Watching Aziz grow over the years from the beginning of his career he had to start picking up his feet faster than his legs could run. From Upright Citizens Brigade, Fun Fun Fun Fest, Moontower Comedy Festival, and Bayou Music Center Ansari’s stage has grown larger and larger, with his next performance in Houston being at the Toyota Center, which can pack in 20,000. That’s a huge jump since the last time I saw him do a very intimate, unannounced house comedy show called Comedy Living Room to a room of 100 surprised fans as practice for his James Franco Roast in Los Angeles.

You’ve departed from small stages during your Human Giant days, creeping onto larger stages and venues. Now, within a short time frame, you’re performing to thousands a night. How do you wrap your head around this and how do you plan on connecting with your audience on such a larger scale?

When I moved to theaters from comedy clubs, it was definitely a transition and I talked to guys like Louis CK who had done the move for advice and slowly adapted my shows to work in those venues over the course of my last three tours. It’s gonna be the same for these arena shows. I got advice from other people that have done it, both comedians and musicians, and have tried to setup the show in a way where it’ll really be cool, not just like “Oh shit, this venue is huge.” For the screens and stuff, I got the guys that worked on stuff like Daft Punk, Beyonce, Watch the Throne, etc. to make sure what I’m doing is something more interesting than just 2 large screens on my right and left. I don’t think comedy has been done super well in arenas, and I’m hoping when people leave the show, they’ll have a ‘holy shit’  moment like after seeing the Daft Punk pyramid or Watch the Throne.

I’ve noticed recently you’ve been doing research on relationships. How has this worked for your writing and is this new tour a small branch from the Buried Alive tour or will it be random bits such as Dangerously Delicious/Intimate Moments?

The research is related to the book I’m now writing, not the standup shows. As far as the standup, this show has evolved a little. When it was called Modern Romance, it was a whole hour about love and relationships. But, then a few months ago, I wrote a bunch of new stuff that I thought I would use as the basis of the next tour, but I decided to just integrate it into the current show. So now its half romance and the other half is about sexism, how amazing my parents are, and the meat industry. This show I’ve been calling Aziz Ansari Live!

Just as much as you, I love to travel and this summer while in Australia eating in new places I would think to myself, “Wonder if Aziz would like this meal?” or “Has Aziz checked this place out yet?” I get this notion that you’ve eaten in all restaurants of the world. In Parks in Rec in one episode your character, Tom is a “foodie,” but only to the extent of taking photos of the food itself, but that’s Tom’s mission. What’s your mission when you come eat Houston?

Sadly, I don’t have time to eat in Houston cause we have shows the night before and after. (And if I did, I wouldn’t say where in case the Aziz murderer was reading this!) I’m gonna try though. I also want to say, I’m tired of the word “foodie” and the negative connotation. I don’t consider myself a “foodie” and I’m not even sure what it is. If you like good food, you’re just a person of taste. If someone dresses well, they don’t get dubbed a “clothie” or some other dumb, derogatory term. The people that just eat garbage all the time, they’re the ones that need a stupid label. How about food bozos? “Yeah that guy doesn’t care where he eats, he’s a food bozo.”

Exactly, same for “selfies”. Why can’t people just instead called them “selfish?” Thank you for your time and I’d like to end on a wonderful homage to Joan Rivers and what she did for the world. Anything you’d like to share about Rivers to Houston, TX?

Ahhh, the Joan Rivers thing really bums me out. The day before she went to the hospital, she did an hour set in New York. That’s my dream. I always say in interviews that TV, movies, and all that shit means nothing in the grand scheme. What I really want to do, is be 80 or 90 years old and drop into a comedy club and still be able to have a killer set. Joan did that up until the day she died. It’s incredible to me. She’s a real hero.

Aziz Ansari will be performing live this Friday at Toyota Center at 8pm. Tickets from $35-$55.
TWITTER: @azizansari

It never ceases to amaze me at all we tend to have going on in this city.  Even on a holiday weekend, there’s still plenty to do this week full of great locals, plenty of laughs, and even some legends.  Here’s how your weekend should get planned.

Things start off on Wednesday over at Fitzgerald’s, when Philly’s Man Man make their way into town.  Man Man is basically a pop band with a little of the weird mixed in.  They’ll be here in support of their latest offering, last year’s “On Oni Pond.”  The album showcased a little more of a folky vibe in it’s simplicity.  Keeping things simple, Adam Schatz of Man Man’s other band, Landlady will open things up.  Landlady has this very interesting approach to their sound, which is folk rock pop; if that makes sense.  Their recently released album, “Upright Behavior” was one of the better things to come from Brooklyn in recent memory, since Kevin Devine’s dual releases last year.  The doors are at 8:00, and the tickets are between $12.00 and $17.00 for the all ages show.

If country music is more your speed, then you could head over to House of Blues for the twang of the Buck Yeager Band.  Buck plays this mix of old school country with a hint of nineties country thrown in.  It’s not the literal pop crap that litters the CMA’s nowadays, and it’s more like what’s left of country music’s greats.  It’s over in the Crossroads room, meaning that you can grab a bite and a show.  The doors are at 6:00 and it’s all ages.

There’s a slight chance that you’ll remember The Ataris, as well as their lead singer.  After a meltdown a couple of years back, the band has pretty much reformed, and lead singer Kristopher has been doing shows again.  About half of those have just been him doing their songs solo and acoustic.  Well, despite the best efforts of Scout Bar, that’s what’s coming on Wednesday; Roe performing solo.  Sorry, the website is a little confusing.  If you’re a fan of the band, I’d suggest making it for this one, as they don’t seem to be around much anymore.  Scout Bar has put the reggae of Houston’s Tydings on the show, which is an odd coupling; but they’re a good act to catch.  They’ll be joined by The Weeds, also from Houston as well.  The Analog People get things started for the all ages show with doors at 8:00, and tickets between $10.00 and $14.00.

On Thursday, you could get over to IMPROV as fast as possible, to try and catch one of John Witherspoon’s sets.  You might remember Witherspoon as Mr. Jones from the film “Friday,”  but he’ll always be the Mr. Jones from “Hollywood Shuffle,” to me.  Witherspoon is a seasoned comic, who’s been zigzagging from movie sets to comedy stages for years, and he’s a pretty hilarious guy to boot.  As usual, IMPROV will utilize two Houston greats as openers.  In the feature slot, the hilarious and off the cuff humor of Theo Taylor.  And in the opening slot, comedy legend and Outlaw Comic Andy Huggins.  There’s one show on Thursday, one on Sunday, and two on Friday and Saturday.  The show Thursday is at 8:00, it’s 18 & up, and the tickets are between $22.00 to $32.00.

At Rudyard’s you can catch the dreamy pop from Houston’s Mantra Love.  This band has a rich and lush landscape to their sound, complete with reverb vocals and trippy guitar.  It’s like Spiritualized and Roky Erickson had a baby.  They’ll have Houston’s Cactus Flowers, who will bring a bit of psych rock from North Houston.  Bell and Tom will be getting things started with their trippy sounds.  The show is 21 & up, the doors are at 8:00, and the cover is $6.00.

Starting at the Joke Joint Comedy Showcase on Thursday, you can catch the hilarity of Atlanta’s Tom Simmons.  Simmons has been on Comedy Central, BET, and Showtime to name a few.  He’ll have a tough act to follow, as San Antonio’s riotous Jay Whitecotton will be in the feature slot.  Whitecotton is one of those Texas comics everyone should see at least once, and his irreverent humor is top notch.  I would guess that one of Houston’s up and coming comics would be in the hosting seat as well.  There’s one show on Thursday, two on Friday, and two on Saturday.  The Thursday show is at 8:00 and the tickets are $16.00.

You could catch some improvisational comedy from those over at Station Theater also on Thursday.  This week, they’ll be performing their Structure show that will feature comedians performing The LaRonde style.  If you’re unfamiliar with said style, it features two characters being introduced at a time, then explores the various ways in which the two could exist so to speak.  They’ll have Padded Cell and Launchpad 3.0 as openers, which are both new comedic performances.  The doors are at 8:10 for some reason, and the tickets are $6.00 for the BYOB show.

On Friday over at Numbers, the ladies of Dem Damn Dames will be performing their latest show in part with their continuing once a month series at the iconic club.  The show this month, titled Babes of Broadway, will have a Broadway theme and it will feature some out of town guests from the Stars & Garters troupe of San Antonio.  Acts like Black Orchid, Coco Simone, and Pystol Whips will bring their Alamo city flair alongside a newcomer in Nick The Vegan, and feature performer Lady Jae of Houston Burlesque Review.  Lady Jae will make a triumphant return to Houston only at this show. It sounds like one heck of a party that should entertain as well as tantalize.  The doors are at 7:00, the show is at 8:00, and it’s an 18 & up show.  The tickets fall between $15.00 for presale, $20.00 at the door, and $30.00 for VIP seated.  As with all of these shows by the troupe, your ticket will include a FREE entry for that evening’s “Classic Numbers” dance night, taking place after their performance.

There might be a chance that you want to get your country on, and if so, then the Kevin Anthony show at Continental Club is your best bet.  Anthony plays a pretty laid back version of country that features Texas Swing and a bit of dance hall Honky Tonk.  Anthony’s latest release, “45 Southbound” follows in that tradition of old country performed by a newer artist.  If you like guys who get what real country should sound like, then he’s definitely your guy.  The doors are more than likely around 9:30, and the cover shouldn’t be more than about $20.00 for the 21 & up show.

If you believe in a good fight, then you can make it out to Phoenicia MKT Bar for the Beta Bracket Comedy Competition.  The contest is getting tougher, as this is the beginning of round two of the twelve week event.  This week, some of the comics who have never lost will be up against some who’ve come back from the redemption rounds.  It’s a great way to support local comedy, enjoy the spirit of competition, and revel in the comfortable space of MKT Bar.  These comics, who’ve more than likely invited you to vote for them; are all competing for a grand prize of two grand and a live recording from Heights Vinyl.  Since it’s audience vote, you can decide who gets closer to that epic prize.  Things get started at 9:00 and it’s 100% FREE.

