Music Matters

Fleet Foxes grows up early with Helplessness Blues: More than high harmonies &long beards

Fleet Foxes
Photo by Shawn Brackbill
"Helplessness Blues"

Three years ago, Fleet Foxes arrived on the scene with beards down to their knees and harmonies arching skyward. Their eponymous debut album found an immediate following and a lot of critical love, earning a spot on many year-end best-of lists.

But while the album was a charming surprise and certainly managed a sort of hushed prettiness, it also came up a bit light in the songwriting category. While Fleet Foxes certainly achieved the intended pastoral feel, there weren’t a lot of individual tracks that made much of an impression aside from the beauty with which they were sung.

Give credit then to this Seattle-based group, recently grown to six members with the full-time addition of multi-instrumentalist Morgan Henderson, that it managed to fix what many fans didn’t even realize was broken. Fleet Foxes' second album, Helplessness Blues, retains a lot of the qualities that captivated fans in the debut, but it adds enough songwriting oomph to convince skeptics that there is more here than great voices.

Robin Pecknold is the lead singer and songwriter for Fleet Foxes, and the dude has a serious case of aging before his time. On the opening track, “Montezuma”, Pecknold frets about the responsibilities of adulthood while simultaneously scolding his previous, selfish self: “Oh, man, what I used to be.” Mind you, Pecknold is 25 years old, so that would mean that he’s looking back to what, junior high?

But his premature middle-aging can be forgiven, and so too, for that matter, should we allow his flights of fancy in terms of quasi-mystical adventures like “Sim Sala Bim” and “The Plains/Bitter Dancer”. If it’s Dylan that Pecknold is trying to ape, at least in terms of subject matter, it’s Desire-era Dylan for sure.

Even if he overreaches at times, the bottom line is that Pecknold is at least reaching for something in every song. No longer content to pen well-meaning but toothless odes to nature, he has given his band a purpose, and Helplessness Blues is all the better for it.

Sound wise, the album doesn’t differ much from its predecessor, with a few exceptions, like the slinky violin that gives an exotic feel to “Bedouin Dress”, or the stomping drums of Josh Tillman on “Battery Kinsie.” For the most part though, Fleet Foxes still provide mostly acoustic, folk-based numbers that rely heavily on the melodies that Pecknold spins, and those tunes are often beguiling.

The title track is a lovely two-part suite that shifts from frenzied strumming to a meditative second section on a dime, as Pecknold relies on the simplicity of love to get him past the “men who live only in dimly-lit halls/and determine my future for me.” “Lorelai” features lovely fluttering guitars and a melody that rises and falls along with the inclinations of the titular girl.

“Lorelai” also features sighed harmonies that perfectly compliment the song, which is something that doesn’t always occur on Helplessness Blues. At times, the combined voices of Pecknold, Christian Wargo, and Casey Prescott come together in a massive wall of sound that’s meant to be awe-inspiring but instead comes off as overbearing.

In fact, it’s a testament to how far Fleet Foxes have come that the finest song on the entire album, “Someone You’d Admire”, is mostly just descending guitar chords and Pecknold testifying his doubt about his ability to be what his lover expects him to be. It’s the kind of simplicity and beauty that need not be embellished, and it’s something that can be found in long stretches on Helplessness Blues.

This is an album that reflects what it sounds like when a band that could have sat on its laurels instead strives for something more ambitious and, for the most part, nails it.

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Here are the 15 best things to do in Houston this weekend

Photo courtesy of Morgan Wallen

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Juneteenth is on Thursday, June 19, which means those who want to celebrate will find plenty of events happening across Houston this weekend. We’re talking about such gatherings as the Children’s Museum Houston’s Juneteenth celebration, the Juneteenth 160 Fest, and Club Sienna’s Juneteenth Jubilee, just to name a few.

