The Mumble Rap King Roars Into Houston: 5 Under-the-Radar Concerts You Need to Know About

Houston’s weekends are packed full of events, but how many of them are truly worthy of your time? PaperCity’s Weekend Guru Matthew Ramirez cuts through the clutter to give you the best options in this weekly series.

Still Feelin’ It All Around
Washed Out, the stage moniker of Ernest Greene, will perhaps never escape from under the “chillwave” tag that enveloped the music scene during its halcyon days of 2009. However, a steady stream of solid albums has kept the band afloat, most notably 2011’s Within and Without (their best record), and most recently, the 2017 “visual album” Mister Mellow (perhaps the most on-the-nose album title ever) released on storied hip-hop label Stones Throw.

Greene takes the stage downstairs at White Oak Music Hall on Friday, August 11. Doors open at 8 pm; tickets start at $18.50.

We Could Be Together Forever
Lil Yachty was the breakout star of 2016’s wave of “mumble rap,” the young turks who took over the rap world on the virtues of youthful enthusiasm, some SoundCloud links, and a penchant for writing hooks. Yachty returned with this summer’s Teenage Emotions, an uneven but rewarding debut album featuring artists such as Diplo, Migos, and YG.

He’ll hit Warehouse Live‘s ballroom Saturday, August 12, with doors opening at 6:30 pm and the teen-friendly start time of 7:30. Tickets start at $29.50.

Who?
Mike Jones! Who? Mike Jones! 281-330-8004, hit Mike Jones up on the low. Back then they didn’t want me, now I’m hot they all on me. Who? Honestly close this tab if you’re from Houston and don’t understand this paragraph, because what more needs to be said.

Mike Jones hits the House of Blues Saturday, August 12, with doors opening at 7 pm. Tickets are just $15.

Quick Canal
Best known as the enigmatic singer of the venerable French/British band Stereolab, Laetitia Sadier has recently embarked on a solid experimental career with her band, the Laetitia Sadier Source Ensemble, after releasing a handful of solo records under her own name and collaborating with everyone from Atlas Sound to Tyler, the Creator. True to her Stereolab roots, the music is vibrant, sophisticated, dreamy avant-pop, somewhere between Krautrock and Francoise Hardy.

Sadier hits Walters Monday, August 14, at 8 pm. Tickets start at $12.

Nevermore
The unique former bachelor pad-turned-music-venue Raven Tower has hosted its “Summer Sessions” all season long, inviting local bands to perform in the shadow of downtown at the magic hour (all shows start at 7:30 pm). The series continues this Wednesday, August 16, when Pasadena’s Nic and the Lonesome take the stage.

Featuring $3 Saint Arnold drafts, frozen drink specials, La Macro food truck, and more, the en plein air music experience continues through October. Best of all, all the shows are free.