In addition to the appearance of what might have been a somewhat lifelike animatronic version of Mitch McConnell, a noteworthy event during Monday’s reconvening of the U.S. Congress was a vote in the House of Representatives which will permanently end production of the penny. And what’s really wild is that, in this era of political sturm und drang, the Common Cents Act (see what they did there?) was approved with a unanimous vote.
The one cent coin now costs four cents to produce, so I suppose the measure makes sense, but I can’t say that I don’t feel a sense of loss as we wave goodbye to the penny. If nothing else, this move means that, within a couple of decades, some folks may not understand a number of common idioms and sayings:
“Penny for your thoughts?”
“The penny dropped.”
“Penny-wise and pound-foolish.”
“That’ll cost a pretty penny.”
“He keeps coming back like a bad penny.”
“A penny saved is a penny earned.”
Eh, who am I kidding. Future generations will probably only use crypto currency, having no concept of carrying around a wallet and a pocketful of change. Using actual cash? I know, so 20th century. Anyway, there’s my two cents.
Ticket Alert
Houston – and the world, it would seem – can’t seem to get enough of those Jonas boys. After a big-ass tour last year, the Jonas Brothers (that would be Kevin, Joe and Nick) are traversing the country once again, touching down at Toyota Center on Sunday, November 8. The brothers have performed in Houston four times over the past five years, though, so it remains to be seen whether Jonas Fever will persist through 2026.
When it comes to contemporary Christmas music, it seems that a continuum exists between the aurally easy-to-digest stylings of Mannheim Steamroller and the crunchy guitar bombast of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. If your musical tastes lie at the latter end of that spectrum, you will be glad to know that the TSO’s annual Houston visit will take place on Friday, December 11, at Toyota Center, with both a matinee and an evening performance.
Alejandro Escovedo has been a Texas music legend for decades, but it wasn’t always that way. He began his career with the San Francisco punk band the Nuns, subsequently moving to New York and living in the Chelsea Hotel while playing with the Judy Nylon band. Escovedo moved to Austin in the ‘80s, and the rest is history. Catch this Texas treasure on Thursday, December 17, at the Heights Theater.
If you attended last week’s concert by the Sex Pistols (see Jesse Sendejas’ Houston Press review) but missed the no-filter human id that is Johnny Rotten / John Lydon, you can enjoy his musical stylings on Thursday, February 25, when he will perform at the White Oak Music Hall with his band Public Image Ltd.
Concerts This Week
This is a busy week at Toyota Center, with three acts playing two nights each. Talk about bringing the heavy lumber, as they say in baseball. Rapper J. Cole will take the stage tonight and Thursday as part of his first tour in five years. Cole is currently riding high following the release of The Fall-Off, an album featuring guest appearances by Burna Boy and Erykah Badu among others.
On Saturday and Sunday, Toyota Center will host Tame Impala, a psychedelic musical collective organized by Australian muso / producer Kevin Parker. Closing out the run of two-fers, Rod Wave takes the reins on Monday and Tuesday with two evenings of “trap soul,” a genre that mixes rap and R&B.
The next installment in the Coffee House Houston series of concerts will feature Mike Stinson and his band on Thursday at Lambert Hall in the Heights. For over 12 years, Coffee House Houston has presented top-notch talent in a family-friendly environment with no admission charge. Attendees are welcome to make contributions to sustain the program, but they are not required to. Hey, what’s not to like?
When Mavericks lead singer and guiding light Raul Malo died at the end of last year, many thought it was curtains for the band. After (one would imagine) some soul searching, the remaining Mavericks resolved to carry on, teaming up with guest vocalists in a tour christened “The Music Lives On.” Catch the Mavericks and their pals on Friday at the House of Blues.
Anyone who has seen the documentary The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years will no doubt recall a scene in which W.A.S.P.’s then-guitarist Chris Holmes is interviewed while floating on an inflatable raft in a swimming pool. A bit unusual, sure, but what distinguished the segment was the fact that Holmes was completely clothed and chugging from a bottle of vodka while his sweet-little-old-lady of a mother looked on.
Though Holmes is no longer with the band, this same ethos remains, with vocalist / bassist Blackie Lawless still delivering songs such as “Animal (Fuck Like a Beast)” with gusto that belies his advancing age. Those wanting to relive the glory days of hair metal on the Sunset Strip can break out the Aqua Net and head for the House of Blues on Sunday. ‘Cause Knowledge is Power: So what does the acronym W.A.S.P. stand for, exactly? Initially, the band said it represented “We Are Sexual Perverts.” Later Lawless told a journalist, “We Ain’t Sure, Pal.”
.jpg){kind=link}