Houstonist

Goodnight, and Good Luck...

Marc Brubaker — 2010-07-16T15:30:00-06:00

It may not be evening when you read this, but the time has come to put Houstonist to bed. We got word from our parents at Gothamist a few weeks ago that they felt it was time to shutter the site, due to things like statistics, advertising, and the general plight of maintaining a journalistic publication in today's economic climate.

To speak from a very personal angle for a moment, I'd like to thank everyone who's every contributed content, read an article, invited us to a performance or event, and really anybody who has ever laid eyes upon the site. I've truly enjoyed the opportunity I've had as Editor this year, and I can say with confidence that I've met a fantastic amount of people as well as discovered a tremendous amount of music [my beat, if you hadn't figured that out yet] over the course of my tenure at Houstonist.

We've had some really amazing folks come through our hypothetical doors, and many of them are still out there on the interwebs, doing things that might be of interest to you. Eric, our longtime photo editor, not only has his own site, but also runs SkateHouston.Info. Our own Mary Jane Poorman has just launched a new blog, www.aghastronome.com.

We're quite sure that you've likely seen our former contributors Katharine Shilcutt, Adam Newton, Brittanie Shey, and Amber Ambrose all chipping in at the Houston Press.

Personally, I'll be continuing music coverage at my new site, H-Town Rock, including an archival wiki centered on Houston music. I've got a couple music projects - Prairie Cadets [with Adam] and Postmarked, and of course, my photography.

We couldn't have come as far as we did without the myriad of people that have been involved with Houstonist, so a hearty thank you is in order, especially for my predecessors Jim Parsons & Jason Bargas. It's been quite a ride, and we've been happy to help share our fair city with everyone.

There's a chance that we may return in the future, and if that opportunity arises we'll be better, stronger, faster - the 600 square mile man, if you will. Until that day comes, we'll be on hiatus - the posts will be archived and the site will remain dormant.

Thanks again, to each one of you. Goodnight, and good luck Houston.

Photo: flickr user sulla55

Rock Talk, Vol. XXX

Marc Brubaker — 2010-07-16T13:30:00-06:00

Well, folks, welcome to our final edition of Rock Talk here on Houstonist. We suppose it's fitting that we're going out on a nice round number. This is actually Houstonist's final day of posting, at least for a long while [more on that later], but we'll be continuing our music scene coverage over at our new website: www.HTownRock.com. Book mark that, and if you send us music news, update the ol' address book so that your mail points to htownrock [at] gmail.com.

Without further ado, let's get down to what the web brought us of late.

Tunes
Dave Wrangler's got a new mix that combines Jungle Brothers with LCD Soundsystem.

Trills has a new split with Scotland-based Dissolved. You can download the release for free at archive.org.

HasHBrown has a new songs, Represent, Hydro and a mixtape, The Delayed Flights Mixtape posted for your listening pleasure.

Blog The Smoking Section has a new Hollywood Floss track Extra Sleep 1.

Videos
Joe Mathlete's living room videos are back! His first two after an extended hiatus are Darwin's Finches and Tax The Wolf. He's also promised that Muhammid Ali will make an appearance soon.

Hollywood Floss has a new website, and wants to share a few crazy moments with you.

Insert Name Here is currently seeking a new drummer and guitarist. Preferably someone bearded?

News, etc.
Voting for the Houston Press Music Awards is now open. Go make sure that some deserving folks get their due rewards. The showcase schedule is posted, with guest headliners Matt & Kim, Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights, and now Trae.

Trae Day has been moved to Northwest Mall, after the International Ballroom backed out. There's now a website keeping track of everyone affected by the Trae v. 97.9 the Box saga, as well.

Little Joe Washington is back to his guitarin', performing his first post-op gig at The Continental Club's 10th Anniversary party.

We mentioned this in the calendar yesterday, but please consider hitting up this benefit for Kerry Holliday, aka DJ Shortee, on Sunday.

Bands: the Rocks Off blog wants your band to cover your favorite album live, and they'll pay you to do it.

Mechanical Boy is back in action.

Chamillionaire wants to give you some free financial advice.

Whoops: Austin's YellowFever [whom we adore] got delayed when a kitchen knife was found in their carry-on luggage at IAH.

Girls Rock Camp has reached their funding goal! You can still donate, however, to ensure that it is even more awesome.

Team Science! Records announced a few upcoming fall releases.

Looks like there's a new label in town - Agro-Wax Records.

Rocks Off took a trip to Houston's lesser-known [and less visible] Fjardeson Studios.

Titus, the owner of Vinyl Junkie Distro, is now a Houston resident, and has some a goal of opening a good ol' brick n' mortar shop here in town.

Again, this is our last edition of Rock Talk on Houstonist, but we'll be continuing our reportage over at the H-Town Rock site. Got a bit of news that you think needs to be seen? Send an e-mail to htownrock [at] gmail [dot] com. Please include any pertinent links for verification purposes.

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Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Long Shadow

Eric S. — 2010-07-16T12:00:00-06:00

Long Shadow
by groovehouse

My Way
Paul Anka, Frank Sinatra

And now the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend I'll say it clear
I'll state my case of which I'm certain

I've lived a life that's full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

Regrets I've had a few
But then again too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption

I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

Yes there were times I'm sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out, I faced it all
And I stood tall and did it my way

I've loved, I've laughed and cried
I've had my fill, my share of losing
And now as tears subside
I find it all so amusing

To think I did all that
And may I say not in a shy way
Oh no, oh no, not me
I did it my way

For what is a man what has he got
If not himself then he has not
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way

Yes it was my way

Thanks for all the wonderful photos our faithful contributors have submitted to our Flickr pool for the past few years!

See you in the next one, have a good time.

Thank Your Lucky Stars For Uncle Drayton

Rob Hays — 2010-07-15T15:39:44-06:00

Nowadays, it’s de rigueur to dog on Drayton McLane. The long-time Astros owner is cheap and an overspender, too concerned with marketing and driving fans away with losing teams, leaves impact prospects to rot on the vine in the minors and won’t draft good players. I’m pretty sure he’s responsible for seasonal flooding and mosquitoes, too. But let’s hop in the Houstonist DeLorean and take a second look at the erstwhile Uncle Drayton.

We’ve landed in Houston in 1993. McLane has just purchased the Astros from the previous owners, who drove away Nolan Ryan and threatened to move the team to Washington, D.C. McLane was one of two new pro team owners that year: Les Alexander had purchased the Rockets right as they apexed with their back-to-back championships. The third owner was some jackass named Bud Adams, and I think we all know how that one ended. The Astros had a core of young players, including 1991 Rookie of the Year Jeff Bagwell and Craig Biggio, and a .500 record.

McLane’s first big splash was signing pitchers Doug Drabek and Craig Swindell, both local guys. Drabek was three years removed from a Cy Young season in Pittsburgh (back when Steel City knew how to win baseball games), and five consecutive seasons of 14 wins or more. The rest of the baseball world was on notice: gone were the days when the Astros would be sellers only; they had deep pockets and were willing to spend to get the players they wanted. While Drabek and Swindell both struggled with injuries and inconsistency in Houston, the tone was set. Even in other Houston sports, the bar had been raised, and between McLane, Alexander, and Bob McNair, we’re lucky to have three very consistent, focused owners.

Since McLane took over, the Astros have been the 4th winningest franchise in baseball. Re-read that. Now re-read that again. Now call your cousin who lives in Chicago (or Pittsburgh, or Baltimore, or Seattle) and ask them if they’d like to have a team that wins that much. As easily as we can rattle off McLane’s mistakes (overspending on veterans, under-spending on draft picks, alienating Gerry Hunsicker, bowing to fan pressure too easily), we’ve had it damned good. This isn’t just some battered wife syndrome, either. Wins are wins, and even in spite of the lean years since the 2005 World Series run, the Astros are one of the most successful professional baseball teams of the past 20 years.

No sports owner will make right decisions 100% of the time. The dearly departed George Steinbrenner ran a joke of a franchise for most of the 80’s and 90’s, before he replicated his Bronx Zoo success in the late ‘90s. Most baseball fans would give useful body parts for the kind of success that McLane has brought to Houston. You see, Biggio and Bagwell weren’t enough; hell, they were on the down slope of their careers by the time the World Series came to town. Drayton spent and hired and fired more wisely than not for close to a decade.

“But the Astros suck!” you say. And you’re right. “And their farm system sucks, too!” And you’re less right. But the Astros are in the same position today that they were in 1993, except that now fans expect more from the team because of their success.

Does this mean that it’s time for someone else to ride in on a white horse like McLane did almost 20 years ago, and inject some new life into the franchise? It wouldn’t hurt. But before you get out the pitchforks and torches to drive Drayton out of town, consider that any replacement has some big shoes to fill. The next guy could be a John Henry, the Red Sox owner who finally propelled them past the Yankees, or it could be another Bud Adams. If he’s just another Drayton, that may not be such a bad thing after all.

H-Town Rock

Marc Brubaker — 2010-07-15T14:00:00-06:00

For the week of July 15th - 18th, 2010

Well folks, it's that time again, when we parse through the weekend concert listings and give you our hearty recommendations. Let's take a look at what's in store for your eyes & ears over the next few days.

Tonight offers several things that we are honestly in the dark about. There's one surefire winner that we can vouch for, however, and that's The Octopus Project. This Austin crew creates poppy soundscapes that are sure to set your heart to joy. Also of note is Young Girls, the new band featuring Pedro & Charlie Tijerina, who'll be playing at Walter's with Tax The Wolf.

