Yr. Weekend, Pt. 2: Linus Pauling Quartet (Reviewed!) + Indiehouston Anniversary + Helstar (Reviewed!) + Murdocks + More

Another busy night in H-town tonight (Sat., October 23rd, specifically), but unfortunately, I’m not there — off visiting the fam, so apologies for this being a bit late-notice. There’s some really good stuff that’s literally about to start, so get on out of the house:

Linus Pauling Quartet (album release)/The Mathletes/Hearts of Animals/Chris Cascio @ Khon’s (on the garage roof; 7-10PM, free)
Okay, so I wish-wish-wish I could be at this right damn now. sigh. Seriously — tonight on the roof/parking garage at Khon’s in Midtown, three of my absolute-favorite H-town bands (well, hell, anywhere bands, really) are playing for free. How do you beat that? (Answer: not possible, yo.) I got a hold of the new {Linus Pauling Quartet} album recently, Horns of Ammon, and have been truly impressed, in spite of its odds-and-sods nature; hot damn, “Nowhere,” “Lost It All,” and “Porno In The Sink” rule — they’d be first-string tunes in the hands of any other band. Review on up here, if you’re interested.

And hey, I’m happy as hell to see {The Mathletes} resurrected & playing live once again, despite protestations to the contrary; Joe Mathlete is one heck of a sweet-hearted, snarky-minded songwriter. Seeing {Hearts of Animals} on the bill is a good thing, too — I’ll admit that I’d feared Mlee Marie had called it a day…

Indiehouston 2 Year Anniversary, featuring Giant Princess (LP release), B L A C K I E, Darwin’s Finches, & Young Girls @ Fitzgerald’s (8PM-2AM)
Wow. Hard to believe it’s only been two years since the {Indiehouston.org} crew got things off the ground — it seems like they’ve been here for ages, honestly. I’m glad to see these folks are still alive & kicking, and I offer a wholehearted long-distance salute to ’em. Celebrate on, y’all.

Beyond the festivities, btw, tonight’s show is also the official album release for {Giant Princess}, who impress me more & more with their rural-gone-indie rawk thing every time I see ’em. And hey, {B L A C K I E} is always a good time, in my book.

Raven/Helstar/Owl Witch/Decimation Theory/K.T.C.M. @ The Scout Bar (Clear Lake)
Don’t have a whole lot to say about this one, except that, hey, {Helstar} are the kings of old-school Houston metal. Check out a review of their latest album on over here, eh?

A Legend Past the Stars/Bnew/The Loyolas/Shogun Shakedown/The Heirs of Supernova/The Murdocks @ Walter’s
Another brief hit on this one — once, long, long ago, we got a CD from Murdocks, and several of us here in the SCR camp were mightily impressed by the band’s surprisingly energetic, raw indie-rock fury. I don’t know a thing about anybody else playing, but I’d recommend getting to Walter’s early.

Runners-Up:
The Drunks (LP release)/Hell City Kings/Blood Royale/Blasted @ Rudyard’s
Houston CERT Benefit Show, featuring Hollywood Black, The Ride Home, Francois Dillinger, & Fight With Flash @ The Mink (8-11:30PM)
Third Annual Rock The Cradle For Johnny Kicks Cancer, featuring Golden Axe & Honky @ Lee & Joe Jamail Skatepark
Cactus Music Third Anniversary Party, featuring Los Skarnales @ Cactus Music (7-10PM)
Buzzfest 25, featuring Godsmack, Sick Puppies, Bush, The Dirty Heads, Seether, Saving Abel, Papa Roach, Paper Tongues, Finger Eleven, Neon Trees, Filter, New Politics, Anberlin, & Civil Twilight @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Jerry Jeff Walker/Joe Ely @ Arena Theater
VersaEmerge/Anarbor/The Dangerous Summer/Conditions @ Shadowplay Lounge (The Woodlands)