Music fans of all genres are in for a treat this week with a number of big concerts and showcases for Texas based acts. A Colombia megastar, to a Texas Americana legend, a country hitmaker, the hottest hip-hop performers, and legends of arena rock — there are no small shows in Houston to choose from over the next seven days.
Here are CultureMap's best and biggest shows of the week:
Hips don't lie: Shakira
Sultry Colombian pop star Shakira finally makes her way to Houston following doctors orders to rest those trill vocal chords caused her to cancel a January appearance. Not that it matters, as this show is pretty much sold out and tickets are only available on the resale market. Her El Dorado tour, named after the 2017 album, is receiving rave reviews with the set running through her long career of megahits, including the No. 1 “Hips Don’t Lie,” “Can’t Remember to Forget You” featuring Rihanna, and “She Wolf.” Fans of Latin music won’t want to miss this show as she’ll also be performing a ton of her Spanish language favorites.
Shakira headlines the Toyota Center, located at 1510 Polk St., on Wednesday, August 21. Tickets start at $70 on the resale market plus service fees. Doors open at 6:30 pm.
Texas treasure Lyle Lovett
A Texas favorite, the eccentric Lyle Lovett, is back in Houston with his full band for a special show at Hobby Center. He hasn’t released any new music in sometime (2012 album Release Me was the latest), but his songbook, spanning over 30 years is full of nuggets that helped him collect four Grammy awards and a Hollywood wife in Julia Roberts.
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band performs at the Hobby Center, located at 800 Bagby St., on Wednesday, August 21. Tickets start at $45 plus service fees. Doors open at 6:30 pm.
Country cult-act Billy Currington
Billy Currington might not be as huge as other Nashville-based country acts, but make no mistake, the guy is a star with 11 No. 1 country songs under his belt, the latest being “Do I Make You Wanna,” from his 2015 album, Summer Forever, which he’s still touring behind. He’s probably best known for the 2009 hit, “People Are Crazy,” with its “God is great/beer is good/people are crazy” refrain. Expect to hear a lot of these songs when he hits Revention Thursday night.
Billy Currington performs at the Revention Music Center, located at 520 Texas Ave., on Thursday, August 22. Tickets start at $35 plus service fees. Doors open at 7 pm.
CultureMap show of the week: Hot hip-hop with Wiz Khalifa and Rae Sremmurd
The weather forecast will be hazy in The Woodlands on Thursday night when the Dazed and Blazed Summer 2018 Amphitheater Tour rolls through. It’s hard to imagine two hip-hop acts making more noise right now than Wiz Khalifa and Rae Sremmurd. Khalifa is touring on the back of his No. 2 album, Rolling Papers 2, released last month. Rae Sremmurd gained popularity with the viral mannequin challenge that featured their song “Black Beatles.” The duo riding high on the No. 6 album SR3MM, featuring hit, "Power Glide." Let’s hope this show goes on following the Oklahoma City performance being cancelled due to production issues.
Wiz Khalifa and Rae Sremmurd co-headline the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, located at 2005 Lake Robbins Dr. in The Woodlands, on Thursday, August 22. Lil Skies and O.T. Genesis open. Tickets start at $35 plus service fees. Gates open at 6 pm.
CultureMap recommends: Bands for Beto
Politics aside, the Bands for Beto fundraiser for U.S. Senate hopeful, triple meat Whataburger liberal, and amateur skater Beto O’Rourke is the strongest line-up of Houston-based bands this year. Acclaimed synth-rock band Wild Moccasins will headline and give those who missed the Look Together release party last month a second chance to see them perform songs from that fantastic album. Alt-rock act Vodi’s 2017 album, Talk, was one of last year’s best local releases. The dreamy, Americana-rock band Buxton just released new single, “This Place Reminds Me of You” this month, ahead of new album, Stay Out Late, due to be out on October 19.
Wild Moccasins, Vodi, and Buxton perform at Bands for Beto at Warehouse Live, located at 813 St. Emanuel St., on Thursday, August 25. Tickets start at $25. Show starts at 6 pm.
Evanescence with Lindsey Stirling
As a band, Evanescence's massive days of glory might be behind them, but their tour with electronic violinist Lindsey Stirling will be a treat for fans as the two acts will play in front of a full orchestra, bringing new dimensions to their music. Led by the steel-lunged Amy Lee, the Arkansas band has moved from it's rap-metal roots to embrace more dramatic, even operatic, overtures, as evidenced on their latest, last year's Synthesis. Stirling, who also choreographs her performances, is a viral video star due to her inspired, stringed reimaginings of hit songs and 201 million times watched dubstep tune, "Crystallized." Both recently teamed up on Evanescence single, "Hi-Lo."
Evanescence with Lindsey Stirling perform at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, located at 2005 Lake Robbins Dr. in The Woodlands, on Saturday, August 27. Lawn tickets are $25, reserved seats start at $59.50 plus service fees. Gates open at 5:30 pm.
Rock legends Journey and Def Leppard
Two of the biggest bands of their time, Journey and Def Leppard are hot on the nostalgia circuit due to the fact they've both sold gazillions of albums. Journey rose to fame with a series of chart topping arena rock singles, including the song that won't seem to go away and karaoke staple, "Don't Stop Believin'." Unfortunately, a nasty falling out with longtime singer Steve Perry years ago means Arnel Pineda will be singing your favorite hits. Hair metal influenced rock band Def Leppard scored one of the highest selling albums of all time with the 1987 release, Hysteria (25 million copies and counting). That album alone produced enough hits to keep any band going, including "Pour Some Sugar On Me," "Love Bites," "Animal," "Women," and the title track.
Journey and Def Leppard co-headline at the Toyota Center, located at located at 1510 Polk St., on Saturday, August 27 and on Monday, August 29. Tickets start at $49.50 plus service fees. Doors open at 6 pm.