For those of you with a taste for troubadours, Friday offers up a pair of them - at different venues though, so you'll have to choose between local favorite Andrew Karnavas and fellow Texan Bob Schneider. If the hardcore scene is something you can get into, there's a great benefit for the Girls Rock Camp crew. We'll be starting our evening with Delta Spirit's appearance at Cactus Music, and you'd be wise to be there too. Afterwards, head to their show at Warehouse Live or pop over to Walter's with us for The Literary Greats & Buxton, both bands of whom we're quite fond.

Houstonist will be tied up in a wedding all day Saturday, for our H-Town Rock predecessor the right honorable Adam P. Newton. It'll be a day full of joy, but for those of you with free time, allow us to suggest a few shows. The first of which is The Eastern Sea at Mango's - these former Houstonians craft some fantastic tunes in the vein of Death Cab For Cutie. Mike Stinson drops by Continental Club, and Roky Moon & Bolt are playing a Roller Derby afterparty. If we weren't watching our good friend get hitched, we'd traipse back into our childhood and see an act we grew up with - no, not Weird Al [although we were raised on him, Billy Joel & Garth Brooks, whatever that means to you] but rather The Toadies. Don't lie, you know all the songs, too. We have no shame, but limited pocketbooks - thus we'd probably wind up at Khon's for Lance Higdon's revue.

Sunday there's a fantastic benefit for Kerry Holliday, aka DJ Shortee, whom you may know from the Infinite Record Convention if you've ever stopped in to drop some duckets, at Continental Club. Holliday recently had a stroke, and several local artists, musicians & DJs have banded together to help him out with hospital costs. Drop by and show some love.

Now get to steppin! There's music in them thar hills, or something like that.

Thursday, July 15th
2 Dollar Sound at Rudyard's
The 71's, Sic Spero, The Lovable Old James at Dean's
Chris Bowie, The Buxleys at Bohemeo's
Knocked Out Cold, Slow Children, Death Punch at Fitzgerald's
Mango Punch at House of Blues
The Mother Truckers at Continental Club
The Octopus Project, Tia Carrera, Record Hop at Warehouse Live
Stephen McCarley, Phillip Foshee, Marcus Acker at The Mink
Will Kimbrough at Mucky Duck
Young Girls, Tax The Wolf, Piss Disco at Walter's

Friday, July 16th
Andrew Karnavas at Mucky Duck
Bob Schneider at House of Blues
Castle Lights, Courrier, Language Room, Ill Pastel at Dean's
Child Bite, Jeff Hull, The Lady Lovers, Angelova at Super Happy Fun Land
Delta Spirit at Cactus Music [7 pm]
Delta Spirit, David Vandervelde, The Romany Rye at Warehouse Live
Funky Mustard, Liquid Kitchen at Bohemeo's
The Fleshtones, The Ugly Beats at Continental Club
Girls Rock Camp Benefit, featuring: P.L.F., H.R.A., Golden Axe, The Delta Block, Obama Nation at The Ponderosa [1503 Nance, $5, 8:30 pm]
Kennedy Bakery, Melissa Savcic, Stephen Rawlings at Rudyard's
Knockturnal Madness, Daemos at White Swan
The Literary Greats, Buxton, The Orbans, Shelia Swift at Walter's
Michael Bublé at Toyota Center
Pete Simple at Last Concert Cafe
Ruben V, Albert Storo & The Soul Hustlers at Dan Electro's
The Shivers, Kelli Scarr at The Mink

Saturday, July 17th
Buffalo Bayou at Last Concert Cafe
Deep Ella [CD Release], The Last Place You Look, The 71's, Alkari, The Vehement Burn at Fitzgerald's
The Eastern Sea, Searching for Signal at Mango's
G.F.G. with Guerilla Foco Clan at Numbers
The Hightailers at Dan Electro's
Hod, Gravehill, Nokturnel, Birth A.D., P.L.F. at Walter's
The Invincible Czars, Come See My Dead Person at Rudyard's
Joe Ely at Mucky Duck
Lance Higdon's "Senior Recital": Tambersauro, Golden Cities, Wall With One Side, Holy Ghost Machine Gun, Higdon/Pearson Duo, Lance & The Pants, Whatabreaker at Khon's
Lee Alexander at Cactus Music [3 pm]
Lisa Frank, Muhammid Ali, Eets Feats, Cop Warmth at Super Happy Fun Land
The Lovable Old James, Mythra Band, Yoko Mono at Bohemeo's
Mike Stinson, Katie Stuckey [CD Release], Lee Alexander at Continental Club
Make & Do Mend, Heartsounds, All At Sea, Fingers Crossed at The Mink
The McMercy Family Band at Charlie's Big Top
Poor Dumb Bastards at Cactus Music [5 pm]
Red Dons, Secret Prostitutes at the MINK
Roky Moon & Bolt at The Brewery Tap [Roller Derby afterparty]
Sara Hickman at Cactus Music [11 am]
Sara Hickman at Nia Moves
Sideshow Tramps, Chase Hamblin at Warsaw
The Toadies, Quiet Company, Dead Country at House of Blues
Weird Al Yankovic at Verizon Wireless Theater
Young The Giant, The Live Lights at Dean's

Sunday, July 18th
Anti-Climax, El Alimanas, This Way at Super Happy Fun Land
Dan Dyer at Mucky Duck
Dan Electro's Anniversary Show, featuring: Big Al Bettis, TC & The Cannonballs, Teri Green & Friends, Danny Gardner & Romeo Dogs, Funky Mustard, Albert Storo & The Soul Hustlers, Electric Hype at Dan Electro's [3 pm]
DJ Shortee Benefit, with: Quadraphonic, Third Ear Caravan, More Cowbell Tx, Old Surfer Dudes, Cow Jazz, Umbrella Man, DJ Big E, DJ Senior Jukebox, DJ Black Slacks, DJ Psychedelic Sex Panther at Continental Club
Houston Funk Factory at Continental Club
Lost In A Moment, The Bad Things, Dark Every Day, HUB, Radio One, Electric, Heights, Swan Lee, RTA, Sunny Side Up, Oneway Radio, The Dennis Price Band at Fitzgerald's
Nathaniel Rateliff, The Beaten Sea, Sahara Smith at Mango's
Rozzano Zamorano at Last Concert Cafe

Photos: The Toadies, The Octopus Project

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Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Texas Spring

Eric S. — 2010-07-15T12:00:00-06:00

Texas Spring
by Cybastean

Spring gives way to Summer, Summer gives way to Fall, Fall gives way to Winter and so on and so on...

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 Flickr Photo of the Day - All smile while backstroking to victory

Eric S. — 2010-07-14T12:00:00-06:00

All smile while backstroking to victory
by Red Rooster

Swim away little swimmer...

A Most Unusual Proposal

Marc Brubaker — 2010-07-13T13:40:00-06:00

July 9th from PR!MO on Vimeo.

Houstonist has been a fan of local graffiti artist Ack! for a number of years now. In fact, we own a piece of his work - we took it off a pole outside Brasìl before the cops could.

His work is colorful and playful, and if we weren't a fan of it already, this video gives us yet another reason.

Congratulations to Jessica & Shannon, by the way. Here's hoping your marriage lasts much longer than the average piece of graffiti stays visibile in this town.

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Magnolia Lobby, Seat by the Fire (HDR)

Eric S. — 2010-07-13T12:00:00-06:00

Magnolia Lobby, Seat by the Fire (HDR
by Gold41

It's too warm for a fire during the summer but you somehow always seem to miss it.

H-Town Rock

Marc Brubaker — 2010-07-12T14:00:00-06:00

For the week of July 12 - 14, 2010

Another week, another set of shows for your listening pleasure. Let's have a look-see at ye olde rokk and rolle calendar, shall we?

Tonight brings us a nice sloppy surf-garage punk lineup at Super Happy Fun Land, featuring Houston's Muhammid Ali and Boston's Girlfriends. It's worth your suggested donation of seven dollars. You'll spot Houstonist at Dean's, however for a show featuring our friend, who performs under the name Josiah Gabriel and creates some great layered music using electronics, samples, and some vocal effects. Our pal Warbler Pl is on the bill as well. Not recommended is a certain show out on the southeast end.

Tomorrow we'll pop into Cactus Music to catch Ashton Nyte - if this doesn't fit your schedule, then catch him the day before at Avant Garden. Afterwards we'll either drift over to the punk show at Warsaw [formerly the Engine Room], or settle in for what we hope will be Little Joe's return to his weekly appearances at Boondocks.

For the discerning reader who's already glanced at the calendar, you've probably already figured out where we'll be on Wednesday. Hint: we're playing a show at Dean's, opening up for Sergio Trevino [of Buxton] and The Dellciples. Sergio's music is more than enough reason to come out, but the show's also free. Afterwards, head on over to Avant Garden with us to catch Hank Schyma. Oh, and if you're among the people who still listen to Fuel, they've got a gig that's free if you're of drinking age.

Come on out to a show, Houston.

Monday, July 12th
Ashton Nyte at Avant Garden
Girlfriends, Muhammad Ali, Microwaves, Weed Hounds at Super Happy Fun Land
Glover Gill at Continental Club
Good Night & Good Morning, Josiah Gabirel, Warbler Pl, Roger Sellers at Dean's
Hed PE, Kutt Calhoun, Big B, Vozz at Scout Bar

Tuesday, July 13th
Ashton Nyte at Cactus Music [5:30 pm]
Little Joe Washington at Boondocks
Nekromantix, The Howlers, The Mutilators, Blackmarket Syndicate at Warsaw
Protomen, Landshark at Super Happy Fun Land
Vagabond Swing at Mucky Duck

Wednesday, July 14th
The Dellciples, Sergio Trevino, Marc Brubaker at Dean's
Fuel, From Guts To Glory, I.D.R., Five Eyes Wide at Scout Bar
Hank Schyma, Calvin Stanley III, Jimmy Pizzitola at Avant Garden
P.L.F. at White Swan
Peter & James at Charlie's Big Top
The Umbrella Man at Continental Club

Photo of Sergio Trevino by Molly Rodriguez

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Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Sculpture Garden | Wish You Were Here MFAH

Eric S. — 2010-07-12T12:00:00-06:00

Sculpture Garden | Wish You Were Here MFAH
by taylorlashae

The MFAH's sculpture garden is one of those spots that you really miss after you've left.

