All Night: The Best of The Week
Beyoncé. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Home Box Office
Well, last week was a doozy for Houston as far as entertainment goes and this week is no different. After dropping the revolutionary visual album, Lemonade, last week, Houston’s own Beyoncé will be stopping by NRG Stadium to blow us away even further. Here’s how to plan your week, Houston.
Wednesday you can get going at Warehouse Live in the ballroom for the metal core of Dallas’ Memphis May Fire. While this isn’t really my kind of music, you can’t deny how popular this five piece is. They’ll be in town supporting their latest release, the deluxe edition of 2024’s “Unconditional.” The highly energetic melodic hardcore of Michigan six piece We Came As Romans will be on as direct support, while Ohio’s Miss May I goes on prior. Metal band For Today will open the all ages show with doors at 6 pm and tickets between $20 and $23.
The Nightingale Room will host a set from Come See My Dead Person’s Matt Mejia. Mejia has been doing the solo thing as of late, and his rough and gruff vocals are not to be missed. The art folk rock sounds of Houston’s Chris Lively will go on prior, and he’s also a guy that you need to check out sooner than later. His 2024 release “Feather” is pretty beautiful, and his vocals have more soul than most male singers. The 21 and up show has doors at 7 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
Peach Kelli Pop. Photo: Marco Meyer
Canada’s Peach Kelli Pop will bring their garage rock goodness to all over at Walters. I feel like you can’t deny the power in this four piece’s power garage pop sound. Though they’ve since relocated to California, they’ve become known for their highly energetic live shows, and their latest release, last year’s “Peach Kelli Pop III” is pretty amazing and super catchy. The punk light sounds of Houston’s Giant Kitty will be on as direct support, and they’ll bring their debut “This Stupid Stuff” to life when they perform. The indie dream pop goodness of Houston’s Rose Ette will open things up. This band kind of sounds like if Susanna Hoffs formed an indie rock band, and last year’s “Jungle” is as hook heavy as it it catchy and head bop worthy. The all ages show has doors at 8 pm and tickets between $7 and $10.
Thursday you can get going at Pistolero’s for their Cinco de Mayo Parking Lot Party. The event will have comedy, Lucha Libre wrestling from Doomsday Wrestling, and DJ goodness from GRRRL PARTS. The 21 and up event gets going around 4 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
If you’re a jazz head, then you could stop off at Discovery Green for their Da Camera JAM, this time featuring Trumpet and Strings. Arrangements and conduction by Robert “Doc” Morgan and featuring Dennis Dotson alongside Da Camera Young Artists and HSPVA students. The all ages evening gets going around 6:30 pm, there’s more information here, and it’s 100% FREE.
Over at Raven Tower you can hear a sneak peek of the new album, “You Have All You Need” from Houston’s Catch Fever. The listening party is limited to capacity, and it’ll be the only time you can hear the release before it drops to the public in late May. It’s all ages, it runs from 7 pm to 8 pm, and though the party will take place in the tower itself, the 100% FREE event has a limited capacity.
You could get your jam on over at The Nightingale Room, when Houston’s Second Lovers stop by and offer up their alt country rock sounds. Last year this band reinvented themselves again with their single “Hold On,” they dropped sets at multiple festivals, and they honed their already fun and rockin’ sound. Now you can catch them perform songs for their yet to be titled album due later this year. The 21 and up show has doors at 7 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
Junior Brown. Photo: Blues John
Mucky Duck will host two shows from Indiana born and country rock guitar slinger, Junior Brown. Brown has been delighting audiences over thirty years, and his last album, “Volume Ten” from 2024 still stands up. If you’ve never seen him live before, then this is your chance to see one of the most original acts going. The 21 and up shows are at either 7 or 9:30 pm, and both have a cover between $30 and $33.
Over at Rudyard’s you can catch the bluesy alt rock sounds of Houston’s Carpet and the Drapes. Though the four piece hasn’t been around a long time, their live shows have tons of high energy. They’ll have the fuzzed out alt sounds of Houston’s Ganesha on beforehand, and the bluesy jams of Houston’s JVS Reel on as openers for the rockin’ 21 and up show with doors at 7:30 pm and a $5 cover.
