Problem Child: The Best of The Week
AC/DC, Photo: Lindsey Best
It’s definitely starting to feel a lot like festival season as of late. While last week we saw a slew of artists including a comedy festival roll through our fair city, this week we have just as many acts coming here. Legends like AC/DC, pictured above will be in Houston over the next seven days. Houston, here’s where to spend your paycheck.
Wednesday you can start off over at the Contemporary Arts Museum for the artist talk series, this time with Houston’s Jason Moran. The jazz pianist, composer, and band leader is one the the best jazz pianists you can hear, and since becoming a resident of Harlem, he’s dropped some serious magic. His latest album, “All Rise: A Joyful Elegy For Fats Waller” is amazing. Moran is set to examine the works of Jennie C. Jones, and the show should be a treat for any music or especially jazz music fan. The all ages show doesn’t require an RSVP or a ticket, so I’d suggest getting there early. More details are available here, it starts at 6:30, and it’s 100% FREE.
Bag Raiders, Photo: Brittany O’Brien
Over at Walter’s you can get your electronica groove on when the popular sounds of Australian duo Bag Raiders comes to town. These two have been dropping electro jams since 2024, and their latest, “Friend Inside” from last year is definitely groove heavy. They’ll have the dance heavy sounds of NYC solo act, Plastic Plates on as direct support. Last year he dropped the beat heavy EP, “Lose My Mind,” and is known for a crazy live show. The all ages show has doors at 7:00 and tickets between $15.00 and $20.00.
Warehouse Live will have the smooth R&B meets electro pop of the UK’s Daley in the studio. Daley has made the name as the go to for British R&B grooves, and his most recent release, “Days & Nights” from 2024 is one of those albums that can get you closer to your mate sooner than later. He’ll have 19 year old vocal prodigy, Avery Wilson on as opener and direct support. Wilson is being called amazing by anyone who sees him live, and his most recent single, “Change My Mind” from last year is pretty legit. The all ages show has doors at 7:00 and tickets between $20.00 and $22.00.
Under The Volcano will host the honky tonk twang of Shinyribs. I watched these guys record recently at SugarHill and I can attest to their strength as an act. Rumor has it that this will be a little different of a show for the band whose last album, “Okra Candy” from last year is pretty impressive. The Austin based group doesn’t appear to have an opener for the 21 & up show with doors at 8:00 and tickets between $15.00 and $20.00.
Thursday you can start off over at The Nightingale Room when Mark Drew returns to the stage and brings his hip hop sound to all. Drew has spent most of the last year producing a ton of other acts while also working on his new release due very soon. His last release, “Sleepwalking Through Reality” was pretty sick, but his new stuff is on a different level. He’ll have another artist on the verge of dropping a new release as well, when Josiah Gabriel comes by to drop a fire as usual set. Gabriel sent me his upcoming release, “EP4” the other day and it’s pretty impressive while full of hooks. There’s a good chance that this show should be packed. The 21 & up evening has doors at 7:00 & it’s 100% FREE.
Protomartyr, Photo: Courtesy of Artist
Walters will host the post punk goodness of Detroit’s Protomartyr. This four piece makes music that’s like if Television and The Jam had a baby. Their latest release, last year’s “The Agent Intellect” is pretty amazing, and they’ve become well known for great live sets. Austin’s Spray Paint will bring their Sonic Youth meets Polvo post punk sounds to life. Last year they gave us “Punters On A Barge,” and the three piece has gotten tons of press about their crazed live shows. The high energy amazing sounds of Houston’s MUHAMMADALI will also be on the bill, while the punk of Houston’s Snooty Garbagemen will go on prior. The squeal of Fort Worth’s clear acid will also be on the bill, while new Houston punk supergroup, LACE will open the all ages show with doors at 7:00 and tickets between $10.00 and $12.00.
Over in the studio at Warehouse Live, the NOLA based hip hop of Pell will be making an appearance. Pell has been gaining steam for a good while now, and his last album, “LIMBO” from last year is pretty impressive. 19 year old Atlanta rapper, Daye Jack will be on as direct support, and will bring his legit mic skills to the bill. Last year he dropped his major label album, “Soul Glitch,” that showcased how strong he actually is. The 18 & up show has doors at 8:00 and tickets between $15.00 and $18.00.
