To Do In Houston This Wknd - Visual Art, Dance, Music

Oh, heck, yes!!! It is almost the weekend. Technically, only the second weekend of the new year. Does it not feel like the year has been longer? I totally mean that in a good way...I hope.

Houston has a lot going on and I cannot wait for the following three things this weekend:

Friday, January 11, 2012

Art Opening: Mie Olise - Crystal Bites of Dust

Barbara Davis Gallery

Artist reception: 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

$Free

I first encountered Danish artist, Mie Olise's work during a 2010 exhibition, Mie Olise: A Fugitive Crosses His Tracks - Departure, at Barbara Davis Gallery. The landscape of paintings and installations were breathtaking and the whole exhibition drew upon being in a similar state of desire of departure of leaving it all behind all that you know in search of a world better than the one you left. A world, at the time, that I wanted to be in.

This new body of work focuses on a particular part of Brooklyn. Brooklyn, as a whole, is a current love of mine. Check out Mie Olise's blog for more words from the artist. It can't come from a better place than there.

The exhibition runs through March 9, 2013. Barbara Davis Gallery is at 4411 Montrose. barbaradavisgallery.com.

Friday, January 11, 2013

Dance Performance: Stephen Petronio Dance Company - Underland
*Special Offer for Young Professionals below

Cullen Theater, Wortham Center

8 p.m.

I love SPA. I love the variety & quality they bring to the art scene of Houston. 

Other things I know: I love dance, fun costumes and music.

What I don't know: whom Stephen Petronio is (although I'm about to find out through research) and whether or not I will like his dance.

Being in a world where emails come whipping past you like a deluge of hard rain, I do hope that SPA is also promoting and reaching out to audiences with the fact that the ballet is inspired by the bittersweet songs of pop balladeer Nick Cave.

I'm not sure what that totally means but you had me at NICK CAVE.  Yes, the Nick Cave that just had a third night go on sale at the Beacon Theatre. Yes, the Nick Cave of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds.

If I had seen that first, I wouldn't have cared who was on the stage. OK, not really, BUT, it definitely helps sell it to me than with someone I don't know.

Oh, and Adult Content helps, too. Get tickets at http://spahouston.org.

>> Young Professionals can join SPA, Houston Young People for the Arts and Houston Ballet Barre for a night of adult merriment and culture. Get more info here.

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Music: DJ Jonathan Toubin and New York Night Train Soul Clap and Dance Off

Fitzgerald's, 8 pm

$9

If you love Houston's monthly Fistful of Soul, then meet your maker. Yes, FoS, DJ Jonathan Toubin (originally from Houston, heyyy) is your father and he brings his incredibly popular Soul Clap and Dance Off to Houston for one-night-only.

Let him take you back to feeling like you're going back in time when all music was really good. He's armed with 45s of songs you've never heard but you'll wish you had.

You're only going to be able to hear it here. Plus, enter the dance off and win $100 at midnight. 

I made it to the finals in Austin a few months ago. Think you have what it takes? Bring it to the dance floor.

Get the Clap! The SOUL CLAP! Jonathan Toubin's FREE New York Night Train SOUL CLAP CLASSICS VOL. 1 mix (http://soundcloud.com/nynt/01-soul-clap-classics-1-wav).

10 bands to see in Houston in the next two months...and others I hope to see, too

This blog post goes to 11.

Added: Lower Dens on October 17.

Is it just me or have there been more music gigs than normal coming to Houston? And, good ones. So many that there's no way I can make it to all of them.  Maybe you can help me?

Below are some of the gigs as of today (that I know of...) that need you at them...and me, too.

Beach House play HOB on September 19

This year I've been most pleased with catching Exitmusic (they opened for School of Seven Bells in March at Fitzgerald's), the entire Lower Dens gig with Alan Resnick and No Joy and, most recently, Kishi Bashi. Good, good stuff!

And, don't overlook the opening acts. I found Exitmusic and Other Lives that way...you never know when you might hear something great before it's truly discovered by the rest of the world.

Here are gigs that have caught my attention -- October's a bit crazy, isn't it?? I can't make them all but if you go to one and love it, let me know in the comments! Tell me if you hate it, too. :) I don't think you will...

Click on links below for some song/video previews to whet your earbuds:

September
19 - Beach House (House of Blues)
(why: Baltimore-based BH has been growing in popularity over the years. Their most recent album, Bloom, has been on many "best of" lists already and the year isn't yet quite over. See them at HOB before you have to go see them at Woodlands Pavilion.)
21 - The Walkmen, Milo Greene (Fitzgerald's)

October

10 - Alan Resnick makes an appearance with Dan Deacon's tour -- he's great! I hear Dan Deacon is pretty rad, too. ;)
(why: Alan Resnick had me at the front lines of the Lower Dens concert. From his site: Alan Resnick is a visual artist obsessed with his own face. Since 2009 he has been working towards the creation of a lifelike digital backup. This avatar is being designed to fill the role of Alan to family and friends in the event of his death.' Alan also co-directed the video for Lower Dens' latest single, 'Candy').
11 - Bombay Bicycle Club (Fitzgerald's)
12 - Tennis, Wild Belle (Fitzgerald's)
(why: Tennis is a wife/husband duo and Wild Belle is a sister/brother duo but that's not really why. Tennis' latest album reminds me of the vocals of some of my favourite girl groups of the 60s and Wild Belle's hit 'Keep You' is the soundtrack of all single girls.)
15 - Father John Misty (House of Blues)
17 - Lower Dens (Fitzgerald's)
(why: I think Lower Dens' release of Brains reminded me of what new, good music is out there. Their gig earlier this year was simple and perfectly crafted from two openers to the final encore. Jana also spent some time in Houston and we tend to support our own, especially when they've done good. They will also be touring with Grizzly Bear!)

