One Houston music event that has remained consistent over the past few years is the annual KTRU-sponsored free outdoor concert that takes place right in the middle of Rice University, on a stretch of lawn outside of the student center. The lineups over the years have continually drawn a recognizable indie-rock act supported by a wealth of talent. A few of our favorite local acts were set to perform – Buxton and B L A C K I E, to be exact – but due to other plans I couldn't make it to campus until just before the headliner was to take the stage. Upon arrival, I noticed that a significant portion of Houston's music scene was represented, with members of Sideshow Tramps, Wild Moccasins, The Tontons and even a sharply dressed Jandek – who now sems to be somewhat of a scenester after he funked up Houston awhile back – in attendance. They were all there in support of Houston's thriving music scene, but also to check out Washington D.C.'s Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, who were set to close down the day's events.

Read about the show, and check out a bunch of photos and a video after the jump

Ted Leo had been sending out tweets – announcing his anxiousness to hit the stage – while some local group, About This Product, were making white look whiter for a ridiculously long time. Finally, after standing in the beer garden/line for a while, Ted Leo and his band The Pharmacists took the stage to the now standing crowd of about three hundred. At first, I enjoyed the energetic group, but wasn't aware they had such a punk-rock feel to their sound. I had no expectations of the Pharmacists entering the day, besides Buxton's Sergio Trevino informing me that his sister likes them, right before he took off, not staying himself to see what Ted Leo had to offer. I didn't really put much stock in what Sergio said, but now I'm assuming he was talking about a younger sister – much younger perhaps. I'm not sure if it was the lack of volume on Leo's vocals, or the harder edge to their mostly indie-rock sound, but I wasn't feeling them towards the later part of their set. It wasn't horrible by any means, but it just wasn't my thing. Many people were having a blast, including a host of crowd-surfers and the strong contingent of screaming co-eds that crowded the lawn. I took off a little early, as their sound had grown somewhat stale to me, but the party seemed to be raging on (well, at least until the ten o'clock noise curfew kicked in).

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Thanks to KTRU for continuing to host these yearly events. Rain or shine, they are always a good time. Hopefully next year you guys don't end up scheduling the same day as that new Merge Music Festival. That line-up was also quite nice!

-Eggs