Satellite Bar will be bringing the punk rock of U.S. Bastards to town. Featuring some members of GWAR, these guys drop high energy punk rock with ease. Their album from last year, “Totally Fucked” is like a punch to the face from start to finish. One of the more intriguing bands you’ll see in a long time, Portland three piece Human Ottoman will bring their polyrhythmic metal on as direct support. The band features cello, drums, and a vibraphone, and their album from last year, “Farang” is a trip. The high energy and gurgled grind metal of Houston’s Omotai will be on as well, and if you’ve never seen them before then you’re missing out. The 2024 album, “Fresh Hell” is still on point and they should give everyone a run for their money. The psych doom of Houston’s Vulgarnaut will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and an $8 cover.
Denzel Curry. Photo: The Observatory
The studio at Warehouse Live will host the underground hip hop of Denzel Curry. The show, rescheduled from April should have plenty of energy while Curry drops jams from his latest, last year’s “32 Zel/Planet Shrooms.” Minnesota rapper Allan Kingdom will be on as direct support, and should add spice by playing tracks from this year’s “Northern Lights.” SDot Braddy will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $18 & $23.
Friday you could start over at Bagby Park for the Midtown Wine Down. The chill down event features food, wine, craft beer and more. This edition of the show will feature a set from Houston indie folk trio Colonial Blue. The all ages event runs from 5 to 8 pm, and it’s 100% FREE with RSVP, available here.
Children of Pop. Photo: Hannah Elyse Anderson
Raven Tower will be having the album release party for Houston’s Children of Pop. Since inking a deal with a record label and grabbing his own imprint #VeryJazzed, Chase DeMaster has been on a tear. This show, will have the tripped out dance grooves of their dope release “What Does 69 Mean?” getting fleshed out in a live setting. The electro grooves of Wonky Power Records’ Bang Bangz will be on as direct support. This band has been gaining a ton of steam since their track, “Let Go” topped over 95k plays on Spotify. Their latest single, “Young Boy” really shows off how diverse they can get, and their live sets are always worth catching. Austin Smith, possibly performing songs under his project JERK will open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $8 and $10.
Nightingale Room will host the alt rock of Austin’s Hour Band. This band isn’t my thing at all, and I couldn’t get into their sound. But the reason I mention the show is that the crazed energy of Houston’s Jody Seabody & the Whirls will be on beforehand, and they’re who you should make it out for. I caught these guys a couple of weeks back, and I’m still reeling from their intense live show. Their mix of garage rock, psych rock, and stoner rock is one of the best things you can catch and their 2024 album “Holographic Slammer” from last year is a trip. The 21 and up show has doors at 7 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
Over at Town In City Brewing, you can catch the funky goodness of The Heights Funk Collective while you sip on a brew at the Funk N Foam show. Also featuring a DJ set from DJ Kona, The Funk Collective throws a hell of a party when they play, and the all ages show that gets going at 7 pm is 100% FREE.
Walters will host the intense blues folk sounds of Iowa’s William Elliott Whitmore. Often performing as a one man band and one of the most intriguing vocalists you can hear, Whitmore has the ability to capture an audience with his voice alone. His latest release, “Radium Death” from last year is a mix of intensity and honesty. Direct support will be handled by an act named Josiah that I couldn’t find information on, but Houston’s Keeton Coffman will be on hand to open things up. This year he dropped the passionate singer songwriter album, “Cover The Cost,” and should be a great and intimate act to start the night. The all ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $12 and $16.
Ancient Cat Society. Photo: Jay Dryden
Anderson Fair will have a set from Houston’s Ancient Cat Society. Due to the fact that this acoustic and folky group contains members of Buxton and Dollie Barnes, they rarely play out much. If you’ve never heard their 2024 album, “Stay Home,” then you’re missing one of the best things to come out of Houston. The road weary Americana of Houston’s Jason Bancroft & the Wealthy Beggars will be on hand to open things up. Their 2024 album “Home” is a true gem and they’re always on point when they play live. The all ages show has doors at 7:30 pm and tickets for $15.
