Well, we survived another week of heat, rain, and everything in between. This week we have a ton of entertainment options that will have our city being visited by the likes of J Cole, Boyfriend and The Avett Brothers, while locals like Trillblazers, Mockingbird Brother and many more will fill in the gaps. Houston, here’s how to spend the following seven days.

 

On Wednesday, you can get going over at Walter’s for the experimental drone noise of Proud Father. The electronic sounds of this New Orleans-based, all-tape producer are a trip and something to behold, and his latest, Open Marriage Proud/Father Split, is pretty mesmerizing. Cloud Head will be on as direct support while the intense punk of Houston’s Cop Warmth will go on beforehand. The electronica of Andrew Sainz will get the all-ages show started with doors at 8 pm and a measly $8 cover.

 

Thursday you could begin at Rudyard’s, where you can catch the return of Houston comic Al Bahmani. Al B is a guy with plenty of stories to tell, so it only makes sense that he’d return to Houston from Los Angeles to record his first proper release. He’ll have some heavy hitters on the show with him, as the always funny comedy of Slim Bloodworth will be on as feature act while the hilarious antics of Warren Wright will serve as host. The 21 & up show has doors at 8 pm and tickets for $7 or two for $10.

 

 

Kap G, Photo: Atlantic Records

 

The studio in Warehouse Live will bring the celebrated bilingual hip hop of Atlanta’s Kap G to town. G has been making a name for himself since he dropped his 2024 single, “Tatted Like Amigos,” and since then he’s made quite the name for himself as a solid performer. His latest, SupaJefe, from this year, proves he has plenty of swag as well. The hip hop of J.R. Donato will be on hand as direct support and opener for the all-ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $15 and $20.

 

Upstairs at White Oak Music Hall, the “mysterious raunchy feminist” sounds of Boyfriend will swing through town. The New Orleans-native-turned-LA-transplant has been on a tear for a minute now, and her live shows are always a trip. Her latest release, this year’s Next, definitely shows off how solid she is as a rapper and producer. The punk of Houston’s Giant Kitty will get things started as only they can as direct support and openers for the all-ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $10.

 

 

Mockingbird Brother, Photo: Nikki Machacek

 

Red Light at Springbok will bring the catchy sounds of LA’s Warbly Jets over to the upstairs venue. These guys are upbeat, their music is a mix of electro-pop and catchy jams, and their latest single, “4th Coming Bomb,” should make you want to get down. The emo energy of Houston three piece Mockingbird Brother will be on as direct support and openers for the 21 & up show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.

 

Friday you could get started over at Smart Financial Center when The Avett Brothers bring their catchy and infectious folky pop to the Sugarland venue. These guys are always worth making it out for, if it’s your thing, and their latest chart topping release, True Sadness, from last year, is pretty strong. The rescheduled date from last year doesn’t have word of support or openers, but that could change. The all-ages show has doors at 6:30 pm and tickets between $49.50 and $69.50.

 

Of course, I’d guess that many of you would be heading to Toyota Center to catch the hip hop jams of J. Cole. The German-born and North Carolina-raised rapper has definitely blown up since his last set here, and his new album, 4 Your Eyez Only, from last year, has plenty of pop surrounding it. The highly energetic sounds of Anderson .Paak will get things started for the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $29.50 and $125.50.

 

 

Kiki Maroon, Photo: July St. Juniper

 

The studio at Warehouse Live will have another edition of The Burly Q Lounge from Houston’s Kiki Maroon. The vaudeville-inspired show, that often features comedy, music and burlesque, will feature the likes of Dallas’ Confetti Eddie, Bethany Summersizzle, Nikki Knockout and more alongside a list of local performers. The seated 18 & up show has doors at 7 pm and tickets for $25.

 

The Heights Theater has a set from Old 97’s founder and accomplished solo act, Rhett Miller. Miller has always made some of the most intriguing and all around compelling tunes in music. His live shows are the type not to be missed, and his latest release, The Traveller, from 2024, is pretty epic. Austin’s Charlie Sexton will bring his twang on board as opener and direct support for the all-ages evening with doors at 7:30 pm and tickets between $22 and $34.

 

 

Trillblazers, Photo: Jordan Asinas

 

At Walter’s you could get groovy when the Southern experimental sounds of Knoxville’s White Gregg performs. This band has nuances of acts like Man Or Astroman coupled with the art rock of bands like XTC, while still offering up something new and fresh. Their latest release, Nice Spread, from 2024, is a pretty intriguing album. The trippy electronic sounds of Houston’s Trillblazers will provide direct support, while the indie rock of Mother Ghost will get things going. The all-ages show has doors at 8 pm and tickets for $8.

