Paper-Hanger: The Best of The Week
Photo: Amie Santavicca
Well, last week we got plenty to get excited about. This week will be no different when we contend with a holiday weekend as well. You have more than enough to consider on doing when acts like mewithoutYou roll through town. Here’s how to get your groove on this week.
Wednesday you could start things off over at MKT Bar to see if Houston photographer, Trish Badger can actually spin records. Badger has done more than enough for the Houston music scene by taking more live pics than pretty much anyone else while doing shoots for bands for almost no money. I’ll swing by and I’ll be a little upset if I don’t see at least half of the bands she’s shot there. The all ages night starts around 7:00 and it’s 100% FREE.
If you’d rather get your two step on, then you could head to Rudyard’s for their Western Wednesday show. The evening has live music from the Legendary Paraphernalia Band, and you can dance your cares away to traditional country and Texas Swing music. Things get going at 7:00 and it’s 100% FREE for 21 & up.
Barbarella will have a live show when Houston’s glitch visuals master and prominent producer, FLCON FCKER will also perform his brand of deep and slow future sounds. The show will also feature the sounds from synthpop duo, Matsu Mixu, SLO or XLO or whatever they changed their name to for the I think third time in a week, brings their techno sounds to life. I haven’t seen them yet, and their soundcloud just has one song, but it sounds pretty intense. Things get going around 9:00, the cover is $2.00 before 11:00 and $5.00 after, and the show is 18 & up I think.
Thursday you might want to start the holiday weekend off over at Fitzgerald’s when they host Philadelphia’s mewithoutYou. The band that started on a Christian label and tour on the anniversary of an album recently returned with their strongest album to date. That album, the just dropped “Pale Horses” is full of gorgeous lyrics and structures that just prove that sometimes time can bring forth the best material. They’ll have the indie rock of St. Louis’ Foxing on as direct support and openers. Foxing will be touring in support of the diverse and almost slow core sounding album, “The Albatross” from last year. This should be a heavy energy show that’s all ages with doors at 6:30 and tickets between $15.00 and $19.00.
The Wheel Workers Photo: Patrick Bertolino
If you’d rather get some melodic goodness going, then I’d strongly suggest making it over to The Nightingale Room to catch locals, The Wheel Workers. This intense and hard working five piece is on a pace to put out an album a year while still performing an eclectic blend of tunes that’s like no one else in Houston. Heavy melodies, pop structures, and plenty of hooks are what they bring to each and every song on their recently released EP “Citizens,” and they’re a band that everyone should see sooner than later. The folky Americana psych of Austin’s I Am the Albatross will be there to open the 21 & up show. The doors are at 7:00 and it’s a FREE show.
Improv will host the funny antics of DC comedian Red Grant. There must be something about this holiday because Grant was here last year at the same time. The comic turned actor has appeared in numerous films and has some of the highest ratings of a comic on TV. As per all of these shows, two of Houston’s better comics will serve as feature act and host. There’s one show on Thursday at 8:00, two on Friday at 8:00 and 10:30, one show Saturday at 7:00 and one on Sunday at 7:30. All of the shows are 18 and up with tickets between $17.00 and $27.00.
Rudyard’s will have the Turbojugend Deathpunk Slursdays show, this time featuring the metal hardcore sounds of Supergrave. For those who don’t know, Turbojugend or “Turbo Youth” is the fan club arm of matching jacket wearing Turbonegro fans. Houston has like four or five chapters, though this is the Bayou City one’s show. Supergrave features members of Muhammad Ali and Manhole, and they’re known for an energetic live show. The garage rock punk of the Robert Conn lead The Guillotines will also be on the bill. Conn may be best known for his work with The Pagans, but this band has just as much power with a better crafted sound. Houston garage punk three piece, Zipperneck will kick off the 21 & up show with doors at 8:00 and a measly $3.00 cover.
At Black Barbie, yes they’re still having shows, they’ll have the stoner hardcore of Oakland’s Connoisseur. The screamy three piece will be here in support of their latest, a 29 song album from this year called “Stoner Justice.” The thrash metal sounds of Houston’s A.S.S. will also be on hand, as well as the stoner punk of Satannabis. The grindcore of Houston’s Teeth Grinder will be there to mix things up, while the metal of Houston’s Funeral Horse will open the show. Things start around 9:00 andthe cover is TBA.
