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Tag: Tower of Power

  • Houston Concert Watch 8/20: Flaming Lips, The Offspring and More [UPDATED]

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    Since I have been in the broadcasting business for a number of years, I sometimes have folks ask me, “Why do radio stations keep playing the same songs over and over?” There are a number of correct answers to this question, but the primary reason is (no surprise here) “money.” At some point, many years ago, when research began driving programming decisions, many program directors sought to play songs that would keep listeners from switching to another station.

    Among PD’s (particularly those of the classic rock variety), the message was clear: don’t risk driving a single listener away by playing a song that might not be totally familiar. You’re not going to get a raise for playing more “deep cuts.”

    Which brings us to a recent survey published on the Ultimate Classic Rock website listing the top classic rock songs based on radio airplay in 2025 (so far). There were a few surprises. Number one? Bon Jovi’s “Livin’ on a Prayer,” which just edged out Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle” for the top spot on the list. However, GNR can take some solace in the fact that “Sweet Child O’ Mine” was ranked at number three.

    Led Zeppelin and Aerosmith both had 15 songs in the top 500, but neither band cracked the top 10. Hell, “Black Dog” was Zep’s highest finisher at number 31. Interestingly, though, “Stairway to Heaven” came in at number 168, indicating that some songs can, in fact, be played to the point of listener fatigue.

    In the “what the hell?” category: “Carry On Wayward Son” (number 12, thanks to the “South Park” Guitar Hero episode, no doubt, or was it because it was the unofficial anthem and fan favorite for the 15 seasons of Supernatural?), “Pour Some Sugar on Me” (number 13, but it does have a strong base of support among strippers, evidently), “Don’t Stop Believin’” (number 19 – I blame you, Tony Soprano) and “Summer of ‘69” (number 24, a stinker to be sure).  In the interest of being remotely positive about Adams and his output, I suppose that “Cuts Like a Knife” isn’t so bad, but guess what?  That song didn’t even make the damn list!

    Ticket Alert
    Sue Foley, the lady with the pink paisley Telecaster, has been considered one of the best guitarists in Texas since landing in Austin during the late ‘80s. She has won a bunch of awards and released some acclaimed records, including last year’s One Guitar Woman, A Tribute to the Female Pioneers of Guitar, which was nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Traditional Blues Album. Tickets are on sale now for her show at the Heights Theater on Friday, November 21.

    I’m not a fan of most Christmas music, but I will keep an open mind regarding Tower of Power and the band’s “Holiday and Hits” tour, which will stop at the House of Blues on Tuesday, December 9. If I can hear a funked-up “Jingle Bells” and “What Is Hip?” during the same show, I just might be on board with that sleigh ride. Presales are up now, and the general sale begins on Friday.

    Want more live Christmas music? Well, the Pentatonix show at Toyota Center on Saturday, December 20, might get you to ho-ho-ho-ing. The a cappella quintet will bring its “Christmas in the City” tour to H-Town during the week before holiday, and presales are now in progress, with the general sale on Friday. In the holiday spirit of giving (and because the group hails from Arlington), $1 from the price of each ticket sold will be contributed to Texas flood relief efforts.
    Randy Rogers began his musical career playing joints around central Texas, soon building a regional and then a national following while he and his band began racking up hit albums and singles. You can get the password for the presale (now in progress) through the band’s website and beat the rush before the Friday ticket sale for Rogers’ show at the 713 Music Hall on Saturday, December 13.

    Herb Alpert. Is he still alive? Not an unreasonable question, but the answer is a definite “yes.” The 90-year-old trumpet player still has his chops, and he is going on the road early next year to celebrate the 60th anniversary of his album Whipped Cream and Other Delights, which sported not only some incredibly catchy instrumentals but also a nude-but-not album cover. The presale for Alpert’s show on Saturday, January 17, at the Smart Financial Centre begins today, and the general sale is set for Friday.

    Concerts This Week
    Editor’s Note: Flaming Lips’ Houston performance was canceled because of a family emergency.

    Original story: A documentary tracking the history of the Flaming Lips called The Fearless Freaks was released some years back, and seldom has a title been more on-the-nose. Based on the early ’90 success of the single “She Don’t Use Jelly,” the band has been classified as “alternative rock,” but “alternative everything” might be a more accurate bit of nomenclature.

    Musically, these guys are like no one else, incorporating a number of diverse influences along with a preponderance of psychedelia. In terms of stage craft, the Flaming Lips have utilized all sorts of fanciful gimmicks over the years, including encasing lead singer Wayne Coyne in a large plastic bubble which allowed him to walk over audience members’ outstretched hands. The band’s current tour reunites the Lips with former touring mates Modest Mouse. Catch all the trippiness tonight at the 713 Music Hall.
    Whipping a quick 180, let’s consider Dale Watson, who is about as hardcore country as a guy can get. After spending his early years in North Carolina, in 1977 Watson’s family moved to Pasadena, where he began playing in honky-tonks as a teenager. He soon relocated to Los Angeles, where he secured a spot in the house band at the Palomino Club, which became ground zero for alt-country. Since then, Watson has been a torchbearer for traditional country music, with songs like “Nashville Rash” and a multi-volume series of albums called The Truckin’ Sessions which contains nothing but truck-driving songs. You can hear the real deal on Saturday at the Heights Theater.
    The Offspring hit it big by figuring out a way to put a sheen on punk rock while not totally depriving the form of its energy and rebellion. “Come Out and Play,” “Self Esteem” and “Pretty Fly (for a White Guy)” were all hits, showing a keen sense of satire while rocking hard enough to keep heads bobbing. Catch The Offspring on Saturday at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on a bill with fellow poppy punkers Jimmy Eat World and New Found Glory.