Week Around The Ists

Marc Brubaker — 2010-07-12T08:30:00-06:00

Photo by Edna Zhou

Shanghaiist documented the opening of its first Apple Store, a giant cylindered affair in our central business district. We also took a sneak peek at their newish "Briefing Room" strategy for enticing business users, and posed with theirexclusiveShanghai products.

LAist got caught up in the Lindsay Lohan courtroom saga and watched as the former teen starlet was handed a 90-day jail sentence for a pair of '07 DUIs.

Gothamist felt the highlight of the Nathan's Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest was the bizarre arrest of former champion Takeru Kobayashi, who later revealed he only had a sandwich and milk while in jail and wished there were hot dogs.

Bostonist debated what it means to be a regular.

DCist was on the scene of a stinky oil spill that shut down traffic for hours on one of the city's busiest corridors and reminded its readers that narrow alleyways probably aren't the best places to set off fireworks.

SFist covered the verdict of Johannes Mehserle, the police officer found guilty of killing Oscar Grant on a BART platform on New Year's Day 2009.

Torontoist applauded Brian Burke, Toronto Maple Leafs President and
General Manager, who marched in Toronto's Pride parade—without his son Brendan, who died in February.

Chicagoist followed the drama as the City Park District shut down the Book Bike - a mobile, one-man library that gives away books for free - for not obtaining the proper permits and paying the required fees.

Seattlest provided a photo gallery of what the end of the world will look like as the Emerald City won back the Guinness World Record for the largest ever gathering of zombies, or at least people dressed like zombies.

Londonist salivated at the prospect of a cable car over the River Thames then fooled readers with a possibly Photoshopped alternative crossing.

Phillyist is pretending it's college all over again and taking a little summer vacation.

Presented By:

2010-07-12T08:30:00-06:00

BREAKING: OMOTAI SHOW MOVED

Marc Brubaker — 2010-07-10T13:36:33-06:00

Houstonist has just learned that the Giant Battle Monster, Lions of Tsavo, Omotai, Inter Arma, Baring Teeth, Bastard Sapling show that was supposed to be at The Hot Dog Shop tonight has now been moved to Notsuoh, downtown. Don't miss it!

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Untitled

Eric S. — 2010-07-09T12:00:00-06:00

Untitled
by ThisIsIt2

Like most graffiti, this too will soon disappear.

All Ears: Omotai - Peace Through Fear

Marc Brubaker — 2010-07-09T11:00:00-06:00

Houston's no stranger to shred-heavy metal bands - we come across so many that sometimes it feels like a new one is spawned each week. Not all of them are impressive riff masters, though Golden Axe, Cavernous, Ghost Town Electric and Scale The Summit all fall into that category. Newcomers Omotai can now be added to that list, debuting their capable chops on their inaugural EP, Peace Through Fear.

The collection of five songs clocks in at a modest 12 minutes and 16 seconds, but be not mistaken - every moment of it is filled with thundering drums, ripping guitar work, and a low end that would make Geddy Lee need to change his underwear. The EP moves at tremendous pace, crushing song into song, and before the listener is ready, ends abruptly.

Omotai wastes little time on Peace Through Fear, which with each listen reminds us more and more of a condensed version of Mastodon. The vocals, when they are present, and the ever-present movement of the songs are to blame for this. If Atlanta's current reigning champions of metal were stuck in a compactor à la Star Wars, Omotai would emerge on the other end, ready to crush out track after track of bruisers.

Anthony Vallejo's drumming on this album puts some of the greats to shame - a fairly recent transplant to Houston, he's got to be one of the best in town behind a kit. Melissa Lonchambon, whom you may know from Sharks & Sailors, is arguably among the top bassists, and Samuel Waters is certainly no slouch on the guitar, either [although it gets a bit more difficult to pick given all the stunners we've got here in Houston]. The sad fact, however, is that none of these deserving bandmates are nominated for best of their respective instruments in this year's Houston Press Music Awards.

If we've a complaint about this release, it's the length - after listening to it dozens of times, we're still suprised when it stops. Hopefully this is merely the beginning chapter in a long history of releases for the fledgling three piece.

Omotai plays at ~~The Hot Dog Shop [6405 Brittmoore Road]~~ Notsuoh on Saturday night. The show starts at 8 pm and will cost you $5 if you're of drinking age [$7 if you are not]. Other bands on the bill are Giant Battle Monster, Lions of Tsavo, Inter Arma, Bastard Sapling and Baring Teeth. Peace Through Fear will be officially released on Tuesday, July 13th, but we're pretty sure you can snag a copy at the show.

H-Town Rock

Marc Brubaker — 2010-07-08T14:00:00-06:00

For the weekend of July 8th - 11th, 2010

Another weekend, another plethora of music in this town. There are some tough decisions for ol' Houstonist to make, but that won't stop us from offering up a bevy of suggestions for you. Let's get down to business.

Tonight is one of the first tough Thursday calls that we've had to make in a while. You see, while we're largely ambivalent about Mates of State at Warehouse Live, we're fairly intrigued by the opener Free Energy. Yet, at Dean's the super-collective Together We Are Instruments caps the night, while at Walter's gypsy rockers Come See My Dead Person open up for funksters Electric Attitude, who are kicking off a tour. Bands always need gas money, folks.

Friday night's standout is pretty simple: Lightning Bolt on the roof of Khon's. This band rarely comes through town, and brings an amazing, energetic, electric show. Sorry for the pun, but it was just waiting to happen. That show has to be over by 11 pm, so we'll have time to hit up another spot. Third-wave emo riders Football, Etc have a nice lineup at Dean's for their tour kickoff, including locals Bright Men of Learning, who've been dishing out some tasty new tunes. Meanwhile, Walter's will have some fantastic local acts on tap for the Darwin's Finches Old Skatillivich CD release.

Saturday, Kelly Willis brings her old country twinged music down from Austin for a stop at the Mucky Duck, and the Continental Club will be having a big 10th anniversary bash - that one's free, folks. Over at The Hot Dog Shop, Omotai will unleash their new EP, Peace Through Fear [look for our review tomorrow], with the hyper, math-rock Giant Battle Monster topping the bill. There are so many options, but we've got a strange feeling that we'll wind up at Rudyard's for long-running punkers M.O.T.O. - after all, Born Liars and Weird Party are there to make it a stunner of a lineup.

Even Sunday has options for us this week, but Houstonist is likely to be found at Boondocks' 3rd anniversary for more Weird Party action and some drink specials.

There's something for everyone this weekend, so hop to it, Houston!

Thursday, July 8th
Amp Head, R Sun, Mild Addiction, Jimson Jolly Vagrants at Super Happy Fun Land
Electric Attitude [Tour Kickoff], The Live Lights, Come See My Dead Person at Walter's
Mates of State, Free Energy at Warehouse Live
Shone, Three Point Crossing, Big Rocket Rock at Bohemeo's
Together. We Are Instruments, Arthur Yoria, Vertigo Blue at Dean's

Friday, July 9th
The Bourgeois Gospels, Dirty 3rd Coast at Warehouse Live
Cadillac Sky at House of Blues [Voodoo Lounge]
Darwin's Finches [CD Release], Giant Princess, American Sharks, Muhammid Ali, Tow The Line at Walter's
Disco Expressions at The Continental Club
Eleven Fingered Charlie, Shark Attack, Suns Of The Beach, Ska Bones, Cadre at Fitzgerald's
Football Etc. [Tour Kickoff show], P.S. Eliot, Bright Men Of Learning, Grizzly at Dean's
Gary Morris at NiaMoves
Jon Black, Ensane, Skepticynic, Jody Seabody & The Whirls, Mr. Free, The Satellite Freakout at Super Happy Fun Land
Lightning Bolt, Indian Jewelry, Guards at Khon's [2808 Milam, Rooftop]
Scream The Prayer Tour III, with: Maylene & The Sons of Disaster, For Today, Blessed By A Broken Heart, A Plea For Purging, The Color Morale, The Crimson Armada, I The Breather, The Great Comission, In The Midst Of Lions, Hundredth at Warsaw [Doors at 3pm]
MoreCow Bell, The Louvres, Romeo Dogs at Bohemeo's
Ola Podrida, Woven Bones, The Wiggins at Mango's
Poor Dumb Bastards, Automatic Thrill, Chelsea Hotel at Rudyard's
Rebel Crew, Ray Prim at Avant Garden
Warren Hood at Mucky Duck
White Widow, B. Sterling Band, Ricky Stein, James Caronna, Tim Qualls at Fitzgerald's [downstairs]
Wisebird, The TC5, Carl Hayn & The Holdouts at Last Concert Cafe
Your Mistake, Roots of Exile, Seeker at The Mink

