U2. Photo: Anton Corbijn
This week the legendary band U2 will be here as well as Mike Watt, The Mountain Goats, and Erykah Badu while local acts keep us entertained in between. Houston, here’s how to plan the following week.
On Wednesday you could get started over at NRG Stadium when Ireland’s U2 will swing by to perform their classic album The Joshua Tree in its entirety. While the band was just starting to pop thirty years ago, I don’t think anyone saw the global scale in which these guys would blow up on. Of course, in just a matter of years, they’d be one of the biggest acts on earth, where they still hold that reign today. Possibly one of the best live acts going, if you’re a fan and you want to steer from their latest records live, then this is your show. The Lumineers will be on as direct support and openers for the all ages show with doors at 6:30 pm and tickets between $102 and $157.
Downstairs at White Oak Music Hall, The Orbiting Human Circus Featuring The Music Tapes will be in town. The show, an immersive podcast that features magic, live music, and more will be making its stop, and should be pretty magical. Featuring the music of The Music Tapes, the group is part of the Elephant 6 collective, which features acts like Neutral Milk Hotel, Apples in Stereo, and the Olivia Tremor Control. No matter what happens at this show, it should be memorable. The all ages evening has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $15 and $17.
Mark Normand. Photo: Avalon Management
Over at The Secret Group, you could get your laugh on when Mark Normand swings by to perform. Normand has been making audiences all over laugh out loud for a good while, he’s toured the globe, and with sets on places like Showtime, Comedy Central, and NBC’s Last Comic Standing, he’s definitely on the rise. His latest release, this year’s Don’t Be Yourself is pretty hilarious as well. There’s no word on feature act or host, but that may change on the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $12 and $15.
At Walter’s you could get freaky when Chicago’s Crown Larks stop by to play. This band is a mix of post punk and experimental sounds, reminding me of what would happen if David Yow sang for Of Montreal, or maybe a lot like the band Cave. Their latest, this year’s Population is impressive to say the least, and they’re rumored to be one of the best acts touring today. New Houston band Laktating Yak, featuring Charlie Bryan of Dead Time, will be on as direct support, while the always engaging and intriguing sounds of Houston’s most interesting band, Ak’chamel will open things up. The all ages show has doors at 8 pm and tickets for $10.
On Thursday, many of you had planned make it out to Revention Center for the alt rock goodness of Soundgarden. However, with last week’s sudden and tragic passing of frontman Chris Cornell, the show and tour has since been cancelled. Refunds will be made available at the point of purchase.
Hiram. Photo: Nancy Hernandez
Walter’s will host a pretty tight show when the Urban Circus 5th Anniversary Party occurs. Featuring a headlining set from Houston rapper Tim Woods, the show promises everything from live graffiti to photography and so much music. Sets from DASHR, Hiram, TheGr8Thinkaz, Rajesh and many many more will all be set to perform. The all ages event gets going with doors at 7 pm and has tickets between $5 and $15.
If you had planned to attend the greenroom show at Warehouse Live, featuring Houston’s HogLeg, the show has since been cancelled.
Meat Puppets. Photo: Mary Boukouvalas
Upstairs at White Oak Music Hall, the legendary sounds of the Meat Puppets will be here to perform. Chris and Kurt have been making great songs together for a really long time, and if you remove their more alt sound from the nineties on albums like Too High To Die, you’re left with some pretty songs and some more punkish tunes. They’ll be here in support of their last release Lollipop, while dropping some career spanning favorites. The king of DIY and “jamming econo,” Mike Watt will be on as direct support, and should bring some of your favorite Watt jams to life. The Tom + Jerry show will be on as openers for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $18 and $22.
Over at Continental Club, the country rock twang of Houston’s Grand Old Grizzly will bring plenty of good times to all who attend. While the band is set to release something new sooner than later, their last release Cosmonada is a record you should check out, as the honk honks and the tonk tonks all over it. The 21 & up show gets going around 10 pm and it’s 100% Free.