But we also have the all-star return of Comicpalooza, live performances from a country bad-boy and a neo-soul legend, a YouTube show getting an early jump on celebrating DJ Screw Day, and the 20th anniversary of a movie that we wish we knew how to quit.

Thursday, June 19

Buffalo Bayou Partnership presents Underground Sounds: Sarah Grace Graves - “Three Names”
All this weekend, the Underground Sounds series in the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern returns, featuring Sarah Grace Graves performing her composition "Three Names," which is inspired by the vast, unique architecture of the Cistern and arranged especially for its natural acoustics. Graves is a composer and vocal performer working at the intersection between ritual and recital. She pulls inspiration from a variety of media, including classical literature and archival music recordings, to weave together stories through a blend of compositions and improvisation. 6 pm.

Plot Swap Theater presents Pheromones
Best friends Lucy and Vic slide into a downtown lounge, where Lucy unveils a slim vial she swears will make its wearer irresistible, putting their handsome waiter Danny in the crosshairs. Whether the pheromones ignite romance, trigger disaster, or expose deeper rifts between the friends is decided live by the audience. Pheromones is an intimately hilarious choose‑your‑adventure story, performed for only 10 guests per night. Through Thursday, July 24. 7 pm.

The River Oaks Theatre presents When Houston Had the Blues
When Houston Had the Blues focuses on the city’s rich (but sadly unheralded) history of great Black music. No other city can claim giants such as Lightnin' Hopkins, Big Mama Thornton, Clarence Gatemouth Brown, Bobby Blue Bland, Albert King, and Albert Collins, plus Black-owned labels like Duke and Peacock. The doc features new interviews with Billy Gibbons, CJ Chenier, Grady Gaines, and others. Producer Drew Barnett-Hamilton and Houston blues artists Trudy Lynn and Steve Krase will be around for a post-screening Q&A. 7:15 pm.

Friday, June 20

Comicpalooza
The three-day pop culture con Comicpalooza is back, featuring vendors from all over the galaxy, programming covering a multitude of fandoms, special attractions intriguing the curious minds, panels featuring this year’s guests, and other geeky entertainment. Celebrity guests will include Hayden Christensen, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong, Anthony Michael Hall, Patton Oswalt, Ming-Na Wen, WWE wrestlers, the cast of Resident Alien (including Alice Wetterlund, who will be at Punch Line Houston this weekend), and more. 1 pm (9 am Saturday and Sunday).

Asia Society Texas Center presents AsiaFest
AsiaFest celebrates the rich diversity of Houston’s Asian and Asian American communities through performances, art-making activities, food, live demonstrations, and more. The event will feature Asia's different regions' traditions, cultures, and food. Guests will get to interact with a dragon boat display on their front lawn, tour Asia Society Texas' exhibition "Hung Hsien: Between Worlds," and more. 5 pm.

Morgan Wallen in concert
Country star Morgan Wallen may not have dug hanging around at Saturday Night Live a few months back (he quickly bounced during the goodnights and later posted “Get me to God’s country” on his Instagram page), but he’ll be sticking around in Houston this weekend. He’ll be performing not one, but two shows at NRG Stadium, in support of his new album, I'm The Problem. Well, at least the man knows he’s got issues. 5:30 pm. (Saturday, 5:30 pm).

Maxwell in concert
The last time ‘90s neo-soul pioneer Maxwell performed here was in October, as his tour (which celebrated the 15th anniversary of his 2009 comeback album BLACKsummers’night) made a stop at the Toyota Center. Now, he’s returning to H-Town territory, preparing to rock the house over at Sugar Land’s Smart Financial Centre. So, if you conceived children while listening to his baby-making jams (or if you were conceived during a Maxwell song and you just wanna see what the hype is all about), Maxwell will be here to give you a little sumthin’ sumthin’. 8 pm.

