Yr. Weekend, Pt. 1: Holy Fiction (Reviewed!) + Sara Van Buskirk + Squishees + Rivers + Eric Dick + More

Got to make this somewhat quick, but I didn’t want to miss out on mentioning at least a few of the awesome shows going on this evening (Friday, July 29th, to be specific)…

Top of the pile for me, at least, is the show over at Warehouse Live, with headliners {Holy Fiction} — they’re a phenomenal band, seriously, the kind that’ll make you want to smack yourself in the face for thinking you can write songs. Last year’s Hours From It was a stunning debut, and earlier this year they followed it up with a reworking of the whole damn thing as a majestic, playful synth-pop opus, Hours From Dance. Believe it or not, it works really, really well — check out the full review over here.

For this show, though, I’m assuming they’ll be in folk-pop(-ish) mode, playing epic, gorgeous songs that merge Peter Gabriel’s more soaring music with both Fleet Foxes delicate beauty and early-U2 shimmer. They’ve got some good openers in the pile, too, like {Castle Lights}, who I hear are pretty great, and singer/songwriter {Sara Van Buskirk}, who I know full well is pretty great. The lady writes songs that make me break down, I swear.

Beyond that, {The Squishees}, a band I’d thought had been long consigned to the dustbin of H-town musical history, have apparently lurched back to their monstrous, moss-covered feet and are playing Rudyard’s tonight — does this mean they’re back for good? No clue, but I damn well hope so, ’cause they’re a lot of fun. See Danny Mee‘s cogent explanation as to why that is over at {Nonalignment Pact}… Plus, they’re playing with country-tinged doom-metal/stoner-rock dudes {Ghost Town Electric}, whom I love, and {Dead Mineral}, whom I’m liking so far in their new incarnation (they used to be called Novox).

Then there’s a cool-sounding fashion show apparently going on at Jet Lounge/ECHO/whatever, next to the old Engine Room/new Underground Live venue, with post-grunge rockers {Rivers}, who are badass (still got “Spirit Child” stuck in my head, y’all), excellent Irish/Scottish folk-rockers {Murder the Stout}, and soul/funk outfit {Ozeal}, among others (hip-hop crew {Lower Life Form} is apparently no longer playing). I’ve got no idea what the “fashion show” part of it’ll be like — if it’s even still happening — but hey, the music’ll be good.

Down at The Mink, there’s another good one, with a double-set show by Britrock-gone-wild band {Inner Lights}, who I’ve always meant to check out but keep missing…dang. Oh, and in between sets, Stewart Anderson of A Fistful of Soul (and sadly-departed punks Teenage Kicks) will be spinning cool tracks, so make sure you stay inside for that part, as well…

What else, what else…well, erstwhile guitar hero George Lynch (ex-Dokken, for folks old enough to remember that far back) has resurrected his Lynch Mob band and is playing again, including tonight at new-ish venue The Flamingo Room (although, um, they’re not listed on the Flamingo Room’s Website; hrm), while {Second Lovers}, about whom I’ve heard good stuff, is also playing at Fitzgerald’s.

On the political side of things, lawyer extraordinaire Eric Dick is having a benefit/BBQ shindig tonight at the S.P.J.S.T. Lodge in the Heights for any and all supporters in his bid to get elected to the Houston City Council (At Large Position #2), and while he & I don’t see eye-to-eye a whole lot politically, he’s still a good guy.

Scene-watchers from long, long ago may also remember him from a band called Inbred Whiteboy, where he was known for his bass-playing, half-screamed vocals, and seemingly continual vomiting. If that doesn’t qualify you for City Council, I dunno what does… (Kidding! Well, kind of.)

Here’s the full list for tonight:

Holy Fiction/Quiet Company/Castle Lights/Sara Van Buskirk @ Warehouse Live (Studio)
The Squishees/Ghost Town Electric/Dead Mineral @ Rudyard’s
Fashion Show, featuring Ozeal, Rivers, Murder The Stout, Only Beast, & Darling You’re Stunning @ Jet Lounge/ECHO
Inner Lights/Stewart Anderson @ The Mink
Second Lovers/Johnny Strat/Tame Blonde/Handsome Ransom @ Fitzgerald’s
The Creamers/Secret Prostitutes/Noguey @ Vinyl Junkie (7PM)
Lynch Mob/Rainchild/The Aftershow @ The Flamingo Room
Coffin Case/Jetspeed Fashion Show & Concert, featuring Von Horror & Julia, Sid 17, Bayou City Outlaw Band, Fallacy, Otenki, The Apostles, & more @ Warehouse Live
Eric Dick for City Council Benefit/BBQ, featuring The Good, Bad and Ugly @ S.P.J.S.T. Lodge (1435 Beall; 7-11PM)
Blasphemer/Cerebral Effusion/Disfigured/Uncleansed/Venomous Supremacy @ Walter’s
Spanish Rock Invasion!, featuring La Sien, Paulette, Zapatito, & Changoman @ Dan Electro’s Guitar Bar
Slave To The Beat, featuring Juan Maclean, Ceeplus Bad Knives, Mr. Castillo, & G Wizz @ Boondocks
The Wagoneers/The Umbrella Man/Allen Oldies Band @ The Continental Club
Blaggards @ R&R Sports Bar & Grill (Friendswood)