Alligator Buzz: The Best of The Week
NOBUNNY. Photo: Courtesy of Ground Control Touring
The weeks leading up to Day for Night are getting numbered and the end of the year is getting here fast. While last week we saw plenty of amazing artistry roll through town, this week we’ll have just as many options. Performances from NOBUNNY, PartyNextDoor, Jimmie Vaughan and many more will all be here, as well as great locals. Houston, here’s where you should be spending your free time this week.
Wednesday you could start off at Raven Tower for a set from Houston’s Adam Bricks. If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it at least ten times, Bricks is not an artist to sleep on by any means. His live shows are always worth seeing and his latest release Relations is one of the most solid releases of 2024. The all ages show on the patio has doors at 6 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
At Revention Center you can get down to the minimal hip hop and R&B sounds of PARTYNEXTDOOR. The Canadian rapper has earned plenty of praise while being compared to Drake, his live shows are known to be pretty crazy, and his latest release PARTYNEXTDOOR 3 (P3) is pretty solid. The pop R&B of Chicago’s Jeremih will open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $44 and $64.
Genesis Blue. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook
Over at Nightingale Room, the hip hop styles of Genesis Blu will be on full display. Blu is on the verge of dropping something insane from what I hear, and her mic skills are always worth making it out for. Fresh from an injury that’s left her sidelined, her latest drop 3Peace is definitely on point. Z’maji Glamouratti will open the 21 & up show with doors at 7 pm for the 100% FREE event.
Satellite Bar will bring the dark industrial sounds of Swedish multi-instrumentalist SKOLD over to perform. Aside from the fact that this guy has performed as a member of Marilyn Manson and KMFDM, his solo career is nothing to take lightly. His live shows are rumored to be insane and his latest album The Undoing is trippy and dark. The horror rock of Houston’s The Filthy Dead will be on as direct support while the Dread Pixels will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $12 cover.
On Thursday you may have wanted to get going over in the ballroom at Warehouse Live for the hip hop of Alabama’s Yelawolf, however the show has since been cancelled. Tickets are refundable from the venue.
Nathan Quick. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook
At Heights Theater you can get your singer/songwriter fix when four Houston acts get together to perform. The show, featuring original tunes and solo sets from Matt Harlan, Buxton’s Sergio Trevino, Nathan Quick, and Sara Van Buskirk; is a good way to check out the new room and hear some great songs as well. The all ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets for $15.
You can get your garage punk fix when California’s NOBUNNY swings by Walters to perform. Part lo-fi, part underground noise, NOBUNNY always sounds like if King Khan and BBQ Show went further down the DIY rabbithole. His live shows are rumored to be insane while his last release Mr Pro Bono is a trip. The Cowboys will bring their pop rock on as direct support while the all female garage psych of Austin’s Sailor Poon will go on prior. The tongue in cheek punk of Houston’s The Cops will go on beforehand with The Wiggins opening the stacked all ages bill with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $10 and $12.
You can get your emo fix when Alabama’s Joyboy roll through town at Satellite Bar. The crazy hardcore of Snake Church will be on as direct support and the nutty grindcore of Houston’s SPARSE will go on before them. The death grind of Houston’s Insects will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a TBA cover.
Over at Rudyard’s you can get down with the darkwave folk of Seattle’s King Dude. King Dude seems to be a critic’s favorite, he plays the death rock sound like the world never changed, and his latest release Sex is pretty cool. The drone folk of San Francisco’s Foie Gras will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $15.
Colonial Blue. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook
Friday you can start off at the 8th Wonder Brewery for a show that gets toys into the hands of little kids at the Riffs For Gifts show. A headlining set from the powerfully diverse Americana sounds of Colonial Blue will also have support sets from Sik Mule and Clay Melton. Seriously, all three of these acts are ones not to sleep on, and by bringing an unwrapped toy to the 100% FREE show, you’ll make someone’s holiday better.
Over at East End Studio Gallery you can help Girls Rock Camp while getting all the art you can handle at the She’s Real Gone female artist showcase. Featuring art from Honeybones, Madeline Carr, Squid, and many many more, there’s also a DJ set from the female members of Rose Ette. There also promises to be food, gratis beer for the adults, and an all-female vendor space next door at Bohemeo’s. The all ages show is one night only, it gets going around 7 pm, and it has a measly $5 cover.
In the studio at Warehouse Live you can catch the legendary blues rock of Austin’s Jimmie Vaughan. Brother to the late Stevie Ray, Jimmie has always done things his own way, and his latest release Plays More Blues, Ballads, and Favorites is definitely one of his best. His set will feature Lou Ann Barton as well who he’s been performing duets with for a good while now. Houston guitar great The Mighty Orq will show Vaughan that the blues hasn’t died down here by providing direct support as well as opening the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $23 and $26.
Handsomebeast. Photo: Courtesy of Artist
You can get all funky with Houston’s Handsomebeast at their album release party upstairs at White Oak Music Hall. While these guys have always played the funk up, their new album The Badass Future is full of sexy jams that you can’t get outta’ your head. The psych of Houston three piece Mantra Love will be on as support while NOLA’s The Quintessential Octopus will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm for the 100% FREE show.
