So, a few days ago, singer LeAnn Rimes had her bridgework fly out of her mouth during a concert performance. Fortunately for Ms. Rimes and what was left of her dignity, she was able to replace the dental appliance and finish the show without further incident.

Not exactly the first artist you might imagine this sort of thing happening to, eh? The smart money might have been on Mick Jagger, with Keith Richards as a close second and Bob Dylan sliding in as a dark horse. But no. It is worth considering that, Rimes, who is only 42, may not be all that experienced in the false teeth department. Conversely, Uncle Keith and Aunt Mick have been playing this game for decades now.

But, considering the average age of other classic rockers, this may just be the progression of an unfortunate trend that began several years ago when the late Dusty Hill (ZZ Top) fell down on the band’s bus and broke his hip, the ultimate old person injury. What’s next? What happens when the graybeard rockers cast aside all pretense and say, screw it, we’re old, deal with it? Deep Purple canceling a series of dates due to the drummer’s hemorrhoids acting up? The Eagles sneaking in Metamucil between requests for Jack Daniel’s and Jose Cuervo on their contract rider? Judas Priest scheduling periodic drum solos during shows to allow the band members more frequent bathroom trips? Watch this space for further updates.

Ticket Alert
Gillian Welch has always drawn from a number of musical influences, including folk, country and bluegrass. But, prior to stardom, she played bass in a goth band and drums in a psychedelic surf outfit. Now there’s a well-rounded musician! Welch and her frequent musical partner David Rawlings will play at the Cullen Performance Hall on Friday, August 15, and ticket are on sale now.

If you like your rock hard and creepy, you won’t want to miss In This Moment, appearing on Wednesday, September 24, at the Bayou Music Center. Tickets are on sale now for the show, which will feature ghoulish costumes and spine-chilling scenery, with a touch of satanic imagery thrown in for good measure. The tour is called “Black Mass,” so I suppose we can give these guys credit for truth in advertising. Confession: front woman Maria Brink kind of scares me.
Word is that Cage the Elephant will be opening all U.S. shows on the Oasis tour late this summer, but after that, the band will embark on its own tour, stopping in Houston at the 713 Music Hall on Monday, October 6. Tickets are on sale now, with plenty of good seats remaining.

“The Houston Kid,” aka Rodney Crowell, will perform on Friday, November 7, at the Heights Theater.  Tickets are currently on sale but going fast. Crowell will be touring in support of his forthcoming album Airline Highway, which features guest appearance by Lukas Nelson, the ladies from Larkin Poe and Ashley McBryde.

A couple of big shows are coming to Toyota Center in the latter part of the year. On Saturday, November 22, Burna Boy will bring his “No Sign of Weakness” tour to town, with a production design that puts the stage right in the middle of the arena. On Sunday, December 7, it’s R&B mainstays Brandy and Monica, with Kelly Rowland, Muni Long and Jamal Roberts opening. Tickets for both concerts are on sale now, with meet and greet options available.

Concerts This Week
It’s called the Outlaw Music Festival, but I just don’t know. Back in the day, “outlaw” artists were folks like Willie, Waylon, Johnny Paycheck and David Allan Coe, not to mention Johnny Cash, Hank Jr. and Ray Wylie Hubbard. On Sunday at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, Willie is the headliner, joined by Bob Dylan, the Avett Brothers, the Mavericks and Tami Neilson. Maybe not as outlaw as back in the day, but still a fine roster of musicians. And none of these folks has been to prison for anything serious like, you know, murder (see Johnny Paycheck, above). Things get started at 4 p.m., so don’t miss opener Tami Neilson (for more see this week’s Houston Press interview), and for God’s sake, hydrate!
Those looking to stay inside the loop this weekend might consider another show with multiple performers, in this case three favorite Houston acts: Los Skarnales, Shame on Me and Opie Hendrix at the Continental Club on Saturday.  As the vatos rudos in Los Skarnales like to say, this is one pachanga you don’t want to miss.
Longtime music fans may remember Hank Schyma as a key member of Southern Backtones and a co-star of the made-in-Houston film Honky Tonk Blood. These days, Schyma is performing in the guise of “Pecos Hank,” with a gig at the Mucky Duck on Tuesday. Oh yeah, and he continues to pursue a parallel career as a weather photographer and videographer (that is to say, storm chaser) whose work has been featured in National Geographic productions and on the Weather Channel. Yes, some say that being in a band can feel like being in the middle of a hurricane, but come on, man!