Sound & Color: The Best of The Week

Alabama Shakes. Photo: Courtesy of Artist

Well, we now know that those behind Day For Night have a crazy December planned, and now that summer is closing up, plenty of acts will make their presence known.  Names like Alabama Shakes, Beyoncé and Okkervil River are rolling through town, alongside plenty of locals who will fill in the gaps.  Houston, here’s where to spend your hard earned dollars this week.

Wednesday you can get started at House of Blues for California acoustic pop punk duo, This Wild Life.  The massively popular two-piece has been making plenty of fans since dropping their debut in 2024 and their new release Low Tides from this year keeps their poppy sound intact.  The indie rock of Baltimore’s Have Mercy will be on as direct support and opener for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $15.

Walters will host Chicago’s Alex Wiley over to drop some hip hop science.  Wiley dropped a debut with guest spots from Freddie Gibbs and Chance the Rapper, he’s gotten plenty of pop since, and his latest release Tangerine Dream is getting tons of praise.  Houston’s Doeman will be on hand as direct support, and should spit verses with the quickness while Chicago’s Kembe X goes on beforehand.  The intense trip hop of Chicago’s Supa Bwe will open the all ages show with doors at 9 pm and tickets between $15 and $20.

Tom Segura. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook

On Thursday you could head to Woodlands Pavilion to catch the always entertaining comedy tour, Oddball Comedy.  This edition will feature headlining sets from Dane Cook, Sebastian Maniscalco, Jeff Ross and Iliza Shlesinger; but make sure not to miss the always hilarious antics of Tom Segura and Bobby Lee.  There’s more information available here, the all ages show has doors at 6 pm and tickets between $29.95 and $125.

Nightingale Room will host the crazed electro pop performance skills of Dallas’ ishi for another high energy show.  Ishi just dropped a new EP with Juno, and aside from the fact that he’s donating half of its proceeds to charity Music Is Our Weapon, it’s pretty damn tight to say the least.  The groove heavy dance jams of CAPYAC will be on hand to open the 21 & up show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $10 and $50, the latter being a booth option.

At NRG Stadium, you can catch another set from Houston’s queen, Beyoncé.  Bey has had a stellar year while dropping the revolutionary release Lemonade as well as selling out pretty much everywhere she performs.  There’s no word of openers, but that may change for the all ages show with tickets between $45 and $280, and doors at 7:30 pm.

If that’s not your thing, then you could swing by the big room downstairs at White Oak Music Hall for a set from Old 97’s.  These guys have been going strong for close to 25 years, their alt country sound is always engaging, and their live shows are usually better than acts half their age.  Their latest album, 2024’s Hitchhike To Rhome re-issue proves how strong they were so early on, and why it’s one of their strongest to date, though there’s a rumor that they have new tunes on this tour.  There’s no word of direct support or opener for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $23 and $27.

Knights of The Fire Kingdom. Photo: M Villegas

At Continental Club you can fuel the fires of rock when Knights of the Fire Kingdom drop by to perform.  These guys are true showmen, their sets are filled with energy, and their last release Knights of the Fire Kingdom was one of my favorites.  The high energy punk rock sleaze of Houston’s Killer Hearts will be on hand as well while the rock of Llorona will open the 21 & up show with doors at 9:30 pm for the 100% FREE show.

Friday you could get going at Walters for the album release party for Houston’s Frog Hair.  These guys make basically psych pop doo-wop tunes while housing a founding member of Pain Teens as well as a founding member of Deadhorse.  This year they dropped the catchy single “Driving My Baby Away,” and their live shows are always fun.  The dance heavy sounds of Studded Left offshoot Pleasure 2 will be on hand as direct support while California’s Garritt Whitmer and the Unknowns will go on prior.  A DJ set from Felipe Galvan will open the all ages show with a live art installation as well.  The doors are at 8 pm and the tickets are $10.

In the ballroom at Warehouse Live, you can catch Dallas alt rockers Toadies when they return for a set.  Whether you’re a fan of them or not, they’ve always packed a room while playing energy heavy shows.  While I’m sure they’ll play from the bulk of their back catalog, I’d guess they’ll steer closer to their hit debut album, Rubberneck.  Rich Robinson of Black Crowes will performs as direct support and opener for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $25 and $27.

