Tag Archives: American Airlines Center

REVIEW AND PHOTOS: P!nk at American Airlines Center on Friday

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Pink_at_American_Airlines_Center_13_Copyright_2013_Patrick_Hoffman_All_Rights_Reserved

Confession: P!nk’s had some memorable early singles, but I never really followed her. And when I found out most of the songs I knew weren’t on the setlist, I worried. About two hours after her opener “Raise a Glass,” it’s fair to say I’m a new fan.

American Airlines Center was packed to the ceiling for the pop rebel last night. With a proper mix of grace, edge and dorkiness, she churned out an exciting show that throbbed with energy and lacked any agenda save for getting the party started.

There is nothing more to P!nk than pure entertainment. At least, on stage. The backdrop of several screens with a big central heart was an easily clever way to add excitement to the show that only felt to accessorize the songs rather than distract. The imagery morphed from lush, velvety reds to 16-bit Nintendo-like images (“Walk of Shame”) that made AAC feel like at times burlesque on steroids to a nostalgic video game arcade. And cameras caught the action onstage with varied video effects that added a kinetic energy to an already pulsing show. Even shades of “American Idiot” the musical felt evident during “U + Ur Hand.”

Continue reading “REVIEW AND PHOTOS: P!nk at American Airlines Center on Friday” »

—  Rich Lopez

PHOTOS: Lady Gaga at the American Airlines Center — but not the Round-Up

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As most Little Monsters probably know, Lady Gaga is not allowing media photo coverage of her Born This Way Ball, which stopped at the American Airlines Center in Dallas last night. But our Chuck Marcelo went as a spectator and managed to grab some pretty decent shots anyway. Unfortunately, for the first time in three tours, Gaga didn’t show up at the Round-Up Saloon afterward, leading to some hurt feelings since the bar had announced earlier in the day that she would be there. The Round-Up has since pulled its original post advertising Gaga’s appearance. As of this morning, the bar hadn’t posted an official apology, but this thread on its Facebook page seemed indicative of the back and forth:

 

Check out the rest of Chuck’s pics below. To read Rich Lopez’s review, go here.

Continue reading “PHOTOS: Lady Gaga at the American Airlines Center — but not the Round-Up” »

—  Chuck Marcelo

REVIEW: “Michael Jackson Immortal”

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The immense cheesiness of the show is embodied in this overblown campy moment from the show, which is lip-synched.

Michael Jackson Immortal did something no other Cirque du Soleil show has ever done: Bored me.

Cirque truly is a magic-maker, having almost single-handed reinvented the concept of the circus, turning it into something unmissable rather than might-as-well. The trick of Cirque shows is that they combine the simple elegance of feats of athleticism with beauty and muscularity, while employing cutting edge technology in startling ways. Its best shows — Ka and Love, two of the permanent shows in Las Vegas — seamlessly wed plot, engineering and the human form.

Immortal does none of that. Yes, there are some pyrotechnics (the best of these, an indoor fireworks display, comes too little, too late) but the entire production feels conceived as an after-thought, some second-tier acts tacked on to boring choreography and muddled production values.

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—  Arnold Wayne Jones

Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson Immortal show tonight

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Remember the time

Dallas Michael Jackson fans will come close to the real thing tonight thanks to Cirque du Soleil’s tribute to the singer. But this is far beyond any regular tribute show. Cirque brings its thrilling reputation to the game making Michael Jackson: The Immortal World Tour both a concert and an experience. With the three-year anniversary of his death this week, the show even seems more poignant to his fans. And don’t expect to sit, applause and repeat for this Cirque event. They want to rock with you.

Read more about the show here.

DEETS:

—  Rich Lopez

Coldplay at AAC 06.22

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Photos by Rich Lopez/DallasVoice

—  Rich Lopez

Coldplay, Robyn tonight at AAC

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Coldplay and the Gang

We like Coldplay enough, but their openers might be the real gem of the shows. The alt-pop/rock of Wolf Gang recalls the exuberance of MIKA with the tenacity of The Shins. Better yet, Robyn brings her Euro pop brilliance back to town in a big way. She kicked Dallas’ butt all on her own last year at the South Side Music Hall. Now she gets to do it big time. Oh, and of course Coldplay headlines.

DEETS: American Airlines Center, 2500 Victory Ave. 7 p.m. Through Saturday. $26.50–$107. Ticketmaster.com.

—  Rich Lopez

GIVEAWAY: Tix to Festival of Black Dance and to Brian Stokes Mitchell with Lea Salonga

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We’re doubling up on you today with tickets to two major events coming up.

