It wasn't a wardrobe malfunction, but it should have been.
The music world turned on its axis when Maroon 5 frontman and The Voice star Adam Levine made a notably blase set a little less boring during the Super Bowl halftime show this past Sunday. If there was ever a time for a distraction to cover up a generic performance, Levine's "California" stomach tattoo did just the trick. Unfortunately for Levine and company, critics saw through the inked abs and weren't so kind the following day.
We can almost guarantee that this week's Houston live shows will be better than what millions witnessed on Super Bowl Sunday. Call these performances a good palate cleanser.
CultureMap's best, biggest, and most noteworthy shows of the week are:
CultureMap show of the week: Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac has been on the road steadily since 1997 when the mega-million selling band (100 million and counting) reunited after breaking up in a haze of drugs, booze, and broken hearts, proving that even mountains of cocaine couldn't kill the music. Unfortunately, they'll be without their most versatile member, Lindsey Buckingham, who was recently sacked over the rock cliché "creative differences."
That said, there's no denying the power of the Mac and their decades of hits, including "Landslide," "Gold Dust Woman," "Go Your Own Way," and "Dreams." Those who grew up on the soft-rock behemoths will no doubt turn up in droves to see these legends perform.
Fleetwood Mac will go their own way at Toyota Center, located at 1510 Polk St., on Tuesday, February 5. Tickets start at $69.50 plus fees. Doors open 7 pm.
CultureMap recommends: Neko Case
Neko Case is one of music's best treasures - a master storyteller blessed with the vocals a Greek siren would be envious of. Case is touring behind one of the best albums of 2018 in Hell On, following a string of highly acclaimed shows with master vocalists k.d. lang and Laura Viers.
While she first gained notoriety as the strongest voice in Canadian super-group, The New Pornographers, she has steadily built a following around her stellar solo work. Mixing indie rock with Americana and folk, Case's fiery personality, whip-smart lyrics, and gorgeous voice are a combination not to be missed.
Neko Case is at White Oak Music Hall, located at 2915 N. Main St., on Thursday, February 7. Jennifer Castle opens. Tickets start at $34 plus fees. Doors open at 7 pm.
Samantha Fish at Heights Theater
Blues fans, it's your duty to get to Heights Theater this Friday night to see one of the genre's fastest rising stars in guitarist-vocalist Samantha Fish. She is touring behind her latest album, Belle of the West. While she can wail on electric guitar, the new material incorporates a more rustic acoustic flavor matched with her Southern twang vocals. Regardless of what sound she favors, Fish is simply fire on the live stage for those who like their hooks rugged and raw.
Samantha Fish performs at Heights Theater, located at 339 W 19th St., on Friday, February 8. John Egan opens. Tickets start at $22 plus a $6 service charge. Doors open at 7 pm.
Soccer Mommy at White Oak
The Nashville singer-songwriter Sophie Allison aka Soccer Mommy produced one of last year's best albums in Clean, and is part of a new movement of young female voices making waves on the indie rock circuit (see Snail Mail, Courtney Barnett, Phoebe Bridgers) that draw inspiration from '90s alt-rock. Songs "Your Dog," "Last Girl," and "Cool" are on heavy rotation on college radio and music industry publications have only added to the buzz.
Soccer Mommy is at White Oak Music Hall, located at 2915 North Main St., on Saturday, February 9. Hovvdy opens. Tickets start at $12 plus fees. Doors open at 7 pm.
Marc Anthony
It's a great gig if you can get it. Step 1a: Put out a couple of hit Latin records. Step 1b: Win some Grammy Awards. Step 1c: Marry one of the most beautiful women in the world and then d. Step 2: Tour every major market with a Latin fanbase every single year. Step 3: Rake in the cash.
That seems to be Marc Anthony's business plan. The guy hasn't put out much over the last five years since the 2013 release 3.0 and he's known more in pop culture for being Jennifer Lopez's ex-husband, but he's one of the highest selling Latin artists. For him, there will always be the road, and he'll always be a draw in Houston.
Marc Anthony brings the heat to Toyota Center, located at 1510 Polk St., on Sunday, February 10. Tickets start at $61 plus fees. Doors open 7 pm.
Vince Staples at HOB
Fast-rising Vince Staples may just be the future of hip-hop, having had a remarkable run the last few years of working with a who's-who in music, including Mac Miller, who produced his mixtape, Stolen Youth, appeared on the song "Ascension" by Gorillaz, had his song "BagBak" featured on the trailer for the cultural phenomenon, Black Panther, and even scored a Sprite endorsement.
Whether he can turn these opportunities into real cultural and commercial currency remains to be seen, but we're betting our money that this will be a show that we can all look back on as the beginning of something bigger.
Vince Staples performs at House of Blues, located at 1204 Caroline St., on Sunday, February 10. Tickets start at $35 plus fees. Doors open at 7 pm.
Blues performer Samantha Fish is at Heights Theater on Friday, February 8.
