Wasted Years: The Best of The Week
Ruiners. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook
The new year is definitely in full swing while the city gets closer to the inevitable splash over we’ll experience in March from SXSW. While we wait for cold weather to hopefully return, there’s plenty happening throughout the Bayou City this week. This week features sets from psych rockers Christian Bland & the Revelators, Dark Blue and Guilla, as well as “We Belong: Houstonians of Muslim Descent Dissent,” a protest show featuring Giant Kitty, Turnaways, Ruiners and more. Houston, your next seven days are all planned out.
On Wednesday you could kick off the week at Warehouse Live in the studio for the popular post hardcore sounds of Nevada’s Falling In Reverse. These guys aren’t my cup of tea, but they have millions of Spotify plays and they tend to pack out a room every time they perform, and they’re here in support of their latest release, the single “Coming Home.” The metalcore of Atlanta’s Issues will be on as direct support while Pennsylvania’s Motionless In White will go on prior. Ohio’s Dangerkids are also on the bill and things get opened by Dead Girls Academy with doors at 5:30 pm and tickets between $27.50 and $32.
If you were lucky enough to grab tickets for the Netflix comedy special taping for rapper turned comic Chingo Bling at Heights Theater, then you should be in for a treat. I don’t know how funny he is on his own, but opening performances from Jesus Sepulveda, Jerry Garcia, and John Stringer should get things going nicely. Though the two sets are sold out, the doors for the 1st show are at 6:30 pm and the second has doors at 9 pm.
If you really like the band Tame Impala, then you could head to Satellite Bar for their Tame Impala night. Derek from the bands Mantra Love and Mojave Red will spin his favorite Tame Impala jams and more for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
Thursday you should head to House of Blues when the venue and The Secret Group present the always hilarious Iliza Shlesinger. While her last Netflix special Freezing Hot proved how funny she can be, she already has another one coming later this year, which will more than likely be the material she’ll be performing. While there’s no word of host or featured act, the all ages show with doors at 7 pm has tickets between $29.50 and $35.
Rhett Miller. Photo: ATO Records
The Heights Theater will have Evan Felker of Turnpike Troubadours over to perform. Felker hasn’t dropped a solo album yet but he’s dropped a couple of solo tracks like “Bottoms Up” that echo his bigger band and sound pretty grand. He has a pretty great direct support act in Rhett Miller of Old 97’s. Miller has released solo work and his last release The Traveler sounded like the kind of sound Jeff Tweedy has been trying a lifetime to achieve. The all ages show has doors at 7 pm and it’s since sold out.
Nightingale Room will host a barn burner when Guilla returns to drop a set at the Main street venue. Guilla has been working hard as usual, including taping a recent submission to Tint Desk and on the heels of his bangin’ mixtape, last year’s Rap, Trap & Drums-Vol. II and his full length Children of The Sun his performance should be as energy crazed as usual. Not to be outdone, iLL Faded will be on beforehand and should bring his two releases from last year, It’s Okay To Be Happy and No Big Deal to life. The 21 & up show has doors at 7 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
Over at Improv you could catch the beginning of a weekend of shows with the always funny jokes of Ralphie May. The last time he was here he donated a ton of money to a Houston comic, he’s been on pretty much every place that’ll have him, and he sells out shows all over the globe. His latest album, last year’s Just Correct has the Houston born and LA transplanted comic in rare form. As per all of these shows, two of Houston’s better comics will serve as host and one as feature act for the 18 & up shows with tickets between $25 and $50. This show has doors at 7:15 pm.
Psalm Zero. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Facebook/Profound Lore Records
Walter’s will have the new industrial metal sounds of NYC’s Psalm Zero. Hailed by critics on their recent release Stranger To Violence, the group has former members of Castevet and Extra Life, and they’ve gotten praise for their intense live shows. The band has a melody driven metal sound that utilizes precise sounds and synths to add to their already diverse sound. The darkwave of Houston’s Buoyant Spirit will open things up and provide direct support for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $7 and $10.
