Stephanie Rice. Photo: The Voice
Well, we survived a near miss of bad weather last week just proving that we’re well into summer. This week brings in performances from Joan Jett, punk legends Chron Gen and Houston’s Stephanie Rice while locals like Cool Moon and Moth Wings will fill in the gaps. Houston, this is how to navigate the next seven days.
Wednesday you can begin at Discovery Green for their Party on The Plaza series. This edition will feature a headlining performance from Houston’s Fat Tony, who never disappoints when he performs. His latest drop, Drive-Thru, just proves he’s not slowing down anytime soon. The high energy indie rock of Houston’s Young Mammals will get things started for the all ages free show that gets going at 5 pm. As a bonus, a local radio station is sponsoring the event, and should get to hear two of the city’s best artists that they never support.
Joan Jett. Photo: Creative Artists Agency
Of course you could roll back the clock out in Sugarland at Smart Financial Centre when Boston brings their arena rock to town. Sure, bands like Boston caused rock to go into a formulaic place in the seventies, but with jams like “More Than A Feeling” and “Peace of Mind,” they were the better of the arena rock groups. Joan Jett and The Blackhearts will be on as direct support and openers, and should get things going with tons of energy. Jett is a real treat to see perform and will turn back the clock like she’s in her twenties again. The all ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $35 and $99.50.
Over at White Oak Music Hall upstairs, Richie Ramone will bring his punk sounds to life. Known for his five year run as a drummer for Ramones, Richie’s solo stuff is pretty strong. The last time he came he performed his album Cellophane with plenty of energy and vigor. The high energy sounds of Houston’s Killer Hearts will be on as direct support while the leather punk of The Velostacks will go on beforehand. The Guilloteens will open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $10 and $11.
Walter’s will bring in the legendary punk of UK’s Chron Gen. The early eighties third generation UK punks have been going strong for a good while, and their shows are that of legend. Their latest release from last year, This Is The Age, sounds as fresh as ever, too. LA based nineties emo punks The Generators will be on as direct support while the street punk of East LA’s Corrupted Youth will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $12 and $15.
Hot Flash Heat Wave. Photo: Terrorbird PR
Over at Satellite Bar, the psych infused dream pop of San Francisco’s Hot Flash Heat Wave will be here to perform. Here in support of their dreamy new release Soaked, this four-piece makes songs that are worth checking out. The alt electro sounds of LA’s Inner Wave will be on as direct support while the indie pop of Houston’s Mind Shrine will open things up on the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $8.50 and $10, unless you’re under 21 when there will be an additional two dollar surcharge, which is an idiotic practice that’s as antiquated as the notion itself.
On Thursday you can start off at The Secret Group when Andy Huggins headlines a set. Huggins, one of the original Outlaw Comics, has been proving that he’s still a force in comedy. Last year he dropped the album Inspired By True Events, and it sounds like this show will feature more new material. Heavy hitter Barry Laminack will be the feature act for the show that has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $5 and $10.
Tee Vee. Photo: Jason A Smith Photography
Over at Rudyard’s you can get down to the indie pop of Austin’s Missing Pages. Playing songs from their latest Demo, this four piece sounds like an act you should make it our for. Houston’s Cleen Teens will be on as direct support while the dream pop of LA’s Winter will be on as well. The electro pop of Houston’s Tee Vee will open things up on the 21 & up show with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $8. Apparently, this is the final order of the lineup, even though the club’s website and the Facebook event page say something completely different.
Upstairs at White Oak Music Hall, the guys from Deep Cuts will be kicking their tour off with a hometown show. Of course, as we’ve seen these guys mature into a stronger band, they’ve become more complex and their latest single “Take Me Back” proves that they’re growing for the better. The highly energetic rock of Roky Moon & Bolt will be on hand as direct support while French Kids (formerly known as Young Girls) will open things up and bring their last album Party Blood to life. The all ages show has doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.
At Avant Garden you can get as weird as you want when Mockingbird Brother starts the beginning of their tour. The brainchild of mad man Chris Dunaway, it’s definitely something you should go see, and the Help You Out (Demo) is pretty legit as well. Bernie Pink will also be on the bill as well as the tour, and their new release Fiesta Elementary is about as psych heavy as psych gets. The 21 & up show gets going around 11 pm and it’s Free.
