Yr. Weekend, Pt. 1: The Manichean + Scale The Summit + Omotai + Cyndi Lauper + Peace Not Brutality Benefit + Valient Thorr + More

Wow. It’s promising to be a hell of a weekend, folks — there is a lot of good stuff going on these next few days, so I’m going to have to be a little brief when going through it. As always, let’s start with what sounds/looks cool for tonight, Friday, June 28th:

The Manichean Presents LOVERS @ The Alley Theatre (9PM)
Already talked about this one, but trust me, it’s gonna be awesome…

Intronaut/Scale The Summit/Mouth Of The Architect/Omotai/Oceans of Slumber @ Fitzgerald’s
METAL! Of the heavy, heavy, heavy, kinda-sludgy, kinda-proggy variety, with headliners Intronaut, about whom I’ve heard good things, and {Scale The Summit} and {Omotai}, both of whom are awesome. Review of STS’s new album, The Migration, right over here.

Muhammad Ali/Dante Higgins/Talk Sick Brats/Loveable Old James/4 Hour Letter/Madstsoia @ East Side Social Center (4202 Canal)
Nice. I’d wondered what happened to {Muhammad Ali} — they’ve been relatively quiet lately, so I’m relieved to see they’re still doing their raw, loud, yet ridiculously catchy ’90s-tinged indie-punk thing.

Cyndi Lauper/Hunter Valentine @ House of Blues
Quirky ’80s pop star Cyndi Lauper is seriously underrated as a songwriter, in my book. And no, I’m not talking strictly about “The Goonies R Good Enough,” even if it holds a special place in my soul.

Valient Thorr/Gypsyhawk/Ramming Speed/Born Again Virgins @ Fitzgerald’s
METAL. Again, and this time of the more “classic” variety… Valient Thorr are badasses, and I seriously like what I’ve heard from Gypsyhawk so far; plus, locals {Born Again Virgins} are freaking great.

Peace Not Brutality Pt. III: Benefiting The Peaceful Streets Project Houston, featuring Jon Black, “Downer,” Elyse, Hoffle Stoff Awaffogus, Gio Chamba, & Thera @ Walter’s ($6)
A cool-sounding benefit for The Peaceful Streets Project, which works to stop police mistreatment of the citizens of our fair city; cool idea, plus some good folks playing, like {Jon Black} & {Hoffle Stoff Awaffogus}…

Runners-Up:
Folk Family Revival @ Firehouse Saloon
We Are Computers/Rivers/Crashing Colors/Carter @ Notsuoh ($3/$8)
D.I./Fuska/No Resistance/Conflikto/Decthect @ Mango’s ($15)
La Sien/Electric Attitude/The Trimms @ House of Blues (Bronze Peacock Room)
The Journey Agents/Cassette Tape/Come See My Dead Person/The Please Please Me @ Last Concert Cafe
Skyrocket!/Little Joe Washington @ The Continental Club
Clandestine @ McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
Matt Harlan/Bob Simpson/Emily Lewis/Daniel Amedee @ Super Happy Fun Land
Swank Disco, featuring Ceeplus Bad Knives, Mr. Castillo, & more @ Grand Prize Bar (1010 Banks)
Dokken @ The Concert Pub North (2470 FM 1960)