Trees is an American
live music
A concert, often known informally as a gig or show, is a live performance of music in front of an audience. The performance may be carried by a single musician, in which case it is sometimes called a recital, or by a musical ensemble such as an ...
venue opened in 1990 in the
Deep Ellum district of
downtown Dallas
Downtown Dallas is the central business district (CBD) of Dallas, Texas, United States, located in the geographic center of the city. It is the second-largest business district in the state of Texas. The area termed "Downtown" has traditionally ...
, Texas. The venue has hosted international touring musical acts such as
Nirvana
Nirvana, in the Indian religions (Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism), is the concept of an individual's passions being extinguished as the ultimate state of salvation, release, or liberation from suffering ('' duḥkha'') and from the ...
,
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. ( ; born October 20, 1971), better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg), is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Rooted in West Coast hip-hop, he is widely regarded as one of t ...
,
the Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American psychedelic rock band formed in 1983 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The band currently consists of Wayne Coyne (vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards), Steven Drozd (guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, vocals), Derek Brown ...
,
Death Grips,
Daughter
A daughter is a female offspring; a girl or a woman in relation to her parents. Daughterhood is the state, condition or quality of being someone's daughter. The male counterpart is a son. Analogously the name is used in several areas to show r ...
,
the Wailers,
Nick Jonas
Nicholas Jerry Jonas (born September 16, 1992) is an American singer, songwriter and actor. Jonas began acting on Broadway at the age of seven, and released his debut single in 2002; this caught the attention of Columbia Records, where Jonas ...
, and
Run the Jewels
Run the Jewels, also known by the initials RTJ, is an American hip-hop Supergroup (music), superduo, composed of Brooklyn-based rapper and producer El-P and Atlanta-based rapper Killer Mike. They released their critically acclaimed Run the Jewe ...
. It has received numerous accolades from the ''
Dallas Observer
''Dallas Observer'' is a free digital and print publication based in Dallas, Texas. The ''Observer'' publishes daily online coverage of local news, restaurants, music, and arts, as well as longform narrative journalism. A weekly print issue circ ...
''.
Trees first opened its doors as a venue in May 1990. Named for its trunk-like support beams, Trees hosted bands including
Nirvana
Nirvana, in the Indian religions (Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism), is the concept of an individual's passions being extinguished as the ultimate state of salvation, release, or liberation from suffering ('' duḥkha'') and from the ...
,
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band formed in Abingdon-on-Thames, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, in 1985. The band members are Thom Yorke (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards); brothers Jonny Greenwood (guitar, keyboards, other instruments) and Colin Gre ...
,
Mazzy Star,
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. One of the key bands in the grunge, grunge movement of the early 1990s, Pearl Jam has outsold and outlasted many of its contemporaries from the early 1990s, ...
, and
the Afghan Whigs
The Afghan Whigs are an American rock band from Cincinnati, Ohio. They were active from 1986 to 2001 and have since reformed as a band. The group – with core members Greg Dulli (vocals, rhythm guitar), Rick McCollum (lead guitar), and John ...
during its initial run as a venue before the club closed in May 2005.
It was reopened on August 14, 2009, by Clint Barlow, former drummer for
Vanilla Ice,
/ref> and spouse Whitney Barlow. Since its resurrection, the venue has seen acts including Hiatus Kaiyote
Hiatus Kaiyote ( ) is an Australian jazz/funk band formed in Melbourne in 2011, made up of singer/guitarist Nai Palm, bassist Paul Bender, keyboardist Simon Mavin, and drummer Perrin Moss. Their albums include '' Choose Your Weapon'' (2015), ...
, Matt Corby
Matthew John Corby (born ) is an Australian singer-songwriter. He achieved his commercial breakthrough with his fourth EP, ''Into the Flame'' (2011), which peaked at No. 3 on the ARIA Charts, ARIA Singles Chart, and by April 2012, was certi ...