Maybe you’d rather relive your emocore days?  If so, I’d suggest making it to Mango’s for Houston’s best kept emo secret, Hoofprints.  I don’t think I can say this enough, but these guys are truly amazing and they have the chops to back up the sounds on their 2024 release, “Secretly Destroying Honesty.”  I can attest to their energy in a live setting, and their mix of Braid meets Knapsack with a hint of Jets To Brazil thrown in is as infectious as it sounds.  They’ll be playing host to Austin’s Closet Drama,who will bring their indie rock sounds to Houston.  Closet Drama sounds like a mix of Jawbreaker and “Copper Blue” era Sugar, and they should be worth making it out for.  Houston’s Far Out will get things started with doors at 9:00 and tickets for $7.00 for the all ages show.

I would guess that some of you might be in the mood for some pop rock that’s mixed with new wave sounds.  If that sounds like your kind of night, then Walter’s will be hosting the electro pop of San Francisco’s Part Time.  Part Time mixes so many genres, that it’s kind of hard to define their sound.  They’ll be touring in support of last year’s funky and poppy  “PDA.”  They’ll be joined by California’s Sea Lions, who have a very jangly and reverb rocked sound.  They kind of sound like Apples In Stereo meets The Wedding Present, and should be a fun band to watch.  Making things interesting, Houston’s own chillwave masters, Children Of Pop will also be on the bill.  I find it hard to believe that you might not have caught these guys yet, but their infectious sounds are just as entertaining live as they are on disc.  Chase and company really have something interesting on hand with their mix of live instrumentation and electronics.  Golden Cities, also from Houston will bring their psych rock and jazz infused sound to start things off.  The doors are at 8:00, the tickets are a measly $8.00, and the show is all ages.

If you’re one of the lucky ones who snatched up a ticket, then you should enjoy the R&B magic of August Alsina over at Warehouse Live.  I caught Alsina once before, and I’ll just say that his albums don’t do him justice, as he’s much better live.  And that’s saying a lot for a guy who dropped the album he released, “Testimony.”  Though he was born in New Orleans, he did spend a good while in Houston as well, so it’s cool to see that his show sold out.  The tickets were $25.00, and the show is all ages, with doors at 8:00.

I would say that if you wanted to get your groove on, then Friday at Limelight; you might get your answer.  The “There Will Be Bass” show will feature the likes of many DJ’s, including Montreal’s own Snails.  Snails will bring a bass heavy sound to the show, and his high energy dance music is one to catch.  Atlanta’s Mayhem will also be on hand to drop his seasoned drum and bass sounds.  It’s a night stacked full of DJ’s and electronica that includes SewDough, J Colossal, and GR8OH8 to name a few.  making his club debut, will be the future bass trap of Houston’s Mke.  There are many more acts, all worth checking out if you like to get down.  There are three separate rooms to see, so try to make it out to all.  The doors are at 10:00, the show is 18 & up, and the cover is between $10.00 and $20.00.

On Saturday, the blues of G Love & Special Sauce might be something you should go see for yourself over at House of Blues. G Love has been around a good while now, and he’s one of those acts that I’d recommend that everyone see live at least once.  Sometimes his show feels improvised, which adds to his Philly flavor.  He’s touring in support of his latest album, this year’s “Sugar.”  This album has more Southern twang, if that were possible, from his previous efforts.  Giving G Love a run for his money, Keb Mo will be dropping blues science as the opener.  I’ve seen Keb before, and he’s got a pretty intense live show.  He’ll more than likely keep his set closer to his Americana meet blues release, “Bluesamericana.”  The doors are at 7:00, the show is all ages, and the tickets are $34.00 to $61.00.

You may want some high octane flavored rock n’ roll, and if you do, then I’d suggest that the We Were Wolves show at Warehouse Live is where you should be.  They’re loud, they’re fast, and they’re as close to Thin Lizzy meets QOTSA as you’ll see in a long time.  Their release, last year’s “Wolf House” is still getting heavy rotation at my house and in my car; and they put on a pretty tough to follow live show too.  The high energy punk rock of Fort Worth’s Perdition will be on board as part of their recent tour.  These guys kind of have a Hot Water Music meets Swingin’ Utters kind of sound, so I’d say come check them out.  The NOFX meets Less Than Jake sounds of Houston’s Action Frank will also be on hand to add to the mix.  I have to say that I really enjoyed what I heard from these guys, so I’m really interested to see how they sound in a live setting.  Houston’s Fat Mannequin get things started for the all ages show with doors at 8:00 and a 100% FREE cover at the green room stage.

If you’d rather see some hip hop on Saturday, then you could check out Houston’s Z-Ro also at Warehouse Live.  Z-Ro has grown since his association with DJ Screw and made a career off of it.  That’s not a bad thing, as hits like “Summertime,”  “Ready For War,” and “Lovin’ You” all prove that he’s got the chops to back up his Screwed Up Click  ties.  He’ll be supporting his latest drop, this year’s “I Ain’t Takin’ No Loss 3,”  and as someone who’s seen him perform live more than five times; he’s a killer act to catch live.  Mike D, of the infamous Southside Playaz will also be in attendance, and should be a real treat to catch performing live. Mike’s history in the game with the likes of Fat Pat alone are worth coming out for.  The “Queen of H-Town,” Just Brittany will get things started with her insane mic skills a Houston swagger.  The doors are at 8:00, the show is all ages, and the tickets are $30.00.

Guess what? After playing Houston every so often, and doing those Christmas shows, Houston’s own 30 Foot Fall is back.  They’ll make their return Saturday night over at Fitzgerald’s, and bring their high energy punk back home where it belongs.  From what I’ve heard, we might hear a new album sooner than later, and let’s be honest; these guys are a Houston institution.  If you’ve never seen them live, I hate to say that you’ve been missing out.  They have more energy in one note than most bands have in their entire set.  They’ll be joined by the ska specialists of H-Town, The Suspects.  Not much has changed with these guys since I used to skank it up at their shows twenty years ago, and they’re a force in a live setting.  The screamcore punk of Houston’s Bury The Crown will give everyone a run for their money with their intense live show.  I think if you’ve missed these guys, you’re kidding yourself that you’ve missed nothing.  As a guy who’s not a big fan of screamy music, even I have become a Bury The Crown fan; which is saying just see them for yourself.  The throwback garage punk of Houston’s Thrill will get things started doors at 7:00, and tickets between $12.00 and $15.00 for the all ages show.

At Mango’s you can catch the garage rock meets punk of Austin’s Basketball Shorts.  I like what I’ve heard from these guys, and they remind me a little of The Jam meets Ramones, with a bit of pop thrown in.  The new wave garage pop of Austin’s Big Bill will also be on hand.  These guys have a pretty unique sound that has that kind of, “get on the dance floor” kind of vibe.  Houston’s Kose, should add a little bit of that garage rock psych to the show, but with a lot more energy.  With almost a Jon Spencer Blues Explosion type of feel, these guys know how to rock out during their shows, and they’re great to see live.  The punk meets emo of Houston’s Holder will energetically get things started with their Seaweed sound.  The doors are at 9:00, it’s an all ages show, and the cover shouldn’t be more than $8.00.

On Sunday, you might decide that you want to spend your Labor Day out in the heat with Def Leppard and KISS at Woodlands Pavillion.  If so, I’ve seen both of these bands live, except I saw KISS on their first reunion tour, then again on their farewell tour that I swear seems like it was a decade ago.  Anyway, if for some reason you have to go see KISS, this is your chance.  Everyone should go see KISS once, even if it’s Gene and Paul with two non-original members. If “you wanted the best,” this is what you’ll have to settle for.  Def Leppard will more than likely play better than KISS, but their show won’t have as many explosions and what not.  They also are down two original members and an arm, so keep that in mind.  The gates are at 6:00, things start at 7:00, and the tickets range between $41.00 and $190.00.  If you buy one of those $12,000.00 Gene Simmons stage played basses, I’d love to interview you to find out how you justify that purchase.

Perhaps psych rock and air conditioning are more your style, and if they are, then Walter’s will play host to Mr. Elevator & The Brain Hotel.  Their album, “Nico & Her Psychedelic Subconscious,” is pretty hot right now in the world of psych rock.  The trippy nature of LA’s dreamy psych band, Froth will also be on hand.  Get ready for some acid induced dreams, as these guys sound like it’s 1968 and you’re ready to dodge the draft.  The surfy garage of LA’s Corners should add to the mix, while they bring their Dick Dale sound to life for all to see.  The energetic garage rock dream pop of LA’s Wyatt Blair should get things started in his own rockin’ way.  Blair has been one of those acts that I’ve wanted to see for a while, so I’ll definitely get there early to check him out.  This is a really strong lineup, especially if you’re a fan of stuff on Burger Records.  The doors are at 7:00, it’s all ages, and the tickets are a paltry $8.00.

It’s another strong week here in Houston.  While we all wait for cooler weather, please remember to be safe, smart, and kind to your fellow Houstonians on this holiday weekend.  If we all look out for ourselves, maybe we can make this city a better place, one week at a time.

The world of stand-up comedy is a male dominated world.  When you ask comics to list their favorites, even then, it’s usually male names that you hear.  When FPH asked Houston comics who they admired, Nia De-Bose was a name that came up more often than not.  A transplant to Houston, De-Bose has been doing stand-up close to a decade, and her relatable jokes on weight gain and everyday life make her a killer on the mic.  Recently, FPH had a chance to catch up with Nia, and discuss being a female comic and more.

FPH: You’re from St.Louis, right?  What made you move to Houston and how long have you been down here?

ND:I moved to Houston in 2024. Few people are aware how crazy St. Louis is. I was between jobs working for my Dad when I witnessed a kidnapping attempt in broad daylight and I thought to myself “Man, I really need to get out of here.” My best friend was living in Houston at the time and invited me to ‘try it out for a few weeks’ and I never left.

