What’s wrong with people? In the wake of Ozzy Osbourne’s passing and subsequent funeral procession and service a few days ago, a couple of seriously questionable items have appeared online in connection with the late Prince of Darkness.
The first, which has since been taken down, involved bassist Michael Snyder, a member of the band Green Jelly (“Three Little Pigs”). According to reports on several websites, Snyder posted a photoshopped meme on Green Jelly’s social media accounts showing Osbourne holding a sign which reads “One Day Sober.” Green Jelly leader Bill Manspeaker deleted the post, which he called “disgusting,” and fired Snyder. However, Manspeaker posted a meme involving Osbourne and the also recently deceased Hulk Hogan a few days later, so go figure.
And then there’s Rod Stewart, who utilized AI (or somebody on his staff did) to create and post online a video of Osbourne, ostensibly in heaven and taking selfies with other dead musicians, among them Freddy Mercury, Kurt Cobain, Tina Turner and Michael Jackson. The video was also screened at a Stewart concert in Georgia. A. Rod, what the hell were you thinking? This stuff is weird and creepy. B. Michael Jackson? Really?
In the future, musical colleagues of fallen rock stars who feel the need to post something online might consider sentiments along the lines of “RIP (insert name of dead rocker)” or “(insert name of dead rock star), you will be missed.” I realize we’re talking rock and roll here, but a little decorum maybe?
Ticket Alert
Tickets are still available for a couple of major rap shows coming to the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. On Thursday, September 18, It’s Lil Wayne, and on Sunday, October 5, Junior H will take the stage. An intriguing contrast, in that Lil Wayne is a heritage rap artist while Junior H is a prime mover in the more contemporary corridos tumbados (trap corridos) sphere, which combines elements of narcocorrido and rap. Junior H also has a show at the Pavilion scheduled for the previous night, but that one is already sold out.
Some might consider Wolfgang Van Halen a “nepo baby,” but that classification is grossly unfair, since he has chops to burn (he played all the instruments on his first album) and what appears to be a serious work ethic regarding his music. Not to say that playing bass with Van Halen (the band) for over ten years wasn’t beneficial. The presale is up right now for Van Halen’s show on Wednesday, November 5 at the House of Blues with his band Mammoth, and the general sale begins on Friday.
Jeff Tweedy first gained attention as a member of Uncle Tupelo and then went on to form the band Wilco, with whom he still records and tours. However, on Friday, November 14, Tweedy will perform a solo show at the Heights Theater in support of his forthcoming release Twilight Override. Tickets are still available, but the smart money says that they won’t last long.
This fall, Erykah Badu will celebrate the 25th anniversary of her album Mama’s Gun with the “Return of Automatic Slim” tour, which will stop in Houston for two nights at the 713 Music Hall, on Friday, November 28, and Saturday, November 29. Tickets for both shows are still available.
Concerts This Week
Irish singer-songwriter Pat Byrne relocated to Austin in 2019, hoping to pick up on some of the same inspiration that fueled the creations of Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt and other legendary Texas troubadours. Things have worked out well for Byrne, who has developed a loyal following through steady gigging in Texas and beyond. Catch him on Friday at the Mucky Duck.
The always quirky but frequently charming Regina Spektor will perform on Saturday at the Bayou Music Center. In Vic Shuttee’s Houston Press interview with Spektor, she explained that her current tour is something of a “greatest hits” affair, which means that you won’t hear, “And now I would like to play something from my latest album.” Plan your bathroom breaks accordingly.
It was 25 years ago when Macy Gray entered the collective musical consciousness with her album On How Life Is. That record contained the hit “I Try,” which earned Gray a Grammy award on her way to triple-platinum status in the U.S. and quadruple-platinum in the U.K. She will perform on Saturday at the House of Blues as part of a tour celebrating the silver anniversary of On How Life Is. ‘Cause Knowledge is Power: In 2007, Gray assumed the nom de scène Nemesis Jackson and released the single “Slap a Bitch.” Cooler heads eventually prevailed.
What to make of Teddy Swims, whose music references pop, soul and country? As it happens, Swims (his last name an acronym for “someone who isn’t me sometimes”) was bitten by the show tunes bug when he and some other players on his high school football team decided to sign up for a musical theater class. As a result, Swims performed in productions of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Rent, along with some plays by William Shakespeare. So these days, when he sings a song, he performs it as a character. You can catch Swims on Saturday at the 713 Music Hall.
