HOUSTON, Texas - Los Angeles Dark-Pop act RIVALS pulled an impressive crowd of music allies during their latest tour stop at Secret Group in Houston. Fans got to rock out to the band's newest certified-banger "Dangerous". The new track highlights the quartet's energy and undeniable confidence. The new single was met with exuberance and the crowd didn't hold back, they sang along. It was hard not to get caught up in the immediate momentum the band produced.

The Los Angeles quartet — vocalist Kalie Wolfe, bassist Sebastian Clarke, guitarist Micket Woodle, and drummer Josh Alves, took an enthusiastic audience on a dark, fantastic ride. 

​Opening with "Fake Rich", Wolfe commanded the stage from the start with her powerful and dynamic voice. Next up was "Alkaline", being introduced as  Wolfe's favorite song. The title track "Sad Looks Pretty on Me" followed. 

The band was a well-oiled machine, the set was tight, and there was no shortage of great interaction with the crowd and one another. 

At one point, Wolfe brought a young fan to the stage and spoke of him as their biggest supporter. He was beaming as the crowd applauded and saluted him. Talk about a core memory.

HOUSTON, Texas - Beaumont native and musik master Jesse Dayton made it back to the Bayou City for a memorable evening of songs and stories inside Rockefeller's Houston on Friday, October 15th.

The multi-genre guitarist has a new album Beaumonster dropping November 5th with an accompanying memoir rolling out days later on the 9th. In his debut memoir (also titled Beaumonster), Dayton reveals the stranger-than-fiction encounters and outlandish experiences that have ensued across his wide-ranging career.

Texas roots band Goat Leather opened for Jesse Dayton at Rockefeller's Houston.
Photos by Violeta Alvarez

HOUSTON, Texas - It was back in late February when musician Nick Gaitan returned home to the Bayou City, fresh off a run with blues singer Nikki Hill. He recalls the growing COVID-19 buzz and not knowing what to expect.

"I kinda felt the same as I do when I watch the weather during hurricane season in the Gulf region. You see it coming but hope something happens and the bad news changes course or reaches you with less intensity," says Gaitan.   

That may have been the case for Hurricane Laura, but unfortunately, not the coronavirus. Conflicting reports flooded social media timelines and it wasn't long before life as a musician was deeply compromised.  

"We were left to our instincts and drive to get creative and adapt," Gaitan recalls, "I knew it was time to improvise, using whatever technology was available to figure out how to keep a gig going."

Over the past 25 years, figuring out gigs has been the least of Gaitan's concerns. The seasoned bassist, songwriter, bandleader, and sideman has spent decades gracing stages with such notable hall-of-famers as Willie Nelson, Billy Joe Shaver and Los Skarnales. He's been the frontman of his own band Nick Gaitan & The Umbrella Man and you may have seen him on The Late Show with David Letterman, among musik festivals and tours spanning the globe.

"The musik community came together in so many ways. Not only did we get going with digital shows to bring some sort of money in, some places were able to hire performers one last time before all the stages closed and we were forced to stay home," says Gaitan. 

Life felt out of tune, but it didn't hold Gaitan back from figuring out how to make it work. He credits close connections within his musik family as his saving grace. 

"Help was coming in, in many forms, like money to help eat and pay expenses. I was checking in on my people and the same was happening in return," says Gaitan, "Friends were calling to check in and remind me they were there if I needed them. That's what the Houston musik and art scene is all about." 

Gaitan was determined to round up musician pals to collaborate and generate funds through streaming shows.

"Tips came in from online shows and fellow musicians shared advice on getting the best results without having fancy equipment. It was all so helpful during such a scary time and it was a very circular thing. It's an orbit I am grateful that I'm in," says Gaitan.   

The goal for every working musician is to stay afloat doing what they love, but even Gaitan realizes when the heat is on to survive, you have to be flexible. 

"Keep making music because without it, we aren't ourselves, but don't ignore those other things you are good at. Those talents can bring in some money too during hard times," advises Gaitan, "Many of the things I take on as side hustles I tend to do between tours. It's just how I am. In these hard times you just HAVE to do something, so look for whatever you can to get you by."