, Charlie Puth, Robert DeLong, Charli XCX
Charlotte Emma Aitchison (born 2 August 1992), known professionally as Charli XCX, is a British singer and songwriter. She began posting songs on Myspace in 2008 before entering the London rave scene. Signing a recording contract with Asylum Re ...
, and Jess Glynne.
Notable events
* On Friday, May 4, 2010, Deftones
Deftones is an American alternative metal band formed in Sacramento, California in 1988. They were formed by frontman Chino Moreno, lead guitarist Stephen Carpenter and drummer Abe Cunningham, with bassist Chi Cheng and keyboardist and tu ...
played a secret album release show at Trees. The performance followed an early evening, intimate fan Q&A webcast hosted by 102.1 The Edge and moderated by Jessie Jessup, during which the band premiered their new album, ''Diamond Eyes
''Diamond Eyes'' is the sixth studio album by the American alternative metal band Deftones, released on May 4, 2010, by Reprise Records. It was the first album to feature bassist Sergio Vega, who replaced original bassist Chi Cheng. An al ...
,'' completely live. Their Trees performance was announced shortly before the show and sold out immediately. The band played a 21-song set.
* At the Drive-In
At the Drive-In was an American post-hardcore band from El Paso, Texas, formed in 1994. The band's most recent line-up consisted of Cedric Bixler-Zavala (vocals), Omar Rodríguez-López (guitar, vocals), Paul Hinojos (bass), Tony Hajjar (drums ...
performed a reunion show at Trees on Tuesday, April 10, 2012. El Paso-based psychedelic rock band Zechs Marquise
Zechs Marquise was an American psychedelic rock band, formed in El Paso, Texas in 2003.
History
The band was formed in the fall of 2003 by members Marcel Rodriguez-Lopez, Marcel (keyboards/percussion), Marfred Rodriguez-Lopez (bass), Marcos Smit ...
were the opening act.
* On Saturday, May 30, 2015, Dallas-based rapper Post Malone
Austin Richard Post (born July 4, 1995), known professionally as Post Malone, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. His music blends various genres including hip-hop, Pop music, pop, Contemporary R&B, R&B, Tra ...
played his first ever sold-out show at Trees. As he only had a few songs recorded at the time of the show, his set, which featured two performances of his hit single, " White Iverson", ran approximately 25 minutes.
* Body Count, the rap-metal band co-founded by Ice-T
Tracy Lauren Marrow (born February 16, 1958), known professionally as Ice-T (or Ice T), is an American rapper and actor. He is active in both hip hop music, hip hop and heavy metal music, heavy metal. Ice-T began his career as an underground r ...
in 1990, performed live at Trees on Saturday, August 22, 2015, for the Trees' 6th Anniversary show. Denver hardcore outfit The News Can Wait along with Dallas local bands Downlo and Mad Mexicans were the supporting acts.
Nirvana Trees incident
On October 19, 1991, Nirvana
Nirvana, in the Indian religions (Jainism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism), is the concept of an individual's passions being extinguished as the ultimate state of salvation, release, or liberation from suffering ('' duḥkha'') and from the ...
played an infamous set at Trees to a completely sold out crowd. As the show was booked before the band released their breakout hit album, ''Nevermind
''Nevermind'' is the second studio album by the American rock band Nirvana (band), Nirvana, released on September 24, 1991, by DGC Records. It was Nirvana's first release on a Record label#Major versus independent record labels, major label an ...
'', the venue was not large enough to accommodate the number of fans that came. Nirvana's tour manager demanded last minute that Trees hire heightened security, as there was no barrier between the stage and the crowd. The show was documented by Brad Featherstone on the now infamous video tape, who was standing behind Novoselic's bass amplifier.[Smyers, Darryl (2011-09-29)]
"The Night Nirvana Played Trees , Dallas Observer"
www.dallasobserver.com. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
Turner Van Blarcum was one of the security guards assigned to keep fans off of the stage, but once Nirvana's set began, fans began to bombard them. During the guitar solo for the song " Love Buzz", Kurt Cobain
Kurt Donald Cobain (February 20, 1967 – ) was an American musician. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist, primary songwriter, and a founding member of the grunge band Nirvana (band), Nirvana. Through his angsty songwriting and anti-establis ...
