Snake Oil: The Best of The Week

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Foals. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Twitter

Well, it doesn’t even feel close to fall outside, but the calendar says otherwise. While tours start to roll through town in hopes of catching our city when it isn’t so hot, plenty of local acts will be burning up stages as well. This week, acts like Foals, Andrew Bird, Flume and YG will be stopping by. Houston, here’s where to spend the next seven days.

Wednesday you could begin at Raven Tower when Adam Bricks stops by to play a solo set full of tunes from his latest album. Bricks’ has been grinding for some time now, but this latest batch of songs on Relations, released in May, are easily some of the best songs you’ll hear this year. The all ages show has doors at 6 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

Nightingale Room will host the trippy psych sounds of Houston three-piece Mantra Love. While the band’s live sets have definitely grown over the last year, and last year’s Mantra Love EP was full of great songs, I’ve heard their newer stuff and it’s on a different level. The jazzy and soulful sounds of psych pop group Mind Shrine will open the 21 & up show with doors at 7 pm for the 100% FREE show.

White Oak Music Hall will host London’s Troyboi in the big room downstairs. Bringing soul, funk, and electro pop together, this guy has collaborated with the likes of Diplo and BYP, and his jams found here should let you know about how crazy his music is. The crazed jams of Houston’s Hiram will be on as direct support while Josiah Gabriel will get the all ages show started with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $15 and $20.

Talk Sick Brats. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook

Walters will host Chicago brother and sister rock duo White Mystery. Everything I’ve heard about these two is that their live show is a not to be missed event and their new album Outta Control from this year is a mix of garage rock, psych, and power pop. The intense punk energy of Houston trio Talk Sick Brats will bring their usual A-game on as direct support, with The Lories on prior. The spaced bluesy punk of Black Lodge will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $7 and $10.

If that’s not your deal then you could make it to Continental Club for the always engaging and highly energetic songs of Pinata Protest. Aside from the fact that this accordion lead punk four-piece has their own beer, the San Antonio group is on point in a live setting and their latest release El Valiente won’t disappoint. Houston’s most energetic performer Gio Chamba will be on as direct support and opener, and should wow everyone in attendance as he and percussionist Coffee go hard in the paint playing tracks from last year’s Chamba. The 21 & up show has doors at 8 pm and a TBA cover.

Thursday you can start off at Warehouse Live in the studio for the intense pop rock of Houston’s Catch Fever. This two-piece never ceases to amaze me with sets in the big room at House of Blues, multiple festival appearances including one at FPSF, and everything they do is professionally done from start to finish. Their live show is nothing but high energy, and this year’s You Have All You Need proves that while some bands would crumble after losing a founding member, these guys can’t be stopped. The nonstop alt rock sounds of Houston’s Another Run will bring their energy aboard as direct support, while the emo pop of Houston two-piece Since Always will perform beforehand. The electro pop of Camera Cult will open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $5 and $7.

Andrew Bird. Photo: Fat Possum Records

Downstairs at White Oak Music Hall, Chicago’s Andrew Bird will bring his eclectic mix of Gypsy folk and violin based indie pop to town. Though to me he sounds like a modern day Jonathan Richman, his latest release Are You Serious proves the massively popular artist isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Ohio-based multi-instrumentalist Sinkane will provide support as well as open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $35.50 and $40.

Walters will host Brooklyn-based folk-tinged indie rock outfit Big Thief. Almost like Southern charm and folky undertones run through nineties indie rock, this four-piece makes music that sticks to your bones and their latest Masterpiece is a mix of beauty and pop hooks that lasts for days. Houston song bird and indie rock treasure Dollie Barnes will bring her unique and hard to forget energy on hand as direct support, while the energized indie rock of Alex Riddle will open things up. The all ages show has doors at 8 pm and tickets between $10 and $12.

Guilla. Photo: Blake Hunter

Arlo’s will host the hip hop prowess of two different rappers, Guilla and RYMNA. Where Guilla offers up a kind of new school hip hop that’s intertwined in experimentation on his latest, Children of The Sun, RYMNA offers a more old school hip hop feel on his recent album UNDSTRBD. Both can rock a mic like fire and both are worth seeing live. The 21 & up show gets going around 9 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

If you’d rather just get those surf rock vibes, then you could head over to Satellite Bar to catch the always entertaining sounds of The Phantom Royals. The masked and caped band that contains members of Son of Bitch, and Mikey & The Drags never disappoint when they play your favorites for the all ages show with doors at 9 pm on the 100% FREE show.

On Friday you could ditch work and head to Improv to catch the 4:20 taping of the Doug Loves Movies podcast with comic Doug Benson. Of course, if you’re going to this show, there’s a good chance you don’t have the kind of job that warrants ditching your job. Or maybe you do. Benson’s weed based humor is always funny and this podcast is where the comic shines basically ripping and riffing of recent movies. The 18 & up show has doors at 3:20 and tickets for $20.

Tifa Tittlywinks/Dem Damn Dames. Photo: Penland Pinups

If that’s not your thing, then you could swing by Numbers for another show from Houston’s Dem Damn Dames, this time featuring classic burlesque on the Burlesque Hideaway show. Alongside the Dames themselves, New York’s Amber Ray is set to perform as well as Austin’s Ruby Lamb, Dallas’ Shelbelle Shamrock, and many, many more. The 18 & up show hosted by Houston comic Ryan Thauburn has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $15 and $30, the latter being a VIP seated option.

Upstairs at White Oak Music Hall you can catch Houston pop punks 30 Foot Fall. Though they haven’t dropped a new album in almost 15 years, the ever-popular group still packs them in with their energetic live sets. The hardcore of New Jersey’s Bigwig will be on as direct support, while the thrash meets pop punk of NOLA’s Pears go on prior. Houston’s Talk Sick Brats will open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $15.

