Fool’s Gold: The Best of The Week
Miss Jill Scott. Photo: Jimmy Kimmel Live
Now that summer is in full swing, we get to make some difficult decisions each day this week about where to spend our free time. Alongside a bunch of great local shows, heavy hitters like Miss Jill Scott will be rolling through our city. Houston, here’s where you can spend your free time this week.
Wednesday you can get going over at Revention Center when the amazing vocals of Philly’s Miss Jill Scott will grace the stage of the downtown venue. Scott has been going strong for a good while now, though last year’s Woman proved you can’t keep a great performer down. Literally one of those albums that I can’t believe I missed, I found myself jamming it the last couple of weeks. Her live shows are always on point, and hearing these tracks in person should be a real treat. She has the spoken word poetry of Tony award winner Georgia Me on as direct support and opener for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $46 and $106.
If that’s not your thing, then you could swing by Nightingale Room for another edition of Roologic Presents. The industry night where artists, movers, and shakers come together to mingle will feature a headlining set from the R&B soul sounds of Shonnie Murrell. As always, the show will mix things up, this time with a support set from singer songwriter Chase Hamblin, and will open up with a set from DJ Miss Berri. The entire evening will be hosted by the hard mic spitting talents of MC Genesis Blu for the 21 & up show with doors at 7 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
Reformed Whores. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook
Over at Midtown Bar & Grill you can get your laugh on with the silly songs of Brooklyn’s Reformed Whores. The two piece has made quite the name for themselves for their explicit songs that are full of laughs. Their latest album, Don’t Beat Around The Bush features heavy hitting Nashville players as the backing band, and is full of hilarious country themed tracks. Sets from Nick Meriwether, Greg Deal, and Addie Anderson will provide the features while the entire show is hosted by Dusti Rhodes. The 18 & up show has doors at 8 pm and tickets between $8 and $12.
Thursday I’d recommend heading to the Contemporary Arts Museum to catch an interview with Houston punk legends, MYDOLLS. Aside from the fact that this four piece is amazing, or the fact that they dropped the stellar album It’s Too Hot for Revolution last year, their involvement in the Houston music scene is key to our past and present. The presentation, 20HERTZ: A World of Our Own, will feature the members doing a Q&A alongside discussing the Houston Punk scene. The once in a lifetime event will also host Grammy winning producer Dan Workman of SugarHill, alongside a curated archive of treasures. The all ages event gets going around 6:30 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
If you’re a fan of blues guitarist Ian Moore, then you can swing by Mucky Duck to catch him at one of the two sets he’s doing there. Moore has been performing for a good while now, and I don’t know anyone who would complain about any of his shows as he’s always a trip to see live. His latest album, the yet to be released Strange Days is supposed to be a barn burner, and I’m sure those are the tracks he’ll focus on most for these shows. There are two performances, one at 7 pm and one at 9:30 pm, and both of the 21 & up shows have tickets between $25 and $27.
Donnell Rawlings. Photo: Courtesy of Artist
Over at Improv you can catch the always funny antics of comic Donnell Rawlings. You might remember him as Ashy Larry on Chapelle Show, but he’s also a heavy hitting comic in his own right. His 2024 album From Ashy To Classy is pretty damn funny, and he’s been everywhere from Conan to WTF with Marc Maron. As per all of these shows, two of Houston’s better comics will serve as feature act and host for the 18 & up shows. Thursday’s show has doors at 7:15 pm, there are two shows at 8 and 10 pm Friday, shows at 7 and 9:30 pm on Saturday, and a Sunday show at 7:30 all with tickets between $20 and $30.
Satellite Bar will have Japan’s Sete Star Sept in town to perform their scary sounding black metal. I say that, but you could also call it some form of dark punk I suppose. Their last album, 2024’s Sacrifice sounds like the stuff that can give you nightmares. The powerviolence of Canada’s Scum Human will provide direct support, while Austin’s Street Sects go on prior. The grindcore of Houston’s Cryptic Void will also perform, while the powerviolence of Houston’s DDA will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $7 cover.
