Houstonist

H-Town Rock

Marc Brubaker — 2009-11-09T14:00:00-06:00

For the Week of November 9th-11th, 2009

We sure had us a weekend, visiting our cousin Austinist and their big party Fun Fun Fun Fest. It's tough coming back to a world without free drink tickets and constant live music, but we suppose we'll have to make do. Here's what's coming up for you this week.

We highly advise you going to either Melt Banana or Lucero tonight. Houstonist witnessed both this weekend, and it's your decision on what to miss: the eccentric barking beeping noise music - with show support from local favorites Homopolice and B L A C K I E, or the bluesy, rolling down home rock, complete with new horn section of Tennessee-dwellers Lucero.

Tomorrow offers up yet another blast from the past with Powerman 5000 rolling through Scout Bar. Our apologies to Spider One, but we'll be opting for his brother on Wednesday. We'll go see something bright and shiny at Verizon, lest everyone think we've completely sold our soul to the devil: Regina Spektor. [Besides, he's already got our soul.]

Apparently MC Chris is rolling through town this week, not last week. Houstonist is sorry for the mix-up in reporting, but Walter's online calendar is not exactly accurate or thorough. There's a good show at Warehouse Live tonight, but as previously mentioned we'll be busy partaking of the Robert Bartleh Cummings experience - Rob Zombie. We're hoping for more than a few old standards in the set.

The full calendar is after the jump, and don't forget to let us know where you'll be.

Monday, November 9th
Go Kart Mozart, Kat Kilpatrick, The Krinkles at Super Happy Fun Land
Lucero, Cedric Burnside & Lightnin' Malcolm, The City Champs at Meridian
Melt Banana, Homopolice, B L A C K I E at Walter's

Tuesday, November 10th
Gentry Dodd, Hion Music, The Paperwaits at Super Happy Fun Land
Ginger Leigh at Mucky Duck
Powerman 5000, Chrome 44, The Hectic, Faulter 42 at Scout Bar
Regina Spektor, Jupiter One at Verizon Wireless

Wednesday, November 11th
Bella Morte, Ego Likeness, Versailles at Röcbar
Gregory Alan Isakov at Mucky Duck
The Jack Stafford Foundation, Hion Music at Super Happy Fun Land
MC Chris, Whole Wheat Bread, I Fight Dragons @ Walter's on Washington
Municipal Waste, Goatwhore, Phobia, Cauldron at Meridian
Rob Zombie, Nekromantix at Verizon Wireless
Son Volt, Peter Bruntell at Continental Club
Thao & The Get Down Stay Down, Portland Cello Project, David Schultz & The Skyline at Warehouse Live

Photos: Rob Zombie MySpace, Marc Brubaker [Lucero]

]]>

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - After a Late Night at Work

Eric S. — 2009-11-09T12:00:00-06:00

After a Late Night at Work
by cpwardy

Here we go... heading into another week.

If you have a passion for Houston and photography, consider joining a whole bunch of Houston's best photographers in the Houstonist Flickr Photo Group. Each day, Houstonist chooses a Photo of the Day and if Houstonist uses your photo, submit it here.

Houstonist Bartender: Applejack Old-Fashioned

Mary Jane — 2009-11-06T15:00:00-06:00

What a beautiful week! This weather has us thinking of apple crisp, oven-warm and a la mode. Fall is time for chili, stews, and apple desserts, or simple baked apples, with a nice sprinkling of cinnamon. There may be a flurry of baking activity in our near future.

This weekend in college football (our one true love), the second-ranked Longhorns take on the unranked Knights of UCF at 11:30 a.m., the Tigers take on the Crimson Tide tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. and the thirteenth-ranked Cougars will hopefully clobber the unranked Golden Hurricanes of Tulsa at 6:30 p.m. That's an entire day of football spectating, so we won't be quaffing these bad boys all day. That would be disastrous.

AppleJack Old-Fashioned

1 sugar cube
2 dashes bitters
2 ounces Applejack (4 tablespoons)
ice cubes
lemon twist

In a rocks glass, muddle the sugar cube with the bitters until the sugar has dissolved. Add the Applejack and the ice cubes, stir and garnish with the lemon twist. Sip gently (no mixer, strong drank).

As per usual, be responsible, yadda yadda...

Weekendist Nov. 6-8: Uncle Charlie, 2010 Census, Via Colori

Brittanie Shey — 2009-11-06T12:40:00-06:00

FRIDAY

5-9 p.m. — POISSANT Gallery opening, "Filtered," featuring new work by three Houston artists, Felipe Contreras, Haden Garrett, and Carol Gerhardt, who's work with Barbies we *love*. Free, 5102 Center Street.
6:30-9:30 p.m. — Via Colori sneak peak at Coffee Groundz. See prints from the VC ‘08 Photo Contest Winners and find out how to participate in the 2009 Photography Contest, learn how to promote The Center for Hearing and Speech fourth annual fall fundraiser, listen to good music and enjoy good drinks. Free. Via Colori is November 21-22. Free, at 2503 Bagby.

SATURDAY

9:30 a.m. - 3:15 p.m. — Houston Counts Census Training. Learn all about the 2010 Census and why it's important you participate. Help show Houston's diversity by participating in the Census, which helps determine what kind of funding and government support gets filtered back into our community. Learn about special initiatives happening in Houston and how you can get involved in the national effort. Hear the key messages and outreach strategies organizations across the country are using to encourage census participation among the hardest-to-count communities. Free, at Texas Southern University's Streling Student Life Center, 3100 Cleburne Street.
6-11 p.m. — Uncle Charlie Poster Show at Sig's Lagoon, 3710 Main. Uncle Charlie has been designing concert posters for Houston-area shows longer than you've been cool. Free.

Photo: Flickr user .imelda

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Margaritas

Eric S. — 2009-11-06T08:08:01-06:00

Margaritas
by gwenturnerjuarez

Margaritas... what more needs to be said? Have a safe weekend.

Missed Connections: November 2 - 5

Mary Jane — 2009-11-05T15:15:00-06:00

Each week Houstonist checks out Missed Connections on Craiglist. Here's a few that we found interesting.

Not to bad - 28 (IAH)

You were at the rental counter in front of me, you were a little older but had an ass that wouldn't quit, in fact some of it was showing along with a tatoo. Thanks for making my morning a little better.

This proves our theory that most people are really just "typing to themselves" out here on MC. Open calls to whackadoodles last week, this week "chick with trampstamp at Intergalactic Airport". Like that's a low-traffic place - what are the odds that someone randomly at the "rental counter" ( 'cause, ya know - there's only one of 'em) knows who was staring at their ass, if anyone? Slim? or, None? We love reading the exercises in futility, really, so please continue. This is better than the comments on the Chronicle website.

East Houston Hospital Er Nurse- - m4w - 32

I was there last week and I think we made a connection. I was sad to leave was counting backwards til I left but didn't get to really say goodbye.... you had dark long hair in a ponytail and beautiful blue eyes & hispanic last name.
message me back if you see this please.

OOOOHHHHH, yeah, you were the guy who had a weak spine....now, she remembers. Drive yourself back over to that hospital a couple times and hang out in the waiting room until you see her. The "jambox serenade" is way too Eighties (although, "In Your Eyes" is still a great song) but, we're just certain you can devise is very clever and intriguing manner of expressing yourself. Or, you can just do the ole "slip and fall" at a nearby DiscountedMerchandiseMart and impress her with an injury. If they admit you to the psych ward for observation.....we never advised you to harm yourself....

starbucks - m4w

i saw you in starbucks at eldridge and briar forrest at lunch today. it has been a long time since i have seen you there. we made eye contact and smiled at each other. would love to talk to you.

