Gene Loves Jezebel in Houston? Say is isn’t so. Rush is here as well this week? Oh, to see Neil Peart live…
Normally, I’d write some long thing on the eighties and how much I love certain bands from that era. You’ve seen it before, so I’ll spare you the nostalgia and just let you know that the most recent version of goth/rock band Gene Loves Jezebel is playing on Thursday night at Fitzgerald’s. If you can stand listening to what they tried to pass as music during the nineties, rest assured you’ll hear your favorite club hits from the mid- to late-eighties. Come and get it.
You know, I really do have a good Gene Loves Jezebel story. But I said I’d spare you and spare you I will.
There are, however, a few upcoming shows I must make you aware of–most notably, The Damnwells are playing on June 30th (next Wednesday) with Juliana Hatfield at Engine Room. Those of you who were lucky enough to catch NYC’s The Damnwells at Walter’s last time they were in town know that this is one band not to miss. Their debut for Epic Records, Bastards of the Beat, came out in April and anyone who hears it becomes a fan (well, almost). Cactus Music loves it and so should you. Check out the band’s website for more information on the band.
Last time I saw Juliana Hatfield was when Fig Dish (such a great band) played with her at Numbers in 1997. She spilled a beer in my lap at Emo’s (R.I.P.) after the show. I have pretty much hated her since, although I doubt she meant anything by it. You never know. I did buy her Please Do Not Disturb EP, which was pretty good.
You can read the interview I did with The Damnwells’ Alex Dezen here.
Also, one of my new favorite bands, The Pleased, are coming to Fat Cat’s on Saturday, July 3rd, with The Shore (another one that will be good to see live). Both of these bands do their best to revive early 90’s Britrock. I cannot stop listening to The Pleased’s Don’t Make Things (available at their website for $9.98) and just came across an advance copy of The Shore’s self-titled debut and am liking it a lot as well. It’s going to be a great night of live music so be sure to come out.
In Houston band news, Gun Crazy is playing that same night (ugh!) at The Axiom to kick off their tour of the West. The band will play 13 or so dates before returning to Houston for a shower and some sleep. If you haven’t yet heard Gun Crazy’s album, do yourself a favor and get it–only $10 here.
One of my favorite Houston popsters, Arthur Yoria, is back from his tour and is playing a lot of shows in Houston this summer. I caught one of his sets at C.Lantro’s on Memorial (near Westcott) last Saturday evening and it was great as usual. He’s playing there again this Saturday night from 7 to 9:30 p.m. so bring some friends, come sit out on the patio, and enjoy the music. The food’s not bad either–I suggest the tacos with the pineapple salsa.
Yoria is also playing this Thursday at Vintage Bar (4356 Westheimer on Mid Lane between San Felipe & Westheimer) from 8:00 to 11:00 pm. This is another free show (and is smoke-free as well). On Friday, he plays downstairs at Helios around midnight. Rumor has it that those in attendance will get a speaking part in the “Arthur Yoria Live” video.
Other shows this week include:
Wednesday
Rooney with Straylight Run and Ozma @ The Engine Room
Commune Music–featuring Groceries (or whatever their name is now) & So Many Dynamos @ The Proletariat
MC5 (uh huh, right) w/ Mark Arm, Evan Dando, Marshall Crenshaw, Bring Back The Guns (wait–isn’t that Groceries new name?), and The Riverboat Gamblers @ The Meridian
Undying w/ If Hope Dies, Fordirelifesake, and The Sleeping @ Walter’s on Washington
Organ Failure @ Rhythm Room
Thursday
Piebald with The Jealous Sound, Northstar, and Spitalfield @ Fat Cat’s
Bad Boyfriend, Bethesda, Copius, Fall To None, Dine Alone, and Canton High @ The Engine Room
Gene Loves Jezebel @ Fitzgerald’s
Red Hot Polka Dots @ Rudyard’s
Pamela Laws @ The Continental Club
Friday
Volatil is playing The Grab–809 Pierce @ Milam (next to I-45). NO COVER.
Also, the Vans Warped Tour is in town, featuring Bad Religion, The Vandals, Simple Plan, Dynamite Boy, Atmosphere, NOFX, Coheed and Cambria, the Alkaline Trio, The Tossers, Guttermouth, The Early November, Anti-Flag, Rise Against, Motion City Soundtrack, The (International) Noise Conspiracy, Lars Frederiksen and the Bastards, Senses Fail, Taking Back Sunday, Arcane, O’Doyle Rules, & many many more interesting acts @ Reliant Center
DuneTx @ Rhythm Room
Golden Boy, Darling Waste @ Fitzdown
The Thrones, Sedan, Torches of Fury, White Whale, and Menace of a Heartless Monster @ The Axiom
Carolyn Wonderland @ The Continental Club
J4 and Dodd Michael Lede @ Fat Cat’s
Erase The Virus, A Canvas Waiting, Redweather, and Next To Last @ The Engine Room
Liviya Compean w/ Dreamtrybe @ Rudyard’s — should be interesting
Mofro w/ The Greyhounds @ The Meridian
Childcraft @ Super Happy Fun Land
The StoneKings @ Froggie’s Saloon (13845 Cypress North Houston)
Don Williams @ Sam Houston Race Park
Seraphin, Eden Nox, New and the Old, and Sevrin @ Java Jazz Coffeehouse
Saturday
Summer Love Fest 2004, at The Wink (2910 Winkler Dr.), $5 cover. Come support some of Houston’s finest talent, including Volatil, Insomnia Cerro, Red Planet, The Myrna Sanders Band, Generic, Art Navigator, Teqnica, F7, and more. Los Gallos will provide the intermission music.
Tody Castillo is playing at the Flying Saucer downtown. @ 10 p.m.
Also on Saturday:
Rush @ The Woodlands
Carter Brown w/ The New Mexicans @ Fat Cat’s
Gates Ensemble, Josh Russell, James Rippie, and Price Taggery @ Commerce Street Artists Warehouse
Deep Ella and Chemistry Set @ Rudyard’s — should be good
Papa Grows Funk @ The Continental Club
25th Anniversary of Urban Animals, featuring Dr. Rockit and the Sisters of Mercy, Hershell Berry & The Natives, Romeo Dogs, and Marie English @ Fitzgerald’s
Shinedown w/ Soil @ The Meridian
Battle of the Bands Finals, featuring Dawn Over Zero, Thru The Glass, Co Factor, Door Number 2, Cellcyst, Styll Standing, & Rhenium @ The Engine Room
The Flametrick Subs w/ The Von Ehrics @ Walter’s on Washington
Zombilly w/ Los De Verdad and Greaser @ The Axiom
Bahrain, Dead Roses, and Rotten Piece @ Super Happy Fun Land
RemuSRadio Compilation CD Release Party, featuring Hollister Fracus & more @ Forgettaboutit 2 (in Copperfield)
The StoneKings @ Al’s Sports Bar (3838 S. Dairy Ashford)
Sunday
The Contingency w/ The Down & Dirties, and Archaeology @ The Proletariat
Tish Hinojosa @ The Continental Club
Desperate Measures, Mental, Righteous Jams, Protagonist, Daggermouth @ Fat Cat’s
Neopocracy, Meanpeace, Since The Ashes, Kristoph and The Communist Manifesto, and Omnioid @ The Engine Room
Come out and support your local music scene. Hope to see you out at some shows.
Now Playing in My iPod: The Shore — [self-titled]
