Many people are unaware that Planned Parenthood offers a variety of free or low-cost services to the local communities in which they operate, including yearly well-woman exams, healthy babies programs, breast cancer screenings, pap smears, cervical cancer treatments, access to all forms of birth control and educational information about men's and women's reproductive health. In the past year, Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas provided 300 prenatal care exams for low-income Gulfton residents, treated......

Love makes you happy. Happiness fuels good pop songs. This is probably why the husband and wife team, the core of Mates of State, seem to pull off the fun pop sound and great harmonies so naturally. The couple met over a decade ago, and their indie-pop fan base has grown with each album they’ve released. Securing opening slots for Death Cab for Cutie and Spoon a couple of years ago didn’t hamper their success,......

Three years ago, young Max Bemis and his band Say Anything [pictured] had us in stitches with the wickedly irreverent song, “Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too,” from their debut album, …Is a Real Boy. The boys have gone a bit Emo on their latest record, In Defense of the Genre, telling a sweeping epic love story over the span of a 26 song double-disc set. Say Anything’s tour in support of In Defense makes......

Just about everyone that owns an electric bass guitar loves Les Claypool. The former front man for Primus created a distinguishable sound of his own a couple of decades ago, churning out huge 90's college radio hits like "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver" and "Wynona's Big Brown Beaver" (which isn't about Winona Ryder, but her image still pops in our head when we hear the song). These days, Les' biggest paycheck probably comes from......

We’ve got a busy week on the concert front. Our favorite duo from New York arrives at The Meridian tomorrow night. They Might Be Giants have been making quirky alt/pop songs for grown-ups over 20 years now, and a few albums for the kids that us grown-ups enjoy, too. Wilco’s Friday night show at Verizon Wireless Theater is sold out, but if you’re willing to pay a little, you can still get your hands......

Snoop Dogg is performing at Warehouse Live tomorrow night, and we thought we would celebrate by posting the music video of his new song, "Sensual Seduction." Snoop has always been a funny dude, hamming it up in MTV's now defunct Televizzle, the 2004 flick Starsky and Hutch, and the new E! reality series, Father Hood. "Sensual Seduction" manages to be both a tongue-in-cheek romp and a highly stylized pop song that is steadily climbing the......

Oh, indie rock. Does such a genre even really mean anything anymore? What was once "independent" is now major label material; a few major label material acts are now "independent." The grass is blue, the sky is green, up is down, down is up; nothing makes sense in this day and age. Leave it to Built to Spill to defy space and time by continuing to rock the same songs they've been playing since 1993......

If you prefer 90’s music over today’s, there are a few shows this week that’ll be right up your alley. Tomorrow night, Matchbook Twenty and Alanis Morisette play a sold out show at Toyota Center (MuteMath opens). For rap fans, check out Too $hort at the Meridian Friday night and Snoop Dogg returns with new material at Warehouse Live Saturday night. Finally, Marilyn Manson gives you an alternative to Sunday night church this weekend.......

These days, Citizen Cope's Clarence Greenwood [pictured] reps Brooklyn to the fullest, but his sound resides in a different part of the country. The singer/songwriter blends southern rock, blues, and soul with everyman lyrics for an aesthetic that seems more wide open spaces than concrete jungle. Over the span of his three solo album career, Greenwood has collaborated with the likes of Santana, and MeShell DeNdegeocello (on his breakout hit, "Sideways,") and his tunes have......

Tonight, catch Grammy award-winning R&B vocalist, singer/songwriter Jill Scott at Verizon Wireless. Frequent visitor Bob Schneider makes his trip from Austin a little bit shorter tomorrow by playing at the Cypress Saloon in northwest Houston. Local faves Orange Is In is opening, which makes for a great double-bill. Another local act, The Mighty Orq, will be presenting a lot of new material at his CD release show at the Meridian Friday night (you’ll probably......

Many artists make a living on the road, but few have been able to do it as successfully, and consistently, as Garrett Dutton. The Philadelphia native and his band, better known as G. Love & Special Sauce, have been churning out albums and have been known for their fantastic live shows for a decade and a half now. Their unique blend of rock, hip-hop, and blues, among other ingredients, has made them a crowd favorite.......

Did we miss something? Let us know. Here’s the full week line-up. Local bands are noted by an asterisk (*): Wednesday • The Leo Trio/*The Haymakers/The Mighty Orq – rock | 9 p.m. at Rudyard's • Dead Meadow/*Sharks and Sailors/Southern Bellugosi – indie | 9 p.m.at The Mink Thursday • Bob Schneider/Mothers Anthem/Jake Andrews – pop/rock | 8 p.m.at Warehouse Live • Jimmy LaFave – folk/Americana | 7 p.m. at Mucky Duck • *Backbeat......

Houstonist is really looking forward to the Over The Rhine show tonight at the Mucky Duck. In an intimate setting like the Duck, their sopisticated art-pop sound will probably cause shivers down your spine. Did we miss something? Let us know. Here’s the full week line-up. Local bands are noted by an asterisk (*): Wednesday • Over The Rhine – folk/art-pop | 7 p.m. at Mucky Duck • *Whiskey Boat – Americana | 10......

Many people love The Bravery, and why not? Their blend of rock, pop, electronic and retro style new wave keeps you on your feet. But don't count Brandon Flowers of The Killers as a fan. When The Bravery released their debut album a few years ago, Brandon claimed that the New York City based band was capitalizing on The Killers sound. Hmm ... I think there are some 80's bands that may say the same......

