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    Rare Birds

    He's compared to Jeff Buckley and Freddie Mercury, but Tyagaraja has a mysticalstyle all his own

    Chris Becker
    Sep 3, 2011 | 4:30 pm
    • Guitarist Keegan Daleo, one of Tyagaraja's band members, drumming
      Photo by Chris Becker
    • A scene from a performance at Dharmageddon
      Photo by Jay Dryden
    • More from Dharmageddon
      Photo by Jay Dryden

    Earlier this summer, in a conversation about local music and musicians, a friend told me she plays keyboards for a singer who sounds like “a cross between Jeff Buckley and Freddie Mercury.” And I, being tired, irritable and of unsound mind, barked back, “He better be DAMN good! Cos’ those are two of my favorite vocalists. I saw Jeff Buckley twice in New Orleans and…” blah, blah, blah (Editor’s note: Insert self-righteous rock-crit blather here).

    The singer my friend was describing is named Tyagaraja (pronounced: “tee-aga-raja”). And as I heard first hand this summer at Julydoscope, an event where he and his band performed an inspiring and enthusiastically received set, the singer does indeed have a special voice, a powerful voice. But just as nobody else sounds like Jeff Buckley, who during his short life was compared to Robert Plant, Liz Fraser and Edith Piaf, nobody sounds like Tyagaraja. He sounds like himself.

    From onstage at Julydoscope, Tyagaraja, aka Jonathan Welch, told the audience he grew up in Hutto, a small rural town in Texas. Shortly after the end of his first marriage and his previous band, Million Year Dance, he experienced a crisis and awakening that would lead him to the culture and spiritual practices of the Far East, specifically India, a world away from the small town where he was born.

     

      Tyagaraja doesn't presume to have answers to life's deeper mysteries, but is willing to share his experiences, including his mistakes, and what he believes he has learned thus far. All of this is incorporated into his music and its presentation.

      Tyagaraja's on- and off-stage clothes, hairstyle and bindi-decorated forehead are all part of a physical costume (for lack of a better word) that speaks to his profound inner transformation. He doesn't presume to have answers to life's deeper mysteries, but is willing to share his experiences, including his mistakes, and what he believes he has learned thus far. All of this is incorporated into his music and its presentation.

    Rock and roll has a long history of embracing indigenous spiritual rituals in the context of live performances, especially music festivals. My first and only Lollapalooza concert circa Check Your Head-era Beastie Boys began with an onstage prayer and blessing by a group of Tibetan monks. Writing about the influence Rastafarianism on dub “sound system” performances, author Michael Veal describes a similar manifestation of the spiritual and the Bacchanalian in 1960s era rock festivals. He writes:

     

    …for every high-intensity amplification system used, there was also an Indian spiritual guru, African traditional drummer, or Native American rain chant..." Tyagaraja and his band are carrying on this tradition in their own contemporary and uniquely Texan way.

     A spiritual journey

    So how did this alienated self-described “theater nerd” from Hutto begin his spiritual journey?

    Tyagaraja says that his training as a yoga instructor led him to explore the roots of that practice. The well-loved 1946 book Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramhansa Yogananda was, as it has been for many Westerners, an early source for information and inspiration.

    “Nothing externally pushed me…,” Tyagaraja says. “Just this inward desire to become a part of the oneness.”

    "In 2007 I went to India and stayed for a two-week silent meditation retreat," he explains. "Then I traveled for three months as part of [Indian spiritual leader] Amma Sri Karunamayi's U.S. tour. I did the tour again in 2008. It was really intense work, basically like a spiritual roadie. We were loading in and out of vans every day, 16 to 18 hours of work each day... it was a very militant lifestyle."

    Tyagaraja recounts much of that leg of the journey on his blog, where he also provides a lot of practical, down to earth advice for gigging and touring musicians.