The Red Light at Springbok will host a set from light psych rockers Verisimilitude of Austin. The three piece makes psych music that’s low energy and more jam band than anything else. The trippy sounds of Disfrutalo will be on as direct support while the blues psych of Mojave Red will go on prior. Houston’s A Tribute To The Sun will open the 21 & up show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.
Chase Hamblin. Photo: Jason Smith
You can close out the night over at Continental Club when Ruckus brings their Americana sounds to headline a set. The road weary twang of Jason Bancroft and the Wealthy Beggars will be on hand as direct support, while the best songwriter in Houston, Chase Hamblin will open things up. The 21 & up show has doors at 10 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
Friday you can start off at Numbers when Houston’s Dem Damn Dames provide a vintage circus style show to their monthly repartee on the Cirque Du So Weird show. Starring contortionist and aerialist Caty Mae of Austin, the show will have sets from the entire Dames troupe including a very special set from Emma D’Lemma. Dallas’ Kitty Martini will also perform alongside the sword swallowing skills of Mary Bleeds, as well as pre-show entertainment from the always entertaining Jim Mackenzie. The 18 & up show includes FREE entry into “Classic Numbers” that immediately follows this performance. The doors are at 7 pm and tickets are between $15 and $30, the latter being a seated VIP option.
Sik Mule. Photo: Trish Badger
Nightingale Room will host a special set from electro indie pop duo, Catch Fever. After dropping a single with “Go To War” last year as well as dropping down from a three piece to a two piece, this band soldiered on. Their latest release, this year’s You Have All You Need showcases the strength behind this band’s songwriting, and their live sets are always full of energy when they perform. The bluesy tones of Houston’s Sik Mule will also be on hand to drop one of the crazed energy heavy sets as well. Their latest release, Sik Mule takes the genre further than you’ll hear from most without steering from what you’d consider blues rock. The 21 & up show has doors at 7 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
If you’re a big Aerosmith fan, then you can head to Revention Center to catch a live performance from their front man, Steven Tyler. Tyler dropped what he calls a country record earlier this year with We’re All Somebody From Somewhere and while it isn’t really country, it actually isn’t terrible either. I’d guess at some point, he’ll drop a couple of Aerosmith tracks as well during the show. There’s no word of opener, but that could possibly change. The all ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets astronomically priced between $59.95 and $199.95. Hopefully he plays more than a couple of Aerosmith songs.
Wrestlers. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook
Over in the Foundation Room at House of Blues, you can get your dance on when Wrestlers stop by to drop a set. Will they drop jams from their double single “Perennial” or something from the Bath Tapes? Either way, these guys drop dope sets and are worth coming out for. Josiah Gabriel will be on hand to open things up, while DJ Baby Roo will spin records afterwards. The all ages affair has doors at 8 pm & it’s 100% FREE.
The folky and bombastic sounds of El Paso’s Emily Davis will be over at Rudyard’s. There’s something to the sound that Davis has created where it’s a mix of singer songwriter folk mixed with indie pop to craft a sound that’s ultimately catchy and diverse at the same time. Her latest album, last year’s The Worst Kind Of Curse shows off how diverse she can be while pulling you in on every single hook heavy note. Houston’s Vodi will be on hand as direct support and should turn some heads when they perform. Containing members of Dollie Barnes, their new single “Notice” has this atmospheric quality that captivates you with the first notes. The acoustic alt country of Houston’s Phillip Alan Zimmerle will open things up on the 21 & up show with doors at 9 pm and tickets for $8.
The Donkeys. Photo: Wes Frazer
Of course, I’d guess that many of you would be over at Continental Club to catch the free spirited sounds of San Diego’s The Donkeys. This four piece has made quite the name for themselves embodying the likes of acts like Pavement and CSNY. Their live shows are engaging and fun, and their new EP Midnight Palms is their best release to date. The Gulf coast swagger of indie rockers Deep Cuts will be on hand as direct support, while the fun bedroom pop of Houston’s Rose Ette will be on to open the 21 & up show with a $10 cover with doors at 9 pm.
