Looking for something to do when you’re not weighed down by academic obligations that leave you tired, burned out and just plain bored? Seeing as SMU is ensconced in one of the most well-known cities of America, you won’t have to look far. Dallas has a plethora of musical venues that hosts bands all over the spectrum. From country to jazz to alternative rock, this city can leave you amazed by all the concert options it provides month after month.
For the most diverse selection of rock ‘n’ roll, one would check out the Palladium Ballroom calendar. Located on South Lamar Street just south of I-30 near the Dallas Convention Center, the Palladium is known for hosting diverse acts such as Wilco and The Shins. That fact projects this venue as the place a band would play if they’re well-known but not looking to host an arena-size crowd. The venue is literally a ballroom without tables and chairs, and is standing room only, which is great because of the energy derived from the crowd. Upcoming acts in April include The Mars Volta, Feist, Panic! at the Disco and Cat Power.
A lesser-known venue that slightly parallels the Palladium Ballroom’s style can be found at the Granada Theater on Greenville Avenue. The great thing about this place is that you can find all those random bands that you’ve wanted to hear for a long time, or probably forgot about. Just check the calendar at the Granada and, low and behold, they’re playing there next weekend! This can definitely be found true in the bands that will be featured at the theater throughout the rest of spring semester. Shooter Jennings, only son of Tennessee’s country music outlaw Waylon Jennings, is playing Saturday night to promote his most recent album “The Wolf,” released in 2007. Also playing in April is Perpetual Groove, Okkervil River, Shelby Lynne and Mike Doughty’s Band. The Granada Theater could satisfy any musical genre with its current spring lineup.
Perhaps the most well-known music venue in Dallas is the Superpages.com Center, formerly Smirnoff Music Centre. Located on First Avenue, this performing arts theater has a covered performance pavilion with almost 8,000 reserved seats. There are also about 13,000 additional seats available on the lawn, or general standing room only areas. Highly popular musical acts that perform in Dallas use this venue because of the seating capacity and the quality of its resources that can aid the performer in whatever sound effects, lighting, etc. that is needed to put on the show. In the past, the likes of Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake and the Foo Fighters have graced the Superpages.com stage with their presence, and the upcoming acts show shouldn’t disappoint. In April, Jay-Z and Mary J. Blige will be performing, and Avril Lavigne’s new tour hits Dallas at the end of April. But May is really when the big hitters can be seen. Only concerts by Kanye West, Radiohead, The Police and the Steve Miller Band can make a student wholeheartedly want to stay at SMU after final exams are finished.
Times and dates for the concerts can be located on each venue’s personal Web site. Tickets are located there as well as at tickemaster.com and other online ticket-purchasing Web sites.