YG. Photo: Jedd Lopez/One Nation

Over in the ballroom at Warehouse Live, the popular hip hop of LA’s YG will headline a set. Though he hasn’t been around for long, the young rapper has made quite the impression and this year’s Still Brazy proves he has plenty left to prove. Frequent collaborator to YG, RJ will be on as direct support where Oakland’s Kamaiyah will bring her mic rocking skills on hand as well. Sad Boy will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $26 and $31.

Satellite Bar will host the crazed psych stoner rock of Houston’s Jody Seabody & the Whirls. These guys are like a trippy punch to the face, their live sets are usually nuts, and their latest release Holographic Slammer from last year is pretty on point. The punk energy of Houston’s Giant Kitty will be on as direct support while the stoner doom of Funeral Horse will go on beforehand. Houston’s Jon Black will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $5 cover.

House of Blues will have the soulful indie rock of Houston’s Mind Shrine over in the Foundation Room. Mind Shrine has the ability to make you dance and get down and their latest single “Somewhere New (demo)” is pretty funky. The blues heavy sounds of Houston’s Fire Moth will get the night started for the 100% FREE all ages show with doors at 8 pm.

On Saturday I’d recommend starting off at Cactus for an in-store performance from Clay Melton Band. From his youthful looks and country western artist sounding name, you’d have no idea that this guy rips on a guitar like a modern day Kenny Wayne Sheppard. Blues heavy riffs and chunky notes flow from his young hands like he was born to play the blues. His latest release, Clay Melton Band EP, doesn’t show how hard he can sound when he wants. The all ages event is 100% FREE, it gets going around 1 pm, and there’s gratis beer for the adults.

Wild Moccasins. Photo: Max Fields

Axelrad will have a return set from Houston’s Wild Moccasins. While the band has been recording as of late, they also aren’t playing out much either. Their 2024 album 88 92 was definitely my jam and their sets are always fun and on point. DJ Fredster will open the 100% FREE show that’s 21 & up around 7 pm.

The studio at Warehouse Live will host the burlesque, comedy, and music of Kiki Maroon’s Burly Q Lounge. A diversified show, which will also feature Ms. Monkey’s Party with a live monkey, is all sorts of entertainment under one roof. The 18 & up show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $20 and $25.

In the ballroom at Warehouse Live you can catch the popular R&B meets hip hop of Toronto’s Tory Lanez. One of the more popular artists from the 2024’s, Lanez seems to sell out every room he’s at and this year’s I Told You is pretty impressive. Georgia’s Jacquees will be on as direct support while the Reggaeton inspired hip hop of Kranium will go on prior. DJ VeeCee will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $29 and $36.

Ruiners. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook

At Christmas Island you can make a charity show benefitting a no kill animal shelter called Friends For Life featuring a headlining set from Cop Warmth. Houston’s “most hated” killwave hardcore band doesn’t seem to be quitting anytime soon, and their newest single “Vanity Shrine” just proves that. The alt sounds of Mockingbird Brother will go on beforehand while the tough new wave punk of Houston’s Ruiners will bring their intensity on prior. The powerviolence of SPARSE will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.

Fox Hollow will be hosting the Bombon crew as well as hosting the official after party for the BGirlCity5 Houston. Sets from Gracie, Navo and more will occur alongside a guest DJ set from Blackout’s DJ Act Badd. Hosting duties from La Commadre and percussion from Ilya Janos are a good way of telling you to attend the tropical dance party for 21 & up that gets going around 9 pm with a $5 cover before midnight.

Flume. Photo: Future Classic Records

On Sunday you could swing by Revention Center to catch a set from Australia’s Flume. The producer has made quite the name for himself as a force in the electronic music world and his sets are known to be pretty nutty. His latest drop, this year’s Skin, features collabs with Tove Lo, Vic Mensa and more. The 18 & up show has no word of openers or support, but that could change. The doors are at 8 pm and tickets are $30.

The avant garde and experimental sounds of Chicago’s ONO will be over at Notsuoh. The legendary group, who has stayed active since they began in the early eighties, has received tons of critical praise for their live sets and last year’s Spooks is beautifully diversive. The industrial music of Virginia’s Buck Gooter will be on as direct support while KA will go on prior. The dark punk of Houston’s Rough Sleepers will open the all ages show with doors at 9 pm and a $7 cover.

Monday you should head to Walters to catch the critically acclaimed psych pop of San Francisco’s Luke Sweeney. Blending the likes of Marc Bolan with pop melodies, Sweeney’s latest single “Red Hot Demands” is pretty diverse, while his 2024 album Adventure:Us is littered with pop melodies. He’s rumored to be the next big deal and not to be missed. There’s no word of support or openers, though that could change for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $7 and $10.

Tuesday you could go to the big room downstairs at White Oak Music Hall for the British indie pop of FOALS. The quintet has amassed quite the popularity, their live shows are always entertaining, and year’s album What Went Down is their most engaging release to date. Indie electro quartet Bear Hands will be on as direct support and openers for the all ages show with doors at 6:30 pm and tickets between $23.50 and $27.25.

The Felice Brothers. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook

You could get your Americana roots fix on when The Felice Brothers make way over to Walters. The upstate New York-based five-piece has made plenty of fans since getting their start in almost a decade ago, and they’re known for an intriguing and intimate live show. Their latest release, this year’s Life In The Dark opens up the band to a more family sound and has proven popular with their growing fan base. The all ages show has no word of openers or support with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $15 and $22.

That’s about all that’s happening around town this week. While you have plenty of options, getting home safe should be at the top of your list, so remember that a safe ride home is just an app away.