This week the legendary band U2 will be here as well as Mike Watt, The Mountain Goats, and Erykah Badu while local acts keep us entertained in between. Houston, here’s how to plan the following week.

On Wednesday you could get started over at NRG Stadium when Ireland’s U2 will swing by to perform their classic album The Joshua Tree in its entirety. While the band was just starting to pop thirty years ago, I don’t think anyone saw the global scale in which these guys would blow up on. Of course, in just a matter of years, they’d be one of the biggest acts on earth, where they still hold that reign today. Possibly one of the best live acts going, if you’re a fan and you want to steer from their latest records live, then this is your show. The Lumineers will be on as direct support and openers for the all ages show with doors at 6:30 pm and tickets between $102 and $157.

Downstairs at White Oak Music Hall, The Orbiting Human Circus Featuring The Music Tapes will be in town. The show, an immersive podcast that features magic, live music, and more will be making its stop, and should be pretty magical. Featuring the music of The Music Tapes, the group is part of the Elephant 6 collective, which features acts like Neutral Milk Hotel, Apples in Stereo, and the Olivia Tremor Control. No matter what happens at this show, it should be memorable. The all ages evening has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $15 and $17.

Mark Normand. Photo: Avalon Management

Over at The Secret Group, you could get your laugh on when Mark Normand swings by to perform. Normand has been making audiences all over laugh out loud for a good while, he’s toured the globe, and with sets on places like Showtime, Comedy Central, and NBC’s Last Comic Standing, he’s definitely on the rise. His latest release, this year’s Don’t Be Yourself is pretty hilarious as well. There’s no word on feature act or host, but that may change on the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $12 and $15.

At Walter’s you could get freaky when Chicago’s Crown Larks stop by to play. This band is a mix of post punk and experimental sounds, reminding me of what would happen if David Yow sang for Of Montreal, or maybe a lot like the band Cave. Their latest, this year’s Population is impressive to say the least, and they’re rumored to be one of the best acts touring today. New Houston band Laktating Yak, featuring Charlie Bryan of Dead Time, will be on as direct support, while the always engaging and intriguing sounds of Houston’s most interesting band, Ak’chamel will open things up. The all ages show has doors at 8 pm and tickets for $10.

On Thursday, many of you had planned make it out to Revention Center for the alt rock goodness of Soundgarden. However, with last week’s sudden and tragic passing of frontman Chris Cornell, the show and tour has since been cancelled. Refunds will be made available at the point of purchase.

Hiram. Photo: Nancy Hernandez

Walter’s will host a pretty tight show when the Urban Circus 5th Anniversary Party occurs. Featuring a headlining set from Houston rapper Tim Woods, the show promises everything from live graffiti to photography and so much music. Sets from DASHR, Hiram, TheGr8Thinkaz, Rajesh and many many more will all be set to perform. The all ages event gets going with doors at 7 pm and has tickets between $5 and $15.

If you had planned to attend the greenroom show at Warehouse Live, featuring Houston’s HogLeg, the show has since been cancelled. 

Meat Puppets. Photo: Mary Boukouvalas

Upstairs at White Oak Music Hall, the legendary sounds of the Meat Puppets will be here to perform. Chris and Kurt have been making great songs together for a really long time, and if you remove their more alt sound from the nineties on albums like Too High To Die, you’re left with some pretty songs and some more punkish tunes. They’ll be here in support of their last release Lollipop, while dropping some career spanning favorites.  The king of DIY and “jamming econo,” Mike Watt will be on as direct support, and should bring some of your favorite Watt jams to life. The Tom + Jerry show will be on as openers for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $18 and $22.

Over at Continental Club, the country rock twang of Houston’s Grand Old Grizzly will bring plenty of good times to all who attend. While the band is set to release something new sooner than later, their last release Cosmonada is a record you should check out, as the honk honks and the tonk tonks all over it. The 21 & up show gets going around 10 pm and it’s 100% Free.