Mucky Duck has Austin’s off kilter rockers Darkbird in town to perform. I say off kilter because they have a very different sound with traditional rock elements and a singer who has the voice of the past. I’ve never seen them perform, but with a voice that rivals Stevie Nicks, their last album I Remember Feeling My Fingers Slip is pretty impressive. The 21 & up show gets going around 9:30 pm and has tickets between $20 and $22.
Friday you could get started at Rockefellers for their Inauguration Day Ball. The show, which will feature the highly charged punk sounds of Houston’s The Satanic Overlords of Rock N’ Roll as headliners, should be an exercise in freedom of speech while we still have them. Things only get more heated up before with sets from The Velostacks, Killer Hearts, and The Burns all on beforehand. While Hell’s Engine will go on prior and D Kosmo will open the show up. The all ages affair has doors at 7 pm and there’s a measly $8 cover.
Dark Blue, Photo Adam Spadaro/Flower Booking
The delco punk of Philadelphia’s Dark Blue will be on full display over at Satellite Bar. These guys have been hailed by critics everywhere, they’ve become well known for a killer live show, and their newest album Start Of The World is pretty damn fantastic. Houston’s LACE, who is the band’s direct support for their Texas dates will bring their intense hardcore on beforehand, and the crazed hardcore energy Black Coffee will be on prior. The throwback sounds of Narrow Head will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $10.
If you weren’t aware, the inauguration of a reality show star is happening in DC, but in protest to that idiot’s racist remarks towards Muslims, Houston artists of Muslim descent will be performing in protest over at Walters at the We Belong show. A headlining set from screeching punks Giant Kitty will energetically headline the night while the crazed energy and new wave punk of Houston’s Ruiners will be on before. Seriously, Shan of Ruiners booked this show and if you missed their last album Wasted Years, then you’re missing one of the city’s best new bands. The garage tinged pop punk of Houston’s Turnaways will bring their stellar new album Summer Love to life prior while the crazy punk of Houston’s Revels open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $10 with all benefits going to the ACLU.
New York City Queens. Photo: DO Photography
Over at White Oak Music Hall upstairs you could catch a one off reunion and thank you to fans, when Houston’s New York City Queens reunite one last time. The Houston five piece went through a lot before calling it quits at Beer Fest two years ago, so this is a goodbye to all who supported the band over the years. The energetic indie rock of Houston’s Young Girls will provide direct support and the electro pop of Camera Cult will open the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets for $10.
Last Concert Cafe will host the Americana meets indie folk pop of Denver’s Paper Bird. This eclectic six piece makes music that’s like a breath of fresh air mixed with a family party atmosphere. Their latest album, last year’s Paper Bird is a little more pop induced, but the vocals are impressive to say the least. The country sounds of Lucas Eason & the Panhandlers will open the all ages show with doors at 9 pm and tickets between $10 and $12.
We Were Wolves. Photo: Randy Edwards/Courtesy of Artist
In the Bronze Peacock Room at House of Blues, you can catch loud and party fueled rockers, We Were Wolves performing a set. The Beaumont born and Houston transplants have done everything from play multiple festivals to touring with The Dwarves. Their last EP, Ruin Your Weekend was definitely on point and they’re worth making it our for. The blues rock of San Antonio’s Levees will open the all ages show that gets going around 9 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
Boondocks will host another edition of the always jam heavy BLACKOUT shows. Alongside the Blackout DJ’s, this edition will feature the tropical sounds of LA’s ORO 11. Known for starting the label Bersa Discos and crafting the Tormenta Tropical parties, this guy can drop the hammer when it comes to performing live so get ready to get down. Visuals by Leckie will more than likely be on hand to light up the room for the 21 & up show that gets going around 10 pm. The show FREE before 11 pm with RSVP found here, or $5 after.
