Live Music Now

9 coolest concerts to ring in the new year in Houston this January

A sense of déjà vu has descended all across concert venues in Houston and the culprit is omicron.

The fast-moving strain of the COVID-19 virus has been wreaking havoc on the live music scene, leading to a handful of cancellations. It was likely the cause behind the postponement of the much anticipated New Year's Eve homecoming show for Houston-based world-beaters, Khruangbin, at the 713 Music Hall.

The seemingly exponential rise in cases leaves any early-2022 show a crapshoot, raising concerns over future concerts whether it's due to staffing issues or bands rescheduling shows out of an abundance of caution.

That leaves it up to ticketholders to check the latest status of gigs, not only to make sure they are still a go, but whether COVID safety measures are in place at the venues. In other words, have those vaccination cards and 72-hour COVID test results handy before heading out.

Hopefully, the following January shows will still happen as we have a full slate ahead. CultureMap's best shows of the month are as follows:

Clay Melton
Thursday, January 6
The Big Barn at Dosey Doe

Equally influenced by Stevie Ray Vaughan and John Mayer, Houston-based Clay Melton is establishing himself as one of the hottest blues-rock acts in the Lone Star State. Simply put, the talented young guitarist-vocalist can shred and is an extremely fun watch, backed by a rock-solid unit in his longtime drummer, Zach Grindle, and bassist Zach Cox.

He’ll be recording a live album from the unique confines of The Big Barn at Dosey Doe in Spring alongside a who’s-who in the local music scene, including Sir Earl Toon of Kool & the Gang, Evelyn Rubio, and Sarah Grace. That follows the well-received 2021 EP, Back to Blue.

Tickets start at $15 plus fees. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

CultureMap Local Show of the Month: BowiElvis Festival
Saturday, January 8
The Continental Club and Big Top Lounge

January 8 holds a special place in the hearts of music fans across the globe as the day produced two of the greatest pop icons in modern musical history: David Bowie and Elvis Presley. Those two cultural forces will meet at the return of BowiElvis Festival.

The 13th edition is back after a one-year hiatus and will feature a number of acts celebrating the late-singers, including Graveltooth, Johnny Falstaff, India Tigers in Texas, Sara Van Buskirk, Elise Morrison, Yaupon, and a burlesque performance by Dem Damn Dames.

Bands will play Bowie and Elvis cover songs in addition to original tunes, and guests can participate in face painting and a costume contest alongside catering that features "The King" — Elvis's favorite banana and peanut butter sandwich and "The Bowie," a croque madame with Gruyère, ham, and a fried egg.

Tickets start at $20 plus fees in advance, $35 at the door. Doors open at 7 p.m.

CultureMap Recommends: TWRP with Rich Aucoin
Sunday, January 9
White Oak Music Hall (Upstairs)

Hailing from the frosty hinterlands of Canada, fans of high-energy weirdness are in for a real treat when TWRP (formerly Tupperware Remix Party) and Rich Aucoin take over White Oak Music Hall. Both hail from the creative Halifax, Nova Scotia scene and are getting huge accolades not only for their synth-driven indie sounds, but their insane live performances. TWRP's concert gear recalls Power Rangers mixed with Devo, Daft Punk, and manga comic books.

The secret weapon on this bill is Aucoin, a genius-level multi-instrumentalist whose exuberant intellect is expressed in award-winning videos and movie-synched live shows that include actual surfing on crowds and crazy-fun dance parties underneath a elementary school parachute. His latest album, United States, is a amazing listen as well, an ultimately uplifting treatise on modern America. This show is sold out but is worth every penny on the resale market.

Tickets are sold out but there is a waitlist. Doors open at 8 pm.

Washed Out
Thursday, January 13
Warehouse Live

One of the leaders of the late-2000s chillwave movement alongside luminaries such as Toro Y Moi, Neon Indian, Small Black and others, Ernest Greene’s Washed Out project is a vibe unto itself.

Combining dream pop with ’80s synths and gentle vocals, Washed Out first garnered major notice with his 2009 EP Life of Leisure, lead single “Feel It All Around” becoming the title credits song for the hit comedy show, Portlandia.

