THE MUST LIST
Our staff’s top picks for what to do in Houston this week
Our critics are excited about Snoop Dogg, “Don Giovanni” and more.
SNOOP DOGG PEAKED PRETTY EARLY WITH THE ALBUM “DOGGYSTYLE” AND HASN’T MATCHED
THAT SUCCESS. STILL, HE’S MANAGED TO BECOME AN UNAVOIDABLE CULTURAL ICON,
AND BECAUSE THAT FIRST ALBUM IS 25 YEARS OLD, HE’S TAKING IT OUT ON TOUR.
1. “Woman at War”
The Icelandic-set film “Woman at War” tells the story of a woman who, in her ’40s, becomes an eco-activist, battling against an aluminum plant she feels is ruining the area’s environment. It has won or been nominated for many international awards. When: 7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday
Where: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, 1001 Bissonnet Details: $9; mfah.org Cary Darling
2. “Don Giovanni”
American bass-baritone Ryan McKinny is a perfect fit for the titular character of Mozart masterpiece “Don Giovanni,” which graces the Houston Grand Opera stage in a production directed by Kasper Holten. The opera is a classic story about the descent of a man known for seducing women, a tale that, although timeless, takes on newly sinister tones in these times.
When: Through May 5
Where: Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas
Details: $25-$245; 713-228-6737 Wei-Huan Chen
3. Tallest Man on Earth
Tallest Man on Earth is actually a Swede of average height, Kristian Matsson. But Matsson is a songwriter of deep feeling, and his soulful voice does a great job selling his songs with minimal accompaniment. He’s been at it for about a decade, and his latest is the wonderful “I Love You. It’s a Fever Dream.” Though those curious would do well to queue up “The Dreamer” from 2010, a tempest of a song capable of making instant fans out of strangers. When: 8 p.m. Wednesday Where: White Oak Music Hall, 2915 N. Main
Details: $25; 713-237-0370, whiteoakmusichall.com Andrew Dansby
4. Tobe Nwigwe
Simply put, go see Tobe Nwigwe this week, because after this show, he’s undoubtedly headed toward theaters and then arenas. A Houston native and first-gen child of Nigerian immigrants, he doesn’t sound like any other rapper out there, with a distinctive and clipped flow defined by a clarity that lets his keenly observational and philosophical lyrics be heard and understood. His music would find its home no matter what, but he also declares in song, “I hustle like Nipsey,” which is now a sweet sad tribute to another rapper with a distinctive voice and point of view. When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: White Oak Music Hall, 2915 N. Main
Details: $28; 713-237-0370, whiteoakmusichall.com Andrew Dansby
5. Boz Scaggs
Before finding success in California, Boz Scaggs cut his teeth as a musician in the DFW area decades ago. His latest album is “Out of the Blues,” which finds the soulful Scaggs playing some of his favorite blues songs. There are a few outliers, like “On the Beach,” by Canadian “blues” guy Neil Young. But two of the songwriting credits are for Houston’s Deadric Malone,
an alias record man Don Robey used to pad his pockets with royalty money.
When: 7 p.m. Monday
Where: House of Blues, 1204 Caroline
Details: $35-$89.50; 888-4025837, hob.com Andrew Dansby