houston

In case you weren't aware, St. Patty's day is around the corner. For seven years, the countdown has been kicked off by Flogging Molly with a celebratory Green 17 Tour. And this is no ordinary tour. Standard Flogging Molly shows are intense - but Green 17 lets the band celebrate St. Patty's day each night - resulting in an unprecedented evening of musical chaos.

And strangely enough, Green 17 is kicking off in Dallas on the 8th. We're so Irish. Plus, they're hitting Houston the day after, so we Texans are banking. If that isn't enough - they'll also be debuting material from the new album due out in May. Trifecta.

Swagger (2000) and Drunken Lullabies (2002) remain two of my favorite albums, and Float (2008) rocked us with their ever-evolving sound that remains true to the celtic traditions in which Flogging Molly believes. Each album shows the band growing a little more and the new one is set to include more punk and even delves into blues. Written in Detroit, at the home of Dave King (vocals/guitar) and Bridget Regan (fiddler), it's not surprising the album will center around the recent economy (or lack thereof). Dennis Casey (guitarist), in an interview with AltPress, mentions that "this record definitely has the theme of the struggle of life. The whole element of working for a living, people without jobs, people losing their homes — that is all tied into the narratives of the record."

If, like me, you find it hard to wait till May to hear the new sound, enter your email above to grab a FREE single from the new record; which they recorded in Asheville, NC with Ryan Hewitt (Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Avett Brothers). Then, buy your ticket for next Tuesday the 8th at House of Blues for $40 with fees. Houstonians can click here for Wednesday the 9th. Above is the video for "Punch Drunk Grinning Soul", from Float, to prepare you for a night of epic mayhem.

I came across this video yesterday as I was making my daily read of Houston Press' Rocks Off Blog, and was immediately impressed with how the videographer (W. Ross Wells from Zenfilm, the same guy who directed the SugarHill video in our last post) made our fair city look so nice. It features local up-and-comers The Tontons on stage at the House of Blues, but also shuffles through a variety of clips showcasing some of Houston's hottest spots. If you are from Houston, this video is well worth the watch; if you're not, check it out, and fall in love with our city. It really is a great place to be!

File this under "Articles that should have been posted a long time ago." This one's for you, Zach.

When Eggs and I first started attending live music events at the Orange Show over a year ago, it almost felt as if we were part of some secret club. Most of the shows we went to weren't sold out and the crowds tended to veer older, as the bulk of Houston's hipsters hadn't discovered the citrusy venue yet. The past couple of times we've visited, however, have clearly indicated a shift in the monument's fanbase. The Orange Show's booking has taken a decidedly more indie turn, and with it the clothes have gotten more confusing and the dance parties more rambunctious. Thursday, April 16th was a perfect indication of this new shift, as Baltimore-based interactive electro man Dan Deacon brought his energetic mash-up fun to the orange-flavored pseudo-circus. Along for the ride were openers Future Islands, Teeth Mountain and B L A C K I E.

Check out photos and videos from the event after the jump

Ratatat, Tussle and Despot at Meridian
Doors open at 8, show starts at 9
Tickets $20

More videos after the jump

So, this is really, really late. Like, obscenely late. As in, if I were your friend and forgot about your birthday for this long, you probably wouldn't be my friend anymore late. I have lots of excuses (some of them actually good ones!), but I'll spare you. Annuals and support act Jessica Lea Mayfield came through Houston's Walter's On Washington back in February and put on a lively, entertaining show that has since stood out in my mind as one of the best shows I attended during the first quarter of '09. Check out photos and vids from the show after the jump

A few weeks ago, on Friday, February 6, Lawrence, KS-based post-rockers The Appleseed Cast stopped in at Rudyard's in Houston. Eggs and I had only recently begun to explore the band's catalog; for a few months, we had a pseudo-roommate living with us and as an avid fan, he introduced us to their work. In fact, he extended his stay in Houston by a night just to attend this show. At Rudyard's, the band delivered an intense set that highlighted their impassioned songwriting and experimental feel. Local support act Hungry Villagers also offered up a solid selection of songs, capably fulfilling crowd-warming duties.

More snaps and vids after the jump

Son Volt and Doug Burr at Continental Club
Doors open at 8:30pm

We – or, more accurately, I – have quite a bit of content catching-up to do, so please try to overlook the tardiness of my posts over the next couple of weeks. New job, weird hours, thanks for your patience. My schedule's been all out of whack, but in between 4am shifts (I know! That shit should be illegal) I've somehow managed to squeeze in some shows over the past few weeks. One of the most memorable was, without a doubt, Los Campesinos! and Titus Andronicus' appearance at Walter's On Washington on January 29.

Read a recap of the night, view photos and watch videos after the jump

The Appleseed Cast at Rudyard's
Doors at 9pm, 21+
Tickets $10

We've got your headies:

The Bridge at Continental Club Houston
Thursday, February 5
Show starts at 10pm, 21+
Tickets $7