You can get your dance on when Stereo Live hosts the Serbian Australian producer, Dirty South. This guy has Grammy nominations, he’s played spots like Coachella and Tomorrowland, and his groove heavy EDM has moved more feet than most who roll through town. His latest drop, All Of Us (feat. ANIMA!) from this year is pretty lit to say the least. California producer, label owner, and Deep House DJ Wolfgang Gartner will be on hand to get things started, and his latest album 10 Ways To Steal Home Plate from this year is full of dance hooks and groove oriented beats. The 18 & up show has doors at 9 pm and tickets for $20.
You can close out the night at Grand Prize Bar for Get Up Get Down. The night will feature a set from GRRRL PARTS DJs. Disco, indie, 80’s and more will be getting spun for the 21 & up evening with doors at 11 pm. It’s 100% FREE.
Pitter Patter. Photo: Ronald Jones
Saturday you can get started at The Safehouse for the Dream Machine show & “gala.” Local artists and local performers collide on a show that will inhabit the small warehouse space. Sets from Pitter Patter, LIMB, Pfaffenberg, Space Villains*, -Us., and Third World TV will all have visuals from the likes of Leckie(Blackout), Goodspero, LAIN and more. There’s also traditional art and art vendors for the 21 & up show with doors at 6 pm and tickets between $8 and $20.
Over in the ballroom at Warehouse Live, you can catch some heavy hitting local acts under one roof with the Spotlight Houston event. DJ Sun will spin records all night while Brant Croucher will swing by to play some Americana for those who attend. The always enigmatic hip hop of JAWWAAD will also be on hand, and no matter what he brings to the table, it should be worth checking out. JAWWAAD has made albums with Doom, he’s toured the world with his jazz outfit Young Mothers, and he even has works as part of a national collection. His last album The Bully Love Set is like making a Brooklyn hip hop album in Houston. Not to be outdone, the always entertaining and high energy of Houston’s Lyric Michelle will also drop a set. If you’ve somehow missed Michelle perform, then you’ve been missing out on one of our city’s best, and this year’s Miss Direction is one of the best albums of 2024 so far. The all ages show has doors at 7 pm, the proceeds go to charity, and the tickets between $75 per person, $125 per couple, or $1250 for a table include complimentary cocktails and dinner.
You can catch two album releases when Versa Nova headlines a set over at Fitzgerald’s. The alt metal four piece plays a mix of grunge and punk infused metal that’s worth making it out for. The crazed and intense metal of Houston’s SLEEPERDRONE will be on hand to also release their new album, COSMONAUTILUS. These guys are intense, they might give you nightmares, and their incredibly live shows are a shining point in the metal genre. The experimental metal of Mezzanine will go on beforehand, while sets from An Author, A Poet, Moth Wings, The Pretty Bads, and Project Icarus will all go on prior. The all ages show has doors at 7 pm and a $10 cover.
Rabit. Photo: Maxwell Schiano
You can get all twisted over at Walters when the acclaimed sounds of grime producer Rabit drops a set. You might not know that Rabit hails from Houston because he rarely plays here, but he’s dropped a ton of music in the last year alone. In 2024 he released the EP, Baptizm and the full length Communion. This year he’s dropped the R&D collaborative release with Dedekind Cut & The Demon City with Elysia Crampton. He’ll have to get extra turnt as Austin footwork producer Supraman will be on as direct support. Supraman goes hard in the paint with crazed techno, and his new release, Commitment Notice is a great example of what to expect from him. Houston’s Josiah Gabriel will be on hand as support as well. Gabriel has been mixing in dancier sounds to his crazed sets as of late and his latest, EP $ from this year is a trip. The industrial psych sounds of Future Blondes will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $12 and $15.
Over at Satellite Bar you can get your punk fix when The Pose performs. Celebrating their upcoming 7 inch release on Warthog Speak Records, their live shows are pretty chaotic and highly energized. The crazed hardcore of Houston’s Back To Back will be on hand as direct support, and Austin’s The Real Cost will go on prior. Fort Worth’s Clear Acid will also perform their nutty drone punk, and Austin’s Mirror will also be there, while Wild Thing will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm with a $12 cover.
Planet Funk Academy, the oldest hip hop dance school in Houston, will host a Silent Disco Party. The show which features live painting from artist Christopher Morphis and projections from T.E.A. (The Eternal Artist), will also have sets from Gio Chamba, DASHR, and Nicky Danger. In typical Silent Disco style, the performers will crisscross one another during the show rather than playing in sequence set by set. There’s more information available here, the doors are at 9 pm, and the all ages show has tickets between $15 and $20.
