Tonight, there’s a good show at Continental Club. Tres Chicas w/ Caitlin Cary (formerly of Whiskeytown) at The Continental Club.

Thursday, 1.20.05, around 6 p.m., you should check out Camper van Beethoven [website] at Cactus Music & Video for their in-store performance. Later that night, they play at Fitzgerald’s with local favorites Southern Backtones [website] and The Hackensaw Boys [website]. The Backtones made my best of Houston 2004 list. Their new CD is attracting a lot of attention, so be sure to check them out if you haven’t yet heard them.

Also on Thursday:

Blue Ticket w/ Don’t Look Back @ Ovations
Steven Delopoulos w/ Austin Hartley Leonard and Glenn Eliot @ Rhythm Room

This Friday (1.21.05), check out the incredible The Oots w/ Landfall [website], Sound Theory [website] and Belville [website] at Super Happy Fun Land. I saw The Oots [website] and Sound Theory at ST’s CD release show a couple of weekends ago and both bands played incredible sets. This will be the last time to see Sound Theory for a while, as the band goes in for some recording sessions. Both ST and Landfall made my best of Houston 2004 list.

The Oots reminded me a bit of The Rapture, but only a bit. They have a Gang of Four thing going on as well. Looked to be having a good time doing what they do, which is important. They had the full attention of the crowd that night — impressive for the opener. 61 Cygni were also on that bill and played an incredible set. Their new song was very My Bloody Valentine-ish, which is a very good thing.

Also on Friday is the start of the Houston Band Coalition‘s [website] showcase with the Austin Indie Alliance at Forgetta’boutit Club (Jones Rd. @ Grant Rd. in NW Houston). There are 30 bands performing at this event. The best bet from downtown is to take 45N to the Beltway, the Beltway to 249, 249 to Grant and take a left to Jones Rd. The club is in a strip center there (there’s also a McDonald’s and Chevron in the parking lot). There are also shows on Saturday and at their sister club, Forgetta’boutit 2. More information can be found on the club’s website [visit]. This club is a huge supporter of local music of all kinds (mainly the rockin’ variety). Be sure to come out and show your support.

Also on Friday:

Young Heart Attack w/ The John Sparrow [website]and The Urgencies @ Rudyard’s
Action,action w/ Love Drug @ Fat Cat’s
Brown vs. Board w/ Glass Intrepid @ Fitzgerald’s
Eliza Gilkyson @ McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
Mermaid Punch @ Rhythm Room
The Put-Downs w/ The Sweethearts and Shortcomings @ Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe (Galveston)

On Saturday, my pick is to check out a “songwriters in the round” show downstairs at Helio’s. Musicians Arthur Yoria, Johnny Goudie and Pale’s Calvin Stanley will perform and dicuss their songs. Should be an interesting time.

Also on Saturday:

Long Beach Short Bus w/ Los Skarnales and The Quinns @ Fitzgerald’s
Dubtex w/ Kozmonix, DJ Mercury and DJ Lion 808 @ Rhythm Room
Sean Reefer and the Resin Valley Boys @ Rudyard’s
Backstabbers Inc. w/ Draw Blood, Grave Robbers, The Jonben?t and El Capitan @ Fat Cat’s
Eddie & Gerald Levert (no, really) @ Reliant Arena
Flash Funk Order @ Numbers
Full Release @ Speakeasy Lounge (110 Main)
Zero Heros/ w/ The Put-Downs, The Sweethearts and Smalltown Massacre @ Hooligans (Beaumont)
Topaz w/ Dig @ Rhythm Room

Sunday, 1.23.05:

Sunday Sessions @ Dean’s Credit Clothing, featuring Carolyn Wallace, Larry Moon and Shelly & Julian. The Sunday Session CD can be purchased here.

I know that most people will be attending The Arcade Fire at Fat Cat’s Sunday night (1.23.05), but around 2 p.m. on Sunday afternoon Earlimart [website] will open for Pedro the Lion [website] at an early show there. This will probably be packed, as PTL have quite the following and Earlimart made many best-of 2004 lists (including mine). I saw the crowd show a complete lack of respect for The Stratford 4 [website] when they opened for PTL with an amazing set a year or two ago. Hopefully Earlimart will get a better reception.

Advance warning:

Local rockers MeoWcifer are back in action and will play their first show with a new bass player at Rudyard’s on Wednesday, January 26th. New York’s Blank Stares and local talents Tody & The Falcon open the show. Should be a good one.

Now Playing in My iPod: Earlimart — Treble and Tremble