Saturday, July 10th
Alison Fisher at Charlie's Big Top
Camila at Arena Theatre
Continental Club's 10th Anniversary Party, featuring: The Umbrella Man, Chango Man, Little Joe Washington, The Suspects, The Allen Oldies Band, New Duncan Imperials, Honky at Continental Club [free]
Din Chaos, Forever In A Day, Mid Day Silence, SoulRemoved at Walter's
Espantapajaros, BombaChica, The Pubb Affair at Bohemeo's
Felili, I Sing The Body Electric, Buffalo Bayou, Venus Love at Super Happy Fun Land
Giant Battle Monster, Lions of Tsavo, Omotai [EP Release], Inter Arma, Baring Teeth, Bastard Sapling at The Hot Dog Shop [6405 Brittmoore Road, 8 pm, $5/$7] show moved to Notsuoh!
Guilty Simpson, J-Rocc, Harkore, Fat Tony at Numbers
Joe Pug & the Hundred Mile Band, Ryland Baxter at Mango's
Kelly Willis at Mucky Duck
Last Man, Pinche Gringos, Fake Believe, Wellborn Road, Asunder at The Mink
Lower Life Form, Uno Y Dos, You(Genious) at Dean's
Luke Olson at Cactus Music [1 pm]
The Manichean, Caveman Electric, Black Powder Poets, Tax The Wolf, Kat Kilpatrick at Fitzgerald's [downstairs]
The Mighty Orq, The Umbrella Man, Tody Castillo at Last Concert Cafe
M.O.T.O., Midnight Creeps, Born Liars, Weird Party at Rudyard's
Sever The Senses, Pant Factory, Tornahdo at Fitzgerald's
White Room, 12 Gauge Awakening at White Swan
Woods of Ypres, Vex, Sculpting Atrocity, Erebus, The Forest of Suicides at Walter's

Sunday, July 11th
Bob Log III, Molly Gene One Whoaman Band at Rudyard's
Boondocks Third Anniversary Party, featuring: Weird Party, The Bourgeois Gospel at Boondocks
Collin Lake, Guitar Don Williams at Last Concert Cafe
The Failed Attempt at White Swan
Houston Fun Factory at Continental Club
Jerusalem, The Captive, Legacy Fails, Rehab The Monster at Fitzgerald's
Patricia Vonne at Mucky Duck
Pianos Become the Teeth, iDreaminstereo, Diving, My Brother's Keeper at Super Happy Fun Land

Photos: Darwin's Finches, Jordan Graber [Weird Party]

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Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Fruit and Veggie Fiesta

Eric S. — 2010-07-08T12:00:00-06:00

Fruit and Veggie Fiesta
by Jongarrett777

Fresh fruits and veggies have a limited shelf life, get yours before it's too late!

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Bel-Aire

Eric S. — 2010-07-07T12:00:00-06:00

Bel-Aire
by gwenturnerjuarez

Because sometimes you just need a shot of a car with big fins!

Breaking Foodie News: Opens and Shuts

Mary Jane — 2010-07-07T09:30:00-06:00

Houstonist has long been a fan of Kanomwan, located at 736 Telephone Road. As many of you may know, the "Thai Nazi", as we affectionately referred to him, passed away last month. His family will reopen Kanomwan today. If you plan to head there for a meal, please call first, we do not know if they will be open for lunch and dinner, or lunch, or dinner. We do know that Kanomwan has long served the best Thai in the city. We plan to go by soon, you should too! Seriously, this is very exciting food news.

Ray's Franks N' More has closed and the phones have been disconnected. They were briefly and most recently known as Hung's Burgers and More, however, they are now just no more. Shut. Now where are we going to go for a bacon-wrapped hot dog?

Mint Cafe, located at 2800 Sage will not be reopening as Mint Cafe. They were repainting and such because the new eatery in that location will be The Burger Palace. We love a good burger, especially with bacon and cheese.

Bubba's At The Park, shut. We haven't been by there in quite some time. The burgers were pretty damned good. What we remember best, the Phi Slamma Jama t-shirt that was hung on the ceiling. Ah, the days when UH dominated round ball.

Living La Vida Del Carne

David A. Feil — 2010-07-06T16:30:00-06:00

Catastrophic Theatre's renewed production of last year's Hunter Gatherers is a welcome dose of humor to help get us through the long, hot days of summer. We weren't lucky enough to catch last summer's run, but the new show is a thoroughly enjoyable two-act comedy that oscillates between craven fits of passion and self-doubting ennui. Filled with memorable one-liners, spontaneous wit, and bouts of perverse physical humor, the script finds two couples of long-time friends faced with the equally-long-awaited moment when social propriety just isn't going to be enough to keep them from showing their true, animalistic natures.

As far as entertainment goes, summer is that time of year when your TV sinks into the familiar world of sitcom reruns while the movie industry does its best to outdo itself. Somewhere in the darker, shadier, after-hours corner of that media landscape, Catastrophic's production seems happy to make its home. The set design is striking upon entering the theatre — especially in comparison to the last few of the company's productions. The openness and minimal and careful detail of the previous stages has given over to more visceral use of bright colors, mix-and-match decor, and room partitions. The stage is centered on an apartment living room with a bedroom and bathroom off in separate raised wings. Together, the rooms abound with the sort of casual clutter and mismatched furniture of a young couple still sorting things out, and the effect is, in a way, very TV-like, somewhere between the nonreality of the Manhattan apartments in Friends and the surreality of PeeWee's Playhouse — there's exposed brick, there's paneling, there are loud colors, there's modern furniture, older furniture, and somehow countless artifacts of primitive art are tucked away within it all. Like color TV, like blockbuster films, the stage is saturated — or, to use a metaphor more appropriate to the play itself: saturated like animal fat, like a cut of meat with gristle and lard and tendon strewn throughout. As we sat and took this all in, the lights went down and The Kinks' "Apeman" started to enchant the darkness with the same blend of sugary surreal exoticism and animal-kingdom confusion as the stage (the use of music throughout is quite the treat).

Like the foursome of the play, the very title "Hunter Gatherers" is destined to faction off into its fundamental parts: you're only ever one or the other, hunter or gatherer. On opening night, the company's resident videographer made the rounds before the show asking everyone to choose for themself (video link). Of course, there is the illusion that we can all get along, live in a "hunter gatherer" society, but, like a not-quite-perfect coupling, the illusion can just get utterly tiresome — or so the premise of the play suppose (back in the real world after the show everyone in the audience still seemed to get along). But the play takes this emboldened premise, gives it an unbridled sense of humor and uncensored frankness, and uses it all to, of course, reveal some truth about our lives and how much we sell ourselves short in order to get along. The lesson seems to be that you ought to be more hungry, but maybe the afterthought is that you should know what food you actually like. The food and meat motifs of the play, which begin when you find out that cardboard box in the middle of the stage is just the temporary house for the night's entrée, give this hunger for life a true corollary. Houstonist left the play hungry, a reminder not to have eaten more that day (if you've never been to a Catastrophic opening, the food and drink and company are wonderfully satisfying), but to sink your teeth into something as if it was all that mattered.

The setup is fairly straight-forward: Richard and Pam ("hunter" and "gatherer") are having their old best buds from high school Tom and Wendy ("gatherer" and "hunter") over for dinner, a sort of annual tradition that has been established in the 15-some-odd years since prom. As soon as we meet them, each couple is in the middle of realizing they are not so perfectly matched up as they had once convinced themselves, coming to see as well that the memories shared between them have sharpened over the years into daggers quick to bring about the play's violent revelations. The script uses familiar ploys and intrigues to get the audience up to speed and quickly recognize who is who and what they're after, but the jokes are fresh and the actors all embrace the dark silliness of the plot's detours, immersing themselves in their roles.

Playing the gatherers of their respective couples, Shelley Calene-Black and Troy Schulze give wonderful life to characters who could otherwise easily be crowded out by the wild plotting and ranting of the hunters (Greg Dean and Amy Bruce) — Calene-Black with a fantastic version of housewife nervousness and Schulze with a perfectly muted sense of self-confidence and self-acceptance. Dean takes his role with visible caveman glee and Bruce, who was in last summer's run as well, knows exactly how to pull off her scheming dissatisfaction. The cast becomes the kind of sitcom family you grow to know too well, but there's no way that everything will return to normal by the end of the night.

Houstonist doesn't want to give away the ending, but for a play that begins with the slaughtering of a baby lamb, you can guess it's got a lot to live up to, and it does. So if you think you are ready to see a flurry of (fake) hard-ons, (real) ziplock bags of (pretend) sperm, (real) bare (real) asses, and some good old fashioned (pretend) murderous crimes of (serious) passion, get yourself down to DiverseWorks. We'd say it's probably not the kind of thing you'd bring your mother to — but we'll come clean and admit that we actually did — and she had a blast! Hunter Gatherers runs Wednesdays through Saturdays until July 17. All performances are at 8 p.m. at DiverseWorks ArtSpace.

image: catastrophictheatre.com

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Happiness.

Eric S. — 2010-07-06T12:00:00-06:00

Happiness.
by kelseyofhouston

Summer's here... are you having this much fun?

GTKAHB: The Talented Mr. Higdon, Part 2

Marc Brubaker — 2010-07-06T11:00:00-06:00

Last week we came to you with part one of our interview with Lance Higdon: music maker extraordinaire and soon-to-be resident of Atlanta, Georgia. Our talk with him was so extensive that we had to split it into two pieces, and thus without further ado, we move to the rest of it. You can listen to the full audio version in these three posts. We'll lead off with a quote that we omitted from part one for continuity's sake.

Lance Higdon: The last year has probably been one of the most fruitful times in my stint in Houston in terms of booking & playing out, because of the generosity of Khon Lu, who runs where we're sitting, Khon's bar. [He's] like an old punk rocker/artist/wine guy and he opened this spot, and he's basically given us run of the place. I really owe him everything, in terms of the shows I've done - he's been really hands off as long as I clean up afterwards. He has such a refreshing attitude about art & music in Houston; he's really the first person I've met who seems to have a carte blanche attitude about it. He just wants to facilitate & cultivate everyone's creativity, without asking for anything.

