::Steve Almond Reads At Brazos Bookstore:: Houstonist saw Steve Almond read several years ago after the publication of his first book, My Life in Heavy Metal. He was fantastic -- very funny, charming, a great storyteller and cute as hell. He's no stranger to writing about sex and all the tension, humor and hubris surrounding the event, which just makes for one more reason to go to Brazos tonight. He's also written a book......

The Foo Fighters are one of the few rock bands out that you can always count on to bring you solid albums (along with funny videos -- check out their latest, "Long Road to Ruin"). They released their sixth studio album last year and are enjoying as much popularity and acclaim as they received when their debut album came out 13 years ago. We talked to Chris Shiflett, guitarist for the Foo Fighters, as he......

Steveland Hardaway Judkins is in town tonight. Why aren't you excited? Wait, you might know him by his stage name: Stevie Wonder. That's right, the R&B/pop master graces the stage of the Toyota Center as part of the final leg of his current tour. In fact, we expect to hear a minimum of two Stevie Wonder tracks at every wedding party we attend, and not just because we actually request that the DJ squeeze it......

Tuesday We’ve given you a lot of Halloween ideas, including costumes to wear, places to go, and haunted places. Want one more? How about Halloween from Hell III? Since My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult is headlining, you know Lucifer will be there. 8 p.m. at The Engine Room | tickets and info Wednesday Yesterday, we recommended the Ben Folds and Houston Symphony concert for tonight, and we still do. There’s good local......

The NY Times reports today on Lakewood Church pastor Joel Osteen's new multimillion-dollar book deal, which puts him in the same class — at least in terms of literary profits — as presidents, popes and Alan Greenspan. Osteen has signed a deal with Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster. It's something of a coup for Simon & Schuster, who lured Osteen away from Warner Faith, publisher of the Your Best Life Now juggernaut.......

Tuesday Denver’s The Fray is making inroads on radio with “Over My Head (Cable Car),” now No. 13 on the adult rock/pop charts, but you wouldn’t know it by listening to Houston radio (Mix 96.5 has that format but they’re so conservative musically that they probably won’t play it for another month, if ever). Similar to Goo Goo Dolls, but fresher. Cary Brothers (actually a solo guy, no siblings with him) and Matt Kearney......