What? Cat got your tongue? Jaw broken in recent barroom scuffle? Irrational fear of rejection? SPEAK! You are IN the coffee place, at the same time. Tables are always scarce at the Starbucks. Get one, invite her to sit.....talk to her (and whatever you do, don't get all nervous and spill your very hot coffee in her lap, she won't let a stranger "kiss it to make it all better", is our guess).

beautiful brunette in huntsville - m4w - 50

Postin thsi for Huntsville as you are there but I am form Houston....met you last Friday evening and was quite taken.....You put your number in my phone but it didn't save and couldn't find it that night. Wish now I had checked it before it was too late. You are a student of medical and sociology and we met on the north side of Houston.....sincerely want to keep in touch........I know the chances are slim but maybe someone will tell you about the ad.......hoping for a little miracle.....

Man, technology sucks it. Back in the day, after clay tablets and sharp sticks proved inefficient (they are heavy and you could put your eye out, too), people exchanged business cards, scribbled on bar napkins, took the pen to the skin and wrote a name and number on their hand or forearm (unless you are one unsanitary, no-spelling moron, you'll wash it off....try arm, better odds of survival). Do you suppose a girl in college would accidentally not mash that "save" button, but, rather gleefully mash "delete" after some fiddy year old asked for her number (unless he was, say not unlike J. Howard Marshall)?

A few guidelines to life on CL - m4w

Indeed. Let me remind the people posting on here that this is the MISSED CONNECTIONS facet of CL. If for some reason you don't understand what that means, let me remind you.
(1). This is not a forum to post your lame poetry. Go out and get a journal. Not a CL account.
(2). Incredibly vague posts will be dismissed as a result of the author being lazy; for instance, "I was on the road going West and you had on a shirt." This makes it incredibly difficult for the people on here to distinguish whether they are the person who had a "missed connection", or are just a person on a road wearing a shirt. You are dumb.
(3). Posts that involve you looking for a dude you met in a club in September of 1991 will almost never be read. You probably missed the boat on that one. Again, you are dumb.

I read the Missed Connections as part of my daily routine. Kinda like reading the newspaper in the morning. Sue me, I'm a romantic like that. But when the above examples come into play, it just becomes an exercise in futility. If you really want to see this person again, put some thought into your post and your chances of finding that special person will blossom exponentially. Thanks.

We don't know you, but, we don't like you - because you care less how we feel. You are threatening our joy, our amusement. You must cease and desist...oh, yeah, oops, public forum. For you, we will post a special haiku, or other rhyming-like thing that annoys....we will, when you least expect it. Threaten our joy....no sir-ee Bob...in the immortal words of Dee Snider, "we're not gonna take it".

---
Photo: flickr user fd.

H-Town Rock

Marc Brubaker — 2009-11-05T14:00:00-06:00

For the weekend of November 5th - 8th, 2009

See?! We told you there would be plenty of music this weekend. Never doubt Papa Houstonist. Unfortunately we won't be in town for much of the weekend [we have, on the other hand, the good fortune of attending our sister Austinist's FunFunFun Fest], but that doesn't mean we'll pass on making a few recommendations to you, dedicated reader.

For tonight, allow us to pose a query: Are you a Houston musician? Are you serious about wanting to tour? If you answered yes to these questions, then make sure you stop by Avant Garden at 7 pm to get some sage advice from Martin Atkins. He should wrap up around 8:30, so we'll have plenty of time to catch Spain Colored Orange at Continental Club, The Caprolites new lineup at Notsuoh, or News on the March at The Mink. Also of note: Mr. Kenny Rogers himself backed by "that there collection of strings and whatnot," The Houston Symphony.

Friday, while the kids all trek to House of Blues for The Used & The Almost, you can revisit the 90's with Third Eye Blind. Our pick of the night, however, is rocking instrumental crew Russian Circles at Rudyard's. That's right, we picked a Rudyard's show!

It's awfully hard to root against our hometown favorites Ghost Mountain, who are playing with Health at Mango's on Saturday, but our choice brings us to Walter's to catch WHY? - a source of heavy inspiration for the Baytown duo. If you simply must catch something other than one of these shows, allow us to recommend The Julys at The Mink. Also, congratulations are in order for local metalcore kids Before There Was Rosalyn, who will be releasing their CD this weekend - on Victory Records! Nice work.

You can top all of that off with a high-voltage show at Toyota Center on Sunday. Some group named after a power conversion will be playing, or so we hear. If you can't shell out for the big tickets, join us at Walter's for the zany Adult Swim regular MC Chris.

Drop us a note and let us know where you'll wind up.

Thursday, November 5th
Brian McNeill, Ed Miller at Mucky Duck
The Caprolites, F*cking Thief, Best Fwends at Notsuoh
The Chibas, Miguel [of The McKenzies], Jim & The Toms, FGG at Super Happy Fun Land
Fu Manchu, Shit City High, Heavystoned at Meridian [Red Room]
Galactic, Mike Dillion's GoGo Jungle at Warehouse Live
John Lee Hooker, Jr., Richard Cagle & The Voodoo Choir at Meridian
Kenny Rogers with The Houston Symphony at Jones Hall
Like Trains & Taxis, Melissa Savci, The Journey Agents at Bohemeo's
Los Pistoleros de Texas at Charlie's Big Top
The Lovemakers, The Personal Victories of George Quartz at Warehouse Live [Studio]
Martin Atkins at Avant Garden
Mindy Smith at House of Blues
News on the March, Shapes Have Fangs, Ghormeh Sabzi at The Mink
Off With Their Heads, Smalltown, O Pioneers!!! at Walter's
Spain Colored Orange, Beetle at Continental Club [free]
Sugar and Gold, Brett Koshkin, Roky Moon & Bolt, Mystery Flavor at Mango's
Sugarball Express, Letters to Voltron, Dark Surf at Rudyard's

Friday, November 6th
Adrian & The Sickness [CD Release], Osiris, Distant Lights at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar
Alison Fisher at Charlie's Big Top
An Albatross, The Coathangers, Dark Meat,The Roller, Black Congress at Mango's
Austin Lounge Lizards at Mucky Duck
Bee vs. Moth at Cactus Music [5:30 pm]
Big Rocket, Platoon at Last Concert Cafe
Charlie Robison, Mark McKinney at Warehouse Live
The Damen Austin Band, Losers Beat Winners, The Antioch Road Band, Mega Fauna at Fitzgerald's [downstairs]
The Flatlanders at Fitzgerald's
Krunk Ninjas,SDfone, El-Nino, TDBZ, Twinkdogg at Super Happy Fun Land
Lea Salonga at Arena Theatre
Luchsinger Brothers, Cory Todd at Bohemeo's
Marc Broussard, Charlie Mars at House of Blues [Bronze Peacock Room]
Mugrero at White Swan
Russian Circles, Young Widows, Red Sparowes, Coliseum at Rudyard's
Third Eye Blind at Verizon Wireless
The Used, The Almost, Drive A at House of Blues
Vallejo, Nightbird at Continental Club
Vince Bell at Anderson Fair
The White Tie Affair, Every Avenue, Stereo Skyline, Runner Runner at Meridian

Saturday, November 7th
500 Megatons of Boogie, Ghosttown Electric, Bright Men of Learning at Rudyard's
86 Within, 12 Gauge, Awakening, Brown Out, Paper Anvil at Bohemeo's [2 pm]
Alastair at White Swan
Arthur Yoria, Stepahnie Briggs, Live Oak Decline at Last Concert Cafe
Before There Was Rosalyn [CD Release], Upon a Burning Body, Molotov Solution, American Me, Through The Fallen Skys, Courage Sleeps, In The Storm, At Cavalry at Meridian
Chris Sacco at Charlie's Big Top
David Cook at Warehouse Live
Eric Taylor at Anderson Fair
The Fabulous Thunderbirds, The Gourdes at Miller Outdoor Theatre [free]
Haunting Oboe Music, Components of the Modern Age, The Bottom Four, Prayer For Animals at Super Happy Fun Land
Health, Lovvers, Somosuno, Ghost Mountain at Mango's
The Julys, The Sideshow Tragedy, Jonathan Wilkins at The Mink
Mumiy Troll, Come See My Dead Person at Meridian [Red Room]
New Duncan Imperials, Dash Rip Rock, Mojo Nixon & The Toadliquors at Continental Club
Straight Fork, Carry The Storm at Fitzgerald's [downstairs]
Super Panch Combo [CD Release], The Redline, Perfect Pants at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar
Vince Bell at Cactus Music [1 pm]
White Cat Showcase at Mucky Duck
WHY?, Au, The Moore Brothers at Walter's