Bluegrass music is an acquired taste. But mix some Grateful Dead and Phish styling to it, you have something that’s a little bit more digestible: Jamgrass. That’s the best description of the band Yonder Mountain String Band. The band was formed ten years ago in Colorado, out of the ashes of founders Dave Johnston and Jeff Austin’s band Bluegrassholes (which is a great name, by the way – mass appeal all over it). Since then,......

This week marks the debut of the new location for Super Happy Fun Land. They have moved to 3801 Polk Street, and you can join their "Grand Opening Polka Party" (get it?) Friday night. Monday night, the Van Halen returns to Houston at the Toyota Center. We're hoping that Diamond Dave and boys don't have the same tuning mishap that they had at the beginning of their tour. Did we miss something? Let us......

Tomorrow night, you should check out local favorites The Mathletes last show of the year (already?). They headline the line-up at The Proletariat. Another local favorite, Orange Is In, hits Rudyard’s Saturday night. Tuesday night sees the arrival of the Foo Fighters at the Toyota Center. If that venue is a little too big for you, check out actor/singer/songwriter Jeff Daniels at the Mucky Duck the same night. Did we miss something? Let us......

If you fancy some Japanese rock, check out Fantasys Core tonight at Walter’s on Washington (our own Motion Turns It On opens). It’s been ten years since Shawn Mullins' “Lullaby” was a big hit. Mullins sound is more on the Americana/folk side these days, and you can hear for yourself tomorrow night at the Mucky Duck. Friday night, Warehouse Live has an eclectic mix of local music, including one of our favorites, Two Star......

Three female singer/songwriters who march to the beat of their own drums are releasing albums this week, including a 20 year old British musician with a penchant for colorful language named Kate Nash [pictured]. Singer Kate Nash’s debut album, Made of Bricks, is already a hit in her native England, and today it is being released stateside. Nash matches witty and honest lyrics with playful piano chords much like another young star, Regina Spektor. -Read......

Here's an abridged, holiday version of this week's music calendar. If you like Latin-rock, you're in luck. Tonight, Grupo Fantasma and their funky horn section returns to the Continental Club. Nearby, at Warehouse Live, Vallejo will be playing. Del Castillo visits Warehouse Live tomorrow night. Two good choices for Saturday: R&B songstress Erykah Badu performs at Arena Theater and Austin's Asylum Street Spankers - always a fun show - return to the Mucky Duck.......

Several more venues are celebrating the holidays this week with showcases. The Meridian is hosting the annual Holiday Babes Christmas Party tomorrow night with our favorite local musical babe, Katie Stuckey. Verizon Wireless will be a haven for country singer/songwriter lovers tomorrow night (includes Roger Creager and Bruce Robinson). Warehouse Live celebrates twice with the Jingle Balls Friday night, showcasing local favorites Paris Green and Glass Intrepid, and their annual Eve of Christmas Eve......

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......

Radio rock fans have a decision to make tonight: see the currently hot band Avenged Sevenfold at Warehouse Live or catch the now-grown-up Silverchair at The Meridian. Speaking of the 90's, old school rapper Tone Loc will stop off at Fitzgerald's Thursday night. Local eclectic classical trio Two Star Symphony plays a special show Saturday night on the St. Thomas campus. Another local favorite, The Mathletes, open a show at Rudyard's Saturday night. The......

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......

It would be a shame if Swedish band Peter Bjorn and John became solely known for their breakout hit “Young Folks,” aka “the whistle song,” aka “Kanye West’s favorite indie-rock joint.” The track, while great, is featured on one of the best albums released in years. Writer’s Block is a stunning collection of shimmering jangly guitar pop and perfect shoegazing love songs from start to finish. The record is so named not because of creative......

Ok, ok. We listened to you. We DO do that sometimes. And you've said that even though you can't live without really enjoy the Daily-ist everyday, a feature that picks out one kick arse event each day from the thousands, um, ok, lots and lots of things going on in the city, you are busy people. And you would like to plan ahead. Ok, we hear ya. So it's back: The Weekly-ist List. We'll......

Indie/hip-hop fans will enjoy tonight's line up at Warehouse Live, headlined by Aesop Rock. Tomorrow night, check out local rock band Days Drive at Rudyard's. Originally from New Orleans, but transplanted to Houston after Hurricane Katrina, the Rebirth Brass Band always puts on a horn-filled funk show - catch them at the Meridian Friday night. Songwriter/guitarist Anne McCue lands at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar Saturday night. The alt/rock band Brand New is playing two......

New Orleans' alt-rock band Mute Math may have been named a finalist in Spin.com's 2007 Artist of the Year Award, and yeah, they might have recorded that theme song you heard in the new Transformers movie last summer, but that's not what we think makes this band cool. No, we give a spirited high-five to Mute Math's singer Paul Meany for rocking the keytar! Meany's voice sounds a lot like Sting, but when you add......

Ghostland Observatory’s Thomas Turner and Aaron Behrens just might be the hardest working men in the electronic/funk-glam/rock music biz. In less than two years, the Austin, TX duo have released two records and have toured from coast to coast, all while running their own music label, Trashy Moped. The band’s latest CD, Paparazzi Lightning, is a high-voltage rocking dance record that the Dallas Observer says would “do Daft Punk, Giorgio Moroder and Freddie Mercury......