Friday you might want to make the drive out to Joke Joint Comedy Showcase for a weekend with the best joke writer in Houston, John Wessling of The Whiskey Brothers. Wessling doesn’t perform in town much anymore but that just means he has all sorts of new ways to make you laugh until it hurts. There are four shows, two on Friday and two on Saturday with doors at 7 and 9:30 with tickets between $14 and $19 for the 18 & up shows.

At Mucky Duck you could get your singer songwriter fix when Jeremy O’Bannon headlines a set. O’Bannon makes tunes that are hard to shake, his sets are peppered with tales and tone, and his latest release Letter Home from last year is one you need to hear in person. The rootsy acoustic sounds of Graham Wilkinson will be on as opener for the 21 & up show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $20 and $22.

Tifa Tittlywinks of Dem Damn Dames. Photo: Penland Pin Ups

Numbers will host another sexy show from the ladies of Dem Damn Dames, this time called Cirque du So Weird. While the Houston burlesque troupe is a talented and alluring bunch, this show will feature a set from burlesque legend, Judith Stein from Canada. Of course, the Dames themselves will all be on hand alongside performances from Dallas’ Olive Avira, Lucy Furr of Louisiana, Lita Deadly of San Antonio, and so many more including Ms Yet of Houston. Opening things up will be Skabz the Clown and Nick The Vegan for the 18 & up show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $15 and $30, the latter being a seated VIP option.

Of course you can get all of your R&B feels when Trey Songz brings his infectious jams to all when he headlines the ballroom at Warehouse Live. While he’s been going strong since 2024, his latest release Tremaine The Album is possibly his strongest to date complete with pop laden tunes you can’t help but like. Virginia’s Mike Angel will be on as direct support and opener for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $55.

If you’ve never caught the rooftop show at The Secret Group called Bad Idea, then this is the one you need to catch. Hosted by Zahid Dewji, the show makes the most of the very small patio of the venue and offers FREE pizza and a ton of funny comics. This edition will be taped, it has a secret lineup, and rumor has it that there’s a big time name set to perform on it. The show is all ages, the doors are at 7:45 pm, and it’s 100% FREE.

Londale. Photo: Daniel Jackson

Upstairs at White Oak Music Hall you could make it out for the melodic indie rock of Houston’s Vodi.  There’s something hard to deny about a band that sounds like The War on Drugs, and their latest single “Talk” is just as hard to deny as their crazed performances.  New Houston band, Londale will be on as direct support as well as to drop their debut album full of good time rock jams.  Adam Bricks will bring his folk troubadour sounds on as opener for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.

Rudyard’s will take care of your doom needs when the stoner doom of Houston’s Dirty Seeds swing by to play their swampy metal.  Alongside a pretty epic live show, their last release King Kush remains one of my favorite doom albums.  Louisiana’s Forming The Void will be on as direct support with the slowcore doom of Houston’s Pyreship on as openers.  The 21 & up show has doors at 9 pm and a measly $8 cover.

Flosstradamus. Photo: Paradigm Agency

Stereo Live will host the return of trap DJ Flosstradamus.  I don’t need to oversell this show right, as this Chicago native never disappoints in a live setting. His latest drop, HDYNATION RADIO from 2024 still sounds legit, and his live sets are always amazing. The 18 & up show has doors at 9 pm and tickets between $24 and $33.

On Saturday you can get going at Raven Tower for the Shop Local pop up event. Featuring a ton of local vendors, a DJ set from Gracie Chavez, and plenty of food truck eats, the event should be worth showing up for and supporting local vendors. The all ages event is free to attend, it gets going around 4 pm, and there’s more information here.

Warehouse Live will host the return of another edition of Kiki Maroon’s Burly Q Lounge. The vaudeville based show that features side show talent, comedy, music, and burlesque will inhabit the insides of the studio and delight all who attend. The 18 & up show has doors at 7 pm and tickets for $25.