Sunday, November 8th
AC/DC at Toyota Center
Chris Bell, Chris Chandler at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar
Deadmau5 at House of Blues
D.R.U.M. at Discovery Green [3 pm]
The Last Place You Look, From Guts To Glory, Floorbound at Scout Bar
MC Chris, Whole Wheat Bread, I Fight Dragons at Walter's
Miss Leslie & Her Juke Jointers at Continental Club
Ryan Montbleau at Mucky Duck
Shonen Knife, Dead Roses at Mango's

Photos: WHY? MySpace, Ryan Russell [Russian Circles]

]]>

Get sticky at Lawndale's Sugar Skull workshop

Brittanie Shey — 2009-11-05T13:00:00-06:00

It's common knowledge that Lawndale has the best annual Dia de los Muertos art celebration in the city, but did you know you can get some hands-on experience in making a traditional symbol of the Latin American holiday?

Sugar skulls are made from compressed sugar and water, and are decorated and then left as ofrendas at the graves or memorial sites of loved ones. They can also be eaten, if the decorations are consumable.

Last year Houstonist went to the sugar skull workshop and had tons of fun. It's the perfect event to bring a kiddo too, especially if they like candy and like getting their hands messy. Workshop participants get to take home their own skull, and the official Lawndale sugar skull recipe. The rest of the skulls will be saved for decorating at Lawndale's Family Fiesta Day on Saturday.

Lawndale Sugar Skull Workshop
Admission: Free!
Date and Time: Tonight, 4-7 p.m.
Location: Lawndale Art Center, 4912 Main Street

Photo: flickr user cybertoad

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Group hug :0)

Eric S. — 2009-11-05T12:00:00-06:00

Group hug :0)
by skimonster2020

So sue us for going cute today. Sometimes you just need a dose of cuteness.

Daily-ist Thursday: River Oaks Theater 70th Anniversary Celebration

Michelle Calabretta — 2009-11-05T11:30:00-06:00

Unlike the West Alabama Theater, the River Oaks Theater has managed to thwart the plans of greedy developers in recent years thanks in part to your support. Tonight the Houston landmark will celebrate it's 70th Anniversary with a special showing of Frank Capra's 1939 classic film Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, starring Jimmy Stewart. The opening reception begins at 6:00 with cake and drink specials in the upstairs lounge.

Mr. Smith Goes To Washington
Reception at 6:00 PM, Show at 7:00 PM
2009 West Gray
Admission $9.50

Photo credit Christine ™

Tour:Smart - Martin Atkins at Avant Garden Tonight.

Marc Brubaker — 2009-11-05T10:30:00-06:00

CALLING ALL HOUSTON BANDS! If you're interested in being a truly functional touring band then H-Town Rock advises you to stop in to Avant Garden tonight and listen to what Martin Atkins has to say. Atkins is a former member of PiL [Public Image, Ltd. aka that band Johnny Rotten had after the Sex Pistols], Killing Joke, and Ministry. His book Tour:Smart is considered a premium handbook to touring effectively. Space is limited to what Avant Garden can hold, so get there early. Atkins is supposed to start speaking at 7 pm. Details can be found here: http://www.avantgardenhouston.com/atkins.html and you can RSVP here.

Rock Talk, Vol. VII

Marc Brubaker — 2009-11-04T13:00:00-06:00

The good doctor is in, so have a seat and let's chat. We know what you're thinking, "what happened this week in Houston music? What have I missed? I can't take it anymore!" The stress on your brow, the nervousness in your hands. Dr. H. Townrock is here with some scene-specific Xanax for that concern of yours.

American Fangs got a nice little writeup in the Philadelphia blog I Shot a Warhol, declaring them "the standouts of the evening" - on a bill that featured Saul Williams. Yeah, you read that correctly.

The Literary Greats new CD Ocean Meets The Valley got a nice writeup. It also debuted at #153 on the CMJ Top 200 this week. Celebrate with a video of them performing "Show Me The Coast" at Walter's. They're having a release party on the 14th at The Continental Club.

Something Fierce posted a video of them playing in a cold garage while wearing kids Halloween costumes.

Trills posted a pair of videos from his Resonant Internal Sound Series session at Khon's this weekend.

Molotov Compromise posted a tour update.

Runaway Sun informed us that they'll be on the upcoming "Live From Sugar Hill" episode.

Local prog rock crew Scale The Summit announced they'll be touring with Between the Buried and Me in January.

Hell City Kings announced that Josh Wolf [No Talk, The Energy, Secret Prostitutes, etc.] will be taking over vocal duties, making his HCK debut at Block Party. They plan to put out a 7" early next year and will be recording a music video soon.

H-Town Rock caught up with Buxton last night. They're recording "a ton" of demos. Make sure you catch them at Block Party.

What's that? You don't know who's playing or when Block Party is? Booya! Double Booya! That's right, it's two days this time. The schedule was announced this week [be prepared for the inevitable shuffle, however].

Until next time, Rock Talk is dismissed.

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Testing my new infrared camera. Color

Eric S. — 2009-11-04T12:00:00-06:00

Testing my new infrared camera. Color
by Mauro Luna

A homemade infrared camera produced this stunning image. To find out how it was done, check out the photographer's original post on Flickr.

Get To Know A Houston Band: Airon Paul Dugas & The Religion

Marc Brubaker — 2009-11-03T13:00:00-06:00

This week H-Town Rock sat down with Airon Paul Dugas & The Religion to chat about the band, recording, Seattle, albinos, and Jacob Calle's 'fro. Afterwards we were lucky enough to be treated to arguably one of the best plates of migas we've ever had. Airon swore H-Town Rock to secrecy, however, lest we unintentionally spur a douche-ification of his favorite dining spot. You can listen to the full 24 minute interview [complete with Steven's million-dollar flashbulb idea] here. There is the occasional dirty word, so get some headphones if you're at work.

H-Town Rock: I am here with Airon Paul Dugas and Steven [Burnett] who's representing The Religion. Airon, how long have you been playing music?
Airon: About 17 years I guess.

HTR: And how old are you?
Airon: 34
HTR: So half your life...
Airon: I stopped playing for about 7 years, stopped playing in bands altogether. I guess about a year ago all of a sudden I got re-inspired and started doing solo stuff because I didn't want to deal with any bullshit - like a band. I actually had no plans of making a band whatsoever.

HTR: So when did you put The Religion together?
Airon: One night I was at a Paris Falls show and Ray Brown (from Paris Falls) offered for them to be my backing band, basically. I had just started playing out solo, and Ray and Steven and I, we all went to high school together and have known each other a long time. He offered, and I was like "that's a great idea" so I called Steven up and asked if he wanted to play bass. We did it based off of just having fun and not taking it serious at all, and it was the easiest thing in the world, so now we're kinda wanting to get serious.

HTR: So is the entire backing band in Paris Falls?
Airon: No, [Steven]'s not.
Steven: Jen and Ray Brown are the piano player and the guitar player from Paris Falls, and they have a drummer, Mike DeLeon, who's been in a ton of bands as well. And they're all seasoned vets, so it was really easy. They're all like "we can learn these songs in like two practices."

HTR: Yeah, you guys sound really tight together.
Steven: That's weird because we never practice.

HTR: Do you have plans to record?
Airon: Actually yeah, we're going into Sugar Hill in a couple weeks. We're trying to see if we can get a lot of stuff down in one weekend.