H-Town Rock: So, we've touched on this: you've been running a series called the Resonant Interval Sound Series.
LH: You may be the first person to get that name right, so thank you.
HTR: That's been over here at some aspect of the Mekong Center...
LH: I think since September/October [2009]... We took over Sunday nights, & took the baton from a series that Dave Dove was running called They, Who Sound...When Marcus [Gausepohl] started working at Khon's, he said "we need something on Sunday nights, so people will come buy beer from me." That was the time that Bayou Sound was winding down. It was quite fortuitous.

HTR: It's been a nice outlet for some of the more eclectic music... Do you see someone rising to take the mantle of Resonant Interval when you leave?
LH: Yeah, they're already there. Jonathan Jindra is going to be taking over Sundays with his own series, which he calls Binarium. He's a guy with a lot of talent and drive as well. He has more of a focus on electronic music and audio-visual video art.

HTR: Historically I close out with a few Houston-specific questions, one of which being who in town do you think really deserves some notice, or who in town is someone who really impresses you?
LH: I feel very fortunate to be in the middle of and extremely creative amount of people... If we're talking about influences, people who have gotten me where I'm going... for a long time I was an associate of Esotype Records. I was all set to leave Houston - for a year I was studying music at the University of Houston and I was tired of the absolute squareness of everyone I encountered there, and then I got the invitation to play with Jeff [Price] and Jason Jordan in MiracleVersusMan. That was definitely a decisive moment - that was what got me on board with Esotype and what's kept me here until now.

In terms of other folks that I think are doing really awesome stuff, I have to say B L A C K I E. There's nothing like him, anywhere. He's drawing on so many sources, & the thing that really excites me is he's so into the grime tip, reconstituting grime aesthetic & style on his own terms in Houston. He's someone I really hope will make it; I think he deserves to make it based on his work ethic & doing his own thing.
LIMB - they're touring [with B L A C K I E]. I've played with James, and it's just not fair. I'll never catch up to his creative prowess. What those guys are doing, I think it's really distinct from what's happening almost anywhere.

HTR: It's weird, people don't conceive that Houston is capable of that.
LH: In anticipation of the move I've given a lot of thought to how to address Houston & my relationship to it. I think [for] a lot of people it's a very strong love-hate relationship. On the one hand, when I visit Austin or New York and I see bands - there's a lot of mediocrity. It's kind of easy to do it there, and they don't try hard. There's plenty of people that don't try hard here as well, but I feel like you have more freedom. I feel like the best analogy I can think of is that if you leave a closet closed, no light shines on it, no one goes into it for a while - all kinds of interesting things have can grow, specific to that little environment because no one is paying attention. I think a lot of my favorite music starts out as marginal music and only later is it recognized.

I'm trying to think of more people to give props to - I'd have to say all of the improvisers. Lucas Gorham: first of all, he's a sweet, good human being. I really admire him for his ability to traverse musical boundaries. Not many people - they're getting crazy to Grandfather Child - will know that he has this background in improvisation, doing Screwed Anthologies [with Dave Dove].

Robert Ellis would be another person. Aside from being truly prodigiously talented and very very focused on his craft, playing in as many bands as he does, and as far as I can tell maintaining his humility and approachability. I met that guy when he was like fifteen, we were playing a show in Lake Jackson. Tambersauro played a really great show with Colour Revolt and Anathallo and his old band Eyes Like Lions. He's another guy that I've watched gain a lot of success and I think he definitely deserves it, and it will endure.

Both of those guys, they work the way that I want to work. They get up and do it every day and persist, and have really built their lives around following their creative vision.

I really think there's no room for ego when you're in such a microcosm of music as we are. I'm kind of happy to escape the general negativity that seems to hang over Houston music like a cloud, for whatever reason. I try to avoid it and go my way, be positive myself and encouraging. There's no point in saying anything negative, there's enough blathering crap going on...

HTR: I was going to ask what wisdom you would impart before skipping town, and that's a pretty good one. Is there anything else that you want to say?
LH: Maybe this is cheesy, but I'd really like to say thank you to everyone that I've worked with and that has encouraged me. I really cannot give enough gratitude to Khon & Ashley Lu.

I've been playing in bands since I was 11, but it wasn't really until I was 25 [Ed. Note: Lance is 27] that I really got the heart of it, that is things don't happen for you very often. You've got to get up and do it yourself. I always had the mentality that it'll happen later - that "well, I haven't been on tour, I haven't done this or that." I think it's part of being immature, that it'll happen magically somewhere else. After my first year of teaching, I was approaching 25.. I had seen a serious winnowing of people, people setting music aside... and I remember thinking, that's not going to happen to me; I'm probably never going to stop doing this unless I'm forced to. So I decided from 25 to 26 I'm going to go full out for music. Everything who I've worked with since that time has really made that thing go. I'm really grateful.

I learned the power of asking - so often before I'd had the mentality that the answer would be no.

HTR: You told me, and I wanted to save this for the close, that you're going to have a "senior recital" where a lot of your projects play. When is that?
LH: Yes. Saturday, July 17th, at The Exoskeleton - which is an old Cricket store [in the Mekong Center]. It'll start at 7 pm - it won't cost anything. But I will take some donations because I am moving and I'm kinda broke - so if you want to put some money in a jar for me, then thanks. Having an end in view gives a significance to all of our actions. In theological terms, I think that's the virtue of hope - the idea that there is an end, an in light of that end our actions mean something. My move is impending, and I feel like I've got to do more stuff - I've got five or six recordings slated between now and when I leave; I've got a show every weekend in July. It's like I'm running as fast as I can, grabbing at everything like those shopping sprees they would have on Nickelodeon when you would have five minutes.

LH: So do I impart my wisdom, now?
HTR: Sure.
LH: I think if anyone were to ask me, "so, what did you do in Houston?" I would [say] "I was a participant." And I think philosophically, that's the greatest thing that we can aspire to in this music scene or any music scene. I've played in bands, I've booked shows, I've written critical reviews, I've been a radio DJ, I've been an audience member, I've been a buyer of local music - that's what everyone should aspire to I think. You can be on all sides of the stage. One of the important life lessons I've gleaned, that I've applied to my career as a teacher & you could apply to any part of your life is: you're tearing down the façades of life - that seemingly impenetrable wall between the stage & the audience. For me, it's all about the connection of the music. When I'm playing, especially if the audience is good, that's when I feel happiest. I grin like a fool.

I will say my one criticism of the Houston music community is people not going to shows. At this point it's not a dearth of talent; it's not a dearth of people devoted to making it happen; it's a dearth of people willing to get up and go... I'm guilty of the same thing - I can't point the finger at all, but I have made an effort in recent years to get out of that.

HTR: Definitely... the last year and half, I've done a lot more of that - ok, I'm gonna go see something else, and something else. It's incredible because you discover all this stuff that's going on, and I think Houston works that way on more than just a music level. It takes a minimal investment of yourself, and then it all just kind of explodes - there's stuff everywhere.
LH: Seriously. I think people in Houston finally have a little self-esteem about being creative. I'm kind of wondering where the tipping point is between being unquestionably supportive and being constructively critical. I think that's what needs to happen next. It's cool people are doing things, but we need to do some better things now. I feel really happy; I feel like I'm leaving on a high note. I feel like I couldn't leave at a better time.

So, those are my words. Anyone with half a brain and a little ambition can do what I've done - and an internet connection.

HTR: Well Lance, thanks for sitting down with us.
LH: My pleasure. Thanks for satisfying my ego. [laughs]

Lance had even more to say that we couldn't include, and there are some really good bits in the conversation, so we'd encourage you to listen to the audio version. Make sure that you seize the opportunity to see his projects before he leaves, as well.

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H-Town Rock

Marc Brubaker — 2010-07-05T14:00:00-06:00

For the week of July 5th - 7th, 2010

As the weeks are often wont to do, this one starts out with less heft regarding the musical calendar. However, that doesn't mean that Houstonist will be shuttering ourselves and avoiding the many haunts that will be serving up a band or three. Here's what we're looking at this week.

Tonight we'll be stopping into Mango's to catch Islands - after all, they've got a trippy video starring Michael Cera, and that's what all the hipster kids want, right?

We'll follow that up tomorrow with a band that's near to our heart - Thrice is one of those bands that's stuck with us from high school because they've constantly pushed themselves to become more inventive and ambitious. The fact that Bad Veins is also on that Warehouse Live bill makes us quite happy as well. That being said, we're sure that whatever happens when Courtney Love & crew shows up at House of Blues will be most entertaining, for better or for worse.

Houstonist plans to skip our usual trip to the hoedown on Wednesday, and instead we'll stop by Avant Garden to catch Hank Schyma of Southern Backtones. Well, ok, we'll probably wind up at Mango's too, as it is next door.

Go see some bands!

Monday, July 5th
The Cor-Tet at Avant Garden
Glover Gill at Continental Club
Islands, Steel Phantoms at Mango's

Tuesday, July 6th
Becoming The Archetype, Before There Was Rosalyn, At Calvary, Scars of Eden, Ethreal at The Junction
Hole, Foxy Shazam at House of Blues
Kamms The Ace, Danny Watts, So_Crates, Hi Stakez, D. Carter, V.U.R.B, A.D.D at Dean's
Lisa Morales, Carrie Rodriguez, Johnny Burke at Mucky Duck
Thrice, Kevin Devine, Bad Veins, The Dig at Warehouse Live
Victor! Fix the Sun, The Reptillian, My Brother's Keeper, Diving at Super Happy Fun Land

Wednesday, July 7th
Hank Schyma, Calvin Stanley, Jimmy Pizzitola at Avant Garden
Peter & James at Charlie's Big Top
Robert Ellis & The Boys at Mango's
The Umbrella Man at Continental Club

Photos: Marc Brubaker [Thrice], Steel Phantoms

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Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - 182/365: July 1st 2010

Eric S. — 2010-07-05T12:00:00-06:00

182/365: July 1st 2010
by SkinnyOrangeCat

A rainy flashback!! Scared ya didn't I?

