Let It Shine: The Best of The Week
Vince Staples. Photo: Melt Booking
Now that we’re back in the swing of things around town, the shows keep stacking up as summer draws closer. You’ll have plenty of choices this week as the likes of Vince Staples, Thursday, and The Sonics will all be here with local acts filling in the gaps. Houston, here’s how to map out the next seven days.
Wednesday you can start off at Walter’s when the electronic jams of Hawaii’s Mr. Carmack swings by to drop a set. Known for lit live sets and music you can’t help but get down to, the producer-DJ will be here in support of his latest full length Rekindling and new single “Tuesday Wednesday Thursday.” An artist or multiple artists from the Soulection crew will be on as direct support while the get down tunes of Houston’s Hiram goes on prior. Biggs of Mad Decent Records will also be on the bill and Houston’s Eroda One will open things up on the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $15 and $20.
On Thursday the Art Car Sneak Peak will be happening over at Discovery Green. See the cars that will be at the parade while enjoying the music of Kermit Ruffins. The all ages and family friendly event gets going around 6 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
The Secret Group will host what sounds like a funny show when TJ Dawe and Kerry Ipema present One Woman Sex & The City: A Parody. The one woman show will recreate all six seasons of the beloved HBO show in what will undoubtedly be something to see for yourself, full of laughs and interesting acting. The all ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $25 and $30.
Nate Bargatze. Photo: Funny Business
Improv will begin their weekend of shows from the always funny antics of Tennessee’s Nate Bargatze. After his 2024 Comedy Central special and album Full Time Magic, this guy has become a household name and seems to get funnier each time I see him. As per all of these shows, two of Houston’s better up and coming comics will serve as feature act and host. The 18 & up shows run through Sunday. The Thursday night show has doors at 7:15 pm with tickets between $17 and $30.
In the ballroom at Warehouse Live, the always popular hip hop of California’s Vince Staples will fill the room when he performs. Staples, here in support of his latest single “BagBak” and last year’s Prima Donna, never disappoints when he performs. The alternative R&B of Orlando’s Kilo Kish will be on as direct support and opener for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $20 and $25.
The Sonics. Photo: Atomic Music Group
Over at Continental Club, Tacoma, Washington garage rock legends The Sonics will be in town to electrify all who attend. These guys dropped a live album last year called Live at Easy Street that proves they can still bring it when they perform. Around since the sixties, with tracks like “Have Love Will Travel,” “Shot Down,” and “The Witch,” this five-piece is an act everyone needs to see in person. Georgia’s The Woggles will bring their brand of maximum R&B to life as direct support and openers for the 21 & up show with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $28.
Stone’s Throw will add a little spice to your week when Dem Damn Dames’ Tifa Tittlywinks hosts her Thursday Tease show. The burlesque affair will feature Iris Le’mour as well as drink specials and music from DJ Browncoat. Add to that burlesque from the upper catwalk and you have an intriguing evening that gets going at 8 pm and is 100% FREE.
At Walter’s you can see the indie pop of NOLA duo Generationals. Closer to new wave than most acts going today, this two piece makes hook heavy tunes that are found all over their latest singles “Avery” and “Turning The Screw.” The synth pop of Baltimore three piece Raindeer will be on as direct support and openers for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $12 and $14.
Ruiners. Photo: Marshall Forse Walker
Notsuoh will have the sludge heavy metal of Oakland’s Dealer by to perform. This three piece makes speedy and murky metal that’s as catchy as it is dark, and their latest release Billionaire Boys Club from this year is pretty damn epic. The never disappointing grind metal of Houston’s Omotai will loudly be on as direct support while the energetic post punk of Houston’s Ruiners will go on prior. The electronic noise of Houston’s Electric Sleep will open the show with doors at 9 pm and a TBA cover.
Mucky Duck will have the entertaining sounds of Houston born and Austin transplant Buenos Diaz. This guy makes the kind of blues influenced guitar rock that’s full of pop influence, catchy hooks, and new wave elements that are kind of like if Elvis Costello was a Texan. His new self titled Buenos Diaz album just dropped, and with tracks like “San Fransymphony,” you should want to catch his set. The 21 & up show has doors at 9:30 pm and tickets between $20 and $22.
