Tonight, Houston will host the U.S. debut of the first Western-style interpretation of the classic Chinese opera, Farewell My Concubine. With performances only today and tomorrow at the Wortham, this is a rare opportunity. The original Chinese opera will be performed by a Chinese cast and sung in Mandarin. Chinese opera has come to the United States so very infrequently that if you have any interest in Chinese music, art, opera or culture, you should......

The first week of the new year is a light one for concerts. Still, there are some gems on the calendar, especially if you like local or country music. Tonight, check out the southern-rock flavored Houston band The Mighty Orq at Kelvin Arms. Tomorrow night, a trio of local rock/pop bands (including Ragged Hearts) play at Rudyard's. Mr. Bojangles pays a visit to the Grand Opera House in Galveston on Saturday. Did we miss......

Houstonist has an active and amazing Flickr photo group. We receive many, many photos of Houston and the surrounding areas every day and unless you are an active visitor to our photo pool many of these photos go unnoticed. So in a weekly effort to bring you more amazing photos from Houstonist readers and photographers, we are going to feature a block of photos submitted to our Flickr photo group. The images will be dug......

Local bands AWAKE and Together. We Are Instruments play at the ultra-hip Super Happy Fun Land. Other local favorites Prodigal Sons and Lanky open for emerging Geffen pop artist Matt White at Jet Lounge. Thursday, check out Twelve Girls Band: a dozen classically-trained musicians (all women, of course) playing both traditional Chinese songs and popular pop songs. Friday night, Beaumont's own classic blues-rocker Johnny Winter returns to Houston at the Meridian. Saturday, block-off your......

Good morning, Houston. We enjoy a good, quick breakfast as much as anyone, but seriously, there are limits — just ask the four people who were hurt Monday when a driver who was eating oatmeal at the wheel crashed into a Metro bus near downtown. Witnesses told KPRC that the driver ran a red light at Pierce and St. Charles and hit the front of the bus, which caused the driver's vehicle to spin......

If you can't find a live show you like this week, then you're not trying hard enough. Tonight, NYC's (once) indie-rockers Interpol hits the Verizon Wireless Theater. For something more local, check out John Evans roots rock set at the Mucky Duck. Tomorrow night, German DJ Paul Van Dyke will have everyone dancing at Warehouse Live. The Meridian turns down the amp (just a bit) on Thursday night to host Americana flavored Junior Brown......

Have we got your attention? Hope so, because this is some kinda big and important news! Yes, it IS bigger than the final settlement reached in the matter of Fed-X vs. That Bald Chick (the whole issue of "who's the better parent" makes us rush out for a BC Powder and a tequila shot, or three). Seriously, this Saturday marks the world premiere of "Tuna Does Vegas", starring Jaston Williams and Tony-Award winning Joe Sears,......

Some people consider Sunday the beginning of their week, we usually like to look at it as a great lazy way to wrap up a hectic 7 days, and prepare for the next round. We've decided to pull together a list of events that are ending today, so now's your chance to catch these before they are gone for ever. Kinda like last week. Bwah-ha-ha. Thoroughly Modern Millie | Playhouse 1960 The Sound of Music......

Back in January, B.B. King had to cancel two shows at the Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston at the last minute while he was rushed to UTMB for flu symptoms. We're glad to have him back: his make-up shows are this Thursday and Friday night in Galveston. John Mayer and Ben Folds play a double bill in The Woodlands on Saturday. Australian rock band Wolfmother hits Warehouse Live on Sunday. The best bet......

Looking for something to do one night this week or this weekend? Enjoy the theater and some good "chick humor"? Head on down Galveston way, er, to The Island, and take in the limited run of Menopause The Musical at the Grand 1894 Opera House from March 6 - 11. Written and produced by Jeanie Linders, this is a hilarious celebration of the most dreaded event in any woman's life (except the news that she......

You know you’re cool when, while in your late 60’s, you are immortalized in an episode of South Park (the classic “Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo” episode, where Glass composed the elementary school’s play). Not that Philip Glass needs that type of recognition – he’s been composing music for film, operas, symphonies, and even some pop music. The ambient, minimalist composer brings his work to the University of Houston’s Moores Opera House tonight, where he’ll......

Before we get into this week's calendar, here are some upcoming concerts recently added that you may want to snag tickets for in advance: The Shins – 3/6 @ Verizon Wireless (on sale today @ 5 p.m.) The Toadies – 3/14 @ Verizon Wireless (reunion show) My Chemical Romance – 4/14 @ Reliant Arena Clap Your Hands Say Yeah – 4/26 @ Warehouse Live As for this week: if you want some Willie on......

BB King was released from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston this afternoon, feeling “fabulous and ready to go.” As we noted earlier this week, King was scheduled to play a concert at the Grand 1894 Opera House this past Thursday and Friday. Instead, he was admitted to UTMB for a fever and flu symptoms. The legendary blues singer and guitarist is 81 years old, and, because of his age, doctors wanted to......

Many songs from the 80’s don’t stand the test of time; Crowded House’s “Don’t Dream It’s Over” is an exception. It’s been 20 years since it hit #2 on the charts and the song sounds about as fresh now as it did then. Even the video has aged well, compared to others from the same time period. A lot of that has to do with lead house member Neil Finn’s songwriting and musicianship. Ever......

A few guys that are in the rock and roll history books are coming to town this week. Blues great BB King (and his guitar Lucille) will be in Galveston at the Grand 1894 Opera House Thursday night, and Fleetwood Mac singer/songwriter/guitarist Lindsey Buckingham brings his solo tour to Verizon Wireless on Friday. In a darker part of the history books is Vanilla Ice (pictured above -- yes, we know that's an old photo,......

Kosse, Texas’ is a small town; with a population of less than 500. A little over a hundred years ago, this small town gave birth to a legend in country music – Bob Wills. He, along with his band the Texas Playboys, created a unique Western swing sound that would become the guide for many country and western musicians to come. His life will be remembered through the play Ride With Bob tonight through Friday......

Musicians need more time to recover from the holidays than us regular folks, hence the short music calendar this week. Still, some good regional favorites will be in town, including Soulhat, Vallejo, Austin Lounge Lizards, and The Weary Boys. Here's the complete line-up for the week. Want to add your band to the calendar? E-mail us! (Local bands are noted with *) Wednesday Boston Chinks/*Something Fierce @ Rudyard's – punk/rock | 9 p.m. at......

Finally, the concert scene is picking up for 2006, and it will only get better: Wednesday You could see Ricky Martin shake his bon-bon at Verizon Wireless tonight, but we recommend saving a few bucks and listening to Peter Hook spinning records at 1415. Hook was the bass player for Joy Division and currently, New Order. OK, it’s not “live” music, but it’ll still be a treat. He’s known to throw in some rare......