Jeezy Arena Theatre, May 17
A self-proclaimed hustler on the mike, the Atlanta rapper known as Young Jeezy has grown up quite a bit since his 2001 debut album dropped under the name Lil J. Rising through the ranks via his several independently released Dirty South mixtapes, he's now sittin' pretty under the umbrella of industry giant Def Jam, working alongside 2 Chainz, Lil Wayne, and Ne-Yo, and even earning a Best Rap Performance Grammy nod for 2012's "I Do."
Jeezy has stayed true to that Southern hip-hop sound, though, and still reps his membership status in the United Streets Dopeboyz of America while using producers like The Renegades and Warren G on more recent mixtapes. ANGELICA LEICHT
King's X Scout Bar (Clear Lake), May 18
Boy, is it good to see King's X down this way again. The hard-rock trio has scattered somewhat since their days as an exclusively local act, but that's no reason to welcome them home anyway. Saturday will be the first King's X show in the area since drummer Jerry Gaskill's February 2012 heart attack; since then Gaskill's New Jersey home was wiped out in Hurricane Sandy and now bassist/singer DUg Pinnick has announced he needs a hernia operation after their current tour. (Sheesh.)
But if any band has some good karma coming to it, it's this one. Early King's X albums like Out of the Silent Planet and Gretchen Goes to Nebraska were touchtones for some of the biggest bands of the '90s, especially Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains. If they're still rocking after all they've endured recently, who's going to stop King's X now? With Recovery Room, Raging Apathy and Stone Pusher. CHRIS GRAY
CCA Conservation Concert Sam Houston Race Park, May 18
After the Preakness is over Saturday, you can not only enjoy a Triple Crown of Texas' top singer-songwriters but the tight-trousered goodness of their California kinsman. Dwight Yoakam's 2012 album 3 Pears was arguably the behatted star's finest album in two decades, mixing an abundance of juiced-up honky-tonk with plenty of sad, sad music.
Meanwhile, neither Ray Wylie Hubbard, Hayes Carll nor Robert Earl Keen should be any stranger to Houston audiences - not only does one of the three have a gig in town every other weekend (it seems), but each is a twangy raconteur of the highest order, from "She Left Me for Jesus" to "The Road Goes On Forever" and "Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother." All proceeds from the concert go towards the Coastal Conservation Association; see ccatexas.org to see how you can help. CHRIS GRAY
Moses Guest Continental Club, May 18
This Texas-based quartet is known for delivering a hefty serving of Southern rock infused with a smattering of funk, bluegrass, jazz and pop. Along the way, their largely improvised live shows create an arty, adventurous sound led by Graham Guest's anthemic folk-rock vocals.
Part Allman Brothers, part Southern-fried Jerry Garcia, that style that has led to a loyal fan base and gigs with the likes of Willie Nelson, Steve Miller Band and Los Lobos. These guys have perfected the art of the intellectual jam band. ANGELICA LEICHT
SEVEN OTHER SHOWS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER By Chris Gray
Dave Matthews Band: Come early for opening old-timey blues/bluegrass trio Carolina Chocolate Drops. (Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, May 17)
The Wrong Ones: One of Houston's rudest rock bands releases new effort Infinite Hallucination and has good company with Poor Dumb Bastards, Hell City Kings and the Swamps. (Fitzgerald's, May 17)
Sponge: '90s alt-glam rockers pop in on the suddeny-hot 1960 rock palace. Remember what a great song "Plowed" was? A world of human wreckage! (Concert Pub North, May 17)
Scott H. Biram: Good to see you again, dirty ol' one man band. (Continental Club, May 17)
Born Liars: Another one of Houston's rudest rock bands releases a new effort of their own, Show Some Couth. Lord knows who they're bringing with them. (Fitzgerald's, May 18)
Carolyn Wonderland: Come out and remember Wonderland's former bandmate Scotty Daniels (R.I.P.) (Dan Electro's Guitar Bar, May 18)
Texas Johnny Brown: Slow-smoked Gulf Coast R&B the way mama used to make. (The Big Easy Social & Pleasure Club, May 18)
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