Fresh Air: The Best of The Week
FUTURE. Photo: LiveNation
This week we’ll get treated to performances from FUTURE, Gary Floyd of legendary punk band The Dicks, Iron Maiden, and many more while locals like LIMB, iLL Faded, and Deep Cuts round things out. Houston, here’s where you should hang out this week.
Wednesday you could get started over at White Oak Music Hall for their Reach Dancehall Collaboration with artists from the Houston Ballet and local musicians. Music from Deep Cuts, LIMB, Jerk, Tee Vee, Wrestlers and -Us. will all be on hand while Connor Walsh, Megumi Takeda, and Melody Walsh will lend their dance talents alongside others. The show has doors at 6 pm, there’s a full lineup available here, and with all proceeds going to Arts Outreach Program X3, the suggested $10 donation or pay what you can price gives you a lot of bang for your buck. There are also $50 VIP packages available as well.
Inside the restaurant at House of Blues you can get down with Sherita Perez & the Cosmic Cats. If you were unaware, Perez has been grindin so hard over the past year, that she sometimes forgets to eat. No matter what, you have to respect that kind of hustle. She’ll be playing songs old and new, including some from her latest H-Town Love and her new single “Blue Skies,” as well. It’s all ages, it’s Free, and it gets started around 6 pm.
MNDSGN. Photo: Paradigm Agency
If you had planned to head over to Walter’s for the groovy jams of New Jersey’s MNDSGN, the show has since been cancelled. There’s more information available here.
Toyota Center will bring in the legendary metal of Iron Maiden. While it’s not known by everyone that the cover for Somewhere In Time has always been rumored to have the Houston skyline as inspiration, these guys definitely are worth seeing this go around. With hits like “Run To The Hills,” “The Trooper,” and “Aces High” to name a few, if you’re a fan then you should definitely go. Their latest, 2024’s The Book Of Souls is pretty amazing as well. The masked mystery of Sweden’s Ghost will be on as direct support and opener for the all ages show with doors at 7:30 and tickets between $39.50 and $99.50.
Obsidian Theater will bring you the magic of the show Hedwig and the Angry Inch. All of the shows will lead up to PRIDE Week, but the show on the 21st is a great night to catch the performance. There’s more information here for the show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $15 and $30.
On Thursday out in the Woodlands, the hip hop power of Atlanta’s Future will bring his mic skills to the Woodlands Pavilion. Future has been dropping more catchy jams as of late, his live shows are crazed with energy, and his latest HNDRXX is his strongest to date. The co-headlined date with Migos, who’s also been dropping plenty of tunes as of late should be a trip. Sets from Tory Lanez, A$AP Ferg, and Zoey Dollaz should light up the suburban skies. The all ages show has gates at 6 pm and tickets between $40.50 and $99.50.
LIMB. Photo: Marshall Forse Walker
Of course, you might want to head over to White Oak Music Hall upstairs when LIMB swings by to drop a set. Will he do something like his crazy set at Day for Night, will he bring the drum kit, or will he just amaze us all with his energy? Who knows, but it should be amazing nonetheless. Houston’s Chin Xaou Ti Won will bring their electro duo jams on as direct support while the electronica of Secret Sands will go on beforehand. The dark sounds of Tearful Moon will also be on the bill where the always intriguing and strange sounds of Ak’chamel will open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and a FREE cover for 21 & up or $5 for everyone else.
Out at Smart Financial Centre, you can hear the epic sounds of John Mellencamp. The singer may not be your cup of tea, but he has a ton of hits and is always impressive live. His latest release, Sad Clown & Hillbillies from this year shows a different side to the singer. He’ll be joined by Emmylou Harris, Carlene Carter, and pop folk duo Lily & Madeleine for the all ages show at 7:30 pm with tickets between $39.50 and $129.50.
Boogarins. Photo: Ground Control Touring
The Secret Group will have the psych rock of Brazil’s Boogarins. This four piece has been rumored to mix up their live sound from show to show, and their latest release La Vem a Morte is a trip. Ak’chamel will be on as direct support, and should throw everyone for a loop with their improvised and amazing set, while the psych rock of Mojave Red will get the all ages show started. The doors are at 8 pm and tickets are between $12 and $15.
