Has 2022 been the best year for live music in H-Town?

Judging by the pure volume of tours rolling through Houston, there is no doubt this year will go down as one of the most memorable in recent history. November shows no signs of things slowing down, tours only taking a break during Thanksgiving, before picking back up again.

Concert promoters — still left standing after the pandemic — are in a state of cashing-in euphoria as crowds are seemingly willing to pay whatever price to see a live performance again. How long will the glow-up last for the music industry and how long will concert goers continue to pay often exorbitant numbers? That remains to be seen.

In the meantime, use this guide to select your shows wisely with CultureMap's most notable shows of the month.

CultureMap Show of the Month: Carrie Underwood with Jimmie Allen
Thursday, November 3
Toyota Center
1510 Polk St.

At one point, a few years past her fourth season American Idol win, Carrie Underwood looked like she would rocket into the stratosphere much like a fellow country-leaning ingenue that Swift-ly rose to stadium-conquering levels. While Underwood’s career didn’t quite hit those rarely attainable heights, she is one of the most successful singers of the past 20 years, revered in music circles as one of the most talented vocalists of her generation with eight GRAMMY Awards and three ACM Entertainer of the Year trophies. The pop-country superstar is back in Houston, ready to show off her otherworldly vocal pipes on The Denim & Rhinestones tour.

Tickets start at $59.50 plus fees. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

Demi Lovato with Dead Sara
Thursday, November 3
713 Music Hall, 401 Franklin St., Suite 1600

When did Demi Lovato turn into the chameleon of the pop world? Beginning on children’s TV and as a Disney star in the Camp Rock films, Levato has since then transformed herself into an edgy, smart pop queen. Her entire catalog of studio albums placed in the Top Ten on the Billboard charts despite her dealing with some very public personal issues with substance abuse. The name of her Holy Fvck tour says it all about her latest look – infusing vinyl, BDSM-wear with rock hooks.

Tickets start at $49.50 plus fees. Show starts at 8 pm.

CultureMap Recommends: Foals with Inner Wave and Gustaf
Thursday, November 3
White Oak Music Hall, 2915 N. Main St.

Hard to describe how huge the danceable U.K. rock act Foals is back home, but we’ll try: six albums landing in the Top Three on the British charts, Brit Awards (the English version of the Grammys) for Best Group, and universal acclaim. Thankfully for us, instead of paying hundreds of pounds to see them at a massive festival, they’ll play in more intimate confines in Houston. Oh yeah, their new album, this year’s Life Is Yours, is one of 2022’s best.

Tickets start at $35.50 plus fees. Doors open at 7 pm.

Bonnie Raitt with Mark Cohn
Friday, November 4
Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land, 1811 Lexington Blvd.

Yet another Grammy Award winner in town in early November, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and revered singer-songwriter Bonnie Raitt rode her blend of blues, R&B, rock, and pop to mainstream success, namely winning Album of the Year for 1989’s Nick of Time. That album went five-times platinum and she hasn’t really stopped since, a pro’s-pro as a touring musician, hugely influential on the female performers who came after her. Her latest is this year’s Just Like That…, drawing on a range of influences. Cohn, meanwhile, is sure to score singalongs with his hit "Walking in Memphis."

Tickets start at $49.50 plus fees. Show starts at 8 pm.

Alvvays with Slow Pulp
Friday, November 4
White Oak Music Hall, 2915 N. Main St.

There’s no other band making better shimmering, beautifully catchy indie-pop like Toronto-based act Alvvays (pronounced Always). Fronted by the seemingly perpetually shy Molly Rankin, she grew up in the fertile Atlantic Canada music scene before forming Alvvays, who garnered immediate attention for their perfect self-titled debut and its equally perfect introductory single, “Archie, Marry Me.” Returning five years after their last record, Antisocialites, this year’s long-awaited Blue Rev veers into heavier, shoegaze sounds and continues their run of impeccable musical production.

Tickets start at $22.50 plus fees. Doors open at 7 pm.

Bell Biv Devoe, En Vogue, Tony! Toni! Toné! and Stokely
Saturday, November 5
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, 2005 Lake Robbins Dr.

