H-Town Rock

For the Weekend of November 13th – 16th, 2008

Hello there Houston. It’s nice of you to pay us a visit this week. We need to find a way to spend some time together this weekend and catch up on what all has been going on in our respective lives. And what better place to do that then in between sets at our favorite live music venues! Isn’t that what you come to H-Town Rock for in the first place, to figure out what we’re doing this weekend so that you know where to head yourselves? That’s what we thought. So, we plan to see you out and about enjoying our fair city this weekend – we sure will be.

Thursday, November 13th

Awesome! The Latin Grammys are in town this week! Now, we know what you’re thinking – “H-Town Rock listens to Latin music? Who knew?” – and you’d be right in that we don’t partake of that genre with anything approaching even irregularity, but it is a bit of an honor for Houston to play host to this event. So, while we might be enjoying the Reverend’s special brand of folk music over at The Big Top, we’re more than happy that some of the top acts in contemporary Latin pop and rock will be performing in Space City on this night.

Craig Kinsey at The Big Top
The Latin Grammys: Featuring Alejandra Guzmán, Banda El Recodo, Café Tacuba, David Lee Garza, El Mariachi Vargas, Emiliano Zuleta, Flex, Fonseca, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Jenni Rivera, Jimmy Zambrano, Jorge Celedón, Juanes, Julieta Venegas, Kany Garcia, Los Tigres Del Norte, Lupillo Rivera, Michael Salgado, Olga Tanón, Rosario, Tommy Torres, and Vikki Carr at Toyota Center
The Lonely H and Ladyheat at Rudyard's
Modern Hoax at The Mink
Sean Reefer and the Resin Valley Boys and Beetle at The Continental Club

Friday, November 14th

Ummm… Wow?!? Was anyone else out there aware that there was a Michael Jackson tribute band and that it’s name is “Who’s Bad?” Really? Wouldn’t Billie Jean be a better name? Whatever – unless this group’s lead singer looks like Jackson did back in the ‘80s and can pull off a decent moonwalk, we’re not sure this spectacle is worth our time. So, where will you find us? Well, it’s certainly not going to be mingling with teenyboppers at The Meridian or Reliant Arena – that wasn’t our scene even when we were adolescents. We’re going to be chatting up PBR-swilling hipsters at Boondocks as we shimmy and shake to the beats of The Hood Internet and Car Stereo Wars. Please don’t judge us.

Forsa Pink's Almost Famous Fashion Show: Featuring Glasnost, The Tontons, SerJ, and Grrrl Parts at The Mink
The Hood Internet and Car Stereo Wars at Boondocks
The Iguanas and Molly and the Ringwalds at The Continental Club
Jimmy LaFave at McGonigel's Mucky Duck
Plain White T's at The Meridian
Rock Band Live Tour: Featuring Panic at the Disco, Dashboard Confessional, and The Cab at Reliant Arena
The Scrips and Something Fierce at Fitzgerald's
Who's Bad (Michael Jackson Tribute Band) and Dan Dyer at House of Blues

Saturday, November 15th

We almost didn’t include the mellifluous sounds of Kenny G on today’s list, mostly because he’s the walking definition of lame, but we then realized that people like Kenny G exist for our personal enjoyment. If we can’t mock this guy openly, then we might lose our will to live. Just looking at that photo we've posted, complete with the goofy grin, ‘80s hairdo, and that infernal soprano sax, is comic fodder for an entire standup routine. Whew – we’re glad that’s out of our system. Getting back to actual music, there’s an immense amount of excellent shows in town tonight, most notably the Noise And Smoke Festival 2008 over at Notsuoh & Dean’s and a great trio of bands playing at Rudyard’s. Support local music!

Bring Me the Horizon, Misery Signals, and The Ghost Inside at Javajazz Coffee House
Drew Smith's Lonely Choir at Cactus Music
Johnny Falstaff at Cactus Music
Kem and Ledisi at Verizon Wireless Theater
Kenny G at Arena Theatre
Local Artist Showcase: Featuring Studemont Project, Magnetic, Electric Attitude, Hueman, and Desmond Zavala at House of Blues
Noise and Smoke Festival 2008: Featuring Teenage Kicks, B L A C K I E, Cop Warmth, The Takes, Patsy, Vincent Trails, El Desmadre, Mydolls, Balaclavas, Homopolice, & The Born Liars at Notsuoh/Dean's Credit Clothing
Ray Wylie Hubbard at McGonigel's Mucky Duck
Two Hoots and a Holler, Red Light Burlesque, and Drew Smith's Lonely Choir at The Continental Club
Two Star Symphony, listenlisten, and Golden Arm Trio at Rudyard's
Woozyhelmet CD Release Show: Featuring The Jonx and The Wild Moccasins at ArtStorm/Caroline Collective

Sunday, November 16th

We almost didn’t even write anything for Sunday, but we couldn’t pass up the contrast between Madonna and a Whiskeytown tribute band. First of all, whatever you might call her, whether it be Madge, Esther, or The Material Girl (we personally prefer The Destroyer of Guy Ritchie), Madonna’s place in music history is firmly entrenched, even if she is seen as a shell of her former self these days. Second, we’re astonished that there’s actually a Whiskytown tribute band out there. We get the “need” for a Michael Jackson group, but Whiskeytown? Seriously? Do they simply refuse to play any of Ryan Adams’ other work? Do they even realize that Ryan Adams is still playing music these days? We’re simply astonished that we’re even having this discussion with ourselves right now. Forgive us this indulgence.

Madonna at Minute Maid Park
Whiskeytown Tribute Band at The Continental Club