Equally important to Gaitan is finding balance outside of work to stand up against social issues impacting his community. He made time to attend protests in Downtown Houston against continued police brutality and racial injustice. He hit the streets and marched peacefully in a crowd to city hall.

"I'm glad I went, and felt blessed by the friends who I marched with and ran into," says Gaitan, "But it's crazy and it's not new. Things need to change. There are a lot of people that have been quite comfortable with murder, corruption, cover-ups, and blatant racism. Now is not the time to pump the brakes on the fight for justice. We have to do better. It's time, the time is now."   

My conversations with Gaitan were a bold reminder of why it's important to keep your finger on the pulse of what's going on. What I love just as much is that he's quick to nudge focus on making self-care a top priority.

"Check in, invite collaboration, offer a hand, and just keep your ear to the street. But don't be afraid to turn off your TV, get off social media, and make sure you're okay first," says Gaitan.

Staying true to such advice the past several months has afforded Gaitan time and clarity to work in the background on a community platform he's deeply passionate about: Tejas Got Soul.

Several years ago, Gaitan co-created Tejas Got Soul with his friend Isaac Rodriguez. The two Houston natives share a love for history and musik which sparked their idea to create what Gaitan describes as "really cool Sunday hangs" for the East End community.

"Isaac has done some pretty extensive research on many Houston musicians, especially early Chicano Soul that eventually led to Tejano music," says Gaitan, "He's also quite the record collector so we pulled together vinyl and DJ gear to create evenings jam-packed with great musik, lots of dancing and buckets of beer."

After years of success spinning vinyl together, Gaitan and Rodriguez turned Tejas Got Soul into an even bigger community event. Last April they hosted Early Chicano Sounds of Houston outside Morales Radio Hall.

"Some amazing people came together to bring the idea to a bigger stage and audience. People like Mary Manning from UH Libraries, my rock star friend, folklorist, and all around badass, Pat Jasper, and Angel Quesada who is one talented cat who produces videos, paints murals, and loves to play music," says Gaitan, "The day-long block party was everything from live musik, a powerful panel discussion, and vendors who came together to honor pioneering musicians of Tejano Soul from Houston's East End."

Now, Gaitan and his crew are ready for Tejas Got Soul 2.

"We've started rolling out Tejas Got Soul 2 events, and planning performances in a virtual fashion because of the COVID-19 pandemic," says Gaitan. 

Their latest spotlight is Houston Chicano legend, Marky Lee. Tejas Got Soul 2 kicked things off August 27 with a musik video release featuring Lee performing alongside Gaitan and Roberto Rodriguez III inside D&W lounge.

"It's a beautiful thing!  I am so proud to be a part of all of this," says Gaitan, "It's our city, these are our passions, and we play to the pulse of our barrios. That's huge to me and this is all fueled by passion!"

Nick Gaitan is proof that using passion to fuel purpose is a mighty way to overcome fear. If you stay true to yourself and pour into the super powers you hold, anything is possible. Gaitan's relentless efforts to uplift Houston communities and navigate a path unknown makes him a musik healer of our generation. 

Video by Narciso Palma + Ky Meyer
Musik by Mookie The Wizard

HOUSTON, Texas - The Trill OG's celebration of 'Bun B Day' looks a little different than expected, but in true Bun fashion, he's pushing forward to make an impact and help the community.

"Most of the things we had planned were put on hold due to the hurricane. But one thing is still happening. I partnered with my brothers @estevanoriol and @misterctoons for this special tee honoring Vanessa Guillen," says Bun in an Instragram post he shared Sunday morning. 

The team behind the charity t-shirt will donate all the proceeds to Vanessa Guillen's family. Guillen was a 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier who authorities believe was murdered on April 22, 2020, inside a Fort Hood, Texas, armory by another enlisted soldier, Aaron David Robinson, age 20.

"Black and brown is standing together all over this country," say Bun. 

Big ups to Bun and everything he does for Houston and beyond. He's a musik and culture legend who continues to keep communities connected, even during hard-to-navigate times. 

HOUSTON, Texas - Looking back to March 2020, I distinctly remember how uncomfortably swift the coronavirus invaded Houston and pushed pause on everything around us. At a time when I was really trying to wrap my head around the madness, one incredible leader in Houston emerged like a guardian angel. 

