Houston Texas, motherfuckers! Where we take our indie-rock shit seriously. Well, not that seriously; we also like a fucking party, too. Nobody understands this better than the ArtStorm kids and, despite ArtStorm losing its bricks and mortar, they still know how to throw a party that celebrates the boundless creative spirit of this city. Saturday night we celebrated the release of the new Artstorm music anthology, Summer Exposure, which packs 18-plus tracks of some of Houston's best musicians. An early start -- 5 p.m. -- made for some, shall we say, intimate performances (let's admit it: Houston really doesn't get out to shows until 9 p.m. at the earliest) but by the end of the night you could barely move from the crush of people. Here is the rundown:

The Brood

Hey, remember when the Dimes became the Young Mammals because there was a band from Portland called the Dimes? I wonder if The Brood are familiar with garage rockers The Brood who also hail from Portland. Well, no matter, these guys are a far cry from garage-rock, instead flexing some folksy muscle augmented with dobro, lap steel, banjo, mandolin and some nice harmonies. It's rootsy stuff to be sure; they drop some sweet melodies that creep up on you, like the quiet and plaintive Oh David, but then flex some heavier muscles, as on the poppier The Lucky One, when you least expect it. Drummer Ryan Odom (News on the March) began what seemed to be the common theme for much of the evening: how many bands would be assisted by a member of News on the March? I'll keep track as we go along. So far that's 1.

Photo by Ramon Medina: The Brood.

Alpaca

Alpaca followed with some lovely, simple folk. The set really went from black-and-white to technicolor when Austin Sepulvado, Brent Randel, and Ryan Odom (News On The March) joined him on stage. That had me thinking (completely apart from Alpaca's lovely music) that I need to write an utterly crappy song and have News on the March back me up. The way I figure it, NOTM are so good that the would find a way to make the song work. Bonus kudos to Elaine Greer's last minute backing vocals that had her reading a lyric sheet. (NOTM score 2 - 0).

Photo by Ramon Medina: Alpaca.

Giant Princess

Giant Princess doesn't play music, it plays music like the world is going to end. The band plays with such energy and joy that when Colin is thrashing his guitar, Jaime is beating the shit out of his kit, and Diego is keeping the Fun Machine alive enough to make it through another show it IS the most important band in the world. These guys mix elements of pop, garage, and psych with little care as to any incongruity. Their signature song Adventure screams with a sense of possibility and joy that demands you to get your sorry ass up; you can rest when you are dead! I can't speak any higher of a band. Just see them and you will understand. (NOTM Score 2-1)

Photo by Ramon Medina: Giant Princess.

Photo by Ramon Medina: Giant Princess' secret weapon.

One Hundred Flowers

If the sound suffered for any band, it was 100 Flowers. The guitar was too low, the harmonies were lost, and the bass was too high so I can't really say very much about them but here is a picture. (NOTM Score 2-2)

Photo by Ramon Medina: One Hundred Flowers.

B L A C K I E

B L A C K I E makes music a contact sport. The guy sits meditating quietly in the corner, then jumps into the ring with fists flying, shouting lyrics so furious and loud that they pummel you with noise over some of the loudest, most uncompromising beats you'll hear. Oh fuck it; here's a minute long clip from last night! (NOTM Score 2-3)

Photo by Ramon Medina: B L A C K I E before performing.

The Mathletes

I'm not sure who this Joe Mathlete guy is. I hear he's a jerk and his band sucks, too. Nah, just kidding. We love ya, Joe. The Mathletes played in its new, skimpier power-trio mode. Gone are the big-band days of yesteryear; now it's a lean mean machine of shameless unicorn pop. Bonus fun was watching Ian Wells of KTRU's Local Show and The Revelry Report stumble his way on guitar through a few songs at then end. He missed a few chords but he got 'em in the end. What you have to love about Joe is that he never forgets that music should be fun. (By the way, check out his CD-R where he covers 17 Houston bands - it's sweet, droll, and a kick.) (NOTM Score 2-4)

Photo by Ramon Medina: The Mathletes.

Elaine Greer

Oh man, this is a lot of bands isn't it?

