Before we get to talking about Houston concerts, both those upcoming and those happening this week, a few words about Rush, who began a tour a few days ago in Los Angeles. The band’s drummer, Neil Peart, died not long after Rush’s 40th anniversary tour in 2015, and at that point it seemed like the band would never tour again.
But after taking some time to process their circumstances and engage in a bit of soul searching, surviving members Geddy Lee (vocals, bass) and Alex Lifeson (guitar) decided to take the show on the road one last time. The tour’s only Texas stop is in Fort Worth later this month, with Houston once again being hosed. But that’s another topic for another time.
Despite selling over 40 million albums worldwide, Rush has, for much of the band’s career, been considered a bit of a joke. Why? Slapping Rush with the “nerd rock” label, critics have rarely been kind, put off by the band’s highly technical musical style and complex (well, difficult to play, in any case) time signatures. Aside from criticism based on Rush’s proggy musical bent, insults were directed at the the ensemble for its lyrics, which often dealt with subjects like philosophy (particularly that of author Ayn Rand) and sci-fi / fantasy.
And then there is Geddy Lee’s voice, which has been described by detractors as resembling “a cat being chased out the door with a blowtorch” or “a guinea pig with an amphetamine habit.” Not to mention the fact that Rush’s fan base is almost exclusively male, causing Lee to tell the crowd during a stop on the band’s last tour, “I’m glad to see that, after all these years, many of you have actually convinced women to come to the show with you.”
And therein lies the reason that I have no beef with Rush. Lee and Lifeson are well aware of the things that have been said about them. And they think it’s all rather funny. To that end, a short film in which Rush pokes fun at itself was shown prior to the tour opener, and it is reasonable to assume that this practice will continue. Yeah, they’re nerds, but they are also playing mofos and the kind of guys who can laugh at themselves, most definitely in on the joke.
Ticket Alert
Houston’s own Carolyn Wonderland (I know she lives in Austin now, but she will always be ours) will perform at the Big Top on Friday, September 4. Tickets are on sale now, and the show may well sell out, so get a move on if you’re interested. And why wouldn’t you be? An evening with Wonderland always includes powerful vocals, badass guitar playing and big fun.
As it has turned out, the untimely passing of leader Raul Malo late last year did not mean that it was the end of the road for the Mavericks. The remaining band members have regrouped as “The Mavericks and Friends,” with different vocalists invited to be part of different concerts. You can see who shows up on Friday, September 18, at the House of Blues.
Bryson Tiller’s music exists in that amorphous area between hip-hop and R and B. In an interview with Paper, Tiller explained, “There are some things I can say rapping that I can’t say singing.” Fair enough. Tiller’s “Neo Trapsoul” tour rolls into the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Thursday, October 15, with Majid Jordan, Ty Dolla $ign and Austin Millz opening.
It’s pretty impressive when your band goes from busking outside other performers’ gigs to headlining in a matter of just a few years, and that’s exactly what happened in the case of Grateful Shred. When Dead and Company, a latter-day version of the Grateful Dead, were performing at the Hollywood Bowl in 2017, a group of musicians decided to perform some Dead covers in the vendor area (“Shakedown Street”) adjacent to the venue. As can be seen in the video “Busted at the Bowl,” police insisted that they cease and desist. And thus was born the legend of Grateful Shred. These days, the guys perform inside and on real stages. And the cops probably won’t stop the show at the Heights Theater on Sunday, November 8, at the Heights Theater unless things get really rowdy.
My dad would use the phrase “comes by it honestly” to describe an individual who exhibits a talent possessed by one of their parents. This is certainly the case with the North Mississippi Allstars, a band led by Luther and Cody Dickinson, the scions of producer Jim Dickinson, who played piano on the Stones track “Wild Horses.” The brothers Dickinson will play the Heights Theater on Thursday, November 19. ‘Cause Knowledge is Power: Jim Dickinson ended up playing on “Wild Horses” because Ian Stewart, who was supposed to be at the piano, refused, based on the fact that the song contained minor chords.
Concerts This Week
Texas guitarist Ian Moore will celebrate the first-ever vinyl release of his 1995 album Modernday Folklore with a show at the Heights Theater on Thursday. The music on the record is certainly accessible, particularly the hit song “Muddy Jesus.” But what’s up with that cover, which features a bronze statue of a woman in a dress and high heels, bending over and sticking her head inside a large rock. And did we mention that she is surrounded by sheep?
It’s a night of Texas music on Saturday at the Mucky Duck. First, San Antonio’s Two Tons of Steel will play an early show paying tribute to Lubbock’s Buddy Holly. Then it’s Houston favorite Mike Stinson on stage for a late show, performing selections from his voluminous catalog of tremendous songs. Can’t go wrong either way.
Why do they call him Buckethead? Because he performs with a cardboard Kentucky Fried Chicken bucket on the head, along with a white mask. Why KFC? I suppose that’s because Mr. Head claims to have been raised in a chicken coop. And because he seems to be flying on 11 herbs and spices. But wouldn’t that mean that he is, in essence, promoting the consumption of his spirit animals? You can ask Buckethead all of these questions when he performs on Sunday at the House of Blues.
When “new wave” was the thing in the late ‘70s, music included in the category was all over the place, and refreshingly so. Everything from Talking Heads to the Cars to Devo. One of the most substantial and enduring new wave artists is Joe Jackson, who first saw chart success with the vaguely punk-ish “Is She Really Going Out with Him?” But there was melodicism lurking beneath that veneer, as exhibited on Jackson’s next big hit, the jazzy “Stepping Out.” Over the years, Jackson has created an impressive catalog, with recordings ranging in style from swing to classical. Check him out on Tuesday at the Heights Theater.