HTR: How much do you have together for that right now?
Airon: Not much - By the Big Star show [on the 24th] I think we only had seven songs total, as of last practice we now have nine. Of course, I have like over 70 solo songs, so whatever needs to be filled we can fill it with acoustic songs.
Steven: It's all in that book.
HTR: This one, next to me?
Steven: You could take his entire career.
HTR: That's a little scary.
Steven: Did I just advertise that?
HTR: Yeah, [to everyone] don't steal Airon's book.

HTR: What's one thing that you want everyone to know about Airon Paul Dugas?
Steven: That he is single and ready to mingle.
Airon: I think that pretty much sums it up. Um, I don't know. I set out to do this strictly as a songwriter, that's kind of my main thing. I just like writing songs, and the band is just an extra plus.

Steven: I hear we're moving to Seattle.
Airon: Well I wasn't going to tell him that.
HTR: Moving to Seattle?
Airon: Yeah, well. We've almost convinced the rest of the band. It's kinda funny that we're telling this to the Houstonist.
Steven: [jokingly] Seeya bitches! Is there a Seattle-ist? You can inform them, maybe give 'em our resume?
Airon: We're still gonna be a Houston band though. That's what we're going to tell everybody.
Steven: We're definitely not going to change the plates on the van.

HTR: Is there a timeline on that?
Airon: About six months.
HTR: So sometime in May? Is that gonna be semi-permanent...?
Airon: Possibly? It was actually just an idea that had nothing to do with music or the band or anything. I want to go live next to a mountain.
Steven: He wanted to go somewhere that didn't have bad allergies.
Airon: I have really bad allergies, so I was looking up the top 10 best cities for allergy sufferers, and Seattle's one. And then Steven is like, "I want to go." And then Graham [Airon's roommate] was like, "I want to go." And then we told Ray and Jen Brown, and they were like "we want to go." So I think eventually we're all moving there, and hopefully this band will still be together.
HTR: I hope this doesn't turn into a curse with Houstonist - if you do the interview you leave town. Because GTRS was the first one.
Airon: Oh yeah...

HTR: Do you guys have a band or two that you think everyone in Houston needs to pay attention to?
Airon: Well definitely Paris Falls... and I'm not just saying that as a friend... I would never promote a friend's band if I didn't like them. Yeah, Paris Falls, listenlisten, and Robert Ellis.
Steven: And I'm really enjoying Sew What. They're so cute.

HTR: Do you have a favorite memory from the Houston music scene?
Airon: I used to go to a lot of Dead Horse shows in the early 90s, and I actually love Dead Horse. As far as local music goes, I think right now is actually the best time for local music. I think there's more bands that I actually want to listen to then there ever has been. Bands that I actually buy their albums and listen to them. I listen to Robert Ellis and Paris Falls all the time, they're in [my] main rotation.

HTR: For those readers that are uninformed, how would you describe your sound?
Steven: Loud.
Airon: We're not that loud, we just look loud. Anytime somebody asks, I just say down home rock and roll.

HTR: You guys have a show Wednesday night at The Mink. Who else is playing that?
Airon: Mimicking Birds is the touring band, from Portland, and there's another local band.
Steven: Winter Wallace.
HTR: I've heard a few of their songs, I liked what I heard.
Steven: Jacob Calle posted some stuff in our comments, so they might actually be cool.

HTR: If Jacob likes them? Is that the barometer?
Steven: He's got the fro-ometer. It's like "does Jacob Calle like it? Oh, then it's going to be entertaining."
HTR: I think his 'fro actually grows if he likes something. He can't hide it.
Steven: The pinnocho-fro.
HTR: That's awesome, that's gonna be his nickname from now on. No, I doubt we [at Houstonist] have that much saying power.

HTR: The only other thing that I know about you, aside from your music, is that you had a really terrible scooter accident. How long ago was that?
Airon: It was last December, I was actually leaving a Paris Falls show and was two blocks away from The Mink, and [I] got hit head on by a car.
HTR: How long did that sideline you?
Airon: I was in the hospital for I three weeks, and in a wheelchair for three months... the learning how to walk again didn't actually take that long, but it took a while to get back to climbing these stairs everyday.

HTR: Aside from the show Wednesday, do you guys have anything else coming up?
Airon: No... because of the studio thing we don't want to play any shows for a while... We have nothing recorded, whatsoever - we don't have a demo, we don't even have a MySpace or anything.
HTR: Are you going to do a separate one for the band?
Airon: Yeah, 'cause all the stuff on my MySpace is strictly solo stuff. We do I think two of my folks songs in the band, but we've turned them into complete rock songs. I actually try to write songs for The Religion now that we've started it. And it's fun because I'm actually more of a rock and roller than I am a folksinger. I just kind of started with the folk thing and it came really easy.

HTR: You guys are going into the studio in... three weeks? So we won't probably won't see you guys until December, at least.
Steven: Yeah. We'd like a nice national weekend show...
Airon: We're definitely going to be open to playing shows...
HTR: You guys could definitely hang...you should be opening a show at Warehouse or something like that.
Airon: Yeah, but the lack of a demo or anything kinda sets us back.

HTR: We're actually in Airon's house, for the record, and there's two full shelves of LP's over here, and Hayes Carll is on the turntable... If you were going to pull one record out to show somebody... what's the first thing that leaps to mind?
[Airon sighs, and he and Stephen start laughing]
Steven: I thought you were going to go for Edgar Winter & the White Trash.
Airon: No, no, no. That's what I was thinking. I have a Screwdriver record, that I found under the couch.
Steven: Under my couch!
Airon: At our apartment, and I kept it, and I like to show everybody for some reason... Mississippi John Hurt, any of his albums really - Worried Blues would probably be the first one I would pull out... any Townes Van Zandt. I'm pretty typical, as far as influence goes I think my influences are obvious. But like he said, Edgar Winter's White Trash Roadwork album, which I actually do pull that out sometimes when I'm drunk and I'm trying to hook up with a girl and I somehow think they're going to be impressed with this album, but they're not. And they never are, no woman ever will be. But it's one of my all time favorite albums, my dad got me into it and I've been listening to it since I was a kid.
Steven: When I was 16 I had a car, and Airon was a year younger than me... Airon was all into Dead Horse and death metal, all that shit... He's like, "I want you to hear this, this album's awesome." And it was this albino rock and roller, Edgar Winter & the White Trash. I was like, "that chick on the cover is hot. That's a dude, whoa."
Airon: There's like 20 minute long piano-vocal solo offs, where he's dueling the vocals with the piano... and it sounds like the Saturday Night Live band most of the time. They do a lot of Otis Redding type stuff.

HTR: Anything else you want to throw out there?
Airon: No, that's about it.
HTR: Cool, well thanks for sitting down with us.
Airon: Thanks for coming over.

Airon Paul Dugas & The Religion plays at The Mink on Wednesday night with opening act Winter Wallace and headliners from Portland Mimicking Birds. Do yourself a favor and go see the show.]]>

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - A bee on a B

Eric S. — 2009-11-03T12:00:00-06:00

A bee on a B
by Red Rooster

Be very careful, there's a bee on your B and we're not talking Bed & Breakfast.

H-Town Rock

Marc Brubaker — 2009-11-02T14:00:00-06:00

For the week of November 2nd - 4th, 2009

Houstonist hopes you got plenty of candy this weekend - we had plenty of the liquid, booze-filled variety. It's a light week here at H-Town Rock, but it should pick up this weekend when Austin's FunFunFun Fest drags some bands through town. We'll be keeping this short and simple today, as our picks felt pretty obvious. Feel free to disagree with Papa Houstonist, but realize you do so at your own musical peril.

Monday you have one final chance to see GTRS before they skip town for good. Yes, we know they played a big goin'-away party, but they couldn't resist when they got offered a spot with Yussuf Jerusalem and Thomas Function. We wouldn't have been able to pass it up either.