Friday you could head to Cactus for an in-store of sorts when pro skater Mike Vallely drops by to play in support of his new EP The New Arms. Vallely was the last pro street skater at Powell Peralta who embodied the pride that skateboarding was in the eighties. He ushered in a new world of skating at World Industries, and he’s one of the coolest guys you could meet. The all ages event gets going at 3 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
Touche Amore. Photo: Epitaph Records
Later on at House of Blues you should swing by to catch the post hardcore of Thursday. The New Jersey natives have returned to touring, most recently in the 15th anniversary of their album Waiting. If you missed them last year, then this is your chance to catch them in person. The melodic hardcore of England’s Basement will be on hand as direct support while the jangly hardcore of LA’s Touche Amore will open the all ages show with doors at 6:30 pm with tickets between $25 and $39.50.
The always fun and entertaining Art Car Ball will take place at Hermann Square at City Hall. Food and drinks, performances from Kiki Maroon and Ms Yet, as well as music from Calliope Musicals and Souldig are just some of what will be on hand. There’s more information available here for the event hosted by The Suffers’ Kam Franklin. The doors are at 8 pm and tickets run between $30 and $35.
Out at Smart Financial Centre, you can get your laughs in when Steve Martin and Martin Short will entertain you with their “An Evening You Will Forget for The Rest of Your Life.” The show that promises onstage banter, banjo playing, and comedy is something that fans of Martin especially have been clamoring after for years since the iconic comedian walked away from doing stand-up. The all ages event has doors at 8 pm and tickets from $89.50.
The Orwells. Photo: Kelly Puleo/Pitch Perfect PR
The rock of Chicago’s The Orwells will be on full display over at The Secret Group. These guys were pretty much right outta’ high school when they formed, and their latest record Terrible Human Beings is pretty damn catchy. They’re also known to throw an energetic live show, and while direct support and openers haven’t been listed yet, that could change by showtime. The all ages show has doors at 8 pm and tickets between $19 and $23.
Satellite Bar will host the indie folk rock of Houston’s Alex Riddle. You might not know Riddle, but his infectious tunes are all over his debut from last year, Happy Daggers, and he’s pretty impressive to see in person. The folk rock of Grisbee will go on beforehand while the folk pop of Sam Turner and the Cactus Cats will open things up for the show filled with bands that can write some catchy tunes. The 18 & up show has doors at 8 pm and a TBA cover.
Ape Machine. Photo: Ripple Music
Rudyard’s will handle all the heavy rock you want when the throwback rock of Portland’s Ape Machine returns to town. These guys sound like it’s 1978 and you’re just a step away from getting hauled into jail for having too much fun. Their latest release was a single, but their 2024 album War To Head still sounds timeless. Fittingly, the murky and heavy handed stoner rock of Houston’s The Dirty Seeds will be on as direct support while the fuzzy and thick guitar of Mr Plow will go on beforehand. Houston’s Pyreship will open the 21 & up show with doors at 9 pm and a $10 cover.
Continental Club will host the swamp boogie of Austin’s Honky. Featuring Jeff Pinkus of Butthole Surfers, this band is like ZZ Top on speed and while their live shows are always impressive, their latest release Corduroy is their strongest to date. The one man band insanity of Houston’s D. Kosmo will be on as direct support and opener for the 21 & up show with doors at 10 pm and a TBA cover.
Saturday you can soak up all of the fun at the 30th annual Art Car Parade. The Houston tradition, starting at Smith & Pease, there promises to be over 250 bikes, cars, skaters and more decorated to delight all especially with Cheech Marin as grand marshall. The all ages and family friendly parade itself begins at 2 pm, while the pre-party also known as The Starting Line Party begins at 11 am. The price range runs between FREE and $150, depending on when you want to get the party started. There’s more information available here.
Mike Vallely. Photo: Rob Wallace/Street Plant
Over at 4202 Screen Printing you can catch pro skater and musician Mike Vallely perform tracks from his upcoming new EP The New Arms. Vallely is a one of a kind guy, he rarely rolls through here, and just the fact that he’s coming is enough reason to check out what he’ll do. There’s also music from Khobretti, Baron Von Bomblast, and many more as well as art food, drinks and fun. The all ages event has more information here, it’s FREE, and it gets going around 2 pm.
