Break Yo Back: The Best of The Week

Antwon, Photo: Courtesy of The Hyv

Well, sooner than later we’ll be putting the closing days and hours of the turbulence of 2024.  And while we had some bizarre times, we also had some ragers.  There’s plenty happening before and after the New Year’s Eve festivities, including sets from Antwon and Texas swing legends Asleep At The Wheel.  Houston, here’s how to close out this year and begin a new one.

On Wednesday you can get going over at MKT Bar when Marco Torres puts down his camera and possibly a taco, to drop a DJ set.  If you didn’t realize that this guy shoots everything from bands performing to products and events for big companies; then you should know that he had a hand in the book “Tacos of Texas.”  The 100% FREE event runs from y pm to 10 pm, and it’s all ages.  

On Thursday you could get weird upstairs at White Oak Music Hall when Ak’chamel swings by to do their thing.  The always bizarre group should make for an interesting set where I have no idea what they’ll do.  Their last single, Transmissions From Boshqa is a real trip full of Middle Eastern tones and strange vocals.  The synth wave of Houston’s Tearful Moon will provide direct support while the experimental dance of Chin Xaou Ti Won will go on prior.  The ambient sounds of Houston’s Splendid Emblem will also drop a set and 22 will open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

Vodi, Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook

Nightingale Room will host the throwback sounds of Houston’s VODI.  Vodi is like if REO Speedwagon and War of Drugs had a baby, and their latest single “Talk” is pretty stellar.  Add to that a killer live show full of energy and you have a good one two punch.  The songbird styles of Dollie Barnes will go on prior, and should be interesting to hear her new album get played out live since their exclusive vinyl pre-release over at Vinal Edge.  The 21 & up show has doors at 7 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

If you’d rather laugh, you could head over to Improv to get the start on a weekend with Pablo Francisco.  The comic who made his name as a regular on MadTV, Francisco has toured all over the country, he’s had a Comedy Central special, and he’s been on all of the late night talk shows.  His vocal impressions alone are worth making it out for.  The 18 & up show will also feature two of Houston’s better comics serving as host and feature acts.  The doors are at 7:15 pm, there are shows through the rest of the weekend, and tickets are between $22 and $115.

Walters will host the popular hip hop of Tennessee’s Xavier Wulf.  Known for a dark style, Wulf has been making a name for himself since he went solo three years ago, and his last release Project X from last year is pretty legit.  Houston’s Darke Complex, called the worst new band in America by Stereogum, will be on as direct support while the metalcore of Lesser Degree will open things up.  The all ages show has doors at 7:30 pm and tickets for $20.

The Cops, Photo: Photography By Panic

You might know Little T&A Records, or the band The Satanic Overlords of Rock N Roll, but Bill Greer or Bill Fool as he’s affectionately known, is behind both of them.  Respectively, he’s done a lot for a lot of bands and since he had his place broken into, his pals are throwing him a benefit show at Rudyard’s.  Sets from The Cops, Bad Credit Band, Dead Roses, POIZON, and Mutant Love will all swing by to perform.  There’s also a silent auction, and DJ Fool himself will spin records between sets.  This is a good event for a good guy, with doors at 8 pm and an $8 cover for the 21 & up night.

Continental Club will offer up the fusion sounds of the New Breed Brass Band.  These guys mix funk, brass, soul, and everything else together to create an eclectic sound, and their on point live set should blow you away.  The eight piece has made quite the name as an act everyone needs to see sooner than later.  The 21 & up show gets going around 10:15 with a $12 cover.

Friday you can get down with the ladies of Dem Damn Dames as they close out 2024 with a bang for their Really Really Evil Show REDUX over at Numbers.  Alongside the sultry troupe will be performances from Nick The Vegan, JD Hicock, Skabz the Clown, and many many more.  The 18 & up show should sell out with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $15 and $30.

We Were Wolves, Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook

Nightingale Room will have the high throttled rock of Houston’s Knights of the Fire Kingdom.  These guys have showmanship like they’re playing in front of 10,000 people, and their matching outfits alongside their last release Knights of The Fire Kingdom says you should check them out.  The nonstop party and high energy of We Were Wolves will go on prior for the 21 & up show with doors at 7 pm that’s 100% FREE.

Mucky Duck will host two shows from the always entertaining sounds of Alejandro Escovedo.  The San Antonio singer songwriter has really stayed closer to his more rockin’ side as of late, and his live shows are always amazing.  His new album, the recently released Burn Something Beautiful has him sounding his freshest in years.  The 21 & up shows are at 7 pm and at 9:30 pm, and both have tickets between $30 and $33.

Fitzgerald’s will have the roots based country sounds of Austin’s Shinyribs.  Floating high on 2024’s Okra Candy, this band drops the hammer on a live show that’s closer to a party than a concert.  California born and Houston transplant Madeline Edwards will be on as direct support and opener, and I’d be lying if I said that she wasn’t worth getting there early for.  With a voice that embodies the soul of Nina Simone with the pipe range of Etta James, Edwards’ new EP Light Out is pretty impressive.  The all ages show has doors at 8 pm and tickets between $20 and $25.

