The Arcadia Theater - Dallas, Texas

The Arcadia Theater has been a landmark of entertainment in Dallas, Texas for the past eighty years. That came to an end last week when the theater and adjoining buildings burned down to the ground.

The Arcadia started with vaudeville in 1927 and then movies. The theater fell into disrepair for some years and was renovated as a live music venue in the early eighties. The first concert in 1982 was Bonnie Raitt, followed by all kinds of bands, from country (Dwight Yoakam) to punk. The Arcadia became a gateway venue for those artists passing through that nebulous middle ground from buzz band to supersstar. Other notable first time concert appearances were Metallica and Nine Inch Nails.

I've been to a couple of different concerts there and the atmosphere was always unique for a concert experience. The small and intimate surroundings (seating only 900) made for a more interesting show and a cozy balance between the artist and the audience. I've seen The Cure there, which was a real trip mostly because of their freaky fans.

But the two man show of Patrick Moraz and Bill Buford was the best! Bill Bruford had an acoustic drumset with those Simmons electronic pads, (which were new in the 80's) programmed to trigger brief horn sections and orchestrations. He's always been one of my favorite drummers, ever since I first heard his playing on The Yes Album.

Patrick Moraz just had a couple of massive keyboards, but he always sounds like he's got ten hands all going at the same time. Man, I couldn't believe how much music was coming from the stage...from only two guys! Interesting to note, both musicians played in Yes, but not at the same time. Bruford early on, and then Moraz later on in the seventies.

Bruford and Moraz actually recorded a couple of albums together during that period in the eighties, and I was fortunate enough to witness them live, on the stage at the Arcadia Theater. Even better, I got backstage and met my drum hero Bill Bruford and he signed a cymbal for me. I call it my "status cymbal."

But all kidding aside, I will miss the Arcadia...it was a truly unique venue for live music.

"Flags" by Bill Bruford and Patrick Moraz
"Music for Piano and Drums" Moraz ~ Bruford



Related Tags: Music, Rock and Roll, Classic Rock, The Arcadia Theater, Dallas, Texas, Bonnie Raitt, Dwight Yoakam, Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure, Patrick Moraz, Bill Buford, The Yes Album., CybersMusic