Future Swag: The Best of The Week

Decrease Font Size Increase Font SizeText SizePrint This Page Send by Email

Young Thug. Photo: Courtesy of Puma

We’re definitely enjoying touring schedules as of late with artists rolling through town every week of every month. While Day for Night will commence in less than two weeks, the next seven days are stacked with sets from acts like Jeezy, Cracker, Young Thug and more alongside locals who will fill in the gaps. Houston, here’s how to navigate this week.

On Wednesday you can swing by MKT Bar to get down with owner of SugarHill Studios and producer extraordinaire, Dan Workman when he drops a DJ set. The Grammy award winner has a pretty terrific taste in music, his project Phytosophie & the Invisible Man is pretty amazing, and he’s also multi-talented so don’t be shocked if he can scratch records as well. The all ages event runs between 7 pm and 10pm, and it’s 100% FREE.

Over in the studio at Warehouse Live you can catch another Toronto rapper and artist who was mentored by Drake when Roy Woods stops by to drop a set. Even without dropping reference to October’s Very Own, Woods has plenty of snap and popularity on his own, and his mixture of rap and R&B on his latest Waking At Dawn is definitely on point. There’s no word of support or openers, but that will likely change for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $20 and $22.

Sobe Lash. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook

Thursday you can get your hip hop fix and head to Nightingale Room to catch the crazed and punked up hip hop of Houston’s Sobe Lash. Full of intense energy and a style that’s pretty unmatched, Lash dropped The Pretty Reckless EP a couple of months ago, and it sounds like nothing else. She’ll have newcomers Electric Vacation on prior for 21 100% FREE 21 & up show with doors at 7 pm.

If that’s not your bag then you could swing by the studio at Warehouse Live to check in with nineties alt rockers turned country twangers, Cracker. David Lowery has marched to the beat of his own drum whilst dropping anthemic hits along the way since he was in the legendary group Camper Van Beethoven. With Cracker he’s been dropping more solid releases and less hits, in fact their latest Berkeley To Bakersfield from 2024 is their best in a good while. You’ll still get to hear classics like “Low,” “Get Off This,” and “Teen Angst (What The World Needs Now).” There’s no word of openers or support for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $20 and $23.

Young Mammals. Photo: Isabel Botero

Over at Satellite Bar you can catch the amazing no wave punk of Austin’s US Weekly. This four piece eerily reminds me of Unwound and June of 44, their live shows are intense, and their latest release Imploding from this year is pretty legit. The fuzzed out pop rock of Austin’s Planet Manhood will be on as direct support while the infectious indie rock jams of Houston’s Young Mammals will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.

If you’re sentimental, then you could get two shows in one at Walters when San Antonio’s FEA stops by. This intense punk band featuring two thirds of Girl In A Coma are always on point when they perform, and they do things their own way which is always refreshing. Not to be outdone, Houston’s Giant Kitty will perform a set, and then two of their founding members Cassandra and Trinity will get married at the show. Why are they doing this? Because Trump sucks and there’s a good chance that they might not get the chance after January 20th. The fun and crazed energy of Houston’s Only Beast will go on prior while the anarcho pop punk of Houston’s The Ancient Gods will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $8 and $10.

Over at Continental Club you can get down with your favorite masked surf Rockers, The Phantom Royals. While I usually don’t support cover acts, I will say that these guys are so entertaining that they really break the mold. Their high energy sets are like watching three men fall off of a runaway bus while set to surf rock tunes. The Beyonders will instrumentally get things started with 9:30 doors for the 100% FREE 21 & up show.

Jealous Creatures. Photo: Jordan Asinas

Friday you can start at 8th Wonder Brewery when Austin’s POON swing by to perform. You might look at this all female Ween cover band and scratch your head, but once you see them perform; you should get that it’s pretty amazeballs. Houston’s Jealous Creatures will bring their eighties infused rock to the bill and more than likely give the Austinites a run for their money. The 21 & up show has doors at 6 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

At 1506 Lorraine, you can see what Mikey & the Drags bassist Chris Oddo has been up to in his spare time at the Goodbye Progress art show. Oddo’s art is its own thing but not strange, just hard to explain. I’ll admit that I’ve spent plenty of time looking at his pieces online before. Arthur Bates and Adam Robert Scott will also showcase works for the all ages event that’s 100% FREE and runs from 7 pm to about 11:30 pm.

At Nightingale Room you can celebrate Sherita Perez’ birthday when she headlines a set at the club. Perez has been touring, recording, making videos and playing kind of anywhere that’ll have her. Things get opened by the English Spanish indie rock of Houston’s Let Me Remember for the 21 & up show with doors at 7 pm. It’s 100% FREE.

Heights Theater will host the indie pop folk of Indiana’s Josh Garrels. When you see a pic of Garrels, you might freak out when you hear his raspy bellow. His songs are pretty solid for what he does, he’s performing an Xmas themed set, and his latest release The Light Came Down from this year is an impressive release as well as quite popular. The impressive worship duo of The Brilliance will be on as direct support while the soft spoken jams of Colorado’s A Boy and His Kite will open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $25.

Over at Arena Theatre you can catch the magnetism of Atlanta’s Jeezy in the round. Jeezy has been at this so long he’s already changed his name, his live shows are always worth making it out for, and his latest drop Trap Or Die 3 is pretty solid. There’s no word of support or openers for the all ages show with doors at 7:30 and tickets for $59.50.