Friday, you can get your rock on, when Knights of the Fire Kingdom host the album release party at Fitzgerald’s. Last week I told you how amazing this album is and now you can get your hands on your own copy. If you’ve never seen the straight forward rock from these guys, just know that in matching outfits, they play hard to five or five hundred, and they could have more showmanship than any other rock band in town. They’ll have another high energy rock band who just dropped a new release, Houston’s We Were Wolves on as direct support. That new release, the “Ruin Your Weekend” EP was produced by famed producer Chris Frenchie Smith and proves that these guys just seem to get better and better. The soulful sounds of Houston’s Satellite D’Homme will also be on hand to bring their energetic R&B meets indie rock and soul sounds to life. The five piece complete with Adrian of Bang Bangz and Tax The Wolf as well as Gio Chamba on bass, just dropped a new single called “The Wolf,” and are one of those bands you have to catch live. Keeping in line with bands on this bill with new releases, the tight and dual guitar indie rock of Brand New Hearts will be there to open things up. Rumor has it that these guys will have a new album out in under 45 days, and they’re an insanely tight band to see live. The all ages show has doors at 8:00 and is FREE for 21 & up, and $5.00 for everyone else.
Big Top Lounge will be hosting a Secret Show that from what I hear, is worth getting over there for. The venue promises drink specials and a lineup worth making it for. Because it’s a 21 & up spot, that just means that the FREE cover applies to anyone who shows up for the first of these shows with many more to come. The doors are at 9:00 and I think you’ll be surprised by who they have slotted to perform.
Dirty & Nasty Photo: Courtesy of Artist
Over at the Enjoymusic Enjoylife art gallery, they’ll be throwing a show for birthday boy, OG Nasty Nique from hip hop duo Dirty & Nasty. The Nastypalooza show has a pretty tight lineup to be headlined by the duo themselves, Dirty & Nasty. Earlier this year they dropped the four song EP, “Sons of The Queen,” and set themselves apart from the rest of the Houston hip hop scene. Jaycee and Emel will be there as well, while the entire night is hosted by BBC. As far as I know it’s an all ages affair that starts at 9:00 and is 100% FREE.
The ambient dream pop electronica of Austin’s Chris Lopez will be over at Black Barbie. Lopez will be here in support of his 2024 album, “Chemistry.” He’ll be joined by Houston’s future bass producer, Josiah Gabriel, as well as ambient three piece Moths. I’d suggest checking these guys out, as they’re pretty dynamic in a live setting, and their “Moths/Haunter” split release is pretty intense. The experimental sounds of Houston’s MLCBR will also be on board, while the indie drone noise pop of popeNQM will open things up. I think it’s 18 7 up with doors at 9:00 and a $5.00. cover.
Continental Club will be shaking things up when they have the indie pop of Jeremy Carswell & The Nymphs. The word on the street is that these guys have a debut album coming sooner than later, though I’d guess that you’ll hear them play those songs at the show. They” be joined by psych rock trio, Mantra Love. These guys have been getting on more & more shows proving that either they’re worth seeing or that they’re easy to get ahold of. Their soundcloud has all sorts of tripped out tunes on it, making them a band you should check out. Alterna rockers Sonoran Blue will be there, as well as the electronica of the Josiah Gabriel/Chase DeMaster hybrid, Kult Dizney . The duo will be dropping a DJ set to kick the night off as well. The 21 & up show has doors at 9:30 and a cover of $5.00.
On Saturday, you can kick off your Fourth of July at Eleanor Tinsley Park for the Freedom Over Texas event. The all day show and fest will be headlined by Clint Black and Josh Turner. The event details and map are all here, and the gates open at 4:00 and run until 10:00. Kids under 6 are free, and tickets are $8.00 if you grab them online, or just $10.00 at the gates.
If you’d rather get your punk on, then House of Creeps will be hosting the Talk Sick Brats For America show. The show is a tour kickoff for the punk band Talk Sick Brats, who if you’ve never heard then you’re missing out on. There’s also music from Ghetto Ghouls, Silver Blueberry, Screech Of Death, Alimanas, and Mutant Love…so far. The doors are at 6:00, and the typical set-up with a Lone Star sponsorship in tow applies with a TBA cover.
