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    Good as Hell

    Houston's superstar Lizzo brings the juice in her dazzling homecoming at Toyota Center

    Johnston Farrow
    Oct 27, 2022 | 3:05 am

    About damn time.

    Chart-topping, international pop sensation, and hometown hero, Lizzo, finally played the massive show her fans patiently waited to see at Toyota Center on Wednesday, October 26.

    And it was good as hell.

    It’s been nearly three long years since Lizzo — born Melissa Viviane Jefferson — was set to perform what would have been the biggest show of her stratospheric career at RodeoHouston in early 2020. That performance was cancelled along with everything else due to the COVID-19 pandemic and when the rodeo eventually returned in 2022, organizers and Lizzo’s team couldn’t make schedules work.

    That made her two-hours-plus appearance Wednesday night a de facto victory lap, her legions of diehards filling the arena to the rafters.

    The evening also served as a tribute to the 34-year-old Lizzo’s years growing up in southwest Houston, attending Alief Elsik High School, and later University of Houston where she studied music. A true rags to riches story, she moved to Minneapolis to pursue her career as a recording artist, struggling for years as a quirky alternative rapper before embracing funk, soul, and disco and garnering massive acclaim as a multiple Grammy, Emmy, and BET Award winner.

    It was a classy touch to see the Alief Elsik Rams Marching Band performing in front of the building before the show.

    Not surprisingly, based on Lizzo’s messages of female empowerment throughout her catalog, women made up the vast majority of the crowd, dressed in wild outfits, bedazzled sequins, and colorful boas.

    After pulse-building sets from rappers Saucy Santana and fast-rising “Big Energy” star Latto, Lizzo kicked off the night with “The Sign” from this year’s No. 2 hit album, Special. The crowd instantly gravitated to the charismatic entertainer dressed in a suggestive pink jumpsuit as she rose from under the stage in front of a fantastic all-female, five-piece backup band that kicked out the jams all night long.

    “Houston mother****ing Texas!” Lizzo screamed at the end of the song, the decibels ratcheted well past healthy levels. That kicked into “2 Be Loved (Am I Ready)” and its indie keyboard riff, Lizzo’s Big Grrrls dancers showing off with choreographed twerking moves.

    The impossibly louder response following that song was one of a few moments when the star performer became emotional in front of the hometown crowd, turning around to show the Houston skyline lovingly painted onto her wig.

    “I am not going to cry tonight — that is the goal,” Lizzo declared hopefully. “[But] we gonna be acting out. It’s a home show, honey!”

    Love was a big theme throughout the night — loving each other, self-love, body love, Black love, female love, LGBTQIA+ love, love gone wrong — at times it felt like a self-help convention with Lizzo directing the crowd through positive affirmations. Not that it was a surprise to anyone who watched the recent Lizzo-produced, Emmy Award-winning reality competition series, Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls.

    Not coincidentally, “Tempo,” the Missy Elliot featuring song from the No. 4 hit 2019 album, Cuz I Love You, featured a solo dance by Houston influencer, fashion model and Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls star Sydney Bell.

    Highlights included the Cardi B-guesting “Rumors,” which alluded to the online chatter that has been surrounding Lizzo online, including her supposed relationship with Captain America himself, Chris Evans. Cuz I Love You highlight and break-up song, “Jerome,” had Lizzo showing off her powerful vocal pipes on a therapy couch.

    The Special title-track had her tearing up again to extended applause, showing how much the night meant to her.

    Much like Lady Gaga’s show at Minute Maid Park last month, Lizzo used her platform to talk politics. “Naked” featured visually striking projections onto her bodysuit, ending with “My Body My Choice” in bold letters, drawing a hugely positive reaction from the female-centric crowd.

    After “Everybody’s Gay,” she alluded to the negative punditry from right-wing conservatives when she recently played James Madison’s crystal flute (yes, this was a whole thing), an opportunity provided by the Library of Congress. (Read our story here.)

    She followed that by imploring the crowd to participate in the upcoming elections:

    “We have an opportunity to vote for the people who are passing these laws that are supposed to be protecting us,” she said, everyone staying in their seats. “Because human rights should be a necessity. It shouldn’t be politicized, it should be a given, the bare f***ing minimum, so please go vote.”

    She later took a moment to acknowledge the Alief Elsik marching band in attendance, recalling her time at the high school and giving a shoutout to her mother, who was also in the building.

    She then asked for the house lights to be brought up and proceeded to thank almost every single section of the arena for 10 minutes, telling us all, “I see you," as happy audience members flashed on the big stage screens.

    The triple-punch combo of the record-breaking No. 1 track “Truth Hurts,” “I Love You Bitch,” and always great “Good As Hell” concluded the set with massive singalongs, Lizzo vocals not necessary. And perhaps the most fun moments came when she busted out her flute on “Coldplay” and encore bangers, “Juice” and No. 1 disco throwback, “About Damn Time.”