Rudyard’s will be bringing the New York Dolls’ Sylvain Sylvain back to town. Last year I interviewed Syl, and I learned a ton about the legendary band. On his own, Syl has dropped a ton of releases, and his live shows are always engaging. The sixties garage rock meets seventies frogstomp of Houston’s Modfag will be on as direct support, while the sleaze rock of Houston’s The Guillotines will open things up. I’d suggest getting there early to catch The Guillotines as their live shows feel like they’re playing to show us all how to play while bringing more energy than many acts half their age. The all ages show has doors at 8:00 and tickets for $15.00.
Blackgrass Gospel, Photo: Dollie Rotten
Fitzgerald’s will have the Texas swing meets rockabilly, meets hillbilly bluegrass sound of three piece, Urban Pioneers. The band, who calls the road their home, has been touring pretty non-stop for a long time now. They’re known for an amazing live show, they’ve been called the “saviors of country music,” and last year’s “Vehicle In Transit” proved they aren’t slowing down anytime soon. The high energy and bluegrass meets punk of Alvin’s Blackgrass Gospel will be on as direct support, while the highly melodic and alt country meets punk jams of Houston’s The Grizzly Band will go on beforehand. The dark Americana of Samm Bones will open the all ages show with doors at 8:00 and tickets between $10.00 and $15.00.
The crazy popular hip hop of Minnesota duo, ATMOSPHERE will be over at House of Blues. These guys have been making their name known for a long time, and they’re known for a fun show. Last year’s “My Best Half,” proved a nice follow-up to 2024’s “Southsiders.” There doesn’t appear to be an opener, but that could change. The all ages show has doors at 8:00 and tickets between $25.00 and $30.00.
At Beta Theater you can celebrate the One Year Anniversary of the improv house team, MAX. The one year anniversary show will have plenty of surprises, and as always it’ll be hilarious. The 18 & up show has doors at 9:00 and a pay what you can cover.
Friday you can get started at Toyota Center, when Australian rock legends AC/DC come to town. Do I need to sell this show? These guys have sold more albums than pretty much anything that’s gaining steam today, they put on a great live show, and they seem hell bent to never retire. I’m sure you’ll get all of the hits, and hopefully very little of 2024’s “Rock Or Bust.” Granted, they got better and better with each passing album until they made “Back In Black,” and they’ve basically just remade that album again and again for the most part since. But scientifically speaking, this could be your last chance to see them live. You can jump on the “Highway To Hell” for the all ages show with doors at 6:30 and tickets between $75.00 and $140.00.
Lady Lush, Photo: Mike “The Truth” Jackson
Numbers will have the monthly affair for the talented ladies of Dem Damn Dames with the La Langue de L’Amor show. Translated, that means “the language of love.” Alongside the troupe itself, the show will star ShelBelle Shamrock and Victoria Viking of Dallas. There’s also feature sets from Bunny Galore of Houston, Miss Malicious, Smoulderin Scully, and Zerlina Brava of Dallas. The 18 & up show is sure to be filled with sexy starlets and engaging performances, and it’ll be hosted by Fort Worth’s Honey Sin Claire. The doors are at 7:00, and the tickets run between $15.00 and $30.00, and include entry to Classic Numbers following the show.
Over at Satellite Bar you can catch the highly energetic pop tunes of New York’s Hank & Cupcakes. Though these two look like cartoon characters, I’ll admit that their show last year at Walters was really impressive, fun, and full of energy. Their last album, 2024’s “Cash 4 Gold,” is good, but their live show is where it’s at. The indie pop of Houston’s Camera Cult will be on as direct support, and electro pop duo A Girl Named Tiger will drop a fun set before. The experimental pop sounds of Waco’s The Dimaggios will open the all ages show with doors at 7:00 and a $6.00 cover.
The crazed wild energy of Southern rock quartet, Seratones will bring their sound to Raven Tower. This band has dropped a couple of singles through Fat Possum records, and their guitar swinger style should make for an intriguing set. Austin’s Los Coast will be on as direct support, while the high energy and indie rock goodness of Houston’s Middlechild will open things up. Last year these guys gave us the full length, “Middlechild” and proved that they could translate their live sound to an album. The all ages show has doors at 7:00, and it’s FREE with RSVP for the adults and $5.00 for minors.
