Houston Concert Watch 12/3: Hayes Carll, Brandy and More

At this point, it should come as no surprise that Roger Waters (former member of Pink Floyd, current member of the ever-expanding a-hole brigade) had no kind words for Ozzy Osbourne when the Prince of Fucking Darkness passed on this past summer.

But you know who hasn’t let Waters’ dumbassery slide? Osbourne’s family, that’s who. This week, the Osbournes announced that a limited number of “response” T-shirts will be available online. The design features an illustration of a brick wall (looking suspiciously like the cover of Pink Floyd’s classic album) bearing the spray-painted graffiti “Ozzy Rules!”

That’s not half bad, but consider the back of the shirt, which – in a tip of the, er, hat to that time when Ozzy sought relief at the Alamo – shows a metal fan whizzing on a copy of The Wall below the legend “Another Prick in the Wall.” Did we mention that the stream of urine contains all the colors of the rainbow? As Triumph the Insult Comic Dog used to say, “That’s how you do it!”

Ticket Alert

Like Alice Cooper before her, Cat Power ended up adopting her band’s name as a nom de scène (I’m trying to stay classy and erudite this week). Power will be touring next spring in celebration of the 20^th anniversary of her album The Greatest, kicking things off with a stop at the White Oak Music Hall on Thursday, February 12. Tickets are on sale now.

Folks in Nashville have known for years that guitarist Daniel Donato is a playin’ mofo, but those in the rest of the country have just picked up on his artistry within the past couple of years. Donato calls his music Cosmic Country, which translates as traditional country music mixed with the Grateful Dead, with some Stevie Ray Vaughan thrown in for good measure. Snag your tickets now for Donato’s concert at the Heights Theater on Wednesday, February 18.

It’s hard to go wrong with Earth, Wind & Fire. Sure, the R&B juggernaut hasn’t released a new album in years, but who cares? EW&F has more than enough classic songs in its musical stash to assemble a tremendous set list. Tickets are on sale now for the band’s concert at the Smart Financial Centre on Tuesday, May 5.

The proliferation of bills featuring multiple classic rock acts over the past several years proves the adage that ~~politics~~ money sometimes makes strange bedfellows. However, here’s a tour that actually makes sense: the “Windy Cities” tour featuring Chicago and Styx. Both bands hail from the City with Big Shoulders and had hits on the charts at about the same time, so fair enough. Presales are up now for the tour’s stop at the Cynthia Wood Mitchell Pavilion on Thursday, August 20, with the general sale on Friday.

Though on the ballot this past year, Mexican rockers Maná failed to get into the rock and roll hall of fame. But, considering that the group has sold over 45 million records and stands as the most successful Latin American band ever, the members probably don’t really – to quote my Houston Press colleague Pete Vonder Haar – give a fat frog’s ass. Unperturbed, Maná will be on the road next year, with a concert at Toyota Center scheduled for Friday, November 6. Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10 a.m.

Concerts This Week

Hayes Carll will bring his “Grateful for Christmas” show to the Heights Theater for two nights this week, with performances on Thursday and Friday. When I first saw this billing, I thought for a moment that the concerts might feature Christmas carols performed in the style of the Grateful Dead. Imagine my disappointment when I found that I would not get to hear “The Carol of the Bells” done a la “Dark Star.” Having said that, Carll will no doubt provide his own brand of holiday cheer. For more on Hayes Carll and his most recent album, We’re Only Human, take a look at Gladys Fuentes’ interview with the Houston singer-songwriter in the Houston Press this week.

Shinyribs (and former Gourds) front man Kevin Russell is set to perform two shows (early and late) at the Mucky Duck on Friday. Tickets are becoming scarce, so plan accordingly. Is it too much to hope for “Gin and Juice?” Maybe – just maybe – “Bitch Better Have My Money?”

Houston favorite Mike Stinson is at the Continental Club on Saturday performing songs from his latest album Working My Way Down. A full-band show is promised, so the joint will be jumpin’. And yet another Houston favorite, John Egan, will be opening. Those guys are everywhere this week!

When Brandy and Monica declare “The Boy is Mine,” you’d better believe it. The ‘90s hitmakers have collaborated on several occasions, but their current tour represents the first time they are on the road as co-headliners. The concert will be segmented into several different parts, some of which feature each singer solo and others in which they are on stage together. All that plus an opening set from Kelly Rowland, formerly of Destiny’s Child, currently a star in her own right! Check it out on Sunday at Toyota Center.