Exitmusic's wife/husband Aleksa Palladino and Devon Church

23 - Exitmusic (Fitzgerald's)
(why:  A band that I love to hear get loud and engulfed in percussion. I think each band member brings something to their sound...and Aleksa Palladino's voice is really like no other...deep, brooding and powerful.)

November
10 - Other Lives (Fitzgerald's)
(why: I was intro'd to them right before they exploded...at least in the indie scene...I was one month too late to bring them to Songs From A Room and then a few months later, they open for Radiohead. BOOM. Go see them.)
14 - Jens Lekman, Taken by Trees (Fitzgerald's)
(why: He always popped up on my Pandora station and just started to be in my regular rotation...time to see what it's all about.)

Bands I Also Want To See:
September 13 - The Suffers (open for Mingo Fishtrap) (Discovery Green, free)
September 14 - Canned Acoustica feat. B L A C K I E, Craig Kinsey, New York City Queens and others and it benefits Houston Food Bank. Admission is 4 cans of food. Do it! A great sampler of local musicians.
September 16 - Twin Shadow, Niki and the Dove, Bang Bangz (Fitzgerald's)
October 13 - Two Door Cinema Club (House of Blues), Free Press Summerfest 2012 alums
October 20 - Grandfather Child w/ Folk Family Revival (Discovery Green, free)
October 25 - Ghostland Observatory (they actually have 3 nights at Warehouse Live)
October 28 - Crocodiles (Fitzgerald's)
November 1 - Sharon Van Etten (Fitzgerald's)

To Purchase Tickets Visit:
Fitzgerald's
House of Blues
Warehouse Live

p.s. Of COURSE, I love the musical intimacy of Songs From A Room. Videos soon from those gigs of some really fab Houston and Austin musicians. Not on the Songs From A Room list? Go to http://sofarsounds.com.

Happy Julia Child Week! Celebrating the cooking maven's 100th birthday

August 7 to 15, 2012, has been deemed Julia Child Week for what would have been the doyenne of French-American cuisine's 100th birthday. Her publisher, Alfred A. Knopf, chose 100 restaurants in cities around the nation to officially produce a Child-inspired menu for the celebratory week.  Houston has five of the 10 in Texas and they are:

• Ouisie's Table
• The Bird and the Bear Bistro
• Bistro Provence
• Mockingbird Bistro
• Brasserie Max & Julie

If you can't visit any of those, get inspired via her Facebook page, Twitter or Tumblr.  Archival footage, recipes, pictures and more will be shared and feel free to share your own.

For those desiring a more hands-on approach to celebrating the cuisine Julia Child made famous, check out Sur La Table's Celebrating Julia Child cooking class where the instructor will guide you through some of her most famous recipes.  You can also celebrate on PBS by streaming her classic shows.

Bon Appétit!

Five things to do before Free Press Summer Fest Houston

Free Press Summer Fest is almost here ... and with the closest thing Houston gets to a music festival, I cannot wait!

Here are a few things I'm doing to get ready:

1. Getting a pedicure.
I'm going fuss-free but pretty. Painted toenails will be the new black and be on view through some flip-flops. Ladies, you will curse yourself if you wear heels. Wedges, ok.

2. Clothes that are OK being burned/trashed afterwards.
Since there's a 0% chance for rain, it's going to be hot, messy and sweaty. With highs in the low 90s and the wind at a paltry 11 mph (and humidity in the millions, probably), there will be pony tails flying and plenty o'skin showing. Think bathing suit and some digs from Forever 21 (or the new H&M at Baybrook will be open on May 31, so you can go there, too!) Would love some Joe Fresh in this piece...just putting that out there.

Not going to rain, y'all.

3. Sunscreen!
With all that skin showing, it needs some love. Slather, rub and repeat...maybe get someone cute to help apply. Be generous. Your 50-year-old self will thank me.

4. Champagne pops and water! And, beer. And, pizza.
Hydration is important...especially, a good balance of champagne, water and beer. Soak it all up with some pizza and you'll be feeling like a champ. Maybe throw a stash of coconut water in your fridge for when you get home. You'll thank me the next day. I will thank myself the next day.

5. Bands, bands, bands!
Last, but not least...the whole reason I am doing all of the above: the music. Thanks to this sweet Spotify starter list that was created...I've started to carve out a list of what I need to see.  Just because you may not see your fave band only means there is new music to explore. So, go do it.

Here are a few to start and in no particular order:

Phantogram - As Far As I Can See - @phantogram

Starfucker - Rawnald Gregory Erickson The Second - @starfucker_usa

Two Door Cinema Club - What You Know - @tdcinemaclub

Ok. Now, make sure you have your FPSF tix and get back to work. More tomorrow.

xohp

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.