The song is seemingly now ensconced on the playlist at any and every upscale eatery. His latest is 2020’s Paracosm.

Tickets start at $25 plus fees. Doors open at 8 pm.

Maze featuring Frankie Beverly with The Isley Brothers and LeVelle
Saturday, January 15
Toyota Center

Classic soul and funk gets a major spotlight with a Toyota Center bill that includes Maze, led by Frankie Beverly. Originally from Philadelphia, Maze first made waves when they hooked up with Marvin Gaye in the '70s, scoring hit songs such as "Joy and Pain," "Before I Let Go," and "Happy Feelin's" [sic].

They'll be joined by the timeless, former Motown act, The Isley Brothers, who are instantly recognizable with the hits "This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)," "Shout," and "Twist and Shout," famously covered by The Beatles.

Tickets start at $69.50 plus fees. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

CultureMap Show of the Month: Sir Elton John
Friday, January 21 and Saturday, January 22
Toyota Center

The last time Sir Elton John rolled through town with his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tour to perform to a sold-out Toyota Center crowd, it was under the guise of being his last tour before setting off into the sunset. That show included a roll-call of greatest hits that would be a wonderful bookend to a storied career (read the CultureMap review here).

But alas, the icon had second thoughts and is back for a two-show encore, perhaps bolstered by the fantastic hit Dua Lipa/PNAU collaboration, "Cold Heart," that resulted in John's biggest hit song in years, reaching No. 1 in the U.K. and No. 11 in the U.S.

Expect a look back on his biggest hits, a stellar live band, and eye-popping visuals — for John fans, or music fans in general, this show is a must-see.

Tickets start at $69.50 plus fees. Doors open at 7 pm.

Shawn Colvin
Friday, January 21
Heights Theater

We were set to recommend the Lucinda Williams concert at Heights Theater this month but that one is sold out. For those looking for a fantastic singer-songwriter, Shawn Colvin will also appear in the intimate venue.

Colvin got her start in the Midwest and quickly garnered attention when she joined the famed Greenwich Village folk circuit in New York. A tour with Susanne Vega led to a recording contract and since then, she became a fixture at the Lilith Fair tours and racked up three Grammy Award wins, including two for her hit song, "Sunny Came Home," which picked up Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Her latest is The Starlighter, a collection inspired by the children's music book, Lullabies and Night Songs.

Tickets start at $28 plus fees. Doors open at 7 p.m.

The War on Drugs with Lo Moon
White Oak Music Hall (Lawn)

Finding that sweet spot between Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan juxtaposed with layered indie guitars, The War on Drugs developed a distinctly American rock sound that recalls vast landscapes and gritty stories of the everyman, set to a sonic palette made for today's audiences.

Led by Adam Granduciel, the band initially started after he struck up a friendship with psych-rocker Kurt Vile. But it wasn't until Vile departed that the band truly took off with 2014's Lost in the Dream achieving modern classic status and catapulting the act to festival headliners.

The 2017 release A Deeper Understanding and last year's I Don't Live Here Anymore were critical smashes, solidifying The War on Drugs as a touring force.

Tickets start at $46 plus fees. Doors open at 8 pm.

Cat Power
Thursday, January 27
House of Blues

Cat Power's Chan Marshall has had a strange career. Starting off as an unassuming indie darling most noteworthy for the excellent 1998 full-length Moon Pix, the demands of the road proved at times too much for the Atlanta-based singer-songwriter. Show performances were erratic and oftentimes awkward with her deeply personal lyrics at odds with rowdy crowds.

Thankfully, with her social anxiety issues behind her, Marshall has gained new confidence not only as a frontwoman but also as a recording artist, producing excellent albums over the last decade and touring with the likes of Alanis Morissette. She'll be releasing a covers album this year.

Tickets start at $35 plus fees. Show starts at 7 pm.

Washed Out brings his blissed out sound to Warehouse Live on Thursday, January 13.

Washed Out/Facebook

Washed Out brings his blissed out sound to Warehouse Live on Thursday, January 13.