Ancient Cat Society. Photo: Lauren Marek

The Heights Theater will have a barn burner when Houston’s Ancient Cat Society headlines their album release party. These three by themselves are respected artists from bands like Buxton, Guess Genes, Dollie Barnes, and Vodi, but together they make charming tunes that would make any hardened music fan melt. Their sophomore release, Ancient Cat Society is one of the prettiest albums you can hear, and they’ll perform it in its entirety at this show. Say Girl Say and some special guests are on as support and openers for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $20 and $160, the latter being a seated table for four people.

Arena Theatre will bring back the legendary sounds of R&B soulstress, Erykah Badu. Badu was born in Dallas but her sound has always been outer worldly, and while her latest is just a mixtape, But You Caint Use My Phone is still pretty epic. The all ages show mentions nothing about direct support or openers, but that may change. Doors are at 7:30 pm and tickets are between $69.50 and $99.50.

The Mountain Goats. Photo: Billions Agency

Downstairs at White Oak Music Hall, the folky good times jams of The Mountain Goats will be on full display. These guys have been making fun and grand songs for a good while, their live shows are always fun, and their new album Goths changes things up without steering from their core sound. The lo-fi experimental tunes of Brooklyn’s Holy Sons will be on as direct support and openers for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets fo $23.50.

Satellite Bar will have the psych rock of Austin’s The Cuckoos.  These guys make tunes that sound like Jim Morrison sang fro Brian Jonestown Massacre. Their latest, The Cuckoos from this year is definitely a trip. The guitar heavy sounds of Howard & the Nosebleeds will be on as direct support while the bluesy jams of Vanilla Whale will go on prior. The 18 & up show will get opened up by the psych blues of Austin’s The Mammoths with doors at 8 pm and cover between $5 and $7.

Continental Club will have the return of Austin’s Buenos Diaz. Okay, so he’s actually from Houston, but that shouldn’t matter as his tunes are pretty guitar heavy and full of life. His latest, Buenos Diaz is an album you can’t shake after one listen. Chris Berardo & The Desberardos will open the 21 & up show with doors at 10 pm and a $12 cover.

LIMB. Photo: Ismael Quintanilla

Sunday you can get groovy at White Oak Music Hall for the 4th annual Madness on Main festival. The day through night event will feature a headlining set from Austin’s Black Pistol Fire alongside performances from Lyric Michelle. Sailor Poon, Columbia’s Kiko Villamizar, LIMB, Perseph One, Flower Graves, Flyger Woods, and so many many more. The event will take place upstairs, downstairs and even at Raven Tower. The full lineup is available here for the all ages event with doors at 4 pm and tickets between $20 and $27.

There are times when comics say they’re leaving town and then they have a ceremonious leaving show, only to usually come back to town less than a year later. That probably won’t be the case for Tim Mathis, who’s having a going away show at Joke Joint Comedy Showcase. Mathis hasn’t made as many friends in comedy here as enemies, but he also has TV credits and he knows what crowds he does best in front of, which is more than what some comics leave town with. Hosting the show, Mathis will present the likes of Theo Taylor, Andy Huggins, Bryson Brown, Alan Adams, and the headliner Keisha Hunt.  The 18 & up show has doors at 6 pm and tickets are a measly $10.

Over at Rudyard’s you can catch the bluesy doom of Seattle’s Samothrace. Mixing blues rock overtones with a sludge heavy sound, these guys have been going pretty strong since 2024 and their latest Reverence To Stone is pretty intense. Seattle’s He Whose Ox Is Gored will be on as direct support while the heavy and loud doom of Houston’s Omotai will open the 21 & up show with doors at 8 pm and a $12 cover.

Tigers Jaw. Photo: Ground Control Touring

On Monday the emo meets pop punk of Pennsylvania’s Tigers Jaw will be downstairs at White Oak Music Hall.  After a basic break apart three years ago, two founding members have returned from the near dead with an album that’s more indie rock than their previous releases, on this year’s spin. The band always has a pretty fun live show, so the new songs should hit well in a live setting. The folk rock of Ohio’s Saintseneca will be on hand as direct support while the indie pop of Missouri’s Smidley will open things up. The all ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $16 and $20.

