H-Town Rock

For the Weekend of July 24th – 27th, 2008

Well, Houstonist must admit that we did enjoy the outpouring of affection for H-Town Rock in the comments section of last week’s installment of this lovely feature of ours. We hope to repay you this week with some of the same snarky, yet informative commentary you’ve started to expect and appreciate here on the pages (screens?) of Houstonist. There are some excellent shows and festivals for the residents of the Bayou City to attend, if only they would be willing to brave the oppressive summer heat and humidity for which this part of the country is known. So, slap on some sunscreen, hydrate yourselves, and join us for some fun out there.

Thursday, July 24th
Awesome. Simply awesome. While we might enjoy some karaoke on occasion (Is there any cheaper or more hilarious entertainment than watching drunks sing Top 40? We don’t think so.), there’s nothing that Houstonist enjoys more than some energetic, fervent, and deeply committed air guitar riffage. So, for those of you who are rabid fans of frenetically charged, crazily costumed, and musically inspired entertainment, you are encouraged to make your way to Warehouse Live for the evening to experience the 2008 U.S. Air Guitar Championships.

The 2008 U.S. Air Guitar Championships at Warehouse Live
The Misfires, The Mathletes, and Lazy Horse at Rudyard's
Recession Thursdays: Featuring Southern Backtones, Generation Landslide, Muzak John, and The Sweaters at Numbers
Boys Like Girls, Good Charlotte, Metro Station, and The Maine at Verizon Wireless Theater

Friday, July 25th

Once again, Houston displays its fractured music scene for all the world to see. It’s not to say that there isn’t a lot to go and view all night long, but more that the various acts are rather scattershot. From raucous indie at Walter’s and Rudyard’s to smooth jazz at Arena Theatre, with some ‘80s rock and outlaw country thrown into the mix in other parts of the city, you can’t say that Houston doesn’t offer more than a few chances to enjoy yourself.

The Western Civilization, The Flyers, Pura Pharm, and Wicked Poseur at Walter's on Washington
Kirk Whalum, Jonathan Butler, and Terisa Griffin at Arena Theatre
The Invincible Czars, Two Star Symphony, and Opposite Day at Rudyard's
Plump and Zwee at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar
Foreigner and Bryan Adams at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Cross Canadian Ragweed at Sam Houston Race Park

Saturday, July 26th

We must admit, as exciting as it might be to go partake of Journey up in the ‘burbs, alterna-rock with our crazy roommate at Warehouse, or a Texas troubadour at the Duck, we think that you’d be kinda stupid to not be at The Backroom (aka The Mink) for Twotenanny! Basking in the success of the original Hootenanny from earlier this year, some of the best and brightest indie acts in Houston are gathering together to serve as cover bands for some of their personal favorite acts. Who are we looking forward to most? Why, that would be the alt-country kids of Buxton performing as Scandinavian weird-pop diva Björk (though we’re not quite sure how that’s going to work). Just do yourselves a favor and be there.

Twotennany!: Featuring American Sharks (as The Cars), Buxton (as Björk), Custom Drinker (as Rod Stewart), Flowers to Hide (as The Cure), The Kimonos (as Blondie), Paris Falls (as Rush), Sharks and Sailors (as The Police), Tody Castillo & Friends (as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Welfare Mothers (as Johnny Cash), and Wild Moccasins (as ?) at The Backroom
Journey, Heart, and Cheap Trick at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Nothingmore, Deep Ella, Three Fantastic, and The Urgency at Warehouse Live
Joe's Roadhouse Live: Featuring Brad Absher, Scott McGill, and Old Dog Mac at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar
Cory Morrow at McGonigel's Mucky Duck

Sunday, July 27th

Regardless of where you might all actually end up on this Sunday evening, there are really just two places where you should be: trolling the bars and clubs in the Main Street area of downtown Houston to soak in the multitude of bands performing for the Houston Press Music Awards or consuming the vast quantities of metal being served up fresh out at SHRP. It really shouldn’t be a hard choice: either you’ll be seeking out some of the more top-notch musicians in the greater Houston area in all their musical glory or you’ll be banging your head non-stop for hours on end. You decide. Houstonist knows where we will be.

Houston Press Music Awards: Featuring Arthur Yoria, Beetle, Black Math Experiment, Born Liars, Bring Back the Guns, Buxton, Chrome44, Deep Ella, DJ Ceeplus and Bad Knives, DJ Red, Free Radicals with Harry Sheppard, Hearts of Animals, Indian Jewelry, Karina Nistal, The Literary Greats, LoneStar PornStar, Los Skarnales, Molly & the Ringwalds, Pale, Poor Dumb Bastards, Sideshow Tramps, Sharks and Sailors, Skyblue 72, Spain Colored Orange, Thee Armada, The Tontons, Two Star Symphony, The Wiggins, Young Mammals, and many more at various Downtown venues (including Dean’s Credit Clothing, The Flying Saucer, Hard Rock Cafe, Havana, Mosaic, Notsuoh, Rocbar, and Venue)
Reggie O'Farrell, Phillip Foshee, Elsinore, and Another Run at The Mink
Rockstar Mayhem Fest: Featuring 36 Crazyfists, Airbourne, Black Tide, Disturbed, Dragonforce, Five Finger Death Punch, Mastodon, Machine Head, The Red Chord Slipknot, Suicide Silence, Underoath, and Walls of Jericho at Sam Houston Race Park