Come help support Harris County’s low income schools by checking out the 6-Piano Project, which is an immersive classical music performance developed by Nathan Felix in which the audience sits in the middle of six pianos. This event, which debuts in Houston at the Art Alley at Sawyer Yards (2101 Winter St.), is this Saturday (May 4, 2019), from 6:30-9pm.

For each of the 6-Piano events, which he started in 2015, Felix takes six well-used pianos, and ?refurbishes them for the event, after which he donates them to local school music programs.

More information on the event may be found on Facebook, Houston Press, and at www.electrochestral.com.

A promo of this weekend’s event in Houston may be viewed below:

Local musicians pay homage to David Bowie and Elvis Presley tonight (Saturday, 1/5/19) at Splice Records’ annual BowiElvis Fest, held at The Continental Club in Houston.

From the label:

The festival is our best attempt at honoring the shared birthdays of rock legends David Bowie and Elvis Presley, two of the most loved and influential artists of the previous century. True characters and legends of rock n’ roll. The music goes all night on two different stages featuring multiple local and regional up-and-coming bands from the surrounding areas. We love showcasing local talent that want to honor the two icons by mixing their sets with cover songs from both artists along with their originals tunes. We have a “Oh You Pretty Things” costume/fashion contest, which encourages all to come out in their best costumes. We have themed games, themed food, Bowie Face painting and an appearance by heralded burlesque troupe, the Dem Damn Dames. It is a wild night that we plan to do twice in two amazing cities and it is all about the preservation of rock n’ roll!

More information on the event may be found at Splice Records’ website. Advance tickets may be purchased online here.

Tonight’s line-up includes Pecos Hank, Brian Scartocci, Bayou City Funk, Leigh Sinclair, Sam Turner & The Cactus Cats, Flower raves, Swimwear Department (performing the Labyrinth soundtrack), and Howard and the Nosebleeds.

Doors open at 7pm. Costumes are encouraged.

Houston band Buxton released its new album, Stay Out Late, via New West Records today (10/19/18). To celebrate the release, the band will play tonight at The Heights Theater.

Stay Out Late, the band’s fifth release, finds the band in a mellow and reflective mood.?The depth of songwriting–a mature band honing its craft–is evidenced with repeated listens, and the album shows Buxton solidly finding its own voice.

More information on Buxton may be found at www.buxtonband.com. You can purchase Stay Out Late at Houston area record stores and online.

Music legend Johnny Marr plays in Houston tonight (Thursday, October 11th) at White Oak Music Hall. Marr, former guitarist of an all-time favorite band of mine–The Smiths–is touring in support of his recent solo album, Call The Comet.

You can find out more about Marr at his official website.

Tickets to the Houston show are available at Pegstar..

The Belle Game opens the show.

Chicago’s Smashing Pumpkins, whose first few albums are among the finest of their time, return to Houston tonight (Tuesday, 7.17.18) to play at Toyota Center.

The current line-up includes most of the original-era band (including drummer extraordinaire Jimmy Chamberlin), and is touring as part of a “greatest hits” of sorts — the Shiny And Oh So Bright tour.

Tickets are available for tonight’s show at www.pegstar..

Hometown heroes The Suffers celebrate the release of Everything Here — which is available today (Friday, 7.13.18) — with a pair of sold-out shows at Houston’s Heights Theater (last night and tonight).

The band is still touring pretty much constantly, gaining new fans and good press along the way.

You can stream the new album on NPR Music’s First Listen?and purchase it online here (or here) and at local record stores — including Cactus Music. The band plays an in-store performance at Cactus tomorrow afternoon (Saturday, 7.14.18) at 1pm. You can get a wristband for the sure-to-be-slammed show by purchasing Everything Here at Cactus Music today.

Additionally, today is officially The Suffers Day in Houston, as Mayor Sylvester Turner recently presented the band with an official proclamation.

Wild Moccasins
Look Together
New West Records

Album release show: White Oak Music Hall, Saturday, 7.7.18 | $10 tickets: www.pegstar.

Relationship albums can be tricky. On the one hand, emotional pain often results in beautiful work; on the other, the ensuing drama can distract listeners from the intended experience. On Look Together (New West Records) – its first in four years and the first since the break-up of bandmates and former IRL couple Cody Swann and Zahira Gutierrez – Houston-based Wild Moccasins deftly avoids the latter pitfall with its most accomplished and accessible album to date.

Gutierrez takes center stage, and any of her past vocal weaknesses have disappeared. Throughout Look Together, she infuses elements of eighties songstresses Liz Fraser and Kate Bush with hints of Belinda Carlisle and Deborah Harry to create a seductive and inescapable aura.?As on the band’s previous efforts, Swann’s contributions should not be overlooked or understated. Handling guitar and background vocals – in addition to writing lyrics or contributing to each song on the album?– his riffs and solos punctuate the songs at the perfect times, and with a subtle perfection.

The band makes no secret that its new album is a document of the couple dealing with the end of their decade-long relationship, and?“No Muse” is the album’s most searing take: “I’m no use to you, unless I’m undressed / I’m no muse to you / you cut me in two, unless I say yes…and you can sing about it all you want,” Gutierrez sings.

In less-skilled hands – or a younger Wild Moccasins, even – the album’s heavy emotions could easily outweigh the music.?Look Together pulses with heavy doses of synth-pop, fuzzy guitars, and infectious hooks; it’s an extremely catchy album. However, the emotional current running through the album’s songs are the focus, and?the maturity and strength that allowed Swann and Gutierrez to tour together for two years almost immediately after breaking up definitely shows through. Look Together is proof that their songwriting-as-therapy has served the duo well.

Wild Moccasins play downstairs at White Oak Music Hall on Saturday, 7.7.18, with Camera Cult and El Lago. Visit the release show Facebook page at?https://www.facebook.com/events/239077333335569. This is an all ages show.

Download free singles and stems via Noisetrade.

Visit Wild Moccasins online at www.wildmoccasins..

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The inaugural Great Texas BBQ Fest is this weekend (May 19 & 20, 2018) at Post HTX on the edge of downtown Houston. The event features a solid line-up, including Houston’s Buxton, John Egan, The Suffers, A Fistful of Soul, Will Van Horn Trio, Mike Stinson, Ancient Cat Society, The Mighty Org, along with Craig Kinsey, Morris Day & The Time (for real…), Dawes, Old 97’s, Lucero, Junior Brown, Wanda Jackson, and more.

You can also get a ton of Texas BBQ and other libations, as BBQ teams will be competing during the event and selling BBQ at the fest as well. Tickets are available at www.thegreattexasbbqfestival.com.

The full-line up and daily schedules are after the click.

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Local favorites Buxton–who have a new album coming out this year–play tonight at Rockefeller’s in Houston. Vodi and El Lago are also on the bill.

Tickets are available via TicketFly.

More information on Buxton may be found at BandCamp.

Local musician Arthur Yoria, a long-time favorite here at Houston Calling, is celebrating the release of his long-awaited new album–After You–with an album release show this Saturday (March 31, 2018) at the Mucky Duck.

The album, released by local label nhà cái mới nhất, was recorded at Sugar Hill Studios.

You can get advance tickets via the Mucky Duck’s website. Showtime is 9:30pm.

More information on Arthur Yoria, and how to pre-order After You, may be found at www.arthuryoria.com.