Green Light: The Best of The Week
Lorde. Photo: Paradigm Agency
Well, it’s that time of year again, when downtown becomes the backdrop for FPSF. While the likes of Lorde, Solange, and more will all be in town for the festival, that doesn’t mean that it’s the only game in town. Performances from JMSN, Dressy Bessy, and Deicide will all be here as well while locals like Cool Moon, The Cops and more fill in the gaps. Houston, here’s what you should be doing this week.
On Wednesday you could get started over at Discovery Green for the Party on The Plaza series, this time featuring the music of Nick Gaitan. Gaitan has been the leader of bands like Umbrella Man, as well as bassist for Billy Joe Shaver and most recently Nikki Hill, and he’s a not to be missed act. The jazz infused Latin rock of Nico Diaz will be on hand as opener for the free and all ages show getting started around 5 pm.
The Cops. Photo: Trie Blair Fulco
If that’s not your thing then you could head to Walter’s for VHS Night: Cop Night with The Cops. That’s right, a live set from Houston punks The Cops will take place after two cop movies are shown on a big screen. There’s also a VHS swap meet of sorts, free donuts, and more for the all ages event getting going with doors at 7 pm and more information, here.
Over at Continental Club, the high energy rockabilly of The Delta Bombers will swing by to perform. These guys are known for their crazed live sets, and their latest release The Delta Bombers sounds like a time warped infusion of rock, swing, and rockabilly. The four piece will be playing without a support act for the 21 & up show with doors at 9 pm and a $10 cover.
Nathan Quick. Photo: Sherita Perez
Thursday you could begin at Presidio when Houston singer songwriter Nathan Quick will stop by to play on the big patio. Quick has been changing up his sound as of late, returning to a more intimate and bluesy sound with last year’s The Sound. The show gets going around 6 pm, it’s all ages, and it’s 100% FREE.
There’s something crazy happening at Improv where Val Kilmer will be on hand to introduce his one man play, “Cinema Twain.” I know, that sounds bizarre, but it’s true. Often referred to by many myths, Kilmer has been acting a long time, and this film covering his one man play about Mark Twain should be nothing if not interesting. The one night only event is 18 & up with doors at 6:30 pm and tickets between $30 and $70.
You might rather head to Nightingale Room when Houston’s Hescher swings by to drop his dark electronica. Hescher is definitely different, but not a stranger to the Houston scene, and while I’ve only heard good things about his live shows, his single “Scarlet Shell” is definitely worth checking out. The electro pop jams of Rex Hudson will open the $10 show for 21 & up patrons with doors at 7 pm.
Deicide. Photo: Continental Concerts
Down at Scout Bar, the heavy and brutal death metal of Deicide will be here to play their scary sounds. The controversial band has been blowing ear drums since the early nineties, they’re pretty intense to see live, and their latest release In The Minds of Evil from four years ago still holds up. There’s no word of openers or direct support, but that should change on the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $12 and $17.
Walter’s will have the anti-racist Oi Skinhead punks, Booze & Glory by to drop a set. These guys have been making London shake for a good while, and they’ve become well known for their crazed energy when they play live. Their mix of rock, punk, and Oi music is pretty impressive, and their latest Chapter IV is London through and through. Houston’s The Velostacks will bring their leather punk on as direct support while the Skinhead hardcore of Houston’s Thug Boots will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $10 and $12.
On Friday if you had planned to get started with the Summer Breeze festival when it gets kicked off over at La Playa, the Friday kick off show has since been cancelled.
Trout Fishing In America. Photo: Don House
Mucky Duck has the funny antics and fun sounds of Trout Fishing In America over to the intimate venue. The acoustic folk rock duo from Houston has been delighting audiences since the late seventies, and their shows are a mix of funny songs and serious licks. Their newest album, The Strangest Times returns the band to their original duo sound. The 21 & up show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $25 and $28.
