Spune kicked off 2025 with a special treat for DFW: the first Jambaloo festival, a series of free concerts featuring both local and touring artists from across the country. RadioUTD was lucky enough to get into a few shows and experience several nights of great live music.
2.05 Zeke Forever, Zebra Troop, Phantasma, and Pretty Boy Aaron at Club Dada
I started my Jambaloo run with a great night of local music (featuring some friends of RadioUTD) at my favorite Dallas venue, Club Dada. The concert started strong with a high energy performance by Dallas’s resident gay pop star, Zeke Forever. Zeke Forever’s thirty minute set ranged from emotional ballads to exciting dance tracks that even got late arrivals trickling in from the streets of Deep Ellum excited and moving to the beat. The set was quickly followed by a great performance by Arlington-based indie psychedelic group Zebra Troop.
After Zebra Troop finished, the audience at Club Dada was treated to performances by some of the most exciting voices in Dallas’s hip-hop scene. First, Phantasma, a Chicano indie-rap duo composed of Kalid Abdul and Bleu Santana, took the stage. The energy in the room was insane as the lead members bounced around the stage, leaped into the crowd, and performed an amazing set of their recent releases and upcoming tracks. After Phantasma finished, Pretty Boy Aaron and his band (which coincidentally includes Zebra Troop frontman Brandon Shepard on guitar and Phantasma drummer Marvin Martinez on drums) took the stage. The set was an exciting mix of Pretty Boy Aaron’s indie pop-hip-hop hybrid sound and more hardcore, almost Beastie Boys-coded rap rock. One particular highlight was when Phantasma’s Kalid Abdul joined Pretty Boy Aaron on stage to perform one of their collaborative tracks. Overall, it was a really exciting night for any fan of Dallas music, and especially Dallas hip-hop.
-Maizie Croom
2.06 Twain & Esther Rose at Tulips
Thursday night at Jambaloo welcomed beloved folk/country artists Twain and Esther Rose to the Tulips FTW stage. The two recently kicked off their co-headline tour—a laid-back run with no specific record to promote, allowing them to explore both old favorites and new material. After incredible acoustic opening sets from DFW artists Brody Price, Matthew McNeal, and Robert Ellis, Esther Rose took the stage with the ultimate cool girl energy. Rose, who is currently based in Santa Fe, gave off the vibe that she does not take things too seriously, chatting comfortably with the crowd between songs. She played fan favorites like “Handyman” and “Wanton Way of Loving” from her stripped-down country era, as well as material from her upcoming album Want, set to release on May 2nd. This new record marks a shift for Rose, recorded with a full band for the first time and embracing a deeper vulnerability. Esther Rose made “a vow to be known more fully by her audience, herself, and the people in her life.” We were extremely lucky to witness such a gorgeous set from her, and even chatted after her set as she hung around the merch table.
Next up was Mat Davidson, who performs under the moniker Twain. I was ecstatic to see such a talented artist perform solo, as I have seen him perform previously with his frequent collaborators, Big Thief. Seated on a barstool in a hoodie, guitar in hand, Twain kept things stripped back and intimate. He admitted to being shy, speaking little between songs—but his music said it all. His intricate fingerpicking and poetic songwriting held the crowd spellbound, especially during “King of Fools,” a raw meditation on self-doubt and vulnerability. He sings, “When I looked into her eyes, I knew I was lost / I had wasted all I tasted and there I sat: Fat, dumb, bloated”—a tale of self deprecation, which seems to be a consistent theme in his music. Twain recently released his first two singles since his album Noon in 2022, “Angels on the Radio” and “The Fox (Yup Yup Yup),” songs that reflect Twain’s true rawness when it comes to songwriting. He took song requests from the crowd and was fully immersed in whatever was thrown at him. Twain’s ability to masterfully write, sing, and play guitar has solidified his spot as a true one of a kind talent. Combined with Esther Rose’s openness and warmth, it made for a truly special night.
-Muna Ali
2.07 Darling Farm, Wild Pink and MJ Lenderman at Tulips
MJ Lenderman’s performance at Tulips in Fort Worth was easily the highpoint of the entire Jamabloo festival. In fact, it was possibly the highpoint of my entire life. Even with some last-minute band member switch-ups and setlist changes, the much in-demand concert (unlike the other Jambaloo shows, tickets to the concert were only distributed at the door on a first-come, first-serve basis) met and exceeded my expectations.
I walked into Tulips extremely grateful for the press pass that allowed me to avoid the growing line outside of the venue. The night started with a short but sweet set from Denton-based three-piece emo group Darling Farm. Even though MJ Lenderman was clearly the draw for most of the audience, there was still a lot of love for the local band. After Darling Farm wrapped up, Wild Pink took the stage. The band’s great mix of fuzzy indie rock and alt-country really connected with the crowd and perfectly set the stage for MJ Lenderman’s set (it’s always great to go to a show where there are multiple acts with pedal steel!).
