Where Texas, Paris + Strings Collide | Songs From A Room Houston | April 30, 2012

Houston and Texas are both known for wide, open spaces but there was very little to be found on a Monday evening in Downtown Houston in Hogg Palace. It was a refreshing night juxtaposing the new with the 91-year-old, Art Deco building. New and familiar faces gathered in a private loft to kick-off another Houston secret gig as part of the global Songs From A Room series.

Shellee Coley - hauntingly, beautiful voice and her 'Conversations with Z' is one all daughters and those with daughters of their own will appreciate. [Like Shellee Coley on Facebook]

Tatsu - a rock-string-septet where you will hear Guns 'N Roses, Mumford & Sons and Queen like never before. [Like them on Facebook]

No Flag Project - so honored to host their first-ever US gig. Extremely lovely band from Paris adding some raw pop-rock to the evening. [Like them on Facebook]

And, yes -- support independent musicians!

It's nights like these that I thank the stars I'm in Texas.

If you want to be as thankful, you need to sign up at at sofarsounds.com to be invited. Songs From A Room happens in 16 cities across 6 continents so if Houston isn't your port of call...they may be in your city already.

Special thanks: Songs From A Room, No Flag Project, Tatsu, Shellee Coley, Ryan Butcher {video}, Melissa Fitzgerald {photography}, Hogg Palace.