Rudyard’s will have Houston’s The Dead Rabbits over to perform their blend of Irish folk meets punk. While the band plays in the vein of bands like Flogging Molly, their Celtic punk sounds are pretty fun and full of energy. The bluesy stoner sounds of Stonework will be on as direct support while the punk of The Unconvicted will go on prior. The insane one man band intensity of D. Kosmo will open the 21 & up show with doors at 7 pm and a TBA cover.
Kimi Kent. Photo: Rachel Lynn Photo
Over in the Foundation Room at House of Blues, you can catch the folky sounds of Houston’s Kimi Kent and Tyler Lucas. With both backed by a full band, each has a sound that’s worth making it out for. Kent has a more blues pop sound full of lush vocals all over her debut, Wayward Child EP, that really showcases her larger than life sound. Lucas has a more singer songwriter sound that’s impressive as well. The 21 & up show has doors at 8 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
The Armadillo Palace will host the birthday party for Houston guitar slinger The Mighty Orq when he headlines a set with his backing band The Unusuals. Orq is definitely an act that every person in this town should check out. While his skills on a six string are fairly unmatched, the good time jams from his latest release To The Bone are hard to deny. Deep voiced singer songwriter John Egan will be on hand as direct support and opener, and he’s a guy you shouldn’t sleep on. His latest album, last year’s Magnolia City sounds like it was recorded on the Delta, complete with some guitar that’d make Muddy Waters proud. The 21 & up show has doors at 8 pm and tickets for $10.
Lil Uzi Vert. Photo: Paradigm Agency
Things on Saturday could begin with an early morning trip to Eleanor Tinsley Park for this year’s FPSF. Opening with sets from Houston’s Camera Cult and Kay Weathers on different stages, the two day festival has a pretty stacked day one. Performances from Deep Cuts, -Us, Rose Ette, and Khruangbin will fill up the early hours of the festival before sets from Hurray for the Riff Raff, Cashmere Cat and Lil Uzi Vert happen later. The first day of the festival is capped off with performances from Grouplove, Post Malone, Cage The Elephant and more for the all ages event that has gates at 11 am and tickets between $148 and $999.
If you’d rather keep things on a more grassroots scale, then the Summer Breeze fest over at Walter’s is probably more your thing. With performances from a slew of punk bands, the technically second day of the fest should be a doozy with a headlining performance from Olympia punks Gag. These guys have been called everything from magnetic to hardcore heroes, and tracks like “Locker Room” should give you an idea of their intensity. Sets from Sexpill, The Secret Prostitutes, The Pose and many more will also be on hand. The whole lineup is available here for the all ages show with a $20 cover or two day pass for $30 and doors at 4:30 pm.
Over at Mucky Duck, the jazz infused Americana of Austin’s Phoebe Hunt will be in town to bring her energy heavy tunes to life. Here to support her newest album which doesn’t get released until the day prior to this show, you can get a feel of her twangy goodness from her last release Walk With Me. The 21 & up show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $20 and $22.
JMSN. Photo: Orienteer PR
Later on at White Oak Music Hall upstairs, the sexy jams of Detroit’s JMSN will swing by to melt hearts with his sultry tunes. Possibly one of the tightest performers I’ve seen in a good while, this guy dropped It Is last year only to follow it up with Whatever Makes You Happy this year, both of which are full of killer tunes. The soulful jams of Quin will be on as direct support, and she is rumored to be amazing to see in person. The R&B of Canada’s alcordo will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $15.
Satellite Bar will have the folky electro pop of DC’s Pueblo by to perform. These two make songs that sound like if Dusty Springfield and Air made tracks together. They’ll be here in support of their latest Boring The Camera from this year. Houston’s Alex Riddle will be on as direct support while the folk rock of Grisbee will open the 18 & up show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $8 and $10.