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    Tom Richards

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  • Boney James Brings Sweet Sax Attack to Sugar Land Jazz Festival

    Boney James Brings Sweet Sax Attack to Sugar Land Jazz Festival

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    click to enlarge

    As a troika of Houston-adjacent cities, Sugar Land, Stafford and Missouri City have certainly experienced a boom in both population and business growth during the past decade. This has trickled down to the cultural level with a proliferation of arts-related events and gatherings, often with a multicultural emphasis.

    Sugar Land will get especially musical with the inaugural edition of the Sugar Land Jazz Festival, held over Mother’s Day weekend on May 11 and 12 at Crown Festival Park.

    The lineup is especially impressive with headlining smooth jazz king Boney James, along with horny funkateers Tower of Power and fellow sax player Vincent Ingala on Saturday. Then on Sunday it’s Houston’s own musical hot export, multi-genre pianist Robert Glasper, supported by saxman Gerald Albright (with a James Brown tribute) and multi-instrumentalist/rapper/producer Terrace Martin.

    However, James says he won’t approach playing an outdoors general jazz festival much differently from a headlining theater gig.
    “It depends on what the vibe is. We might drop one of the more introspective moments of the show for something a little more upbeat,” he says. “The show already has so many flavors to it, it really fits any occasion. Or that’s what I’m trying to make of it!”

    Boney James (nee’ James Oppenheim) first took up the saxophone at the age of 10 and was already playing in bands four years later. Influenced by both the Motown sound and sax player Grover Washington, Jr. James then toured and recorded with soul/R&B acts like Morris Day, The Isley Brothers, Bobby Caldwell, Randy Crawford and Teena Marie.

    click to enlarge

    Boney James flips his horn over jazz.

    Photo by Describe the Fauna

    It was while with Crawford he was given the nickname “Boney,” both for his slim physique and for joking that he’d have to starve himself to survive on his daily per diem. The 1992 album Trust marked his debut as a bandleader, with nearly 20 studio efforts to follow. He’s also notched 20 No. 1 hits on the Billboard chart dedicated to smooth jazz. His most recent record was 2022’s Detour.

    For that effort—and really, all his releases—James says he doesn’t start writing or go into the studio with many preconceived notions or directions. “I just want to start with great songs and just follow them to where they lead me. It’s an exploration. On this one, there were so many interesting turns, which is why I called it Detour.”

    And indeed, the album travels from the breezy adventure of the title track, the funky “Bring It Back,” and the bluesy “Memphis,” to the emotive “Northern Lights,” sexy “Intention” and lullaby “Blur.” In “The Loop,” he even dips his bill into hip hop and sampling with “The Loop.”

    Two songs though, are especially special to James. “Coastin’” delivers the riding-with-the-top-down-warm-weather feel that the title indicates. Providing vocals is Lalah Hathaway, someone with whom James had wanted to collaborate with for a long time, but never could.

    He chalks it up to Hathaway having some reps around her who may or may not have even told her that James was chasing her (musically, that is) years ago. He was finally about to get in touch with her “Creative Consultant” who liked his submitted song and passed it along.

    “It’s always little a bit of a movie to try and get in touch with a singer you envision to be a guest on the record, and then seeing if they can even do it with their schedule. So, the stars aligned for this one. She wrote the lyric, came to my house, and we recorded it that day.”
    Another tune is even closer to the 62-year-old James’ personal life. “Tribute” is exactly that, an ode to his late father who died last year and who also served has his son’s entertainment attorney for much of his career.

    James laughs when asked if there was any intersection between “proud parent” and “sharky attorney” when it came to his work. “He was quite the strong advocate on my behalf, let’s just put it that way! And it was really a great thing for me to share that part of my life with him.”
    Much of Detour was recorded right in James’ backyard studio, only steps from his home. “I didn’t even have to wear street clothes to get there!” he says. He did have to go to East/West Studio for some of the more complicated recording and mixing, but notes that he has also recorded music for release in his hotel room, even with his band, since the technology has gotten better and better.

    As for having all his music on streaming services, James says he’s fine with it, especially as it allows new fans to easily access his older material.

    “It’s a two-sided coin, though. It’s brought those catalog records back to life and I do get paid. At the same time, people don’t buy records in the way that they used to that made more money,” he says. “But on the whole, it’s a good thing. I think my core fans will still go out and buy the CDs. We’re making vinyl now, too. And I don’t even have a turntable!”
    James also brings smooth jazz to the high seas for themed cruises, on which he told The Houston Press in 2019 he sometimes felt like Madonna. But he enjoys them, and often co-hosts two-week jaunts with bassist Marcus Miller.

    “They’re really fun and there’s a lot of great music,” he offers. “Of course, it’s also not too bad for people to tell you how much they love you all day long!”

    Currently, Boney James is in the final phases of putting together a new record that will come out this year. “I actually had to stop mixing it to call you!” he laughs. And while he says he can’t divulge the title or the special guest he’ll have on its first single due out as early as June, he says all the tea will be spilled by the record company “soon.”

    “I can’t reveal the name!” he laughs. “The record company wouldn’t like it!”

    Boney James plays at 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, at the Sugar Land Jazz Festival at Crown Festival Park. Tower of Power and Vincent Ingala open. The May 12 lineup includes Robert Glasper, Gerald Albright and Terrace Martin. Visit SugarLandJazzFestival.com for tickets and info. $59 and up single day, $99 and up both days.

    For more on Boney James, visit BoneyJames.com

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    Bob Ruggiero

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