Tuesday we plan on heading back to Mango's - two nights in a row at the same venue is a bit of a faux pas, but with two of our favorite local acts, Buxton and Muhammid Ali, the show is not to be missed. If you can't manage two nights at Mango's, there's some pretty interesting stuff at good ol' Super Happy Fun Land. Or you can get your mellow on to Ari Hest.

Wednesday you'd be a fool to miss Airon Paul Dugas & The Religion at The Mink. Houstonist saw him for the second time last week and he took us to church. It was - how do you say, ah yes - too sexy. But seriously folks, make sure you see him soon.

The calendar is after the jump, and as always let us know where you'll be in the comments.

Monday, November 2nd
Dir En Grey at Warehouse Live
The Octanes, Glover Gill at Continental Club
Peaches, Men at House of Blues
Phone Calls From Home/Count Your Blessings at Super Happy Fun Land
Thomas Function, Yussuf Jerusalem, GTRS at Mango's

Tuesday, November 3rd
Ari Hest at McGonigel's Mucky Duck
Hit The Lights, There For Tomorrow, Fireworks, Sparks The Rescue, I Rival at Meridian
KCK & EMUZ, Darwin's Finches, Fuzz, Lithium Daydream, Mr. Japan a.k.a. NDO, Sievert, Subsystem, DJ Fix at Super Happy Fun Land
Rakim, Rhymefest at House of Blues
Surfer Blood, Buxton, Muhammad Ali, Freddie Ghonerea & The Gunz at Mango's
Tech N9ne, Slaughterhouse, Stevie Stone, Glasses Malone, K-Otix at Warehouse Live
The Umbrella Man at Continental Club

Wednesday, November 4th
Attack! Attack!, I Set My Friends On Fire, Miss May I, Our Last Night, The Color Morale at Meridian
Footpie, With This Oath at Scout Bar
Grizzly, Grady Skeleton at Continental Club
Igor & The Red Elvises at McGonigel's Mucky Duck
Mimicking Birds, Airon Paul Dugas & The Religion at The Mink
Peter & James at Charlie's Big Top

Photos: Airon Paul Dugas MySpace, Thomas Function MySpace

]]>

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Four Pack

Eric S. — 2009-11-02T12:00:00-06:00

Wings Over Houston 2009
by DanPancamo

wings over houston
by TxTamz

Wing Over Houston - Tora Tora Tora
by baldheretic

2009 Wings Over Houston
by MikesImages

Four shots of Wings over Houston 2009 through the eyes of four of our Flickr photographers, DanPancamo, TxTamz, baldheretic and MikesImages.

Houstonist Bartender: Witches Brew

Mary Jane — 2009-10-30T16:00:00-06:00

Happy Halloween Houston! It's the one day of the year that we can parade around in our normal frightening visage without fear! Seriously, we love Halloween here at Houstonist, costumes, candy, scaring the crap out of little kids and yelling at teenaged miscreants...while soaking up some liquor and stuff. What is not to love? We tried turning out the porch light several years ago, apparently that's no longer the universal sign for "I GOT NO FREAKIN' CANDY". Thinking that perhaps we need to dust off, er, purchase a new copy of Emily Post or the "Guide to Halloween Etiquette for Dummies", surely that exists. We'll be preparing for the wee goblins, ghouls and princesses listening to the Coogs as they take on Southern Miss at "high noon" tomorrow.

Guess we'll be setting the VCR to capture the Battle on the Bayou, as LSU and Tulane face-off at 7:00 p.m. smack in the middle of prime "trickertreatin", as does the UT v. OSU game. At any rate, these cocktails will perk up your Halloween festivities - and you can finally finish off that bottle of rum named after a famous California beach, that someone's ~~annoying~~ whackadoodle girlfriend left at your house.

Witches Brew

Equal parts pineapple and cranberry juice, mixed
Lemon-lime soda
Malibu, or other brand coconut rum

There are two ways to assemble this cocktail. The way first, mix equal parts of each ingredient in an appropriately sized vessel, keep chilled. Serve straight up, no ice. Secondly, you may mix equal parts of the juices and soda in a cocktail glass and pour the shot in. We say, go big or go home - whip up a half-gallon and let your hairs down, it's Halloween for the love of Mike.

While you are letting down that hair, do remember to be responsible and do not be a dumbass. We know you know because we tell you every week - no fuzz, no clink, we don't have your bail. If you pull a whackadoodle behind the wheel - it's on you. Don't get all drunked up passing out candy and eat a bunch of it either, those tiny candy bars still make for "junk in the trunk".

PSA OBO ST. ARNOLD'S

Mary Jane — 2009-10-30T15:34:53-06:00

Well, the "media" has been alerted, as have loyal St. Arnold's patrons. If you were planning to be one of the first to tour the Newery or the Oldery for that matter, you will not be able to this Saturday. The equipment has been relocated from the Oldery and the Newery does not currently have a valid occupancy license at the moment, the temporary one was yanked. They are working very hard to rectify this issue. We will let you know as soon as the tours are back "on".

Weekend-ist: October 30 through November 1

Brittanie Shey — 2009-10-30T15:00:17-06:00

Puppy at Dakota Rescue

You know all those other blogs are going to have plenty of ideas for how to spend your Halloween weekend. But some of us here at Houstonist, we're like the Grinch, but for October. Here are the best non-Halloween events going on this weekend. Humbug!

SUNDAY

Noon to 10 p.m. — Celebrate Houston festival, celebrating the city's diversity with music, food and crafts. Tickets are free. At Tlaquepaque Market Plaza.

2-6 p.m. — Dakota Rescue Fundraiser at Bohemeo's. Each year the Dakota Rescue put out a calendar of local musicians with their dogs. Musicians performing include Musicians are Norma Zenteno, Ezra Charles, Sisters Morales, and Tommy Dardar.

Flickr photo by gwenturnerjuarez

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - watching mushrooms grow on a rainy day

Eric S. — 2009-10-30T12:00:00-06:00

watching mushrooms grow on a rainy day
by finna dat

It's a dog's life.

Houstonist was there: We helped open the "newery"

Brittanie Shey — 2009-10-29T18:00:00-06:00

Houstonist is just waking up from the glory of last night's Saint Arnold Brewing Co. grand opening party at their new digs at 2000 Lyons Ave., northeast of downtown. Who advised us to bring our long-discontinued half-liter St. Arnold's beer stein?

To be honest, we're a little sad to see the old brewery retired. Houstonist has been to many a birthday party, wedding and wang-dang-doodle in that strip center out on Old Hempstead Highway, but the new brew….. ohhhh shiny! Lookit those perty brand new brewing vessels! As Houstonist's ~~nerd~~ engineer companion said to us, "That's 316 stainless steel!"

The old brewery has seen upwards of 50,000 people a year tour the facility. Back in the old days tours used to be free, but even then the crowds were huge, so Saint Arnold's started charging $5 a head. Tours at the new facility, which start this weekend, will be $7 (but free beer! And a free glass!). The new facility is expected to accommodate 100,000 touring visitors a year. And let us tell you, this place is HUGE. There is plenty of room for the beer Houston loves to grow as they continue to add more brewing vessels and fermenters. At peak production, the brewers expect to make 100,000 kegs a year, 65,000 to 70,000 more kegs than they currently brew (and enough for every person on those tours).

Houstonist was accompanied to the opening party by friends — one is an investor in St. A's and one is a Houston-area teacher. Both gave us some insight into the building. We got to see the top secret investor's bar, a swanky-looking room in the back with a lovely carved wooden bar-top. We also heard the story of how the building, which was once an HISD food distribution facility (a.k.a. a giant freezer and refrigerator) had to be literally thawed out — there were icicles hanging from the ceiling — before it could be inspected. The Saint Arnold crew were recognized by the City of Houston for their efforts in renovating the historic building and also helping encourage growth in the ever-gentrifying EaDo district. But more on that in a minute.