That’s about all that’s happening around town. No matter what you decide to do, remember that a safe ride home is just an app away.

Photo: Merge Records

This is one of those weeks where all they hype of the prior three weeks, make it seem almost light.  Think of it, last week we hosted Drake, the week before we hosted Beer Fest, and the week before that we had Free Press Summer Fest.  This week, is more reflective of those weeks we see in the beginning of the year, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have tons of options.  Here’s what you should be doing this week.

Starting things off right this week, is a pretty killer comedy show over at Improv, with the hilarity of Chris Fonseca.  This guy might be one of the most infectious comics to take the stage, with a great attitude and a pretty hefty lineup of jokes.  Fonseca has made television appearances on The Late Show, HBO, and The American Comedy awards, as well as Howard Stern.  You might be thrown off by the fact that Fonseca has cerebral palsy, but after you watch him kill a crowd; you’ll realize that he’s better than a lot of comics who can stand.  There aren’t details on who the openers are yet, but you can be assured that the show will carry two of Houston’s funniest.  The show is at 8:00 and tickets are only $15.00.

For anyone who lives under a rock, Juneteenth is currently going on, and one of the best performers from New Orleans will be putting on a FREE show on Thursday night.  Over at Miller Outdoor Theater, the amazingly talented and robust range of Allen Toussaint will be wowing all in attendance.  You know those moments in your life when you hear a piano cut through to your soul, and and you still have enough emotion left to enjoy the melody?  His latest album, “Tic Toc” is something you could listen to while you and your special other make out or cook dinner; but either way, it’s pretty amazing.  Few people know where Gause is in Texas, but I’m sure you’ve heard of R&B singer, Ruthie Foster, who’s actually from there.  She will drop some serious emotions when she plays, as well as the sincere vocals of Niko Lorraine, also playing.  Houston will also get a real treat when Vivalda Dula opens things up with her immensely passionate rhythmic vocals.  There’s always free seating on the hill, but you can also pick up up to four free seated tickets if there are any available.  Things get started around 7:00.

Of course, there might be a part of you that wants to either laugh or at least praise god while you listen to metal.  Luckily for you, you can do just that if you venture out to the Concert Pub Thursday night; when Stryper comes to town.  Come on now, you can admit that there’s at least part of you that wants to see some guys rock out in matching bumble bee leather outfits, right?  Since my older brother went through a hair metal phase, I’m pretty sure that this is the original lineup; though the show doesn’t mention openers.  The band will be touring in support of their latest album, “No More Hell To Pay,” and I’m pretty sure Jesus wants you to go to this show.  You’re gonna have to really want to go though, because the tickets are like $33.00 after surcharges.  The show is 18 and up, and the doors are at 7:00.

Over at Mango’s, you can catch NYC fun punk meets prank rockers, Crazy & The Brains.  These guys in a strange way, remind me of early Elvis Costello.  Not that they’re on that level, just that there’s a bit of infection to their fun and melodic sound.  They will have Adam Bricks on the show with his full band as well, which should bring some soulful melodies on board.  Bricks’ is one of those guys who seems to channel Leonard Cohen, Robert Pollard, and Bob Dylan; so you should get there to catch him live.  The melodic sounds and blissful melody of Houston’s The Caldwell will open things up.  The show is all ages, it get’s started around 9:00, and it’s a measly $5.00.

On Friday, there are plenty of reasons why you should consider making it over to Fitzgerald’s for the twentieth anniversary of Houston ska legends Los Skarnales.  Here’s the deal, ska is pretty much dead, and there are really only a handful of notable bands still playing it.  But, in the timeline of Houston’s music scene, Skarnales has made an imprint that can’t be denied; and their energy when they play live is something everyone should see.  The bump and fifties grind of Austin’s The Jungle Rockers will add some spice, while the traditional Latin sounds of Houston’s Reyno Sabanero will mix things up.  Austin’s roots and two tone DJ, Heart & Soul Soundsystem will get things started with an 8:00 door time, and a $15.00 cover, that will include the new Los Skarnales CD.