It’s about to heat up in The Woodlands as some of the most sultry R&B acts of the early ‘90s take over the suburbs. Bell Biv Devoe hit it big with the timeless singles, “Poison” and “Do Me,” which brought an unabashed sexiness to MTV. En Vogue is one of the most successful all-female R&B groups of all time with 30 million albums sold, is best known for the gender-flipped female empowerment anthems, “Free Your Mind” and “My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It).” The unbelievably named Tony! Toni! Toné! achieved platinum-level success with 1990's The Revival and single, “Feels Good.” Together, they will bring the vibes when they hit Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on November 5.

Tickets start at $49.50 plus fees. Gates open at 4:30 pm.

Red Bull SoundClash: Gary Clark, Jr. vs. Paul Wall
Thursday, November 10
713 Music Hall, 401 Franklin St., Suite 1600

The Red Bull SoundClash is back after the success of last year’s fantastically produced “versus” format that featured the “Queens of Gulf Soul,” represented by Houston’s The Suffers and New Orleans’ Tank and the Bangas. This year, the two-stage setup will be a battle between Austin and Houston with the uber-talented guitarist Gary Clark Jr. and local hip-hop legend Paul Wall representing their respective hometowns. The four-round, back-and-forth performances, and unpredictable guests make this an extremely fun night out with those in attendance determining the winner via crowd-decibel readers.

Tickets start at $23.50 plus fees. Show starts at 8 pm.

Chaka Khan
Friday, November 11
Arena Theatre, 7326 Southwest Fwy

Recently honored by Lizzo at her Houston show, the influence of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Chaka Khan lives on in younger generations of empowered black women thanks to anthems such as “I’m Every Woman” and “Tell Me Something Good” during her time with classic funk act, Rufus. Her storied career spans five decades with 70 million albums sold and a boatload of Grammys to show for it. It’s time to bow to the Queen of Funk.

Tickets start at $49.50 plus fees. Doors open at 7 pm.

Girl Talk
Friday, November 11
White Oak Music Hall, 2915 N. Main St.

For a time in the mid-aughts, Pittsburgh’s expert party starter Gregg Gillis aka Girl Talk was a true phenomenon. The DJ rose to fame on the backs of hundreds of indie dance club nights by splicing together seemingly disparate but familiar songs, cashing in on the short-lived, but fondly remembered mash-up era. The artistry of sampling 300 different songs on 2006’s Night Ripper took splicing and dicing to an art form and still gets dance floors banging. Since then, Gillis has released more albums of mash-up magic and found steady work as a producer of up-and-coming and noted rap acts.

Tickets start at $35 plus fees. Doors open at 8 pm.

Turnstile with Snail Mail
Saturday, November 12
Bayou Music Center, 520 Texas Ave.

Very few hard rock groups are making as many waves as Baltimore’s Turnstile. Taking cues from the decades of the East Coast hardcore scene, dosed with melodies and psychedelic pop, the quartet making a mark judged solely by the fact that notoriously nostalgic American rock and alternative radio is picking up their singles from the electrifying 2021 album, Glow On, including “Mystery” and “Holiday.” Starting in small clubs, the band is now playing in mid-sized theaters and will go on a national arena tour with Blink-182 next year. Catch them while they’re hot.

Tickets start at $43 plus fees. Show starts at 7 pm.

Amanda Shires with Honey Harper
Saturday, November 12
The Heights Theater, 339 W 19th Str

Grammy and Americana-award-winning singer-songwriter and virtuoso violinist Amanda Shires brings her critically acclaimed songbook and new album, Take It Like a Man, to the intimate Heights Theater. A member of husband Jason Isbell’s 400 Unit band, Shires has established herself in the alt-country/Americana world.

She made noise by forming The Highwomen in 2019, a gender-flipped concept inspired by The Highwaymen supergroup made up of country and western bad boys, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, and Waylon Jennings. Shires shared the stage in that project with heavy hitters Maren Morris, Brandi Carlile, and Natalie Hemby, but has more than earned her stature as an excellent, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter.

Tickets start at $22 plus fees. Doors open at 7 pm.

The 1975 with Blackstarkids
Wednesday, November 16
713 Music Hall, 401 Franklin St., Suite 1600

The 1975 are huge. And if they aren’t they will tell you otherwise. The world-beating chart-toppers are led by charismatic, and some may say arrogant, frontman Matt Healy who exudes a mix of Liam Gallagher’s brash swagger and the steamy moves of INXS’ Michael Hutchence. Guilty pleasure or not, the fact is The 1975 are sneaky good, mixing the best of the last 40 years of rock, not being afraid to experiment with their sound while keeping enough pop elements to keep their legion of fans interested. Their latest No. 1 is this year’s acclaimed Being Funny in a Foreign Language.