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Weekend Event Planner

These are the top 15 things to do in Houston this weekend

Photo by Matthew Murphy

Broadway at the Hobby Center presents Water for Elephants.

Now that the arctic blast has finished with us, several events that were cancelled last weekend – Gallery Sonja Roesch’s 35th anniversary show, a dual opening at Foltz Fine Art, Asia Society Texas’s Kawaii Market – have been rescheduled for this weekend.

As for the scheduled events this weekend, there’s an “autoboative” show, a screening of a sci-fi classic with live musical accompaniment, an all-star show for autograph collectors, a fashion competition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the return of Houston's noisiest music festival.

Thursday, January 29

Houston Autoboative Show
It’s the 42nd Houston Auto Show at NRG Park this weekend, which is also combined (for its third year) with the Houston Boat Show. The event showcases a diverse array of vehicles, from electric cars to trucks and sedans. It also offers a fantastic opportunity to get up close and personal with the hottest models on the market and learn from brand experts about each vehicle/vessel without the pressure of being sold to. 11 am (10 am Saturday and Sunday).

Asia Society Texas presents Offside
Asia Society Texas will kick off the World Cup with Offside, a 2006 dramedy from Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi. (It’s also part of this year’s Festival of Films from Iran.) Set during a World Cup qualifying match between Iran and Bahrain, the film follows a group of young women who attempt to circumvent a ban on women attending sporting events by disguising themselves as men to enter the stadium and watch the game, leading to a series of increasingly absurd situations. 7 pm.

Performing Arts Houston presents Blade Runner Live
Ridley Scott’s stylish, 1982 noir classic Blade Runner (aka the 2007 Final Cut) will screen while Vangelis’ synthesizer-led cult score is performed live by The Avex Ensemble. In this futuristic hriller, detective Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) must continue as Replicant Hunter following the escape of four Replicants (including main baddie Rutger Hauer – RIP) from colonies who’ve returned to earth. His mission, however, is complicated when he falls for Rachel (Sean Young), a Replicant based at the Tyrell Corporation. 7:30 pm.

Friday, January 30

TRISTAR Houston Collectors Show
For three days, a lot of stars will be flocking to the NRG Arena in order to give Houstonians their signature. Along with lots of sports memorabilia for sale, the 40th Annual TRISTAR Houston Collectors Show will have tons of celebs signing autographs. Just on Saturday alone, we’ll get Karate Kid/Cobra Kai castmates Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, and Martin Kove; the cast of The Sandlot, Charlie Sheen, Tom Berenger, Dennis Rodman, former Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich, former Rockets player Elvin Hayes, and Houston’s own Randy Quaid. 2 pm (10 am Saturday and Sunday).

The Hobby Center presents Houston Is Inspired - [Jk]creativ: Our Road Home
Multidisciplinary company [Jk]creativ gives us Our Road Home, an interactive rhythmic production created and directed by native Houston artist Jakari Sherman. Through layered rhythmic storytelling - spoken, rapped, preached, and sung - the work honors the communal labor and ingenuity that built spaces of freedom across time. Inspired by the legacy of Houston’s Freedmen’s Town, the work asks: Once freedom is gained, how do we live in it, preserve it, and pass it on when the pull of bondage lingers near?

MFAH and HCC present Fashion Fusion X
Frida Kahlo meets contemporary couture in Fashion Fusion, the 10th edition of the annual fashion competition at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Open to aspiring designers in the Fashion Design program at Houston City College, Fusion challenges students to create original garments in response to art on display in the museum’s galleries. This year, the aspiring designers will showcase garments addressing the exhibition, "Frida: The Making of an Icon." 7 pm.

Memorial Hermann Broadway at the Hobby Center presents Water for Elephants
After losing what matters most, a young man jumps a moving train, unsure of where the road will take him. He finds a new home with the remarkable crew of a traveling circus, and a life - and love - beyond his wildest dreams. Seen through the eyes of his older self, his adventure becomes a poignant reminder that if you choose the ride, life can begin again at any age. 7:30 pm (2 and 7:30 pm Saturday; 1:30 and 7 pm Sunday).