A Sundae Drive. Photo: Jason Smith

Satellite Bar will host a solid show when Austin’s My Education come down to perform. The seven piece plays this deep and experimental indie rock that’s hard to deny and their 2024 remastered album 5 Popes is some quality stuff. The psych pop shoegaze of Golden Cities will provide direct support while Houston indie rockers and possibly one of the most underrated acts in town, A Sundae Drive will go on prior.The post rock shoegaze beauty of My Twilight Pilot will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $8.

If you just want to get down, then the barn burner at Walters might be up your alley, as Chicago’s DJ Earl will be in the house. Part of the TekLife crew, Earl has made a name for himself with barn burner sets and jams that are over the top. A collaborative set from House of Kenzo and Santa Muerte will provide direct support while Houston’s Josiah Gabriel will go on prior. TekLife’s MoonDoctor will also be on the bill as well as Gritsy DJ’s who will open the all ages show with doors at 9 pm and tickets between $12 and $15.

Funeral Horse. Photo: Daniel Jackson

On Saturday you can begin with the Rock N’ Roll Circus happening over at Satellite Bar. Sets from Ganesha, Dillon Trimm, Funeral Horse, Civeta Dei, and many many more will commence on the East side venue. The all ages show with two stages has more information here, the doors are at 6 pm, and there’s a $10 cover.

If you’d rather do a long form event, but punk music, then you could attend Punxmas 11 over at Walters. Featuring a headlining set from Austin’s Kinetic Dischord, there’s also performances from God Fearing Fuck, The Cops and many many more. The all ages show has doors at 6 pm and tickets for $10, with more information here.

The Secret Group will be bringing in the sultry voiced sounds of Seattle’s Andie Case. The popular singer has a slew of Youtube followers, millions of spins on Spotify, and her voice will bring you to your knees. Her latest release So Low proves she’s not slowing down anytime soon. There’s no word of openers for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $12 and $50, the latter including a Meet & Greet option.

Downstairs at White Oak Music Hall you could get groovy to the contemporary sounds of Austin’s Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears. Lewis mixes blues and rock with hints of R&B, his live shows are always on point, and his latest drop Electric Slave is a trip. Buxton will bring their gorgeous last album Half A Native to life as direct support, while Fat Tony will open things up with one of his energy heavy DJ sets. The all ages show has doors at 8 pm and tickets between $22.50 and $25.

Over at Rudyard’s you could get all the leather punk you can handle when Houston’s The Velostacks headline a set. Last year these guys released the Blood On The Carbs EP that showcases their fast and furious sounds. The throwback rock swagger of Austin’s Amplified Heat will provide an energetic direct support slot and Houston’s The Burns will open the 21 & up show with doors at 9 pm and an $8 cover.

Buenos Diaz. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook

Continental Club will have the guitar mastery of The Mighty Orq & the Unusuals. The guitar slinger will bring the blues to life as he headlines a set of tunes. The always entertaining and engaging sounds of Austin’s Buenos Diaz will provide support. Diaz’ music has always sounded like what would happen if Elvis Costello and Alejandro Escovedo started a new band together, and his last album, 2024’s Urbanized New Wave Texican is one of the catchiest albums you can hear. Not to be outdone, Andrew Karnavas will open the 100% FREE 21 & up show with doors at 10 pm.

You can close out the day at Rosemont when Houston’s Dayta swings by to drop plenty of get down jams. The new night known as The Basement will feature hip hop, R&B, Dancehall and more. He’ll have a special guest set from Mentoz Sarmiento for the 21 & up show with doors at 10 pm and a FREE cover.

Sunday you might want to get over to El Bambi for the North Main Pop Up Market. Everyone in the parking lot will get together for this event plus there are live performances from Greg Cote as well as Ancient Cat Society. The all ages affair with multiple vendors you may or may not know has more information here and gets going around noon and it’s 100% FREE.

Over at Insomnia Video Game Culture you can get all arty when they celebrate new works from ACK! and Annavy at the Year One show. The opening night of the show will feature music, food and drinks, and new photos, drawings, and much more. The all ages show gets going around 6 pm and it’s 100% FREE.

Get A Life. Photo: Daniel Jackson

Satellite Bar will host the indie folk of LA’s Alex Dupree. Dupree has earned plenty of acclaim for his music and his latest album You Winsome, You Lonesome has twangy overtones that echo an over sound that’s like if Gram Parsons made modern day tunes. He’ll have the indie rock sounds of Houston’s Get A Life on as direct support and openers for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.

Monday you should make your way over to the studio at Warehouse Live to catch the pretty killer new band from Nick Valensi of The Strokes, CRX. CRX sounds like a gritty mix of seventies and eighties rock with electronic overtones, that’s better than what I can describe, and their debut album New Skin is really solid. The indie folk of New Zealand’s Streets of Laredo will provide direct support while Manhattan’s HIDEOUT will open things up. The all ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $12 and $14.

Tuesday you can get down at Revention Center when Young Thug rolls through to perform. The Atlanta rapper has been known for his wild styles and crazy live show, and his latest album JEFFERY is his best to date. There’s no word of support or openers, but that could change at the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $35 and $100, the latter including a meet and greet option.

That’s about all that’s happening around town. No matter what you decide to do, remember that the holidays are full of craziness and a safe ride home is just an app or a call away.