Live: Take Action Tour
I was sweating. I had pulled duty as Space City Rock representative at the Take Action Tour as it pulled into House of Blues one recent Monday night. The Take Action Tour is the signature event…
Live: A dream Asleep and the Juggernaut
A dream Asleep was throwing their video release party Sunday night at Rocbar. I had been feening to see this thing since singer Mike Seals texted me saying that they were shooting a video for their first single…
Live: Scale The Summit
For any national act, playing a hometown gig is a special thing. For their special moment, Scale The Summit got to play to a packed Meridian…
Live: Crash Kings
As the single “Mountain Man” moves up the Alternative chart, and “It’s Only Wednesday” takes a ride on an apocalyptic road trip…
Live: Mute Math/As Tall As Lions
Houston, I underestimate you! Since I usually go to local and lesser-known national bands’ shows, I’ve become used to thinking, “This band is amazing! Where is everyone?” Finally, Houston, you and I share an affinity for a great pop band…
Written on November 12, 2009 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Wall With One Side/Trills
Around this time last year, I walked into the wrong yoga studio and intruded on a New Age music event. In my tardiness, I brashly opened the door to a contrasting space of people laying on colorful yoga mats…
Written on November 12, 2009 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Sunny Day Real Estate
Long after the days of the punk schism known as “emo” and well before the days of bad haircuts and self-mutilation, there was a period in which bands like Mineral and Indian Summer redefined “emo” music. While the term “emo” now lends itself to stereotypes rather than to a musical genre, it’s hard to imagine what would have happened if Seattle’s Sunny Day Real Estate had never entered the picture…
Written on October 15, 2009 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Nebula/The Entrance Band
You have to give Nebula credit. A long Sunday night and a typical Monday night in Houston didn’t slow the band down. While the crowd at Walter’s was “intimate” at best, the stoner trio tore through their 60-minute set as if they were hanging from the rafters. The played songs that spanned their 10-year catalog, highlighting several tracks from new release Heavy Psych…
Written on October 1, 2009 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Punk on Punk Crime The Shitty Limits/Logic Problem/No Talk
I’m not particularly a fan of punk music. Actually, I’m not a fan of punk music at all, but somehow I keep ending up at punk shows by accident. There was the time that Dude Jams! played The Backroom at The Mink. I had never heard of them before, I just knew they were coming through Houston on tour and decided to check them out. I pulled up alongside a Frito-Lay truck that they had pimped out into a tour van…
Written on September 1, 2009 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: My Beef With Mechanical Boy
I had been hearing about Mechanical Boy for awhile now, and it had always been my intention to check them out. So while I’m on their Myspace one day, I figured, “I really dig these guys,” and I send them a friend request. That was the first mistake in a downward spiral of circumstance and innuendo that would culminate in a face-to-face confrontation at their July 10th Warehouse Live show…
Written on July 15, 2009 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Nico Vega
I got the chance to hear some of Nico Vega‘s first full-length album they released earlier this year and was very impressed. Their heavy, melodic sound and in-your-face vocals had me pondering what kind of live performance they would give. With that kind of genre, it was going to be either sloppy or brilliant…
Written on May 30, 2009 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Lucero/Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
We didn’t make it to the show in time to see much of Black Joe Lewis. First, it was hard for us to get out the door that night. While waiting for the babysitter, our daughter began to get sick (ah, the joys of parenting). After putting her to sleep, we were finally able to get on the road, only to be stuck outside the door waiting in the Will Call line…
Written on May 15, 2009 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Lamb of God
“It sure does smell in here.” That was my prevailing thought while standing in a packed Verizon Wireless Theater, waiting for Lamb of God to take the stage. The legions of metalheads had packed the venue for the No Fear Energy Tour. The odor of two thousand metallic fans sweating out a sugar coma-inducing energy drink was way too prevalent. Apparently, the scumbags that run the Verizon stuck the $5 “service fee” in their pocket and could not be bothered to turn the AC on…
Written on May 1, 2009 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Paul Weller
For a musician that’s been making music since the mid-’70s, that fact that Paul Weller has never fully caught on in America is a shame. The singer’s distinguished and varied career is full of political punk anthems and soulful pop gems that continue to influence new crops of British musicians. This night’s concert (moved from The Warfield to the more intimate Regency Grand Ballroom) shows why the nearly 51-year-old is still able to maintain a dedicated following…
Written on April 30, 2009 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
America: Still Alive And Well
Gifted song writers don’t quit writing songs just because some people say that most of their hits are far behind them. Two of the founding members of classic rock group America, Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley, demonstrated that they are the epitome of that saying, bringing material both old and new to their sold-out performance last Saturday night at the Stafford Centre…
Written on February 28, 2009 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Murry Hammond/Tody Castillo/Arthur Yoria/Krista Vossler and Luke Kalloch
