Need some shows to see in the near future? Check out this list of February’s shows from The Treaty Oak Collective. Brandon’s got some great stuff lined up, including a Co-Pilot appearance, and seven-inch release shows from American Sharks and Peloton.
Mark up that calendar and save those nights.
Source: flickr.com
Just got our review copy of Titan Blood’s “Too Much Talk” seven-inch in the mail today. Look for a review to come soon - but not until next week, as I’ll be at FFF Fest this weekend.
If you’re into punk, this is one of the best shows of the year for you. Not only are the bands among Houston’s top ranks, but also the DJs have some impressive collections onto which they’ll drop the lucky needles. Here’s a handy Facebook event so you can let all your punk friends know you’re going.
Rudyard's - David Ramirez w/Listen!Listen! & Sara Van Buskirk
And this is tonight. You should definitely go to this. Everyone playing is fantastic. They’re good people to boot.
Friday, September 2nd @ Rudyard’s (2010 Waugh)
with Black Congress and The Men
$7. 9pm.
This is going to be one hell of a show, certain to be loud and sweaty, and likely loaded with tattoos.
In my opinion, Black Congress and Weird Party are two of the better acts in town at the moment, and they’re fun to watch. I’m not sure how they’ll confine Shelby Hohl or Bryan Jackson to the stage. In fact, I’ll bet right now that you’ll find both of them breaking into the crowd.
I believe the poster is by Dann Miller.
Source: theweirdparty
Buxton is playing a couple of shows with a great band by the name of The Donkeys. Fans of the television show LOST may know them better by the name Geronimo Jackson. Above is the poster for the Houston, TX show.
8/20 - Emo’s - Austin, TX
8/21 - Rudyard’s - Houston, TX
Relating to some recent prior posts here on H-Town Rock, Buxton will be making their next concert appearance in Houston this Sunday at Rudyard’s, with The Donkeys.
Rudz may be small, but I’m consistently impressed with it as a concert venue. It’s definitely grown on me.
For those of you that have never seen Buxton live, do it now. You’ll be certain to smack your forehead repeatedly while thinking, “How did I not know about this band?” Their next release, whenever it does finally come out, is going to be a fantastic album - one of the finest in Houston’s burgeoning recent discography.
The Donkeys, by the way, have a trio of Daytrotter sessions available for your listening pleasure. Head over and brush up on some tunes before the show.
Source: buxtonband
This here is a show that you’d be ill-advised to miss. The Energy is set to release their second album, Get Split, on Saturday night at Rudyard’s. In support are locals Exterminating Angels as well as Austin lads, OBN III’s. The latter features the honorable Jason Smith, who’s been kind enough to furnish me with a pair of OBN III’s 7-inchers, both of which are fun, loud, and worth your time.
A pair of tracks from Get Split are streaming over at The Energy’s Bandcamp page, for your listening pleasure.
All Ears: Bright Men Of Learning - Fired
There are many songwriters in this world at this point; heck even a 16 year-old girl who pens a tune about homework is technically a songwriter. But for each swath of songwriters, there are few storytellers. Fortunately, however, we are graced with persons like Bright Men Of Learning’s Marshall Preddy, whose lyrics on the band’s new record, Fired, breach cinematic in scope. The album feels like a heart set loose for a decade who has just returned and set its adventures to song. Album closer “Western Hearts” - a world-weary tale of a senator doing “the best thing he can do” - is just begging for a music video.
Fired’s dusty, definitely Western but not country sound feels warm, comfortable and familiar without becoming boring, tired or trite. The album brings to mind Ryan Adams and Tom Petty, without feeling that too much is owed to either. We’d heard a few of the band’s earlier tunes, but it feels like they’ve really nailed it on this album - there’s not a sleeper here. Perhaps it is Preddy’s gravelly, seemingly always exhausted voice that pulls us into the stories, or the balance of the trio of guitars at work throughout the record without ever overwhelming each other.
Harmonies, lap steel, whoa-ohs, expressive but restrictive guitar interplay and some sharp percussion arrangements provide a solid foundation for what is an excellently constructed album that’s sure to sit high on our Best of 2010 list. Sure, we could pick a favorite song or four, but the fact of the matter is that we’re more than happy to just let this album sit on repeat - something we’ve done several times over the few weeks since it hit our inbox. Do yourself a favor and buy it now. To paraphrase Preddy’s lyrics on “Left Behind” - we like where they’re going, and we’ve marked our calendars.
Bright Men Of Learning plays an album release show for Fired at Rudyard’s this Saturday, September 18th. Opening acts include Orange Is In and Jim Beazy, and the $8 cover will also get you a download card for the album. In addition, the band will be playing an in-store at Cactus Music at 3 pm on Saturday, which is absolutely free. Fired will also be available on LP, which can be purchased online, or at Cactus Music and Sound Exchange. Don’t skip it.
[Ed. Note: We had a whole review typed up and lost it to a browser crash. Sadness. This pretty much embodies that one, but we had to rush it as we’ve got to get to work. Sorry if it doesn’t feel terribly polished, but we love this album.]
