April 13 represents a big day for audiophiles. Record Store Day celebrates all things great about independently owned music stores with special, limited releases from many artists that can only be found at these pure, sounds-forward establishments.
Houston features a handful of these wonderful houses of music worship. Cactus Music, Sound Exchange, Vinal Edge, Heights Vinyl, Black Dog Records, and Screwed Up Records and Tapes, are just a few that we recommend checking out if you're looking for music in physical form, the way it was supposed to be made.
Then, go check out one or more of the following shows to support the artists that make a living singing for their supper.
CultureMap's biggest, best, and most notable shows of the week are:
STS9
Fans of Explosions in the Sky will get their instrumental psych-rock meets electronica fix when STS9 — aka Sound Tribe Sector 9 — rolls into Houston this week. For context, this band opened for Jay-Z and regularly sells out the famed Red Rocks Ampitheatre in Colorado. And unlike many bands today, setlists are always different, the group choosing from hundreds of songs to make each show unique, just like the old days of live music. Those who like crazy visuals, hate lyrics, and probably indulges in recreational pharmaceuticals will find their people at this one.
STS9 psychs out at House of Blues, located at 1204 Caroline St., on Thursday, April 11. Tickets start at $30 plus fees. Doors open at 8 pm.
Local spotlight: Camera Cult
One of the better local acts going right now, Camera Cult makes exciting indie synth-pop, the brainchild of friends David Gonzalez and Ricky Vazquez. They recently released a great EP in Talk Nice, and word is they are working on a full-length. Fans of Chromeo and even Kanye West's more commercially accessible work will dig this band that is going places. Check them out before they blow up.
Camera Cult headlines Satellite Bar, located at 6922 Harrisburg Blvd., on Friday, April 12. Indigo Young and No Rehearsal open. Tickets start at $8 plus fees. Doors open at 8 pm.
Randy Rogers Band
A Houston favorite, the Cleburne-launched Randy Rogers Band is one of the more popular regional country bands going right now, evidenced that the ticket numbers for this show are dwindling, which is saying something, because few country acts perform at White Oak Music Hall (kudos to programmers for getting these types of shows in). After making waves with 2015's Hold My Beer, Vol. 1 and 2016's Nothing Shines Like Neon, the group is back with this year's Hellbent. The last time they were in town, the show sold out. Get on those tickets now.
Randy Rogers Band performs at White Oak Music Hall, located at 2915 N Main St., on Friday, April 12. Tickets start at $35 plus fees. Doors open at 7 pm.
CultureMap show of the week: Gladys Knight
Few performers have had as long and storied career as Gladys Knight. Former leader of The Pips, Knight provided the silky smooth vocals on her hits "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," "Neither One Of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)," 'Midnight Train to Georgia," and "License to Kill," parlaying her music skills into film and television. Knight was last seen by many performing at a little thing called the Super Bowl. This is your best chance to see a living legend do her thing.
Gladys Knight performs at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land, located at 18111 Lexington Blvd. in Sugar Land on Saturday, April 13. Tickets start at $49.50 plus fees. Doors open at 7:30 pm.
CultureMap recommends: DMX at HOB
Oh, DMX. The popular rapper is back on the road following a jail stint for tax evasion for jilting the U.S. government out of millions of dollars. That's because he was at one point, one of the biggest hip-hop stars in the world, producing several multi-platinum albums before legal problems derailed his career. Thankfully, he got his release in time to turn a quick buck with the 20th anniversary of the watershed album It's Dark and Hell is Hot, the album that launched the Baltimore artist to international stardom.
DMX is back at House of Blues, located at 1204 Caroline St., on Sunday, April 14. Tickets start at $30 plus fees. Doors open at 8 pm.
Gladys Knight is at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land on Saturday, April 13.
