Yr. Weekend, Pt. 2: Buxton + Fitz Big Ass Summer Party + Art Institute + Chris Bean Memorial + Caroline Sessions Finale + More

Oh, wow. It’s looking like one hell of a Saturday (July 28th, to be precise) today/tonight, I’ve gotta say. Before I get into the list, though, I just wanted to mention a couple of things…

First off, if you hadn’t heard already, the Dethklok/Lamb of God/Gojira show scheduled for 9/7 at Bayou Music Center has been cancelled, on account of Lamb of God singer Randy Blythe being stuck in, um, a Czech prison. You can’t make this shit up.

A little closer to home, I noticed while doing the show listings that a couple of names — {Ceeplus Bad Knives} & Mr. Castillo — popping up in multiple places. Specifically, both The Fairview (Asylum) and Avant Garden (Body Ctrl), and both tonight. Really? Are these guys cloning themselves now?

Alright, and here we go:

Buxton/The Happen-Ins/The Handshake/JC & Co. @ Walter’s
It’s been way, way too long since I last saw {Buxton} play, and I’m missing ’em dearly, dammit. I’d almost forgotten how freaking awesome they are, and then they finally released Nothing Here Seems Strange earlier this year, it hit me like a brick to the face: “Holy crap, that’s right — these guys are incredible!” It’s like this utterly perfect chunk of roots-pop, with all the pieces right where they’re supposed to be and some sideways nods to the Houston/Galveston area besides. I’m still in shock that the album’s not in the running for this year’s HPMAs; that’s absolutely ridiculous.

Unfortunately, as it turns out I’m shepherding around my 16-year-old, London-born-and-bred nephew this evening, and he’s not big on the whole roots-rock thing, I may not be able to see the Buxton boys yet again. sigh. Ah, well — whether I’m there or not, this will be an awesome show, no doubt. I don’t know most of the openers, unfortunately, but I’ve heard very good things about {The Handshake}, too, so that’s an added bonus.

Fitzgerald’s Big Ass Summer Party, featuring Turquoise Jeep, B L A C K I E, LIMB, David Wrangler, Poor Pilate, Mystery Flavor, Free Radicals, Jon Black, Khruangbin, DJ Meshak, & Nick Greer and the G’s @ Fitzgerald’s ($5)
The Boxing Lesson/PuraPharm/Art Institute/Residual Kid @ Fitzgerald’s
Yes, this is where I’ll most likely be tonight. The youngster’s more into the hip-hop side of things, so this year’s Big Ass Summer Party up at Fitz is right up his alley, with out-of-towners Turquoise Jeep (who I didn’t catch at Summerfest but heard were amazing), hip-hop crazyman {B L A C K I E} — who’s definitely a love-him-or-hate-him deal, but dammit, I fall firmly on the “love” side — jazz/funk outfit {Free Radicals}, rapper {Jon Black}, & electronic project {LIMB} (and I have to say, I’m listening regularly to The Shape of Punk for Some).

Plus, there’s the downstairs, so if I or he get burned out on some band, we can (maybe?) shell out a few extra $$$ and check out synth-heavy rockers The Boxing Lesson and snarling, nerdily-attired post-punks {Art Institute}, the latter of whom I’ve already waxed rhapsodic about recently. Either way, tonight at Fitz is a win.

Bean: A Memorial Celebrating the Amazing Life of Chris Bean, featuring Something Fierce, The Mahas, Mike Wiebe (Riverboat Gamblers), & A Fistful of Soul DJs @ Big Star Bar (4-8PM)
Already talked about this one a bit, late last night, but it’s worth mentioning a second time; a bunch of very cool people, including Houston pop-punk kings/queen {Something Fierce} and resurrected garage-punks {The Mahas}, who I’m damn glad to see riding again, even if it’s only briefly, to toast the memory of local scenester/NASA engineer Chris Bean, who passed away last month. Go raise a glass.

The Caroline Sessions 4.5 “Finale,” featuring Frank Freeman, Chase Hamblin, Matt Harlan, Andrew Karnavas, Clory Martin, Corey Power, & Melissa Savcic @ Saint Arnold Brewing Company (2000 Lyons; 6-10PM)
And since we’re talking about saying goodbye… Tonight’s also the farewell performance of The Caroline Sessions, which will hereafter exist only as videos shot by organizer Tom Paynter and the recordings that will make up the compilation album various players are currently working on. I’ve rambled about it in more detail already, but I wanted to tip my baseball cap once again to these folks; sad to see ’em go.

Runners-Up:
Muhammad Ali/Lovey Dovies/The Lopez/Lazer C**tz @ Houston House of Creeps (9PM; $5)
Ydinperhe/Haistelijat/Crime Wave/Landfill/Rotten Waters @ Mango’s ($10)
Austin Lucas/Adam and the Ancient Gods/Saw Wheel @ 2101 Winbern (7PM; $5)
Cannibal Corpse/Between the Buried and Me/The Faceless/Periphery/Veil of Maya/Job for a Cowboy/Goatwhore/Exhumed/Cerebral Bore @ House of Blues
94.5 The Buzz Bud Light Weenie Roast, featuring Chevelle, Hoobastank, & AWOLNATION @ Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Native 4: A Celebration of Houston Artists, featuring Exceed, Mr. Peabody, Rudebwoyz, Oscillator Z, Haters Make Us Famous, Ostrich Death Dance, Darth Fader, Jasmine Rose, Crichy Crich, Rob Bass, Upgreyed, Loz Tha Lyric3st, Filthpusha, DJ Domo, Mad Mike, Pwnyboy, Kruxx, Gobi, Insert Credits, iLL LiaD, Frankie G, Nathaniel Red, Thrill, Richie Roc, Nitemare, & Nuk @ Warehouse Live
Asylum, featuring Ceeplus Bad Knives, Mr. Castillo, & Josh (Tangled Shadows) @ The Fairview (315 Fairview)
Lou Ann Barton/The Umbrella Man @ The Continental Club
Blaggards @ Tailgating Sports Grille (9607 FM 1960)
Body Ctrl, featuring Ceeplus Bad Knives, Mr. Castillo, Bobby DJ, & Calero @ Avant Garden (9PM; free!)