On Friday you can check out some funny over at The Secret Group when Houston’s Rich Williams hosts the Joke Riot Show. Becoming a tradition in this town, Williams has hosted a July 4th weekend show for several years now, and all have done pretty solid since he began. Sets from Brad Gray, Nathaniel Potts, Eric Green, Tressa Eleby, Ryan McGhee and more will be on hand with a set from Rich as well as others. DJ Geux Ro will get the all ages show started with doors at 6:30 pm and tickets between $20 and $40.
Over at Numbers you can get down with the troupe from Dem Damn Dames for their Big Damn Burlesque Birthday. Celebrating seven years of burlesque and PRIDE, the troupe will all be on hand while special guests like the World Famous BOB will be on hand to make you laugh and turn you on. The 18 & up show includes entry into the always fun Classic Numbers that takes place after the show. The doors are at 7 pm and tickets run between $15 and $35, the latter being a VIP premium seated option.
Cool Moon. Photo: Jay Littleton
Upstairs at White Oak Music Hall, Houston’s Cool Moon will celebrate their album release. That record, Postparty Depression is pretty amazing, and full of indie rock goodness alongside the band’s energetic presence. The tongue in cheek indie rock of Houston’s Get A Life will be on as direct support while the alt shoegaze of Brooklyn’s Hypoluxo will perform beforehand. The pop hooked indie rock of Houston’s Rose Ette will also perform and a DJ set from Jazz Radio will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.
The REACH Project from Houston Ballet will perform two very limited shows starting Friday at the Margaret Alkek Williams Dance Lab. Benefiting the Houston Ballet’s X3 program, the program features performances that you’ll never see again. With dancers like Connor Walsh, Shu Kinouchi, Melody Walsh and more, I can attest to the magic that these performances bring. The all ages shows run Friday and Saturday, both with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $20.
Downstairs at White Oak Music Hall, the Countercoven Midsummer Night Magic Promenade will take place featuring a headlining performance from Austin’s Sailor Poon. Just like any other prom, minus the exclusionary practices of jock culture, the event will feature plenty of the Countercoven goodness but all dressed up. A photo booth, plenty of tunes to dance to while dressed to the nines, and songs from Sailor Poon’s latest release Yeast Pigeon from last year will all be on hand. The night will be capped by crowning of king and queen for the all ages event that’s $12 per person, or $20 per couple with doors at 8 pm.
EL LAGO. Photo: Bayou City Photography
Over at 215 Grove Street, Houston’s Birthday Club will kick off their tour with a party in celebration of it all. After dropping their EP Lighten Up last year, the pop rock four piece went out and did some touring. Now they’re set to do it all again, and will kick it all off in warehouse party fashion. The indie rock of Galveston’s EL LAGO will be on as direct support while Holly Halls will go on beforehand. Austin’s Ether Wave will be on hand to bring their visual esthetic to the show, while varying DJ sets will get the nights started as well as perform throughout the evening for the all ages show with doors at 9 pm and a pay what you want cover.
Continental Club will have the dark wave electro pop of Houston’s The Thief and The Architect over on full display. Their electronic sounds can be heard here, but their live shows are definitely a trip to catch. Austin’s Kingdom of Suicide Lovers will be on as direct support, though not to be outdone, the epic insanity of Cornish Game Hen will go on prior, and blow you away with sounds from their latest, Museum Piece should remind you of a more post punk version of Devo. The Genzales will open the 21 & up show with doors at 9:30 and a $10 cover.
Black Kite. Photo: Daniel Jackson
Saturday you could make your way over to House of Blues for their annual Local Brews Local Grooves show. Alongside over fifty breweries, twenty of which are local, and rare releases as well as pub food are thirteen performances from local acts. A headlining set from Houston’s Colonial Blue featuring Stephanie Rice will finish things off. Of course, Rice has recently become more of a household name after getting on NBC’s The Voice and capturing the hearts of everyone who saw her perform. There will also be sets from Fox Parlor, Black Kite, Genesis Blu, Alex Riddle, Space Villains* and more. The 21 & up show has doors at 3 pm and a $15 ticket or ticket packages that range between $25 and $95 with tastings and food included.
A little later on you could make it over to the green room at Warehouse Live to hear new songs from Houston punks Dead To The World. Debuting some new music that will follow up 2024’s War, these guys are full of energy to match their sing-a-long style of punk. The punk of Feels Like Murder will go on before while Bottom of The Food Chain will go on prior. DJ Mohawk Steve will get the night started with doors at 7 pm and a $10 cover for the all ages show.