Elaine Greer has a great voice and is one of Houston's sharpest songcrafters, but I love the band she has backing her up. Made up of Austin Sepulvado (News on the March), Andrew Ortiz (Wild Moccasins), and Travis Smith on bass, it's a great band. They play with this charming silliness. Elaine definitely benefits from cranking it up. The band played in the small room downstairs, where the room size and the volume gave her melodic folksy pop a little kick in the pants where you thought, hmm, maybe Elaine could kick my ass right about now. Bonus points for Travis' bizarre cap where he magic markered in Heavy Metal script Satan's Anus next to a hand drawn duck smoking. "What's that?" I asked. "I dunno," he replied, "it's just funny." Insert Joe Mathlete shrug here. (NOTM score 3 - 4)

Photo by Ramon Medina: Elaine Greer.

Bolt

Question: How many early-'70s glam cliches can you rip off in one song? I'm not sure but Bolt is sure trying to figure it out. I don't mean that in a bad way at all. See, I just saw a glam band at Notsuoh not long ago - they had the hair, the tight fitting clothes, the androgyny thing going, but they forgot to write songs! Whoops! Bolt, without wearing makeup, or dressing up, evoked the best of early Bowie and T-Rex with a Jeff Lynn Chuck Berry fetish for good measure. I mean, sure, the tropes were flying as fast as they could but, you know what, they worked and they were fun and you would be saddened if you didn't bring your lighter on that song about the man who couldn't save the world. Yes, Rock can and should be fun. Thank goodness Bolt gets it. (NOTM score 3 - 5)

Photo by Ramon Medina: Bolt.

listenlisten

There is something creepy about listenlisten's music; there's an ominous specter hanging over it, like some old death song on a Smithsonian folkways anthology. The way that vocalist Ben G stares through the audience as he plays surely adds to my morbid fascination. In Houston's music scene listenlisten are a wondrous anomaly. (NOTM score 3 - 6)

Photo by Ramon Medina: listenlisten.

Buxton

Can I tell you what the song of 2009 is? Feathers by Buxton. Sorry folks, I'm calling it early! It's that damn good. This band has taken its unique take on Americana and dropped it into the H-pop universe with a song that brings out the best elements of both. It's so sharp and smart that it make my hairs stand on end. And the musicianship is so tight and dexterous that they can make even a sound check with Sergio counting numbers off sound like a great song. Musically limber, joyously charming, and good lord if they aren't the goofiest band out there - not an ounce of pretension. Goddamn, they are great!

The kicker for the evening was that Joe Weber (News On The March) debuted a hidden track on the Artstorm CD immediately after Buxton's set. He took Buxton's Doctor and gave it a sexy Kanye West vocoder remix complete with a rap in the middle - smoove steamy dancing ensued. (NOTM score 4 - 6)

Photo by Ramon Medina: Listening to Buxton.

News On The March

Well, hell, haven't you been paying attention? NOTM are one of H-pop's best bands. The three-part harmonies, the clever hooks, the flourishes of country swing and Brian Wilson, the lovely cello and guitar work; it's H-pop at its light-footed best. If you abhor happy bright melodies, stay away, this is not your band. (NOTM score 5 - 6)

Photo by Ramon Medina: News on the March.

Young Mammals

Good lord I can't believe my borrowed camera's batteries died! Things got utterly crazy for the Young Mammals: bodies crushed, sweat, dancing (well more like hopping), fists flying, people singing along, and members of the band body surfing as they tried their best to play the songs as cables got unplugged, amps were bumped, and personal space was no longer feasible. Mlee Suprean of Hearts of Animals sang admirably well on Analogue The Man in the Cannon (one of Carrot's best tracks) given the crush of the people around her, the long-ago unplugged PA due to careless feet, and noise from the crowd and the instruments. It was pure joyous chaos. The kind that makes you glad to be in Houston where not only is the music powerful, clever, and smart but pretensions are put aside and live shows are more than just great music but a celebration of friends and life. Thanks, Artstorm.

Photo by Ramon Medina: Young Mammals.

Oh yes, I almost forgot. The final NOTM score: 6 - 6. I had to give them that last one. The fact that Austin Sepulvado not only joined-in on vocals for Young Mammals' Dragon Wagon but that he also was able to not spill a drop of his drink during the entire set makes it a win.

See more pictures of the show on Flickr.