Despite the fact that some venues in town are booked with graduation ceremonies this week (looking at you, Cynthia Woods Pavilion), it is actually a reasonably busy week ahead, so far as live music is concerned. So, whaddaya say, let’s get to it!
Ticket Alert
L7 is an all-female band, however you shouldn’t expect a quiet, refined evening at their concert on Wednesday, October 14, at the House of Blues. But don’t take my word for it. Listen to those esteemed rock critics Beavis and Butthead, who declared that, in a fight between Tiffany, Wilson Phillips and Debbie Gibson, “One chick from L7 could kick all their asses combined.” This will be a general admission show (even the balcony), so get ready to rumble.
Due to various intraband squabbles (money, politics), Journey has been held together by a thread for the past several years. Nevertheless, the band will once again return to the Bayou City on Wednesday, November 18, at Toyota Center, part of its “Final [allegedly] Frontier Tour.” Tickets for the big cash grab are on sale now. Seats on the floor appear to be in short supply, but there are plenty of tickets available in other sections, making a guy wonder if the band has already made too many trips to the well in recent years.
And speaking of dysfunctional outfits, Band of Horses is set to perform at the House of Blues on Monday, November 23. Leader Ben Bridwell has been the band’s only constant member since its formation in 2004. Since then, over 17 members have passed through the revolving door that a reasonable person could assume has been mounted at the side of the Horses’ stage.
So, what do you do if the boy band you are in – the wildly successful One Direction, in this case – declares that it is on hiatus? If you are Niall Horan, you strike out on your own as a solo artist and sell a ton of records, that’s what. Horan will play Toyota Center on Saturday, May 1 (2027, that is), in support of his forthcoming album Dinner Party, and tickets are currently on sale. Note, however, that most of the upper level seats will not be sold, so the ticket supply for this show will be lower than most Toyota Center concerts.
Concerts This Week
Dale Watson will celebrate the release of his latest album, Unwanted, on Thursday at the Mucky Duck. A recent press release takes pains to classify Watson’s brand of music as “Ameripolitan,” and while I can understand Watson’s desire to avoid been lumped in with the Americana crowd, let’s be real. Watson is currently one of the finest exponents of old-school shit-kicking honky-tonk music out there. Long may he play. In other Mucky Duck news, Houston favorites James McMurtry and Betty Soo will perform two shows, early and late, on Saturday.
When I first saw “Triumph” on the subject line of an email, I thought that Triumph the Insult Comic Dog was heading out on tour. Not so much, as it turns out. No, we’re talking here about Triumph, the Canadian power trio that could be considered a poppier (though still rocking) version of Rush. The band has been largely dormant since hanging it up after a successful run during the early ‘80s (“Fight the Good Fight,” “Lay It on the Line,” “Magic Power”), but Triumph has reassembled for a national tour, which will arrive at the Smart Financial Centre on Friday. For more on the Triumph reunion, check out Bob Ruggiero’s Houston Press interview with lead singer Rik Emmett.
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion will host two major shows this week, the first being rapper / singer Pitbull’s concert on Friday. The tour is called “I’m Back,” though it doesn’t really seem that Pitbull has been absent as of late. Rapper Lil John will open, by the way. Then on Saturday, Machine Gun Kelly brings his “Lost Americana” (see, there’s that term again) tour to town, with Wiz Khalifa opening. ‘Cause Knowledge is Power: MGK was born in Houston but didn’t stay for long, as his parents were Christian missionaries and traveled around the world spreading the gospel.
In show business, you never know when a seemingly awful gig will lead to riches and greener pastures. Such is the case with Demi Lovato, whose big break was as a cast member on the “Barney and Friends” television show about 25 years ago. Using that experience as her springboard, Lovato has gone on to star in several television and movie projects while building a career as a pop vocalist, efficiently using one medium to promote the others. Lovato will bring her “It’s Not That Deep” tour to Toyota Center on Monday.
Scottish rock band Nazareth will perform on Tuesday at the House of Blues. No, it’s not the same lineup that charted hits with “Love Hurts” and “Hair of the Dog” during the ‘70s, but it’s worth noting that these guys (in one form or another) have been at it since 1968. Bassist Pete Agnew was there at the beginning, and he’s still on the road with the band today.
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