MyDolls. Photo: F. Carter Smith
14 Pews will host the legendary Houston punk of MyDolls. Part of the 14 Pews Film Academy series, this show will feature film, a performance from the band, and a silent auction. As for the band, I’d guess if you didn’t know who they were, then you’d have no idea that they are one of the most revolutionary bands in music, with a female fronted punk sound that lead to much of the progressive leanings that punk embodies today. Their latest album It’s Too Hot For Revolution proves that they aren’t slowing down anytime soon, and shows why they were such a force when they began almost forty years ago. The all ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets for $25.
Upstairs at White Oak Music Hall, the electro jams of Children of Pop will celebrate the release of their new 7”, Poids/Entude En Cours. The tracks are both pretty progressed and dig further into the rabbit hole that Chase DeMaster has created within the CoP brand. The show is also a return from tour show for the group. Pearl Crush will be on as direct support while the DJ grooves of Kona FM will get the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover started off.
Brand New Hearts. Photo: Jeff Senske
Rudyard’s will help you get your rock on, when Slow Future swings by to perform. Playing a rock heavier indie rock, their debut release First EP is pretty solid and filled with riffs for days. The blues rock of Waco’s Jeremiah Jackson will be on as direct support while the tightest band in Houston, Brand New Hearts will bring their hook heavy riffs on as openers. The 21 & up show has doors at 9 pm and an $8 cover.
On Sunday you can head to Summer Street for the Summer Street Arts Festival. The all day affair will feature two stages of music from DJ Damon Allen, Perseph One, and tons more. The art on hand will be from the likes of HoneyBones, Natalia Victoria, and many many more. There’s also tons of vendors, eats, and a lot more with more information here. Things start around noon and run until 10 pm for the Free and all ages fest.
Later on at Walter’s, you can roll through to benefit Cameron Cares Inc at the Covers for Cameron show. Rome Hero Foxes as Joyce Manor and Four Letter Language as The Front Bottoms will headline while Fellow as Turnover will go on before. Phantompains as Title Fight, Town Destroyer as Citizen, and War Stories as Seahaven will get things started for the all ages benefit with doors at 7 pm and a pay what you can cover. A shirt and backpack are available with a $30 donation as well.
Diana Ross. Photo: Live Nation
Smart Financial Centre will host the legendary sounds of Diana Ross. While the Detroit native is touring in support of her hits, do I really need to sell you on seeing her? With hits like “I’m Coming Out,” “Endless Love,” and “Upside Down.” this feels like a no brainer. And of course, this isn’t mentioning her hits with The Supremes like “You Can’t Hurry Love” and “Baby Love” to name a few. The all ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $67 and $127.
Monday you can head to Walter’s for a Free show when Moth Wings return from a small hiatus to headline the downtown venue. Last year’s Fi/M from Moth Wings proved that they weren’t kids anymore, offering a more adult sound to match their energy heavy live shows. The emo core of Talking Forever will be on hand as direct support while the alt indie sounds of Donna Hayward will go on prior. The punk of No Love Less will also perform and a set from Fight Me as well as the punk of Substance, and Shalva, with an opening set from Trembler. The all ages show has doors at 6 pm.
Over at House of Blues you can swing by to catch Steve Earle and The Dukes bring their roots rock to life. Earle has derailed for so long with political causes that some might forget of his musical prowess. But with his latest album So You Wanna Be An Outlaw from this year proves he hasn’t stopped bringing his best foot forward with his music. The Mastersons will be on as direct support and openers for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $30 and $45.
Santana. Photo: Creative Artists Agency
Out in Sugarland, Santana will rock the walls of Smart Financial Centre. Santana is possibly one of the most groundbreaking artists of rock, and the fact that he’s not getting any younger means this might be one of your last chances to see him perform. His latest, last year’s Santana IV is as revolutionary as his early works, and with hits like “Black Magic Woman” and “Corazon Espinado,” he’s an artist you shouldn’t miss. The all ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $69.50 and $175.
On Tuesday the annual 4th of July festivities will take place at Buffalo Bayou for Freedom Over Texas. Music from DNCE and Hunter Hayes, the US Air Force Band of The West, and tons of fireworks will get going for the family friendly affair. The gates are at 4 pm and tickets are between $8 and $10 with kids under 5 being Free.
That’s about all that’s happening around town this week. Please remember that this is a holiday weekend, meaning that cops are out in full force, so drinking and driving is not a smart move. A safe ride home is just an app away, and drinking like an adult is in everyone’s best interests.
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