Tickets start at $65 plus fees. Show starts at 8 pm.

Judas Priest with Queensryche
Tuesday, November 29
713 Music Hall, 401 Franklin St., Suite 1600

The Judas Priest 50 Heavy Metal Years tour comes to town, a perfect opportunity for those with a penchant for leather, spikes, and “Breaking the Law.” The legendary U.K. metal act – somewhat controversially honored this year by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for musical excellence – will pull from their prolific catalog spanning decades. Expect to hear the hits from the godfathers of thrash, including “You Got Another Thing Coming,” “Turbo Lover,” and “Painkiller."

Tickets start at $59.50 plus fees. Show starts at 8 pm.

Other can't-miss shows

King Princess, Thursday, November 3, House of Blues
Highly Suspect, November 5, 713 Music Hall
Beabadoobee, November 6, White Oak Music Hall
She Wants Revenge with Twin Tribes, November 26, White Oak Music Hall
Better Than Ezra, November 6, House of Blues
Lucius with Shamir, November 6, Heights Theater
Gipsy Kings, November 7, House of Blues
Rina Sawayama, November 13, White Oak Music Hall
Joe Satriani, November 18, House of Blues
Deadmau5, November 25, 713 Music Hall
Bartees Strange, November 28, White Oak Music Hall
AFI, November 29, White Oak Music Hall

Photo by Randee St. Nicholas

CultureMap Show of the Month: Carrie Underwood at Toyota Center, Thursday, November 3.

This weekend, the Houston Astros will — hopefully — be back in town battling the Philadelphia Phillies for the World Series title. In between, a massive quilt festival will blanket town, fashion shows rock the runway, and Chris Rock is here to about, well, we know.

Rubber ducks take over the bayou, a halal feast serves up tasty eats, and the Second Ward rocks a block party.

Enjoy; here are your best bets for the weekend.

Thursday, November 3

International Quilt Festival

The International Quilt Festival, one of Houston’s largest annual shows, will be going down all this weekend. This four-day event will feature more than 1,300 quilts, textiles, and wearable art on display; more than 350 classes, lectures, and special events; and shopping in more than 600 booths for quilts, fabrics, books, notions, crafts, patterns, machines, and sewing supplies. And, for all the parents out there, children 10 and under can get in free with a paying adult. 10 am.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston and Houston Community College present Fashion Fusion

The MFAH and Houston Community College team up for a design competition and professional fashion show inspired by art on view at the museum. This event challenges students and alumni from the award-winning fashion design program at HCC to create original designs. Modern art meets contemporary couture in this year’s edition. The aspiring designers showcase garments addressing the theme Mode de Demain—Fashion of Tomorrow, based on modern and contemporary art from the MFAH collections in the Kinder Building. 7 pm.

Jazz Houston presents The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis

Jazz Houston is proud to present The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra (JLCO) with Wynton Marsalis in concert. The JLCO – 15 of the finest jazz soloists and ensemble players working today – has been the Jazz at Lincoln Center resident orchestra since 1988 and spends over a third of the year on tour across the world. Under music director Marsalis, the JLCO performs a vast repertoire, including music by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Thelonious Monk and others, along with those by current and former JLCO members. 7:30 pm.

Friday, November 4

Off The Wall Gallery presents Bernie Taupin: "Reflections"

Even though Elton John canceled his Minute Maid Park show, you can still check out the artwork of his longtime musical collaborator Bernie Taupin. Taupin (who will be in attendance Thursday at 5 pm and Saturday at 4 pm) brings the same passion for art as he brings to songwriting. His original paintings are thought-provoking and authentic to his patriotic views, and his collection of hand-signed, limited edition prints are inspired by words from iconic and cherished hit songs created by the two remarkable musicians. Through Sunday, November 19. 11 am (Noon Sunday).

City of Houston & Alyssa Benjamin presents "Black Lady: A Celebration of Black Womanhood"

“Pretty Pictures Of Black Ladies Being Happy” is how photographer Alyssa Benjamin describes her debut portrait exhibition. Guests will get to spend an evening with the photographer as she grants an insider access to a world of black women rediscovering themselves. “Black Lady: A Celebration of Black Womanhood” is the first in her series “Forward,” which aims to create positive images of black people that are not centered in struggle or lack. The show, which will run for one night only, is an amazing opportunity to not only meet Benjamin in person, but also to purchase fine art prints from the collection. 6 pm.

