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    Live Music Now

    These are the 9 best concerts to catch in Houston this week

    Johnston Farrow
    Johnston Farrow
    Jun 5, 2018 | 3:06 pm

    Good luck trying to get to all the music events this weekend. Houston is home to a monstrous amount of concerts between now and Sunday, including three big ones at the now little-utilized Toyota Center following the Rockets' recent, heartbreaking playoff defeat (too soon?).

    Two extremely affordable music fests will go down within a few miles of each other north of downtown - making it easy for diehard scenesters to get to both. Sunday has no less than three stellar options for fans to attend, and one of them is free.

    Slap on that sunscreen. It's going to be a wild ride. Here are CultureMap's most notable shows of the week.

    A new direction for Harry Styles
    Like Justin Timberlake almost two decades ago, Harry Styles is poised to be the biggest solo star from a hugely popular boy band (One Direction, or One D to loyal fans), who also dabbles in extracurriculars (e.g. his respectable acting turn in the harrowing Dunkirk). Whether or not his debut, self-titled album, will be as big as JT's Justified is another matter, but it recieved favorable reviews for embracing a new rock sound. One thing Styles can do like the former N'SYNC member is perform — expect a professional showman that can work a crowd into a tizzy. The crossover country star, Kacey Musgraves, fresh off her Saturday Night Live debut, will open.

    Harry Styles takes over the Toyota Center, located at 1510 Polk St., on Thursday, June 7. Kacey Musgraves opens. Tickets start at $29.50 plus service charges. Doors open at 7 pm.

    Sunflower Bean sprouts up
    New York City seems to pump out great, impossibly cool bands every so often that become a growing concern on the national stage and Sunflower Bean seem poised to be the next in a long line of acts favored by those who like a bit of grit with their guitars and rock stars who also double as models for fashion magazines. After releasing one of the most exciting debuts in 2016's Human Ceremony, the Bean is back with their second, more mainstream Twentytwo in Blue. At only $12, this is a great chance to see what the buzz is about.

    Sunflower Bean hits White Oak Music Hall, located at 2915 N. Main St., on Friday, June 8. Nude Party and Jesse Jo Stark open. Tickets are $12 in advance plus a $5.39 service fee. Doors open at 8 pm.

    The return of country-pop superstar Shania
    After years away from the spotlight, Canadian country-pop powerhouse, Shania Twain, is back with new album, Now, and a huge tour to reacquaint herself with audiences. The highest selling female country star in history had been a relative recluse over the last 15 years during her marriage to famed rock producer Mutt Lange. The end of that union means we are seeing signs of Twain returning into her superstar routine, singing her hits ("Man! I Feel Like A Woman!," "That Don't Impress Me Much," "You're Still the One") for adoring audiences worldwide.

    Shania Twain makes her Houston comeback appearance at the Toyota Center, located at 1510 Polk St., on Saturday, June 9. Tickets start at $39.95 plus fees. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

    Just an '80s and '90s loving friend, Biz Markie
    New York City rapper, DJ, and beatboxer Biz Markie has enjoyed a fruitful career despite being largely known for one song, "Just a Friend." The song was one of the biggest early hip-hop hits that has endured in pop culture throughout the following decades, most recently in television shows, Empire and Black-ish. Biz will be throwing down a set of classic hip-hop as part of his Decades Collide '80s vs. '90s tour in what should be a fun party.

    Biz Markie lays down the jams at House of Blues, located at 1204 Caroline St., on Saturday, June 10. Tickets start at $15 plus a service fee. Doors open at 7 pm.

    Madness on Main celebrates the local scene
    The Houston music scene pared down to its purist essence, the Madness on Main festival celebrates its fifth year with a variety of local and national acts, artists, and more at White Oak this Saturday. The fest features three stages chockful of emerging local talent, culminating in a headlining performance by NYC's precocious auteur, Har Mar Superstar, who is always a titular thrill. The best part is it's a cheap ticket to enjoy over 20 acts, alongside food trucks, cutting edge art, and cold beer, and cocktails.

    Madness on Main takes place at White Oak Music Hall, located at 2915 N. Main St. on Saturday, June 10. Tickets are $20 in advance plus a $7.73 service fee. Kids under 12 are free. Gates open at 4 pm.

    Happy 24 to Saint Arnold Brewing
    Dedicating oneself to anything for 24 years is reason to celebrate, but when it involves beer and music, it's even better. Saint Arnold Brewing Company will commemorate its opal anniversary with a stacked line-up of great Texas music, including local hip-hop from Trae the Truth, the ska-cumbia-reggae-punk fusion of Los Skarnales, and most likely new tunes from one of the best local alt-rock acts, Wild Moccasins, ahead of their July album release. Ten bucks will get you into the party, $35 will get you in along with two beers and a special 24th anniversary glass (probably not made of opal, but still cool).

    The Saint Arnold 24th Anniversary Party goes down at Saint Arnold Brewing Company, located at 2000 Lyons Ave. on Saturday, June 10. Tickets start at $10 plus fees. The festivities start at 4 pm.

    Maroon 5 takes over Toyota Center

    Say what you want about Maroon 5, the ladies will be crowding into the home of the Rockets this Sunday to see The Voice judge Adam Levine and company perform their latest radio-friendly pop-funk as part of the group's Red Pill Blues tour. Thanks to Levine's high profile, his band's popularity remains high, and should stay that way seeing as their latest single, "Girls Like You," featuring it-girl Cardi B, is starting to climb up the charts.