Friday you might want to make the drive out to Joke Joint Comedy Showcase for a weekend with the best joke writer in Houston, John Wessling of The Whiskey Brothers. Wessling doesn’t perform in town much anymore but that just means he has all sorts of new ways to make you laugh until it hurts. There are four shows, two on Friday and two on Saturday with doors at 7 and 9:30 with tickets between $14 and $19 for the 18 & up shows.
At Mucky Duck you could get your singer songwriter fix when Jeremy O’Bannon headlines a set. O’Bannon makes tunes that are hard to shake, his sets are peppered with tales and tone, and his latest release Letter Home from last year is one you need to hear in person. The rootsy acoustic sounds of Graham Wilkinson will be on as opener for the 21 & up show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $20 and $22.
Tifa Tittlywinks of Dem Damn Dames. Photo: Penland Pin Ups
Numbers will host another sexy show from the ladies of Dem Damn Dames, this time called Cirque du So Weird. While the Houston burlesque troupe is a talented and alluring bunch, this show will feature a set from burlesque legend, Judith Stein from Canada. Of course, the Dames themselves will all be on hand alongside performances from Dallas’ Olive Avira, Lucy Furr of Louisiana, Lita Deadly of San Antonio, and so many more including Ms Yet of Houston. Opening things up will be Skabz the Clown and Nick The Vegan for the 18 & up show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $15 and $30, the latter being a seated VIP option.
Of course you can get all of your R&B feels when Trey Songz brings his infectious jams to all when he headlines the ballroom at Warehouse Live. While he’s been going strong since 2024, his latest release Tremaine The Album is possibly his strongest to date complete with pop laden tunes you can’t help but like. Virginia’s Mike Angel will be on as direct support and opener for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets for $55.
If you’ve never caught the rooftop show at The Secret Group called Bad Idea, then this is the one you need to catch. Hosted by Zahid Dewji, the show makes the most of the very small patio of the venue and offers FREE pizza and a ton of funny comics. This edition will be taped, it has a secret lineup, and rumor has it that there’s a big time name set to perform on it. The show is all ages, the doors are at 7:45 pm, and it’s 100% FREE.
Londale. Photo: Daniel Jackson
Upstairs at White Oak Music Hall you could make it out for the melodic indie rock of Houston’s Vodi. There’s something hard to deny about a band that sounds like The War on Drugs, and their latest single “Talk” is just as hard to deny as their crazed performances. New Houston band, Londale will be on as direct support as well as to drop their debut album full of good time rock jams. Adam Bricks will bring his folk troubadour sounds on as opener for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and a $10 cover.
Rudyard’s will take care of your doom needs when the stoner doom of Houston’s Dirty Seeds swing by to play their swampy metal. Alongside a pretty epic live show, their last release King Kush remains one of my favorite doom albums. Louisiana’s Forming The Void will be on as direct support with the slowcore doom of Houston’s Pyreship on as openers. The 21 & up show has doors at 9 pm and a measly $8 cover.
Flosstradamus. Photo: Paradigm Agency
Stereo Live will host the return of trap DJ Flosstradamus. I don’t need to oversell this show right, as this Chicago native never disappoints in a live setting. His latest drop, HDYNATION RADIO from 2024 still sounds legit, and his live sets are always amazing. The 18 & up show has doors at 9 pm and tickets between $24 and $33.
On Saturday you can get going at Raven Tower for the Shop Local pop up event. Featuring a ton of local vendors, a DJ set from Gracie Chavez, and plenty of food truck eats, the event should be worth showing up for and supporting local vendors. The all ages event is free to attend, it gets going around 4 pm, and there’s more information here.
Warehouse Live will host the return of another edition of Kiki Maroon’s Burly Q Lounge. The vaudeville based show that features side show talent, comedy, music, and burlesque will inhabit the insides of the studio and delight all who attend. The 18 & up show has doors at 7 pm and tickets for $25.
Ancient Cat Society. Photo: Lauren Marek
The Heights Theater will have a barn burner when Houston’s Ancient Cat Society headlines their album release party. These three by themselves are respected artists from bands like Buxton, Guess Genes, Dollie Barnes, and Vodi, but together they make charming tunes that would make any hardened music fan melt. Their sophomore release, Ancient Cat Society is one of the prettiest albums you can hear, and they’ll perform it in its entirety at this show. Say Girl Say and some special guests are on as support and openers for the all ages show with doors at 7 pm and tickets between $20 and $160, the latter being a seated table for four people.
