Live Music Now

These are the 8 best concerts to catch in Houston this week

Taylor Swift for 2020?

That idea would be utter nonsense until a former reality TV star and huckster of mail order steaks hadn't claimed the most powerful position in politics in 2016. While it probably won't come to fruition (but never say never), Tay-tay released a statement a few weeks in which she endorsed her Tennessean Democrat candidates in the mid-term elections via social media. Reports show that over 65,000 people registered in the day after her Instagram post, proving that music still has the power to influence the masses.

Meanwhile, a strong slate of live shows in Houston should bring out the masses this week, regardless of political affiliation. Also, don't forget to vote.

These are the biggest, best, and most notable shows in Houston this week:

A night of vocals: Josh Groban and Idina Menzel
It's a face-off of the most beloved performers among suburban moms who shop at Pottery Barn and Barnes and Nobles as vocal powerhouses Josh Groban and Idina Menzel are at Toyota Center. Groban, who also dabbles in acting (see The Good Cop on Netflix) has sold over 25 million albums based on the strength of his operatic vocals that gained him tremendous fame the early-to-mid aughts.

Menzel is most notably famous for being the voice behind the song that will never die in "Let It Go," in the Disney film, Frozen, while being an acclaimed Broadway star. Say what you want about their cool factor, but it's hard to think of two more talented singers to put together on a bill. Groban is touring behind his new album, Bridges.

Josh Groban headlines the Toyota Center, located at 1510 Polk St., on Tuesday, October 23. Idina Manzel opens. Tickets start at $35 plus service charges. Doors open at 7 pm.

CultureMap Free Show of the Week: Hayes Carll at Party on the Plaza
The last performance of the year for the fantastic Party on the Plaza concert series at Discovery Green features The Woodlands native and Grammy Award nominee Hayes Carll and his fine Americana songwriting. Carll made a name for himself by contributing several songs to the 2010 Gwyneth Paltrow film, Country Strong. Showing his versatility, Carll's albums placed on the country, folk, rock, and indie charts.

He'll be joined by Dallas-based blues act Charley Crockett, a troubadour in every sense, having hitchhiked and train hopped across the country at a young age before releasing his first album, A Stolen Jewel, in 2015. Admission is free to this early set. Take advantage of this unique series before it goes away until 2019.

Hayes Carll headlines Party on the Plaza, at Discovery Green, located at 1500 McKinney St., on Thursday, October 25. Charley Crockett opens. Admission is free. Bands start at 6:45 pm.

The ecstatic folksy pop of KT Tunstall
Indie-alt-folk-pop rocker and Scottish performer KT Tunstall might be much bigger back home, but she has established herself on these shores with a songbook that has been included in a variety of TV shows and movies that you probably liked. Her 2005 hit, "Suddenly I See," featured in the Meryl Streep vehicle, A Devil Wears Prada, Grey's Anatomy, Ugly Betty, and American Idol (for better or worse).

Her albums have hit the top ten on the U.S. Billboard charts and she headlines major festivals in Europe, making this intimate show at the Heights Theater a treat for casual and die-hard fans alike. She's touring behind this months album, WAX.

KT Tunstall performs at the Heights Theater, located at 339 W. 19th St., on Friday, October 26. Maddie Ross opens. Tickets are $24 plus a $6 service fee. Doors open at 7 pm.

Cloud Nothings at White Oak
Ohio-bred Cloud Nothings are widely considered one of the best indie rock bands right now. The band released the strong 2018 offering, Last Building Burning, the latest in the long line of critically acclaimed albums dating back to 2010. The crunchy guitars give way to moody soundscapes, but infectious melodies buoy the songs above any arty pretension. Taking a bit of the best musical touchstones of the last 30 years of alternative rock — they've recorded with Nirvana producer Steve Albini — doesn't hurt either.

Cloud Nothings headline at White Oak Music Hall, located at 2915 N. Main St., on Friday, October 26. Moths open. Tickets are $15 plus a $6.49 service charge. Doors open at 8 pm.

