As a wise man (who happens to be a Houston Press music writer) once said regarding this city's music venues, "In the end it’s a sort of victory just to keep the doors open, the floors clean, and one’s ethics in place." Houston certainly has its fair share of high-profile stages that draw A-list talent and large crowds, be they franchises (House of Blues), corporate-branded large theaters (Revention Music Center), or local institutions whose names are synonymous with Houston music (Fitzgerald's, Mucky Duck, Rudyard's). But other places are just as invaluable to the local music community, often serving as talent incubators or redoubts of neighborhood culture while seldom receiving a fraction of the credit they deserve. They may rarely draw the attention of the media or even the general public beyond their regular crowds, but these places matter too. Maybe more.

10. DEAN'S DOWNTOWN
While not the full-scale music venue it was in a previous life, Dean's — when it showcases live music — is still among the best venues in the city. That holds particularly true for its weekly Houston Songwriter Series, which showcases the area's top singer-songwriters from 8-10 p.m. every Sunday; each installment ranks among the more intimate, personal shows you'll find in Houston. Dean's also takes great pride in its selection of craft beers and cocktails. Here's a tip — order the Old Fashioned; you won't regret it. (316 Main, deansdowntown.com)

9. WALTERS DOWNTOWN
Walters Downtown hosts mostly rock-related guitar-having bands, from tween hardcore matinees to indie-pop get-togethers and punk jamborees, none of which mean the big bucks around here. Whatever the tenor of the event, whatever the turnout, the staff is always gracious, capable, and much friendlier than one has a right to expect. For the good work is seldom clean work. (1120 Naylor, waltersdowntown.com)

8. WHITE SWAN
A name like White Swan might mislead the unknowing into thinking the venue is a serene sanctuary filled with harps and angelic voices. The winged creature most representative of this Eastside hardcore haven is the sinister statuette perched atop a beam in the center of the room, where it overlooks the mayhem that’s usually occurring onstage. If it’s loud and heavy, it’s welcome at the White Swan, along with the devotees who follow such music. The beer is cheap, cold and often set aside by the patrons clearing the tables and chairs away from the stage area to accommodate yet another mosh pit. (4419 Navigation, whiteswanlive.com)

7. THE BIG EASY
The Big Easy stands in stark contrast to its Rice Village home; it's a scruffy stronghold of Houston authenticity stationed in the antiseptic, bourgeois university neighborhood. Beer and blues are on tap every night of the week, with local gems like Luther and the Healers filling the joint with 12 bars of bliss. A mosaic of vintage posters pattern the walls with legends of Houston's musical past. But the best night, as everyone knows, is Zydeco night. On Zydeco night, regulars show up in their best rhinestone jeans and cowboy hats and turn it out on the dance floor to the lovable hum of an accordion. The diversity of the dancers is always a bright spot in a city not well-known for its racial harmony. It doesn't matter what age you are, where you're from, or whether or not you can two-step. The regulars, warm and guileless as they are, will be happy to teach you, and give you a night to remember. (5731 Kirby, thebigeasyblues.com)

6. J P HOPS HOUSE
Fittingly, J P Hops House neighbors a Shipley’s Do-Nuts. Both are Houston institutions built on delivering sweet goodness to locals. Instead of sugar and dough, they’re serving up fine beers and acoustic music at J P’s.  The venue’s been open since 1980 and gives singer/songwriter fans a place in the ‘burbs to get their fix. Located on Highway 6 near Westheimer, it’s miles away from inner loop sibling venues like Mucky Duck and Anderson Fair, which makes it convenient for west end commuters to see their favorites. There’s a house band, The Hardtime Troubadors, which welcomes guest artists in on Wednesday nights. Some who’ve played the venue recently are Hank Woji, Larry Sepulvado, Keith Rea, Mystery Loves Company, Charity Ann, Matt Harlan and Rachel Jones. It might be the only venue in town with an ode to a patio; songwriter Bob Yoh once penned “Jim’s Big Deck,” in honor of JP's spacious outdoor area. (2317 S. Highway 6, jphopshouse.com)

5. AVANTGARDEN
AvantGarden is a chameleon, shifting its colors each day to cater to Houston's many incommensurable tastes. The Montrose venue, which is located in a refurbished 19th-century house, hosts guitar plucking singer songwriters, glitch pop djs, experimental jazz bands, and good old fashioned freestyle rap, sometimes all in the same week. But more important that its eclectic performance roster is AvantGarden's commitment to being a Houston cultural hub. With open mics, comedy nights, anti-art classes, and charity benefits, the venue does more than any other to sample and support the burgeoning creative class of Clutch City. Its weekly spoken word series, Write About Now, is a particular treat, showcasing our diverse and incisive poetry scene. Plus, with three bars, a spacious outdoor patio, multiple stages, and a precarious yet breathtaking upstairs patio, there's plenty of space to listen, dance, or just enjoy a drink (which will only be $2 dollars if you happen to find yourself there on Thursdays). While the space has morphed into many things since its erection, we hope it stays AvantGarden for the next hundred years. (411 Westheimer, avantgardenhouston.com)