Walter’s will host day one of the Take This Fest And Shove It two day festival. Headlined by Austin punk legends The Next, the fest should be worth showing up for. With sets from NOLA’s Buck Biloxi and His Fucks, Austin’s Cheap Fur, NOLA’s Die Rotzz, and California’s Off Center & the Holes alongside locals like The Mahas, The Cops, and Killer Hearts to name a few. Things get going with doors at 4 pm and tickets between $15 and $20 for one day, or $25 for a weekend pass on the all ages event. There’s a full rundown of the lineup here.
You can get all of your pop feels when pop diva Ariana Grande drops by Toyota Center to perform. While mainstream pop isn’t usually my thing, Grande’s latest release Dangerous Woman from last year is definitely full of pop jams that are super catchy. Little Mix and Victoria Monet will be on hand to help open the all ages show with doors at 6:30 pm and tickets between $29.95 and $199.95.
Miears. Photo: Arturo Olmos
Over at Nightingale Room you can get down with Houston’s Kay Weathers. Now living in Louisiana, Weathers isn’t here as much as she used to be though her debut release Songs For Lucy is pretty amazeballs and her live sets are a trip. Houston’s Miears will bring her dark synth sounds on as opener for the 21 & up show with doors at 7 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
Rockefeller’s will host the ska of LA’s The Aggrolites. Normally when you hear modern ska it’s just a pop punk band with horns, but these guys take their sound back to the roots and have a more reggae core. The result is a killer live show and while they just dropped three new songs due for a proper release, their 2024 album Rugged Road still holds up. Houston’s longtime purveyors of ska and killer live shows, Los Skarnales will be on as direct support and openers for the 18 & up show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $15 and $20.
At Anderson Fair you can catch an intimate set and the album release for John Egan. Egan is a tough cookie to describe, as each release he drops has more and more depth. His latest, Magnolia City is his most diverse to date, offering up hints of blues and Americana without being a direct result of either. The show is all ages with doors at 8 pm and a TBA cover.
Kingdom. Photo: Primary Talent
Over at 2005 Commerce Street, you can get your groove on for Trust Me Daddy: Vol 3, this edition featuring KINGDOM. The LA producer is playing a few dates around the country, Houston being his only Texas date and his latest drop Tears In the Club is definitely on point. The Latin club duo of Santa Muerte will be on as direct support while San Antonio’s House of Kenzo will do their thing beforehand. Miguel Flaco & Noey Lopez will open things up with a back to back set as well as visual arts and performance art as well. The BYOB and open bar show is all inclusive with more information here and a $15 cover.
Sunday you could head back to Walter’s for day two of the Take This Fest and Shove It festival. Opened up by Saint Krusher and closed by Cop Warmth, the second day has sets from Houston punk legends MyDolls, The Gilligans, and many more. There’s more information here with doors at 2 pm and tickets between $15 and $25.
Continental Club will get loud when surf rock guitarist and all around guitar slinging legend Dick Dale makes his return to town. Dale, best known for his hit song “Miserlou,” also has a slew of hits ranging from “Nitrus” to “Hava Nagila.” His sets are always loud and amazing, and now that he’s up in age this could be one of your last chances to see him do his thing. The 21 & up show has doors at 7:30, he’s sold out multiple times in that past, so if you wanna’ go grab your $40 ticket here.
If you were planning on heading over at Rudyard’s for the rock n’ roll of Denver’s Colfax Speed Queen, the show has since been cancelled.
Acid Mothers Temple. Photo: Paradigm Agency
Tuesday at White Oak Music Hall upstairs, the never disappointing insanity of Acid Mothers Temple will swing by to play. This Japanese psych rock band is part epiphany and part acid trip, as their live shows are pretty mind blowing. They’ve dropped all sorts of releases under different offshoots and names, but their last under AMT was 2024’s bizarre sounding Are We Experimental?. The psych noise rock of LA’s Babylon will be on as direct support and opener for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $10 and $13.
At Walter’s you can catch the youth punk of Austin’s The Real Cost. Here on the last day of their tour in support of their release III, these guys sound pretty heavy. Of course, Houston’s Dress Code will bring their hardcore punk on as direct support while the heavy handed punk of Houston’s The Pose will go on prior. No Come will also be on the bill while the punk of Houston’s Erupt will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and an $8 cover.
That’s about all that’s happening around town this week. No matter what you decide to do, remember that drinking like an adult and getting home safe are in everyone’s best interest.
