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    Live Music Now

    The 10 hottest acts to see at Houston's new In Bloom music festival

    Johnston Farrow
    Johnston Farrow
    Mar 22, 2018 | 2:37 pm

    Houston’s newest music festival, In Bloom, is set to launch its inaugural year in the confines of Eleanor Tinsley Park on Saturday, March 24, and Sunday, March 25 — only a stone’s throw away from downtown Houston. The two-day event features an eclectic lineup of internationally known acts across the alternative, hip-hop, and EDM genres, with a large amount of local and regional acts for those looking to discover new music across the festival’s four stages.

    For those gun-shy about buying tickets due to the weather incidents that have marred previous editions of the now defunct Free Press Summer Fest, there is only a 20 percent chance of rain in the forecast, with temps predicted to be in the comfortably manageable low ’80s.

    Here are the Top 10 acts we suggest seeking out during the course of the weekend.

    Saturday, March 24

    Beck, 9:30-11 pm, Bud Light Stage
    The Grammy-award-winning, alternative chameleon Beck is back on the road following the release of 2017 album Colors, bringing over 20 years of hits, dating back to the grunge-era game changer, “Loser.” It may have been awhile since he’s toured, but Beck’s live show has been acclaimed for its energy he brings to the stage and excellent backing musicians who make his sound and vision come to life.

    Cigarettes After Sex, 8:40-9:30 pm, Fauna Stage
    The Brooklyn, NY quartet Cigarettes After Sex is building a solid fan base after releasing their self-titled debut, one of the best albums of 2017. This will be an interesting to see if the band can convert over to a festival setting as they create dreamy, mid-tempo soundscapes with intimate lyrics. The night time set will lend some atmosphere to a film noir-like soundtrack, best listened to in the shadows.

    Lil Uzi Vert, 8-8:50 pm, Bud Light Stage
    The Philadelphia rapper, Lil Uzi Vert has been blowing up the last few years, releasing the U.S. chart-topping Luv Is Rage 2 last summer and appearing on the No. 1 single, “Bad and Boujee” with Migos in late 2016. Lil Uzi Vert seems a perfect fit for music gatherings as his music incorporates elements of trap and rock, feeding the musical appetites of a mass cross section of festival goers. If he shows up, this should be a highlight of the weekend in a city that loves hip-hop.

    Broken Social Scene, 7:40-8:40 pm, Flora Stage
    The legendary Toronto indie act, Broken Social Scene, is one of the most veteran acts to appear at In Bloom Music Festival this weekend and part of the fun is discovering which members of the massive collective of influential musicians will make an appearance. Will Leslie Feist be there to sing “Almost Crimes”? Will Metric’s Emily Haines be there to sing “Anthems of a Seventeen Year Old Girl”? How about Stars’ Amy Millan for “7/4 Shoreline”? Whatever combination shows up, these alt-rock lifers always put on an excellent performance.

    Wolf Alice, 5:10-6 pm, Fauna Stage
    Be ready for thousands of Houstonians to fall in love with U.K. quartet Wolf Alice. The band has put out two killer albums that are a perfect blend of hard-rock riffs, shoegaze psychedelia and angsty, romantic lyrics. Their debut, My Love Is Cool, garnered them a Mercury Music prize nomination, one the highest creative honors bestowed to bands in the United Kingdom, and songs from that album showed up on the Trainspotting 2 soundtrack. Last year’s release, Visions of a Life, might even be better. Trust us on this – go see this band.

    Honorable Mention
    Incubus, 9:30-11 pm, Flora Stage
    Grizzly Bear, 6:30-7:30 pm, Bud Light Stage
    Dhani Harrison, 3:30-4:20 pm, Fauna Stage
    Ying Yang Twins, 2-2:50 pm, Bud Light Stage

    Sunday, March 25

    Queens of the Stone Age
    , 8:30-10 pm, Flora Stage
    Don't call this a recommendation — not after Queens of the Stone Age after lead singer Josh Homme kicked a photographer in the face during a performance a few months ago, but if you’re one of those who can love the art — and not the artist — and look past that inexcusable move, you will see a band that is one of the best at what they do in a live setting. Drawing from nearly 20 years of excellent albums, including the 2017, Mark Ronson produced, Villians, QOTSA is hard-edged and fierce, recalling an era where guitar heroes and actually good rock music topped the charts.

    Martin Garrix, 8:30-10 pm, Bud Light Stage
    The baby-faced Dutch DJ and producer, Martin Garrix, is currently one of the world’s biggest EDM acts, despite being only 21 years-old. DJ Mag has named him as the No. 1 DJ the last two years running. Expect a mass dance party with driving house beats and synth melodies that will transport the crowd to sunrise sets at EDM Mecca, Ibiza, where Garrix is a resident DJ.

