Plenty of tours from the likes of Downtown Boys, Manchester Orchestra, and Melvins will be in town this week while locals like ZZ Top, Giant Kitty and Dollie Barnes will all fill in the gaps. Houston, here’s how to navigate the next seven days.
On Wednesday, you can start off at House of Blues when Boston’s Lake Street Dive bring their intriguing mix of jazz, indie rock, and soulful pop to town. There’s something magical about the tunes that this four-piece makes where you’re reminded by so many from the past, and few from today. Their latest release, last year’s Side Pony, is a mix of energy heavy soul and pop that’s hard not to love. The rhythmic pop of Brooklyn’s Cuddle Magic will be on as direct support and opener for the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $28.
Thursday you could make your way to The Secret Group for the post rock sounds of Utah’s Eidola. These guys make prog-infused sounds that are pretty hard to deny, and their latest release, To Speak, To Listen, is definitely worth checking out. The metalcore of Idaho’s The Ongoing Concept will be on as direct support, while Pittsburgh’s Save Us From The Archon will go on beforehand. Houston’s Vox Vocis will also be on the bill, as well as the prog rock of Rogues Among Us. Golden Terra will open the all-ages show with doors at 5:30 pm and tickets between $10 and $13.
The Mid Main Lofts will host Mid Main First Thursday this week benefiting Houston Food Bank. This edition will feature a headlining set from Houston’s Ancient Cat Society. These three make ultra catchy songs that are a mix of indie rock and folk from their latest full length, Ancient Cat Society. Add in that they’re great live and the fact that Chase Hamblin will get this show started, and you have a benefit that you should definitely be on hand for. The $5 cover for the all-ages show has doors at 6 pm, and is a great way to spend the evening.
Later on at Continental Club, ex-bassist for Circle Jerks Zander Schloss will swing by to perform. While Schloss has worked with the likes of Joe Strummer and the Weirdos, his solo work is more of a folky nature. There’s no word yet of openers or support, but if you’re a fan of things he’s done then this is for you. The 21 & up show has doors at 10 pm and a $10 cover.
Friday you can kick off the weekend at House of Blues when Manchester Orchestra returns to town. Here in support of this year’s A Black Mile To The Surface, this band has reconfigured and is always amazing to catch in person. Florida’s Surfer Blood will be on hand as direct support, while one of the best live indie rock bands going, St. Louis’ Foxing, will open things up. The all-ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets for $22.
Upstairs at White Oak Music Hall, Cheetah Chrome will relive his youth with a reunion of sorts of his legendary punk band Dead Boys. Originally from Cleveland, these guys ushered in the nihilistic punk of CBGB’s back in the day, and with songs like “Sonic Reducer,” and “Ain’t It Fun,” they should be worth catching. The ska of The Toasters will be on as direct support, while The Satanic Overlords of Rock N’ Roll will energetically perform prior. The sleaze punk of Killer Hearts will open up the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $15.
Of course, you could make your way to Walter’s to catch the important, political, and intense punk sounds of Rhode Island’s Downtown Boys. Here in support of one of the most important released albums of this year, Cost of Living, this band proves that punk can still be very political. The energy spewing punk of Houston’s Giant Kitty will be on hand as direct support, while newcomers Sin Fe will open the all-ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.
Rudyard’s will be hosting night one of their anniversary party with a headlining set from Houston’s The Broken Spokes. These guys play traditional country in style while performing original material with some favorites thrown in, and their latest release, The Broken Spokes, makes you proud to be a Texan. The crazed one man show D. Kosmo will be on as direct support, while the alt country of Hard Luck Revival will get things started. The 21 & up show is free and has doors at 8 pm.
Over at the old Wired Up location on the East side, a benefit for Star of Hope will take place featuring the hardcore punk of Denton’s Contact Grid, who should melt faces for sure. The hardcore of Erupt will also be on the bill, while the squeal heavy punk of Permanent Control will go on prior. Black Coffee will open the all-ages and free show that encourages donations of nonperishable food items, hygiene products, diapers and more with doors at 9 pm.
