We heart Cactus' in-store performances

Did we tell you how excited we were when we first learned that Cactus Music was re-opening last year? If not, we should have. Houston never had a record store that new Texas like Cactus. Their collection of local and regional music is superb, and they’ve even dedicated a whole room to their vinyl collection this time around (and almost 20 years after that format was considered “dead,” it, The Record Ranch, is making a healthy comeback with true music-lovers like us).

Our favorite gift that Cactus has given us over the years is free in-store performances by artists traveling through the city. Houstonist remembers catching artists like Barenaked Ladies putting on a free show before they sold their first million copies (and rummaging through the CD bins next to band member Steven Page and having no clue who he was).

So, we’re happy to report that the in-store performances, along with the free St. Arnold’s beer, are back – and the quality and variety of artists hasn’t decreased. Here are some of the upcoming shows:

April 24 (Today), 5:30 p.m. – Steve Earle
April 26 (Saturday), 2 p.m. – Marc Broussard
April 26 (Saturday), 4 p.m. – Band of Heathens
May 2, 6 p.m. – The Texas Sapphires
May 7 – The Whigs
May 15 – Old 97’s

Chances of you running into Houstonist at one of these shows are very good. If you don’t drink beer, we’ll be your friend for life if you grab one for us after we reach our two beer limit.

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Photo: Flickr user Elyse Archie (Cobra Starship @ Cactus, 2/23/08)