Downtown's polished stone symphony hall has got London's Daily Telegraph blogger Stephen Hough ready to transfer to the Bayou City, notes the Houston Press.
Not only does Hough praise our symphony, but he considers the "magnificent" Jones Hall for the Performing Arts worthy of a poetic anecdote:
Every time I left the front door of the Lancaster Hotel where I was staying I faced this wonderful building with its twenty-eight frozen pillars boxed in a seductive, meltingly curvaceous inner structure.
Mr. Hough, is that a conductor's wand in your pocket, or are you just excited to see Jones Hall?
The nighttime concert pianist says that Jones Hall, winner of the 1967 American Institute of Architects' Honor Award, represents "the best" of 1960s architecture, yet stands in mint condition and "reflects the sun in a constant dance of shapes as the stone bends around the bend of the city block."
That's a lot of bending.
The writer continues,
But its visual allure has a lot to do with the contrast of rigidity in the pillars with flexibility in the building itself. It has a tunefulness about it — a counterpoint of shape which tickles the eye from every angle."
It's no secret that the Houston Symphony was positioning itself for new digs amid complaints that the barn-like Jones Hall's acoustics are subpar, but the plans were squashed with the onset of the recession. But with the validation of the UK, home of all things classy, perhaps the symphony will be content to just sit pretty.
Legendary rockers Styx and Kevin Cronin, lead singer of REO Speedwagon, will team up to co-headline the “Brotherhood of Rock” tour in 2025, which will include a stop at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands on Friday, June 6.
The large, 40-city tour will take place over three months, starting in Greenville, South Carolina on May 28, and wrapping up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 24.
In addition to Houston, the tour will go to Austin on June 4 and Dallas on August 1. It will include special guest Don Felder, former lead guitarist for the Eagles, at all dates.
Fans can expect some of the greatest rock anthems of all time, including “Renegade,” “Keep On Loving You,” “Come Sail Away,” “Can't Fight This Feeling,” and “Hotel California.”
Styx and Cronin (as part of REO Speedwagon) first toured together in 2000 and in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks, coming together to form the Rock to the Rescue 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. This will mark their sixth time joining forces on the road.
2022 was the 50th anniversary of Styx's self-titled debut album, but they have yet to slow down. The band released their 17th album, Crash of the Crown, in 2021. Of course, not everyone is a fan, as this classic clip from The Simpsons illustrates.
REO Speedwagon's recording days appear to be done, with their last album coming out in 2009, but the main group of five has been together since 1989. On this tour, Cronin will be joined by REO's lead guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt.
General tickets for the tour will go on sale starting on Friday, December 13 at 10 am at LiveNation.com.
Citi cardmembers will have access to presale tickets in the U.S. beginning on December 9 at 10 am through the Citi Entertainment program.
Styx and Kevin Cronin will be offering VIP packages via their own exclusive pre-sales beginning on Tuesday, December 10 at 10 am, as well as at LiveNation.com.
Jones Hall is drawing across-the-pond love.Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau
Steven Hough, reporter at The Daily Telegraph
Photo by Laurie