Presented By:

2010-07-05T12:00:00-06:00

Ol' Samuel's Music Emporium, Vol. VIX

Marc Brubaker — 2010-07-05T11:00:00-06:00

Well would you look at that! Houstonist has found some more local music for you, so dip your toes in that proverbial pond and wade into the water. This lake gets bigger each time we look at it, and each time the swim feels a bit better. We can't really explain it, but there's something addictive about local music.

Volume IX

Trills - Super groovy electronic music from audio-visual artist Jonathan Jindra. This stuff seriously jams, and as Jindra notes online, "is music that is meant to be imagined within a colorful space in your mind." Don't let the term acid scare you, this is some serious jam. Other sites: Blog, Facebook, MySpace.

Yokomono - This is Latin rock with some heavy funk tones. Admittedly, we have no idea what the lyrical content is, but the groove's pretty good. Other sites: .

Cavernous - Here we have some more thundering instrumental metal music. This is yet another example of the fact that sometimes a band doesn't need lyrics to rock. Or maybe Houston suffers from a dearth of talented metal singers. Either way it's tasty. Other sites: Facebook, MySpace, Purevolume.

Craig Kinsey - Houstonist runs into this fine gentleman at Catalina Coffee all the time, and he's always a great conversation partner. Craig fronts Sideshow Tramps, but he's got a healthy collection of solo Americana work under his belt as well. Other sites: MySpace.

Wicked Poseur - This is the brainchild of Arthur Bates, who we now know as the frontman for local punks The Energy. Wicked Poseur finds Bates employing his familiar doom, gloom & hate lyrics over synthesized new wave grooves. Suddenly, it all makes sense.

From the Vault

The Gold Sounds - We haven't bragged about these Deer Park boys in a while. Their throwback rock n' roll is thundering and loud, but turns mellow and sweet with some fantastic hooks. Houstonist still thinks their album Seismic Love tops our best of 2010 list at the moment. This is everything we love about 70s rock; it's big, brash & groovy. We're pretty sure Bonham came back in the form of Dee Donnelly, too. Other sites: Facebook.

Photos: Craig Kinsey, Cavernous

Poster Notes

Marc Brubaker — 2010-07-04T15:30:00-06:00

Welcome to round two of Poster Notes. Houstonist certainly loves a well-made poster, whether it took hours of agonizing design or ten minutes of cut n' paste. They can't all be winners, of course, but neither can we, right? It's ok, you're all winners in Papa Houstonist's book. Let's have a look at what's happening this week. Remember, to have your poster included, send it to us at tips [at] houstonist.com by noon on the Sunday before the event.

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Week Around The Ists

Marc Brubaker — 2010-07-04T13:00:00-06:00

Photo by salty_soul/Flickr.

Torontoist continued its coverage of the G20 with a look at the 14 essential videos to come from it, and even tracked down the guy who was captured on video politely tackling one looter.

DCist said hello to a new editor-in-chief and got excited about Spike Mendelsohn's new pizzeria.

SFist, following the annual Gay Pride Parade festivities, reported on a related police beating caught on tape.

LAist followed up with the new and improved Critical Mass bike ride; turns out behaving well equals "overwhelming success."

Shanghaiist found proof that not only is Barack Obama in fact a communist and not from the U.S., he also lends his name to a supermarket here as well.

Chicagoist mingled with older women at the Second Annual Cougar Convention.

Phillyist celebrated its fifth birthday and cleared out its archives to celebrate.

Londonist went through the highs and lows this week, climbing to an unlikely bar and sculpture park on top of a disused parking lot, then dropping down underground to take pics of a long-abandoned Tube station.

Gothamist learned that Hollister closed its Soho flagship store because of... bedbugs! The store reopened a few days later, but who knows how well fumigation worked?

Houstonist mourned the loss of two of our favorite haunts, focused some attention on local poster art, and talked with musical wünderkind Lance Higdon.

Get To Know A Houston Band: Lance Higdon [Part 1]

Marc Brubaker — 2010-07-02T13:30:00-06:00

We sat down this week for a very special interview with the venerable Lance Higdon - who has been a creative fixture in the local music scene for some time. Higdon is about to leave Houston and everything that makes it fantastic for the questionably friendly confines of Atlanta, Georgia. Lance has been involved in an abundance of music projects over the past five years, so we wanted to have a special installment of our series - perhaps we should call it "Get To Know A Houston Man" this time. Welcome to part one, where Lance takes us through his various aural outlets. You can listen to the full audio version in these three posts.

H-Town Rock: You seem to be a man possessed with the creative spirit. We came up with about six projects that we can confirm, a couple others, and one that we know hasn't performed yet. So let's run through everything you've done: Tambersauro, Golden Cities, Lance & The Pants, [we] once saw you perform as Jah Rühl, Narreme [nay-reem], and you have a noise project with Richard Ramirez coming up called Oltre La Morte. Oh, and Wall With One Side. [We] do believe we found one online that bills you as Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebaste, with you going by St. Athanasius?
Lance Higdon: It's possible.

HTR: What haven't we covered?
LH: The only other thing, I think, is a duo with a piano player called Robert Pearson, and that's unimaginatively titled the Higdon-Pearson Duo. It's real frenetic, he plays electric piano and plays like 128th notes.

HTR: So he's just shredding through the piano.
LH: Yeah, so I just try to fit in around that. It's really promising, we're going to try to record that. But you forgot my most serious project, Whatabreaker, which is my Jawbreaker cover band with Peter Lee and Casey Power. I think that's everything that officially exists. There are more things that exist theoretically. I have an electronic beat thing called Holy Ghost Machine Gun.

HTR: What about Gray Tapes, that's you, right? Not the notorious gray tapes, but there's one that popped up recently.
LH: No comment.
HTR: You won't admit to having anything to do with a certain B L A C K I E remix?
LH: No comment.

HTR: You described a few of these, let's go through the others. Wall With One Side - you refer to what you're doing as Maximalist Powerdrone. That's a new term, I believe. What does that sound like to someone?
LH: The goal is to stake out a space between really beautiful music and really noisy music. It's pretty simple - a bunch of really slow delivery chord progressions run through a couple different resonators, that are all being manipulated slowly so the sound is constantly changing. Think of it as a really slow moving oil slick or something. [Too soon?] It's drone music in that sense that it's kind of transporting and meditative. The goal is to always be doing something - it gives your ear something to follow. I called it powerdrone because it's more than your average drone. It's kind of silly, but it's good to have humor - it helps people not be intimidated.

HTR: This project with Richard Ramirez - what are you aiming for?
LH: I've wanted to work with him for a long time - I met him at the Nameless Sound 60 minutes of minutes show, in 2003 or 2004. He's a super nice guy, really down to earth. We both really like zombies, I think that's apparent. The name Oltre La Morte is the Italian title of Zombi 4 - these movies have these really visceral quality: drills through the eye, & whatnot. That's the aesthetic meeting point for us - a little campy, a little over the top. Him and I come together over mutual love of extreme sonic environments; we're both playing amplified pieces of metal.

HTR: Lance & The Pants - let's go through that one.
LH: I made friends in the past couple years with a lot of people in the improvised music community in Houston. I think it's really vital - those people listen to everything: they go see Little Joe, indie rock shows, & they do their own thing. I met Sandy Ewen, Ryan Edwards & Doug Falk; they were throwing around the idea of doing an improv quartet and they were like: "How can we get him to play? We've got to put his name in the title." I got an email from Doug, and I thought, "that's hilarious, why wouldn't I want to do that?"

HTR: Jah Rühl, which we witnessed, was you, Scott, & Marcus Gausepohl. Was there more than one performance of that?
LH: There's been at least three, maybe four. It still exists in theory. Continuing with the meme of stupid funny names, that band was thrown together because Marcus booked a show. I think it was the first time I played on the grounds of the Mekong Center. [Ed. Note: we're at Khon's, in the center] Marcus wanted to play bass & have something more in the vein of kraut-rock & dub. It's our attempt to do some more groove-based music. The Jah was supposed to be the dub thing, and the Rühl was the kraut-rock.

HTR: How about Narreme? I saw you perform as this duo with James Templeton [of LIMB] at SXSW.
LH: I saw [James & B L A C K I E] doing a show together a couple years ago, and thought it was really rad. I kept in touch with James, and we did some things together - I had just gotten Abelton Live, and we were working with that.

HTR: Golden Cities? I know Marcus is in that, and Meghan [Hendley] was in it for a bit.
LH: Golden Cities started in 2007. I had just finished my first year of teaching; I was living in Cypress. That summer I had a whole bunch of time, and [Marcus & I] started writing something with Nathan Heskia - who has since moved on to Boston and is doing things under the name Great Hopes. We rented a room at the Rhythm Room, and we just jammed every day for hours. We cobbled together enough stuff to make a record, so we went in with Jeff Price and cut the record in a day. Nathan moved... and we started playing with Brian Smith. He restored the pretty - because Marcus just wants to be really brutal and I just want to play hip-hop beats. He brings the twinkle. We're about to go in and record at Sugar Hill.

