H-Town Rock

For the Weekend of 06/19-22/2008

Hello there Houston! It’s that time again! It’s time for another excellent installment of H-Town Rock, your source at Houstonist for what’s happening around our fair city this upcoming weekend. Even though we often tend to criticize Houston for having a fractured music scene with different factions that don’t tend to get along, we somehow find a way to have a host of great musical opportunities on any given occasion. So get out your best garb and your finest dancing shoes, as it looks like we have an exciting weekend in front of us.

Thursday, June 19th, 2008

Cryptacize, Black Snake, Kangaroo, and Jenny Westbury at The Backroom (The Mink)
Recession Thursdays: Featuring The Ton Tons, Kam, Arthur Yoria, Elaine Greer, Snowshoe and Louis, and Woozyhelmet at Numbers
Jonny Lang and Dave Barnes at Verizon Wireless Theater

Woot! It’s indie rock night in Space City! Numbers is winning over some new fans as they push forward with their newly minted “Recession Thursdays.” Kudos goes out to those folks for engaging in a bit of re-invention, as they’ve created another popular themed night in their venue. Also, Asthmatic Kitty outfit Cryptacize brings their minimalism to The Backroom for an engaging night of quirky pop music. Granted, if classic riffage is more your style, guitar maestro Jonny Lang is in town and will most likely wow the audience with his bluesy axe-work.

Friday, June 20th, 2008

The Red Dons, The Estranged, Something Fierce, and Teenage Kicks at Rudyard's
Ladyheat, The Ton Tons, Piano Vines, and Earnie Banks at The Backroom (The Mink)
Stadium, The Last Place You Look, Cruiserweight, Velora, and Legacy Falls at Fitzgerald's

The Mink continues to be the place in Downtown where you can consistently hear some of the best underground indie rock that’s available. But if you’re looking for something a bit more up-tempo, then we highly recommend heading over to Rudyard’s for the intense energy of Something Fierce and Teenage Kicks. Action-packed indeed…

Saturday, June 21st, 2008

True Colors Tour: Featuring Cyndi Lauper, The B-52s, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, Wanda Sykes, & Carson Kressley at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Keiji Haino (acoustic set) at Richmond Hall (The Menil Collection)
JMG Summer Monster Metal Showcase: Featuring Necrofaith, Subversa, Lycophile, Cryptic, Cellcyst, Lonestar Massacre, Straterra, Consumned, Powderburn, Nhuvasarim, Virus, Temple of Wrath, and Mistress Juliya at The Meridian
Patrice Pike at McGonigel's Mucky Duck

Isn’t this a curious night we have here. A night of comedy and ‘80s pop-rock up in the ‘burbs, experimental rock at The Menil, contemporary folk at the Duck, and an outrageous assortment of metal at The Meridian. If you can’t find something to entertain you and your friends, then well, you need new friends (or maybe you need to reassess your definition of entertainment).

Sunday, June 22nd, 2008

Sevendust/Anew Revolution/Soulidium at The Meridian
Tom Waits at Jones Hall
Keiji Haino (electric set) at Barnevelder Movement/Arts Complex
Arrowfest 2008: Featuring Boston, Styx, Night Ranger, Alan Parsons, and more at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion

To close off the weekend, Houston has been blessed with a very special treat: the often imitated, but never duplicated, the man, the myth, the legend, Mr. Tom Waits will grace the mean streets of Houston for the first time in 26 years. Sadly, there’s a great possibility that more people will be present for the classic rock extravaganza up in the ‘burbs, but we’ll let those folks remember a time when they didn’t have to worry about their kids, mortgages, and fancy jobs.