Craig Kinsey. Photo: Brandon Holley
Mucky Duck will have the album release party for The Nylon Sessions, the new album from Houston’s Craig Kinsey. The intimate set should turn some heads as this latest offering is a change in direction for the solo performer. Kinsey has always been a tough act to follow, so he’ll have some heavy hitters on the show as support. Sergio Trevino of Buxton will be on hand to drop a solo set while Mike Whitebread will open things up. The 21 & up show has doors at 9:30 pm and tickets between $20 and $22. A copy of the album is included with every ticket sold.
On Sunday you should head to Satellite Bar for Phillip Kleiner’s going away party. The daytime show will feature a set from John Zambrano & the Cascades with a performance from the psych heavy sounds of Desert of The Real. The underground hip hop grime of Worst Nightmare will open the all ages party with doors at 2 pm and as far as I can tell, it’s 100% FREE, or at least a donation entry fee.
TTNG. Photo: Nick Sayers
If that’s not your deal, you could go to Raven Tower to catch the math rock of Oxford’s TTNG, formerly This Town Needs Guns. The three piece has always treaded lightly between prog rock and emo core, like if American Football and Tera Melos formed a union. Their latest release, this year’s Disappointment Island keeps treading those waters while creating a sound that’s hard to ignore. Indiana born multi-instrumentalist Mylets will be on hand as direct support, while Houston’s Crimson Arrow will bring their post hardcore math sounds to life as openers. The all ages show has doors at 6 pm and tickets between $13 and $17.
Woodlands Pavilion will host the pop punk of Blink-182. This band is on their third lineup, their new album California isn’t very good, but their early records are pretty solid so hopefully they’ll stick to those songs. The metalcore of Florida’s A Day To Remember will be on as direct support while the radio friendly pop of The All-American Rejects will open things up. The all ages show has doors at 6 pm and tickets are a little steep between $43.50 and $114.
Over at Revention Center you can get your eighties music fix when Culture Club performs. It’s been a long time since this four piece came to our city, but their hits alone should sell you on attending. Songs like “Karma Chameleon,” “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me,” and “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya,” will all get their stage time at this show. The all ages evening with no word of openers has doors at 7 pm and some pricey tickets running between $47.25 and $232.25.
MiddleChild. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook
Vinal Edge will host the single release for Houston indie rockers MiddleChild. The single, “First Times” is a real gem of bedroom pop and indie rock mixture from the energetic four piece. Oakland’s Happy Diving will bring their guitar driven goodness to all by performing as well. Their latest album, Electric Soul Unity is pretty impressive to say the least. The 100% FREE event is all ages, it has gratis beer from NoLabel for the adults, and it gets going around 7 pm.
Dean’s Downtown will have an intimate set from Dillon Trimm at their Songwriter Sundays show. Trimm has been performing for a long time, most of you might remember him from The Trimms, and his solo stuff has more weight than anything he’s done in the past. The country twang of Max Flinn will also be on hand for the 100% FREE show that’s 21 & up with doors at 8 pm.
Tuesday you could go to Rudyard’s for the riff heavy metal of California’s Holy Grail. These guys are a little revivalist, but they’re pretty solid live and their latest Times of Pride and Peril isn’t as strong as their live sets. They’ll have to bring their A game as Bay area thrash metal group, Exmortus will be on as direct support. This riff wielding four piece just dropped a pretty intense album called Ride Forth that reminds me of a darker early Metallica before they turned into whatever they call themselves nowadays. Portland’s Spellcaster will also bring their no frills metal to the bill, while Houston’s Mastema will open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $10.
If you’d rather laugh till it hurts, then you could go to PJ’s for Boo Town and Beta Theater’s Neo Benshi. The hilarious show where videos are shown while funny people act out new scripts ala MST3K style is a riot from start to finish. The 21 & up show has doors at 8 pm and it’s a measly $5.
That’s about all that’s happening around town this week. No matter what you decide to do, please stay cool stay hydrated, and get home the safest way possible for everyone’s sake.
