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These are the 5 best concerts in Houston this week

Before our shows of the week, let's give some love to homegrown electro-pop act, Space Kiddettes.

Founded by duo Trent Lira and Devin Will after spending late nights together at the University of Houston radio station, the queer-friendly Space Kiddettes are a mainstay in the local music scene. They just took a big step forward in their sonic evolution with the just released Deadspace. Recalling British Hi-NRG and new wave acts like Frankie Goes to Hollywood and Bronski Beat, the production work is solid and exciting. The highlight comes via "Shine a Light," featuring The Suffers' frontwoman Kam Franklin, a dancefloor banger straight from 1985 London. Highly recommended.

You can catch them at their Abundantly Queer Christmas show at Pearl Bar on December 15.

Other recommended shows are on tap this week. CultureMap's best, biggest, and most notable shows are as follows:

Fantasia at Smart Financial Centre
Let's face it: American Idol doesn't have a great track record of producing stars. Sure, there's the pop chart dominance of Kelly Clarkson (Season 1 winner), the inescapable country hits of Carrie Underwood (Season 4 winner), and Adam Lambert (Season 8 runner up) secured a pretty sweet day job as the frontman of Queen. But otherwise, there have been way more misses than hits.

Just below those successes stands Fantasia, the winner of Idol Season 3, who has gone on to sell three million albums, not too shabby considering people don't really buy albums anymore. She's also picked up a Grammy award for her R&B work and continues to record and tour on the strength of her talents the reality TV show showcased. The North Carolina native is on the road behind her latest album, this year's Sketchbook, and will be joined by The Masked Singer judge Robin Thicke, who has bounced back after a nasty divorce, drug addiction, and the controversy around "Blurred Lines."

Fantasia performs at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land, located at 18111 Lexington Blvd. in Sugar Land on Wednesday, November 27. She is joined by Robin Thicke, Tank and the Bonfyre. Tickets start at $40 plus fees. The show starts at 8 pm.

Pat Green at Sam Houston Race Park
San Antonio-raised Texas country troubadour Pat Green takes a break from building a music venue-restaurant empire to make a post-Thanksgiving appearance at Sam Houston Race Park. A prolific songwriter with a catalog over 20 years old, Green has been a staple on the regional country circuit and favorite among those who like a little grit on their cowboy boots. He hasn't released an album since 2015's Home, but you have to forgive him since he's been busy bringing his concept, The Rustic, to multiple Texas cities. Not coincidentally, The Rustic has quickly become home for up-and-coming Texas country acts.

Pat Green is at Sam Houston Race Park, located at 7575 North Sam Houston Pkwy W., on Friday, November 29. Kyle Park opens. Tickets start at $19 plus fees. Event starts at 6 p.m.

CultureMap recommends: Sailor Poon at Satellite Bar
We have the perfect remedy for those who sat through a boring, straight-laced Thanksgiving dinner in the suburbs. Raunchy, feminist, garage punk act Sailor Poon is coming to kick butt and take names. The last time the Austin band — fronted by the charismatic singer/saxophonist/percussionist Billie Buck — played Houston, they thrilled the audience at the Legendary Art Car Ball with bluesy, infectious barnstormers. The group kicks off their Hot Dog Highway tour in the Bayou City and it's not to be missed.

Sailor Poon is at Satellite Bar, located at 6922 Harrisburg Blvd., on Friday, November 29. Daisy Chain opens. Tickets available at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m.

Musiq Soulchild at Arena Theatre
Inspired by D’Angelo and Lauryn Hill, Philadelphia-raised Musiq Soulchild has been a mainstay on R&B charts with a vast catalog that recalls the best the east coast city has to offer. Born Taalib Johnson, Musiq has produced platinum works and earned 11 Grammy Awards. He’ll bring his romantically smooth style to H-town behind his latest, the 2017 release Feel the Real.

Musiq Soulchild plays Arena Theatre, located at 7326 Southwest Fwy, on Saturday, November 30. Marsha Ambrosius opens. Tickets start at $39.50 plus fees. Show starts at 8:30 p.m.