Buzzfest without a lot of buzz
Buzzfest? More like buzzkill. It goes to show you how far alt-rock radio has fallen. Once the most exciting formats when it burst into the mainstream nationwide in the mid-'90s, it was the place to go for those who wanted to escape the waning hair metal years and same old classic rock hits (see: "Hotel California"). Now, alt-rock is the stale cheese, with little-to-nary originality to be heard from its early days.

Case in point: the Buzzfest line-up that features A Perfect Circle, a band whose biggest hit was at the turn of the century; Scott Stapp, the lead singer of Creed that played a huge part in alt-rock's overly commercialized turn; and Puddle of Mudd, a band with one big dumb song in "She Hates Me," which somehow found an audience way back in 2001. But hey, music taste is subjective and there are likely lots of people who like these bands. We hope they have fun.

Buzzfest goes down at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, located at 2005 Lake Robbins Dr. in The Woodlands, on Saturday, October 28. Tickets start at $42.50 plus service fees. Gates open at noon.

CultureMap recommends: Jon Batiste
There are a few artists that exude so much talent, they could bottle it and sell it for hundreds of dollars an ounce at a fancy boutique store. New Orleans native Jon Batiste is one of them. There's a reason why the guy was handpicked by Stephen Colbert to lead the new Late Show band. He's worked with the foremost musicians in the world, including Stevie Wonder, Lenny Kravitz, and Prince. What makes him unique is his original takes on standard American classics, songs being morphed towards an entirely different direction, as shown on his new album, Hollywood Africans. Batiste does it all.

Jon Batiste performs at the Heights Theater, located at 339 W. 19th St., on Saturday, October 26. Maddie Ross opens. Tickets are $25 plus a $6 service fee. Doors open at 7 pm.

CultureMap show of the week: Maxwell
The New York R&B star Maxwell shot to the top of the charts in the late '90s, quickly selling boatloads of albums of his silky, smooth, yet progressive approach to the genre while becoming a sex symbol. His first album, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite, is considered by many critics to be a masterpiece.

But then a funny thing happened. He practically disappeared for long stretches of times over the last 15 years, only producing two albums since 2016. Now he's back, touring behind his 50 Intimate Nights North American tour. Word is he'll be performing new material, including new single, "The Glass House (We Never Saw it Coming)."

Maxwell performs at the Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land, located at 18111 Lexington Blvd. in Sugar Land, on Sunday, October 28. Tickets start at $50.50 plus service fees. Doors open at 8 pm.

British (tabloid) star Jessie J
British singer Jessie J is an inarguable pop star. Case in point: she shared a stage with Queen at the closing ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. Her hits haven’t translated to a massive American audience, but her cult here is strong, including alleged new beau Channing Tatum (he definitely has a type).

If you’re into sugary Top 40, Jessie J’s hits, including, “Bang Bang,” featuring Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj, “Price Tag,” and “Flashlight” from the Pitch Perfect 2 soundtrack have massive hooks and featuring a talented woman with a huge set of pipes. She's in the midst of releasing her new album as a series of EPs and is touting new single "Love Will Save the World." Call this show a guilty pleasure.

Jessie J brings her powerful vocals to Warehouse Live, located at 813 St Emanuel St., on Sunday, October 28. Tickets are $27 in advance plus service charges. Doors open at 7 pm.

Famed jazz musician and Late Show bandleader Jon Batiste appears at Heights Theater on Saturday, October 26.

Photo courtesy of The Kessler

Famed jazz musician and Late Show bandleader Jon Batiste appears at Heights Theater on Saturday, October 26.

nightlife music column concerts

The coolest of cats

Friends share memories of Houston musician Scott Gertner, who died this week

Courtesy Cindy Gertner

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Scott Gertner, one of the most prominent figures in Houston’s music and nightlife scenes, has unexpectedly passed away.

A brief statement by the musician’s family did not share a cause of death. It thanked people for their condolences, asked for privacy, and stated that funeral details would be shared soon.