    Perhaps the greatest thing about Lizzo’s talent besides her otherworldly charm and friendly sincerity was her ability to distill the best of multiple musical genres that cover a wide diversity of tastes, providing something for everyone to enjoy. She’s claimed to be a closet Radiohead fan in high school, and she is obviously influenced by Beyoncé, ‘70s funk, soul, and disco.

    All of this made for a varied and accessible set in what was one of the more enjoyable performances of the year.

    “This is the place I’m from, this is the place I call home,” she said, 713 pride on full display. “I just want to remind you how special you are. I want you to take this feeling home with you and I know I sound like a broken record, but I love you, you are beautiful, and you can do anything!”

    Setlist
    “The Sign”
    “2 Be Loved (Am I Ready)”
    “Soulmate”
    “Phone / Grrrls”
    “Boys” (with intro from Heart of the Sunrise by Yes)
    “Tempo”
    “Rumors”
    “Fitness” (band played live, Lizzo on tape)
    “Naked”
    “Jerome”
    “Break Up Twice”
    “Doo Wop (That Thing) ” (Lauryn Hill cover)
    “Special”
    “I'm Every Woman” (Chaka Khan cover)
    “Like a Girl”
    “Birthday Girl/Happy Birthday”
    “Everybody’s Gay” (followed by band introductions)
    “Water Me”
    “Cuz I Love You”
    “If You Love Me”
    “Coldplay”
    “Truth Hurts”
    “I Love You Bitch”
    “Good as Hell”

    Encore
    “Juice”
    “About Damn Time”

    Lizzo Houston Toyota Center 2022
      

    Photo by Marco Torres

    Houston's superstar spent 10 minutes thanking the crowd.

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    weekend event planner

    Here are the 15 best things to do in Houston this weekend

    Craig D. Lindsey
    Jun 25, 2025 | 6:30 pm
    Beyoncé Cowboy Carter
    Photo by Blair Caldwell
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    This weekend is all about celebrations.

    A Galleria-area bakery will celebrate its one-year anniversary with birthday cake conchas. A Black-owned food truck will celebrate National Food Truck Day with free stuffed wings. Two local rap legends will celebrate DJ Screw Day with a live show. A new neighborhood bar in the Heights will celebrate its grand opening with $1 food and drinks.

    And, of course, there’s NRG Stadium, where the entire city will celebrate the return of our one-and-only Queen Bey. It’s time to get in formation, folks!

    Thursday, June 26

    El Bolillo Bakery’s One-Year Anniversary
    El Bolillo Bakery’s Fountain View location has been currently celebrating its one-year anniversary with a week of BOGO deals (marranitos, tortillas, tamales, aguas frescas, etc.), as well as limited-edition birthday cake conchas. Baked in honor of the store’s first year serving the Galleria-area community, These colorful conchas will be given out free on Thursday — but only while supplies last. It’s the bakery’s way of thanking the Houston community for a warm and wonderful first year on Fountain View. 6 am.

    ROCO Resound: Savor!
    At ROCO Resound: Savor!, attendees can savor a selection of wines, plus bites by chef Soren Pedersen, as ROCO explores the commissions and composers of their 21st season, through pairings of musical and gastronomic flavors. Led by sommelier/ROCO board member Mike Muña, attendees will enjoy a curated wine tasting while learning more about a few of their new commissioned works for the upcoming season, as the composers join in-person and virtually from all over the country. 6:30 pm.

    Performing Arts Houston presents Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
    For two nights this weekend, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, the world’s foremost, all-male comic ballet company, brings its internationally beloved troupe of dancers to Houston as part of its landmark 50th anniversary season, featuring gems from across the company’s groundbreaking repertoire. Affectionately known as the Trocks, the company dances en travesti with razor-sharp wit and breathtaking pointe work, performing polished parodies of works that span the classical ballet canon. 7:30 pm.

    Friday, June 27

    National Food Truck Day Giveaway at Stuff’d Wings
    Friday is National Food Truck Day, and Black-owned food truck Stuff'd Wings will team up with BLK, the world’s largest social and dating app for the Black community, for a delicious giveaway. The first 100 BLK users who show the app will get free stuffed wings from Stuff'd. This free community event will celebrate Houston’s food truck culture while fostering connection in the Black community, making National Food Truck Day accessible and joyful. 11 am.

    Social Junkie Sports Bar + Kitchen presents Slim Thug & Lil Keke
    Social Junkie Sports Bar + Kitchen is turning up the volume on DJ Screw Day with a special, Social Junkies Fridays live performance by Houston hip-hop royalty Slim Thug and Lil Keke. Honoring the legacy of the legendary DJ Screw and the sound that shaped the city, this one-night-only event is free to the public and poised to deliver an unforgettable H-Town celebration. $5 Happy Hour specials will run through 9 pm, followed by late-night vibes from 10 pm to 2 am. 5 pm.