FPH: What’s the craziest job you’ve ever had?

ND:The craziest job I’ve ever had was working in the marketing department of a casino. You see it ALL. Senior citizens getting into fist fights over slot machines, people winning a jackpot then gambling it all away in one night, or even worse people bringing their disabled adult children in to sign over their disability checks. There’s nothing more hilariously sad than a fist fight between elderly people.

FPH: What about stand-up made you choose to get into it?

ND:I chose stand-up because it’s raw. It was something that kind of gnawed at me and drove me to try it. I like the fact that you get all the glory if you kill and you take the loss if you bomb but either way it’s all you.

FPH: How long have you been doing stand-up?

ND:I did stand-up for the first time Feb 15, 2024 at the Houston Improv. I told myself if I could audibly hear ONE person laugh, I would keep doing it, if not; I would never tell a soul and take it to my grave. Thankfully, more than one person laughed. I think it was three.

FPH:  Being a female in a male dominated profession, do you feel as if female comics are treated fairly in the world of stand-up comedy?  Or do you feel like you have to work twice as hard as a male comic to earn respect as a performer?

ND:No I don’t feel women are treated fairly in comedy, and yeah, you have to work a little harder. I once had a club owner tell me he couldn’t book me because he already had a black chick. Like, he actually said that. Verbatim. You’ll be told they can’t put you on a show because they already have their girl. No matter the age difference or ethnicity they’ll have their one “girl” for the show. I think it’s pretty silly and outdated. But you have to roll with the punches and play the cards you’re dealt.

FPH: Recently, Joan Rivers was quoted as saying, “when I started, you didn’t want to stand on stage and make a fool of yourself; women had to be very strong and unattractive to be funny.  Now, Tina Fey and Sarah Silverman have changed all of that, and the crowd will accept a gorgeous funny woman.”  Do you hold any stock in that sentiment, or do you feel like funny is funny, and it doesn’t matter how you look?

ND:I think funny is funny. But it doesn’t matter what I think; What matters is what the booker/club owner thinks. A few years ago I would go on stage in a t-shirt jeans & sneakers. I mean, I still do that, but one time I decided to get dolled up and put on heels and makeup and a member of the staff at the comedy club pulled me aside and said “See? You look so nice. Keep it up, because the owner likes his girls to look nice.” He likes his girls to look nice? Like he was some kind of pimp!I did the same jokes I would do in casual clothes, but because I dressed up to the nines I got booked.

FPH:  Who are your favorite comedians of the past?  Of the present?

ND:My favorite comedians of the past are Paul Mooney and Joan Rivers and my favorite comedians of the present are Louis CK, Patton Oswalt and Dave Chappelle. Chappelle was the first black comedian I ever saw that made me think I stood a chance at comedy. And Bill Burr, he’s so intense and angry. I love it.

FPH:  Do you think that people who’ve never seen you before,  are shocked when you perform and you have a very everyday type of “voice” to your act; that you possibly change their perception of what jokes a female comic can do?

ND:There are more men that do stand-up than women, so while there may be more awful, hacky male comics there are less women comics so it seems like most female comics aren’t funny. Or at least, that’s MY theory. As an audience member you have a preconceived notion that women aren’t funny and black comics are going to talk about….I don’t know, fried chicken and watermelon? So I guess when you see a black woman with locs you’d think you have nothing in common with me. That I would say nothing you can relate to, so yes, I think people are shocked when they realize we share the same struggle with trying not to order extra large milkshakes at fast food restaurants. All comics can do whatever jokes they want as long as they can make it relatable (and funny).

FPH: Almost every comic in Houston speaks massive amounts of respect for you as a comic, as a performer, and as someone integral to the Houston Comedy Scene.  Does it feel like with this recent birth of places to do stand up, that’s it’s easier now to get on shows?  Or is it harder because there’s so many new people doing stand-up?

ND:I think it’s great that there are so many places to go up now. There are only two comedy clubs in town, so it’s great that so many comics are taking the reigns and starting their own rooms. Steven Padilla has multiple rooms around town and there are now a few places that let you do feature sets (20-30min) that was unheard of a few years ago. It seems easier to get on because there are so many new places for every level, from open micer to headliner.

FPH:  What’s your idea of a successful comedy career?

ND:My idea of a successful career is nationwide touring, hosting a late night talk show, and voice acting in cartoons then retire with my money from my international chain of Apocalypse themed specialty stores called “Nia’s Dystopian Pickle Shoppe™”

De-Bose might have one of the sharpest comedy minds I’ve ever witnessed.  Just watching her calmly and hilariously destroy a heckler once, was enough to sell me on her strengths on stage.  While she chases her dream of owning that pickle shop; you can catch her on stage at most the rooms around town.

Williams hasn’t taken off as a movie star in the manner of, say, Kevin Hart. Both comics are diminutive, 5’5” and 5’4” respectively. But it’s obvious he has stage charisma that would easily transfer to the big screen. Williams has had small roles in films like Norbit and Scary Movie 5.

Williams is more profane than Hart. In fact, there are few stand-ups who can constantly say, “mother fucker” and “what the fuck” with the hyper eloquence Williams musters in this one-hour show. A spirited and flamboyant stage manner shows the kind of spit and fire you can image from a public figure that constantly gets arrested.

Williams makes light of his several arrests in his act. A typical Williams bust is for something like shoplifting or leading the heat on a low-speed pursuit while driving a three-wheeled motor vehicle.

Williams touches taboo subjects like race and death and pussy and swimming in the ocean. Yet he never seems taboo in his delivery so much as a prophet of wisdom with a nasty bent.

– Michael Bergeron

It’s kind of hard to believe that August is almost over, and that the Paste Untapped festival is just around the corner.  This seems like another great week filled with plenty of shows from local and touring acts alongside lots of comedy.  Here’s where your free time should go.

You can start your week off with the folky pop of San Francisco’s Thao & The Get Down Stay Down over at Fitzgerald’s.  I guess the best way to describe the sound of these guys would actually be more like quirky pop, with folk influence.  You might know them from their song, “Holy Roller.”  But, once you hear their full album, last year’s “We The Common,” you should get sucked into its infectious pop sound.  The indie pop of Houston’s The Wheel Workers will get things started.  If you’ve never caught these guys live then you’re definitely missing out.  Their new album, “Past To Present” is really great and is filled with enough catchy hooks to make you bop your head for hours.  The doors are at 7:00, it’s all ages, and the tickets are between $13.00 and $17.00.

Do you know what’s in Appleton, Wisconsin?  Not much but the headquarters for the people who make Kleenex.  However, if you look at Wisconsin’s Wartorn, you get why they sound they way they do.  They will bring their thrash metal punk over to Walter’s on Wednesday night.  They’ll be playing with the hardcore screaming sounds of Italy’s Raw Power.  Raw Power has been going strong for over thirty years and they still seem to bring their A game when they play live.  They’re basically punk with metal overtones, but definitely someone any fan of bands like DRI should see live.  The hardcore punk of Clute’s H.R.A. will get things started with doors at 8:00 and tickets between $10.00 and $12.00 for the all ages show.

On Thursday, you can make it over to House of Blues’ Bronze Peacock room to catch the traditionally old school rock sounds of Nashville’s The Wild Feathers.  It may sound dumb, but at one time rock n’ roll was fairly basic without labels as rock was just rock.  That’s the era in which The Wild Feathers seem to exist.  If I had to pigeonhole them, I’d say they sound like if Superdrag and Tom Petty decided to remake Sgt. Pepper’s with Neil Young.  It’s my complicated way of telling you to check them out.   In fact, their debut release, last year’s “The Wild Feathers” might be one of the freshest things you’ll hear.  The impeccable talent of Houston’s Second Lovers will be getting things started and giving The Wild Feathers a run for their money.  Two releases in and this band just gets better with a newer and fuller sound.  If you loved their first incarnation, or you loved their simple incarnation; then you’ll really love them now.  Second Lovers might be Houston’s best kept secret as their live show has the tendency to garner new fans and win over naysayers.  The doors are at 8:00 and the tickets are $15.00 for the all ages show.

If you were wondering what a band consisting of Ted Leo and Aimee Mann would sound like, then you can head over to Fitzgerald’s for their new band, The Both.  With Mann on bass, and Leo on guitar; both contribute vocals in a way that’s much more rockin’ than you’d expect.  Their self titled album, released earlier this year was more than just the sum of it’s parts.  There’s some rock, some pop, and some folk that’s only made better by the dual vocals of these two.  The indie pop rock of New York’s Lemuria will be getting things started.  Honestly, these guys are pretty damn infectious with their Superchunk meets Knapsack sound.  Their most recent album, 2024’s “The Distance Is So Big,” follows their tradition of indie pop.  If you had planned on going to this show, you should definitely check them out as they might be one of the best bands going as of late.  The show is all ages, the doors are at 8:00, and the tickets are between $23.00 and $26.00.

There’s also the chance to catch some short form improv over at Beta Theater on Thursday night as well.  The Rosacea Butts show will feature the talents of a rather boisterous group that will feature the likes of some of our city’s most creative people.  The multi-talented Hoja Lopez will lead the group alongside Alice VanDemark, Katie McGee, and Joey Lamb.  Like most shows at Beta, it carries the “pay what you can” policy.  That means don’t bring quarters unless they’re rolled.  The show gets started at 7:00 and it’s BYOB.

Starting Thursday over at IMPROV, you can catch the hilarity of Nebraska’s Godfrey.  You might know Godfrey from such films as “Soul Plane,” and “Zoolander,” but his comedy is pretty top notch.  His jokes are universal, he has great timing, and he stands the chance to sell out every night in town.  There’s only one show on Thursday at 8:00 and one on Sunday at 7:30, but there are two on Friday and Saturday.  The Thursday show has tickets falling between $15.00 and $25.00, and there’s a great chance that a couple of Houston comics will open things up.