HTR: Ok, Tambersauro.
LH: Tambersauro is my longest lived project; it's always been at the center and everything else has kind of grown out of that. It's based around a longstanding musical relationship I've had with Jeff Price; we've been playing together since I was 19, in my first band MiracleVersusMan. When that band didn't work out we started Tambersauro with Mike.

HTR: You just released a record, right? And you're about to play a show.
LH: Yeah, we're going to have "one last show" - question mark. It seems like breakups are never permanent these days. We're all about radical juxtaposition - always these polarities of real complex math & prog influenced music and then this melancholy, shoegaze, 90s emo. There's a lot of things we try to pack in around the sides - Latin rhythms, funk... I'm really proud of what it's been. It's the closest to my heart, out of everything I've done.

HTR: We keep mentioning your impending move - you're leaving us for Atlanta. What's your move date?
LH: July 31st.
HTR: You have the "final" Tambersauro show, what day is that?
LH: July 24th.
HTR: And you have the noise show coming up on July 3rd. That's going to be a really interesting show because of its location.
LH: Yeah, the noise show's going to be in the Midtown Doctors Group - which is quite literally just an unused doctor's office in the Mekong Center...
HTR: And there's no power...
LH: There is no power. We'll be running extension chords from Khon's into the Doctors Group for the bands. It'll be interesting because everyone will be in their own little waiting room. So we may have some battery powered lamps, but in all seriousness we're asking people to bring their own flashlights.
HTR: It ought to be an extremely interesting setting for a noise show. We already picturing it in 50's black and white horror film style.
LH: Well, in keeping with the theme, Oltre La Morte will have a film playing of all the most over the top, splattering, drill in the eyeball, eating intestines zombie scenes from all the greats. That's been cut by Jonathan Jindra of Binary Productions/Trills.

All photos courtesy of Lance Higdon.

This was a fairly epic-length interview, so we'll be back with part two next week, when Higdon will bestow some wisdom upon us before he leaves town. For now, check out Lance's projects, and if you're the adventurous sort then make sure you get to the noise show tomorrow night. The show starts at 9 pm and it'll run you a scant $7. The Mekong Center is located at 2808 Milam, south of downtown Houston - and don't forget your flashlight.

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WTF? Ernie's? Closed? - UPDATED INFO

Mary Jane — 2010-07-01T15:00:00-06:00

Houstonist has been an on-again, off-again patron of Ernie's on Banks for too long to admit to(we would show our age). Let's just say a number of years and leave it at that. Pretty decent pub snacks (nachos, quesadillas, cheese sticks), great bartenders and a nice brew selection (plus other beverages). These are a few of our favorite things, and all elements we found at Ernie's. Like our very own "Cheers" in the Montrose, Ernie's was a safe haven, a cool refuge from, well, the uber-trendy douchies one occasionally runs across. Until this past Sunday, when they closed right smack out of the blue. WTF? We've heard rumors that the joint was sold, scuttlebutt inferring that it may be re-opening as some incarnation of a bar or pub with more food selections. However, at this time that's all really third-hand hearsay, or the stuff very flimsy gossip is constructed from.

For now, all we know for certain is that Ernie's is shut and we are sad. Where will the very nice bartenders go? When we find out additional information regarding the future of the building that was the establishment named Ernie's that is bona fide and fit for public consumption, well - you will be the first to know.

This just in, Ernie's owners official e-mail:

As many of you may have recently learned, we have sold Ernie’s on Banks to new operators. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank each of you for your continued support and patronage over the last several years. We’d also like to thank all members of our staff, our great friends, and our supportive families. We are excited about the future of the business and will continue to support the new owners as they embark upon this new endeavor (opening date is TBD,stay tuned). We are also excited about moving on to the next chapter of our lives and hope to continue the great friendships we’ve made at Ernie’s. As we look back on the wonderful times and the fantastic people we met there,we are overwhelmed with gratitude and great fortune.

Thanks for the memories,

H-Town Rock

Marc Brubaker — 2010-07-01T14:00:00-06:00

For the weekend of July 1st - 4th, 2010

Look at that beefy lineup for the weekend! It's so meaty - perfect for the ol' Fourth of July. Did the holiday creep up on you as it has us? Hopefully this rain will subside and provide us with some nice sunny weather, but until then we've got a feast of rock to distract us.

The pick o' the night tonight is at Mango's, where sIngs is headlining. Our love for them is well documented, but what we're most excited about on the bill is Austin's YellowFever - last time they were in town they won us a soft spot in our hearts, and now when we play their record we flip it half a dozen times before it leaves our turntable. Cosmic Sound and Hearts of Animals are certainly no slouches either. Our friends Framework [Ben Ellis of Hollywood Black] and Frants [Gretchen Schmaltz with a backing band] will be at Notsuoh if you're looking for something in the songwriter vein.

Tomorrow we'll be spending all day slogging through the heat/rain/humidity at Sam Houston Race Park, covering Warped Tour. We'll peace out a bit early, though, and head back into town for one of several good shows. Wild Moccasins are kicking off another tour, with Austin's The Eastern Sea, whom we thoroughly enjoy. The shows at Big Star and Mango's are both free - our plan is to catch Feather Face if possible, and Muhammid Ali drops into Notsuoh. There's something for everyone on Friday.

Saturday we plan to drop into Mango's [yet again] to catch The Jonx - a local act we've never seen before. We've enjoyed what we've heard of their new album, Vocabularian Herds as well as the two new tracks that Bright Men Of Learning have leaked from their upcoming release, Fired. There's plenty more on the Saturday showlist, but we'd like to also recommend Robert Ellis at Walter's - he'll be returning home from a short stint of out of town shows, so give him a warm welcome back.

Sunday's the fourth, so the calendar is a bit lighter. It's not hard to twist our arm, as the lineup includes several friends, but the show at The Mink has several good factors - quality bands, free food, and cheap drinks among them. Co-Pilot will be the latest in an ever-increasing string of local acts to take their show on the road, and touring's no easy feat - another reason to drop a few dollars into their gas tank. Oh, and Pedro Tijerina's new project Young Girls is on the bill as well.

Go see some music!

Thursday, July 1st
Aventura at Toyota Center
A Corpse Vanishes, Snatch Racket at Walter's
Framework, Frants, Jason Nix at Notsuoh
La Diabla, La Suite at House of Blues
Peter Wolf Crier, Duncan & Johnson, Chase Hamblin at Rudyard's
Quadrophonic, Beetle at Continental Club
Quentin Moore, Beauty & the Beats at Bohemeo's
Radney Foster at Mucky Duck
S.A.T.N., Oscuridad Social, A Friend Of A Dead Friend at White Swan
sIngs, YellowFever, Hearts of Animals, Cosmic Sound at Mango's
Theotis Joe at Super Happy Fun Land

Friday, July 2nd
Band on the Run at Charlie's Big Top
Brains For Dinner at House of Blues [Bronze Peacock]
Dart Street, Blue Soul Fire, Components of the Modern Age at Fitzgerald's [downstairs]
Fired for Walking, Novox at Big Star Bar [free]
Holy Hell Rod, IDR, Adamantium, Under Nothing at Fitzgerald's
JJ Usher at Salt
Kermit Ruffins, Papa Grows Funk at House of Blues
The Mind's Eye, A-19, The Buxleys at Dean's
Muhammad Ali, The Ex-Optimists, God’s Favorite Animal, One Good Lung at Notsuoh
The On Fires, Mobley, The Watermarks, Featherface at Mango's [free]
Ozeal, Spain Colored Orange, The Journey Agents at Rudyard's
The Psychedelic Furs, She Wants Revenge at Warehouse Live
Ska Bones at White Swan
Something Symphony at Bohemeo's
Suzanna Choffel at Mucky Duck
Vans Warped Tour featuring: over 70 bands at Sam Houston Race Park
Wild Moccasins [Tour Kickoff], The Eastern Sea,The Wiggins at Walter's

Saturday, July 3rd
The Band Foster at Salt
Belleville Outfit at Mucky Duck
Chango Man, Ginger Leigh at Continental Club
Cirrus Minor, LGM, Mark My Word, Almost Eve at Fitzgerald's [downstairs]
The Failed Attempt at Avant Garden
Inner Image, Elysian, Hindsight, Flawless Escape, Bullets In The Sun at Fitzgerald's
The Jonx, Bright Men Of Learning, The Gary, Young Girls at Mango's
Lying To Sick Children, Vacillation, Heavens Declare War, Black Magic Marker, Voyd Storm at White Swan
No Borders, The Vermeers at Bohemeo's
Nuss, Kai-ros at Super Happy Fun Land
Pinhed, Sever The Silence, Blind Sanctity, Bound In Flesh, A Friend Of A Dead Friend, Cerebal Down, Hatred at Warehouse Live
Robert Ellis, Possessed By Paul James, sIngs at Walter's
Sandy & Ms. YET, As Cities, Concrete Violin, Sean E Maizus, Oltre La Morte at Khon's
The Trian Woodburns, World’s Most Dangerous, Venomous Maximus at Rudyard's

Sunday, July 4th
Cadre, The Holy Hand Grenades, Rainbows in Your Wildest Dreams, Searching For Signal, Muzak John at Super Happy Fun Land
Co-Pilot [CD Release/Tour Kickoff], Young Girls, Ghost Town Electric, Mechanical Boy at The Mink
Miyavi at House of Blues

Photos: The Jonx, YellowFever

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Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Exploring The Country 5

Eric S. — 2010-07-01T12:00:00-06:00

Exploring The Country 5
by Jongarrett777

Horsepower

Poster Notes

Marc Brubaker — 2010-06-30T15:00:00-06:00

We've realized that even though we have a deep affinity for a well-made poster, here at Houstonist we rarely employ them on the blog. Sure, they're not all winners, but someone put some time and effort [or five minutes of cut n' paste] into making them.

