According to my fellow music scribes at Ultimate Classic Rock, the Melvins played the greatest number of shows of any classic rock band during 2025, notching 117 performances. However, I must register – if not an actual protest – a quibble.
Why? Because I’m a homer. While the perennial road dogs in ZZ Top officially came in second on the UCR list with 107 performances, it was (and should be) pointed out that the Rev. Willie G (aka Billy Gibbons) played 33 gigs, producing a combined total of 140 concerts. Also of note, ZZ Top played more shows this year than last (99 concerts), when they held the top spot on the UCR survey.
Still, hats off to the Melvins. Much like ZZ Top, the band has remained true to its initial hard rocking ethos, unwavering in the face of the musical trends that have come and gone over the past 40 plus years. And how can you not like an act that recorded the Beach Boys’ “I Get Around” as “I Fuck Around,” setting some kind of record for the most F-bombs in a single song? Now that’s rock and roll!
Ticket Alert
Like many bands who came of age during the heady days of early MTV, Flock of Seagulls has gone through a number of lineup changes over the years. But the one constant has been vocalist and synth player Mike Score. Due to a case of advancing age and receding hairline, Score has given up on his signature avian-inspired hairstyle, but he and his mates are still cranking out the hits. Tickets are on sale now for the band’s concert at the House of Blues on Saturday, March 28.
Also coming to the House of Blues are a couple of shows that will set guitar nerds’ hearts all a-twitter. On Friday, April 3, metal meisters Alex Skolnick and Testament will roll in with their “Thrash of the Titans” tour, followed on Friday, April 24, by six-string virtuoso Eric Johnson and his “Texaphonic Tour.” Tickets for both shows are on sale now.
Snag your seats now for Khalid’s concert on Thursday, June 18, at the 713 Music Hall, part of a tour supporting the R&B hitmaker’s latest album, After the Sun Goes Down. ‘Cause Knowledge is Power: In 2019, Khalid became the first artist to simultaneously occupy the top five positions on theBillboard R&B singles chart. Not too shabby.
Concerts This Week
At the risk of sounding like some sort of Grinch / Scrooge / antisocial bastard, let me just say that sometimes, after a day’s worth of holiday festivities, some folks have had enough family and need a change of scenery and company. So if you find yourself in that frame of mind tomorrow evening, head over to the Continental Club for Molly and the Ringwalds. Hits from the ‘80s, dancing and no cover? What’s not to like here?
And speaking of tremendous Houston cover bands, Beetle will perform a Boxing Day concert on Friday at the Big Top. Everyone knows what Beetle is all about and what to expect from their show, but “What the hell is Boxing Day?” you may ask.
Well, no one really knows for sure. It is a holiday celebrated in the United Kingdom and in Commonwealth nations, i.e. countries that were once part of the British Empire. Boxing Day takes place on December 26, and it is said that the name comes from the tradition of giving “Christmas boxes” to servants and tradespeople on the day following Christmas. These days, it represents a huge shopping day featuring lots of sales, much like Black Friday in the States. Many sporting events are also scheduled on Boxing Day: football, cricket, rugby and, yes, boxing matches.
Those who remember the days when Jesse Dayton and the Road Kings were burning up Houston stages with an intense blend of rockabilly and punk have two chances to relive those wild times when the trio presents its Third Annual Holiday Throwdown at the Continental Club on Friday and Saturday. As a bonus, J. Isaiah Evans & The Boss Tweed will open both shows. For more on this badass organ trio, check out Bob Ruggiero’s interview with Evans in the Houston Press.
Who doesn’t want to still be rocking when they turn 80? Certainly not Houston musical / legal luminary Al Staehely, who will celebrate his membership in the octogenarian club on Saturday at the Mucky Duck. In case you don’t know, Staehely did a stint as lead singer and bassist with the band Spirit in the early ‘70s, later playing with west coast legends Nick Gravenites and John Cipollina. Staehely has also written songs which were recorded by Keith Moon, Bobbie Gentry and Marty Balin (Jefferson Airplane). These days, he is an entertainment attorney, helping artists navigate the treacherous maze that is show biz.
Speaking of origin stories, here’s one. Back in the ‘70s, musician Chip Davis was writing jingles for an ad agency in Ohio when he and copywriter William Fries created a campaign for a local bakery which featured the character of truck driver C.W. McCall. When the CB radio craze exploded, Davis and Fries recorded their song “Convoy,” which hit number one in 1976, causing many otherwise normal Americans to start using phrases like “Time to put the hammer down!” and “That’s a big 10-4!”
Subsequently, Davis created Mannheim Steamroller, an aggregation that sought to seamlessly fuse classical music, prog rock and new age. Record company executives didn’t really think he had achieved this feat, and after being repeatedly rejected by numerous labels, Davis founded the American Gramaphone company to release his creations. Since then, Mannheim Steamroller had sold over 20 million copies of their Christmas albums, which have been on many a holiday playlist since 1984. Davis and the Steamroller gang will perform on Tuesday at the Smart Financial Centre, for those who want one more Christmas fix.
This article appears in Jan 1 – Dec 31, 2025.