Young Mammals. Photo: Isabel Arbelaez Botero

Raven Tower will host the return of Houston’s The Tontons.  Now with Andrew Lee on guitar, there’s a good chance that you might hear some new songs alongside favorites from 2024’s Make Out King and Other Stories of Love.  The highly energetic indie rock of Houston’s Young Mammals will be on as direct support, and should bring tunes from their yet to be released follow up to their stunning last album, Alto Seco.  The electro pop of Houston’s -Us. Will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $13 and $17.

Austin’s Calliope Musicals will stop by the Foundation Room at House of Blues to bring their eclectic sound to all who attend.  Hailed by many Austinites as the best band in town, their family folk pop sound is hard to ignore, and their new album Time Owes You Nothing is catchy as hell.  Conroe indie rock trio, Scubadiver will bring their impressive and fuzzed guitar sound on as support and openers for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm, DJ Baby Roo will spin afterwards until 1, and it’s 100% FREE.

Empty Shells. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook

Rudyard’s will have a set from the wild alt rock guitar sounds of Empty Shells.  Mixing the reverbed guitar of The Cure with the rock sensibilities of The Lemonheads, this three-piece is one of those bands you should catch sooner than later.  The shoegaze indie rock of Houston’s My Twilight Pilot will be on hand to offer up their intriguing and melodic tunes.  The 21 & up show has doors at 9 pm and an $8 cover.

On Saturday you could start off at Steamboat Amps for their open house and show.  Alongside a ton of FREEBIES, live sets from Chase Hamblin, Trippy Cholo, Whit, Pitter Patter, and many more will take place.  There’s more information here for the all ages event that starts at noon and is 100% FREE.

Out at the Woodlands Pavilion, you can get your Southern rock and soul swagger on when Alabama Shakes swing by to perform.  Last year they dropped the stellar album Sound & Color and they’re always impressive to see live.  The contemporary R&B of Corinne Bailey Rae will bring her amazing set of pipes on as support and opener for the all ages show with doors at 6:30 pm and tickets between $30.50 and $76.

Over at Satellite Bar you can catch the punk of Connecticut’s Blastmat.  Kind of like old school punk mixed with modern guitars, these guys are known for a crazed show and last year’s Broke Life, Working Class is on point.  The metal meets hardcore of Razorwire will be on as direct support while Houston’s Khobretti goes on prior.  The garage punk of Houston’s Idiot City will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.

Down at Scout Bar you can get your hip hop fix when the Mo-City Don Z-RO returns to drop a set.  Without getting into the man’s resume, his name alone should get you out, but if it helps his latest drop Drankin & Drivin is pretty good.  K.O. aka Mr You Can’t Handle Me, Tex-T, St8Money, and DJ T-Boyd will all go on prior for the 18 & up show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $26 and $30.

Gracie Chavez. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook

Over at Fox Hollow you can get your groove on for another edition of A Really Kool Party.  Alongside residents Dayta, Hiram, and Gracie Chavez, the tastemaking duo of Soul Control.  The 21 & up show has doors at 9 pm and a $5 cover.

On Sunday you could head to Walters for the Stages of Death Fighting Game Tournament.  The payouts are legit if the participation is high, there’s available eats from Yaki Snack Attack, and it’s presented by Insomnia VGC.  The all ages and all day event will also have a casual play section as well.  There’s more information here, the doors are at noon, and it runs between $10 and $15 to participate, or $5 to spectate.

If you’d rather get groovy, the you could swing by House of Blues to catch the massively popular electronic jams of Ireland’s EDEN.  The producer has been gaining acclaim since he began and his latest album, i think you think too much of me is a catchy mix of pop and electronic dance tunes.  LA’s Elohim will bring her catchy electro pop on as direct support and opener for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $15.

Okkervil River. Photo: Courtesy of Artist

On Monday you could make it over to the big room downstairs at White Oak Music Hall to catch the always engaging tunes of Okkervil River.  While the Austin based group has been known for catchy indie folk rock tunes, their latest release Away from this year is softer than previous releases.  Get there early to catch the fun indie pop of New York’s Landlady who will be on as support and openers of the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $18 and $22.

On Tuesday you could head to White Oak Music Hall upstairs to catch the trippy psych sounds of LA’s Mystic Braves.  These guys have gotten plenty of praise, their live shows are usually pretty great, and last year’s Days of Yesteryear sounds like a period piece.  LA’s The Dream Ride will be on as direct support while Houston’s Ganesha will bring their blues psych to life for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $10 and $13.

That’s about all that’s happening around town this week.  No matter what you decide to do, please be mindful of everyone else and get home safe.

by David Garrick