A Screwed Up Rap Party, an 80-Year-old Music Legend and a Comic Unafraid to Take On The Simpsons: Your Houston Event Guide — the Weekend Guru’s Exclusive Picks

Houston 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.

Ms. Jackson

Wanda Jackson is an 80-year-old rockabilly/country legend who’s been performing since the ’50s and still manages to hit the road today. After decades of a long, storied career, Jackson reached a new level of popularity when she teamed up with Jack White for The Party Ain’t Over in 2011.

She’ll be at the Continental Club Friday, December 8, with doors opening at 7 pm and tickets running $25.

Mainstream American Comic

Hari Kondabolu has been a low-key force on the comedy scene for about a half-decade (if not longer now), appearing on shows like the short-lived but much-missed Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell, and most recently, hosting and writing a documentary for TruTV calledThe Problem with Apu, which tackles ideas about representation and racial identity in the culture, particularly as it relates to Indian-Americans and Americans from south Asia.

He’ll bring his wit and razor-sharp takes on America to the Secret Group, Saturday, December 9, at two shows: one at 7 pm and the other at 9 pm. Tickets start at $20.

Music City Punks

Bully hail from a long-fertile Nashville punk scene that birthed bands like Be Your Own Pet, but there’s more dynamism and sensitivity to their songwriting than the “Nashville punks” tag would have you believe.

They’re hitting Walters Saturday, December 9, behind their grown-up record from October, Losing. Doors open at 8 pm; tickets start at $12.

Screwed Up

Monthly Houston rap party Bounce and Turn (named after a Lil Keke song) turns one and is throwing an appropriately all-out party to celebrate. From 8 pm to midnight Saturday, December 9, at So South Music – aka, the original Screwed Up Records and Tapes store – celebrate one year of all things Houston rap, with very special guests performing that are going to be a surprise.

Score a limited vinyl version of Keke’s Don’t Miss Wit Texas and grab some other local music while you’re at it, too – BYOB but Buffalo Bayou beer will be provided for free as well. Saturday, from 8 pm to midnight at So South Music. No charge.

Sneaks

Starting today, Friday, December 8 and running through Christmas Eve, Converse will be hosting a pop-up dubbed “Chucks by You” at the Galleria Level 1. A sneaker customization experience, simply present a receipt from a qualifying retailer and find the Converse kiosk inside the mall.

Customers can work one-on-one with a Converse shoe designer to create a custom pair of Converse All-Stars, featuring patches, specialized .laces, grommets, aglets, lace bolts, stencils, and much more. Stop by the Galleria any time between now and Christmas Eve (from noon ’til the mall closes daily) for this sneakerhead-friendly holiday experience.

Next week: We preview the much-anticipated Day For Night music and arts festival.