The newery has four floors, but most of the action is in the middle two. The first floor is where the brewing takes place. The second floor, with huge windows looking down to the first floor, is where the tastings are and where parties will take place for those who have rented out the brewery. The company is thinking of using the basement for aging beers, and the third floor, right now it's just filled with storage.

They have a new kegging rig that can fill a keg in 40 seconds — almost as fast as Houstonist can drain one. And the three brew vessels, well they came direct for a bona-fide brewery in Bavaria, along with Wolfgang, a master welder from Germany who is in town a few more weeks to get the whole set-up running. One of the brew vessels had a little accident on it's way to Texas — it hit an overpass "and the overpass won," said David Jenny, who was leading a tour of the new facility. Jenny also said there are rumors of the building being haunted. What, with the souls of old lunch ladies?

To start the party off, members of the City of Houston city council presented Saint Arnold founder Brock Wagner with an official proclamation from Mayor Bill White declaring the day Saint Arnold Day. Then Wagner cut the red velvet ribbon in front of the taps with a pair of tiny utility scissors scrounged up at the last minute.

The ribbon down, it was time to get a drink on. Local businessman Ed Schipul earned the dubious honor of being the first person to break a glass in the new facility. Mayoral candidate Gene Locke showed up to shake hands and kiss babies. Wagner served him a Saint Arnold's Root Beer, telling him that it was brewed with cane sugar instead of HFCS. C'mon Gene! Even Obama enjoys a beer now and then. There were rumors that Locke's opponent Peter Brown was planning an appearance, but Houstonist never saw him.

So what does Houstonist like most about the newery? Two things: It's air conditioned, and there's more than one toilet in the ladies room.

Photos by Houstonist Marc Brubaker

]]>

"If you believed they put a man on the moon..."

Eric S. — 2009-10-29T14:00:00-06:00

Balakov's Lego Moon Landing

On June 18th 2009, NASA launched the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter on a mission to map the moon's surface for future lunar trips.

Recently the Orbiter sent back images of Apollo 17's moon landing site. Apollo 17 was the 11th manned moon mission and NASA's final mission to the moon. It was launched on December 7, 1972 and returned to earth eleven days later.

The images sent back recently from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter shows the area of activity for Apollo 17. Things that can be seen in the new photos are the location of the U.S. flag that was planted, lunar rover tracks, location of the mission's geophone and the final parking spot of the lunar rover.

Go to NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter page for the images described above and for more info on this and other recent lunar developments.

--
Flickr photo by balakov / CC BY-NC 2.0

H-Town Rock

Marc Brubaker — 2009-10-29T13:30:00-06:00

For the weekend of October 29th - November 1st, 2009

Still haven't figured out what you're doing this weekend? Maybe that costume has been harder to pull together than you thought? Or perchance this year you just haven't gotten invited to any of the cool parties? Never fear, Houstonist is here with a full calendar of music for your weekend.

Start off by spending the night with us on the "Coolest Block in Houston" where you'll find Roky Moon & Bolt playing a free show at Continental Club. Then we'll drift south to Big Top for some tunes by Los Pistoleros de Tejas before we hit up The Mink for Digital Leather & The Energy's punk tunes. Or go see The Pogues. It's your choice.

Friday brings a deluge of pre-Halloween concerts for you to attend even if you've already got your party-hopping schedule on lockdown for Saturday. Shows that Houstonist wouldn't want to miss include: Mute Math at Warehouse Live, a noisy night at SHFL, and some great local rock at Mango's. We have a feeling that we won't be able to resist the charms of seeing a certain nefarious R&B singer at the south end of town, however.

If you still haven't figured out what to do Saturday - go see some music! Also, get that costume assembled, because many of these shows are Halloween themed. Walter's will have two cover bands in Dannzig [Misfits/Samhain/Danzig tribute] and Davement [Pavement tribute] built from local rockers and our new heroes Grandfather Child. Hanson will be stopping by, if you're into that - and maybe if you don't have Halloween plans then you are into that - and Ben Gibbard wannabees Owl City will hit The Meridian. If you're still stuck, you cannot go wrong with Brand New & Thrice at Warehouse Live.

So where will we be found coming down from our candy [read: booze] filled Saturday? Houstonist knows that we could shell out some bones for the big classic rockathon, but we'd rather hit up Miss Leslie & Her Juke Jointers - nothing cures a hangover like some honky tonk. Maybe we'll even manage to get to Hermann Park and catch the show from the hill.

Thursday, October 29th
Brother Ali at Warehouse Live
Digital Leather, The Energy, Room 101 at The Mink
Eric Benet, Mint Condition, Ledisi at Verizon Wireless
Guilt Trippers, Don't Worry About It at Fitzgerald's
Left of the Dial at Mango's
Los Pistoleros de Tejas at Charlie's Big Top
The Pogues, Justin Townes Earle at House of Blues
ReDeMeR, Serum Fantis, 10th Grade Cutie, BlackMagicMarker at Super Happy Fun Land
Roky Moon & Bolt at The Continental Club
Webb Wilder at McGonigel's Mucky Duck

Friday, October 30th
Buffalo Bayoo, St. Jubilee at Last Concert Cafe
Burn The Boats, Dickey Hands, The American Heist at Rudyard's
Carolyn Wonderland at McGonigel's Mucky Duck
Chase Long Beach, The Failed Attempt, Always Guilty at Fitzgerald's
Cop Warmth, Bruiser, Organ Failure, Future Blondes, Thou Shalt Not Kill...Except at Super Happy Fun Land
Davey Demond & The HellRazours, Napom, Killa B at Bohemeo's
Drive By Truckers at House of Blues
Justin Jones at Charlie's Big Top
Los Straitjackets, The Octanes at The Continental Club
Matt the Electician & Southpaw Jones at Anderson Fair
Motion Turns It On, Golden Cities, Female Demand, Limb at Mango's
Mute Math, As Tall As Lions at Warehouse Live
Patterson Hood at Cactus Music[5 pm]
Patty Bullet [CD Release], Gift of Gab, Otherside, Fly Nice at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar
R. Kelly, Pleasure P at Reliant Arena
Springfield Riots, Ringo Deathstar, The Factory Party at The Mink
Thee Armada, The Finalist, Driver F, Disco Curtis, Amber Skyline at Meridian
Youth Brigade, Iron Age, Roots of Exile, No Talk, Mydolls at Walter's

Saturday, October 31st
13 Black Coffins at Jet Lounge
The Bipeds at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar
Brand New, Thrice at Verizon Wireless
Dannzig, Grandfather Child, Davement, The Burden at Walter's
Erase the Virus, Dented, and 12 Gauge at Scout Bar
Free Radicals, Stove Blow at Notsuoh
Funkotron, Subroutine at Last Concert Cafe
Hanson, Hellogoodbye, Steel Train, Sherwood at House of Blues
The Killdares at McGonigel's Mucky Duck
Lady Binx at White Swan
Las Tres Hermanas Karen, Samara, Angeles at Bohemeo's
Man Chest Hair United at Charlie's Big Top
The Meat Puppets, Those Darlins, Nasty 'Stache at Rudyard's
The Monster's Ball, Organ Failure, Rusted Shut, The Krinkles, Elecktrahozen, Offisir God, The Electric Love Drone at Super Happy Fun Land
Owl City, The Scene Aesthetic, Brooke Waggoner at The Meridian
Prophecy, Torsectomy, Sculpting Atrocity, Injurious Physical Violence, Insidious Decrepancy, Brutally Mutilated at White Swan
Those Darlins at Cactus Music [2 pm]
The Watchman, The FolkSurvivalClub at Anderson Fair

Sunday, November 1st
38 Caliber Hero, Witness The Fall, The Morning Becomes at Scout Bar
Always Guilty at White Swan
[Arrowfest] featuring: The Doobie Brothers, Foreigner, Eddie Money, WAR, Starship featuring Mickey Thomas, Blue Oyster Cult and Foghat at Verizon Wireless
Boys Like Girls, Cobra Starship, The Maine, A Rocket To The Moon, Versa Emerge at Warehouse Live
David Wilcox at NiaMoves
Joan Osborne, The Holmes Brothers and Paul Thorn at Miller Outdoor Theatre
Living Vicariously, Amplified Heat, Liquid Casing, Echo Of The World, Namath Truman, I Sing The Body Electric at Numbers
Miss Leslie & Her Juke Jointers at The Continental Club
Molotov Compromise, Blackmarket Syndicate, Dead to the World at Röcbar
Old School Swing Band at Discovery Green [3 pm]
Owen Temple, Adam Carroll at McGonigel's Mucky Duck
Stinking Lizaveta, Rotor, Sanctus Bellum at Rudyard's

Photos:

]]>

Missed Connections: October 25 - 29

Mary Jane — 2009-10-29T13:00:00-06:00

Each week Houstonist checks out Missed Connections on Craiglist. Here's a few that we found interesting.