On William Street, Terraform will return with another unofficial after FPSF party. This edition will feature sets from BRKCHK, gonner, Kunai, and many more. With sound and lights from Lynchpin Audio and an open bar all night, the event should be a banger from start to finish. The doors are at 9 pm, there’s a $10 cover, with address info and lineup here.
Charli XCX. Photo: Paradigm Agency
On Sunday day two of FPSF will get underway with a closing set from New Zealand’s Lorde. The singer songwriter has been turning heads since her dissociative single “Royals” blew up and rocketed her to stardom. Lorde brings a lot to the table, as David Bowie was and the remains of Nirvana are all fans of her work, and with a new album on the horizon, this performance should be full of new songs. That shouldn’t overshadow the fact that Solange will also bring her lovely tunes to the festival, as will The Shins, Portugal The Man, Cheat Codes, and Charli XCX alongside others. The day gets kicked off with early sets from MIEARS, Bang Bangz, The Wheel Workers, Hiram, and Night Drive as well. The all ages event has gates at 11 am and tickets between $148 and $999.
Discovery Green and Wonky Power will team up to bring you a new concert series called Sundays in The Park. This opening edition will feature the indie rock sounds of Houston’s Vodi. Full of lush tones and energy, Vodi is a great way to chill and get excited at the same time in the Summer sun. The all ages show gets going around 4 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
You might want to swing by Walter’s for day two of the Summer Breeze fest, as the second day is just as stacked as the first. With a headlining set from Austin d-beat punks Impalers, Houston’s Skourge, Dress Code and more, things should be insane from start to finish. The whole lineup is here for the all ages event with doors at 4:30 pm and a $20 cover, or a $30 two day pass.
In the studio at Warehouse Live, the hip hop meets pop sounds of San Antonio’s Austin Mahone will be here to drop a set. Mahone makes the kind of songs that stick in your head, while having a personae that he takes to the stage. His latest, For Me+You from last year has gained plenty of steam, and his live show is worth checking out. The R&B of Atlanta’s The YRS will be on as direct support and openers for the all ages show with doors at 6:30 pm and tickets between $25 and $27.50.
Monday you could head over to The Secret Group to catch a set from Houston rapper Kay Jay. since running through a rough patch that included a little time behind bars, this guy has turned his life around and kind of makes moves that’ll make your head spin. With his latest release Seize The Day, Kay Jay has features with Devin the Dude while his last single with Paul Wall “Live For Today,” hits hard. New Trill will open the all ages show with doors at 7:30 pm and a measly $5 cover.
Walter’s will be bringing the no frills and straight ahead rock of The Split Squad to town. Featuring members like Clem Burke of Blondie, this five piece makes music that’s reminiscent of the past without sounding dated, and their debut Now Her This… is pretty epic. The highly energetic and fun sounds of Denver’s Dressy Bessy will be on as direct support and their latest Kingsized sounds better live. There’s no word of openers for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $12 and $15.
Gouge Away. Photo: Zack Rogers
Tuesday you can head to The White Swan to catch Florida’s Gouge Away. Possibly one the most impressive sets I’ve seen from a direct support band before, their last time in Houston opening for Ceremony was amazing. Their newest release, Swallow is hardcore greatness, and their intense show is worth making it out for. Houston’s History Repeats will be on as direct support with Shallow going on beforehand. Things get opened up by DAZE for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and and $8 cover.
Over at Walter’s the sunny bedroom pop of New York’s Adult Mom will swing by to perform. With critical acclaim and a rumored energetic show, this four piece should be worth making it out for. It doesn’t hurt that their latest release, this year’s Soft Spots is catchy and fun. The indie pop of Philadelphia’s Free Cake For Every Creature will be on as direct support while the energetic indie rock of Houston’s Cool Moon will go on beforehand. Things will get opened by the indie folk of Greg Cote & the Real Life Friends for the all ages show with a $10 cover and doors at 8 pm.
That’s about all that’s happening this week. No matter what you decide to do, please be mindful of others and remember that a safe ride home is just an app away.