Arena Theatre will bring back the legendary sounds of R&B soulstress, Erykah Badu. Badu was born in Dallas but her sound has always been outer worldly, and while her latest is just a mixtape, But You Caint Use My Phone is still pretty epic. The all ages show mentions nothing about direct support or openers, but that may change. Doors are at 7:30 pm and tickets are between $69.50 and $99.50.
The Mountain Goats. Photo: Billions Agency
Downstairs at White Oak Music Hall, the folky good times jams of The Mountain Goats will be on full display. These guys have been making fun and grand songs for a good while, their live shows are always fun, and their new album Goths changes things up without steering from their core sound. The lo-fi experimental tunes of Brooklyn’s Holy Sons will be on as direct support and openers for the all ages show with doors at 8 pm and tickets fo $23.50.
Satellite Bar will have the psych rock of Austin’s The Cuckoos. These guys make tunes that sound like Jim Morrison sang fro Brian Jonestown Massacre. Their latest, The Cuckoos from this year is definitely a trip. The guitar heavy sounds of Howard & the Nosebleeds will be on as direct support while the bluesy jams of Vanilla Whale will go on prior. The 18 & up show will get opened up by the psych blues of Austin’s The Mammoths with doors at 8 pm and cover between $5 and $7.
Continental Club will have the return of Austin’s Buenos Diaz. Okay, so he’s actually from Houston, but that shouldn’t matter as his tunes are pretty guitar heavy and full of life. His latest, Buenos Diaz is an album you can’t shake after one listen. Chris Berardo & The Desberardos will open the 21 & up show with doors at 10 pm and a $12 cover.
LIMB. Photo: Ismael Quintanilla
Sunday you can get groovy at White Oak Music Hall for the 4th annual Madness on Main festival. The day through night event will feature a headlining set from Austin’s Black Pistol Fire alongside performances from Lyric Michelle. Sailor Poon, Columbia’s Kiko Villamizar, LIMB, Perseph One, Flower Graves, Flyger Woods, and so many many more. The event will take place upstairs, downstairs and even at Raven Tower. The full lineup is available here for the all ages event with doors at 4 pm and tickets between $20 and $27.
There are times when comics say they’re leaving town and then they have a ceremonious leaving show, only to usually come back to town less than a year later. That probably won’t be the case for Tim Mathis, who’s having a going away show at Joke Joint Comedy Showcase. Mathis hasn’t made as many friends in comedy here as enemies, but he also has TV credits and he knows what crowds he does best in front of, which is more than what some comics leave town with. Hosting the show, Mathis will present the likes of Theo Taylor, Andy Huggins, Bryson Brown, Alan Adams, and the headliner Keisha Hunt. The 18 & up show has doors at 6 pm and tickets are a measly $10.
Over at Rudyard’s you can catch the bluesy doom of Seattle’s Samothrace. Mixing blues rock overtones with a sludge heavy sound, these guys have been going pretty strong since 2024 and their latest Reverence To Stone is pretty intense. Seattle’s He Whose Ox Is Gored will be on as direct support while the heavy and loud doom of Houston’s Omotai will open the 21 & up show with doors at 8 pm and a $12 cover.
Tigers Jaw. Photo: Ground Control Touring
On Monday the emo meets pop punk of Pennsylvania’s Tigers Jaw will be downstairs at White Oak Music Hall. After a basic break apart three years ago, two founding members have returned from the near dead with an album that’s more indie rock than their previous releases, on this year’s spin. The band always has a pretty fun live show, so the new songs should hit well in a live setting. The folk rock of Ohio’s Saintseneca will be on hand as direct support while the indie pop of Missouri’s Smidley will open things up. The all ages show has doors at 7 pm and tickets between $16 and $20.
That’s about all that’s happening around town. No matter what you decide to do, remember that a safe ride home is just an app away.
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