dove into the crowd from just behind Van Blarcum's back. Van Blarcum - in what was already a tense situation when earlier in the set, Cobain smashed his Fender Mustang guitar into the front of house monitor console, damaging the expensive piece of equipment which belonged to his friend - began to hold and push Cobain in an aggressive, ostensibly vengeful, frustrated manner, back into the crowd. Cobain then struck Van Blarcum in the head with the butt of his Fender Jaguar guitar, opening up a large, bloody gash. When Cobain got himself back onto the stage, Van Blarcum then punched Cobain in the head from behind and the other two band mates confronted Blarcum - with drummer Dave Grohl
David Eric Grohl (; born January 14, 1969) is an American musician. He founded the rock band Foo Fighters, of which he is the lead singer, guitarist, principal songwriter, and only consistent member. From 1990 to 1994, he was the drummer of th ...
leaping from his drum stool, up and over his over sized rack tom and bass drum - while he was restrained from Cobain by other security members and fans.
The audience erupted into madness, chanting "Bulltshit! Bullshit!" while Cobain stayed onstage with his guitar squealing in feedback for a minute before throwing it into the band's drum set. Trees' staff approached drummer Dave Grohl
David Eric Grohl (; born January 14, 1969) is an American musician. He founded the rock band Foo Fighters, of which he is the lead singer, guitarist, principal songwriter, and only consistent member. From 1990 to 1994, he was the drummer of th ...
and bassist Krist Novoselic
Krist Anthony Novoselic (; ; born May 16, 1965) is an American musician, politician and activist. Novoselic co-founded and played bass on every album for the rock music, rock band Nirvana (band), Nirvana.
Novoselic and Kurt Cobain formed the ban ...
backstage, asking them to return to the stage. They agreed but had to find Cobain, who was hiding in a broom closet. Trees' staff brought him to the stage to finish the show. Once the show was over and the band were in a cab, a heated Van Blarcum punched the cab's window, shattering the glass all over the band. Ultimately, the band paid for both Van Blarcum's medical bills and for damage done to the venue.
The Bomb Factory
After its initial closure in 1999, The Bomb Factory was reopened by current Trees owners Clint and Whitney Barlow on Thursday, March 26, 2015. The 4300 capacity venue was renovated before its resurrection, with the introduction of eight VIP suites, air conditioning, a new roof, a mezzanine section, and brand new light and sound systems. The Bomb Factory is Trees' sister venue. Erykah Badu
Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971), known professionally as Erykah Badu, is an American singer and songwriter. Influenced by rhythm and blues, R&B, Soul music, soul, and hip hop, Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut al ...
performed at the venue on opening day.
Canton Hall
On October 31, 2017, Clint and Whitney Barlow reopened Deep Ellum Live as Canton Hall, an indoor venue capable of holding up to 1100 people.
Awards
*Consequence of Sound
''Consequence'' (previously ''Consequence of Sound'') is an independently owned New York-based online magazine featuring news, editorials, and reviews of music, movies, and television.
History
''Consequence of Sound'' was founded in Septem ...
- The 100 Greatest American Music Venues, #61 - 2016
*''Dallas Observer
''Dallas Observer'' is a free digital and print publication based in Dallas, Texas. The ''Observer'' publishes daily online coverage of local news, restaurants, music, and arts, as well as longform narrative journalism. A weekly print issue circ ...
'' Best Rock Bar - 2012
*''Dallas Observer'' Best Sound System - 2011
*''Dallas Observer'' Best Rock Bar - 2010 (tied with The Bone)
*''Dallas Observer'' Best Not-Quite-Nostalgia Fodder - 2009
*''Dallas Observer'' Best Alternative Club - 2001
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Music venues in Dallas
Concert halls in Texas
Nightclubs in Texas