    During the first tour, Tyaga met his soulmate and now wife, Indian classical dancer Gunjen Mittal. A member of Houston’s Avantica Academy of Odissi Dance, she often appears with him in performance, dancing, and giving a provocative spin to his blues and Southern-rock inspired music.

    After this grueling period of dharmic grunt work, Amma Sri Karunamayi gave Jonathan Welch a new name, which is not an uncommon way of acknowledging the personal and spiritual transformation a student has experienced. The word "tyagaraja" combines the Sanskrit word “tyaga,” meaning sacrifice, with “raja,” which means king, and is also the name of a well known 18th and 19th-century South Indian composer who in his lifetime wrote thousands of devotional songs.

     Calling Texas home

    And yet, after all of his international traveling, Tyagaraja has chosen Texas and the cities of Austin and Houston for his home. He and I agree that Houston’s multicultural make up, the diversity of its residents including a large Indian population, which perhaps isn’t apparent unless you’ve visited and lived in this city, is one of its strongest attributes.

    “As a person who continually seeks culture and knowledge of any kind of origin,” says Tyagaraja. “I really need that (diversity) in order to thrive.”

    Tyagaraja’s band consists of a core ensemble augmented by several guest musicians from Houston’s indie-rock, Indian and blues communities, including violinist Hilary Sloan, guitarist Keegan Daleo, sitarist Aaron Hermes, drummer David Garcia, keyboardist Jeremy Nuncio, and bassist Mike Poulos.

    Tyagaraja’s father Michael Don Welch, who lives and plays in Austin, holds down lead and rhythm guitar duties. He plays with a distinctive and deep tone, providing some scorching lead lines and solos to the music. These players and many more appear on Tyagaraja’s most recent recording Open Book which is available for streaming and purchase on Bandcamp.

    In early November, Tyagaraja will curate a special weekend Art Music Life festival, presenting music, yoga, healthy eating classes, and opportunities for social activism. A tour of India will follow after that event through January 2012. For that tour, Tyagaraja and Mittal plan to collaborate with a group of music teachers in Pune to present music, dance and performance art throughout metropolitan India.

    Tyagaraja's previous India tour included performances in Pune, Bangalore, Rishikesh and Delhi. A Kickstarter campaign to help with that tour is in the planning stages. Until that campaign is up and running, you can contact Tyagaraja through his website for more information about the India tour or the October Art Music Life Festival.

    “Everything is on the website,” says Tyagaraja, referring not only to upcoming projects but to the story of his own spiritual journey. Just like his voice, his journey is his own; it’s not necessarily a blueprint for anyone else looking similarly to leave a small town and perhaps, in the words of Van Morrison, “sail into the mystic…”

    But that doesn’t mean his story isn’t inspiring or at least interesting. “I don’t try to push my teacher stuff on anybody,” he says. “I think people should find their own teacher.”

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    weekend event planner

    Here are the 15 best things to do in Houston this 4th of July weekend

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Jul 2, 2025 | 6:30 pm
    Shell Freedom Over Texas
    Courtesy of Shell Freedom Over Texas
    The city has revealed the performers for its July 4 celebration.

    The 4th of July lands on a Friday this year, which means things will get especially patriotic this weekend.

    We’ve already listed all the fireworks celebrations and restaurant specials that’ll be popping off on Friday. (Don’t forget about the screenings of Independence Day at River Oaks Theatre, Rooftop Cinema Club and Marriott Marquis Houston.) But there are also other must-see events happening this weekend, including a LEGO convention, the second anniversary of a Third Ward eatery, the return of a Stanley Kubrick classic, and an outlaw music festival featuring Willie Freakin’ Nelson and Bob Freakin’ Dylan!

    Thursday, July 3

    Brick Rodeo
    Brick Rodeo is a family-friendly event that features hundreds of custom models and displays made from LEGO bricks. Creators from Texas and around the country will be available to talk about their creations. Fans who want to display their own creations, attend workshops, and participate in all the activities should purchase an All Access Pass. Families and individuals who want to spend a day viewing incredible custom creations, talking with builders, and shopping with vendors should purchase a public exhibition ticket. 9 am (8:30 am Friday-Sunday).