The Shepherd School of Music presents Street Scene by Kurt Weill

It’s a typical, scorching summer day outside a New York City tenement – neighbors gossip and go about their business as usual – but inside, tensions are escalating. When a shocking secret is revealed, the tension explodes into violence. Featuring music by Kurt Weill and lyrics by Langston Hughes, this work won the 1947 Tony Award for Best Original Score, blending European opera and American musical theater. Steven Osgood will be the guest conductor and Pat Diamond will be the stage director. 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday)

DACAMERA presents Branford Marsalis Quartet

Another member of the Marsalis fam will be joining us this weekend. After four decades in the international spotlight, the achievements of saxophonist Branford Marsalis continue to grow. He is an instrumentalist, composer and bandleader to be reckoned with, crossing stylistic boundaries while maintaining an unwavering creative integrity. With three Grammys and a citation by the National Endowment for the Arts as a Jazz Master, he is an avatar of contemporary artistic excellence. 8 pm.

Saturday, November 5

AFA (American Festival for the Arts) presents Bayou City Duck Race

This free, family-friendly, fourth-annual celebration, taking place at Allen’s Landing Park, will have guests cheering on 9,000 rubber ducks that will be launched into the bayou and race to the finish line. Participants can adopt single or multiple ducks for $5 a duck on the website, as well as at the race. The first ten ducks to cross the finish line will win top prizes such as $2,500, Raising Cane's for a year, restaurant gift cards, performing arts tickets, and more. 10 am.

Hands-on Houston Family Festival

Join HCCC for the return of this free community event for families and visitors of all ages. This year, the festival celebrates recycling and the fall exhibition, CraftTexas 2022, with hands-on making and food and refreshments from Moon Rooster food truck. Visitors can also explore family-friendly events at neighboring arts organizations, Lawndale Art Center and Houston Met Dance Festival goers are encouraged to triple their fun with free events at neighboring arts organizations, Lawndale Art Center and Houston Met Dance. 11 am.

Block Party at the Plant

This weekend, creatives, retailers and restaurants in Houston’s Second Ward are hosting a block party like you’ve never seen before. More than 35 hyperlocal studios, warehouses and small businesses will be open, and guests will have the opportunity to meet the owners, peruse goods, and sample foods. For the first time in its 59-year history, Champ Burger, the beloved, old-school burger shack, will be open on a Saturday. In addition, guests can enjoy live musical performances throughout the corridor. 3 pm.

Chris Rock: Ego Death World Tour

Okay, let’s pretend that thing didn’t happen. Let’s pretend that an international movie star didn’t lose his mind at a globally televised event by assaulting a comedian for making a quick crack about his old lady and made the entire world talk about it for a week straight. Let’s forget about that and rejoice that the comedian – still one of the most celebrated funnymen on the planet – is coming to town for two nights and will most likely have a nice chunk of material about the time he went to the Oscars and things went very south. 8 pm.

Sunday, November 6

The Halal Guys presents Houston Halal Food Fest

With a population of over 250,000 Muslims residing in the Greater Houston area, the halal food scene has grown tremendously in the last decade. Our event will feature an extensive and diverse line-up of halal food, drinks, desserts and other local vendors. In addition to the many food vendors, this fest is also bringing in the Houston Muslim Market to showcase the several local talents in the art, decor, clothing, jewelry, and much more. Noon.

Garage Arts Project presents Bridges Collaboration Festival

Garage Arts Project will present the second edition of this event, which will feature four performances, each a commissioned, multidisciplinary collaboration between Texas-based artists. The lineup includes a dance and visual art collaboration, a cross-genre dance collaboration, a strings and percussion collaboration, and an Indian Dhol and Japanese Taiko drum ensemble. A social mixer will precede the show where the audience will get to meet with artists and other art-supporters in the community. 3 pm.

Inprint Cool Brains! Series presents Tae Keller

The 2022/2023 Inprint Cool Brains! Series welcomes Tae Keller, 2021 Newbery Medal winner of When You Trap a Tiger, for a special get-together. Tae comes to Houston to share her new middle-grade novel Mihi Ever After, an enchanting read that explores themes of friendship, imagination, and identity. The program will include an interactive presentation, Q&A, and book signing. Inprint will provide free signed books to the first 100 families and free bus scholarships to school groups. 3 pm.