So, sometimes a show can sound awesome, but the lack of details can make you scratch your head. Over at Avant Garden, Owen Dunn and Albert Deleon are putting their “Apartment 8” web series name to good use by hosting a comedy show.  The plan it seems is to do the show in the round upstairs at Avant, where the audience surrounds the comics.  It sounds like a good idea, and the comics are the hilarious Zach Dickson, the direct and self deprecating Lena Silva, and heckler destroying Micah Green.  They recently added Gabe Bravo and Alan Adams, so it should be a barn burner.  Deleon and Dunn will also be on the bill.  It starts at 9:00 and it’s FREE, so there’s that.  But if it’s like their porn theater show, you should get there before 9:00 because that one had people hanging on the stairs it was so packed.

Then there’s the option of making it out to see some people dance in the “normcore” way, seriously.  So, normcore is a trend, or a fashion statement, or something where people basically dress normal; which, sounds like Mitt Romney just got relevant again. If donning oneself in bland colors is hip, then Steve Irwin’s widow is probably seriously stoked right now.  I’m not sure I follow it, but in the spirit of the trend The Suchu Dance will be performing The Normal Corporation starting Friday.  If you’re unaware of Suchu Dance, they’ve been around since the late nineties, and they almost always have some form of entertaining and new artful approach to dance and how they present it.  I have a feeling that this has the ability to be insanely entertaining, so get ready for all that the show entails.  As an added bonus, all of the “normal” and bland attire that the show is based on, will also be for sale at the shows.  The doors are at 8:00 and the tickets are between $17.00 and $20.00.  There is a performance on Monday the 23rd, that’s pay what you can; if you can’t make or afford the Friday and Saturday shows.

If dance isn’t your bag, then maybe going to Beta Theater for some comedy meets improv meets whatever else may transpire is up your alley?  “Grow Up: An Evening with Ben Mattice”  promises to be no less than an evening filled with what ifs, when Ben attempts his first headlining comic gig.  Because it’s Beta and it carries the pay what you can model, at worst you’ll see a guy try new things to the tune of cold beer and the art of trying.  As with most performances at Beta, this up in the air type of show will more than likely be entertaining and carry the possibility of some true hilarity.  The doors are at 9:00 and pay what you can means, no nickels and dimes please.

On Saturday, you have more options than usual, which can start off the 3rd annual Summer Street Arts Festival.  This year, the beverages are complimentary with your ticket, so you’re guaranteed to at least get some band with your buck seeing how 8th Wonder Brewery is one of the sponsors.  It’s a twelve hour event that will feature indoor and outdoor stages, a fashion show, and if that weren’t enough; some great live music.  Without mentioning everyone, just know that three acts everyone in Houston should catch ASAP are on this.  The likes of Shotgun Funeral, who has that gypsy vibe with multiple instruments that is impossible to dislike.  The sick sounds of Josiah Gabriel, who might be one of Houston’s most creative mixes of sound and sound manipulation.  And if that wasn’t enough for you, Superstar DJ Keoki will cap off the evening with some serious DJ magic.  This all starts at 2:00 pm, the tickets are $15.00, and there are more art installations than you’ll see anywhere else.

Of course, no one would think you were crazy if you opted to catch a hilarious.comedy troupe from Austin over at Station Theater.  STAG Comedy will be bringing their usually funny and offbeat humor to Houston with their new cop based show, “Below The Law.”  Like most STAG performances, a mix of video and live performance should pepper throughout, and make this one of those shows you really have to see live.  If you like The State or Tim & Eric, then you really need to make it out for this one.  Amy Birkhead and Antoine Culbreath will also be making you laugh with their “Feelings” show, while the entire evening will be hosted by the hilarious Brian Zeolla.  The doors are at 8:00, the show is BYOB, and the tickets are a miniscule $6.00.