    21 Savage, 6:30-7:30 pm, Bud Light
    The Atlanta mix-tape artist 21 Savage played a headline set back in November and is set to bring his popular hip-hop style to In Bloom. His 2017 release Issa Album reached No. 2 on the Billboard charts and his hit “Bank Account” is sure to big one of the biggest singalongs of the weekend.

    Twin Shadow, 5:40-6:30 pm, Fauna Stage
    Los Angeles based Twin Shadow —aka George Lewis Jr. — is set to release his first album Caer, his first in three years this April, so this will be a good chance to hear new songs along with his beloved catalog of indie synth-rock that made him a much buzzed about music act. The first single off of Caer, “Saturdays” featured Haim, which gives you an indication that his new work is perfect for the festival setting.

    Sylvan Esso, 4:40-5:40 pm, Bud Light Stage
    Those who missed the amazing Sylvan Esso set this past week at White Oak Music Hall will get another chance to check out the amiably awesome North Carolina duo work their magic at In Bloom. The group is comprised of charismatic singer Amelia Meath and producer Nick Sanborn which mixes folk-influenced lyrics with cutting edge, dance, and synth beats that when combined, make a special brew of fun and grooves.

    Honorable Mention
    Houndmouth, 4-5 pm, Fauna Stage
    T-Pain, 3-3:50 pm, Bud Light Stage
    Mikky Ekko, 1:20-2:05 pm, Bud Light Stage

    Beck will headline In Bloom on Saturday night with a set from 9:30-11 pm on the Bud Light Stage.

    Beck singer
      
    Photo by Lauren Dukoff
    Beck will headline In Bloom on Saturday night with a set from 9:30-11 pm on the Bud Light Stage.
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    Movie Review

    'Karate Kid: Legends' has a familiar plot that keeps the action coming

    Alex Bentley
    May 29, 2025 | 2:45 pm
    Ben Wang in Karate Kid: Legends
    Photo by Jonathan Wenk
    Ben Wang in Karate Kid: Legends.

    The Karate Kid franchise has experienced a resurgence in recent years thanks to Cobra Kai, a Netflix series that centers around the rekindled rivalry between the characters played by original stars Ralph Macchio and Billy Zabka. Building off of that renewed interest is the new film Karate Kid: Legends.

    Just like the original 1984 film and the 2010 remake, the story follows a teenage boy who has been uprooted from his home after his mother gets a job in a new city. In this case, Li Fong (Ben Wang) and his mom (Ming-Na Wen) have moved from Beijing to New York City to pursue her career as a doctor. Unfortunately for Li, that also takes him away from Mr. Han (Jackie Chan), who was teaching him kung fu.

    Even though his mom wants him to avoid fighting, trouble seems to find Li. That’s because school bully/karate champion Conor (Aramis Knight) doesn’t like that Li is hanging out with his ex-girlfriend, Mia (Sadie Stanley), and because Li stands up for Mia’s dad, Victor (Joshua Jackson), a boxer-turned-pizzeria owner who owes money to some shady characters.

    The film — directed by Jonathan Entwhistle and written by Rob Lieber — has some unique aspects to it, but it never strays too far from the original. That includes Li deciding to enter a citywide karate tournament — this time called the Five Boroughs — that Conor has won multiple years in a row. The reasons behind Li’s participation are different, but the concept remains the same, right down to the very predictable ending.

    What this film doesn’t get right in the formula, however, is the amount of time spent with the characters to make the audience fully care about them. Instead, the 90-minute film feels custom-made for the TikTok generation, with fast-paced scenes that do little but keep the action moving. Miraculously, the story remains coherent thanks to the time Li spends with Mia and Victor, and consequently their bonds come through the best.

    The filmmakers score points through the action scenes, which are relatively realistic despite some cheesiness. Wong shows great athleticism throughout, making the fight scenes believable. Casting Chan (who also starred in the 2010 remake) is a boon; he remains as spry as ever at 71. Macchio comes back for an extended cameo, and his scenes are effective even if he’s not asked to do very much.

    In addition to his kung fu/karate skills, Wong is a charming performer and he makes a great lead. He’s matched by Stanley, who seems to have a never-ending reserve of effervescence that serves her character well. It’s fun to see Jackson in a supporting role that still shows off his skills. Wen and Knight are given the thankless parts, with neither having enough screentime to flesh out their characters.

    Karate Kid: Legends is watchable, but just barely. The movie relies more on its actors to sell a story that’s been told at least twice before in the series, and while the stars do an admirable job, it shouldn’t have all been on them. While going for a shorter film is welcome, a few more relevant scenes would have made it feel less rushed.

    ---

    Karate Kid: Legends opens in theaters on May 30.

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