On Saturday you can swing by Vinal Edge to catch a rare solo acoustic set from Lubbock country legend Terry Allen. Allen is the torch bearer for that blend of Texas, beer drinkin’, and hell raisin’ music, and his last album Lubbock (on everything) is pretty damn stellar. The all ages event gets going around 3 pm, there’s gratis beverages for the adults from No Label, and you can catch him later at Heights Theater for his full live set too.
If you’d rather get your art hat on, then you could head to El Bambi for their art show, Erase/Rewind by FLATS. Works from Meredith Richey, Rye Francisco, and many more will be on hand for the all ages event that runs from 6 pm to 9pm, and has gratis drinks and beer for those who can legally have it.
Mucky Duck will have the roots sounds of Houston’s Jack Saunders over to perform. Saunders is one of the most unsung artists in our city, and his voice is an epic tone that sounds like he’s been telling his tale for decades. His last release, 2024’s A Real Good Place To Start is a beautiful tale that’s hard to put down. The 21 & up show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $20 and $22.
Christian Bland. Photo: Ground Control Touring
Things will get all trippy at Walters when Christian Bland & the Revelators will bring their psych garage sound to town. Bland is best known as the guitarist for The Black Angels, but honestly, he’s much more than that. This band is solid live, and their last full length from 2024 The Unseen Green Obstacle is a real trip. The bluesy tunes of Houston’s Vanilla Whale will be on as direct support while Futurelic will open the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and a $10 cover.
At Fitzgerald’s you can spend an evening with indie pop singer songwriter Jack Thweatt. Inspirational, possibly religious, or whatever you want to call him, his songs are catchy to say the least, and his new album You Take Me Back from last year sticks in your head. There’s no word of openers yet but that could change for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets between $10 and $15.
The Hammer Party. Photo: Courtesy of Artist/Bandcamp
At Notsuoh you could get down with Arizona’s The Darts. The all female garage psych four piece has a reputation for a crazed live set, and their new release The Darts EP 2 is pretty chaotic. The horror themed sounds of Houston’s Brumes will be on as direct support while the amazing lo-fi garage punk of Huntsville’s The Hammer Party will open the 21 & up show with doors at 8 pm and it’s 100% FREE.
Over at Khon’s you can get your dance going when android genius comes out of exile to drop a set. It doesn’t seem like it’s been over a year since he dropped the trippy and dance heavy sounds of /\, but it’s been too long since he’s been out performing. Hood Ethernet will drop dance grooves as direct support while the electronic beats of REZ and the experimental hip hop of slw.kng will go on prior. The experimental trippiness of MLCBR will be on before and Hakeem will open the all ages show with doors at 9 pm and a $5 cover.
Sunday you can head to Civic TV for a new show series called Prof. Wiggins Sunday Matinee Series. This edition will feature sets from TEE VEE and The Wiggins. A DJ set from PKRL8R will also be on hand for the 100% FREE all ages and BYOB show with doors at 4 pm.
Christian Kidd. Photo: Alexis Kidd
Rudyard’s will host a benefit for Christian Kidd of The Hates with a headlining set from The Hates. I have to question why the guy should have to play his own benefit, but that aside, The Hates have been a staple in the Houston music scene since before there was a scene. Also, Christian has played more of these kind of benefits than pretty much anyone else in town, so it’s kind of your duty as a Houston musician or fan to attend. The Texas Mod Crushers will go on before with a set from Screech of Death on before them. Gut Radio will open the 21 & up event with doors at 6 pm and a $10 cover/donation.
On Tuesday you can catch Sci-Fi Movie Night at The Secret Group. This premiere edition will be hosted by Houston’s Guilla, and will feature the film Akira. Given the rapper’s love and knowledge of the film and the character, he’s the fitting host for this 100% FREE all ages event with doors at 8pm.
That’s about all that’s happening around town this week, No matter what you decide to do, remember that drinking like an adult is what’s best for you and everyone else, so be responsible and get a safe ride home.
- pvs