It was Sunday evening and it was getting late. Another weekend was about to give way to a work week. But wasn’t giving in yet. I decided to venture out anyway, into the cool, dark night to Houston’s Washington Avenue while the rest of the city headed to bed. As I pulled up to Walter’s on Washington, I couldn’t believe how few cars were there — I almost got to park in the miniscule parking lot, only two cars on the street. I was shocked. I mean, Murry Hammond, the coolest, railroad-lovingest part of Old 97’s was playing…
Written on January 1, 2009 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: The Supersuckers/Whiskey Boat
I think the last time I caught The Supersuckers live, they were playing with Jesse Dayton (of course) at Fitzgerald’s. That was back in my “I’m in a silly punk band” period…which was a while ago (although I was still old enough to know better). At any rate, that was the last time I saw the “Greatest Rock n’ Roll Band In the World” on stage, although I’ve kept up somewhat with their recorded output since…
Written on January 1, 2009 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: TV On The Radio/The Dirtbombs
If it were a dog, the dog would live in a pink leather purse carried around by some actress or another being filmed by TMZ. If it were a color, the color would be in blinking neon on a sign outside a strip club that prides itself as classy. If it were a cereal, it would be warm Grape Nuts eaten by a man late for his tee-time at a country club in River Oaks…
Written on November 1, 2008 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Herman’s Hermits: A Retro Reinvasion
Blimey, mate! Last Saturday night at the Houston-area Stafford Centre was an incredible, retrofitted return to the musical influences that once resonated from the original British Invasion era in American rock music. Frontman Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits brought with him an entourage of fellow musicians to recapture moments from this previous mid-’60s style of pop-rock fare…
Written on October 30, 2008 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: The Octopus Project/Diagonals/Electric Attitude
Often I find myself bemoaning the number of bands skipping Houston on tours, and with a recent history of poor show turn-outs and the Two Gallants incident weighted against the city, I know this unfortunate trend isn’t likely to change overnight. Even bands from our neighboring Austin seem to be giving us the cold shoulder from time to time, making me all the more grateful…
Written on September 1, 2008 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Tilly and the Wall
It’s hard to write about a Tilly and the Wall show. Very hard. Because people will inevitably expect you to write about the tapping. Or about the balloons. Or about the exploding confetti. Or about the adoring (read: a wee bit crazy) fans who make cupcakes for the band and bring Silly String to shoot square in the face of unsuspecting music writers trying to sip a beverage…
Written on August 1, 2008 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: When We Were Angels — Michale Graves at Zion
Try saying this out loud: “Michale Graves, former lead singer of the Misfits, is playing an acoustic show at a church in Conroe.” Shit, you got my attention…
Written on August 1, 2008 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: SXSW Spills Over with Black Mountain
As I walked into an almost-empty Meridian, I wondered, “Am I at the right show? Is Black Mountain still playing tonight?” Then I remembered I was in Houston. And everyone was either recovering from SXSW or still there. As the opening bands came off-stage, The Meridian‘s small red room started to fill, but not enough to pack the house, which made for a great intimate setting…
Written on July 1, 2008 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Manchester Orchestra (with Say Anything, Biffy Clyro, & Weatherbox)
Although this show took place a while back now, it has taken me this long to wrap my head around why a band as talented and musically interesting as Manchester Orchestra would tour with a band as uninspiring as Say Anything. I still can’t give you an answer…
Written on July 1, 2008 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Radiohead
There is probably something snide to be said about seeing Radiohead (amidst all those fake plastic trees, amiright?) at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in the Woodlands, but I don’t know what it is, so I won’t even try. I mean, out of the 21 U.S. cities on the In Rainbows tour, Radiohead chose ours, so I won’t talk about the imitation Riverwalk (and what better to imitate than the Riverwalk?)…
Written on May 30, 2008 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: NOFX/No Use For A Name/The Flatliners/Latch Key Kids
It’s been a while since I’ve been to a real punk rock show. There was that Misfits 25th anniversary debacle a while back, and then I saw X with the Rollins Band, but by and large, it seemed as if my punk days were firmly behind me. Like most 31-year olds, I had kind of gravitated away from snotty three-chord diatribes somewhere in my mid-to-late 20s…
Written on April 1, 2008 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: MGMT/Yeasayer
To say that Walter’s on Washington is the best venue in Houston in which the possibility exists to interact with the performing artists would not only be an oversimplification; it would not be doing the place justice. Walter’s is important to Houston because artists are almost literally forced to coexist with their (sometimes overbearingly obsessed — good for you, Houston) fans…
Written on March 1, 2008 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Sprawl/de Schmog/Blunt/Toho Ehio/U.Y.U.S — The Axiom 20th Anniversary Reunion
I guess you can go home again. Literally, for me. My wife and I dropped off the kiddos at my parents’ house and headed to Fitzgerald’s for the long-awaited and anticipated Axiom 20th Anniversary Party. From the official blog, you could feel the excitement for this event, with many musicians and fans reuniting in Houston to remember our misspent youths and that venerable club, The Axiom, which gave a generation of Houston kids a place to explore art, music, and general weirdness…
