Depth Charge: The Best of The Week
DJ Shadow, Photo: Magnum PR
The summer sun has definitely risen over Houston, and it certainly doesn’t feel like it will set any time soon. Fortunately, this week you have more than enough options of cool events to choose from where the atmosphere is light and the air conditioning is on overdrive. Sets from DJ Shadow, Reckless Kelly and Matthew Sweet will all be on hand, while locals like Ruiners, Talking Forever and Days N’ Daze will all fill the spaces in between. Houston, here’s how to spend your paycheck this week.
Wednesday you can get started at Toyota Center for the Korean hip hop of G-Dragon. Probably because I don’t listen to pop radio, I wasn’t really aware of this guy’s existence until now. However, he’s a pretty big deal based on his collabs alone with the likes of Diplo and Missy Elliot. His last release was 2024’s COUP D’ETAT, and he’s known for a crazy live show. The all-ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $65.50 and $219.
Over at Walter’s, Chicago’s High Spirits will bring their charged-straight-ahead rock sounds to life. Playing about as traditional metal-toned rock as it gets, these guys are known for a high energy live show. Their latest, Motivator, is pretty solid, and it should remind you of the band Scorpions. The metal of Chicago’s Bible Of The Devil will be on as direct support, while Houston’s The Satanic Overlords of Rock N’ Roll will bring their high energy on as openers. The all-ages show has doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.
On Thursday you can get started over at The Secret Group for the video premiere party of Pecos Hank’s new video for the track “Drive Under The Moon.” There will be other videos leading up to it as well. It should be pretty cool as he is a storm chaser, so who knows what the video is like. The Free show is all ages and has doors at 6:30 pm.
Behold The Brave, Photo: Big Hassle
The gritty indie pop of Nashville’s Behold the Brave will bring their infectious sound upstairs to White Oak Music Hall. Sounding like a more youthful version of Kings of Leon, this four-piece dropped a pretty catchy record this year called Behold The Brave that you should definitely give a listen to. Colorado-based alt rock two-piece In The Whale will bring their high energy, garage-infused sound on as direct support as openers for the all-ages show, with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $10 and $13.
Out at Joke Joint Comedy Showcase, the always funny Joe List will bring his Boston-based comedy to town. List is a total riot. He’s been on Last Comic Standing, Conan, and The Late Show with David Letterman, and his latest album, Are You Mad At Me?, is a laugh from start to finish. As per all of these shows, two of Houston’s better comics will serve as feature act and host. The 18 & up show has doors at 7 pm and shows throughout the weekend as well, with tickets between $11 and $16.
Only Beast, Photo: Overholser Photography
Over at Satellite Bar, Austin five-piece Darkbird will bring their catchy sound to all who attend. This band defines themselves as a traditional rock band, but with the synths on their latest release, I Remember Feeling My Fingers Slip, they’re nothing if not a rock band with a catchy sound. Their singer, who has mesmerizing vocals, is alone worth making it out for. The electrifying energy of Houston’s Only Beast should captivate all as direct support, while Slow Future will go on prior. The Dream pop of Houston’s Quel Night will open the all-ages show that’s free for adults or $5 for the kids, with doors at 8 pm.
Continental Club will host the blues-heavy sounds of Danielle Nicole. You wouldn’t know it by looking at her, but she’s an award-winning blues musician that can really bring it, and her album, Wolf Den, definitely backs that honor up. The 21 & up show has doors at 9 and tickets for $10.
Reckless Kelly, Photo: New Frontier Touring
On Friday you could begin at The Redneck Country Club for the alt-country of Austin’s Reckless Kelly. Around for right at twenty years, these guys have become well known for their energetic shows and deep tracks. Their latest album, last year’s Sunset Motel, was their most focused to date. There’s no word of support or openers, but that could change on the show with doors at 6 pm and tickets between $35 and $45.
Over at Revention Center, you can catch the massively popular hip hop of Logic. Geez, what happened? It seems like a couple of years ago this guy was playing small nightclubs and now he’s getting bigger and bigger by the day. His latest, Everybody, does hold some strong rhymes, and his live show is pretty legit. Brooklyn’s Joey Bada$$ will be on as direct support, while Big Lenbo will open up the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $105 and $129.
The Cave Singers, Photo: Big Hassle
Rockefeller’s will have a barn burner when Buxton returns for a show at the iconic venue. The five-piece has never really disappointed in a live setting, and while they’re starting work on a new album sooner than later, their last release, Half A Native, was one of the best albums to come off the New West roster in years. The beautiful, melodic harmonies of Seattle’s The Cave Singers will be on as direct support and openers for the all-ages show, with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $12 and $15.
In the ballroom at Warehouse Live, Nigerian-born Afro-Pop rapper Mr Eazi will bring his sound all the way from Ghana. Here in support of this year’s Life Is Eazi, Vol. 1-Accra To Lagos, this guy drops true jams that should get the whole room dancing. There’s no word of support or openers, but that could change on the all-ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $30 and $40.
At Dan Electro’s you could get all psych heavy when VaudeVillain swings by to perform. The Houston four-piece mixes bluesy undertones into their traditional psych sound, and they’re definitely worth checking out. Houston’s Bernie Pink will be on as direct support and opener for the 21 & up show with an $8 cover and with doors at 9 pm.
Sherita Perez, Photo: Overholser Photography
In the Foundation Room at House of Blues, you can have some fun times with the Gulf Coast indie folk of Sherita Perez and The Cosmic Cats. Possibly one of the hardest working artists in town right now, Perez will sing songs from her latest release, H-Town Love, alongside favorites old and new. The 21 & up show has a closing set from DJ Simyu. The doors are at 9 pm and it’s free.