We exchanged glances - m4w (Houston)

We both checked each other out. My my my you are lovely. Email me :)

Nothing like an open call for every woman who ever thought a man gave her a second glance, anywhere in the city. Calling all whackadoodles......please send me a crazyass email, don't be shy now. With 600 square miles to work with, we hope your email doesn't crash. Whackadoodles abound and are probably highly likely to read the Missed Connections, looking for "Mr. E-Right".

You work in my offiee building - 40 (Westchase)

You were returning from lunch yesterday. I commented on how you did not have to pick up that burger for me. You smiled and we spoke on the elevator. I believe you are on the 10th floor. I think you are very attractive and would like to see if you are interested. Email me and I will tell you where the burger was from.

Hoping to hear from you.

Grow a set, ask her out to lunch the next time you are on the same elevator. Hell, you're in the same building, get your stalk on.

Always passing each other - w4m

You live in my apartment complex. Everyday we say hi to each orher in passing, but nothing more. I just wanted to let you know that seeing you smile at me makes my day.

See above......follow up that sheepish grin with "words", or just wear one of those handy "Hello, My Name is....." tags, she'll either respond or run like hell. The worst possible outcome could put you in the fetal position, but, only if you're creepy-scary dude from the parking lot.

Taco bell 10/25 - m4m - 37 (Taco Bell in Houston)

Just off Katy freeway last night,

You we're driving a BMW convertible, it was just you can In the place, I kept looking at you and you at me.
made me horny

We think he's saying ya'll were all alone in the joint.....sort of. At any rate, who doesn't look at the only other single diner, even at Taco Bell. Guessing you'll be hanging out there for the next couple of weeks....just in case.

Bananas - w4m - 24 (Montrose)

Although I don't have a fetish for bananas, I do like cheerleading the song: "B-A-N-A-N-A-S!!!!" If you're that cute guy that was laughing hysterically while I was cheerleading it, then please respond. Thanks!!!

Just precious!!!!!!!! (how many exclamation points are really necessary?). First, there's a possibility the hysterical laughter indicates that he is of the impression you're more "bananas" than "cute" when you're actively engaged in making a fool of yourself (try karaoke, it comes off more "normal" than cheerleading, really). Well, unless you were wearing your "special outfit" and finished your cheer with a herky. Second, next time, confess to a banana fetish, even if it's a fib, boys can't help themselves...seriously. If a man wants a whackadoodle that cheerleads, he also wants her to be a nymphomaniac with a passle of fetishes in her proverbial closet.....most likely.

---
Photo: flickr user fd.

This edition brought to you by our current "word of the week"...whackadoodle.

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Andre Johnson makes an incredible catc

Eric S. — 2009-10-29T12:00:00-06:00

Andre Johnson makes an incredible catc
by sulla55

Not only is this a nice, sharp image of an incredible catch but the photographer also caught some amazing shadow play on the field.

Daily-ist Thursday: Cultured Cocktails with Opera in the Heights

Michelle Calabretta — 2009-10-29T11:30:00-06:00

Lambert Hall

The Cultured Cocktails series at Boheme tonight features the little opera house that could, Opera in the Heights. Last year the company's home, Lambert Hall, was severely damaged by Hurricane Ike, forcing the cancellation of the opening performances of the season. This year they are back at Lambert Hall with an exciting season, including audience favorite "La Boheme".

There's no cover at Boheme tonight, but a portion of the sales will go towards supporting Opera in the Heights, a 501(c)3 non profit arts organization.

Cultured Cocktails with Opera in the Heights
5:00 P.M. to 10:00 P.M.
Boheme Cafe and Wine Bar
307 Fairview Street
FREE

Photo credit Photine

Rock Talk, Vol. VI

Marc Brubaker — 2009-10-28T13:00:00-06:00

Aww, have you been wondering what's been going on with music in this town, dear reader? Fear not, for Houstonist has been trolling teh interwebz compiling a recap for you. That's right, it's time for Rock Talk.

Remember GTRS? Of course you do, we practically pimped them out all last week. Well they've added mastered versions of their two new songs [Golden Deceiver and 666] to their MySpace.

Rumor has it that Blades will be playing a reunion show on December 12th.

Andrew Karnavas was caught at Coffee Groundz by The Businessmakers Overtime Show playing the song Valentine's Day off his forthcoming solo record.

Black Math Experiment will indeed be playing a reunion show at The Continental Club on December 5th. They offered up this video as proof of their first rehearsal in two years.

If you are/were/ever wanted to be a punker, make sure you get to The Mink tonight for the screening of Let Them Know, a documentary about BYO Records. Details can be found at http://hotpunkcity.wordpress.com. It's five bucks and features a punk flea market, among other things.

Rock Talk is dismissed. See you next week.

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Snake Look

Eric S. — 2009-10-28T12:00:00-06:00

Snake Look
by Henricus

"Hey blurry dude, check out ma snake!"

Astros Tap Mills to be the New Skipper

Jason Bargas — 2009-10-28T10:00:00-06:00

When the going gets tough, you get a new manager. That's not quite the way the saying goes, but it's the way things are playing out in the Astros clubhouse. Last night the ball club named the Boston Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills the manager for the 2010 season. This posting will be Mills first chance to run his own team in the bigs after a running the show at three clubs in the minors and apprenticing around the majors for 11 years.

Aurora Picture Show break-in — they need our help

Brittanie Shey — 2009-10-28T09:00:00-06:00

If you didn't read it on Twitter last night (Houstonist's source for all breaking news) the Aurora Picture Show was broken into and robbed a few nights ago. The lowlifes made away with a number of Aurora's expensive projection equipment, so the indie cinema is asking for Houston's help in replacing their valuables. See the wishlist here.

Daily-ist Tuesday: Art and Wine Night

Brittanie Shey — 2009-10-27T12:40:00-06:00

Ruggles Green's second Art And Wine Night Party (how did we miss the first?) will be a Halloween-themed event feature work from artists Daniel Ortiz, Tra’ Slaughter and Lisa Chow. Work from the artists will be for sale, while Republic Beverage will school people on wine and Ruggles will provide hors d'oeuvres. Yum!

Daniel Ortiz is a photographer. Tra' Slaughter is a painter and Lisa Chow is a drawer and illustrator. All three artists are local to Houston.

Art and Wine Night
Admission: Free
Date and Time: Tonight, 5:30-8 p.m.
Location: Ruggles Green, 2311 West Alabama

Photo: flickr user ladyk

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - The Astrodome

Eric S. — 2009-10-27T12:00:00-06:00

The Astrodome
by abradyb

Photographer's Description:

Reliant Stadium and Minute Maid Park have made it obsolete. It's old now, but there's nothing like having starry-eyed, childhood memories of seeing the Astros play in the Astrodome.

H-Town Rock

Marc Brubaker — 2009-10-26T14:00:00-06:00

For the Week of October 26th - 28th, 2009

Goodness, we at Houstonist weren't sure we would make it through the weekend, but here we are again. Here's a list of what's going on this week to brighten up that rainy Monday you're having. It might be a tad on the light side, but we're sure the weekend will make up for it.