If you’d rather get your hip hop fix, then you could swing by Walters to catch a set from Houston’s Doeman.  If the hard hitting O.B.E.(Outer Body Experience) release from earlier this year wasn’t enough for you, Doeman just dropped a bookend release with Barrio God V1.  Rumor has it that he’s performing the new album in its entirety and his high energy and crazy mic skills are worth checking out.  There’s no word of openers or support but that’ll likely change.  The all ages show has doors at 8 pm and tickets for $20.

Deep Cuts, Photo: Anthony Flores

Upstairs at White Oak Music Hall you can get groovy with the guys from Deep Cuts.  On the heels of a new album, these guys are always fun and their latest single “Take Me Back” just shows they aren’t slowing down anytime soon.  The alt grunge of Narrow Head will provide direct support while the indie pop rock of Young Girls will open the 100& FREE all ages show with doors at 8 pm.

Big Top will host another sixties dance party with Mikey Drag for the Shakin’ All Over show.  Featuring your favorite good time jams from psych to rock, the 21 & up show with doors at 9 pm is always FREE and always a good time.

Saturday is New Year’s Eve, and while you have a ton of options, these aren’t all of them by any means, starting off at Fitzgerald’s upstairs for a performance from Houston’s Muddy Belle.  These guys play funky tunes and they tend to bring a room to it’s knees when they perform.  Their latest release Come On In is soulful and twangy, and worth seeing live.  The funky groove sounds of Soul Creatures will open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $10 and $15.

Asleep At The Wheel, Photo: The Paradigm Agency

In honor of the venue’s 10th anniversary with the band, as well as their own 40th anniversary, Asleep At The Wheel will bring their Texas swing to all out at the Dosey Doe Big Barn.  The legendary group will play a ton of favorites old and new, while Mark Jones opens the show with dinner served between 7:30 pm and 10 pm.  Tickets are between $98 and $158.

At House of Blues you can get down with the Roologic Records family for their #Fuck2016 show.  Featuring a headlining set from Space Villains*, the show will also see a set from Giant Kitty, as well as Genesis Blu and Sobe Lash.  DJ Baby Roo will open things up as well as spin records all night for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $20.

Ladybird’s will host their New Year’s Eve Bash featuring a set from VODI as well as a set from Dollie Barnes.  The Jimi Hendrix cover band Stone Free will open up the 21 & up show with doors at 8 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

Downstairs at Fitzgerald’s you could get dancing with a DJ set from Angiesliste alongside a set from Morena Roas.  The all ages event has doors at 8 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

Another Run, Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Caroline Velez

Satellite Bar will host a show that somehow includes camping when Another Run swings by to headline a show there.  Not to be outdone, the high energy of King Finn will provide direct support as well as open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $10 and $20.

You can dance all night at The Secret Group when they host their NYE Bash.  The show with a $1,000.00 cash balloon drop and champagne toast at midnight will also feature a best dressed contest and ticket giveaways.  The all ages event has doors at 8 pm and it’s FREE with RSVP found here.

Rudyard’s will pull out all the stops when former JW Americana member and one man band D Kosmo swings by to perform one of his crazy sets.  The high throttled sludge of Houston’s Whorehound will play prior while the in your face energy of The Satanic Overlords of Rock N’ Roll will open the 21 & up show with doors at 9 pm and a measly $8 cover.

Clay Melton, Photo: Daniel Jackson

On Tuesday you could head over to the Nightingale Room to catch the blues rock of Clay Melton Band.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, this is a guy not to sleep on.  His guitar licks alone are enough reason to catch him, and his live shows are pretty high energy as well.  The bluesy tunes of Houston’s Vanilla Whale will open the 21 & up show with doors at 7 pm for the 100% FREE show.

Walters will host a barn burner when California’s Antwon swings by to drop a set.  Once called one of the best rappers who should get signed, Antwon has become well known for his crazed live sets and his intense mic skills.  His latest release, this year’s Double Ecstasy is definitely on point and the rapper’s strongest release to date.  The hardcore punk of California’s Cool Side will provide direct support while the hip hop of Houston’s TAME, The Aspiring ME will drop a set prior.  The hardcore of California’s The Surge will also be on hand while Houston’s United Races opens the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $13.

If you’d rather get your laugh on, then you could run by The Secret Group for Neo Benshi presented by Boo Town.  Catching various comics and the like read new dialogue for video clips in Mystery Science Theater 3,000 style has never been funnier, and the all ages show with doors at 8 pm has a measly $5 cover meaning you have very little to lose by checking this funny show out.

That’s about all that’s happening around town this week.  No matter what you decide to do, remember that the worst drinking and driving occurs on New Year’s Eve, and that a safe ride home is just an app away.

by David Garrick