Continental Club will have a cool lineup when they have Houston indie rockers A Sundae Drive stop by. So, this band dropped a pretty damn good album late last year called, “The Senseless & The Sound;” where they echoed the likes of Dinosaur Jr and Pavement. They don’t play a whole bunch so if you’ve never seen them, then I recommend making it out this time. Taylor, Texas’ Paris Falls is also on the bill, as is the blues rock sounds of Fear The Poet. This four piece has been really making moves since they started a short time ago, and I heard there’s an album coming from them sooner than later. A band called Frog Hair opens the 21 & up show with doors at 8:00 and a $10.00 cover charge.
Bombon Photo: Jay Tovar
Fox Hollow will be hosting a 4th celebration with the likes of Bombon and special guests. Alongside the entire Bombon DJ crew, they’ll have special guest DJ Mafe with Jefferson D Lion. Visuals from FLCON FCKER will be going all night, as well as special guest host Gio Chamba keeping the night in order, or in his case, energetic. Percussion from Ilya Janos will be there as well on the show that’s FREE if you RSVP here, or $5.00 night of on the 21 & up show with 9:00 doors.
Big Top will be hosting another of their 60’s dance party shows, with the Summer Stomp. All night they’ll have tunes being spun by Reverberation, as well as special DJ sets from Nestor Aguilar of Los Skarnales, and one from some guy named David Garrick who’s over at Free Press Houston…whoever he is. There’s no cover, it’s 21 & up, and it should be a rockin’ good time, so go & get your dance on. I promise to drop some oddball sixties tracks that you’ve probably never heard but will make you get down. Things get started at 9:00 and run all night.
Sunday you might find yourself over at Pearl Bar for the 3rd Annual Grace Note Benefit from Houston’s Doomstress Alexis. The event, which started three years ago on the first Doomstress Alexis Day, bestowed by Mayor Annise Parker; has become a yearly event benefitting Montrose Grace Place. The youth center that helps homeless no matter what their gender or sexual orientation, will be on hand to accept gently used clothing, non-perishable food items, and other things to benefit the shelter. There will be live painting from Doll Partzz, burlesque from Dem Damn Dames, as well as music from Kristal Cherelle, Giant Kitty, Only Beast, Devil Killing Moth, and many more. The music will be capped off with a performance from Doomstress’ Vendetta Diabolique project. All of the proceeds will go to Montrose Grace Place, there will also be auctions featuring items from local artisans, and speakers from Grace Place, Not On Our Watch, and Houston Zombie Walk. The 21 & up event gets going around 3:00 with doors at 2:00 and a $10.00 cover.
Tuesday at Walter’s you can catch the slowcore indie pop rock of Elvis Depressedly. The North Carolina band who’s often a four or five piece, brings a sweet and soft element to their intriguing song structures; and is pretty great live. Their latest album, “New Alhambra” from this year is really complex and beautiful. NYC’s Mitski will bring her indie rock to life as direct support. Mitski has a really catchy sound all over her latest, “bury me at makeout creek.” The pretty synth pop of NYC’s Eskimeaux will also be on the bill, and will be performing songs from her latest, “O.K.” Though I think it’s primarily a solo act, there appears to be a full band in tow for this performance. The indie emo sounds of Houston’s Middlechild will open the all ages show with doors at 8:00 and tickets between $10.00 and $12.00. This is a great bill worth every penny, featuring artists who down come down South very often, and should be one worth making it out for.
Inzi Photo: Gerry Garcia
Over at Mucky Duck, you might find yourself wanting to see the infectious pop sounds of Houston’s Inzi. So, at 19 this singer songwriter has an intense sound that’s only made better by her immensely strong vocals. Like, there aren’t too many times that you can catch someone before they break, and when you hear her recently released album, “Exist,” I don’t see how you couldn’t see her getting really big. The show has doors at 7:30, it’s 21 & up, and tickets are between $15.00 and $17.00.
Well, not a bad set of choices for a holiday weekend. No matter what you decide to do, please be mindful of all around you and get home the safest way possible, for all of our sakes.