Houstonist knows that the wise call on Monday is to go check out California's Port O'Brien at Rudyard's. Local acts The Factory Party and While You Were Gone are on the bill as well.

Tomorrow looks like metal Tuesday at The Meridian and Warehouse Live. We'd like to recommend Blind Pilot and The Low Anthem at House of Blues. There's a possibility we'll be found at Super Happy Fun Land for South Carolina's The Working Title.

Finally, we'll wrap up the pre-weekend schedule with a stop at Warehouse Live for what should be a pretty low-key evening with Arthur Yoria. After all, Houstonist needs our beauty rest if we're going to hit the town properly this weekend.

Let us know where you'll be.

Monday, October 26th
The James Reese Band at Warehouse Live
Port O'Brien, The Factory Party, While You Were Gone at Rudyard's
The Octanes, Glover Gill at The Contiental Club

Tuesday, October 27th
All Get Out, The Working Title, Duncan Johnson & the Gentlemen at Super Happy Fun Land
Blind Pilot, The Low Anthem at House of Blues
Gwen Stacy, Ice Nine Kills, Stray From The Path, Injurious Physical Violence at The Meridian
Lise Liddell, Hilary York, Jackie Bristow, Teresa Kolo at McGonigel's Mucky Duck
Matt McDonald, Glenna Bell at Avant Garden
The Revolting Cocks, Jim Rose, Blownload, Left Spine Down at Warehouse Live
Strike Anywhere, Polar Bear Club, Crime in Stereo, Ruiner at Walter's

Wednesday, October 28th
All Time Low, Hey Monday, The Friday Night Boys, We The Kings at House of Blues
Arthur Yoria, Colin Lake at Warehouse Live [Green Room]
Hell City Queens, Lady Wreckless at Boondocks
Ezra Furman & the Harpoons, Rachel Goodrich, Dune.Tx at Walter's
Honeybrowne at Pub Fiction
Parallax, Hion Music at Super Happy Fun Land
Peter & James at Charlie's Big Top
Whiskey Boat, Wayward Sons, Big Rocket at The Continental Club

Photos: Lindsey Byrnes [Port O'Brien], Luke Cook [Blind Pilot]

]]>

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Houston Lightning Storm Panoramic

Eric S. — 2009-10-26T12:00:00-06:00

Houston Lightning Storm Panoramic
by leadingmodels

Photographer's Description:

I always get weird looks when I run to the balcony with the tripod and camera. Tonight their was the first lightning storm… or I should say… first lightning since we moved in. I took about 20 timed shots altogether and only 4 or so were workable. This was the best one of the bunch. Hopefully there will be more lightning next storm (without damage of course)

super large zoomable version here.
http://www.customminds.com/cityscape/2009-07-22/
If you look at the larger version you can zoom in and see the lightning through the skyscraper that is not finished.

Houstonist Was There: The Foam Raiser

Marc Brubaker — 2009-10-26T11:25:00-06:00

When we got an e-mail inviting us to join the fun at Saint Arnold's 2nd annual Foam Raiser for The Orange Show, we knew we'd be fools to turn it down. Two great local acts and some super-special cask ale? There was no way Houstonist would miss it. Apparently plenty of you fine folks were wise enough to attend the festivities as well. Here's some of what we caught on camera. All Photos by Marc Brubaker.

]]>

Houstonist Bartender: Busy Week Edition

Mary Jane — 2009-10-23T16:00:00-06:00

Okay, it's Friday and our week has been like this and this. So, we're just gonna advise you go crack a cold beer. Lone Star, St. Arnold's, Schlitz Malt Liquor (El Toro) or whatever you prefer. This week we're just feeling like mixing a cocktail is too much effort.

Cheers, don't be a dumbass while your imbibing and have a great weekend, it should be beautiful. Don't forget to swing by the Montrose Beer and Gun Club Chili Cook-Off at the West Alabama Ice House tomorrow. Good times, good eats and for a good cause.

Get Off the Couch & Chase Plastic

Jason Bargas — 2009-10-23T15:00:00-06:00

Remember way back in the day when we told you about Ultimate and the Houstonians that kickass playing it? Of course, you remember. No?

Well...remember last week when you thought, "DANG! I need to get offa the couch before my fat ass becomes one with the sofa cushion." Yeah, we thought you might.

Here's your chance to get some exercise outside while the Houston climes are bearable. Houston Ultimate Community is hosting their annual winter league, which begins in November.

"Ultimate" is so named because the originators deemed it the best sport on the planet. The basic premise of the game is to score points by catching the disc in the end zone of a playing field. The offense can pass the disc in any direction, similar to movement in soccer. However, the players can not run with the disc and have ten seconds to make the next pass. The most unique feature of ultimate is the players are responsible for officiating the game themselves by making foul calls and determining the appropriate resolution in light of the rules.

If you think it sounds like a good time, visit HoustonUltimate.org for more information and to register. If you still need to be sold on the idea or would like to see the game played, check out one of HUC's clinics or just head out to the UH intramural fields on a weekend afternoon to watch pick-up.

HUC Winter League
November 7 to January 30
Saturdays (not holidays) from 10 AM to 1PM
University of Houston intramural fields
Cost: $35 ($25 for students) also gets you a free disc!
Register online

--
Photo courtesy of HUC and bigrig.

Weekendist Oct. 23-25: Johnny Romano, Zombie Girl, Foam Raiser

Brittanie Shey — 2009-10-23T12:40:00-06:00

Are you going to any early Halloween parties this weekend? A local band's last local show? A movie premier? Well, if you have nothing planned yet, shame on you, but Houstonist has some suggestions below.

SATURDAY

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Sew Crafty Grand Opening. Houston's first craft lounge has new digs! Bring your Halloween costume and they'll help you embellish it. 321 W. 19th Street in the Heights.
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Rock the Cradle for Johnny Romano, a World Cup skateboarding event and cancer fundraiser. Featuring pro skaters, live music from Los Skarnales and an after party. $10 to get in, donations taken on site. Here's Johnny's story. At the Lee and Joe Jamail Skatepark, 103 Sabine Street.
7 p.m. — Foam Raiser, Orange Show's annual fundraiser featuring St. Arnold's beer, the Wild Moccasins and Grandfather Child. Tickets are $20 advance, $25 at the door. At noon Saturday the Orange Show will have a pumpkin carving workshop — bring your own pumpkin, they'll supply the rest. 2402 Munger St.
7 p.m. — Zombie Girl: The Movie., the true story of a teenage girl who spends two years of her life making a movie about zombies. Play trivia at the screening and win a zombie survival kit! $7, or free for Aurora Picture Show members, at DiverseWorks, 1117 East Freeway.
7 p.m. — 2009 Country Ball, a Ronald McDonald House benefit at the Firehouse Saloon, 5930 SW Freeway and Fountainview. Featuring live country music, a silent auction and BBQ. Tickets start at $35, but it all goes to a good cause.

SUNDAY

1 p.m. — Lessons In Teenage Zombie Filmmaking with Zombie Girl Emily Hagins, at the Aurora Video Library, 1524 Sul Ross. Free.
7 p.m. — The South Side Roller Derby Halloween Monster Mash-Up bout between the Trauma Queens and the SSRD "Skeleton Crew."
Tickets are $8, at Pearwood Skate Center, 1230 E. Broadway, Pearland.
3 p.m. — MFAH's Annual Rienzi Lecture, on the portraits of George Romney, an 18th Century portraitist in London. Free with museum admission, at the Brown Auditorium, 1001 Bissonet.
FreshFest featuring dance and theatrical performances, a poetry booth, film screenings after dark, an instrument petting zoo, a costume and dress up trunk, and other hand-on activities. At Disco Green. Free.

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - downtown houston

Eric S. — 2009-10-23T12:00:00-06:00

downtown houston
by eschipul

Tere are many great views of downtown from the freeways that surround it and this is just one of those great views.