If you’re like me, you remember when hip hop was a cast of characters that had more swag than the cast of a Tyler Perry movie.  One of those characters was LA’s Too $hort, in a time when rap wasn’t gangsta; but was far ahead of the likes of The Sugar Hill Gang.  Too $hort has been in the game long enough to have a book written about him, and he’ll bring his hip hop swag to Houston on Saturday.  Well, he’s  technically in Clear Lake because he’s performing at Scout Bar.  As long as he performs longer than the twenty five minute set I saw him do about five years ago, this should be the perfect blast from the past show for any hip hop fan.  Touring alongside Too, is E-40, who appeared a 2024 release with Short called, “History: Mob Music & Function Music.”  E-40 has been around since the early nineties, and his ties to the South can’t be denied.  Dem Dayum Twinz, Kiowa, and if I’m not mistaken, for some bizarre reason, punk rockers Conflict.  The doors are at 8:00, it’s 18 & up, and the tickets are $26.00 or $100.00 if you really, really, really want to meet Too $hort.

Then, there’s The Mountain Goats duo tour happening over at Fitzgerald’s on Saturday.  What can I say about these guys that hasn’t already been said, or that bassist Peter Hughes offered up when I interviewed him; they’re pretty legendary.  I don’t think I can express the hundreds of reasons you should catch them live, as they are an amazingly great live band.  This show is a duo show, which means they’ll be going deep into their extensive back catalog of songs.  Singer John Darnielle might be as close to a living legend as my generation will get, and his prolific nature sets him apart from many songwriters today.  The North Carolina duo of Loamlands will get things started off with their southern charm, and their almost Old 97’s meets Patti Griffin type of sound.  This looks like a winner from all aspects, it’s all ages, and the doors are at 8:00.  The tickets range between $20.00 and $24.50, and they’re worth every penny.

There is sure to be a part of you that thinks there is nothing left in Houston on Saturday, however you’d be dead wrong to think that.  Over at The Continental Club, the genius of James McMurtry will be dropping some mad Texas based science on all in attendance.  McMurtry might be one of the last Southern poets left in a world of theologians.  I’ve always looked at him as the Bob Dylan of Texas, and he’s sure to mesmerize you with his amazing lyrics that are only matched equally by his well crafted songs.  To help seal the deal for you, Grand Old Grizzly will bring their americana meets country sounds to the show as they open things up.  If for some strange reason you missed these guys at FPSF this year, let me tell you why you should make it out for them on Saturday.  Away from the fact that you’ll see them with McMurtry, these guys might be one of our city’s best kept secrets.  With a mix of John Fogerty meets Old 97’s, Grand Old Grizzly has that certain sound that stays in your head days after each listen.  Things get going around 9:00 and the cover is $20.00.

On Sunday, you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t make it over to Last Concert Cafe for the Attack of The Comedy Show featuring Slim Bloodworth.  Bloodworth will be making her way back to the Houston stage with her irreverent and biting comedic style.  She’ll get some help from the likes of Lena Silva, Jami Shofner, Carl Hunter, Michael Dimitrius Paras, and Micah Green.  This is a pretty hefty list of comics, and it’s great for those who don’t want the confines of a comedy club. The entire evening is hosted by Al Bahmani, it gets started around 8:00, and as far as I can tell, it’s 100% FREE, so you have no reason not to attend.

For some reason,there’s also a comedy show at Notsuoh on Sunday.  The HTX Comedy Showcase, will host some more of  Houston’s best comics, if you’d rather make your way to Main Street.  The hilarious comedian Bryson Brown will be headlining the evening, in a role that definitely suits his impeccable style.  Brown could be one of the next big acts to come out of Texas if all the stars align, and he’s definitely a must see act in the world of comedy.  He’ll be joined by John Nguyen, Gabe Bravo, and Warren Wright in an evening hosted by MyCal De’de.  The doors are at 7:30 there’s a promise of Free pizza, and it’s a pay what you can show, so don’t be a jerk and pay like $5.00.

