Shahryar Rizvi

Last night, I reviewed Drake’s performance at Gexa Energy Pavilion in Dallas in a collaboration with editor Audra Schroeder and fellow writer Hunter Hauk. The show had the youngest and most rowdy crowd I’ve encountered, even after Ke$ha last summer. Light drugs and underdeveloped emotional centers are an ugly combination.

I was fascinated by the contemporary stage setup, the grid displays called to mind Kanye West and Massive Attack.

Drake is here whether I like him or not. Once he improves his delivery and gets his physical clumsiness out of the way, he might deserve all the hype he’s received to date.

Drake – Gexa Energy Pavilion – 5/16/12 – Dallas Music – DC9 At Night.

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A couple of weeks ago, I reviewed Carly Rae Jepsen’s single “Call Me Maybe”. The single was produced from the same label that hosts Justin Bieber. Carly Rae strikes me as this generation’s Avril Lavigne – this is odd because Jepsen is actually a year older than than Lavigne.
The Problem With… Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” – Dallas Music – DC9 At Night.

On the run up to Drake’s show at Gexa Energy Pavilion on Wednesday May 16, I wrote a post for Dallas Observer about a hypothetical sequel to the Canadian hip-hop star’s 2010 freestyle titled “9am in Dallas”. It’s kind of fun getting into an artists voice and writing lyrics. I’d like to do the same for other major artists.

What If Drake Wrote “9 A.M. In Dallas” And Actually Mentioned Dallas?

Last week, I wrote a short post on John Singer Sergeant, opening for Sarah Jaffe with Zhora Saturday May 5th at Granada Theater.

I’m surprised I haven’t seen local synth-pop band Zhora live yet. I dug their self-titled demo EP and cling to anything that refers to the film Blade Runner. I’m also sorta digging Sarah Jaffe’s cropped and dyed do – brings to mind British singer Emeli Sande.

John Singer Sergeant opens for Sarah Jaffe on Cinco de Mayo – GRANADA THEATER: Dallas Historic Live Music Venue and Event Space.

This week, I take on Justin Bieber’s drowsy single “Boyfriend”. The screencap above suggests the song even put Bieber  to sleep.

The Problem With… Justin Bieber’s “Boyfriend” – Dallas Music – DC9 At Night.

A subculture is not a counterculture. A consumer culture is not a subculture. We are not all in this together. Your social Laws (Godwin’s, etc.) are as insipid as any aphorism your grandmother might have cross-stitched and put on display two generations ago. What you think is cool is not cool. What you decide is uncool is also uncool. Your counter-snobbery is snobbery. Your snobbery is snobbery. You do not rule the world. Obama flashing a Vulcan salute does not mean that you rule the world.

via Nick Mamatas – Let us put an end to Geek Pride.

This week, I praise B.o.B’s sunny, globe-trotting track “So Good”. B.o.B’s knack is illustrating an evocative picture using lyrics and inviting listeners to join in on it. This occurred a couple years ago with the depressing, plebeian image of making wishes out of aircraft in the track  ”Airplanes”

B.o.B.s “So Good”: Whats Wrong With Treating Your Lady To A Trip To Argentina? – Dallas Music – DC9 At Night.

Band Preview: Sleeper Agent – Granada Theater.

This is my first post as Internet Guru Intern at Granada Theater in Dallas. I hope to learn from these guys and build connections to help me reach my goals.

The-Dream-South Side Music Hall-3/30/12 – Dallas Music – DC9 At Night.

This is one of those moments where I wish I waited for the video to review a pop song, so I could have something extra to comment on.

With the Marine Corps theme, the video for Katy Perry’s “Part of Me”  calls to mind the U.S. Navy recruitment plot line in the Simpsons episode “New Kids on the Blecch” Katy Perry’s Marpat persona still looks desperate, considering Rihanna renewed the military-themed music video with “Hard”. What’s more, Rihanna could call on her experience as a Barbadian Cadet for authenticity in a martial setting.

Yvan Eht Nioj!