A lighter week for concerts, but many home-state bred musicians are in town. Tomorrow night, we recommend San Antonio's Girl In A Coma, but if you prefer 90's rock, you might want to catch Dallas' The Toadies return to Verizon Wireless. Speaking of returns, Bandera's Robert Earl Keen brings his annual Christmas show to town Friday night. Saturday, Warehouse Live is hosting a few local bands, headlined by Million Year Dance. Not from Texas,......

December always brings some good mini-festivals, and this week is a good example. It starts tonight with the KILT 10-Man Jam, featuring many popular country radio stars. Tomorrow night, the husband/wife team of Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis come into town for their annual Christmas show. Saturday, Chron.com showcases some of the best local talent in their concert at Warehouse Live. Finally, KRBE's annual Jingle Jam brings pop radio's favorite to the Toyota Center......

We've already told about the concerts we're most excited about this week: Peter Bjorn and John at Warehouse Live and local artist Ethan Durelle at Fitzgerald's, both this Friday night. We also told you about Tori Amos' visit to Jones Hall this Sunday. If that's not enough for you, a lot of local acts are leaving their parent's dinner table early and playing some great shows all throughout the holiday weekend. Maybe you should......

We're moving the weekly Live Music Calendar to Wednesdays to make room for our new weekly New CD Releases feature on Tuesday. OK, let's pretend you have a five-day date with some wannabe Sirius radio DJ and you have to wade through everything the city has to offer this week. Decisions, decisions, decisions. Well, good thing you listen to everything we have to say! May we recommend that you start off in familiar territory......

So many good shows this week, that we don’t have enough space to highlight all of them. Tonight, our pick is the pure pop sounds of Office tonight at The Mink (congratulations to Cynthia for winning tickets through us!). Singer/songwriter fans will have a touch choice Thursday night – Ryan Adams makes a rare Houston appearance at Verizon Wireless and former Toad the Wet Sprocket front man Glen Phillips plays two shows at the......

Local bands AWAKE and Together. We Are Instruments play at the ultra-hip Super Happy Fun Land. Other local favorites Prodigal Sons and Lanky open for emerging Geffen pop artist Matt White at Jet Lounge. Thursday, check out Twelve Girls Band: a dozen classically-trained musicians (all women, of course) playing both traditional Chinese songs and popular pop songs. Friday night, Beaumont's own classic blues-rocker Johnny Winter returns to Houston at the Meridian. Saturday, block-off your......

Plenty of good music in town this week to..uh...wet your musical whistle - if you will. Tonight you may want to check out some alternative hiphop at Warehouse Live with Del the Funky Homosapien or relive the 90's at Verizon Wireless with Live and Collective Soul. Later in the week the wild and whacky Blue Man Group is playing at Toyota Center -or- you could see Rilo Kiley at Warehouse Live -or- release your......

If you can't find a live show you like this week, then you're not trying hard enough. Tonight, NYC's (once) indie-rockers Interpol hits the Verizon Wireless Theater. For something more local, check out John Evans roots rock set at the Mucky Duck. Tomorrow night, German DJ Paul Van Dyke will have everyone dancing at Warehouse Live. The Meridian turns down the amp (just a bit) on Thursday night to host Americana flavored Junior Brown......

Houston is getting some great leftovers from ACL Fest this week. Yesterday was Arctic Monkeys & Queens of the Stone Age. It is disappointing to note that the Kaiser Chiefs show for Wednesday has been cancelled. However, on Thursday we recommend going to check out Midlake at Numbers. A lot of great music on Friday – anywhere from local favorite Today Castillo to indie band Deerhoof opening for Bloc Party. Nothing better than curing a......

On the heels of last week's performance on David Letterman, Atlanta-based indie-rock outfit Manchester Orchestra arrives at Warehouse Live tomorrow night. If you'd like to hear a man with a fantastic voice, check out former Mavericks lead vocalist Raul Malo Thursday night (also at Warehouse Live). Friday night, check out some local indie rock -- .belville at Rudyard's. Saturday is a tough call: The Killers with Louis XIV are at Reliant Arena and Reverend......

It is a very diverse week for music in Houston. Arizona alt-rock band Scary Kids Scaring Kids hit the Meridian tonight. If you prefer down-home Americana, check out the trio Kane Welch Kaplin as they celebrate their new CD at the Mucky Duck Thursday night. Austin's Latin-fusion band Del Castillo play at Warehouse Live on Friday night. Saturday, singer/songwriter Mat Kearney will play his hit "Nothing Left to Lose" and more at the Meridian.......

For once, this week's music calendar is light on local acts, heavy on touring acts. Tonight, catch classic crooner Tony Bennett (who turns 80 this year) at Jones Hall. Tomorrow night, we recommend California indie rock band Rocco Deluca & the Burden at Warehouse Live. Mix things up a little bit Wednesday night and catch Austin's Belleville Outfit at the Duck, combining jazz, swing and Americana. Houston's own R&B legend Archie Bell will "tighten......

