Cookie Thumper: The Best of The Week

Die Antwoord. Photo: Jimmy Kimmel Live

While things have finally started to cool off, the entertainment options around town certainly haven’t with acts like Deerhunter, Die Antwoord and Schoolboy Q gracing our city this week.  Houston, here’s where to spend your free time over the next seven days.

Wednesday you can get going over at House of Blues when the odd and art pop inspired hip hop of South Africa’s Die Antwoord returns to town.  The duo has become well known for their strange imagery and turnt up live shows, and while it was rumored that this would be the duo’s last tour, those rumors have been put to rest.  Their latest album, this year’s Mount Ninji and da Nice Time Kid, stays in line with their trippy themes and crazed overall sound.  Houston’s own DJ and Roologic Records founder DJ Baby Roo will get things going on the decks while he spins records as opener and direct support.  The all ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $39 and $49.

If you missed Schoolboy Q earlier in the year when he stopped off for an intimate set in town, then you can head to Revention Center to see him this time around.  Touring in support of his latest release Blank Face, the LA rapper has definitely made a name as a great live act.  Joey Bada$$ will be on as direct support and opener for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $37.50 and $55.

Thursday you could get started over at Fitzgerald’s for the hip hop of Philly duo Moosh & Twist.  Quickly growing a large fan base, these two have already gotten the word out as intense performers and their new album, this year’s Growing Pains, is pretty damn catchy.  The popular sounds of New York’s Bryce Vine will be on hand as direct support while Houston’s Guilla will show them how we do things here as opener.  The all ages show will have doors at 6:30 pm and tickets between $15 and $50.

Sarah Jaffe. Photo: Courtesy of Artist

Discovery Green will host Denton’s dust bowl troubadour and beautifully voiced Sarah Jaffe in the park.  Jaffe has always brought an allure to her acoustic tinged songs, and her latest release Visions from last year is an album everyone should hear.  Houston’s own songbird, Dollie Barnes will open the all ages show that gets going around 7 pm and is 100% FREE.

Nightingale Room will host the popular alt rock of Houston’s thelastplaceyoulook.  After a good while together these guys continue to change their sound while never leaving their fan base behind, and their live shows are always a strong mix of production and energy.  The 21 & up show doesn’t list an opener, but that could change.  It’s 100% FREE with doors at 7 pm.

Cold War Kids. Photo: Courtesy of Artist

Check out House of Blues for the indie rock of Cold War Kids.  I feel like this is one of those bands that every fan needs to see at least once.  Their crazy live sets are only made more impressive by their songs, and their latest EP, Five Quick Cuts, just proves they aren’t slowing down.  The folk pop of Toronto’s The Strumbellas will be on hand as direct support and openers for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $25.

BIZ. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Instagram

Over at Arlo’s Ballroom you can get your indie rock fix with Houston’s Rose Ette.  I feel like you need to catch this band sooner than later, and if you’ve never heard their album Jungle, then you’ve been doing yourself a disservice.  Houston native now based in LA, Hevin — aka Lucas Gorham — will be on as direct support, and bring his crazed sound to the masses.  Seriously, Lucas is as close to Frank Zappa as Houston will ever get, and you need to catch him before he blows up into an act you can’t get tickets to anymore.  BIZ will be on as opener to get the crowd going with his intense hip hop sounds.  The 21 & up show is 100% FREE and has doors at 8 pm and visuals from Taylo Spank.

If you’re a fan of underground nerdcore rap, then you could head to White Oak Music Hall upstairs to catch Illinois rapper MC Chris.  Known best for doing voices on Adult Swim shows like Sealab 2024 and Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Chris made a name for himself with the hit song “Fette’s Vette.”  This year he dropped the new album MC Chris Is Dreaming, and his live shows are always fun.  Nerdcore rapper and cartoonist MC Lars will be on as direct support while teacher turned rapper Mega Ran will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $13 and $17.

On Friday you can start off at Revention Center for the eclectic indie rock of California’s Young The Giant.  While their 2024 debut will still be my favorite, their latest album, Home of the Strange, is still pretty strong.  They’ll have the indie orchestral pop of New York’s Ra Ra Riot on as direct support and openers for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $27.50.

Over at Mucky Duck you can catch one or both sets from Butch Hancock and Jimmie Dale Gilmore.  I shouldn’t have to sell this show as Hancock’s work with Jimmie Dale in The Flatlanders alone should be enough.  Hancock on his own has had hits like “The Damage Done,” while Jimmie Dale has had hits like “Mack The Knife” and “My Mind’s Got A Mind Of Its Own.”  The 21 & up shows are at 7 pm and 9:30 pm, both with tickets between $25 and $28.

Though I’m guessing that many of you will be at White Oak Music Hall downstairs for the R&B infused electro pop of London’s Oh Wonder.  After gathering a massive following from their debut last year, Oh Wonder, the duo is back this year with new singles including their latest jam, a cover of “Crazy In Love.”  The blue eyed soul of Pittsburgh’s Kevin Garrett will be on as support and opener for the all ages show with doors at 7:30 pm and tickets between $18 and $22.

Helms Alee. Photo: Sargent House Records

Over at Warehouse Live in the studio, the always impressive post rock metal of Chicago’s Russian Circles will be on hand.  Though these guys are instrumental, their live shows are always on point and their latest release Guidance keeps their intensity alive.  Get there early to catch the shoegaze sludge metal of Seattle’s Helms Alee as they’re rumored to be one of the best new bands going.  The all ages show has doors at 8 pm and tickets between $15 and $17.