    City Place presents Young Audiences of Houston: Painting with Watercolor Pencils Art Workshop
    This free art workshop, hosted by Young Audiences of Houston teaching artist Judy Malone Stein, transforms City Place’s central waterfront plaza into a classical art studio with easels and other essential supplies. Participants are introduced to the medium of watercolor pencils and will learn basic color theory which includes the color wheel and primary and secondary colors, along with complimentary colors. They will also focus on creating compositions, using traditional visions (portraits, landscapes, still life) as their subject matter. 9:30 am.

    Improv Houston presents Dustin Ross
    Dustin Ross is a NAACP Image Award-winning host, writer, and producer. Fans of The Read podcast may know him as a longtime guest/friend to the show. These days, you can hear him on two pods: The Friend Zone, with co-hosts Hey Fran Hey and Assante; and Holding Court, with Eboni K. Williams. He has also hosted seasons of Bet on Black, REVOLT TV’s competition series, Bet On Black. As an on-air contributor, Ross has appeared on multiple platforms, including MTV, BET, Bravo TV, HBO, FUSE TV, GLAAD, Fox Soul, and more. 7:30 pm.

    Friday, July 4

    Freedom Over Texas
    With an average of 50,000 people in attendance, Freedom Over Texas has become Houston’s annual, signature July 4th celebration. The live, televised event will feature local, regional, and national entertainment, headlined by Ashley McBryde and Lee Brice, and will be capped off with a musically choreographed, “Texas-sized” fireworks finale. It also features a unique non-profit component, as the event will donate a percentage of food and beverage sales to the Houston Food Bank. 4 pm.

    Ensemble Theatre presents The Tap Dance Kid
    Over at The Ensemble Theatre, The Tap Dance Kid is about a 10-year-old African-American kid named Willie who doesn’t want to be a lawyer like his well-to-do strict father, and dreams of becoming a dancer like his talented Uncle Dipsey, an aspiring Broadway choreographer. The final production in the theater’s 2024-25 season, this musical is filled with imaginations of stardom that keep us tapping along. Through Sunday, July 27. 7:30 pm (2 and 7:30 pm Saturday; 3 pm Sunday).

    Dan Electro’s presents The Broken Spokes & Oliver Penn 4th of July Party
    Freedom, music, and a 4th of July Party will be going down at Dan Electros. The show will feature a performance from traditional Texas country band The Broken Spokes, a well-seasoned outfit that’s put in the time honing their craft in honky tonks across Texas,. Also performing will be Rhode Island-born, Houston-based country singer Oliver Penn, who has shared the stage with Charley Crockett, Shakey Graves, Randall King, The California Honeydrops, and Shinyribs. 9 pm.

    Alamo Drafthouse LaCenterra presents Graveyard Shift: Attack the Block
    Guy Fawkes Night in London is a time for fireworks, fooling around, and an occasional surprise or two. But when vicious extraterrestrials decide to crash the hellraisers’ holiday, a time for making merry quickly turns scary. Writer-director Joe Cornish also ensures it’s frequently humorous as well. This frisky, vigorous 2011 spoof — propelled by an insistent electronic score by Steven Price & Basement Jaxx and a star-making lead turn from John Boyega — shows a similar sensibility in its breezy blending of goofiness and gruesomeness. 10 pm.

    Saturday, July 5

    Rado Market 2 Year Anniversary Celebration
    Chef Chris Williams’ market and cafe at the historic Eldorado Ballroom will celebrate its two-year anniversary with a celebration that’s free and open to the public. The event will include complimentary champagne during the first hour, food specials from chef Jaden Gaines, and live music from a DJ for the first two hours. Guests can also browse and shop from a curated lineup of local vendors offering various products for sale, including Posh Body, Ambrosia Nectar, 77 Stash, and Juxx. Patrons can also enter two raffles featuring Radiant Aura samples and other giveaways. Noon.