On Monday, there’s a little known show going on over at Rudyard’s, when Brief Lives comes to town.  The name might not sound so familiar until you realize that Valient Himself from Valient Thorr is in the band.  I wouldn’t usually go see one band because another contains someone from a great band; but these guys are pretty good.  They kind of have a post hardcore sound that’s mixed with a bit of old school rock overtones.  Kind of like Seaweed and old Helmet sounding, if that helps.  The show will also feature the likes of Hogleg, who has members of Born Again Virgins, and Poor Dumb Bastards.  The heavy sounds of Houston’s Texxxas get things started with doors at 8:00, there’s no mention of what cover is, and it’s 21 & up.

On Tuesday, you can head over to Fitzgerald’s to catch the likes of Florida’s trippy and electronically austere Hundred Waters.  There are moments where this group sounds like Bjork and Stereolab had a baby, and this is cut by often driving synths.  It should be a fun show to see downstairs when the softer dreamy eyed sound of GEMS blows the crowd away with their singer’s beautiful voice.  The amazingly well crafted pop driven space odyssey that is Houston’s Children of Pop will do our city proud as openers with doors at 8:00 and tickets ranging from $10.00 to $14.00.

It’s just another week filled with laughs, great sounds, and another festival.  I’m pretty sure you’ll kick yourself if you don’t make it out for most of this stuff, while our city proves time and again, what makes it so great.

In the past twenty plus years, there haven’t been too many acts as prolific or as entertaining as The Mountain Goats.  The group, lead by singer/songwriter John Darnielle has been joined by the equally impressive bassist Peter Hughes.  Hughes has gotten to live every fan’s dream in going from hard core fan to full fledged member.  In June, Hughes and Darnielle will bring The Mountain Goats to Houston as a duo, in one of their rare and special duo tours.  Free Press Houston was lucky enough to sit down with Hughes, and find out the inner workings of the luckiest fan in music today.

FPH: I appreciate you taking the time for this. You’ve been in The Mountain Goats since 1997 correct?  How Did you and John get together?

PH: It depends when you start counting.  John and I were friends for a while before we had ever played together, but in 1996 I did a European tour with him as a fill in on bass.  It was a last minute thing because we knew each other and I already knew all the songs from being a fan.  I also did a second tour with him which was a real disaster. Then we were living in different parts of the country, so it was almost five years later when we discussed recording together.  It was around that time where 4AD had shown interest in the band, so we did so.  It’s been one thing after another since that five year gap between 96’ and 2024.

FPH: Your first album with John, 2024’s “Tallahassee” was a real tour de force.  I read somewhere that you were impressed with the job Tony Doogan did with producing an album by two guys who never recorded together, but I feel like you and John have a magical chemistry together.  Does it feel as magical as it sounds to the listener?

PH: It’s hard to say.  At the time, it really felt experimental.  We had been friends for ten years when we made that album, but we were really just testing stuff out.  Neither of us had really worked with a proper producer up until that point; but I felt that since this was the guy who had produced Belle and Sebastian, we had a real shot at appealing to a wider range of people.  I really wanted to make sure we hit it out of the park with that album.  We had a bit of a tug of war between what we each wanted to do and the sound and idea that John had in his head at first.  We recorded seventeen songs and mixed the album in just six days altogether, so maybe that frantic pace coupled with the touring together five years prior helped.  We had only rehearsed for two days before we went to record, but there was definitely a chemistry there.

FPH: Like many artists, you guys don’t really listen to your work post release; with that impressive back catalog, how do you decide what to play each night?

PH: We typically, on any given tour, have a pool of songs we try to pull from.  At this point, we feel like if people are paying twenty bucks to see our band, we are obligated to play that handful of songs they want to hear.  Sometimes on this duo tour, we pull from old songs we haven’t played out before or even songs we haven’t played in forever.  We also play stuff off the newer albums; but each night is different.  The cool part of me being around for so long, even as a fan; is that I can play many songs off of a request.  Once the album is done, the songs have already been worked out from what John had idea wise, to the band forming and recording them.  That aspect happens so early in the life of a song that when you go back and listen to them ten years later, they’re usually weirdly familiar.