    Maroon 5 take their toll at the Toyota Center, located at 1510 Polk St. on Sunday, June 10. Julia Michaels opens. Tickets start at $49.50 plus service charges. Doors open at 6:30 pm.

    Show of the Week: Ray LaMontagne and Neko Case
    In what is probably the best line-up of the week by two performers that could easily headline their own sold-out shows in slightly smaller venues, acoustic troubador Ray LaMontagne will be joined by the fiery presence that is one of indie-rock's most revered songwriters in Neko Case. The former garnered fame during a time when Bon Iver and Iron and Wine made earnest, acoustic odes the sound du jour. The latter is practically royalty in indie circles for her earth shattering vocals and cheekily smart lyrics on songs by the Canadian supergroup, The New Pornographers, and acclaimed solo albums. Both are touring behind new albums that critics are salivating over — LaMontagne's Part of the Light and Case's Hell-on. Both are fantastic performers with some of the most unique voices in music today.

    Ray LaMontagne and Neko Case appear on stage at Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land, located at 18111 Lexington Blvd. in Sugar Land, on Sunday, June 10. Tickets start at $59.50 plus fees. Show starts at 7:30 pm.

    Free show of the week: Tontons, The Suspects, and Vodi
    Canned Acoustica continues its run of free, stripped down shows at Discovery Green and this line-up just might be this season's best, with some local favorites and up-and-comers. The great indie-rock act, The Tontons, ska-reggae band, The Suspects, and classic rock-influenced Vodi will perform along with others. Attendees are welcome to bring blankets, picnics, and chairs to enjoy the outdoor evening show.

    Canned Acoustica at Grace Lawn at Discovery Green, located at 1500 McKinney St., on Sunday, June 10. Admission is free. Show start 5 pm.

    Former One Direction heartthrob Harry Styles lights up the Toyota Center on Thursday, June 7.

    Harry Styles
      
    Photo by Lillie Eiger
    Former One Direction heartthrob Harry Styles lights up the Toyota Center on Thursday, June 7.
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    Movie Review

    How to Train Your Dragon remake puts a fresh twist on the original

    Alex Bentley
    Jun 12, 2025 | 4:14 pm
    Toothless and Mason Thames in How to Train Your Dragon
    Photo courtesy of Universal Pictures
    Toothless and Mason Thames in How to Train Your Dragon.

    Let’s get it out of the way right at the top: The new live-action How to Train Your Dragon, coming a mere 15 years after the original animated film, serves no real purpose other than to make more money for Universal Pictures and Dreamworks Pictures. However, unlike Disney’s approach toward remaking their animated movies, this attempt manages to succeed on its own merits instead of being a half-baked vessel for nostalgia.

    As fans will remember, Hiccup (Mason Thames) lives in Berk, a town on a remote island populated by Vikings who constantly have to defend themselves against rampaging dragons. Hiccup’s dad, Stoick (Gerard Butler), is the community’s vaunted leader, with a legacy that seems impossible for Hiccup to measure up to, especially since he’s stuck in the armory alongside Gobber (Nick Frost).

    But Hiccup has a knack for inventions, and his use of one new weapon during a dragon attack takes down a feared Night Fury. Finding the wounded dragon deep in the forest, Hiccup decides against killing it, leading to an unexpected bond between the two of them. Most of the film shows Hiccup trying to prove himself to his townspeople, including the fierce Astrid (Nico Parker), while also nursing the dragon he dubs Toothless back to health with the help of another one of his ingenious creations.

    Written and directed by Dean DeBlois (who’s had the same roles on all four HTTYD films), the film is most notable for how engaging it is despite it retelling a story many already know and love. The biggest reason for this is a pivot away from telling a story mainly for kids toward one that feels like an extremely light version of Game of Thrones. Almost right away, there are real stakes for the people in the film, and the way DeBlois and his team stage the scenes, the danger can be felt by the audience.

    This sense of “realness” comes through especially well in the scenes between Hiccup and Toothless. The design of Toothless is faithful to the original, but the CGI makes the dragon feel amazingly believable. And when they start flying, the film literally and metaphorically takes off. At multiple points, the camera seems to have trouble keeping them in frame, a smart move toward verisimilitude when the filmmakers clearly could have made it an overly smooth watching experience.

    Even though it’s more serious than the original, the film still has plenty of fun to offer. Characters like Gobber (who replaces his two missing limbs with odd contraptions) and the ragtag group of teenagers who come to be in awe of Hiccup’s skills at taming dragons provide more than a few laughs. Hiccup isn’t quite as goofy as he was when voiced by Jay Baruchel, which turns out to be a good thing as his sense of purpose amps up the drama of the story.

    Thames’ performance gets better and better as the film goes along, as Hiccup goes from town whipping boy toward hero. He really shines in the last act when he’s given a few scenes that show off his acting range. Parker is equally good, demonstrating the girl power needed for the role, but also the softness of a potential love interest. Butler, the only actor reprising their voice role, is a great presence who sells the outsized personality of Stoick.

    Against the odds, this new version of How to Train Your Dragon is equal to the success of the first film, accomplishing the goal of making it feel like you’re watching the story for the first time. If live-action remakes are going to continue to come out, future filmmakers should study this film for how to respect both the history of the franchise and the audience paying good money to be entertained.

    ---

    How to Train Your Dragon opens in theaters on June 13.

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