Walter’s will host the death metal of Missouri’s Time Walk. There’s something pretty intense about how dark these guys sound without resorting to vocal effects, and their latest release Beyond Eternity’s Grasp is definitely worth listening to. The hardcore death metal of Houston’s Skourge will be on hand as direct support, while Texas’ Kept In Line and Houston’s Seventh Realm will all go on beforehand. The hardcore of Erupt will also perform while Gutz will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.
Stephanie Rice. Photo: Jan
Friday you should really consider starting off at Discovery Green for their Rainbow on the Green concert. A headlining set from CeCe Peniston will take place while hometown hero and Voice contestant Stephanie Rice will go on prior. Rice has been headed back and forth to LA so much that she should know how to grace through the TSA check, and her work with her band Colonial Blue is nothing to miss out on. Angelina DM Trailz will also drop a set while the family friendly event will get started off with a performance from Crawford Nation. Things get going around 7 pm and it’s Free.
Over at El Bambi, you can get cultured and what not when they host another art show featuring two very intriguing artists. Works from Christa Monster & Eyesore will be on hand for your viewing and purchasing pleasure. Of course, being in the most heavily curated collection of vintage wares and goods in town doesn’t hurt either. There’s other goodies on hand as well, it’s Free to attend, and it gets going at 7 pm with more information here.
At Rockefeller’s you could get your laugh on with Ashley Barnhill. The comic toured with the likes of Marc Maron and Dave Chappelle, and her shorts on Funny Or Die are pretty epic. Whiskey Brother and all around funnyman Rob Mungle will host the evening with special guests on as well. The 21 & up show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $20 and $25.
Jacuzzi Boys. Photo: Dustin Aksland
Over at Walter’s the garage pop of Miami’s Jacuzzi Boys will be out in full display. These guys took the whole garage rock thing and added fuzz pop elements to their latest release Ping Pong, making really hard not to love. The rock n’ roll of San Antonio’s The Bolos will be on as direct support and the indie rock of Houston’s Cleen Teens will go on beforehand. The folky acid rock fuzz of Houston’s The Wiggins will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.
Downstairs at White Oak Music Hall, the hip hop jams of Paul Wall and Baby Bash will perform together. Of course, you know Wall from his hit “Sittin’ Sidewayz,” but he’s been more active in the years since with a ton of releases. His newest, Diamond Boyz from this year is his strongest to date. Baby Bash has been going strong for a hot minute, and his latest drop Don’t Panic It’s Organic definitely shows how diverse he is. T2 The Ghetto Hippie will bring his hard hitting mic skills on as well, while Kay Jay will show off how he can wow a crowd prior. iLL LiAd will return with a set as well with Gringo Worstnightmare kicking things off. The whole evening is hosted by iLL Faded, and he should keep things lit from start to finish. The all ages show has doors at 9 pm and tickets for $20.
Londale. Photo: Daniel Jackson
Over at Continental Club, the folk tinged indie rock of New Orleans’ Motel Radio will swing by to perform. This four piece has been getting praise from everyone who has seen them perform, and their latest release Days & Nights EP is impressive to say the least. Houston’s Londale will bring their storyteller rock on as direct support and openers for the 21 & up show with doors at 9 pm and a $12 cover.
On Saturday things heat up over at Cactus when Johnny Falstaff swings by for an in-store performance. The Texas music legend has done everything from make killer tunes to be on the big screen. This is a definite must see that gets going at 3 pm. It’s Free to attend and there’s gratis beer for the adults.
Everclear. Photo: Paul Brown
Later on at House of Blues, the alt rock sounds of Everclear will swing by to delight any fan of the band, performing So Much For The Afterglow in its entirety in celebration of its 20th anniversary. It should be noted that this is Art with a whole new backing band, but with hits like “Father of Mine,” “I Will Buy You A New Life,” and “Everything To Everyone,” do you care? I caught the band before and during this era, and they were pretty amazing. The pop rock of Vertical Horizon will be on as direct support while Austin one hit wonders Fastball will open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $31 and $50.