On Friday night, Stereo Live will play host to Connecticut’s Audien for all who want to get their dance on.  Some people say his stuff is ambient trance while others call it progressive house, though to me it has a rehashed nineties vibe.  Nonetheless, he’s kind of big in EDM right now, and someone you should check out.  Houston’s Surain is on the show as well as London’s DJ Charles.  Things get going around 9:00 and the tickets range between $10.00 and $20.00.

At Rudyard’s, they’ll be offering the indie pop electronica from Dallas’ The Ones You Loved. This duo has some insanely poppy tunes that are infectious and endearing, so they should be great to see live.  Their 2024 release, “Night Owls” is worth a listen as well.  The Buxton/Children of Pop hybrid Guess Genes will be on board to balance the house.  The trippy folktronics of Houston’s Black Cove are on the show with Shoe Shine opening things.  The doors are at 9:00, there’s NO COVER, and this adults only, so 21 & up.

However, bluesy rock might be more where you heart lies, and if so you can head over to Fitzgerald’s for The Beans.  The Beans have such an electric energy that has the vibe of Cream meets Buffalo Springfield.  I mean, if you like the band you watch to have so much soul that you can feel their anguish in their lyrics, then The Beans are your band.  The trippy and almost hippie pop of Austin’s Holiday Mountain will also be on the show.  Holiday Mountain is a bizarre act who is a little all over the place, yet is still entertaining with their sometimes strange sound that feels like an acid trip.  The garage psych of Austin’s Tele Novella will get the show going with doors at 8:00, and tickets between $8.00 and $10.00 for the all ages show.

You could however, make it over to Avant Garden when hosts Prints NotPrince bring to town the Belgium DJ Dave Luxe.  Luxe has sick producing skills alongside crazy remixes.  As a DJ, he knocks it out of the park and he’s coming to Houston for the first time ever.  There promises to be plenty of glitch visuals happening alongside some great music.  The trip hop madness of Houston’s Android Genius will be in the mix as well as the esoteric sounds of Yung Slutty.  The chill wave goods of LA’s Eroda One will get things started upstairs with doors at 10:00 and a $5.00 cover for the 21 & up show.

If you like dark music, then the ambient noise of Astrogenic Hallucinating will be over at Mango’s for your enjoyment.  There are moments where you feel like you’re dreaming, moments where you feel scared, but it’s just music….really dark and trippy music.  Houston’s free form groove noise sounds of Pleasure 2 will be on board to make things a little stranger while the genius of B L A C K I E will open things up.  If you’re a fan of his, then this is your show as I’m pretty sure that he’ll have his new album “Imagine Yourself In A Free And Natural World” on hand.  This release is more free form jazz than previous B L A C K I E efforts from what I’ve heard, but this guy has always reinvented himself by the second.  The show is all ages, it’s in the Mango’s parking lot, and it starts at 9:00.  There isn’t a cover listed, but I doubt it’s much more than $5.00.

You could also make it to Phoenicia MKT Bar on Friday night to help pick a winner, literally.  The Beta Bracket Comedy Competition will be going on to find a comic in hopes of snagging two grand and a live recording at Heights Vinyl.  You may have already been asked by a comic to attend as it’s an audience vote that decides who does and who doesn’t advance to the next round.  This week brings more of Houston’s best up and coming comics like Zach Dickson and Ty Mahany to name a few.  I’ve caught most of these comics in the wild, and MKT Bar is such a great room for this event, that you’ll quickly forget it’s attached to a grocery store.  Things get started promptly at 9:00, so you have to get there a little early to help your friend advance.  It’s an event that’s 100% FREE.

Over at the Continental Club, you can catch the eclectic pop rock sounds of Houston’s Poor Pilate.  What can you say about how loose and rhythm driven these guys are that hasn’t been said before?  The melodic nature of their sound is a little too hard to ignore, and since they seem to play less and less; this is a great way to catch them.  The blues based rock of Houston’s Fire Moth will be on as well.  These guys have that awesome mix of early Kings Of Leon if they were fronted by Billy Gibbons.  The soulful and acid dipped garage rock sounds of Darwin’s Finches will start things off with doors around 9:00 and a $5.00 cover for the 21 and up show.

Even though their website says otherwise, I assure you that Houston’s Quiet Morning & The Calamity will be playing in Warehouse Live’s Green Room on Friday night.  The alt-country meets new world americana sound that these guys have is pretty great from the first listen.  They sound like a cross between early Tom Petty and early Wilco before they stopped playing alt country.  They’ll have their work cut out for them, as Grand Old Grizzly will be doing their country twang before them  Grand Old Grizzly seems to mix the Jeff tweedy of Uncle Tupelo with the new americana joy of Mount Moriah, while still keeping ties to country music’s golden era.  The soulful country sounds of Matt Harlan will be on board as well.  Harlan’s latest release, this year’s “Raven Hotel” keeps with his tradition of well crafted songs that have traditional country hooks.  Ruckus will get things started with a little tonk to match their honk.  The doors for this stacked show are at 8:00, the cover is a paltry $10.00, and the show is all ages.

Normally I don’t always recommend a long drive, but on Friday night you could venture out to the Woodlands for legend John Mayall at Dosey Doe’s Big Barn.  This guy is a blues rock legend that is getting older by the second, which is a nice way of saying catch him before the reaper does.  Mayall now fronts his own band, so I can’t vouch for how he sounds now.  But he did also have a hand in The Bluesbreakers Featuring Eric Clapton.  If you like Cream, early Fleetwood Mac, and even the Rolling Stones, then Mayall is who you should thank.  The show which includes dinner, gets rolling at 8:30, though dinner is served between 6:00 and 7:30 and the tickets aren’t cheap ranging between $88.00 and $128.00.

If you are willing to see Mayall, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention that the hip hop genius of Wiz Khalifa will be at the Woodlands Pavillion.  Wiz is seriously a force to be reckoned with,  and continuous drops that turn to hits just prove why he’s so requested today.  There’s a heavy list of openers that include Atlanta’s Young Jeezy who will definitely get everyone in attendance in a frenzy.  LA’s Ty Dolla $ign will be on board which is a real treat for everyone, while Atlanta’s Rich Homie Quan should be a real crowd pleaser as well.  In fact, once you add New York’s Mack Wilds, Atlanta’s DJ Drama, and California’s Sage The Gemini; you have a serious mix of top hip hop talent.  Things will get started by California’s IAM$U with doors at 5:30 and tickets ranging between $27.50 and $73.00.

Speaking of the Woodlands Pavillion, they’ll also be hosting Nine Inch Nails and Soundgarden on Saturday night.  I really hate to say this, but Soundgarden, is terribly boring live.  I’m not saying that they can’t rock a smaller venue, but I saw Soundgarden three times in their heyday, and they were boring as hell all three times.  I still love their music, but I’m just warning you.  However, you’ll be shocked at how amazingly entertaining Nine Inch Nails is live.  Trent has the ability to whip the crowd into chaos while still delivering the group’s hard nosed sound in a creative and energetic way.  Both bands have great new albums out there with Soundgarden’s “King Animal,” and Nine Inch Nails’ “Hesitation Marks.”  The chaotic scream fueled sounds of The Dillinger Escape Plan will get things going with doors at 5:30 and tickets ranging between $34.50 and $99.50 for the all ages show.

You could make it over to Bayou Music Center to watch some roller derby action, as Houston Roller Derby has their August bout.  If you’ve never had the chance to catch these women in action, I’ll just say that it’s a lot tougher than the glitzy and glam fueled roller derby you might be thinking of.  You can help support roller derby in this town while watching some serious athletic prowess from women on skates.  Things get going at 7:00 and tickets are between $15.00 and $25.00 for the all ages event that allows kids aged 5 and under in for FREE.

Upstairs at Fitzgerald’s, you can catch the latest installment of the ongoing series of You Ain’t Punk shows.  This version, will feature Houston’s hard hitting and furious punk of Bury The Crown as Operation Ivy, Hell City Kings as Turbonegro, and Dead To The World as Ramones; just to name a few.  The show has many other bands that include Donkey Punch and The Swamps playing as some of your favorite punk bands.  The show is all ages, it’s FREE for 21 & up, and it’s $10.00 for under 21.

Over at the black box theater also known as Beta Theater, they’ll be doing their last Triple Header shows at their original location.  The monthly show has become a staple for anyone who likes comedy.  The three comedian format will feature the talents of Dusti Rhodes, the hilarious Barry Laminack, and the irreverent Chris Oddo, each performing a twenty minute set.  As always, the funny comedic timing of Bob Morrissey will host the event that is different this month.  This month, because Beta is looking for new digs, there will be three shows instead of the usual two.  As FPH reported, rather than pay what you can, it would be stellar if you could pay what you should to help the theater out.  There are shows at 7:00, 9:00, and 11:00; and hopefully, the comics will forego payment and let Beta keep all the money to insure that they’ll be around for future shows.

If you’re a fan of the Small Faces, Humble Pie, and Joe Cocker; then you should make it over to the Continental Club for Ian McLagan & The Bump Band.  McLagan played with all of the previous mentioned acts, and his solo performances are that of legend.  He has played with more names than I can mention, and his “Bump Band” puts on a pretty epic performance.  Their recently released album, “United States” keeps in line with the tradition of great tunes.  He’ll have the garage rock of Mikey and The Drags opening things up with all of their sixties era swagger doors at 9:00 and a cover that isn’t mentioned, but shouldn’t be more than $25.00.

You might remember that song “Wicked Game” all over MTV when they still lived off of music, and all over radio back in the nineties.  Well, the guy who performed that song, Chris Isaak will be in town on Saturday night at Arena Theater.  I’ve actually caught Isaak live before, and I’ll admit that he’s pretty entertaining to catch perform.  Touring in support of his latest release, “Mr. Lucky,” Isaak will more than likely be great to see in the round.  There doesn’t appear to be an opener, but there should be with tickets ranging between $32.50 and $62.50.