Written on October 15, 2007 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: William Elliott Whitmore/Tim Barry/Josh Small
Another sultry, wet Houston Wednesday, this time in the newly smoke-free Walter’s on Washington, where I was pleasantly discombobulated by the clear view of the newly expanded stage. While I have always loved Walter’s odd scene, touchy relationship with the locals (on any evening the cops could storm the place), and the strong pours, it needed a space for five to play without the threat of poking out eyes with pointy metal guitars…
Written on October 1, 2007 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Unsane/400 Blows/Mouth of the Architect
I got to the show late, and only caught 400 Blows and Unsane. The crowd was strong and noisy, surprising considering all the bands were from out of town. 400 Blows is a cool 3-piece, a pint-sized drummer, charismatic lead singer, and guitarist running two Marshall half-stacks plus a bass amplifier, allowing the trio to sound much bigger than their number might suggest…
Written on July 1, 2007 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: The Willowz/The Scattered PAGES/The Papermoons
Tuesday night is pretty much the definition of an off-night for gigs, but nevertheless, your fearless reviewer braved the boho attic that is The Mink for some midweek hedonsim. Before the gig even started I managed to lacerate my thumb on something, proving that A. I am a special and unique snowflake, and B. aspirin really does make you bleed more than normal…
Written on June 1, 2007 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: The Lemonheads
Hiding behind a cream-colored beanie and an I Clover New York t-shirt, Evan Dando made his way unassumingly onstage at Clear Lake’s answer to live music, The Scout Bar. Accompanied by Vess Ruhtenberg (bass) and Devon Ashley (drums) of The Pieces, The Lemonheads began their first tour in over a decade just a few short weeks beforehand…
Written on April 1, 2007 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: X/Rollins Band/The Riverboat Gamblers
Henry Rollins is one of my heroes. I dig his music, his spoken word/comedy, his books — I’ll even go see crappy movies that he’s in just because I like to see him act. Yeah, I’m talking about Jack Frost, and I’ll probably rent Wrong Turn 2 eventually, as well. I’ll also always take the Rollins side in the Black Flag debate…
Written on February 1, 2007 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: The Raconteurs
Bands spawned from other groups always seem to have a rougher time of it than their original bands, and usually with good reason. Was the duo of Page and Plant better than Led Zeppelin? Was Slash’s Snakepit better than Guns’N’Roses? Far from it, so being skeptical of a group like The Raconteurs is not an unplausible concept…
Written on November 1, 2006 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Kings Of Leon/The Stills/Satin Hooks
In the end, it felt more like we were witnessing a social experiment of some kind, albeit from the inside. We’d gone to see Kings Of Leon and The Stills downtown at the usually-very-comfortable Meridian, and worked our way through security, surprised to see so many people coming out to a show on a Tuesday night. I figured it was just a sold-out show, although given the bands that was in itself kind of strange. We Houstonians ain’t always the hippest lot, particularly en masse…
Written on October 1, 2006 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Sinews (+ Some Other People)
I really went to see the JonBenet, in deference to the miserable spectacle that “your liberal media” has made of a pathetic pervert in the not-too-distant past while ignoring the sickening horror of civil war in Iraq and the fact that our beloved New Orleans is, for all intents and purposes, still under water metaphorically if not in reality. The Bush mouthpiece in charge of rebuilding New Orleans says the levees are “back to pre-Katrina and getting better”…
Written on October 1, 2006 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: The Unholy Alliance Tour (Slayer/Lamb of God/Mastodon/Children of Bodom/Thine Eyes Bleed)
A lengthy line of black clothing-clad fans extended out the front entrance to the Reliant Arena on this hot Houston summer day; they ignored the unbearable heat because they were ready for an ear-splitting day of heavy metal. Headlined by the legendary Slayer, the Unholy Alliance Tour also featured a slew of newer groups, so there was a diverse range of ages among the attendees…
Written on September 1, 2006 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Ripped to Shreds — Sonic Youth Ignites the Stage and Leaves No Chord Un-tuned
On June 22nd, the stars had aligned to make a super lame night. I was about to see Sonic Youth, my all-time favorite band (since sixth grade, I swear), but my friends had flaked, the ticket was gone, and I didn’t have enough cash to pay for a damned t-shirt. I stormed into Warehouse Live alone and upset, twenty-five dollars poorer, and convinced the night would amount to jack crap…
Written on August 1, 2006 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Sharks and Sailors Blast Out of Houston
In downtown Houston, I’ve lately spotted a number of music fans sporting t-shirts celebrating the local band Sharks and Sailors. Intrigued, I was able to catch their live show one night at The Proletariat (on Richmond near Montrose). The show I attended was just one day in their media-publicized, four-day mini tour, where four different bands from four different cities…
Written on June 1, 2006 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
Live: Lamb of God/Opeth/Unearth/Chimaira/A Life Once Lost
This year marked the beginning of a new summer music festival called the Sounds of the Underground Tour. The tour brought to arenas across the country heaps of underground metal bands from record labels such as RoadRunner, Century Media, Metal Blade, and Trustkill. Unfortunately, the tour didn’t come to Houston, but there were several “off-dates,” where a select group of bands from the tour played shows at small venues in nearby towns…
Written on October 1, 2005 | Posted in Live Reviews | Leave a comment
