Get down on it

Weirdly perfect: Van Halen plus Kool & the Gang another unlikely pairing thatrocks

As if the long-awaited return of David Lee Roth wasn't enough, Van Halen has upped its party cred even more with the announcement that Kool & the Gang will joining the band on its upcoming reunion tour.

The multiplatinum California rockers — who, along with Eddie, Alex and Wolfgang Van Halen, currently claim Roth as their lead vocalist — land in town June 24 for an appearance at the Toyota Center. Judging from the songs played at a small New York gig last Thursday night, fans can expect vintage '80s hits like "Panama," "Jump" and "You Really Got Me Going."

Kool & the Gang have yet to be confirmed for the Houston date. Nevertheless, promo art for the tour on Live Nation includes the band, so keep your fingers crossed.

What's not to love about the band that gave us not only "Celebration," but "Ladies Night," "Jungle Boogie," and "Get Down on It"?

"Wait, so this actually might happen?" Sound Exchange record store co-owner Kevin Bakos asked CultureMap upon hearing the news. "I need a second . . . this kinda makes my brain hurt."

While admitting he wasn't exactly a huge Van Halen fan himself, Bakos seemed to have some love for Kool & the Gang. After all, what's not to love about the band that gave us not only "Celebration," but "Ladies Night," "Jungle Boogie," and "Get Down on It"?

Cliff Dotterer of Black Dog Records was equally less enthused by the Van Halen reunion tour, but said the funk and soul of Kool & the Gang might lure him to the show.

"You know, I've always admired David Lee Roth as a frontman," he said. "Seems like this is guaranteed to be a good time."

"Man, I saw a crazy combination back in the day," Dotterer remembered. "Uriah Heep played with Earth, Wind & Fire." Strange as it seems, he said, the pairing of '70s British hard rock with the smooth R&B flavors of EWF meshed surprisingly well.

"It was an amazing way to bring together people from different backgrounds. I wasn't really into Earth, Wind & Fire before the show, but I certain was after seeing them play live."

Tickets for the Van Halen tour go on sale this month. On Jan. 10, the band will release the first single from its new record A Different Kind of Truth, the first album to include David Lee Roth in 27 years.

"Here come the grannies!"

Walk through the Magic Door to experience the world of Bluey in Houston

bluey and bingo's bedroom at camp in houston

Courtesy of CAMP

Houston will soon be the home of a new CAMP store, featuring interactive installations like the house from "Bluey."

Bluey is coming to the Galleria this February “for real life” through an immersive event that invites visitors to enter the world of the famous Australian Heeler family. This one-of-a-kind experience brings the Heeler home and backyard to life with intricate details that will delight fans of all ages.

Tickets are on sale now for Bluey x CAMP, the inaugural interactive experience of the combination toy store, party venue, and immersive theater space. This is The Family Experience Company’s first CAMP location in Houston, with the business securing a 7,500-square-foot permanent retail space in the Galleria.

Through “The Magic Door,” a pivoting wall, visitors step into seasonally rotating interactive spaces beginning with a 5,000-square-foot lifesize replica of Bluey’s house.

Visitors can play games made popular by the show, such as grannies and keepy uppy, and bust a move when “dance mode” is activated. The kitchen’s fridge is covered in drawings by the Heeler puppies, while the living room TV plays Bluey.

Families can explore both a pillow fort and a cardboard castle — two-story structures complete with slides — before venturing into a playroom stocked with toys and costumes from the show. In the backyard, a recreation of the Heeler’s large tree is surrounded by charming gnomes. A photo opportunity with Bluey and Bingo tops off the visit.

Beyond the world of Bluey, CAMP offers even more for visitors in its Canteen space, with a splatter room, The Schmutz Bar (a slime creation station), a party room, and a playable truck. Customers can also shop for toys, clothing, and accessories.

Houston joins a list of CAMP’s locations in Dallas, Atlanta, New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C. Installations change seasonally, with other current features including Paw Patrol, The Little Mermaid, and Encanto.

bluey and bingo's bedroom at camp in houston

Courtesy of CAMP

Houston will soon be the home of a new CAMP store, featuring interactive installations like the house from "Bluey."

bluey galleria-houston camp bluey x camp

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