house of blues

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.

Words by Anna "HashBrowns" Vernon. Photos by B "Café con Leche" Gutierrez.

When I was in high school I stumbled upon John Butler through my brother. Instantly amazed by his finger-style guitar picking, I've followed him since. I have never seen anyone near his skill level using this style, and watching it is alone worth the ticket price. Last summer Cafe Con Leche and I stayed to the very end of Wakarusa 2010, and the show was like one of the swelling hot air balloons floating around, bursting into sunshine. Each time I see him, it amplifies a different chord of my life. I always come away with a new perspective, a rediscovered ideal.

JBT started off with "Used To Get High". It was instantly infectious, and had the crowd singing by the end. The show at Wakarusa felt more reggae - partially because of the artists leading up, partially because it's hard to contain sound in a field on a mountain. No complaints at all - but the House of Blues show had clarity and a rock sound that matches the latest album, April Uprising. The sound difference was most evident when Byron Luitors (bass) brought out the didgeridoo on "Treat Yo Mama" which had a slow, effervescent build that filled the room. Butler brings out a lap steel for this song, where the breaks are like a sighing moan that escape into hope.

Read the rest of the review and see more photos after the jump.

Words by B "Café con Leche" Gutierrez. Photos by Anna "HashBrowns" Vernon.

With over sixty shows played and a new album, this year has been a win for Big Head Todd and the Monsters. Their fans are loyal and very laid back. The show at House of Blues in Dallas on Nov. 18 drew a diverse crowd, which allowed for great people watching and an easy time to enjoy the music.

The show started with the fast-paced "Cashbox," heavy on the electric guitar and drums. Todd Park Mohr (guitar, harmonica and lead vocals) had the chance to let his guitar skills shine in every single song of the night. He gave each of the guitars he used its own voice. The musicianship that night was quite impressive. The audience's appreciation was evident by the shouts of approval that filled the hall, blending with the riffs and harmonies coming from the stage. Read the full review after the jump.

Words by Melissa "Sausage" Cox. Photos by Anna "HashBrowns" Vernon.

Local Natives is a 5-member band from L.A. made up of Taylor Rice (guitar, vocals), Kelcey Ayer (vocals, keyboards, percussion, guitar), Ryan Hahn (guitar, keyboards, mandolin, vocals), Andy Hamm (bass, backing vocals), and Matt Frazier (drums). Their debut album, Gorilla Manor, was released in February, and has been making waves ever since. Their harmonies, afropop rhythms, and infectious stage performance have made waves on the music scene since their SXSW performances in 2009. Read on after the jump.

One thing that has come to bother me about our city's music scene over the years is that bands will come through one of our small venues such as Walter's, play a well receptive set to a packed room, then altogether skip Houston for several years to follow. When these bands do actually make it back, it's after a huge swell in their growth, and they end up playing much larger and less personal venues such as House of Blues. One band that most recently did this exact thing was Brooklyn indie-freaksters Yeasayer. They came through with MGMT (another band currently in the same situation, coming to HoB soon...) back in January 2008, and haven't been to Houston since. Yes, they've played Austin on numerous occasions, Dallas as well, but for some reason we didn't make the grade. Maybe because we're lacking a non-corporate venue that is between Walter's and HoB in size, and has a certain indie draw? Hopefully the new Warsaw (formerly The Engine Room) will help us out there.

Despite the two-plus year absence from the Bayou City, I still welcomed them back with open arms, and walked into their show excited to hear them showcase their new material. Check out more from the show after the jump.

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!

Gotta love that cheesy graphic at the end!

One of my favorite jambands at one of my favorite local venues. House Of Blues layed host to New York quintet moe. for a Thursday night two-set performance. I walked in the dark venue to a meager crowd of about 50 or so. It was kind of early, but not nearly early enough to warrant such a small group of people at a moe. show. They came on pretty soon after I arrived, and thankfully a big chunk of people arrived who filled out the floor during the "Tailspin" opener. The show was great, and featured several of my favorites including "Happy Hour Hero," "32 Things," "Head" and a nasty rendition of "Brent Black" at the request of an some wook who'd been holding up a sign from the beginning of the show. They played for a good two-and-a-half hours, not including a thirty minute break, and each second of their playing was fire. Of all the times that I've seen moe., this might have been the most solid showing from the group. After seeing jam counterparts Umphrey's McGee on the same stage a few months back, who didn't seem too happy to be playing in front of a Houston crowd, watching moe. made me realize that they aren't just up there going through the motions – after twenty years as a band, they still visibly enjoy every minute of playing together. I'm glad I hit this moe. show up, because my love and following of jambands has diminished over the past year or so, and this only helped to reestablish the need for jam and improvisational music in my life.

I'm not sure what so many people's problems with jambands are. It might be their lack of attention span, or just pure distaste for anything that will make you dance, but for some reason tons of people have so much hate for improvisational music and the groups that are best at it. If more people would give bands like moe. a chance in the live format, I think they'd walk away surprised and satisfied. Come on hipsters, open up your ears and form your own opinions!

As always, I had my camera in tow – you can browse my shots after the jump.

moe. at the House Of Blues.
Doors at 7pm, show at 8pm.
Tickets are $20.

Houston's House Of Blues is still relatively young as compared to our city's other venues, but it has fast become one of my favorite rooms to see live music in. The sound is fantastic, lighting the same. However you want to take in the show – whether it be from the floor, the raised seating area behind the soundboard, or the extremely large balcony looming over head – shows there just are a bit better than the rest. While they aren't perfect – a strictly enforced curfew has literally cut off groups like Mos Def and George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, and the ridiculously priced drinks always makes you feel a bit lousy the next morning when you check your wallet – it usually calls for a good time.

My most recent trip to the HOB involved a vast majority of the our fair city's cougar club, and no, I'm not talking about anything affiliated with the University of Houston. Everywhere I looked, there were a group of 40-somethings, dolled up to a tee in their animal prints and skin-tight jeans, ready to rock out to the Southern stylings of road-stalwarts, The Black Crowes. What was even more ridiculous, were the groups of equally-aged men hawking these women. It was like a motorcycle rally, only instead of a bunch of mustachioed, leather-clad bald guys on Harley-Davidson's, it was the blue jean and matching shirt, Honda Goldwing cross-country type of bikers. Great people watching.

Read more about the show after the jump

Thievery Corporation played Houston’s House of Blues last Tuesday and brought with them a rotating band of (at least) six talented multi-lingual singers along with a bassist, a sitar/guitar player, a mini-horns section, three drummers on different setups, four trippy video boards, and even some musicians that I’m probably forgetting. Ever since catching Thievery’s impressive set at last year’s Voodoo Music Festival with the rest o’ the Breakfast crew, I’ve been fiending for another performance. Check out a brief recap and some photos and video of their performance after the jump.