The Black Academy of Arts & Letters (TBAAL) is offering Dallas Voice readers the chance to win tickets to Friday (opening) night of its 8th Annual Festival of Black Dance. The show will feature Jamaica’s Stella Marris Dance Company, the Dallas-based Happy Nia Dance Theatre and the Djely Kunda West African Dance and Drum Ensemble. The festival will be held at the Naomi Bruton Main Stage, 650 S. Griffin St. at 8 p.m.

We’ll keep this one easy. Just send an email my way with “Dance the night away” in the subject line and your name and phone number in the body. TBAAL has been pretty generous so please state if you prefer one or two pairs of tickets.

Broadway fans can rejoice because we also have tickets to the upcoming show Do You Hear the People Sing at American Airlines Center. The showtune extravaganza will feature Broadway stars Brian Stokes Mitchell and Lea Salonga headlining with the Dallas Pops Orchestra performing signature tunes from Les Misérables, Miss Saigon, The Pirate Queen and more.

To win a pair of tickets to this epic-sized show, send your email here with “SING” in the subject line as well as your name and number to contact winners.

The show is scheduled for March 23.

—  Rich Lopez

Madonna adds 2nd Dallas show, drops new single

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Madonna offers fans here a double dose of good news. First, as you may have heard, she’s released her second single of her upcoming album. She dropped “Girl Gone Wild” today much to the likely pleasure of pop music bloggers everywhere. I can’t say I’m knocked out by it compared to her first single, but I’ve had some deadlines today that have kept my focus elsewhere. As we do. I kinda miss the sophisticated edge she had for Ray of Light or Music. I fear she’s trading her hot cougar-ness for some reductive pop confections.

No video yet, but you can give the song a listen on this lyric video.

To add to a good day of Madonna, we found out a second show has been added to her Dallas date at the American Airlines Center. She’s added Oct. 21 to her itinerary with tickets going on sale March 5. So save up your $358.50 for some primo seats at AAC.

—  Rich Lopez

Show vs Show Alterna-divas face off

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From lez to Leslie, female musicians bring both the eccentric and the sophisticated to North Texas

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The fates have convened once again to bring a healthy dose of live music to the area. From big to small, the concert calendar fills up with a spectrum of aural pleasures. Former New Kid on the Block Jordan Knight (not the gay one) headlines the Lakewood while alt-rock legends Radiohead make their American Airlines Center show an event next week. But we’re stuck on a couple of ladies who speak to queers in vastly different ways.

CLICK TO ENLARGE:

For more than 20 years, Mary Gauthier has brought her lesbian sensibilities to her smart brand of Americana music. Touring in support of her seventh album, The Foundling and 2011’s The Foundling Alone (a companion of acoustic demos), Gauthier continues to amass an impressive discography with graduating brilliance.

Cult singer Leslie Hall, with her band the Lys, let forth a trip of dance-ish tunes on 2011’s Destination Friendship, with her signature rapping on cheeky songs like “Blame the Booty” and “No Pants Policy.” But Hall is no joke. She veers toward the eccentric but she doesn’t disappoint live, sweating up a storm with rambunctious
energy and funky dance moves.

— Rich Lopez

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition February 24, 2012.

—  Kevin Thomas

REVIEW: Love Train show at AAC

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Chaka Khan at Love Train. (OldSchool45.com.)

Last night, radio station Old School. 94.5 pulled off an impressive first outing as their rebranded self. The station turned the American Airlines Center into a party, a church and even a Soul Train line with a strong roster of classic R&B and soul artists from The O’Jays to Chaka Khan. The show had its ups and downs, but there was no doubt, they brought the funk.

For the show to start almost an hour late was not cool. They were still sound checking and 6 p.m. when it was supposed to start. Most concerts rarely start on time, but this kind of delay was ridiculous and mind you, this was a six-hour event. All was forgotten when Confunkshun took the stage and brought the house down quick. Soulful vocals, rich horns and a few choreographed steps helped the band show music doesn’t need a lot of accessorizing to be awesome. If there was anything to be said for that long-ass sound check, it was the wonderfully lush, layered sounds of the band. The Mary Jane Girls hopped onstage to perform “In My House” adding to the bustling energy. The BarKays threw in some gimmicky quick pyros and a live anaconda and Slave held their own with a spirited performance, but it was the Ohio Players who killed inthe first half. That intro bass line from “Skin Tight” sent a nuclear reaction through the arena and “Love Rollercoaster” was a jam best enjoyed live and at loud volumes. The audience was whipped into a frenzy all before the first break.

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—  Rich Lopez