"Uncertainty about the future can create fear. Obviously, there are things about the future that we don't control, but I love remembering that the best way to predict the future is to create it," says Chuy Terrazas. 

Terrazas is well-known in the city's art and musik scene. You've seen him rockin' out on his saxophone with the legendary Los Skarnales, but that's just one of piles (and piles) of hats this man wears. He's a leader, mentor and beacon of light with so much knowledge to share. ​

Terrazas is a huge believer in using your creativity to solve problems for yourself and others. 

"What are you good at? Do that! Serve others passionately with your superpower, whatever it may be.  Believe in yourself and trust that whatever talent you were gifted with is more important to the world than whatever weaknesses you may have," reminds Terrazas.   

After digesting my conversation and replaying his sentiments, I felt a huge weight lifted. There's something about Terrazas' transparency that is so comforting. 

"Imagine what you want your future to look like and jump into action to make it happen. It's so easy to get hung up, paralyzing ourselves by obsessing over our weaknesses. Imagine a bird being depressed thinking 'If only I could swim like those fish over there... then I'll finally be happy and successful.' Stop it!  Go fly!," says Terrazas.

Chuy Terrazas is a true musik healer with a heart of gold. His thoughtful actions are a stunning example of shining bright through the darkness. I'm grateful for his genuine heart and continued blessings for the Bayou City during these unresolved times. Thanks to him, I have a growing conviction to rise and win. ​

HOUSTON, Texas - Bayou City poet extraordinaire Outspoken Bean isn't letting the wacky ways of 2020 hold him back from bringing new creations to life. As a matter of fact, it seems such uncertain times have served as a muse for the performance poet, writer and entertainer as he rolls out more goodies for his fans. Friday, August 28 marks the debut of his new online show Coloring Outside the Lines. The 50-minute streaming performance weaves together poetry, multimedia, and storytelling. He describes his one-man show as a reflective and vulnerable open letter to himself. Bean's performance centers around his latest poetry pieces, reflections on family and explorations of the world.

Coloring Outside the Lines
Friday August 28 through Sunday, August 3

Produced by Stages Houston
Directed by Candice D'Meza
Sound Design by Russell Guess
Light Design by Bryan Early

"Now, I know that broken crayons still color and snapped pencils still sharpen," says Outspoken Bean. 

Words that ring true about his new poetic coloring book. The book title mirrors his streaming show. Limited copies of his Coloring Outside the Lines book are available now.

More notable facts to digest about Outspoken Bean:

Mayor's Office of Cultural Affairs Artist in Resident and 2016 Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts and The Idea Fund recipient, Emanuelee Outspoken Bean is a performance poet, writer, compassionate mentor, electric entertainer, and educator. Bean uses poetry to collaborate with other mediums and institutions, including being the first poet to perform on a main stage production of the Houston Ballet's PLAY. He also created his own festival, Plus Fest, the EVERYTHING plus POETRY festival. 

His work ethic has taken him to such places as Trinidad to Miami, South Dakota and Off-Broadway. He's made an impact in 35 states, 200 universities, performing annually in front of thousands of people. Once back home in the vast Houston Metropolitan, he inspires people from all walks of life. Bean was also commissioned to write and perform a national campaign on diversity for Pabst Blue Ribbon and VICE.

He was the 2011 Texas Poet Laureate nominee, ranked 9th in the Individual World Poetry Slam 2013, ranked 2nd in collaborative poetry at Group Piece Finals 2013, and ranked 9th at National Poetry Slam 2014. He started performing spoken-word in 2005. In his senior year at Prairie View A&M, Bean founded and coached the University's first poetry slam team. In their first year, they won the title in their region and grabbed the 8th place ranking in the country at College Union Poetry Slam Invitational (CUPSI '08).

Bean has also worked with many youth organization from across the country such as, Inside Out in Detroit, Youth Speaks in San Francisco, as well as coaching Tiger-Tail Production's 2016 youth slam and WordSpeak in Miami. While balancing a very busy touring schedule, Bean serves as the Project Coordinator, Lead Coach, and mentor for Meta-Four Houston, a project of Writers in the Schools (WITS) that works with professional performance/slam poets and encourages self expression and literacy among Houston's youth through creative writing and performance.