Continental Club will have a set from American Idol contestant and singer songwriter, Charles Peters IV and the Scoundrels Three. They’ll have one of Houston’s most interesting and incredibly tight bands on as direct support when Cornish Game Hen performs. Usually when you see that a group is a mix of bass, drums, and synth, you’d peg them as proggy. However, these guys are probably closest to Austin’s Pong in sound, and they’re really their own sound that everyone should see sooner than later. Louisiana’s Drive The Sky will go on prior. These guys remind me of a mix of Jawbox and Buffalo Tom, and they sound like they could be worth making it out for. Houston’s Demonic Hen opens the 21 and up show with doors at 8 pm and it’s 100 % FREE.
Fitzgerald’s will be bringing the eighties synth sounds of LA’s Drab Majesty. Drab Majesty makes the kind of music that’s popular with goth kids who really love Peter Murphy and Love & Rockets. I mention the show because from what the rumor is that the guy puts on a crazy live set. His latest album, this year’s “Completely Careless,” which is a retrospective release. The dark pop synth trio Pale Dian from Austin will be on as direct support, while the ambient noise of Future Blondes will go on prior. The darkwave synths of Houston’s Tearful Moon will also be on the show, and a Delphine Coma DJ set will perform as well. A DJ set from Millennial Grave will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $10.
Saturday you could get your “Sith” on at the War’Hous 5th Annual Star Wars Art Festival at 4300 Harrisburg. The two day event has a ton of Star Wars art, and DJ sets from Hiram all day Saturday, with Fredster and Brandon (Night Drive) splitting up Sunday. The all ages event gets going at noon both days, there’s more information available here, and tickets are between $5 and $8.
Doeman. Photo: Sarah Jasmine
In the block that holds Continental Club through Alley Kat, you could make it out for the Madness on Main Street Festival. The all day event will feature a headlining set from Quintron & Miss Pussycat, with a ton of locals that include Los Skarnales, Another Run, Doeman, Dollie Barnes, Knights of The Fire Kingdom, A Sundae Drive, -Us., Glass The Sky, Since Always, and many many more. The Tripatorium from Matt Fries will also be on hand, as will mural art from Bao Pham and more. The 21 and up event has more information available here, the doors are at 4 pm and tickets are between $15 and $25.
NRG Stadium, will bring back our own when Beyoncé returns to Houston. So, I wouldn’t ever tell you to join a streaming site, because it’s your money and your time. But….”Lemonade,” the new and visually stunning album/film, might be worth the Tidal sign up. Easily the most powerful thing on the site, Beyoncé proved that she will always be a queen, and one of the most amazing artists in today’s music industry. I’ve seen video from her opening night in Miami, so you should know that if you can swing the ticket price, that she won’t disappoint. The show has almost sold out and the only tickets left are $280, so if you were lucky enough to grab tickets, then you should know that the doors are at 5:30 pm.
If that’s not your deal then you could roll by the FYHA shop for their Spring Bash. The party will feature exclusive $40 tattoos for the first 15 people who register for them, as well as a DJ set from the always jam dropping Flash Gordon Parks. You can pick up gratis Red Bull, Karbach, and Deep Eddy, and there’s grub available from Boombox Taco too. Things get going at 6 pm and run until about 11 pm, and it’s 100% FREE.
The 1975. Photo: Jake Owens
Out at Woodlands Pavilion, you can catch the massively popular pop jams of The 1975. The first time I heard this four piece from Manchester, I told a bunch of people they’d be huge. I should’ve bet money on it. Anyway, they are known for their energetic set, and their new album, “I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it” is getting bigger and bigger by the second. UK based electro pop trio, The Japanese House will be on as direct support and openers, and should bring their popular new album “Clean” to life. The all ages show has doors at 7:00 and tickets between $39.50 and $49.50.
