Weekend Event Planner

These are the 12 best things to do in Dallas this weekend

Jason Aldean will play at Dos Equis Pavilion on August 19.

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

No matter what kind of music you like, this weekend around Dallas is guaranteed to offer something for you. It features nine separate concerts, several of them with huge stars, with genres including rap, rock, country, jazz, and more. If you prefer something more low-key, two new local theater productions are starting their runs, and a big-name comedian is making a rare appearance.

Below are the best ways to spend your precious free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.

Thursday, August 18

Kevin Gates in concert
Rapper Kevin Gates is a rising star in the hip hop genre. After years of self-releasing mixtapes, the Louisiana native finally started getting some nationwide attention in 2012, leading to a record deal with Atlantic Records. It was a wise investment, as each of his first three albums have reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200 charts. Gates will play at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving in support of his new album, Khaza.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents Madeleine Peyroux
Jazz singer-songwriter Madeleine Peyroux has had a compelling journey in the music industry. Eight albums and 22 years since her debut, Dreamland, Peyroux continues to challenge the confines of jazz, venturing into the fertile fields of contemporary music with unfading curiosity. She'll play a special one-night-only concert at the Meyerson Symphony Center.

Friday, August 19

Echo & The Bunnymen in concert
The English band Echo & The Bunnymen may have a funny name, but they've had a long and interesting history. Debuting in 1980, they did well in the UK and developed a cult following in the United States. The departure of lead singer Ian McCulloch and death of drummer Pete de Freitas led to their breakup, but they reformed in 1996 and have gone on to release seven more albums. They'll play at House of Blues Dallas as part of their 40th anniversary tour.

The Lumineers in concert
Folk rock group the Lumineers came to prominence in 2012 on the heels of the success of Mumford & Sons, gaining tons of fans with songs like "Ho Hey." They've released three more albums since their debut, including the recently-released Brightside, all of which reached the top 10 on the Billboard 200. They'll play at American Airlines Center with support from opening act James Bay.

Jason Aldean in concert
You can't get any bigger than Jason Aldean in country music. He had six straight albums reach No. 1 on the Billboard Country charts, and either No. 1 or No. 2 on the Billboard 200 charts, throughout the 2010s. He's also a three-time winner of Entertainer of the Year at the ACM Awards, and he was given the ACM Dick Clark Artist of the Decade Award at the 2019 ACM Awards. He'll play at Dos Equis Pavilion in support of his new album, Georgia.

Improv Arlington presents Rob Schneider
Rob Schneider is an accomplished actor, comedian, screenwriter and director. A stand-up comic and veteran of the award-winning NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live, Schneider has gone on to a successful career in films and television, and continues to hone his stand-up comedy craft. Schneider’s first Netflix comedy special, Asian Momma, Mexican Kids, premiered in 2020. He'll perform five times through Sunday at Improv Arlington.

Theatre Arlington presents Biloxi Blues
Theatre Arlington presents Biloxi Blues, the second in Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Neil Simon’s trilogy. When we meet Eugene Jerome, he is coping with adolescence in 1930s Brooklyn. He goes on to become a young army recruit during WWII, going through basic training and learning about life and love along with some harsher lessons, while stationed at boot camp in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1943. The production runs through September 4.

Uptown Players presents The Little Dog Laughed
The Uptown Players 2022 season will close with Douglas Carter Beane’s 2006 heartfelt drama, The Little Dog Laughed. Mitchell, an up-and-coming actor, and Diane, his agent/producer, pretend to be a couple to avoid negative press about Mitchell’s homosexuality. The plan works until Mitchell falls for Alex, a young male prostitute, who changes Mitchell’s views about relationships and convinces him to love, much to the dismay of Diane, who tries desperately to avoid a scandal. The production runs through August 28 at Kalita Humphreys Theater.

Saturday, August 20

Texas Summer Jam presented by Whataburger featuring Flatland Cavalry
Texas Summer Jam presented by Whataburger will feature headlining performances from country music bands Flatland Cavalry, American Aquarium, and William Beckman. Fans can also attend a non-ticketed pre-party at the Texas Lottery Plaza Stage, featuring Aaron Copeland, and a post-event show featuring Alex Aguilar. The main concert takes place at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory in Irving.

Odesza in concert
It is a true rarity for any act to play two nights in a row at Dos Equis Pavilion, but electronic duo Odesza is breaking that particular mold. The group made up of Harrison Mills and Clayton Knight has been at the top of the Billboard Dance charts since 2014, and their last two albums, including the new The Last Goodbye, have also gone high on the Billboard 200 charts. They'll perform on both Saturday and Sunday.

Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents An Evening with Lucia Micarelli
Best known for her collaborations with Josh Groban, Chris Botti, and classic rock band Jethro Tull, and for her role as Annie Talarico in the critically acclaimed HBO series Treme, Lucia Micarelli will present a performance that will flip from the likes of bluegrass to Led Zeppelin to Ravel to Tom Waits. She'll put on a one-night-only concert at Meyerson Symphony Center.

Monday, August 22

Mötley Crüe in concert with Def Leppard, Poison, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
Okay, technically Monday is no longer the weekend, especially since it's not even a holiday, but when you have a concert with as many big bands as this one, you have to include it. Hair metal was a dominant force in the 1980s thanks to bands like Mötley Crüe, Def Leppard, and Poison, and the fact that they're all still playing is a minor miracle. Throw in Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, and you have a festival-style event that's guaranteed to rock hard. They'll all play at Globe Life Field in Arlington.

Jason Aldean will play at Dos Equis Pavilion on August 19.

Photo by © Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com

Jason Aldean will play at Dos Equis Pavilion on August 19.

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Movie Review

A collision of humor and dark history make an impact in Wild Horse Nine

Photo courtesy of Searchlight Pictures

Sam Rockwell and John Malkovich in Wild Horse Nine.

It’s difficult to nail English writer/director Martin McDonagh down when it comes to his interests. Prior to his new film, he has set films in Bruges, Belgium; Los Angeles; the fictional small town of Ebbing, Missouri, and a remote island in Ireland, with stories that deal with crime, grief, lifelong friendships, and a kidnapped Shih Tzu. What all his films have in common though, is comedy that is mined through absurdity, something that is on full display in Wild Horse Nine.

Chris (John Malkovich) and Lee (Sam Rockwell) are CIA agents in 1973, currently stationed in Chile, with a mission that Lee tries to hide but Chris broadcasts willingly. Their assignment is to undermine support for the newly-elected socialist president, Salvador Allende, but the film is not really about that. Instead, it follows the duo on a break from work as they decide to take a side trip to Rapa Nui (aka Easter Island) so that Chris can fulfill his dream of seeing “the big heads.”

Once they’re there, Chris and Lee bicker over various things, including Chris being too open with two younger women, Monica (Mariana di Girolamo) and Alicia (Ailín Salas); who gets control over their rental car; the long-distance interference of CIA station chief MJ (Steve Buscemi); and more. All the while, a mostly unspoken agreement between Chris and Lee colors every decision they make, including why they came to Rapa Nui in the first place.

McDonagh has full control over the narrative of the film from minute one, establishing the tone through the super-quick banter between Chris and Lee that points to the strong bond the two share. A later revelation deepens the meaning of the story without taking away from the humor that comes from Chris and Lee sniping at each other. Despite the two characters not getting much of an introduction, they become a very memorable movie twosome as the film goes along.

A good working knowledge of 20th century world history is helpful, as McDonagh drops in subtle and not-so-subtle hints about the CIA’s involvement in certain notable events (including the JFK assassination, which takes on larger importance as the story goes on). Using real history like the impending coup d'état in Chile as a backdrop for the fictional story grounds the film, allowing the characters to engage in sometimes farcical elements without ever seeming like unserious people. It’s also a sly commentary on current events, with the U.S. continuing to insert itself into other countries’ affairs.

The impact of the film is immeasurably improved by the fact that they filmed on location in Chile and Rapa Nui. Having Chris and Lee visit the “big heads” (aka moai) while referencing them in their dialogue is both awe-inspiring and hilarious. There’s just something about the characters being able to get up close and personal with the ancient sculptures that makes the film feel more important than if they had employed CGI to put them there.

Malkovich is a two-time Oscar nominee with a storied career, but this performance ranks as one his best. With a face that unashamedly shows his 73 years and pitch perfect line deliveries, he nails every scene that he’s in. Rockwell complements him extremely well, giving a performance that fits in with his previous work but rarely on such a high level. Buscemi is also a pleasure to watch, popping up to steal small moments just like he did in the recent The Only Living Pickpocket in New York.

Save for a few action scenes, Wild Horse Nine is mostly filled with characters talking, but the level of the conversations and the comical moments that McDonagh has created contain cannot be understated. With a tour-de-force performance by Malkovich, a real world setting, and a funny twist on history, it’s one of the best movies of the year.

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Wild Horse Nine opens in theaters on November 6.

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