No, it wasn't an April Fool's joke at the Ultra Music Festival this past weekend when KFC paid to commandeer the main stage for a DJ set by none other than Colonel Sanders.
Well, it was more like it was a dude in a big mask of the late fried chicken restaurant spokesperson, dropping mediocre dance tracks, asking the perplexed crowd, "Any of y'all hungry for some beats?" We seriously can't make this stuff up. Unfortunately, it's a sign of the times that a corporate brand can infiltrate large scale events in such a blatant way that we are surprised this is the first time anyone has tried such a move.
Hopefully, this trend will stay far from the stages of Houston shows and festivals. Ronald McDonald, we see you.
CultureMap's biggest, best, and most notable shows of the week are as follows:
Kodak Black at Revention
Kodak Black aka Bill K. Kapri is evidence that bad boys still sell lots of records, as he rolls into Houston with a recent No. 1 album under his belt with Dying to Live. Black has been in and out of legal troubles over the last five years, a few jail stints, several initiated by social media posts, only serving to increase his profile in what can only be described as the Kardashian effect. Despite spending time behind bars, the rapper is part of the new wave of artists taking over the charts, including Houston native Travis Scott, who he teamed up with on the No. 2 2018 hit, "Zeze."
Kodak Black is at Revention Music Center, located at 520 Texas Ave., on Tuesday, April 2. Featuring YNW Melly, Callboy. Tickets start at $39.50 plus fees. Doors open at 7 pm.
CultureMap recommends: Death Cab for Cutie
No other band working today has been producing acclaimed melancholy alt-rock longer than Death Cab for Cutie. The Washington-based act, led by Ben Gibbard, superseded its early cult status by continuing to release great albums, including their latest, Thank You for Today. For anyone that still busts out their copy of the watershed 2003 album Transatlanticism or Gibbard's still-great side-project, the Postal Service, this is a must-see show from these indie heroes.
Death Cab Cutie headlines the Revention Music Center, located at 520 Texas Ave., on Wednesday, April 3. Tickets start at $35 plus fees. Doors open at 8 pm.
Lee Ann Womack at Heights Theater
One of the more respected country singer-songwriters in the industry, Lee Ann Womack first burst onto the scene with hit No. 1 single "I Hope You Dance" in 2000. She went onto an award-winning and multi-platinum selling career, picking up Country Music Awards and Grammys for her work. The East Texas native has been invited to sing for presidents, and she's dueted with the biggest country legends, including Willie Nelson, George Strait, and Alan Jackson. Seeing her in such an intimate concert hall is a rare treat.
Lee Ann Womack performs at Heights Theater, located at 339 W 19th St., on Thursday, April 4. Tickets start at $28 plus a $7 service fee. Doors open at 7 pm.
CultureMap free show alert: Da Camera Jam
There's no better way to kick off the weekend with the free Da Camera Jam on Discovery Green in the heart of downtown, fun for the whole family, especially while the weather is still nice. Bring a blanket and lawn chair, some snacks in a picnic basket, and enjoy some smooth jazz sounds. This Sunday's line-up includes José-Miguel Yamal and Friends, the Chilean-American pianist with Latin-inspired jazz; the Thomas Helton Quartet, a regular on the Houston jazz scene; and students from the Houston School of Performing and Visual Arts Jazz Combo.
Da Camera Jazz Jam takes place at Discovery Green, located at 1500 McKinney St., on Friday, April 5. Admission is free. Show starts at 6:15 pm.
Citizen Cope at HOB
Fans of roots-rock, folk, hip-hop, and reggae will be out in full force to see cult-act Citizen Cope when they appear at House of Blues on Friday night. Led by the Los Angeles-based Clarence Greenwood, he and his band are on the road with their latest, Heroin and Helicopters, carving out a niche audience since releasing their self-titled debut in 2002. Citizen Cope garnered their biggest hit in 2012 with the Top 40 One Lovely Day, which gained a fan in Ellen DeGeneres. This show is for those into Dave Matthews Band or Santana.
Citizen Cope is at House of Blues, located at 1204 Caroline St., on Friday, April 5. Tickets start at $30 plus fees. Doors open at 7 pm.
'90s Kickback Concert at Arena Theatre
This is how we do it. The '90s Kickback Concert, includes some of the best of old school R&B making a stop at Arena Theatre. Most notable on the lineup is Montell Jordan, whose single "This is How We Do It" is still a wedding and banquet staple and receives regular radio play after its impressive No. 1 placement for seven weeks back in 1995. He'll be joined by Next, the multi-platinum-selling Minnesota trio, which shot up the charts with "Too Close" in 1998. The New York City singer Case, who had ties to Mary J. Blige and Foxy Brown, and reached the top of the charts with "Missing You," will also appear. These acts will be joined by H-Town, Changing Faces, Kut Klose, and Shai.
‘90s Kickback Concert goes down at Arena Theatre, located at 7326 Southwest Fwy., on Friday, April 5. Tickets start at $75 plus fees. Doors open at 8.
CultureMap show of the week: Jenny Lewis
Who said all child actors are messed up? Los Angeles native Jenny Lewis went from starring in beloved '80s films — the Shelly Long-led Troop Beverly Hills and alongside Fred Savage in the Super Mario Bros. 3 video game flick, The Wizard — to fronting one of the more beloved late-'90s, early-2000s indie-rock acts, Rilo Kiley. After that band broke up, Lewis embarked on a successful solo career, producing four great albums, including her latest, and some say best, album with the recently released On the Line, incorporating a beautiful mix of Laurel Canyon pop, rock, and country, featuring appearances by the legendary Ringo Starr and Don Was. Her Hollywood and music connections mean her videos always draw some big names, all definitely worth checking out.
Jenny Lewis plays at White Oak Music Hall, located at 2915 N. Main St., on Sunday, April 7. The Watson Twins open. Tickets start at $25 plus fees. Doors open at 7 pm.
Death Cab for Cutie is at Revention Music Hall on Wednesday, April 3.