Saturday, June 21

River Oaks District presents Motor Mornings with Post Oak Motor Cars
River Oaks District invites car enthusiasts, collectors, and industry insiders to its Motor Mornings – presented by Post Oak Motor Cars – to see an extraordinary lineup of supercars and hypercars, including bespoke Bentleys, roaring Lamborghinis, and sleek Bugattis. Automotive aficionados can come together to enjoy a curated collection of some of the most coveted vehicles in the world to connect over shared passion and engineering perfection. This event is open to the public and will offer live music and complimentary coffee for attendees. 8 am.

Kroger 70th Anniversary Celebration
The nationwide grocery chain will mark 70 years of Houston operations with a party at its store in the Heights (1035 N. Shepherd). The first 70 customers through the door at 10 am will have the opportunity to buy seven items for just $0.70 each. Everyone else will enjoy wine tastings, gift card raffles, Winfield's Chocolate Bar giveaways, an appearance by the Texans cheerleaders, and activities for kids. To mark the occasion, Kroger will donate $35,000 to the Houston Food Bank. 10 am.

Photo courtesy of Morgan Wallen

Morgan Wallen is performing Friday and Saturday.

Spin the Block at Screwed Up Records and Tapes
Spin the Block, the new YouTube show where DJs and influencers take over a local Houston space and have a nice little kickback, will be at Screwed Up Records and Tapes this weekend, just in time for DJ Screw Day next weekend. Rock/hip-hop duo Blaze x Black will be performing as well as hosting, along with King Borris. DJ Pablo Barre will provide the beats, and food trucks and other vendors will be outside. Noon.

Nate Jackson: Super Funny World Tour
Stand-up comedian, actor, and viral sensation Nate Jackson is taking his signature high-energy comedy on the road with the Super Funny World Tour. His blend of sharp wit, relatable humor, and unmatched physical comedy has made him a favorite both on social media and in live performances, where he sells out comedy clubs and theaters across America. See him before his first Netflix special drops in July. 7 pm.

Houston Symphony presents Disney and Pixar’s Up in Concert
In Up, the quirky duo of Carl, a cantankerous 78-year-old balloon salesman, and Russell, an adventurous 8-year-old stowaway, embark on a laugh-out-loud and touching journey to a hidden world full of thrills and surprises. The 2009 Disney/Pixar tearjerker will be projected on a massive screen, accompanied by the Houston Symphony performing Michael Giacchino’s Academy Award-winning score live. 7:30 pm (2 pm Sunday).

Sunday, June 22

Laura Rathe Fine Art presents "A World Within" opening reception
"A World Within," a group exhibition featuring Lucrecia Waggoner, Carly Allen Martin, Audra Weaser, and Sandrine Kern, is that quiet, internal space we all carry. A place shaped by memory, emotion, and the small moments that do not always have language. A world where past experiences and passing thoughts live side by side, building emotional landscapes that feel intimate and vast at the same time. Each artist offers a different entry point into this space, a glimpse into their inner world. Through Monday, August 4. Noon.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents "From India to the World: Textiles from the Parpia Collection" opening day
A celebration of artistic mastery and cultural exchange, "From India to the World: Textiles from the Parpia Collection" showcases the Museum’s recent acquisition of Indian textiles from the holdings of New York-based Banoo and Jeevak Parpia, who have assembled one of the most significant private collections of its kind outside India. This exhibition offers a rich cross-section of India’s textile traditions, from intricate court silks to boldly patterned cottons, dazzling tie-dyes, and masterfully woven ikats. Through Sunday, September 14. 12:30 pm.

Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra presents Brokeback Mountain: 20th Anniversary
Winner of three Academy Awards including Best Director, Brokeback Mountain is a sweeping epic that explores the lives of two young men, a ranch hand and a rodeo cowboy, who meet in the summer of 1963 and unexpectedly forge a lifelong connection. The complications, joys, and heartbreak they experience provide a testament to the endurance and power of love. The late Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal deliver emotionally charged, remarkably moving performances. 6 pm (9:30 pm Sunday).

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