Rudyard’s will host the always energy heavy indie rock jams of Houston’s Only Beast. The three piece is like a tour de force when it comes to a live set, and watching them seer through their songs is always a treat. The fuzz rock of College Station’s The Ex-Optimists will go on prior, so make sure to bring your earplugs cause’ they get really loud. That’s not to deter you from their sound, which is kind of like Dinosaur Jr meets Seam, and their latest release, 2024’s “Phantom Freight Bonus EP” is pretty amazeballs. The squealing throwback sounds of San Antonio’s The Uprising will open the 21 & up show with doors at 9:00 and an $8.00 cover.
You can get your laugh on at Beta Theater when they have another edition of The Triple Header show. Hosted by the hilarious Zahid Dewji, this time the show will feature 20 minute sets from Bob Morrissey, Zach Dickson, and Zach Eaton. The show will also be taped live, and it’s always a great way to catch some strong local comedy. The 18 & up show is pay what you want, BYOB, and it gets going around 9:00.
Pharoahe Monch, Photo: Grace Hunder
Saturday you can kick off over at Warehouse Live for The Houston Hip Hop Culture Fest. The all day affair is to feature headliners alongside plenty of Houston acts. The event is to be headlined by hip hop legend Pharoahe Monch, known best for the jam “Simon Says.” If the fact that he doesn’t roll down South very often, then maybe his direct support of DJ Qbert of the infamous DJ collective Invisbl Skratch Piklz will peak your interest. Though QBert wasn’t as well known as Mixmaster Mike, he’s easily one of the best DJs to stand behind a deck. California’s Locksmith will also be on the bill, as will the always impressive mic skills of H.I.S.D. There’s a ton of other acts on this fest including the impressive talents of Genesis Blu, Def (formerly Def Perception), and many many more. The all ages show has doors at 4:00 in the studio, with tickets running between $45.00 and $149.00, the latter being for a VIP option.
The Protomartyr show at Walters on Thursday was part of Bad Ass Weekend IV, that runs through Sunday. The Saturday show will feature some of your definite favorites including Skullflower, Black Leather Jesus, Rusted Shut, Indian Jewelry, Homopolice, and many many more. The all ages show has doors at 7:00, and tickets for $30.00 or $83.00 for all of the shows.
You might want to head to Vinal Edge to hear the new album from Linus Pauling Quartet live, and if you do then you’re in luck because they’ll be doing an in-store performance. This band amazes me at how divers and well manicured they are at what they do. The event is all ages, it gets going at 7:00, and if you’re 21 & older you can have a beverage from No Label brewing.
Sherita Perez, Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook
Over at Leon’s Lounge you can catch the folky sounds of Sherita Perez & Fear the Poet. Sherita is one of Houston’s best kept secrets, so it’ll be cool to see her perform on The Outlaw Dave Radio Show. Her band, Fear The Poet has been gaining plenty of steam, and they’ve had to turn down offers as of late so this performance is a real treat. The 21 & up event gets going around 7:00 and it’s 100% FREE.
Black Barbie will host a show with the garage rock pop of Houston’s Belvoir. Last year the three piece dropped the release, “This Will Only Take A Second,” and they’re pretty impressive to see live. They’ll have the pop rock of NOLA’s Frail on the bill, as well as an always impressive set from Houston psych rockers Mojave Red. A band called St. Evie is also performing on the all ages show with doors at 8:00 and a $5.00 cover.
The indie pop rock of Austin’s The Eastern Sea will drop by Satellite Bar for a show. Last year the five piece gave us the full length, “The Witness,” and I should tell you that they’re a great band to see live. Houston songbird and all around badass, Dollie Barnes will provide direct support, and possibly show them how we do things in Houston. I can’t describe their sound, other than to say they’re good and they’re getting more and more popular by the day. The amazing folk of Austin’s Grand Child will also be on the bill, and I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you how amazing these guys are. Kind of like the softer side of Rogue Wave, you should seriously check them out. The indie rock fun of Houston’s Race To The Moon will open things up, and play their blend college rock meets indie rock sound. The all ages show has doors at 8:00 and a TBA cover.
Over at Absolve Wine Bar, you could catch an intimate set from Ruckus’ Ben Jarrad. Jarrad has a way of doing the singer songwriter thing without being boring in the process, and his guitar skills and poignant song themes are not to be missed. The 21 & up show has doors at 8:00 and it’s 100% FREE.
If that’s not your thing, then you could get your rock on at Fitzgerald’s when The Velostacks bring their loud rock to life. These guys are pretty intense in a live setting, and they’re a part of the rock revival that seems to be happening around town. The Texas Mod Crushers will have Mel Hell of Zipperneck on hand to do an entire set of X songs, which is the universe’s way of telling you to make their set. The debut of The Bang Shifts will occur on the show as well, while Abondonship will open the all ages show with doors at 8:00 and a TBA cover.