Saturday, January 31

The List One Year Anniversary
East End creative space The List will be celebrating its first anniversary with a bevy of weekend events, with two going down on Saturday. The day starts off with the return of the Vinyl & Furniture Garden Market, curated by local DJ vet Malcolm Bravo, over at the List Cafe. Bravo and other DJs will be spinning tunes as stores and vendors will be open for business. Later that evening, DJ/TikToker Sheri Koko will be working the turntables, along with some special-guest pals, at Room808. 11 am and 9 pm.

Burger Bodega present For the Culture
Chef and restaurateur Abbas Dhanani is taking a break from burgers to pay homage to his Pakistani heritage by partnering with the PX Project for a one-day only pop-up. Working with his mother and his aunt, the four-item menu showcases some favorite childhood dishes, including Nihari, slow-braised, spiced beef stew with naan; Hina Khala's Chicken Biryani, fragrant basmati rice layered with boneless chicken; the Chicken Sixty-Five Po' Boy; and a mango lassi sundae with a cardamom snickerdoodle cookie.

$\u200bBroadway at the Hobby Center presents Water for Elephants$

Photo by Matthew Murphy

Broadway at the Hobby Center presents Water for Elephants.

Seven Sisters presents Ping Zheng: Soft Interference opening reception
Soft Interference presents a new series of oil-stick works on paper by Ping Zheng, following her 2024 exhibition Nature’s Canopy at Seven Sisters. In these works, Zheng continues her investigation of landscape as a site of perception and interiority. Through repeated mark-making and shifting chromatic fields, she constructs images that hover between observed nature and remembered experience. Through Saturday, February 28. 2 pm.

MGEntertainment presents The 5th Annual Harsh Noise Houston
Believe it or not, there’s a heavy experimental-music scene here in H-Town. This weekend, you have the opportunity to see a lot of the scene’s most valuable players over at Super Happy Fun Land, where the fifth annual Harsh Noise Houston fest will be going down. 13 acts, representing some of the best experimental music, performance art, and noise that Texas has to offer, will be performing, including HauntedPixel, Ether Research, Astrogenic Hallucinating, and Psychosomatica’s sister project Del Norte. 7 pm.

Rice Cinema presents American Sons
Film producer and Rice alum Elizabeth Avellán presents American Sons, a documentary using first-hand footage captured by fallen Marine Cpl. Jorge “JV” Villarreal, a native of San Antonio. The film focuses on a brotherhood of U.S. Marines a decade after their Afghanistan deployment, focusing on their struggle with combat trauma, PTSD, and reintegration, especially after losing their friend Villarreal. Avellan and director Andrew James Gonzales will be around for a post-screening Q&A. 7 pm.

Sunday, February 1

ReelAbilities Houston presents ReelArt For All
The ReelAbilities Houston Film & Arts Festival’s ReelArt For All program will feature art and interactive activities, brunchy bites, and more. Guests can see the world through the eyes of artists from Celebration Company, an entrepreneurial employment program for adults with disabilities, and explore the works of featured artist Emmett Kyoshi Wilson. A Chicago-based artist living with Down syndrome, Wilson has created over 150 works, exhibited in five galleries, and even painted the American Flag for the U.S. Embassy in Croatia. 10:30 am.

Shepherd School of Music presents Inside Look: Modern American Operas
The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University will present a deconstructed look at two full-length American comic operas: Karim Al-Zand’s 50th anniversary commission A Joint Interest and William Bolcom’s Lucrezia. Aleko Endowed Artist Paul Curran guides audiences through these mischievous and delightfully theatrical worlds. Shepherd School Chamber Players will accompany both contemporary operas from the pit, led by Miguel Harth-Bedoya. Bolcom's Lucrezia contains adult content and is not suitable for all audiences. 2 pm.

Cultural Center Our Texas presents Popovich Comedy Pet Theater
The World Famous Popovich Comedy Pet Theater is a family-oriented blend of the unique comedy and juggling skills of Gregory Popovich, and the talents of his furry costars. There are more than 30 pets (dogs, cats, horses, birds, etc.) in the show, and each one has been rescued from animal shelters and given a new leash on life. Bad pun aside, this show will be a joy for viewers of all ages. 4 pm.

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