Fans of local acts, emo-pop, and nostalgia tours will have much to chose from this week in Houston live music. For those who grew up in the '80s and the '90s, at what point do we start calling tours comprised of those eras as the oldies circuit? Whatever the answer, there's much fun to be had this weekend. Here are our biggest and best.
CultureMap show(s) of the week: The Suffers launch Everything Here
Want to know all about the new album, Everything Here, by Houston’s hottest band, The Suffers? Head over here to learn more. In the meantime, beg, borrow, or steal a ticket for one of the two sold out shows at the intimate Heights Theatre on Thursday and Friday, or simply pre-purchase an copy of the new album from Cactus Music and check out the family-friendly, in-store performance on Saturday.
The Suffers perform two album release shows at the Heights Theatre, located at 339 W 19th St., on Thursday, July 12 with The Tontons; and Friday, July 13 with Black Pumas. Both shows, which start at 7:30 pm, are sold out.
The band will perform in store at Cactus Music at 1 pm on Saturday, July 14, located at 2110 Portsmouth St. Only those who pre-purchased the album at the store will be allowed admittance. Everything Here is available for pre-order/purchase at the band’s website.
Pumped up in the Woodlands
The Vans Warped Tour may have passed through last Sunday, but one such act that benefited from its time on traveling punk-emo-pop showcase, Paramore, will prove they've moved onto bigger things on its After Laughter Summer Tour, promoting the album of the same name. Foster the People, who hasn’t made much of an impact since their one-hit wonder, “Pumped Up Kicks,” will open.
Paramore performs at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, located at 2005 Lake Robbins Drive in The Woodlands, on Friday, July 13. Foster the People open. Tickets start at $49.50 for reserved seats plus fees, $35.50 plus fees for the lawn. Gates open at 6 pm.
CultureMap Recommends: The Bunnymen and Femmes team-up
Two of the '80s most underrated bands make an appearance at Revention this weekend as the Liverpool, UK post-punk act, Echo and the Bunnymen, share a stage with “Blister in the Sun” breakout indie-rock act, Violent Femmes. Both represent the impossibly cool corners of their respective sounds. They toured last summer in 2017 and after that successful run, decided to do it again, much to the pleasure of fans. For anyone who last saw the Bunnymen at House of Blues a few years back, you’ll know that lead singer Ian McCullough and company can still bring it live. The frontman’s voice doesn’t soar like it once did, but the melodies produced on songs such as “The Killing Moon,” and “Bring on the Dancing Horses” are timeless.
Echo and the Bunnymen and Violent Femmes co-headline at Revention Music Center, located at 520 Texas Ave., on Saturday, July 14. General admission tickets are $40 plus service fees or two for the price of one. Doors open at 7 pm.
B-52s fly into Smart Financial Centre
Sugar Land becomes scene of the biggest dance party of the weekend as Athens, Georgia new wave/post-punk legends The B-52s bring their day-glo daydream of a live show, plus hits like “Love Shack,” and “Rock Lobster” to the Smart Financial Centre. They’ll be joined by an act just as colorful in Boy George and the Culture Club, who have reunited in recent years with acclaimed performances, surely buoyed by the still great tracks, “Karma Chamelon,” and “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me?” Rounding off the '80s A.M. radio-centric bill is the Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey, who will likely bust out the wonderful pop song, “Hold Me Now.”
B-52s and Culture Club co-headline the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land, located at 18111 Lexington Blvd., on Sunday, July 15. Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey. Tickets start at $59.50 plus fees. Doors open at 6:30 pm.
Collective Soul/3 Doors Down/Soul Asylum
There once was a time in the early '90s when Collective Soul was either A) the next big thing since Pearl Jam or B) when grunge started to suck. Still, there’s no denying the Atlanta-based band’s success with a string of huge radio hits such as “Shine,” “The World I Know,” and “Heavy.” They’ll make a stop in the Woodlands with a couple of other big '90s acts as part of the Rock & Roll Express Tour. The first is 3 Doors Down, whose unescapable tune, “Kryponite,” was the bane of many audiophiles 20 years ago. The second is Soul Asylum, who put out a couple of good-to-great records back in the day, along with hits such as “Runaway Train” and “Misery,” getting enough exposure to warrant Winona Ryder dating lead singer Dave Pirner for spell. This show will be a guilty pleasure for ‘90s kids or anyone who was a fan of the film, Reality Bites (filmed in H-town!).
Collective Soul performs at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, located at 2005 Lake Robbins Dr., in The Woodlands, along with 3 Doors Down and Soul Asylum on Sunday, July 15. Tickets start at $49.50 for reserved seats. No lawn seats available. Gates open at 6 pm.
'90s rockers Collective Soul perform at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Sunday, July 15.
Emilia's Havana offers a retro spin on the holiday bar, with the 1950s-inspired speakeasy decked out in tinsel and trees. Photo by Hasan Yousef