On Sunday night, over at Dean’s there will be a special songwriters in the round show that features Chase Hamblin, Justin Nava, and Matt Mejia.  Of course you know Chase from pretty much everything he does, and Justin from his band TheLastPlaceYouLook, as well as Matt from Come See My Dead Person.  But, seeing them in this capacity feeding off one another while attempting to either one up one another or just jam together is a pretty cool thing to see in person.  It’s an ages show that gets going around 9:00, and it’s 100% FREE.

You could also venture over to Last Concert Cafe for their Attack of The Comedy Show.  This installment will feature the likes of one of Houston’s funniest comics,  Reed Becker.  The rapid fire jokes of Christopher Riddle, and the funny Rachel Streitmann.  The show will also feature English Matt and Kazeem Rahman.  As always, Al Bahmani will perform as quick witted host to all who attend.  the show is 100% FREE and the doors are at 8:00.

It’s nice that most of these things happen inside and at night, since I think I lost ten pounds at last week’s Houston Whatever Fest.  Whatever you end up doing please remember to use your better judgement, be kind, and enjoy every great thing that this week has to offer.

Anyone who has lived in Houston long enough can agree that there’s almost always something to do.  Any artist who has lived in Houston long enough will agree with that sentiment, but will also argue that having a place to do some things at is harder than most would think.  As a native Houstonian, I’ve actually lived in more major cities than most, and it’s always felt like Houston was lacking something….industry.  Sure, we have plenty of places for comedy and improv, but finding those people with the experience, the connections, and the mindset to help with your career are pretty much nonexistent.  That was ultimately true before Beta Theater opened.  For the last year, the tiny black box theater inside the MECA facility has helped hundreds of artists hone their craft while hosting some amazing comedy and improv shows.  Now, with factors beyond the theater’s control, they’re moving to a new space in which to offer their industry based services. The cost has forced them, for the first time, to ask for help from the community they’ve helped nurture.

When I first met Jeromy Barber, Beta’s creative director; he reminded me of all the guys I went to an art college with.  Succinct and direct are definitely his forte, while having the goods to back himself up.  A creative guy with a list of professional credits, Barber has helped Houstonians with their careers in comedy, improv, and in general with entertainment advice.  I was, and actually still am, blown away with what he’s achieved inside a converted junior high classroom.  The black box style theater has a professional lighting rig alongside professional sound and somehow, they still fit upwards of fifty seats inside.  I’ve seen everything from stand-ups to improv, two person shows to movie screenings, and occasionally even a music performance inside the miniscule space.  All of these shows were done with the highest level of professionalism that usually made me forget that I was in an old junior high school.  When I went to watch local comedian Brian Zeolla record his debut comedy album, “Okay, You Got It!” I forgot that this wasn’t a comedy club I was at.  I sat alongside complete strangers as well as comics and friends, and it never felt out of place.  The same could be said about when I watched one of their Triple Header shows where three different comics perform three separate twenty minute sets on the same night.  Whether it’s one of the “Feelings” shows with Antoine Culbreath and Amy Birkhead, any one of Mills McCoin’s shows, or a comedy performance; I’ve always appreciated the spot’s existence in our city.

However, after I spoke to comics who had attended the theater’s comedy workshop, I had a whole new appreciation for Beta and all that Jeromy is trying to achieve.  The highest praise I’ve ever heard about a comedy workshop was what I would go on to hear.  That’s saying so much for a workshop that’s not run by a comic who can get you on a show or you you strive to gain approval from.  At the theater’s one year anniversary party, I met so many different people who had taken one of the many improvisation courses there.  These were people from all different walks of life, from all different ages, demographics, and income levels who all said the same thing; I love this place.  Over the course of one night, I would go on to hear stories of students who professed love for Barber and about how his courses had changed their lives.  It was truly an amazing experience for someone who isn’t used to hearing so many nice things about anything in this town.  All of this praise confirmed to me what I already knew, Houston needs a place like Beta Theater.

In the guise of finding a space that can be converted into something similar while staying close to town, Beta has gone to the act of “trading” for a new space.  In a new video available on Beta’s website, Beta is attempting to trade a golden microphone for a larger space.  While this is a noble effort that could possibly lead to a larger performance space, you can help by attending their final Triple Header show in their current space this Saturday.  Instead of the usual two performances, there will actually be three and all carry their pay what you can price model.  But, this is your chance to pay what they need, what they could use, and ultimately; what you should.  If you’ve ever performed at Beta Theater, if you’ve ever taken a class, and even if you’ve just seen a show there, Saturday is your chance to help keep Beta in all of our lives.

The final Triple Header will utilize three great performers on Saturday night.  Dusti Rhodes, the host of the Rudyard’s open mic will perform alongside the hilarious Barry Laminack, and the irreverently funny Chris Oddo.  As always, the show is hosted by the funny and talented Bob Morrissey.  You can pick up advance tickets and pay what you should here for either the 7:00, the 9:00, or the 11:00 performances.  The show’s are all BYOB and there are beverages at the venue as well.

It seems like the word festival gets tossed around nowadays to the point of confusion.  So many times, a gathering of bands or talent for three or four hours can get called a festival.  So, when they guys at Youngblood Booking and Rise Up Booking told me earlier this year that they were setting up a festival, I was curious to know what it would be.  What it became was this weekend’s Houston Whatever Fest, where roughly seventy bands and comics will perform on the block encapsulating Warehouse Live, also known as EADO Party Park.  For two days you’ll get the likes of Kreayshawn, MuteMath, Andrew WK, Blonde Redhead, and  Dwarves on the music side of things.  On the comedy end, you’ll be graced with TJ Miller, Iliza Shlesinger, Bobcat Goldthwait, and Jonah Ray.  On either side of entertainment, these are just a small sample of what’s offered, but a large portion of the fest will be local performers.  Some of the bands you’ve probably heard of as well as some of the comics.  However many haven’t gained much traction in this town, so below I’ll highlight who to see and why.

Getting things started on Saturday is one of my favorite up and coming rappers from Houston, iLL LiaD.  If you calculate the fact that iLL is getting on most the marquee hip hop shows in town, the fact that he’s inked his name to a label bigger than Houston, and he drops crazy mad skills on a mic; you have no reason not to see him get this party started.  The standout opener for the Z-RO show, iLL has played FPSF, he’s guest MC for the Lil’ Jon DJ set, and he’s constantly getting bigger by the day.  If you want to see the next big name in Houston hip hop, then you have to see iLL do his thing.  His most recent drop, “The Odyssey” might be one of the most ambitious things you’ll hear in hip hop today.  He’ll get things rolling over at the Space City Vodka stage at 12:30.

Going on at the same time, over at the Ballroom stage, is Houston’s Versecity.  I’ve never seen Versecity perform, but that might have to do with the fact that they’ve been making it out of town and on bigger shows lately.  These guys have played Warped Tour and they have a sound that’s reminiscent of Fall Out Boy meets Lifehouse.

At 1:30 Saturday, at the Bud Light stage, Houston’s dynamic duo Fox & Cats will be dropping their pop rock sounds.  Fox & Cats have a mix that’s a little bit Say Anything mixed with  The Front Bottoms.  If you’ve never seen Fox & Cats, I’ll just mention that they have one of the hardest hitting drummers you’ll see in a long time.  You’ll be blown away when you see her beats the kit like a fat kid in middle school while Josh screams vocals with intensity like very few can.

At 1:45 at the Sailor Jerry’s stage, the comedy will get started with many of the locals doing ten to fifteen minute sets.  The comedy will be hosted by Gabe Bravo and Stephen Brandau, and it will get started with the hilarious Lena Silva.  Lena hasn’t been doing comedy a year yet, but already she seems to have a good stage presence and a pretty solid set of jokes.  She’ll have Zahid follow her at 1:55 with his many irreverent jokes and self effacing humor.  Chris Oddo will soon follow at 2:05 with a host of jokes on everything from working crappy jobs to crazy food fusions.  Micah Green will follow at 2:15 and hopefully we won’t have to see his heckler destroying skills put to action.  He will be followed by a true African comic with Ku Egenti at 2:30.  Ku can make almost anyone laugh with jokes about creepin’ in a Prius for starters.  Houston’s hardest self promoting comic, Rich Williams will come on at 2:45, and will more than likely incite a sing-a-long before his set is done.  From up in the Woodlands, Zach Dickson will bring his rap lyric based jokes to all at 3:00, and will leave most of the audience in stitches when he’s done.  He will have Houston’s most respected up and comer, Jaffer Khan after him at 3:15.  Jaffer has the ability to make you think while he makes you laugh, and his jokes a more long form but definitely worth the build up.  The only guy who can follow Jaffer is Matt Han who’ll hit the stage at 3:30.  Han has a style that’s almost self deprecating while he paralyzes the audience with laughter at his smarter than average routine.  Dale Cheesman will be on at 3:45 to make us all question our beliefs on religion, as well as make everyone laugh till’ it hurts.  The local portion of the comedy will end off with local comedy legend Andy Huggins at 4:00.  Huggins has a rich history with Houston’s comedy scene.  At sixty four years old, he’s seen most and done all the rooms.  He was a close friend to the late and great Bill Hicks as well as one of the original Outlaw Comics.  He’s easily the one local guy you’ll kick yourself for missing on Saturday, as he can make anyone laugh while he inspires everyone who will go up before him.

Getting back to music, the screamo of Houston’s Square and Compass will hit the Ballroom stage at 3:30.  Square and Compass have a pretty intense live show that’s only heightened by their tight performance skills.  If you’re a fan of bands like Braid and Hot Water Music, then you’ll love these guys as they sound like a mix of both.

At 4:00 at the Rise Up/Youngblood Booking stage, you can catch one of Houston’s most creative performers when LIMB takes the stage.  Usually, when someone says something is electronic, that leaves one to think that it’ll be all sound and low on performance.  However, James has the ability to mesmerize anyone who sees him perform.  The sounds that emanate are infectious while LIMB’s performance is one of sheer will, as you watch man vs. machine alongside man with machine.  This is definitely a must see act for all in attendance.

