My apologies in advance if this is a bit light and/or not up to my usual standards of excellence. As tempting as it was to just take the week off, I didn’t, and my goal is never to do that to my readers.

Just a reminder, if none of these interest you, there are more events in the ongoing LOVIEE.

Tuesday 09-15

Tokyo String Quartet, Stude Concert Hall at Rice University, 6100 Main. 8pm. 09-W38-0

Wednesday 09-16

Spacetaker’s September Artist SPEAKeasy, Winter Street Studios, 2101 Winter St. #11b. Free admission. 6:30pm, speeches begin at 7pm. This week features Drake Simpson (actor and associate artistic director, Horsehead Theatre), Melissa Borrell (designer), and Y. E. Torres (artist/dancer). 09-W38-1 Facebook event

Chin Xaou Ti Won performs at The Mink, 3718 Main, 9pm. Chinese pop/new wave/ambient band. 09-W38-2

Thursday 09-17

Shawn Nelson performs at Blanco’s, 3406 W. Alabama, 9pm. Cover charge unknown. 09-W38-3

Come See My Dead Person performs at The Continental Club, 3700 Main, 10pm. Folk rock band based in Texas City. 09-W38-4

Friday 09-18

13th annual Grand Taiko Festival, Miller Outdoor Theatre, 7:30pm. Japanese Taiko drumming concert with Japanese classical dancing and other guest artists. Presented by Kaminari Taiko of Houston, Inc. 09-W38-5

Saturday 09-19

Sketches and Pints September Party, hosted by The Coffee Groundz, 2503 Bagby. 6-9pm. Meet and hang out with local artists and art fans. 09-W38-6

Guitars and Saxes at Verizon Wireless Theater, 520 Texas Ave. $29-49, 7-11pm. Jazz concert featuring Euge Groove, Jeff Golub, Jeff Lorber, and Jessy J. 09-M09-5

Another week of great things to do.

Tuesday 09-08

The Umbrella Man at The Continental Club, 3700 Main, 10pm. No cover. Despite the name, this is not a solo act, it’s a six-member band; the sound is difficult at best to describe in a few words. I’ll try anyway: soul meets cajun meets country with bits of other styles sprinkled throughout for good measure. 09-W37-0

Wednesday 09-09

Animal Farmacy plays at The Mezzanine Lounge, 2200 Southwest Freeway #150. 9pm-1am. 09-X-2

The Houston Press and Rocks Off Music Blog present The Beatles RockBand Rock Off at The Coffee Groundz, 2503 Bagby. 6-10pm. Prizes awarded for best Beatles costume as well as highest scores. 09-W37-1

Thursday 09-10

Baskery at McGonigel’s Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk, 8pm. $20. Country with a punk rock twist, or punk rock with a country twist, or something in between, I’m not sure how to describe it exactly. 09-W37-2

The Pine Leaf Boys at The Continental Club, 3700 Main, 10pm. $10, tickets available at venue Web site. Cajun music band from Louisiana. 09-W37-3

Friday 09-11

Dominic Walsh Dance Theater performs The Trilogy: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Miller Outdoor Theater, 8pm. Free tickets required for reserved seating, available at the Miller Theatre Box Office on a first-come, first-served basis from 10:30am-1pm. Hillside seating is not reserved. 09-W37-4

Chase Hamblin at Block 7 Wine Company, 720 Shepherd. 9-11pm. Hamblin was part of the group Penny Royal until its breakup in 2008 April and released his debut solo EP, A Fine Time, in 2009 June. 09-W37-6

Saturday 09-12

Picnic in the Park hosted by Dominic Walsh Dance Theater. Miller Outdoor Theater, 6pm. $25, includes cocktails, boxed supper (vegetarian options available), and reserved seat for the performance of The Trilogy: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. 09-W37-5

Houston Museum District Day, 10am-5pm. Seventeen museums will waive admission fees for this one-day event. There is also a free shuttle bus running between the participating museums and some museums will have refreshments available. 09-M09-0

Sunday 09-13

Twestival Houston, Caroline Collective, 4820 Caroline, 3:30-8pm. Proceeds benefit Houston Area Women’s Center. Live music, raffles, bounce palace and games for children, live painting by local artists, food and beverages donated by local suppliers, and participation by co-nominated charities for awareness and outreach. 09-M09-1