Downstairs at Fitzgerald’s, you should consider catching the country Americana sounds of Magnolia’s Folk Family Revival. This five piece has been earning all kinds of national accolades, their live shows are always worth catching and their latest album Water Walker is pretty stellar. There’s no word of support or openers for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $10 and $15.
Continental Club will host the return of Texas singer songwriter James McMurtry. This guys is a legend in the truest sense of the word, his live shows are like a storytelling session filled with music, and his latest album Complicated Game is the best he’s made in a long time. Charlie and the Regrets will open the 21 & up show with doors at 9:30 pm and tickets for $20.
Dollie Barnes. Photo: Daniel Jackson
On Saturday you could spend the day with Satellite Bar at their One Year Anniversary Party. The all day affair will feature performances from Young Girls, VODI, Mikey & the Drags, Cool Moon, Dollie Barnes, Camera Cult and many more. There are more details here for the all ages show with doors at noon and it’s 100% FREE.
Vinal Edge will host a combined album release set from two great Houston bands, Frog Hair and Young Mammals. While Frog Hair basically proved that you can’t judge a book by its cover by bringing a youthful sound to the psych genre that needed a boost, Young Mammals completely streamlined their sound with their latest album. Frog Hair’s album A Long List of Shortcomings is the kind of album that Butthole Surfers were always trying to make, and the band is stellar live. Also amazing in a live setting, Young Mammals’ Jaguar gets straight to the point and highlights how strong this band truly is. The all ages event gets going around 7 pm, there’s gratis beer for the adults, and it’s 100% FREE.
The Secret Group will host the Good Cop, Bad Cop show featuring Geoff Tate and Emma Arnold to help you get your laugh on. Tate might be one of the most underrated comics going, an Arnold feed into Tate’s nerdcore ego like mashed potatoes and gravy. The all ages show should be a riot with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $8 and $12.
Over at Fitzgerald’s you can catch the thrash sounds of Houston’s D.R.I. I feel kind of like Brecht and the guys use Houston as their piggy bank lately, but that doesn’t take away from their thrash roots. Their early punk records like Dealing With It are pretty amazing, and they have a new EP called But Wait… There’s More. The show will be upstairs and downstairs with sets from New York’s Toxic Shock, as well as Texas Massacre, Hogs of War, Baron Von Bomblast, The Guillotines, and The Bangshifts. The all ages show has doors at 7:30 pm and tickets between $14 and $16.
Downstairs at White Oak Music Hall, you can get your pop rock fix when Boston’s Guster swings by to perform. These guys have been around a long time, they were originally more acoustic, but their latest sound has had this almost dream pop vibe. That being said, they’re pretty killer live and their latest album Evermotion from last year is their most focused to date. The dreamlike pop of Austin’s Duncan Fellows will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $26 and $29.50.
Rabit. Photo: Rogue Agency
Of course, if you can get in, there is that Boiler Room session presented by Day for Night. The intense sounds of Houston’s Rabit will headline the event with support sets from The Haxan Cloak, Abyss X, and Kona FM. Rabit has gotten praise around the globe, and his last set here in town was insane to say the least. The ultra exclusive show has offered up scant details, so good luck getting in.
Sunday over at Walters, you can put names to the faces of some of Houston’s best photographers for the You Need Pics event. Aside from the fact that I’ll be serving up cheap drinks as guest bartender, this is a great excuse to day drink as well as meet a photographer to use for your artist pictures or your next event. The ages ages affair has doors at noon and runs until 4 pm, and it’s 100% FREE.
Later on, Continental Club will host the number one swing band in the UK, when The Jive Aces stop by. These guys wear matching suits, they perform originals and covers, and they have a crazed energy to their live set. Their latest single “Lovin’ Life” will make you want to get your dancing shoes on. The 21 & up show has doors at 8 pm and a $20 ticket.
In the evening at Walters you can catch the experimental electronic drone of LA’s Smokey Emery. Here in support of the latest release Fucked Up In The Future, the sounds this guy makes are creepy and spacey while filling you with something that’s difficult to place into words. The experimental psych noise of Austin’s Future Blondes will provide direct support, while Splendid Emblem’s Collin Hedrick will bring something crazy to the bill as opener. The all ages show has doors at 8 pm and tickets between $5 and $8.
Monday you can get on the ice at Discovery Green. The ice, which will basically be a fixture for a while at the park, is usually kind pricey, but on Mondays it’s only $8 per person. Your skate rental is included in the price, it’s all ages, and it runs between 4 and 10 pm.
Vanilla Whale. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook
If that’s not your thing then you could swing by Satellite Bar when the ragtime R&B sounds of Houston’s Bonneville Nightlife headline a set. Mixing in elements of soul and dashes of funk, these guys have a sound that you should lend an ear to. The blues rock intensity of Vanilla Whale will be on as direct support while the alterna rock of San Antonio’s The Black Market Club will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and an $8 cover.
On Tuesday you can head over to Mucky Duck for their Noise For Toys show. The USMC Toys For Tots showcase will feature sets from Libby Koch, Jack Saunders, Mystery Loves Company, Mike Stinson, and many more. The 21 & up show has doors at 6 pm and an unwrapped toy gets you into the show.
That’s about all that’s happening around town this week. While we all wait eagerly for Day for Night, remember that during the holidays, the idiot comes out in people so get home as safe as you can.
