H-Town Beat Down BBVA Compass Stadium, June 20
What better way to christen concerts at BBVA Compass Stadium than an insane hop-hop/R&B show with four top stars? BBVA may want to take out some extra coverage on natural disasters, because Kendrick Lamar, Trey Songz, J. Cole and Future performing together may in fact bring the walls down. Lamar has grown into one of the hip-hop's biggest names as the thinking man's rapper, whose mellow, insightful rhymes on songs like "Swimming Pools (Drank) delves deeper than the usual rap subject matter.
But don't worry: with Trey Songz and J Cole around, this 93.7 FM-sponsored concert will still be plenty dirty. Both men are known for their enthusiastic love of women -- Songz on songs like "I Invented Sex" and Cole on just about everything -- and Future, thanks to hits like "Honest" and "Magic," can certainly carry his share of the weight as well. ANGELICA LEICHT
The Derailers Firehouse Saloon, June 20
As dependably satisfying a live band as can be found anywhere, the Derailers never stop smiling while they deliver hard-rockin' honky-tonk country music to audiences eager to drink and dance in equal measure. Tweaking the Telecaster-driven twang of Bakersfield greats Buck Owens and Merle Haggard with the cocky strut of early rock and rollers like Chuck Berry and the Beach Boys' surf-pop sunshine, Brian Hofeldt's bunch has defined the South Austin sound for more than two decades. The Derailers can be counted on to pack the dance floor at venues like the Broken Spoke with with an effervescent twang that never founders or dulls; don't miss their cover of Prince's "Raspberry Beret" either. CHRIS GRAY
Morris Day & the Time Discovery Green, June 21
If they can steal Purple Rain right out from under Prince, Morris Day & the Time -- now officially known as the Original 7ven -- ought to be able to handle a Saturday night at Discovery Green. The ultra-slick, synth-heavy Minneapolis funk crafted by members Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis is still all over the radio, and in Day, who onstage still looks almost as good to the audience as he does in his own mirror, the 7ven boasts one of the most dynamic front men in R&B history. Expect plenty of hits like "Jungle Love," "Jerk Out," "The Bird" and "Fishnet," plus a few cuts from their 2011 album Condensate before Day bothers to breaks a sweat.
Also featuring "Ruffneck" L.A. rapper MC Lyte and "Baby Come to Me" gospel-R&B singer Regina Belle, this concert is part of the 11th annual Texas Black Expo, which also brings personalities like radio host Tom Joyner, rapper Biz Markie, singer Tank, DJ Kid Capri, and even gubernatorial candidate Sen. Wendy Davis to the various parties and events scattered across downtown between Friday and Sunday. See texasblackexpo.com for details. CHRIS GRAY
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