Venomous Maximus Fitzgerald's, November 15

Houston's dark overlords of doom-metal should be coming into this Fitz show -- their first hometown gig since opening for Guns N' Roses in May -- on quite a high, having just shared a stage with the mighty Slayer at last weekend's Fun Fun Fun Fest.

Now prepping a new album ("coming along nicely," singer Gregg Higgins recently posted on Facebook), VM is still watching last year's Beg Upon the Light pillage new lands like France, where in August the site metalchroniques.fr offered up this translated praise: "It is not easy to resist the charms of this cocktail, especially when it is done with talent." With Eagle Claw, Bowel, and Moonrazer. CHRIS GRAY

Untapped Festival Discovery Green, November 16

Untapped already sounds pretty great. Just when Houston weather is at its most gorgeous (hopefully) comes a long afternoon and evening with some of the city's most beloved bands, plus honored guests Big Black Delta (one-man L.A. electronica-pop show), the Walkmen (seasoned NYC indie-rockers) and Heartless Bastards (Austin guitar-mashers). Showing them a good time will be a few locals who hardly need an introduction to Press readers, but we'll list them anyway: Wild Moccasins, the Tontons and the Suffers, plus wayward ex-Houstonian singer-songwriter Walker Lukens.

The reason for all this musical bounty? Oh, just more than 200 craft beers on hand from some 70 different breweries including Saint Arnold, Karbach, Real Ale, Southern Star and many more. Sound like reason enough to come check it out? Music starts at 4:15 p.m. CHRIS GRAY

Joey Bada$$ Warehouse Live, November 16

New York-bred MC Joey Bada$$ may be one on a long list of artists discovered on YouTube, but don't lump him in with those tween pop stars just yet. Yes, he was plucked off the Internet and signed by a manager via Twitter, but his innovative, outside-the-box lyrical prowess has earned him a real spot among the rap game's up-and-comers. He's even kept that text-talk you'd expect from a kid weaned on social media, though, which only adds to his appeal. With Ab-Soul. ANGELICA LEICHT

Little Joe Washington Benefit Continental Club, November 17

The Houston blues community's foremost survivor, Little Joe Washington has recovered nicely from the kidney infection that sent him to Ben Taub around Labor Day. (Or he had.) Little Joe has a lot of friends, and after his hospitalization, his friends were able to find him comfortable lodgings while others still -- principally Joe's bass player Chris Henrich and members of the Houston Blues Society's went about organizing Sunday's benefit.

Sadly, he may need it more than ever now, as Rocks Off just got word Thursday afternoon that Washington has been readmitted to the hospital. We hope he's out and back in action soon, but Joe is one tough old dreadlocked dude. Come out and show him how much we're all pulling for him. Music starts at 2 p.m.; cover is pay what you wish, and a schedule is below. CHRIS GRAY

Rory Jagdeo: 2-2:15 p.m. Treynwrek: 2:15-2:30 p.m. John Egan: 2:30-3 p.m. Allen Hill: 3:15-3:45 p.m. Steve Krase: 4-4:30 p.m. Richard Cagle: 4:45-5:15 p.m. Zydeco Dots: 5:30-6 p.m. Little Joe Washington Band: 6:15-6:45 p.m. Free Radicals: 7-7:30 p.m. Paul Ramirez: 7:45-8:15 p.m. John McVey: 8:30-9 p.m.

SEVEN OTHER SHOWS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER

Scotty McCreery: Ex-American Idol champ brings his impossibly deep, country-as-cornbread voice to Winnie pushing new album See You Tonight. (Nutty Jerry's, November 15)

Twenty One Pilots: Ohio geek-rap duo has leveraged its social-media adeptness to the brink of stardom, now out behind major-label debut Vessel. (House of Blues, November 15)

Terri Hendrix: San Marcos roots-mistress/entrepreneur will always leave you with a smile. (McGonigel's Mucky Duck, November 15)

Brian McKnight, Musiq Soulchild: None more smooth at this grown-folks neo-soul doubleheader. (Arena Theatre, November 16)

Crystal Gayle: Don't it still make her brown eyes blue? (Dosey Doe, November 16)

Abysmal Lord, Perversion, Sacrocurse: You get the idea, we figure. (Walters, November 16)

Flyleaf: Central Texas hard rockers go the acoustic route this time. (Scout Bar, November 16)

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