CultureMap show of the week: Bad Bunny
Massive Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny takes over the home of the Rockets, which is an apt symbol for the Latin artist's rise to fame. A true Millennial success tale, Bunny hopped up the U.S. charts without even releasing an album, guest starring on the Cardi B No. 1 single, "I Like It" in addition to Latin hit single "Soy Peor," which racked up 650 million video views, as well as the J. Balvin and Prince Royce collab, "Sensualidad." His latest album, Oasis, topped the Latin charts and is nominated for a Grammy in the Best Latin Rock, Urban or Alternative Album category. Expect this show to get close to a sell-out.

Bad Bunny is at Toyota Center, located at 1510 Polk St., on Sunday, December 1. Tyla Yaweh and Swae Lee open. Tickets start at $51 plus service fees. Doors open at 7 pm.

Fantasia is at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land on Wednesday, November 27.

Fantasia/Facebook

Fantasia is at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land on Wednesday, November 27.

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Movie Review

Billie Eilish takes fans behind the scenes in immersive 3D tour film

Photo by Henry Hwu/courtesy of Paramount Pictures

Billie Eilish in Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft - The Tour Live in 3D.

In 2021, at the tender age of 19, singer Billie Eilish was already the subject of a documentary, The World’s a Little Blurry. At that point, she had only released one album, so the film threatened to feel too early for such treatment. The ensuing five years have only made her a bigger star, though, so in many ways that movie now feels prescient for the person on display in the new concert documentary with the unwieldy title of Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft - The Tour Live in 3D.

Directed by Eilish and blockbuster filmmaker James Cameron, the film takes viewers inside Eilish’s 2024-2025 tour in support of her latest album, 2023’s Hit Me Hard and Soft. Filmed mostly at her series of shows in Manchester, England, the movie is a showcase for Eilish’s music, but it also serves as a smaller exploration of the type of person she is, as well as the impact she has had on her legion of fans.

The draw of the film is the use of Cameron’s beloved 3D technology, which he has employed in each of the three Avatar films. Unlike in those films, where the 3D has the odd effect of making the visuals too realistic for their own good, the technique brings an intimacy to the large-scale show that underscores the unique bond the singer has with her supporters.

Eilish and Cameron go back and forth between performances at the concert to behind-the-scenes sequences, detailing the enormous effort it takes to put on a show like that and how Eilish spends her time getting ready for it. As in The World’s a Little Blurry, this film continues to portray the singer as down-to-Earth, someone who yearns to maintain the connection to her fans that she’s had since she released her first single, “Ocean Eyes,” 10 years ago.

And as the many emotional songs in Eilish’s concert playlist prove, the feeling from the crowd is mutual. While Eilish has multiple bangers like “Bad Guy,” “Therefore I Am,” and the Charli XCX collaboration “Guess,” it’s the sad songs like “Everything I Wanted,” “Happier Than Ever,” and the Oscar-winning Barbie anthem, “What Was I Made For?” that hit the hardest. The depth of feeling emanating from her many sobbing fans singing along to crushing songs cannot be understated.

For audiences of the film, though, it’s the breadth of camera angles and shot choices that make it truly dynamic. There are cameras everywhere, including in the crowd, inside a cube at the center of the stage that rises and descends, following Eilish as she traipses every inch of the long, rectangular stage, and even a small one Eilish uses to bring an extra personal touch to the in-arena screen. Combined, they capture the complete energy of the concert, something that is not always the case in a film of this type.

Eilish has almost as many movies — two — as she does albums — three — which borders on overkill for a singer of her age. But both her music and the movies show her to be a person who knows the responsibility of being a celebrity, someone who understands that her fans are the reason she’s famous at all. Her career may go up or down from here, but it’s clear she’s already made a huge impact on those who love her most.

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Billie Eilish: Hit Me Hard and Soft - The Tour Live in 3D opens in theaters on May 8.

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