-witted humorist even more time to hone her cutting one-liners for a Dallas audience.
Mary J. Blige
Aug. 26, 8 pm
Music Hall at Fair Park
It’s easy to forget that Blige laid down the template for modern R&B, lending her soulful vocals to songs with a hip-hop beat. This ought to refresh your memory.
Dornith Doherty: Archiving Eden
Aug. 12–Jan. 14
Amon Carter Museum of American Art
Mindful of ecological catastrophe approaching on several fronts, this North Texas photographer began documenting seed banks, with all their potential for rebirth and renewal.
Fleet Foxes
Aug. 18, 7 pm
The Bomb Factory
Fleet Foxes, which has always sounded like a magical woodland chorus, is back with a new album after years in the wilderness. The band’s pastoral wistfulness has only grown in its absence from the public eye.
An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes
Aug. 12, 8 pm
Majestic Theatre
Ever wanted to see The Princess Bride on the big screen, and then hear the guy who played Westley share some behind-the-scenes dirt on the film? As you wish.
Waxahatchee
Aug. 4, 8 pm
Club Dada
One of indie rock’s most exciting new(ish) voices is from Alabama and has no relation to Waxahachie, the Ellis County town 30 miles south of Dallas, which apparently derives its name from an Indian word for “cow” or “buffalo.”
2D/3D
Through Oct. 1
Nasher Sculpture Center
The Nasher delves into its permanent collection to showcase work in several dimensions, with an emphasis on painters, including Picasso and de Kooning, who also dabbled in sculpture.
Jidenna
Aug. 11, 7 pm
Trees
The “classic man” is too new on the scene to have yet guaranteed his music’s longevity, but his elastic hip-hop and soul is perfectly fresh for right now.
Momix: Opus Cactus
Aug. 31, 8 pm
Winspear Opera House
For millennia, people have gone into the desert to seek enlightenment, self-actualization, and rad drug experiences. In the desert, choreographer Moses Pendleton also found inspiration for his new dance performance.
Lady Antebellum
Aug. 26, 7:30 pm
Starplex Pavilion
The mega-popular country band recorded its new album outside of Nashville. The fresh air shows. Brass horns! A funky bassline! But, twang intact, this is still the same Lady Antebellum.
Lionel Richie and Mariah Carey
Aug. 3, 7 pm
American Airlines Center
The idea of seeing these two divas together has us positively dancing on the ceiling, but we’ll probably come down to hear Carey sing “We Belong Together.”
The Tribute Artist
Aug. 25–Sept. 10
Kalita Humphreys Theater
A tenant loathe to part with his ritzy townhouse takes to impersonating his deceased landlady, the least scandalous thing to happen in this cross-dressing comedy from Broadway queen Charles Busch.
Arsenio Hall
Aug. 18 & 19
Addison Improv
We’re not sure how best to transcribe the sound and fist pumping gesture Hall made famous on his old talk show, but it’s really the only proper response to the news that the comedian will be in town doing stand-up.
Bryson Tiller
Aug. 25, 7 pm
The Bomb Factory
Internet streaming and Drake helped boost this rapper to overnight stardom, but fame would find talent like this even if it had to reach out over a dial-up connection.
Queen & Adam Lambert
Aug. 4, 8 pm
American Airlines Center
An American Idol contestant can’t really fill the boots of Freddie Mercury, but Lambert does justice to these iconic songs, and Brian May remains one of classic rock’s greatest guitarists.
Ed Sheeran
Aug. 18, 7:30 pm
American Airlines Center
Say what you will about Ed Sheeran (we’ve certainly said a few things), but the singer turned Game of Thrones guest star has fans. Lots and lots of fans.
Dallas VideoFest’s CatFest
Aug. 24, 6 pm
Texas Theatre
Cat videos account for half of internet video content. (The other half is not safe for work.) Cat videos work just as well on the big screen as your laptop, particularly when proceeds go to benefit local animal charities.
Foreigner & Cheap Trick
Aug. 18, 7 pm
Starplex Pavilion
A killer bill pairs generations of classic rockers together, so whether “I Want You To Want Me” or “Hot Blooded” is your jam, you’ll be jamming.
Lucy Dacus
Aug. 15, 7 pm
Club Dada
Quietly one of the best songwriters working today, Dacus should appeal to anyone who enjoys the sound of guitars and vocals.