At Continental Club the long running get down series of Fistful of Soul will take place. Dropping some of your favorite soul jams, the show has DJ sets full of feet-moving jams that are hard not to adore. The show is free, it’s 21 & up, and it gets going around 10 pm.
On Saturday you could start off at Cactus when Buenos Diaz swings by to perform songs from his new album, Buenos Diaz. Currently switching between guitarist for Alejandro Escovedo and solo artist, this guy makes music that’s catchy, almost like if Elvis Costello was born on the Gulf Coast. And with jams like “San Fransymphony,” and “Move On,” he might be your favorite Houstonian turned Austinite. The all-ages event gets going around 3 pm, there’s gratis beer for the adults, and it’s free.
Ruiners, Photo: Keith Hatch
Later on at The Secret Group, the Berkeley pop punk of Mom Jeans will swing by to play. The popular four piece who has two new things to plug like this year’s Split with Graduating Life and last year’s best buds, has become known for a fun and energy heavy live show. Fresno’s Graduating Life will be on as direct support while the emo of Houston’s Talking Forever will blow the roof off the venue by going on prior. The highly energetic punk of Houston’s Ruiners will also be on hand while the lo-fi of Cancer Kittens will open things up. The all ages show has doors at 6 pm with tickets between $8 and $10.
At Walter’s the acoustic crust punk of Days N Daze will be on hand to kick off yet another tour. This band tours more than pretty much everyone else in Houston, and since they’ve travelled across Europe to high praise, you should at least check out their latest release Crustfall. The punk of Giant Kitty will be on hand as direct support while the power violence of D.D.A. will go on beforehand. The hardcore of Houston’s Crawler will open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $7.
If you’d rather chill, then you could head to 3708 Main above Tacos a Go Go to shop for vintage wares at the Milk+Honey Vintage Grand Opening party. Alongside carefully curated items, Rowdy Leather, Space City Mod Vintage, Lee Lewis Designs and many more will have items for sale. There’s also gratis Topo Chico and Oasis Brewery beer on hand (more information here), with things starting around 7 pm for the Free event.
Warlung, Photo: Kevin Adoor
Satellite Bar will host the controversially named throwback desert psych metal of Portland’s Black Pussy. Here in support of this year’s Power, I’d be lying if I said that these guys weren’t impressive live. One of the strongest new bands in town, Warlung will bring their stoner metal on as direct support, and they’re a band you need to see for yourself. The doom metal of Houston’s Doomstress will get things started for the all-ages show with doors at 9 pm and a free cover for the adults, or $10 for the kids.
Over at Numbers you can catch the dark industrial electronica of Pig. A mainstay of the Wax Trax label due to the work with KMFDM, Pig never really got that big, but instead had a devoted fanbase that never waned. Their latest release, last year’s The Gospel, is their best to date, and it should be interesting to catch in person. California’s Julien-K will be on as direct support, while the electro pop of Florida’s Ghostfeeder will open the all-ages show with doors at 9 pm and tickets between $16.50 and $20.
On Sunday you could head to House of Blues to catch the one and only DJ Shadow. Possibly one of the best — if not the best — modern era DJs to scratch a record, this guy drops the hammer when he performs. His latest release, The Mountain Will Fall, is his best in a good while, and it’s definitely worth making it out for. Mophono will bring his San Francisco hip hop on as opener for the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $25.
Cymbals Eat Guitars, Photo: Eric White
Upstairs at White Oak Music Hall, the indie rock of New York’s Cymbals Eat Guitars will swing by. Since their critically acclaimed debut in 2024, these guys have remained pretty solid in their albums, and their latest, Pretty Years (2016), is as solid as it gets. Not to mention, their live shows are always worth making it out for. The indie pop of Austin’s Palo Duro will open the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $10 and $13.
At The Heights Theater nineties alt rock favorite Matthew Sweet will swing by for the first time in a very long time. I’ve long maintained that Sweet is one of the most underscored artists of the nineties, with hits like “Girlfriend,” and “Sick of Myself.” In fact, his albums 100% Fun and Altered Beast are two of the best albums you’ve probably never heard. He’s back with a new album, this year’s Tomorrow Forever, that’s pretty amazing. Maryland’s Tommy Keene will open things up for the all-ages show with doors at 7:30 pm and tickets between $22 and $34.
Astragal, Photo: Astragal
Satellite Bar will have the indie rock of Brooklyn’s Oshwa. Full of gritty guitar and some of the strongest vocals you’ll hear in a good while, there’s no wonder that critics are in love with what she does, especially on last year’s almost symphonic release I We You Me. Houston’s Two Star Symphony will bring their lushly crafted sounds on as direct support, while the energy-heavy indie rock of Astragal will get the all-ages show started. The doors are at 8 pm and the show is free for adults or $8 for minors.
At Rudyard’s the San Antonio-based garage rock of The Rich Hands will be on hand to perform. These guys make music that’s a bit like fifties doo wop mixed with garage, and their album Take Care from this year is hard not to love. San Diego’s Bad Kids will bring their surf punk on as direct support, while California’s Fake Tides will open the all-ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $8 and $10.
Sleeptalk, Photo: The Artery Foundation
On Monday the indie pop rock of LA’s Sleeptalk will bring their latest singles to life at Walter’s. Those singles, tracks like “Bright Eyes” and “Young,” to name a few, are super catchy to say the least. The alt rock pop of Houston’s Moth Wings will be on as direct support, while Dallas’ Quiet Please will open things up. The all-ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $10 and $12.
That’s about it for this week. No matter what you decide to do, remember to stay hydrated, stay dry, and that drinking like an adult is what’s best for everyone.