    Houston Symphony presents Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert
    This weekend, the Triwizard Tournament comes to Hogwarts in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in Concert. Audiences can relive the magic of Harry Potter soaring across the big screen in high-definition, as well as experience the music of a live symphony orchestra performing Patrick Doyle’s score. 7:30 pm (2 pm Saturday and Sunday).

    Houston Contemporary Dance Company presents Resilience
    Houston Contemporary Dance Company celebrates the completion of the company’s sixth season with a guest performance by their second company, Houston Contemporary 2. Resilience will feature a world premiere by Houston-based educator and choreographer Travis Prokop, centered around the LGBTQ+ community. This evening will also include Citizen by performer/choreographer Yue Yin, a new work by Jacob’s Pillow Choreographic Fellow Natasha Adorlee, and another new work by Houston-based choreographer Stacey Allen. 8:30 pm.

    Saturday, June 28

    42nd Biannual Bridal Extravaganza Show
    The Bridal Extravaganza Show, the largest, two-day, bridal planning showcase in the U.S., will return to Houston with the latest fashion, cakes, gowns, and local vendors. Future brides, bridesmaids, mothers-of-the-bride, grooms, family, and wedding planners will have their pick of over 225 vendors that cater exclusively to the wedding industry. There will also be cake samples, multiple fashion shows, Instagram walls for selfies, prizes, and entertainment from Houston’s top wedding professionals. 11 am (Noon Sunday).

    47th Annual Official Houston Pride LGBT+ Celebration
    The 47th Annual Official Houston Pride LGBT+ Celebration features vibrant community resources, vendors, major local and national talent, and immersive entertainment zones that transform the city into a full-on celebration of Pride. The Festival at Houston City Hall kicks off with high-energy performances, celebrity hosts, and exciting giveaways. As the sun sets, the streets ignite with Pride Houston’s Parade at 7 pm. Floats, performers, and community groups light up downtown in a powerful display of unity, visibility, and celebration. Don’t miss the official afterparty at Rich’s in Midtown. 11 am.

    The River Oaks Theatre and Yellow Rose Ghostbusters present Ghostbusters
    Yellow Rose Ghostbusters, Houston's premier Ghostbusters-themed non-profit charity (and proudly recognized by Sony's Ghost Corps), will present a screening of the 1984 sci-fi/comedy classic they hold so near-and-dear to their hearts. Members of the non-profit will be both in attendance and dressed in costume. A portion of all ticket sales will be donated on behalf of Yellow Rose Ghostbusters to Texas Children's Hospital. 1 pm.

    The Kid Grand Opening
    New Heights neighborhood bar The Kid will have a grand opening celebration this weekend. Be among the first 100 guestsand score $1 sliders, beers, and cocktails. The party kicks up a notch with live DJs starting at 6 pm. Customers can sample Rodeo Goat fan favorites like the iconic Royale with Cheese (yes, it’s Pulp Fiction-inspired), stacked with American cheese, chopped onions, bacon, mustard, and spiked ketchup. Whether you’re a cocktail connoisseur or just going for the sliders, The Kid is your new neighborhood go-to. 4 pm.

    Beyoncé in concert
    In all likelihood, most of the city will be at NRG Stadium this weekend. That’s where Beyoncé Knowles Carter, Queen of Houston and the World, will be. She will play two hometown shows in support of her 2024 genre-bouncing masterwork Cowboy Carter, which won Album of the Year and Best Country Album at this year’s Grammy Awards. (The CMAs may act like the album doesn’t exist, but the Grammys finally did right by the woman.)

    Sunday, June 29

    The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents "Anicka Yi" opening day
    Anicka Yi’s work dissolves boundaries between biology and technology, proposing new ways of thinking about perception, sentience, and survival. From animatronic sculptures that breathe and flicker like prehistoric lifeforms to software designed to carry on her practice after death, Yi approaches technology as a creative partner. Anchoring this presentation are two complementary installations that address the concept of “Karmic Debt.” Through Sunday, September 7. 12:30 pm.

    Lone Star Symphonic Band presents "With Hearts of Gratitude"
    Over at Holy Covenant United Methodist Church in Katy, Lone Star Symphonic Band’s concert season will conclude with the band’s annual “With Hearts of Gratitude” patriotic concert. This event will honor the history, the commitment, the service, and the life of each individual that is woven into the very fabric of our country. The LSSB Community Chorus will join the band for this celebration. 4 pm.

    Wooster’s Garden presents Kitchen Takeover
    Chefs Javi Becerra and Rico Mackins – formerly co-chefs of the now closed fine dining restaurant Degust – bring their creative flair and celebrated culinary backgrounds to Wooster’s Garden this weekend. This one-night-only event promises an exclusive, hand-crafted menu (filled with tacos, nachos, confit duck, etc.) and an unforgettable experience of inventive flavors and vibrant energy in the heart of Midtown. 4 pm.



    Beyonc\u00e9 Cowboy Carter
      
    Photo by Blair Caldwell

    Beyonce brings her Cowboy Carter tour to Houston this weekend.

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