Rain City Drive

Rain City Drive play Bayou Music Center on Thursday, October 15, with Belmont and Honey Trap opening. It's an all-ages show, so you can bring whoever you want.

If the name doesn't ring a bell, it's because they used to be Slaves. They're a rock group from Florida that describes their sound as vibrant, dynamic alternative rock n' roll with strong roots in the post-hardcore subculture and ambitious swings into contemporary pop. That's a fair way to put it: the heavy riffs are still there, but they're balanced by a pop sensibility that keeps things from getting too dark. Frontman Matt McAndrew is a veteran of NBC's The Voice, and he brings a pop-melodic swagger to the band's heavier side. Together, they've racked up more than 280 million streams across their catalog.

Under the new name, they released Cutting It Close, which follows the hit "Talk To A Friend"—a track that's still in rotation on SiriusXM Octane. Between the new material and the older stuff, the set should pull from both eras. Belmont and Honey Trap are on the bill as openers, so you'll get a full night of music rather than just one band.

Doors open at 6 PM and the show starts at 7 PM. The venue is Bayou Music Center, 520 Texas Ave, Houston, TX 77002.