At Fitzgerald’s you could catch the crazed intensity of Houston’s Only Beast.  Though just a three piece, there’s something insane about the energy they bring to a stage, and their live album Live At Notsuoh is a good gauge of what you’re in store for.  The avant punk of Austin’s The Schisms will be on as direct support while the impressive indie rock of Conroe’s Scubadiver will open up the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and an $8 cover.

Hearts of Animals. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook

Rudyard’s will host the always engaging and fun indie rock songs of Houston’s Hearts of Animals.  I don’t think you could say with a straight face that Mlee hasn’t dropped a good album, and 2014’s Another Mutation definitely proved that even great musicians get better with age.  The folksy indie sounds of Texas meets Netherlands duo Merel and Tony will be on hand as direct support while the funny and whimsical songs of Houston’s The Mustn’ts will open things up.  The 21 & up show has doors at 9 pm and an $8 cover.

On Saturday you might want to begin at Cactus for their Cassette Store Day show curated by Jessica Baldauf of Miss Champagne Records.  Miss Champagne is Houston’s most prominent cassette tape label and her choice of performers with the crazed electronic drumming of Pitter Patter, the tough new wave punk of Ruiners, and the intriguing acoustic emo of Greg Cote & the Real Life Friends make for a great show.  The all ages event gets going around 2 pm and there’s gratis beer for the adults on the 100% FREE show.

Over at Market Square Park for a set from Austin’s The Bright Light Social Hour.  The crazed energy of this psych pop group is intense, and their 2024 album Space Is Still the Place, the group sheds some of their more pop leanings for a more diverse sound.  The always entertaining R&B sounds of Houston’s Rosewood Thievz will go on beforehand, while park games like giant beer pong and more will be on hand prior.  The all ages event gets going around 6 pm & it’s 100% FREE.

A Sundae Drive. Photo: Jason Smith

Over at Satellite Bar you can get all cozy with the indie rock goodness of A Sundae Drive.  While the band is putting the final touches on their new album, their last release The Senseless and the Sound is one of my favorite albums in recent years and their live sets are energetic through and through making me wonder why they aren’t the biggest band in town.  The trippy and intense synth rock of Houston’s Cornish Game Hen will provide direct support while the experimental sounds of Bryan’s Tenino will go on beforehand.  The pretty shoegaze indie rock of Houston’s My Twilight Pilot will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $7 cover.

Fitzgerald’s will host the album release party for Houston’s Young Mammals downstairs.  That new album, Jaguar, is the strongest release from the band in their storied history, and their live shows are always worth making it out for.  The darkwave sounds of Houston’s Buoyant Spirit will be on hand as support with Milk Leg on before.  The all ages show will have the fuzzy grunge sounds of Houston’s Narrow Head on as openers with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.

Nathan Quick will bring his refined blues rock to life over at Mucky Duck.  If you haven’t noticed, Quick has spent the last year on a feverish pace dropping new material and playing like an artist on borrowed time.  His latest release, this year’s The Sound finds him coming full circle while embodying the soulful sounds of a road weary traveller.  The 21 & up show has doors at 9:30 pm and tickets between $15 & $17.

Over at Big Top you could get your garage rock fix when Austin five piece The Ugly Beats stop by to get groovy.  I’m not big on pushing Austin bands, but this is one you need to catch live.  Their last album, 2024’s Brand New Day is the kind that makes you wanna’ dance, and their live sets should definitely get you moving.  The 21 & up show has doors at 10 and a TBA cover.

The Legendary Pink Dots. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook

On Sunday you could head to the studio at Warehouse Live to catch the legendary post punk pioneers, The Legendary Pink Dots.  Though they got called industrial, they were always far from it, and their early works — especially 1984’s The Tower or 1982’s Brighter Now — should prove that.  They’ve released 32 studio albums and their latest, this year’s Pages Of Aquarius, demonstrates the British band at their height.  The downtempo electro psych sounds of Denver’s Orbit Service will open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $25 and $27.

Downstairs at White Oak Music Hall, you can catch the experimental sounds of Atlanta’s Deerhunter.  The entertaining four piece is always on point live and last year’s Fading Frontier proved they’ve gotten stronger as songwriters.  The acid folk of New Zealand’s Aldous Harding will perform the duties of direct support and Atlanta art rockers Jock Gang will open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $20 and $22.

Satellite Bar will have the 30th anniversary tour for New Jersey pop punks Parasites.  The band has been around since the late eighties, their live shows are always fun, and their most recent release Non-Stop Power Pop Vol 1 is a great retrospective album.  Houston’s Action Frank will bring their energy on as direct support and Kemo For Emo will wow the crowd with their tight live set as openers.  The all ages show has doors at 7 pm with a $10 cover.

Show Me The Body. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook

At Matchbox Gallery you can get crazy with the insanity of New York’s Show Me The Body.  These guys have intense live shows, their recent album Body War is insane, and they’re always worth catching live.  The only act in town that could be this band’s direct support, La Porte’s B L A C K I E, will bring the crowd to its knees with his intensity, while the math rock screamy sounds of MOUTHING will go on prior.  TAME, The Aspiring Me will be his melodic hip hop on as opener for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm for the 100% FREE show where donations will gladly be accepted.

Monday in the studio at Warehouse Live you could get all funky with Las Vegas based weed rapper Dizzy Wright.  Wright has become known for his chill jams and good vibes, and his last drop The 702 EP from this year was full of dope tracks.  LA’s DJ Hoppa will provide direct support where Southern California’s Audio Push will perform before him.  Indianapolis’ Mark Battles will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $20 and $22.

That’s about all that’s happening around town this week.  No matter what you decide to do, don’t forget that a safe ride home is just an app away.

by David Garrick