The last few weeks on the local music scene were as crazy as a Kanye West sighting in the White House. The live show calendar cools down with the October weather. And why not? The Astros are back home launching another World Series run, the Texans are in first place, and the Rockets are back.
But there are still plenty of options for music fans looking to paint the town red. Here are CultureMap's best and biggest shows of the week:
Country upstart Cole Swindell and company
Want to know what RodeoHouston will look like in a few years? Look no further than the Smart Financial Centre in Sugar Land Friday when it's a who's-who in rising country stars. Nashville-based Cole Swindell brings his Reasons to Drink Another tour to town, the former songwriter for Luke Bryan ("In Love with the Girl" among his penned hits) will showcase his solo skills. He has several No. 1 songs to his own credit, including "Chillin' It" and "Ain't Worth the Whiskey." He'll be joined by fellow Nashville artist Dustin Lynch, who has five No. 1 songs under his belt buckle, including "Where It's At," and "Small Town Boy."
Cole Swindell headlines the Smart Financial Centre, located at 18111 Lexington Blvd. in Sugar Land, on Friday, October 19. Dustin Lynch and Lauren Alaina open. Tickets start at $39.75 plus service fees. Doors open at 8 pm.
CultureMap recommends: Buxton album release party
The Heights Theater takes the prize for the most stacked calendar this week, including the sold-out Mary Chapin Carpenter show on Tuesday, October 16 and Shooter Jennings on Thursday, October 18. But it's this local show that we want to highlight: Formed in La Porte, Buxton mixes folk-rock with Americana and a hint of psychedelia, something of a distant cousin to Band of Horses.
They were recently sighted playing the Bands for Beto event earlier this summer, and are now releasing their third album, Stay Out Late, following the well-received 2015 album, Half A Native, which will no doubt take them to wider audiences.
Buxton releases Stay Out Late at Heights Theater, located at 339 W 19th St., on Friday, October 19. Claire Morales and Casey Magic open. Tickets start at $18 plus service fees. Doors open at 7 pm.
ATX faves White Denim at White Oak
Austin cult act White Denim are back on the touring circuit with their latest album, Performance, bringing a little glam-rock to their melange of sounds. The four-piece has steadily built a following on the indie-rock scene, probably even bigger in the U.K., where they hit the Top 20 with their 2006's album Stiff. Their are a mainstay at major music festivals with sonically and visually colorful performances and are always worth checking out.
White Denim plays White Oak Music Hall, located at 2915 North Main St., on Saturday, October 20. Rotem opens. Tickets start at $16 plus a $10.08 service fee. Doors open at 8 pm.
CultureMap show of the week: Wild Nothing
Jack Tatum, aka Wild Nothing, hit the scene with one of the best albums of the 2010s in the beautifully low-key Gemini, a mix of The Cure's melancholy and inward gaze of The Smiths. Like so many indie acts to gain a dash of success, Tatum expanded his musical palette with each subsequent release, culminating in this year's fantastic Indigo, which brings in widescreen '80s synths and dream pop.
In an age where alt-rock is something of a passing concern compared to other, more popular genres, Wild Nothing's Tatum is one of the best at what he does.
Wild Nothing performs at White Oak Music Hall, located at 2915 North Main St., on Saturday, October 20. Men I Trust opens. Tickets start at $25 plus a $10.08 service fee. Doors open at 8 pm.
Cult singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III
Loudon Wainwright III may be best known to this generation as the father to an extremely talented brood, including son Rufus and daughter Martha, or for his starring role on the beloved Judd Apatow series, Undeclared. But to older audiences, Wainwright is a master songwriter, whose witty, honest observations made him a stand-out in the self-important, dude-with-a-guitar genre that attracted so many in the '70s — see "One Man Guy" as evidence of his insightful, self-deprecating gifts.
For those of you who haven't made the trek out to Main Street Crossing in Tomball, seeing a show at this little gem of a theater is well worth the drive.
Loudon Wainwright III performs at Main Street Crossing, located at 111 W Main St., Tomball, TX on Saturday, October 20. Tickets start at $42 plus service fees. Show starts at 8 pm.
CultureMap free show of the week: Unplugged in the Park
Discovery Green continues its run of free, family-friendly shows with its Unplugged in the Park series. Your only admission is a blanket, lawn chairs, and a lazy Sunday attitude. This edition features the folky Ancient Cat Society, psych-rockers Howard and the Nosebleeds, synth-inflected songstress Kay Weathers, singer-songwriter John Egan, and country-influenced Kimi Kent Music, all reworking their tunes acoustically.
Unplugged in the Park goes down at Discovery Green, located at 1500 McKinney St., on Sunday, October 21. Admission is free. The event starts at 5 pm, bands start at 5:30 pm.
Lo-fi SoCal alt-rocker: Wavves
Fans of scrappy lo-fi, surf-rock-meets-'90s alt-rock will want to hit the Wavves show at the Satellite Bar, which continues booking impressive, and affordable indie-rock shows. Started as a project of Nathan Williams, Wavves' jangly sound recalls his girlfriend Bethany Consentino's band, Best Coast, but with more experimental pastiche. Wavves is touring behind the ramshackle 2017 album, You're Welcome.
Wavves performs at Satellite Bar, located at 6922 Harrisburg Blvd., on Sunday, October 21. A Giant Dog and brother sports open. Tickets start at $20 plus service fees. Doors open at 5 pm.
Grammy Award-winning Rebirth Brass Band
Simply put, the aptly named Rebirth Brass Band is the sound of New Orleans. The HBO show, Tremé, featured the second line band in several episodes, the group representing the undying spirit of the city following the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina.
Starting in the early '80s, the collective has become a who's-who revolving door for New Orleans jazz and funk musicians and its shows are internationally acclaimed for its melting pot sound of funk, jazz, soul, and hip-hop. Their 2011 album, Rebirth of New Orleans, earned them a Grammy. This will be one heckuva Sunday party.
Rebirth Brass Band will energize the Heights Theater, located at 339 W 19th St., on Sunday, October 21. Big Sam’s Funky Nation opens. Tickets start at $22 plus service fees. Doors open at 7 pm.
Rising country star Cole Swindell headlines the Smart Financial Centre at Sugar Land on Friday, October 19.
