Houston Concert Watch 3/18: John Paul White and More

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So I read that Morrissey, the Pope of Mope, cancelled a show last week in Valencia, Spain. This guy has a long and documented history of failing to perform (so to speak), so the cancellation is no surprise in and of itself. No, what makes this incident stand out is Morrissey’s reason for bagging the gig. According to a missive posted on his website, Morrissey was unable to rise to the occasion because he had a restless night, due to excessive noise emanating from the city’s Las Fallas festival. How bad was it? According to Morrissey, the night was one of “indescribable hell” which reduced him to a “catatonic state.”A couple of things here. The city was in the midst of a festival. Didn’t this guy ever read The Sun Also Rises, in which Ernest Hemingway describes the chaotic scene (including the running of the bulls) surrounding the San Firmin festival in Pamplona, Spain? What did he expect in Valencia? Pamplona in 1924 was wild enough, and now festival goers have easy access to molly and cocaine. So, Morrissey, you want to talk about a sleepless night? Ever tried to grab a few winks while staying on the San Antonio River Walk when a convention is in town? Not to mention bunking at the Austin Motel (aka The Phallus Palace – use your imagination when you look at the sign) during South by Southwest. To quote Olivia Soprano, “Oh, poor you!” Ticket Alert The String Cheese Incident has been playing its jolly brand of jammy / neopsychedelic music since the ‘90s while building a loyal following across the country. The band’s “Just Keep Spinning” tour rolls into the House of Blues on Saturday, May 30, and tickets are on sale now. Old school fans will want to get tickets for “The R and B Lovers” tour at Toyota Center on Saturday, June 6. Utilizing a time-tested formula that harkens back to the review format of the ‘60s, the show will feature performances by Keith Sweat, Joe, Dru Hill, Ginuwine and Kut Klose The Pussycat Dolls – a musical and marketing juggernaut if ever there was one – have reunited for a summer tour which will stop at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Friday, July 31. The group will be joined by fellow noughts icons Lil’ Kim and Mya, just to pump up the jams a notch. Presales are in progress, with the general ticket sale set for Friday. Also headed for the Pavilion this summer is Empire of the Sun. This Aussie duo makes me think of the song “You’ve Got to Have a Gimmick” from the musical Gypsy. While Empire’s music is pleasant but not terribly remarkable (ethereal vocals, synths, drum machines), the onstage look is quite distinctive. We’re talking substantial face paint, along with various pieces of head gear and costumes influenced by Japanese and Native American traditions. Tickets are on sale now for Empire’s concert on Thursday, September 24, at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Concerts This Week As you might imagine, concert promoters are loath to book big shows during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Why go up against an institution, particularly one with marketing money to burn? Consequently, pickings are somewhat slim this week, but that doesn’t mean that an enterprising music fan who doesn’t want to mosey through the rodeo gauntlet is SOL. For instance, you can check out singer-songwriter John Paul White (formerly of the Grammy-winning duo The Civil Wars) on Thursday at a “no cover” concert presented by Coffee House Houston, a nonprofit organization helmed by Pete and Donna Owens. After 12 years of presenting shows in town, the Owenses have moved operations to a new home, historic Lambert Hall in the Heights, a venue with a capacity of 300 and fine acoustics. Coffee House Houston accepts donations from concertgoers, but it’s strictly a “pay what you wish” arrangement. Hell’s Heroes, a three-day festival featuring more metal bands than you can bang a head at, returns to the White Oak Music Hall this weekend. Organizers promise “BLOOD, FIRE AND DEATH,” which will be provided by 3 Inches of Blood, Dirkschneider, Voivod, Sanctuary, Tankard, Vulture, Hellbutcher, Bat, Warlord and Onslaught among others. Three-day passes are available, or you can opt for single-day tickets if you have non-metal obligations and can’t commit to the entire extravaganza. A.J. Croce, the son of Jim Croce (“Operator,” “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown”) will perform on Sunday at the Bayou Music Center under the banner of “Croce Plays Croce.” Yes, A.J. will explore his father’s extensive songbook, but he also has his own thing going on. Here’s hoping that “The Roller Derby Queen” is on the set list, and – though it is a long shot – maybe, just maybe, “The Ball of Kirriemuir,” a wonderfully smutty tune about a party that will never be outdone. The rodeo runs through the weekend at NRG Stadium, and musically the emphasis is on contemporary country artists. Tonight, Koe Wetzel, who hails from Pittsburgh, TX in the far northeast part of the state, will roll out his blend of country, rap and grunge. Rural chanteuse and “Yellowstone” star Lainey Wilson performs on Thursday, with homeboy (raised in Conroe) Parker McCollum set to take the stage on Friday. Winding things up this year are hitmaking machine Tim McGraw (over 90 million albums sold) on Saturday and former professional bull rider Cody Johnson on Sunday. The post Houston Concert Watch 3/18: John Paul White and More appeared first on Houston Press.

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