Inside the Ballroom stage, you can watch the energy fueled mayhem that is Houston’s Another Run.  After watching these guys brave the heat during FPSF this year, I think most who saw them realized how solid they are, not only as performers but as musicians as well.  High energy rock mixed with higher energy vocals is what they’re all about, and this is a great time to catch them before they blow up and leave our town for good.

Of course, if you like Energy, then you could also catch Knights of The Fire Kingdom on the Bud Light stage, also at 4:45.  Knights are like a mix of Rocket From The Crypt with the melody of Foo Fighters.  However, they always play with the energy and intensity of a large scale act, their matching outfits recall something rock hasn’t seen in a while; showmanship.

At 5:30 over on the Rise Up/Youngblood Booking stage, you can catch the infectious pop rock of Houston’s Catch Fever.  It doesn’t seem like these guys are as new to our scene as they are, but in three short years Catch Fever has gotten on the tip of everyone’s tongues.  A stellar and well crafted album, a strong lead single with a stronger video, and an energetic live show are what these guys have built in a very short time.  When you add that their album was mastered by heavy hitting name Emily Lazar, you get a band who’s thinking outside the box.  This is your chance to see them while you still can as good things are in these guys’ future.

At the Ballroom stage at 6:15, the dark synth of CeePlus Bad Knives will be dropping funkiness on all who attend.  What can you say when someone mixes simple beats and simple synths to make something catchy, other than to call them great.  Well CeePlus is great and entertaining as well.  He doesn’t perform as much nowadays, so it’s a great way to see him wow everyone who make it out.

The local performances will be capped off with a performance at 7:15 by Wrestlers on the Rise Up/Youngblood Booking stage.  Wrestlers is definitely climbing up the ladder of the music industry with recent performances at such spots like Lollapalooza.  If you catch them live, you’ll realize quickly why they were asked to perform on the massive festival.  These guys are the perfect cap of local talent for the evening, and someone everyone should check out.  You’ll hate yourself if you miss them do their thing.

On Sunday, you can start the day off at 12:30 with Houston’s hip hop group, Mad Men Crew on the Space City Vodka stage.  I’ve never seen Mad Men live, but they sound like they have a crazy energy.  From what those who’ve seen them live tell me, they’re as talented as they are entertaining.  They seem to have a silly side to their rhymes, but they also sound like they come correct.

At 1:30 on the Bud Light stage, the dark prog metal of Houston’s Oceans of Slumber will be growling through their set.  These guys have a very prog sound that has almost neu metal vocals.  From the sound of their recently released album, “Aetherial,”they should do well in whipping the crowd into a frenzy.  When I asked around about their live show that I’ve never seen, I heard good things about their high energy and tight performance.

The comedy on Sunday will still be at the Sailor Jerry stage, and it will still be hosted by local comics Stephen Brandau and Gabe Bravo.  Starting the day off at 1:45 will be Maggie Maye of Austin.  Maye has a pretty quick whit that’s been honed to an almost science of comedy.  Lisa Friedrich, also coming from Austin but originally from Houston will follow Maye at 1:55.  Since leaving Houston, Friedrich has appeared in a movie and is quickly rising up Austin’s comedy ladder.  At 2:05, Clay Christofferson will bring his quickly timed comedy to life.  His video game jokes are more than enough reason to catch his set, and his humor is as smart as he is tall.  He will be followed by the man of one thousand voices, Ty Mahany at 2:15.  Mahany is pretty well versed on stage, and his jokes about his son alone are top notch.  Austin’s Cody Hustak will follow at 2:30 and he should leave most with a pain in their side.  Hustak has done SXSW, Fun Fun Fun Fest, and he has won the funniest person in Austin award.  After Hustak at 2:50, Houston’s Dusti Rhodes will follow.  You might know Rhodes from hosting the open mic every Monday night at Rudyard’s.  One of Houston’s strongest comics, Theo Taylor will go on at 3:00.  Taylor has more material than most comics around, and his off the cuff jokes are some of the best you’ll hear all day. After Taylor at 3:20, one of the hardest working comics in Houston, Ashton Womack will take the stage.  Womack is on his way up the comedy ladder, and his relatable jokes make him a heavy contender for a guy so early in his career.   At 3:40, Owen Dunn will take the stage and make the audience laugh pretty hard.  Dunn has a very easy going stage presence that’s only matched by his irreverent humor.  Brian Zeolla will follow at 3:50 with his self effacing brand of humor.  Zeolla did the crazy and dropped an album earlier in 2024 in his second year doing comedy, but his relatable jokes will leave the crowd wanting more.  At 4:05, Reed Becker will drop some smart humor on everyone watching.  His opening joke alone is worth making it out for, and his style is more relaxed than many comics you’ll see.  Recent winner of Laff Town’s Funniest contest John Nguyen will hit the stage at 4:15.  John has the ability to joke about race in a funny and relatable manner that will leave everyone laughing until they feel bad about laughing.  At 4:45, the hilarious and always touring comic Sam Demaris will go on.  Watching Sam do his thing, you’ll quickly realize why Funny Or Die recently called him “one of 15 of the funniest stand-up comedians you SHOULD be following.”  At 5:05, Houston’s Bob Biggerstaff will close the comedy off with his hilarious act.  Bob has an act that covers everything from working crappy jobs to sports, and everything in between.  His easy going demeanor and quick comedic timing make him the best guy in town to finish off the local side of comedy on the festival.

Back to music, Justin Nava of the Houston band TheLastPlaceYouLook, will be doing his solo show at 2:15 on the Ballroom stage.  I recently caught Nava do a show and I have to say that if you liked his band, you’ll love his solo work.  There has always been a soft passion to his full band, but his solo work really brings that out when you catch him live.

On the Space City Vodka stage at 3:00, you can catch the pop punk of Magnolia’s Carter.   These guys remind me of a mix between Bad Religion and Pennywise, while still putting their own original stamp on their sound.  When you realize how tight these guys are, you’ll be impressed.  When you notice that they’re just a three piece, you should be blown away.

At 3:15 inside on the Ballroom stage, you can catch the trippy hip hop of Houston’s Guilla.  When I saw Guilla live, it shocked me at how good of a rhyme flow his performance had, while his sheer energy was pretty unmatched.   The synths and beats that Guilla uses are pretty different even for Houston’s hip hop landscape.  Not that that’s a bad thing, as it just sets him apart.

In the world of Houston’s hip hop underground, there have been plenty of names to come along.  However, in recent history, there haven’t been many as entertaining as Fat Tony.  At 4:45 on the Ballroom stage, Fat Tony will drop mad beats and madder rhymes on everyone in the crowd.  His latest drop, “Insecure” just proves further what most of Houston knows; that Fat Tony is here to stay and his game is better than ever.

Over on the Rise Up/Youngblood Booking stage at 5:30, you can catch the passionate rock of Houston’s Featherface.  Anyone who’s caught these guys live will tell you that they’re a tough act to follow.  Their live show is strong and tight, and they leave very little in their wake.  If you like their albums, you’ll love catching them live, as their melodic sounds are even better in person.

At 5:35 on the Sailor Jerry stage, you can catch a special performance from Houston’s burlesque troupe Dem Damn Dames.  The Dames will be performing a special show just for the festival with a very special guest in tow.  If you’ve never seen these women in action you should definitely catch them at the festival as most of their shows sell out fast.  Aerial acrobatics, well timed routines, and plenty of skin are all there and they’re a troupe you should see sooner than later.

The Ballroom stage will host one of Houston’s most interesting acts when Nick Greer & The G’s perform at 6:15.  Nick has the ability to make you laugh, make you cry, and make you get down to his infectious songs and beautiful melodies.  A piano based act hasn’t sounded this good since well all learned that Ben Folds Five was only a three piece, and since they’re leaving for tour soon; this will be one of your last chances to catch them live.

Closing out the live music on the local side of things will be Houston’s We Were Wolves at 7:15 on the Rise Up/Youngblood Booking stage.  In less than a year I’ve watched these guys go from moving from Beaumont to Houston, releasing an amazing rock record, and on to opening for some heavy hitting acts.  If you’ve never seen these guys live, then you’re in for a treat.  Their live show lays many other acts to waste in a mix of tightness, high energy, and loud guitars.  The high octane rock of We Were Wolves will give you a sore neck while you’ll more than likely leave a new fan.  They’re a great way to close the local side of things, and definitely a not to be missed act.

As you can see there’s more than enough talent on the local side of things to make this an event to definitely make it out for.  You can still grab tickets that range between $35.00 for single day passes, $55.00 for two day passes, and $150.00 for VIP passes.  The gates open at noon so be sure to stay hydrated and wear plenty of sunscreen.

This year seems to be flying by with record speed, while it also seems to bring us so many entertainment options, that it’s a difficult task to navigate.  You have some serious decisions to make this week where you can dance, laugh, and create.  Here’s where to spend your time.

Starting things off this week you can have a nerdgasm when Austin’s Descendants of Erdrick bring their video game songs over to Fitzgerald’s downstairs.  So, here’s the deal; no matter how you shake it, this is a cover band.  Someone else wrote those MIDI classics, so while these guys have entertainingly re crafted these songs, they are still covers.  That being said, they cover everything from music from Mega Man to that cheesy music from the T&C Skate game.  They’ll have help from Houston’s electronica meets Max Bemis type vocals with This Time I Brought Bombs.  One of Houston’s oddest and trippiest acts, Letters To Voltron will also be on the show.  these guys mix the prog of Zappa with the funky pop of Mr Bungle; while occasionally adding death metal vocals…it’s interesting for sure.  If you wondered what Jesus Lizard mixed with screamo sounds like, you’ll find out when Houston’s Mannequin Mishap opens things up.  The doors are at 8:00, it’s all ages, and the tickets are between $5.00 and $8.00.