      
     
     
     
     
     
     
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    Winnie’s presents Labubu Face Tattoo Korean Corn Dog Karaoke Party
    Never has an event’s name been a more complete description of what’s happening at the Midtown sandwich shop/cocktail bar on Saturday. Artists from Rodeo Tiger will be tattooing Labubu, the must-have accessory that feels destined to become the Beanie Babies of 2025 ($25 minimum, $50 for both sides, and $100 for full face custom work). While you wait, snack on a Korean corn dog created by chef Jennifer Hoffman. Karaoke starts at 8 pm. 1 pm.

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents Barry Lyndon
    This weekend, catch the 50th anniversary screening (in glorious 35mm!) of Stanley Kubrick’s lavish, Oscar-winning 1975 adaptation of William Makepeace Thackeray’s 18th-century novel. Forced to leave Ireland after killing an English officer in a duel, young Redmond Barry (Ryan O’Neal) seeks his fortune as a soldier in Prussia, as a spy, and then as a gambler living among the elite of Europe. He changes his name and marries an aristocrat (Marisa Berenson) for her wealth, but will he finally gain the acceptance he seeks? 5 pm (2 pm Sunday).

    Kings Harbor Waterfront Village presents “Fireworks on the Pier”
    Looking for a post-4th of July throwdown this weekend? Kings Harbor Waterfront Village in Kingwood will have its annual “Fireworks on the Pier” celebration, a patriotic evening of family fun, live entertainment and a spectacular fireworks display. Festivities include family-friendly games like Connect Four, a balloon artist, face painting and bubble stations for kids. Local restaurants will be serving up a variety of delicious food and drink options throughout the evening. A dazzling fireworks show over the pier will begin around 10 pm. 7 pm.

    Movies at Miller: Wicked
    We know there is a lot of y’all who can’t wait for Wicked: For Good to drop in multiplexes this winter. Before that happens, head over to Miller Outdoor Theatre and revisit the Oscar-winning Broadway musical adaptation that set it all off. In the magical Land of Oz, Wicked covers the first act, following Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo), the future Wicked Witch of the West, and her friendship with Galinda (Ariana Grande), the future Glinda the Good Witch. The audience is encouraged to come in costume. 8:30 pm.

    Sunday, July 6

    Eldorado Ballroom presents Ball N’ Parlay
    Dubbed “A 1st Sunday Vibeout,” Ball N’ Parlay is a vibrant, Third Ward day party that’s going to be held outside the legendary Eldorado Ballroom. They’re really hyping this one up, calling it “the Sunday you’ve been waiting for, where music, community, and culture meet.” We’re just psyched that some of our favorite DJs will be doing live sets, including DJ Elevated, Maiya Papaya, Alist, and DJ Bloom. 3 pm.

    Outlaw Music Festival
    If you grew up going to Cactus Music and picking up the latest issue of No Depression, looking for the latest in outlaw country releases to scoop up, a fest full of iconic, guitar-strumming banditos will be making a stop at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion this weekend. The 10th anniversary tour of the Outlaw Music Festival will feature an unparalleled lineup of legends and superstars, including Willie Nelson & Family, Bob Dylan, The Avett Brothers, The Mavericks, and Tami Neilson. 4:05 pm.

    CONCACAF Gold Cup Final
    As of this writing, we don’t know who will be playing in the final match of the soccer championship known as the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup, going down this weekend at NRG Stadium. What we do now is that the winners will be determined on Wednesday night, when the semifinal matchups – the USMNT vs. Guatemala and Mexico vs. Honduras – will take place. This also marks the first time the Gold Cup Final will be held in the state of Texas. 6 pm.

    Freedom Over Texas
      
    Courtesy of Freedom Over Texas
    The Freedom Over Texas celebration takes place on the Fourth of July.
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