FPH:  The way that you guys recorded “All Eternals Deck” isn’t really a new concept to that of the struggling musician, but it’s definitely different for an established act.  Was the idea to use four different studios and  four producers the idea from the beginning?

PH: It was done by design, but it was done with the idea to mix things up.  The album before it, “The Life of The World To Come,” was done somewhat in a similar way.  But we did it to get away from that recording session feeling.  When you record an album that way, it’s so high stakes.  If you don’t get what you want; it’s too late.  Doing it by being laid back and casually going to different places changes that pace.  You might go in with the idea to record four songs, then you come out with six.  The idea was to make it a little more patchwork sounding sonically.  It reminded me of the early Mountain Goats tapes where John had recorded the songs at different times, in different places, and in different seasons.

FPH: For me, the last album “Transcendental Youth” had a bit of a more upbeat feeling musically.  Is that a sign of things to come or do you guys just write for the moment and let the album’s pace come organically?

PH: I agree, it’s definitely more upbeat.  I don’t think it’s deliberate as much as those are just the songs that John wrote.  As a listener, it’s easy to think that a band is going in one direction or another; but for us it’s based off the fact that John just writes lots of songs.  Once we have a bunch, we decide to go record them.  But there’s no roadmap to them.  That’s actually my favorite album we’ve made to date.  I think it resonates that we are comfortable playing together and more confident as a band without that experimental tug of war that occurs when you first play together.

FPH:  It’s been seven years since you and John did a duo tour?

PH: Well, we did a bit of a duo tour last year for the same reason, which is Jon Wurster’s schedule.  It also allows us to tour without the “big album push” feeling, and it lets us play some markets we don’t usually get to reach.  We try to make the shows all ages if possible, and it’s more informal and we’re more flexible when we do it.

FPH: As I recall, you play a Fender Jazz bass? Will that be your set up on this tour or will you mix it up?

PH: It’s pretty much my signature bass since my time with the band.  But last year, I wanted something different for these duo tours.  Something that had the sound of an upright bass, without having to lug an upright around.  I found this Canadian company called Godin, and I researched their stuff, and I was really impressed.  I found a fretless bass that fit the sound and feel of this tour, and I made a concentrated effort to play it daily until I could take it out exclusively on this tour.  And, I did it.  I’m not trained classically as a bassist, so it’s made me a better player for sure.  It’s so beautiful and it sounds amazing.

FPH: I saw you playing in a suit a couple years back at ACL (Austin City Limits Festival), you do realize that Houston is about twenty degrees hotter than Austin, right?

PH: That’s become a standard for me, like part of the ritual of performing live; plus it gives me an excuse to wear a suit.  It’s just part of the persona of performing, where it’s your uniform like you’re dressed and ready to go play.  I try to wear lighter fabrics during the Summer.  That ACL stage, playing at 3:00 in the afternoon, facing the sun; it was so hot.  At the time, John had this thing for wanting to play barefoot, but I think that was squashed once he walked out on to that stage.

FPH:  I heard a rumor that John is a beast at air hockey, and if that’s true, are you as good as he is? Because Fitzgerald’s has an air hockey table backstage, and I just need to know who to place my wager on.

PH: Actually, I had a job in college at the student center coffee shop.  Across from it, there was an arcade where a friend and I would visit during our breaks and our free time.  We were guys who weren’t really competitive at anything, except when we played air hockey. (Laughs) We’re talking we had black and blue fingers and sore hands from playing so much.  It’s only once in a while that John and I get the chance to square off against each other.  I know one time we did so at a gig in Miami, and I think we played backstage at Fitzgerald’s once before too.  But as far as skill wise, I feel like we’re pretty evenly matched.

This might be one of the more special shows you get to see all year as a Houstonian.  The fact that The Mountain Goats will grace our city while playing fan favorites mixed with deep cuts and new classics, is something of pure magic.  While Hughes gears up for some backstage air hockey; you can catch him and Darnielle as they perform at Fitzgerald’s on June 21st.