Satellite Bar will have the crazed punk energy of San Antonio’s Fea. The group made up of two members of Girl In A Coma are insane in a live setting, and their album”FEA” is pretty impressive. One of the most impressive vocalists you’ll ever get to see, Missouri’s Kristeen Young will be on as direct support. Young has one of the broadest vocal ranges I’ve ever heard, like if Tori Amos and Kate Bush made albums together. Her last release, “The Knife Shift” from 2024 is insane, beautiful, and super catchy. The punk rock of Houston’s Action Frank will open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and a measly $8 cover.
Beta Theater will be celebrating their third year at their 3rd Anniversary show. The event has improv from all of the Beta groups, stand up from Zahid Dewji and more, a DJ set from Jeromy Barber as well as all of the “Beta weirdos.” The 18 & up show gets going at 8:00 and it’s a pay what you can show.
Over at Rudyard’s you can catch one of the most intense live shows going, when Austin’s Scott H. Biram performs. A one man band, Biram mixes traditional blues with country undertones to make a sound I’ve always said is like if Howlin’ Wolf and Satan made an album. His latest release, “Nothin’ But Blood” from 2024 is intense and worth hearing live. The country twang of Beaumont’s Jesse Dayton will be on as direct support and opener. Dayton has made quite the name for himself, and he’s here in support of last year’s “Tall Texas Tales (15th Anniversary Edition).” The all ages show has doors at 8 pm and tickets between $10 and $12.
Luna. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook
Numbers will see the return of NYC quartet, Luna. The band made indie shoegaze pop rock, and seemed to just disappear around 2024. This tour is the first time they’ve been on stage together in a decade, and their 1995 “Penthouse” is a true indie rock classic. Luna bassist and solo artist in her own right, Britta Phillips will be on as direct support. Houston’s Wild Moccasins will be on hand as opener, and should show off some new tunes under their new lineup. The all ages show has doors at 8 pm and tickets between $20 and $27.
Fox Hollow will have a rager when they host Bombon+H-Town All Stars. Fresh from some out of town dates and performing tunes from last year’s “Bombon X Peligrosa,” the crew will have some extra dance firepower perform as well. Sets from Blackout DJ’s, Fat Tony, Buckamore & OGT will all take place, as well as sets from the Bombon members themselves, and should blow the top off the club. If you RSVP by Friday, then the 21 and up show with doors at 10 pm is FREE. If you don’t, then cover is $5.
Flatbush Zombies. Photo: Courtesy of Artist
Sunday you’d be crazy to miss the East coast hip hop of Brooklyn’s Flatbush Zombies in the ballroom at Warehouse Live. This year they just dropped the epic and grandiose sounding “3001: A Laced Odyssey,” and anyone who’s seen them perform should tell you that they’re as lit as it gets. There’s no word of openers, but that will change for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $23 and $30.
You can get your laugh on at Joke Joint Comedy Showcase when they host the Comedy Meets The Runway show. Hosted by Ku Egenti and Roxy Haze, the show will feature sets from comics alongside an actual fashion show. The 18 and up show has doors at 8 pm and tickets for $15 with more information available here.
At House of Blues you can catch a set from folky dance psych rock brother and sister duo, Wild Belle. After appearing on Major Lazer’s last album, the pair have been popping off all over the place as of late. Their latest album, this year’s “Dreamland” showcases the diverse nature of the Chicago natives. The psych sounds of California’s James Supercave will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $15.
Tuesday if you were planning to catch Sturgill Simpson at White Oak Music Hall Lawn, you should know that it’s been sold out for a good while. If you have tickets already, the doors are at 7 pm.
Disclosure. Photo: Sigried Duberos
I’d guess that about 3,000 of you would be headed to Revention Center to catch the electronica duo, Disclosure. I caught them a couple of years back when they played a packed show at Warehouse Live, and they’re seriously entertaining to see. Their latest album, “Caracal” from last year is definitely the English duo at the top of their game. There’s no word of an opener for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $35.
That’s about all that’s happening this week. No matter what you decide to do, please drink like an adult and do so in the safest manner possible.
