H-Town Rock

For the Weekend of April 9th - 12th, 2009

Well, it looks to be another great weekend of music here in Houston. There's an impressive mix of solid local music and noteworthy touring acts performing all four nights of our rundown (which is more rare than you might think), ranging from buzzing blog bands and screamo/hardcore bands to folk and pop outfits of both the radio and indie variety. If you aren't able to find a few shows out there to whet your musical appetite, then we don't think you're actually trying all that hard to be entertained. Go enjoy yourselves - it's Springtime in Space City!

Thursday, April 9th
Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Vivian Girls, and Future Blondes at Walter's on Washington
The Cave Reverend, Knight Mare, and Agartha at Super Happy Fun Land
Forever the Sickest Kids, We The Kings, The Cab, Never Shout Never, and Mercy Mercedes at House of Blues
John Evans at McGonigel's Mucky Duck
Lollipop Factory at Notsuoh
Plain White T's, Danger Radio, and Single File at Numbers
T-Bird & The Breaks and Greyhounds at Warehouse Live

Friday, April 10th
Wow - there are several excellent shows around town tonight, so many that a worthy candidate or two might be left out of contention. To start things off, Spain Colored Orange, certainly one of our favorite local rock bands, is celebrating the release (finally!) of the band's new record, Sneaky Like A Villain, over in the Studio Room of Warehouse Live, and will be joined by a substantial cadre of Houston's finest, including DJ Melodic and Ceeplus Bad Knives. Also on the docket for the evening is the Grand (Re-)Opening of Mango's as a vegetarian restaurant and live music venue, with performances by popular Houston acts like The Sideshow Tramps, Robert Ellis, and Two Star Symphony. Of course, we won't begrudge your attendance at either the Too $hort or The Gougers show, because both acts are consummate performers.

The Endangered Sealions and Suburban Warfare at Fitzgerald's (Downstairs)
The Gary and The Jonx at Rudyard's
Gavin DeGraw and Angel Taylor at House of Blues
The Gougers at McGonigel's Mucky Duck
Honky, Dixie Witch, and Molly and the Ringwalds at The Continental Club
The Life and Times, Good Times Crisis Band, and Tambersauro at Walter's on Washington
Mango's Grand Opening: featuring The Sideshow Tramps, Robert Ellis, I am Mesmer, at Two Star Symphony at Mango's
Pale, Southern Backtones, The Bright, and Cerebro at The Meridian
Perseph One, Many Birthdays, [INSERT CREDITS], The Good Tryers, and Light at Super Happy Fun Land
Rookie of the Year, School Boy Humor, Jet Lag Gemini, Kiernan McMullan, and betterLUCK at Javajazz
Spain Colored Orange CD Release Show: featuring The Sour Notes, Dizzy Pilot, Paris Falls, You(genious), Ceeplus BadKnives, and DJ Melodic at Warehouse Live (Studio)
Too $hort, Zeale, Cali Zack, Dub Sicks, MC Skillz, Cuttone, The Youngest In Charge, Young Yam, Suppastar Diggz, Neworleans Slim, Money Rule, DJ Kid, and Slyce at Warehouse Live (Ballroom)
Wellborn Road, The 71's, The Distracted, and The Colored Bandanas at Fitzgerald's (Upstairs)

Saturday, April 11th
Personally, we have no shame in telling everyone that they should be at Jones Hall tonight. Morrissey will be belting out tunes from this year's stellar Years Of Refusal, as well as exploring his extensive back catalog as both a solo artist and front man for The Smiths. Nevertheless, we do realize that, with only a few exceptions, the event is most likely sold out, so it's our job to introduce those of you without Moz tickets to the other shows you should attend tonight. First up, KTRU's 2009 Outdoor Show looks mighty compelling, mostly because Ted Leo, Buxton, and B L A C K I E always know how to get the crowd moving to the music. In that same vein, Young Mammals and Muhammid Ali will be rocking over at Mango's, while Notsuoh looks to have a nice line-up as well. As usual, we just want to implore our readers to get out there and do something (but do it with some modicum of responsibility).

2009 KTRU Outdoor Show: featuring Ted Leo & The Pharmacists, Buxton, B L A C K I E, Laya Taal Saadhna Tabla Ensemble, Thomas Helton Trio, Infant Mortality Rate, About This Product, Squincy Jones & Dayta, The Boat Show, and Kids at Rice University Quad
Better Luck, Flawless Escape, The Last Great Assault, and The Raven Charter at Fitzgerald's (Upstairs)
Gin Slingers, Flash Boys, and The Born Liars at Notsuoh
Hindsight, Halfway Legal, and Two Stories High at Fitzgerald's (Downstairs)
Monster Metal Showcase: featuring Bagheera, Blood Rooted, Brotherhood, Daylight Coma, Ethreal, Metavenge, Necrofaith, and Rotting Devastation at The Meridian
Morrissey and The Courteeners at Jones Hall
Searching For Signal, The Handshake, Summerside Project, Caddywhompus, and Gamma Ringo at Super Happy Fun Land
Stereo Total, Leslie & the Ly's, and Together We Are Instruments at Walter's on Washington
Texas Johnny Boy and Milton Hopkins at McGonigel's Mucky Duck
Young Mammals, Muhammid Ali, and THEART at Mango's

Sunday, April 12th
Hoods, Beg For Life, Your Mistake, Trainwreck, and Bottom Feeder at Walter's On Washington
Silverstein, blessthefall, A Static Lullaby, and Before Their Eyes at House of Blues
Stretch Dawrson & the Mending Hearts and Opie Hendrix at Super Happy Fun Land