Over at Continental Club, the punk-infused country twang of Reno Divorce will be performing. These guys remind me of a mix of Social Distortion and Chuck Ragan, and their latest album, Ship of Fools, is really solid. The punk and roll of Houston’s ESE will be direct support, while the rock of Thrill will go on before. The 21 & up show will get started by DJ Big E with a TBA cover and doors at 10 pm.
Saturday the Houston Forever Harvey Fundraiser will take place at Raven Tower. The R&B meets soul jams of Houston’s 9th Sage will headline the event with a support slot from beat maker and chill vibes producer Hiram. A set from the globetrotting DJ Dayta will also be on hand with Charles Moon on beforehand. Things get started by Morgan Morgan for the free all-ages show with doors at 2 pm.
Later on at Toyota Center, the Houston date for Miss Jackson if you’re nasty, Janet Jackson will finally take place. Here in support of her Unbreakable album tour that got postponed, I think it’s safe to say that she’ll put on a stellar live show. There’s no word of support for the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $35 and $150.
The anniversary party for Rudyard’s continues with a headlining set from Houston’s Dollie Barnes. While Barnes did get a little water in her home from Harvey, she’s still bringing her band for this event and playing tracks from this year’s Caught In A Phase. The psych sounds of Flower Graves will be on as direct support, while Empty Shells will kick off the night for the 21 & up show that’s free with doors at 8 pm.
If you like experimental art then you should head to Walter’s for the Experimental Action Secret Surprise Party. Experimental performances from over ten artists, a DJ set from Stoo Gogo, and tons of surprises are in store for the all-ages event with more information here. The doors are at 8 pm with a $10 cover.
Continental Club will host the heavy psych rock of Houston’s Warlung to headline a show with all proceeds going to the Greater Houston Community Foundation. These guys put on a crazy live set, and they could easily become one of your new favorite local acts. Houston’s We Were Wolves will bring their fuel throttled rock on as support, while the stoner rock of Funeral Horse will open things up after their recent tour of Europe. The 21 & up show has doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.
On Sunday you could head to White Oak Music Hall upstairs to catch the dream pop rock of Nashville’s Tristen. Mixing psych influence with dreamy rock undertones, her latest release, Sneaker Waves, is definitely worth lending an ear to. It should make for a fun show. The chill indie rock of LA’s Jenny O will be on as direct support and opener for the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $12.
If you’d rather see the local boys, then head out to Sugarland to catch that lil’ ole band from Texas, ZZ Top at Smart Financial Centre. While 2024’s La Futura was their last proper release, that doesn’t mean that this trio has slowed down with tours. If you’ve never seen these guys blow the roof off of a venue, this is definitely your chance. The Hall of Famers don’t have word of openers, but that may change for the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $65 and $125.
Monday you could head over to the studio at Warehouse Live to catch the heavy sounds of Melvins. These guys are legends in their own right; they make heavy as hell tunes, and their live show is always entertaining. Their latest double album, A Walk with Love and Death, is their most experimental to date and definitely trippy. The doom gaze of New York’s Spotlights will be on as support and opener, and you should definitely get there early to catch them. The all-ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $20 and $22.
On Tuesday you could catch Trace Cyrus’ on again off again pop rock band, Metro Station at Walter’s. These guys were a full band, then a two-piece, but I think they’re a full band again. Their last album was 2024’s Savior, and if you’re a fan, then you should make it out cause’ who knows if they’ll tour again. There’s no word of openers for the all-ages show with doors at 6 pm and tickets between $18 and $20.
If that’s not your thing, then the indie rock of Modest Mouse were set to make their return over at Revention Music Center, but due to the flooding of Harvey, the show has since been moved to House of Blues. These guys have been through a lot over the years, they’ve lost and gained members, and even their last album Strangers to Ourselves wasn’t their best. But their live shows have always been top notch and they shouldn’t be bringing a lot of that last record to this show anyway. The indie rock of New York’s Mass Gothic will be direct support and openers for the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $40 and $59.50.
Downstairs at White Oak Music Hall, the synth pop of Baltimore’s Future Islands will be in town. These guys have blown up in recent years, their live shows are always fun, and their latest release, The Far Field, is pretty solid. The hip hop of LA’s FR/BLCK/PR will be on as direct support and opener for the all-ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $22 and $27.
That’s about it for this week. No matter what you decide to do, please remember that acting like an adult is in everyone’s best interest.
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