At Revention Center you can catch the producer, multi-instrumentalist, and hip hop sounds of Russ. Going hard for a good while now, this guy seems to be able to do it all and his latest drop There’s Really A Wolf is about as sexy as an album can get. There’s no word of openers, but that could change for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and rumor has it that it’s since sold out.
Texas Mod Crushers. Photo: Michael Daleo
At Rockefeller’s you could catch the country garage rock of Houston’s Hard Luck Revival. This five piece might not be on your radar, but they totally should be. Their songs are like a mix of old school country with garage rock trimmings, and their new EP from this year, Hard Luck Revival is difficult not to like. The mod infused intensity of The Texas Mod Crushers will be on as direct support while the bluesy rockabilly of Houston’s Mean .44s will be on hand as well. The bluesy sounds of Houston’s Thrill will also be on the bill and the acoustic oi punk of Johnny Rioux will open the 21 & up show with doors at 8 pm and an $8 cover.
On Sunday you could head to the East side to catch the Grand Re-opening of Insomnia, now known as Insomnia Gallery. The shop is nice and big, there’s still plenty of vinyl toys and shirts, but now there’s more space for records and art. Vendors on hand range from Night Owls Print Shop to Will Jackson Glass Wares, and there’s oh so much art. Brandon Bowers, HoneyBones, Wizard of Barge, and so many more will have works on display. Free Topo Chico, free booze, eats, the whole works. It’s all ages, free to attend, and with all of the details here it gets going at 6 pm.
Gary Floyd. Photo: Gary Floyd
I think most punks will be over at Walter’s for the HATCH Benefit show featuring a headlining set from the one and only, Gary Floyd. Of course, Floyd is not only one of the kindest guys you’ll ever meet, but he was also the lead singer of groundbreaking and legendary Texas punk band, The Dicks. Houston’s Supergrave will bring their intensity on as direct support while the doom sounds of Doomstress will perform just back from tour. Sets from Texas Mod Crushers, FVR Coats, No Love Less, Screech of Death and Clare will all be on hand as well. This is a great benefit, and the doors for the music portion of the event are at 7 pm, while there’s a punk market from 4 pm to 6 pm prior. The all ages show has a paltry $10 cover.
Over at House of Blues, the eighties death metal icons Morbid Angel will be on hand to scare everyone who attends. These guys have been around since the early eighties, and while they’re from Florida, they give pretty much any death metal band a run for their money. Their latest release, ILLVD Divinum Insanus from 2024 is pretty epic. New York’s Suffocation will be on as direct support while Boston’s Revocation will go on prior. The all ages show has doors at 7:30 pm and an opening set from Atlanta’s Withered and tickets for $25.
The Districts. Photo:Paradigm Agency
Monday you can head to White Oak Music Hall upstairs for the indie rock of Pennsylvania’s The Districts. You might not know these guys, but they remind me of a mix of Arcade Fire and Interpol, and their new release A Flourish and a Spell is definitely worth hearing. Philadelphia’s the spirit of the beehive will be on hand as direct support and openers with their blend of dream pop and indie rock for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $13 and $17.
At Axelrad they’ll host a screening of the film “Paris, Texas,” with special guests, MyDolls who have a small role in the film. There’s also plenty of Alamo Beer on hand for the 21 & up event that gets going around 8 pm and is Free to attend.
De’Wayne Jackson. Photo: Mike Lev
On Tuesday you can make it out to the studio at Warehouse Live for the immense sounds of Spring’s De’Wayne Jackson. This guy makes hip hop that sounds like it was inspired by R&B then spit out with an intensity like you’ve never heard before. On his new EP Don’t Be Afraid, he could end it by dropping the mic, it’s that strong. DJ Donnie Houston will get the all ages show started off with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $10 and $15.
That’s about it for this week. No matter what you do, stay hydrated and remember that drinking responsibly is in everyone’s best interest.