Gertner was, without hyperbole, the coolest of cats. As a multi-talented, thrice-Grammy-nominated musician and singer, no one could resist his soulful stylings. As a nightclub owner, he knew how to open up the right spots at the right time. Before its closure in 2010, Scott Gertner’s Skybar was Montrose’s jazz temple in the sky, where people could check out live music while gazing at the stars. (Skybar also attracted celebs like Luther Vandross, Steve Harvey, and Shaquille O’Neal, so the stars weren’t just in the sky.) A decade later, he opened up Scott Gertner’s Rhythm Room on Memorial Dr., luring people in with live grooves and a mouth-watering menu.

In my previous life as a nightlife reporter, Gertner was the person I usually contacted whenever I needed intel on jazz clubs in the city. (I also believe that, during one of these sitdowns, I surprised him one day with a 12-inch single he recorded in the late ‘80s for CBS Records, a lost item I picked up at a nearby record store.)

But I know I’m not the only person who has sparkling memories featuring Gertner. I reached out to a few friends and asked them what they’ll remember the most about the late, great, swaggerific impresario:

T.J. Callahan, film critic/radio personality: “We had many fantastic CBS Radio Houston Christmas parties at the Skybar. Scott was always the most gracious host and fun performer.

“Also, two of my close friends went to high school at HSPVA with Scott. They are all musicians. During our college years, Scott was playing at the old Ruggles on lower Westheimer, back when everyone cruised that area on the weekends. Every time we passed by the restaurant, my friends and I would scream ‘Gertner’ out the car window, like he was going to hear us and come out and say hi. Hey, we were 18. The boys were so excited Scott had a real gig.”

Russell V. Guess, music producer/former Skybar bartender: “When I tell you I wouldn’t know half the people I know — I wouldn’t have made a good deal of the money I’ve made in my life — and not have had many of the experiences (too many!) that made me who I am if not for this man, it isn’t an exaggeration at all.

“But there’s so much more to remember about the guy. A true artist, bandleader, music lover, and businessman. I soaked up so much game about music and nightlife, a course more valuable than any class I could’ve taken. To know him personally was a privilege not to be taken lightly; he’d hit you with that smile that always said everything his words didn’t. Always the encourager, he supported me in and outside the nightlife. Even after I stopped working for him, we’d still text each other on our birthdays since they were 11 days apart. I was always welcome wherever his venue was located and, if he was there, that smile and a hug was soon to follow.”

Mark Towns, jazz guitarist: “One of the first times I heard Scott play was back in the heyday of Cody’s, when he was on bass and vocals with Paul English’s incredible band. That group was something special — Paul on piano, Kirk Whalum and Johnny Torres on saxophones, and Scott bringing his unique energy and voice to the mix. The vibe was electric at those shows.

“Later, Scott held down Wednesday nights at Cody’s in the Village, and those nights became legendary. It was the hottest night of the week, and, as the story goes, Scott was making more money that one night than the club owner was making all week. That’s the kind of draw and charisma he had.

“From there, Scott opened the Skybar at the original Cody’s location on Montrose, and I was honored when he hired my Flamenco Jazz trio to play a Wednesday night series there, sponsored by The Wave radio station. We alternated Wednesdays with Joe Carmouche’s excellent trio — great times. He also was the gracious host for the CD release party for my first album, Flamenco Jazz Latino, at Skybar.

“Back in the late 1980s, way before Skybar and those Village Cody’s Wednesdays, Scott and I played together at the legendary Blues Jam with Ardis Turner (RIP) at Live Bait on Greenbriar — me on guitar and Scott on bass. Too bad there are no recordings of that. We had some wild jams.

“There was a weird kind of synchronicity with Scott — I’d run into him all over Houston, at all hours, in the most random places. It happened often. The last time I saw Scott was at the Rhythm Room last year. We ended up talking for a long while. He was extremely interested in hearing details about some health issues that I had firsthand knowledge about.

“Scott was a great singer, a great guitarist, a great bassist, and a powerful presence on stage and off. As a performer, a businessman, a leader, and a cultural force, Scott Gertner enriched Houston’s music world. I’m grateful our paths crossed.”

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