The crowd grew more impatient the longer the venue blasted the pre-show playlist until MJ Lenderman and his band, the Wind, finally walked out. There were some unexpected changes to the band lineup as the regular drummer, Colin Miller, was recovering from food poisoning and was replaced on drums by bassist Landon George, who was himself replaced by former touring band member Trevor Nikrant on bass (it’s a real old lady who swallowed a fly situation). However, once the band started playing, the replacements were almost unnoticeable. The band sounded perfect as they quickly moved through songs from MJ Lenderman’s discography, including a lot of highlights from his 2024 release Manning Fireworks. My favorites of the night were easily the performances of “Wristwatch,” “She’s Leaving You,” the recently released cover of Smog’s “37 Pushups,” and the encore song “Knockin.” The great set made the long journey to Fort Worth worth it. If you get the chance to see MJ Lenderman when he returns to DFW for a show at Tannahill’s Tavern in September, do not miss it.
-Maizie Croom
2.08 Allegra Krieger & Chrtistian Lee Hutson at Club Dada (inside stage)
Saturday night at Jambaloo welcomed an array of incredible artists to Club Dada, including Allegra Krieger and Christian Lee Hutson. The pair have been on tour together for a few weeks in support of their respective new albums. Allegra Krieger’s remarkable record Art of the Unseen Infinity Machine, released in September 2024, put her on the map for her spectacular songwriting and guitar playing. Krieger, who is currently based in New York City, performed a laid back, droney set which was one of my favorites of the week. Under a haze of pink and blue lights, Krieger performed tracks like “Roosevelt Ave” and “Into Eternity,” impressing the crowd with her unique talent. I think most people in the crowd were not prepared for Krieger’s gift—her presence was youthful and unassuming, yet her performance was deeply captivating. Allegra Krieger is an artist to watch, as her talent is bound to gain well-deserved recognition.
Next up was Christian Lee Hutson, an LA-based artist who has carved out a distinct space in indie pop. While often recognized for his close friendship and collaborations with Phoebe Bridgers, Hutson has built a name for himself through the success of his albums Beginners and Quitters. In September 2024, he released his stunning new record, Paradise Pop. 10, on ANTI-. From the moment he stepped on stage, Hutson exuded charm, often launching into long, meandering tangents that had the crowd erupting with laughter. His storytelling—both in conversation and in his music—was deeply personal, imaginative, ludicrous, and effortlessly free-spirited. I was in awe the entire time. Hutson and his brilliant violinist, Odessa Jurgensen, had a beautiful chemistry on stage together, and he made sure to shower her with praise throughout the night. A standout moment was his performance of After Hours, a song inspired by an experience where he got too high and “saw heaven.” He assured the crowd it was completely real, cementing his claim with the lyric: “They do have rules here.” The line made me want to laugh and cry at the same time. Christian Lee Hutson will continue to be a singular talent in his craft, and witnessing him work his magic on stage was truly fulfilling.
-Muna Ali
2.08 Proun, Skirts, Greg Mendez and Lomelda at Club Dada (outside stage)
What is a Club Dada experience without some frustrations? When I arrived at the outdoor patio of Club Dada for the final night of Jambaloo, I immediately regretted my clothing choice. Although the temperature had been in the 80s just a few hours earlier, by the time the first act Proun took the stage, it dipped into the 50s and would only continue to drop throughout the night. Luckily, the great music and vibes gave me the strength to toughen up and survive the cold.
The show started with Austin-based indie rock group Proun. The band overcame the weather and competing music from nearby clubs to perform a great thirty-minute set. After a short break where many audience members flowed inside to catch Jacob Metcalf’s set, Dallas-based band Skirts started their set. I’ve been lucky enough to see Skirts live many times since I first arrived in Dallas back in 2021, and every time it’s been great. This time, they performed a mix of older songs off of their last album Great Big Wild Oak such as the classic “Annie” and some unreleased songs that got me very excited to hear their next project.
After Skirts wrapped up, Philadelphia-based indie rocker Greg Mendez took the stage. It’s hard to fully describe the energy of this set. There was just something special about it. Even though he mostly performed solo, with a few songs performed with fellow Philly artist Mary Saint Mary, Mendez commanded the attention of the entire audience. The set was beautiful and intimate and it made me think about how lucky I was to be at a venue I love surrounded by a lot of friends.
The night closed with an amazing set by Austin-based artist Lomelda. Although I have been a Lomelda fan since high school, this was my first time seeing them live. The performance was better than anything I could have imagined. Lomelda combined the intense intimacy of their voice and lyrics with extremely experimental instrumentals and vocal modulation. It was a mix of folk, rock, and electronic that I truly have never heard anywhere else and it made me really excited for whatever they put out in the future. It also perfectly capped off many nights of great live music across DFW. I couldn’t even be that upset with Lomelda’s more acoustic tracks had to compete with the dance music pumped out by the neighboring clubs—because that’s just the Club Dada experience <3
-Maizie Croom