This week is a little light on “big name” musical acts, but don’t let that get you down – there are still plenty of good local bands to see. Southern Rockers, Shinedown, are playing at Verizon Wireless on Wednesday. On Thursday you can check out Fulton Read, a strong new band from the Austin area, who is having their CD release party at Fitzgerald’s. Our pick for Friday is to see The Lemurs play......

> There are a lot of great acts in town this week with something for everyone's musical taste. The "big radio" shows include Rush, Nickelback, Puddle of Mudd, Korn, and Evanescence all of which take place outdoors at the Woodlands pavillion. Please remember it is still very hot...even at night. For those not wanting to face the night sweats, check out Texas indie rockers Centro-Matic on Wednesday and Eisley on Thursday. But to really get......

This week, don’t be looking for the big, A-list concerts, but that doesn’t mean that there’s a void of good live music choices. Last week’s big winner at the Houston Press Music Awards, The Dimes, will be playing at The Proletariat with several other bands Friday night. Sam Houston Race Park continues their summer concert series with Cory Morrow the same night. Saturday, you can take a step back into the 80’s with legendary......

A couple of concerts original scheduled this week were either canceled or postponed. The "Smooth Groove Tour," featuring Cameo, Morris Day and others has been postponed. If you have tickets, check the Reliant Arena website soon for the new date. If you had tickets to see American Idol Taylor Hicks, you can get a refund, but you won't get a chance to see the premature gray-haired Idol. His show was canceled due to bad......

This week is a musical Smorgasbord of live acts in town. Early in the week some good regional musicians (Carol Fran or The Troubadours for example) play around town. If you like Bob Schneider, you have two opportunities to catch him live (Friday and Saturday). Also, later in the week the once brit-pop giants Travis will be performing at the Verizon Wireless Theater along with Alabama’s John Paul White. Or if you feel like......

Tonight, rock fans will enjoy the Godsmack show at Verizon Wireless, but if you want something different, check out the eclectic Moodafaruka at the Mucky Duck. Tomorrow night, we highly recommend indie-pop/rock band The Format at The Meridian. The Proletariat is hosting a happy hour show with Get Him Eat Him. Saturday night gives you many Texas country/folk choices – Roger Creager after the horse races, Ray Wylie Hubbard at the Mucky Duck, and......

We really wish Gomez was performing a headlining show here, but we have to settle with them just being an opening act for The Fray (along with Eisley) this Friday night in The Woodlands. However, Gomez is playing a stand-alone show Saturday night in Austin, if you're lucky enough to find tickets for it. Some veteran Houston acts play around town this week. Beaumont's Clay Walker will perform after the races at Sam Houston......

With a holiday in the middle of the week, celebrations of the musical variety are happening all over the city. Houston’s official Independence Day celebration, the 2007 Chevy's Freedom Over Texas with Fireworks Presented by Shell (yes that is really the full name of it) takes place in Eleanor Tinsley Park from 4pm – 10pm with headliner Montgomery Gentry. However, if you are like us and don’t enjoy pushing your way through the expected......

The big show this week, of course, is the reunion of The Police. But if you don’t feel like paying $100 to see Sting sing songs he sings at his solo concerts too (OK, yes, it’s different since Summers and Copeland are with him, but is it that different?), then you can opt for some other good shows Friday night: singer/songwriter Radney Foster (now writing hits for other people) plays two shows at the......

Tonight, Norah Jones plays in a very suitable place, Jones Hall. The show is sold out, but with M. Ward opening, it’s one that may be worth getting tickets for. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club returns to Houston on Thursday. Rock legend Dave Mason hits The Meridian Friday night, while former Rock Star: Supernova contestant and Austin native Patrice Pike visits Fitzgeralds. Another great double bill comes to us on Sunday night – The Black......

Here are some recently announced concerts. Tickets will go on sale this weekend: The Format (7/18 @ Meridian) Marilyn Manson/Slayer (8/31 @ Reliant Arena) The Killers (9/15 @ Reliant Arena) – win tickets from us in advance! This week, we think the show to see is The Hold Steady at Walter’s on Thursday night. Sure, their new stuff resembles some of early Springsteen’s best work, but it’s damn good. Legendary Scottish folk singer (you......

Four-day work weeks screw us up, too -- which is why you're seeing the concert calendar on Wednesday. It doesn't matter though, there are still plenty of good shows left to see this week. Two really good shows to choose from tomorrow night: Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond, Jr. will hit Warehouse Live, while local favorites The Scattered Pages will provide your coffee sipping entertainment at Brasil. Friday night, hit one of the best intimate......

Similar to last week, the calendar is full of local and regional acts. Some exceptions include singer/songwriters Steve Poltz (at the Mucky Duck tonight) and the eclectic Laura