Also on Wednesday, if you’re up for a drive; you could venture out to Conroe to the Dosey Doe Music Cafe.  While I know that’s quite the drive, I promise that it’s worth it, when Kelly Mickwee, Gordy Quist, and Owen Temple perform together in the round.  Mickwee, of the all female Austin alt-country group The Trishas might be one of the most underrated performers in Texas.  While Quist is better known for co-fronting his alt-country meets new world Americana group, The Band of Heathens.  So, once you add the singer songwriter country goodness of Owen Temple; you can see why this is worth the drive.  The trio will perform each other’s tunes, tell stories, and more than likely play some well known favorites.  The doors are at 8:00 and it’s a miniscule $12.00 cover.

On Thursday, you can get your dance on, when Michigan’s Sango grooves everyone at the Prints Not Prince Anniversary party over at Walter’s.  If you weren’t aware, Sango is currently blowing up, and his hip hop meets chilled bass is pretty hard to not groove to. Adding slow jamz and deep beats to the show, is Houston’s own Dpat.  Dpat, part of the Soulection crew with Sango; has been touring all over and dropping some mad skills with a live band in tow.  If you think he’s just another DJ, maybe knowing that he’s been nominated for a Grammy at 23 will change your mind.  Adding more visuals than an acid trip, alongside his dope beats and crazy mixtures, will be FLCON FCKER.  What can you say about this guy that hasn’t been said before?  He’s pretty much an electronica wizard who reinvents his genre with pretty much every show.  The soulful and funky sounds of Philadelphia’s No Sir E will also be on board to drop his trippy mix to the night.  Adding a sound that lives up to their name, Children Of Pop will be bringing their healthy mix of pop meets catchy beats.  The best way to describe them, is to say that it’s like someone took all of the best elements of pop music and placed them in a blender with a drop of seventies funk, and a pinch of Black Grape.  The synth heavy sounds of Houston’s Yung Slutty will start things off as only he can; and will definitely make it worth getting there early for.  The doors are at 7:00, the show is all ages, and the tickets are between $10.00 and $15.00, and worth every penny.

Maybe you’re in the mood for a laugh, or just some great Improv?  Well, the Guns For Hire show over at Beta Theater might be what you’re looking for.  Guns For Hire comprises of the talents of Amy Birkhead, Antoine Culbreath, Shannan Scarselletta, and Robert Price, who all come together for a free form improv show.  Things get rolling around 8:00, it’s pay what you can, and it’s also BYOB.

Over at Mango’s, you can catch the indie emo sounds of Angleton’s Valens.  Valens sounds like a mix of Braid, Knapsack, and Boilermaker; while having their own crafted sound as well.  They’ll be hosting San Antonio’s noise rockers Vetter Kids.  I caught Vetter Kids a couple weeks back, and I’ll just say that you might want to bring ear plugs.  That being said, they had a nice mix of what felt like Dinosaur Jr. meets Sebadoh.  Tiger Party will be on the show as well, and they’ll bring a calm element to the show.  The Woodlands’ Wilding Estates will get things started with their shoegaze sound.  The doors are at 8:00, it’s an all ages show, and the cover is $5.00.

However, if you’re up for a laugh, then over at The Joke Joint Comedy Showcase they’ll be hosting the hilarious Carl Faulkenberry.  Nowadays, Faulkenberry is a comic on Carnival Cruise lines mostly, but he has a rich history with the Houston comedy scene, including the fact that he was the last headliner to perform at Houston’s The Laff Stop; as well as a regular at The Comedy Workshop.  He’s been on Showtime, MTV, as well as toured the world and played places like Zanies in Chicago, The Comic Strip in NYC, and The IMPROV in LA.  I would guess that several of Houston’s comics would be getting things started for this show with 8:00 doors on Thursday.  There are two shows on Friday and two shows on Saturday, but all carry a $16.00 cover.

If you’re in the mood for hip hop on Thursday, then you can trek on down to Scout Bar for the stoned rap style of Devin The Dude.  If you missed him when he was here recently, then you need to make it out for this show.  Devin puts on a pretty great live show that’s mixed with all sorts of guest spots.  Houston’s Dem Dayum Twinz will drop their quick rhymes as they warm things up for Devin.  Beaumont’s Chutes McGoo will get things started with his slow DJ style.  The show is 18 and up, the doors are at 8:00, and the tickets are $21.00 for admission, or $50.00 for a nondescript VIP Party, that may or may not include admission.

On Friday, over a Continental Club, you could be getting down to the queen of rockabilly, Wanda Jackson.  If you missed Jackson last year when she rocked everyone at Fitz, then you should make it out for this true pioneer of music.  Jackson has had a recent resurgence after her Jack White produced album, “The Party Ain’t Over.”  Since then, Jackson has released two more albums, including 2024’s “Unfinished Business.”  By her surprisingly kind demeanor and ever more surprising energetic live show, this is kind of a no brainer for fans of the genre.  I hate to say it, but if you haven’t seen her, this might be one of your last chances just based on science alone.  The fairly recent Houston transplant, Mike Stinson will open things up with his twangy americana sound.  Stinson is definitely someone you should catch live, as he’s shared the stage and studio with the likes of Jesse Dayton, and James Hall.  The doors are at 9:00, the show is 21 & up, and the tickets are $23.00.

Of course, no one would blame you if you happened over to Bayou Music Center for the Lil’ Jon DJ Set featuring Butch Clancy.  I’m pretty sure that you’ll hear Jon’s trademark “What” more than people repeating the Chapelle’s Show parody, and the wizardry of Clancy will only add to the fun.  But, when you throw in the fact that the guest MC is Houston’s own iLL Liad, you’ve got a hefty show on your hands.  If you’ve been paying attention, I’ve been dropping iLL’s name lately like he drops sick rhymes.  And, he does drop some sick rhymes while he keeps the audience in the palm of his hand.  He was easily the highlight of the openers at the Z-RO show, and his release last year, “The Odyssey” is just as sick.  Things get rolling around 9:00 and the tickets range between $36.00 and $91.00.

If there was a part of you that wondered what hardcore punk would sound like if it were performed by guys from Finland, then Friday is your lucky night.  Over at Mango’s, Finland’s Maailmanloppu will be doing their thing in a way that kind of has that Minor Threat meets Dead Boys.  They’ll be joined by their fellow Finnish friends, Kuudes Silma, who will bring their mix of Bauhaus meets Gorilla Biscuits.  Houston’s Fugitive Family will bring their self described sound of “black punk” to the show as well, and honestly; it does have that kind of feel.  The punk of Houston’s Secret Prostitutes will also be playing, and rumor is that this is one of their last shows for a while, so you should catch their fast sound if you’re a fan.  The hardcore of Houston’s Stagnant Youth will get things started with their grizzled vocals atop a quickness that’s similar to that of early Bad Brains.  Things get going around 9:00, it’s an all ages show, and the cover is a measly $7.00.

There’s also plenty to laugh at over at Phoenicia MKT Bar, when some of Houston’s best up and coming comics compete in the Beta Bracket comedy contest.  Last week, the audience got to help dig to comics from the losing round out of the ashes and restore them back in the bracket.  This week, you’ll get to see a whole new set of comics battle it out for audience votes, as they go head to head for a shot at $2,000.00.  You can follow the bracket here, or just show up to help your friend, coworker, or whatever you call the comic who invited you to help them win, as it’s audience vote.  Things get started promptly at 9:00, and you’ll be treated to the hilarious stand up of host, Bob Biggerstaff.  It’s 100% FREE, there’s plenty of free parking, and it’s a great way to laugh without breaking the bank.

For so many years, it seems like Austin’s Bob Schneider has been entertaining crowds all over the place.  On Friday night, you can catch him over at House of Blues doing just that.  Mixing the sounds of blues, rock, and even country; there are times where Schneider sounds like the best bet for passing the torch from artists like Tom Petty and Jackson Browne to the future.  His latest release, 2024’s “Burden Of Proof” highlighted Schneider’s softer side with more piano than previous efforts, but that’s not a bad thing as it’s quite the beautiful album.  The soft americana of duo Dawn and Hawkes should get things rolling in an interesting way.  Two part harmonies, pop influence, and paced like a song by The Apache Relay, they should do Austin proud with their indie folk sound.  The doors are at 7:00, the show starts at 8:00, and the tickets are between $22.00 and $39.50.

At Fitzgerald’s on Friday night, you could make it out for Austin’s What Made Milwaukee Famous.  WMMF is one of those bands that I always thought would get bigger than they are, but that doesn’t mean that they aren’t impressive.  Every one of their records proves that some bands still get better with time, which is proven with their latest release, “You Can’t Fall off the Floor.”  I’ll let you know if you weren’t already aware; these guys put on a great live show.  They’ll have a great middle act with A. Sinclair, also from Austin.  These guys have been grabbing all sorts of praise since their release, this year’s “Pretty Girls.”  That album is full of fast paced folk rock pop that’s pretty alluring to the ears.  In many ways, I’d say that they’ve kind of crafted their own sound.  If you like infectious sounds with backing vocals that make you move your feet, then Houston’s Young Girls will do you proud when they open the show.  The show is all ages, the doors are at 8:00, and the cover is between $10.00 and $13.00.

On Saturday, you can make it over to EADO Park, roughly where Warehouse Live is located, for the inaugural Houston Whatever Fest.  The two day festival begins on Saturday and will feature a mix of music and comedy the likes of which haven’t happened in Houston before.  On the music side of things, the energetic and soulful sounds of MuteMath will be headlining.  They will have to bring their “A Game” as they’ll have one of the most eclectic & energy driven live acts of the past twenty years, Blonde Redhead playing prior to them.  That’s not to say that a solo set by Andrew WK won’t be energetic, as the party hyping WK is almost 100% energy.  A group who rarely makes it down here it seems, Minneapolis’ The Hold Steady will remind us all why we love The Replacements while they rock the stage in the fashion of old indie rock.  A DJ set from Passion Pit, the synth pop of Toronto’s TRUST, the garage based fun and heavy energy of Chicago’s Cheap Girls will all be performing.  But, that’s not mentioning the comedy that will feature the hilarious TJ Miller of the tv show “Silicon Valley.”  Miller will also have to bring his top performing skills, as his lead in is the hilarious Jonah Ray of the Nerdist podcast.  Ray is seriously a joke a second, and he’s got a crazy in your face style which says a lot for a nerdy guy.  That’s just some of what they’ll have in store.  There will be performances from local comics like Andy Huggins, Jaffer Khan, Clay Christofferson, Dale Cheesman, and Matt Han as well as a performance from the Punk Rock Circus.  Both days of comedy will be hosted by Gabe Bravo.  There will also be local acts like Catch Fever, Fox & Cats, Another Run, iLL Liad, and LIMB.  And, that’s just mentioning a few in day one of the fest.  The one day tickets are $35.00 and the two day tickets are $55.00; there’s also a VIP ticket for $150.00.  It’s all ages and the festival gates open at noon.

