Tomorrow night (Tuesday, 2.27.07), Sparta plays at The Meridian with mewithoutYou and Aloha. Sparta’s 2006 album, Threes, was one of my favorites last year. This should be a good show.

The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo gets started with George Strait at Reliant Stadium on Tuesday night. Since the rodeo’s starting up that means it’s about three years since I started doing Houston Calling.

Sleeping In The Aviary, Fired For Walking, and Southern Bullugosi play on Thursday night at Rudyard’s. On Friday Notsuoh hosts By the End of Tonight, O Pioneers!!!, Totally Michael, and Buxton.

Also Friday, Austin’s What Made Milwaukee Famous plays at Walter’s with Dr. Dog, and Luxurata plays with Low Budget Thriller at Rudyard’s.

On Saturday night, Matthew Dear, Henry Chow, and Sasha Braverman do sets at Jet Lounge (next to Engine Room).

Other shows this week include:

Tuesday, 2.27.07

Carolyn Wonderland/Jodi Adair @ Last Concert Cafe
Rodeo Houston, featuring George Strait @ Reliant Stadium
Scott Miller @ McGonigel’s Mucky Duck

Wednesday, 2.28.07

Rodeo Houston, featuring Los Lonely Boys @ Reliant Stadium
Adam Hood/Miss Leslie and Her Juke Jointers @ The Continental Club
Generic Tribe @ The Mink
Pot Roast @ Last Concert Cafe
Turbojugend Humpday, featuring P.S.F. @ Rudyard’s
Red Star of the Solar Federation/Robert Fortune Band/Playing With Stars @ The Scout Bar (Clear Lake)

Thursday, 3.1.07

Co-Pilot/Margot/The A Game/Lindsay Shulz/Lunara/Lion of Wall Street @ Walter’s on Washington
Michael Franti & Spearhead @ Warehouse Live
Rodeo Houston, featuring Reba McEntire @ Reliant Stadium
Chiara String Quartet @ McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
Stalking Chloe/d.e.m.o./Harding Room/The Soarce @ The Engine Room
Graham Wilkinson & The Underground Township/Beetle @ The Continental Club
Abstract Artimus/Fire Knife/Johnny Jitters @ Super Happy Fun Land

Friday, 3.2.07

Rockin for Rise Benefit, featuring Jonathon Dewveall, Savage Evolution, Truck, Another Day, Kisses, Jadewood, MiGGs, & Carmen & Camille @ Hard Rock Cafe (503 Texas)
Monster Music Showcase #7, featuring Sound Breaking Ground, My Own I, SiennaBlu, & Cryptic @ The Meridian
The Bench, featuring Mic Skills & DJ Maddsounds @ Warehouse Live
Two High String Band @ Last Concert Cafe
Alex Lazano @ The Engine Room
Jimmy Lafave @ McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
Shades of Blue/Brains for Dinner/The Riff Tiffs/Doo Doo Butter/The Rudiments @ Super Happy Fun Land
Eric Clapton/Robert Cray @ Toyota Center
James McMurtry/Big Chris Gates/Molly and the Ringwalds @ The Continental Club
Rodeo Houston, featuring Natalie Cole & KEM @ Reliant Stadium

Saturday, 3.3.07

Rockin for Rise Benefit, featuring Murder the Stout, Anubis, Casino, Lee Alexander, Prognosis, Little Brother Project, Carmen & Camille, PeteSimple, Seminole County, MiGGs, The Mighty Orq, Owen Plant, Smythe and Taylor, Mojo Yoda, Bright Men of Learning, Annie Benjamin, Jim Newton, & Trout Fishing in America @ Last Concert Cafe
Johnny Hootrock/Luxurious Panthers/Speakerbox Elefants @ Walter’s on Washington
Asylum Street Spankers @ Warehouse Live
Rodeo Houston, featuring Clay Walker @ Reliant Stadium
Charles P. & the 10%/Hillary York/Sally Crewe and the Sudden Moves @ Rudyard’s
Chris Hillman @ McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
Two Tons of Steel/Last Train Home @ The Continental Club

Sunday, 3.4.07

Turmoil/The Jonbenét/Will to Live/As Eden Burns @ Walter’s on Washington
Bobby Conn/Faux Fox/James Eck Rippie/Laura Palmer @ Notsuoh
Sevendust/Bloodsimple/Invitro @ The Meridian
Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers @ McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
Justin Timberlake/Pink @ Toyota Center
David Fahl & Band @ Last Concert Cafe
Rodeo Houston, featuring Hannah Montana & Cheetah Girls @ Reliant Stadium
Thomas Helton/I Want To Kill Every Human/John Edward Ross @ Super Happy Fun Land

Also, the next couple of weeks–leading up to SXSW in Austin–brings a lot of good bands to town, so make your plans. One local show I highly recommend is The Sonnier Brothers Band & Pale at Warehouse Live on Saturday, March 10th. I would also check out 120 Days at The Mink on March 12th.

Have a great week.