Dayta, Photo: The Bar Bat/Nightlife
Fox Hollow will host another edition of A Really Kool Party, this time with Soulection artists and tastemaker, The Whooligan. I’m not really sure what will occur, but I can say that with Soulection, you know things will definitely be on point. The ARKP resident DJs Hiram, Gracie Chavez, and Dayta will be handling the decks prior, and as always the show should definitely be lit. It’s 21 & up, the doors are at 10:00, and there’s no cover with RSVP found here.
If that’s not your thing then you could head over to Pearl Side Bar for another edition of Dykon Fagatron. The long running party will get headlined by the crazed afrobeat meets alternative hip hop of DC’s The Regal People. Last year they dropped a pretty dope release with “Afrogalactik,” and they don’t come around these parts often. They’ll have the DJ stylings of DJ Queermo, aka Biz Vicious on prior, who should bring plenty of slow jams to the event. Hosted by Crystal Toliver, the 21 & up show gets going around 10:00 and it’s 100% FREE.
Sunday you could start off over at Lei Low for their 2nd Anniversary party. the all day event will have a DJ spinning adventure provided by Jay Tovar, followed by ukulele stylings of Rhonda Rubicon. There’s giveaways and plenty more on the 21 & up event that starts at 2:00 and is 100% FREE.
Dale Watson, Photo: Real Deal Country
Out at the Big Barn of Dosey Doe, you can catch one of the last true honky tonkers, when Dale Watson performs. Watson is a true Texas country gem, and his recent hit “ILieWhenIDrink” just proves that even when he drops hooks, he’s still a true country artist. Last year he released “Call Me Crazy,” and he’ll play this show with a full band. Amber Digby will open with a special appearance from Kevin Black. This is a benefit for Rett Syndrome, and the all ages show includes dinner with your ticket price. Dinner is served from 5:00 to 6:00, and the tickets are $78.00.
The anthemic pop of Massachusetts’ Rachel Platten will be over in the ballroom at Warehouse Live. The massively popular artist has been gaining plenty of heat for a good while, but her recent release “Wildfire” from this year has boosted her image. The folk jazz sounds of the also popular artist, Eric Hutchinson will be on as direct support and opener. This guy plays infectious pop music that’s all over his latest single, “Anyone Who Knows Me.” There’s a good chance that this all ages show will sell out with doors at 7:00 and tickets between $20.00 and $22.00.
House of Blues will have the rock n’ roll of George Thorogood & The Destroyers. I would think that with hits like “Bad To the Bone,” “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer,” and “I Drink Alone,” that I shouldn’t have to sell this show. The guy’s a legend, it might not be your thing, but he’s getting up in age if you ever wanted to catch him live. The blues guitar of Damon Fowler will open the all ages show with doors at 7:00 and tickets between $25.00 and $59.50.
You could hed by The Flat to catch a DJ set from Houston’s -Us. Avery hasn’t told anyone about his latest duties playing drums with a band yet, so this set will be rare in that it might not happen once they start touring again. The 21 & up show has doors at 8:30 and as always, it’s 100% FREE.
Monday you could make it over to House of Blues for the 20th Anniversary Tour of Dropkick Murphys. I’m starting to think one of these guys lives here because it seems like they really like playing Houston. Anyway, I’d guess that they’ll play all of their hits while always doing their raucous live show. The psychobilly of Tiger Army will be on as direct support, and the punk of Boston’s Darkbuster will open the all ages show with doors at 7:00 and tickets between $30.00 and $45.00.
State Champs, Photo: Ben Gibson
Tuesday you could trek down to Scout Bar to catch the pop punk of New York’s State Champs. I caught these guys before and they were pretty good, and last year’s “Around The World and Back” proved they aren’t slowing down anytime soon. The pop punk of Welsh group, Neck Deep will be on as direct support, and will play tunes from last year’s “Life’s Not Out To Get You.” Chicago’s Knuckle Puck will also be on the bill, while Toronto’s Like Pacific will open the all ages show with doors at 5:30 for some insane reason, thus meaning that you’ll probably have to leave your house at noon to make the show. Tickets are between $17.00 and $20.00.
That’s pretty much all that’s happening but as always, a fairly stacked week. No matter what you decide to do, please be mindful of everyone else and drink like an adult.
