Houston Symphony Tribute to Led Zeppelin Jones Hall, July 26
I'm not quite ready for an AARP card, but if I had one I'd try to use it for discount admission to this show, which obviously has an aging target audience in mind. Call me a geezer, but I'll be there, throwing my arthritic devil horns up all night long. Besides the obvious - "Kashmir," which actually features strings and brass; "Stairway to Heaven," which has the slow-build-to-frenzy structure inherent in the best classical compositions - I'm excited to hear arrangements of less obvious choices. Zebra's Randy Jackson, whose voice is a musical mirror reflecting back on Robert Plant's earlier days, will handle vocals. JESSE SENDEJAS JR.
Nine Inch Nails, Soundgarden, Death Grips
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, August 16
If this tour was taking place in 1994, it would probably be a lot more exciting. That being said, NIN and Soundgarden have shown us in recent years that they can still pull off their most stunning works with exceptional precision. Relive the classic rock of your youth with this one, and experience the performance art of Death Grips as an opening bonus. COREY DEITERMAN
Queen + Adam Lambert Toyota Center, July 9
Look. It pains me to say it as much as you to read it: Freddie Mercury is dead. And terrible but true, he's never coming back. So in turn, unless you're in a lucky small percentage of Houston or have invented an effective time machine, you'll never see the original Queen live. Ever. But as irreplaceable as Freddie Mercury is, there is hope in Adam Lambert.
I can't definitively say that he's the second coming of Mercury, nor would I try. But Lambert is insanely talented, able to carry any tune wherever it should go and vocally experiment where it shouldn't. Like Mercury, he is a great performer who isn't afraid to let it all out. He will never impersonate Mercury. He will be Adam, loving Freddie while kicking his own kind of ass, and he shall prevail. SELENA DIERINGER
Total Abuse Mango's, August 1
Austin's Total Abuse has been battering audiences with its uniquely disturbed version of ugly, noisy hardcore since 2006, and if you haven't caught them live yet, you're missing out on some bloody raw and truly depraved punk. Even better, this show is set to feature an all-too-rare appearance from the even-sicker Houston noise legends Rusted Shut. Don't expect a lot of moshing during their set; just shattered ears and personal degradation. If you've got an extra Zoloft, be a dear and bring it with you. NATHAN SMITH
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