It’d be crazy to think if there was another festival of sorts happening on Saturday, but there actually is over at Fitzgerald’s.  The Bayou Doom Fest will take over Fitz both upstairs and down, and feature a multitude of metal acts.  The upstairs will be headlined by the psych stoner metal of Dallas’ Wo Fat, who remind me of what it would sound like if Fu Manchu teamed up with The Sword’s sound on “Warp Riders.”  Houston’s Sanctus Bellum will also be on hand to bring the metal of the nineties before nu metal became a thing.  The fast paced three piece Cauldron will also be on hand to teach the youngsters how thrash metal is done, while Doomstress Alexis will front Project Armageddon as only she can and teach everyone about doom metal.  Downstairs will be headlined by the likes of Houston’s From Beyond, who made me realize that I didn’t know guitarist Rob McCarthy as well as I thought, as I was pretty blown away by their doomy sound.  The swampy sounds of Corpus Christi’s Switchblade Jesus should turn some heads, while the psych doom of San Antonio’s Cursus should get everyone creeped out by their strange vocals.  These are just a sample of the bands on this show that’s all ages, with a FREE cover for 21 & up, a $10.00 cover for under 21, and doors are at 5:00.

If punk rock was more what you had in mind on Saturday night, then over at Walter’s, they’ll be hosting 7 Seconds.   Touring in support of their latest release, “Leave A Light On,”  the punk legends will be playing fast with sing-a-long lyrics like it was the early eighties.  I’ve seen 7 Seconds at least five times, as well as Kevin Seconds solo, and they never disappoint.  High energy, fast songs, and great performing are all part of a 7 Seconds show.  The stripped down punk of Illinois’ The Copyrights will also be on hand to impress the crowd who possibly hasn’t seen these guys do their thing.  These guys have a mix of Screeching Weasel meets The Bouncing Souls, but a little more infectious.  The pop punk of Houston’s The Turnaways will also be there to receive hand claps in time with their Green Day meets Yellowcard sound.  The speedy punk of Houston’s Some Nerve will get things started with doors at 8:00, and a $15.00 cover for the all ages event.

Also on Saturday, there may be a part of you that would like to catch garage rock meets psych, and over at Canal St, there’s a show that you’ll want to make if so.  New Orleans’ Bottom Feeders will bring their sixties era sound to town, mixing garage rock guitar and the keys of the San Francisco hippie culture.  The swinging swagger of Houston’s Infinite Apaches will do their best to groove you into a point where you can’t help but get down, as they’re on the bill as well.  They’ll have New Orleans’ Cold Heart of Space playing, as well as the bizarre sounds of The Wiggins who’ll be getting things started.  The show is FREE and it gets going around 10:00.

New country might be your thing, and if so then you should sashay over to House Of Blues for the sounds of Austin’s Kendall Beard.  I don’t usually endorse new country, but I’d be lying if I said that Beard didn’t have some strong pipes.  Today’s country isn’t my deal, but it doesn’t mean that there aren’t some decent artists out there, and I’d place Beard in that group.  Her 2024 release, “All Around Girl” has some pretty good Texas country on it, that’s mixed with pop overtones.  The show is a freebie, and things get going around 8:00.

At Beta Theater on Saturday night, you can catch some of Austin’s better comics at the Guest Room show.  This installment features the likes of Joe Tullar who was a finalist in the Austin’s Funniest contest.  He will be joined by Kath Barbadoro, Ralph Hardesty, and Danny Palumbo, who all have credits at places like Fun Fun Fun Fest and Moontower Comedy Fest.  The shows will both be hosted by the hilarity of Nick Meriwether and Zac Brooks.  There are two shows, one at 8:00 and one at 10:00, it’s a pay what you can ticket, and as always it’s BYOB.

On Sunday, you can catch day two of the Houston Whatever Fest over in EADO Park.  The second day of the festival will be capped off with a performance by nineties alt rockers Filter, which if they’re half as strong as the were when I saw them then; should be a treat.  However, the energy of punk rockers The Queers will give them a run for their money.  I’ve seen The Queers at least six times, and I’ve never been disappointed.  Their most recent release, last year’s “Ole Maestro” is just as strong as their crazy large back catalog.  The phrase I’ve heard more than anything on the Sunday performances, is “I gotta’ catch Kreayshawn.”  If you’re out of the loop, Oakland’s Kreayshawn has been on the rise since her breakout hit, “Gucci, Gucci” and she should really impress all in attendance.  In fact, when you throw in a DJ set by Neon Indian, and what will most likely be a chaotic performance by Dwarves, the Sunday music lineup looks pretty strong.  Sure, you’d be a fool if you missed the energetic alt metal of Helmet, who’s also on the show; but you should know that already.  Alongside the touring acts, the likes of locals We Were Wolves should impress everyone with their high octane rock.  Then of course is the comedy on Sunday which is headlined by comic genius Bobcat Goldthwait.  You might know Bobcat from his oddball films, but you’re missing out if you’ve never seen him do stand-up.  Bobcat might be one of our country’s most underrated comics going, so it’s insane that he’s on this fest.  Of course, you can’t ignore the comedy of Iliza Shlesinger, who’ll be performing prior to Bobcat.  Shlesinger is strong with quick timing and a suitcase full of jokes that make her one of today’s stronger stand ups.  However, when you factor in the comedy of Houston’s heavy hitters like the irreverent Bob Biggerstaff, the self deprecating Brian Zeolla, and the touring whit of Sam Demeris; the headliners will have some tough acts to follow.  And, that’s not everyone performing on a day that includes a special saucy performance by Houston’s burlesque vixens, Dem Damn Dames.  The gates open at noon, there are single day tickets for $35.00, two day tickets for $55.00, and a VIP pass for $150.00.

If you were more in the mood to learn how to draw, or you already know how to draw but wanted some subjects; then over at Avant Garden they’ll be hosting another Dr Sketchy event.  This one focuses on Flora and Fauna, and the parts will be played respectively by Mad Haus and Darcy L. Rosenberger.  You may know Mad as the lead singer of local band Whit, and this is you chance to see her play the role of Flora.  Rosenberger, also a local artist will play the part of Fauna, meaning you should have no issues with drawing or painting either subject.  It’s a bring your own supplies show.  Things get started at 2:00, there’s a $10..0 cover for artists, a $15.00 cover for photographers, and a $5.00 cover for gawkers.

Over at Walter’s, they’ll have Ohio’s Hawthorne Heights in town Sunday night.  The group who’s touring in support of the ten year anniversary of their album “The Silence In Black and White,” is a pretty entertaining band to see live.  I caught them over a decade ago, and they were energy driven and on point with their sound.  The pop punk sounds of Florida’s The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus will also be in tow in support of their new album, “4.”  Australia’s New Empire will add a bit of quiet when they play their soft based pop, while the pop screamo of Michigan’s  Famous Last Words should do well at getting things started.  The doors are at 6:00, it’s all ages, and the tickets range between $15.00 and $17.00.

On Monday night, you can catch one of the funniest pot smokers you’ll ever see, when Doug Benson drops off at IMPROV for a one night only show.  Benson has the ability to make you think about the inane, the true, and the everyday while he chuckles alongside the audience.  He’s more than just that guy you saw on those “Best Of” shows on VH1 several years ago.  His podcasts, “Doug Loves Movies” and “Getting Doug With High,” are some of the funniest you can download, and his most recent album, “Gateway Doug 2: Forced Fun,” is one of this year’s funniest.  The “Doug Dynasty Tour” show gets going at 8:00, it’s 18 & up, and the tickets are $17.00.

If synth pop is more your style, then on Monday night at House of Blues, you can catch Brooklyn’s Little Daylight.  These guys are catchy and poppy, while still having enough style to be artful.  You may know them by their hit song, “Overdose” but you should really check out their album “Hello Memory,” as they have more substance than one song.  The only act who could open things up properly, Houston’s BLSHS will get things going.  I find it hard to believe that you haven’t seen or at least hadn’t heard of BLSHS yet.  They’ve been getting more praise in this town than a new restaurant.  If you haven’t seen them yet, this show is a great way to do so.  I’ve thought it since I saw them the first time, BLSHS needs to be on a bigger stage, and hopefully they’ll shine at this show.  They should give Little Daylight a run for their money for sure.  The show is all ages, the doors are at 7:00, and the tickets are a little over $16.00.

Tuesday night will get you a chance to see Clap Your Hands Say Yeah up close and personal, as they perform upstairs at Fitzgerald’s.  A group that’s always been touted as the “next big thing,” CYHSY is touring in support of their most recent release, 2024’s “Only Run.”  The album has a little heavier sound than some of their previous work, but that’s not to say that it isn’t all them.  There are moments where they sound like Jesus and Mary Chain, which is pretty cool.  I’ve seen these guys live before, and I can attest to their strength as performers.  If you can’t get enough of these guys, then in an unprecedented move, their lead singer Alec Ounsworth will be opening the show as a solo act.  This might not ever happen again, so I’d suggest grabbing pre-sale tickets, as it has the chance to sell out.  The doors are at 7:00, it’s all ages, and the tickets are between $15.00 and $18.00.

It’s hard to believe there’s all this, and we still get to look forward to Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin.  If you’re doing Houston Whatever Fest, make sure to stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and enjoy what hopefully will become another great yearly event here in our amazing city.