So welcome to our inaugural installment of Poster Notes, where we'll be sharing whatever we can find that's advertising the coming week. Today's edition will carry us through Sunday. Subsequent posts will go up Sunday afternoons and feature flyers for the next seven days [Monday through the following Sunday]. Enjoy!

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Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Hindu temple at dusk

Eric S. — 2010-06-30T12:00:00-06:00

Hindu temple at dusk
by sulla55

A gorgeous dusk shot of the Hindu temple in Stafford, Tx.

Did you know that each piece of marble and limestone were hand cut overseas and delivered to Stafford for construction of this temple?

Rock Talk, Vol. XXIX

Marc Brubaker — 2010-06-30T11:15:00-06:00

It's that time again, where we scrub the internet clean of all the Houston music news we can find. Let's see what's going on in that wide world of 600 square miles, shall we?

Tunes
Something Fierce put up a demo of their new song Future Punks.

We'd heard a bit about this, but you can now hear Pedro Tijerina's new band Young Girls.

You can stream all of the forthcoming Omotai EP, Peace Through Fear on Bandcamp. It'll come out on July 13th, but they'll be having a release show on the 10th at The Hot Dog Shop.

You can also stream the Buffalo Bayou album on their MySpace; it looks like their release show is July 17th at Last Concert Cafe.

Videos
Wild Moccasins had Chad Hartigan make a video for their song Psychic China. Who doesn't love a good pillow fight?

Here's a video for Highs of Low by The Live Lights.

This new band from Wharton, Black Kennedy, would like to introduce themselves with a song called Something Wicked.

Jonathan Jindra of Trills put together this video for Tchrite's Phaidon.

And we'd be remiss if we didn't mention that Swisha House has the new video for Paul Wall's I'm On Patron.

News, etc.
We're pretty relieved to hear that Little Joe is continuing to improve.

Co-Pilot and Football, etc. are just the latest in a string of local bands to get out on tour this summer. They're both putting out new releases at their respective kickoff shows, so show up, buy one, and help them with a little gas money.

With the impending departure of Lance Higdon, Tambersauro will be having their "last show" on July 24th at The Exoskeleton [next to Khon's].

Higdon has also put together a noise show this Saturday at Khon's. Well, it'll draw power from Khon's for the performers, but it'll be in the empty Midtown Doctor's Group, with each band in a separate "waiting room" - including his new project with Richard Ramirez, Oltre La Morte. Oh, and you'll need to bring a flashlight. This should be quite an event.

Winter Wallace is putting out a CD called Holiday - the release show will be on August 6th at M Squared Gallery in the Heights.

Something tells us Andrew Karnavas is working on new material.

Hollywood Floss has a new website.

Trae might not get any love from 97.9 the Box, but MTV is recognizing him.

Got a bit of news that you think fits in Rock Talk? Send an e-mail to marc [at] houstonist [dot] com. Please include any pertinent links for verification purposes.

Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - 2, 4, 6, 8

Eric S. — 2010-06-29T12:00:00-06:00

2, 4, 6, 8
by soonerpa

Photographer's Description:

"2, 4, 6, 8 - hydrate

Its getting hot Houston!"

This Just In: Magnolia Bar & Grill Shuttering

Mary Jane — 2010-06-28T15:30:00-06:00

Houstonist received the bad word this weekend: Magnolia Bar & Grill will close it's doors Wednesday. We went by last night for dinner, to have a last cup of gumbo and some of the city's best seafood. We understand that escalating rent, a decrease in business (due to our nationwide economic woes, probably) and the "little" moratorium on fishing, shrimping and oyster harvesting off the coast are all to blame.

While we have not heard of any plans to reopen in another location at a future date, we do have our fingers crossed that they find a new place to hang the oyster plate collection. Don't miss your opportunity to have one last meal with them. Also, please be patient as they close in a couple of days and may run out of some things (like some of the wine selections and the Opelousas Duck). We find this perfectly acceptable, after all, why order a mess of inventory when you are shutting? Makes no sense. To the fine folks at the Magnolia - we hate to see you go and we hope you come back soon now, y'hear?

Magnolia Bar & Grill
6000 Richmond Avenue @ Fountainview
11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
713.781.6207

Presented By:

2010-06-28T15:30:00-06:00

H-Town Rock

Marc Brubaker — 2010-06-28T14:30:00-06:00

For the week of June 28th - 30th, 2010

What's that, you say? You'd like to go see some music this week, but you're not sure where to start? Well, shucks! Let good ol' Houstonist offer up a suggestion or two - and as always there's a full calendar after the jump, albeit looks like it has lost a little weight this week.

For the week's apéritif, head over to Continental Club as Glover Gill serves up some tunes whilst ticklin' the ivories. Or head over to House of Blues and seen that American Idol winner. It's your choice, not ours.

Tuesday night offers some slim pickings. In fact, we'll probably wind up at Mango's to meet an old friend and catch the weekly Rollin' On Dub night. For a nice healthy serving of live music, we'd recommend the open mic at Avant Garden - the regular field contains a few lumps but usually boasts more than a few solid performers that'd make a fine appetizer for your week. Who knows - you might even catch us playing a song or three.

Wednesday is when the week starts gaining momentum - Paul Thorn can start your evening with his performance at Cactus Music [note: his only show in town, by the by] at six o'clock, leaving you time to sup before heading off to catch any number of shows. It looks like there's a fine crop of punk and hardcore at Super Happy Fun Land, and as usual Robert Ellis and crew will be doling out their country jam at Mango's. We're not certain who's on that bill with Benjamin Wesley at Walter's, but that show's free and Ben's quite good - two reasons not to miss it. Houstonist will likely be caught there, getting liquored up and ready to rumble with some bro's across the street - ok, maybe we're just kidding about that last part. Maybe.

Monday, June 28th
Brown Drown, Landshark, Days N Daze, U Not I at Super Happy Fun Land
The Cor-Tet at Avant Garden
Glover Gill at Continental Club
Jordin Sparks, Ashlyne Huff, Days Difference at House of Blues
Nominon, Infinitum Obscure, Quinta Essentia, Blaspherian, Venomous Supremacy at Walter's

Tuesday, June 29th
Lisa Morales, Cindy Cashdollar, Redd Volkaert, Heather Myles at Mucky Duck
Supernova at Jet Lounge

Wednesday, June 30th
Agent Orange, Room 101 at Rocbar
Benjamin Wesley at Walter's
Boyce Avenue at House of Blues
Lizards Have Personalities, Texas Instruments, Aspire, Dead Lines, My Brother's Keeper, Perfect Future, Zona Mexicana at Super Happy Fun Land
Patrice Pike at Mucky Duck
Paul Thorn at Cactus Music [6 pm]
Peter & James at Charlie's Big Top
Robert Ellis & The Boys at Mango's
The Umbrella Man at Continental Club

Photos: Texas Instruments, Glover Gill

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Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - Doing bee things

Eric S. — 2010-06-28T12:00:00-06:00

Doing bee things
by photo_doug

"I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee.
Won't my mommy be so proud of me?

I'm bringing home a baby bumble bee.

OUCH! It stung me!"

Meanwhile, Up North: G20 Takes over Toronto

Marc Brubaker — 2010-06-28T09:30:00-06:00

Toronto: Saturday, June 26th, 2010, 5:15 p.m. At Bay and Richmond, conflicting protests... (Christopher Drost/Torontoist)

Houstonist brought you some goodies from around the Istaverse yesterday, but we wanted to share one more thing with you. We suspect that it's possible you've heard of the G20 Summit going on right now to the north of us. In fact, Houstonist's own father was just in Toronto for work, so it was rather interesting to hear him inform us how downtown offices were essentially emptied out last week, with employees being told simply not to come in to work.

Our sister blog Torontoist has been providing round-the-clock live coverage of the G20 summit, which landed in their city on a chaos-filled Saturday that saw cop cars get lit on fire, windows get smashed, and some lighter moments like the one above.

Those photographs are all from Saturday, but you can [and should, we might add!] view all of their live coverage from the weekend in these posts: Friday, Saturday and Sunday. We must say, it's pretty stunning.

Week Around The Ists

Marc Brubaker — 2010-06-27T13:00:00-06:00

Photograph of Chicago's wild lightning by cshimala on Flickr

Chicagoist survived a round of apocalyptic storms in which lightning struck the city's three tallest buildings at the same time.
SFist fetched the smelling salts after looking at this shocking Gay Pride window display at the downtown Diesel store.
Bostonist rocked the American Craft Beer Festival for the third year in a row.
Londonist encountered some super-cute knitted pigeons in Trafalgar Square, and learnt about a celebrity bus tour of London, and a special opening of one of the city's 'ghost stations'.
LAist learned that some Critical Mass cyclists were initiating a movement called "Project Civil Obedience" so riders would obey all the laws during their monthly group ride.
Torontoist experienced an earthquake.
DCist's morale during an insufferable heat wave was boosted by video of a dude shamelessly getting down on the Metro.
Shanghaiist learned that 77% of Chinese citizens would move to Canada if they could.
Austinist looked at the Texas GOP platform, which includes themes like anti-gay legislation and voter ID.
Seattlest considered Smith Tower, which was the tallest building west of the Mississippi for some time.
Phillyist Gleeked out over Idina Menzel's appearance at Philadelphia's Mann Center.
Houstonist ran down the players called up for the Texas Rangers.
Gothamist watched as the state passed a cigarette tax hike that now makes smokes nearly $11 a pack.