 

Rudyard’s will help celebrate 25 years for Houston’s Poor Dumb Bastards when the band swings by to perform. Of course, if you’ve never seen these guys, then you don’t know how being creative with duct tape can create a new look. Back in the day, this band did everything that was considered off limits, and yet they still keep going. The leather-motorcycle-punk of The Velostacks will be on as direct support, while Hell’s Engine will get things started for the 21 & up show with doors at 9 pm with an $8 cover.

 

On Saturday, you might want to swing by Mucky Duck for one of two live sets from Texas’ Max Stalling, as he’ll record both for a new live album. While Stalling’s acoustic sets have become a fan favorite, you may not know his contemporary country sound. His last release, Banquet, from 2024, was one of the better new country albums I have heard. The 21 & up shows are at 7 and 9:30 pm, and both have tickets between $20 and $22.

 

At House of Blues, the always popular mix of blues rock and conjunto of Texas trio Los Lonely Boys will perform in the big room. These guys are much more than their hit track “Heaven,” and their live shows are a cross between fun and funky. The soulful funk rock of Austin’s Jackie Venson will open the all-ages show with doors at 7:30 pm and tickets between $25 and $59.

 

 

Ak’chamel, Photo: Terry Suprean

 

The always-intriguing-and-hard-to-drop-into-a-genre sounds of Ak’chamel will be over at Rudyard’s in celebration of their new album release. That album, the recently dropped Death Chants, takes the listener further down the rabbit hole in the universe of distant chants and gypsy sounds that this sometimes-duo-and-sometimes-five-piece band creates. I can’t tell you what you’ll see from them other than that it will be like nothing else you’ll see in a good while. The psych krautrock of Houston’s Unified Space will be on beforehand, while Bodyfat will open up the 21 & up show with doors at 8 pm and a $5 cover.

 

Rockefeller’s will host the return of Houston’s Spain Colored Orange. While I say return, it’s not that band really went anywhere, but rather started playing a lot less. The live show from these guys put on is always a good time, and their last album, Sneaky Like A Villain, from 2024, still sounds as fresh as it did when it was released. The alt-rock of thelastplaceyoulook will be on as direct support while the indie rock of Jealous Creatures will go on beforehand. Trick Baby will get things started on the all-ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.

 

 

Housing Crash, Photo: Ozge Kal

 

Avant Garden hosts a barn burner of post rock and more when My Twilight Pilot headlines a set.  The shoe gaze group never lets down anyone who catches them perform.  They’ll have direct support from alt rockers The Thief And The Architect while the experimental indie rock of Pasadena’s Super Robot Party will perform prior.  The punk of Uffizi will also be on the bill, as will Turkey’s Housing Crash who will get the evening started.  The 21 & up show has doors at 8 pm and a measly $5 cover.

 

At 809 Pierce, you could get down to the sounds of Santa Muerte. They’re described as some true noise makers, so if that’s your thing, then you should check them out.  LEDEF of House of Kenzo will be on as direct support, while Majia Records residents Anitra, NNOA, and Tearz will get things started. The BYOB show has doors at 10 pm and a $10 cover.

 

On Sunday,  House of Blues will bring the R & B soul of New Orleans’ PJ Morton to town. Of course, you may know Morton from his regular gig as a keyboardist in the band Maroon 5, but you should know that his solo work is everything Maroon 5 wished that they were. His latest release, Gumbo, has him teetering between ’70s soul and modern pop like no one else going. The urban big band sounds of MAJOR. will be on as direct support and opener for the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and a $20 cover.

 

The alt pop soul of Austin’s Swimming With Bears will be in the studio at Warehouse Live. At first listen, you might not place too much importance on these guys. But around the one minute mark on their EP, last year’s Swimming With Bears, you should fall for what they’re doing. The ambient indie rock of Houston’s Mourning Bliss will be on as direct support and Anchor, the Mammoth will open the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $8 and $10.

 

 

The Fixx, Photo: United Talent Agency

 

Monday you could head to the big barn at Dosey Doe to catch London-based ’80s new wave rockers, The Fixx. These guys seemed to dominate the charts back in the day with hits like “One Thing Leads To Another” and “Saved By Zero,” plus you’d be shocked how solid their live sets still are. Their last release was 2024’s Beautiful Friction, which sounded fresh for a band that’s been around as long as they are. The all-ages show has dinner served from 5 pm to 6:30 pm, which is included in your ticket price between $68 and $108.

 

That’s about all that’s happening around town. No matter what you decide to do, please remember that drinking responsibly and acting like a well-adjusted adult is what’s best for everyone.