As British as Monty Python repressing Winston Churchill’s emotions.

Britpop rockers The Kooks are at House of Blues tonight ($25.50, 6:30 p.m.) and if ever any band were to come on stage to the Addams Family theme, it should be them. We’re actually surprised there hasn’t already been another Britpop band called that. It seems like they should’ve been Heman’s Hermits’ biggest rival. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Gavin Rossdale not included. (Photos by Erik Kabik)

Hey, remember when we told you that Carlos Santana was going to do a residency at the House of Blues? Well, Carlos Santana is going to do a residency at the House of Blues.

He starts May 2 and will be doing 31 dates through Nov. 11. It’s a two-year deal that will take Santana through 2013. Tickets don’t go on sale until Feb. 28, so we have no idea on pricing at the moment. It is fairly interesting though that the HoB is firing back at The Joint now in terms of rock residents. It gives us hope that we can hold out for a resident that may have actually been somewhere near their creative peak as recently as the mid-’90s.

By Jason Scavone

Don’t ever change, metal bands! Not that you would.

Cut yourself off a meaty slice of early ’90s metal with Iced Earth at the House of Blues tonight, along with Symphony X and Warbringer ($29, 6 p.m.). Where’s Celtic Frost when you really need them for a double bill of cold-themed thrash-adjacent metal bands? Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Yes, that is a guitar painted as an advertisement for cherry-flavored bourbon. (Photo by Scott Harrison | Retna)

Let’s assume, for the moment, you have $110 (plus fees). And let’s assume you’re pretty sure you want to light it on fire, but you’re looking for something maybe somewhere between “buying something fun” and “suck it, Federal Reserve and also poor people.”

Well now. Here comes the House of Blues to help. Kid Rock is doing two, intimate-venue shows at 8 p.m.both tonight and tomorrow (with Vegas turntable sensation/elementary schooler DJ Baby Chino opening). Mind you, you can see actual Lynyrd Skynyrd at a bar themed for Lynyrd Skynyrd for far less than it will cost you to hear Kid Rock deliver half-assed rhymes over samples of Lynyrd Skynyrd.

Oh, and it’s $125 if you want an actual seat, and not just general admission. That does not include admission to the afterparty at Tao tomorrow night.

By Jason Scavone

Well, this explains why we’ll start seeing Rob Thomas skulking around Mandalay Bay. (Photos by Erik Kabik | Retna)

Carlos Santana’s residency at the Hard Rock Hotel wrapped up earlier this year after a successful two-year run, but the legendary guitarist might soon have a new venue for his Supernatural Santana show to call its own. Rumors are circulating that the spiritual rocker is going to put down roots at the House of Blues, which makes sense considering that he now has a home here and seemed to enjoy the convenience of letting his audience come to him. No details are yet available, but his Hard Rock residency called for him to play 36 shows a year. Motley Crue is following in Santana’s footsteps at The Joint, beginning a 12-show residency there from Feb. 3-19.

Now if we could just get Carlos to revisit more tunes from his acid-taking, Woodstock-era prime, maybe he’d have a spiritual awakening and realize just how shitty a song “Smooth” really is.

By Sean DeFrank

Kyuss, in the desert, the way God intended.

Kyuss Lives! With the exclamation mark, no less. A reunited, yet Josh Homme-less Kyuss lineup comes to the House of Blues tonight with The Sword ( 7 p.m., $32.70 ), which, frankly, is an awesome lineup. And it really could be the last chance you have to see bassist Nick Oliveri without having to take in a prison show. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

We do love a good round of “Samurai Mime Trapped in a Box.” (Photos by Erik Kabik | Retna)

Local jam-banders Moksha held the Black & White Ball at House of Blues Saturday to celebrate the release of their second album, Here to Go. Of course “Black & White Ball” could’ve just as easily been called “Moksha’s Kabuki Nightmare.” We’re pretty sure that guy dressed like the Victorian British cop would cut us with those fans if we looked at him funny.

By Jason Scavone

As opposed to the all-zombie band, Bad BRAAAAAAAINS. (Photos by Hew Burney | HewBurney.com)

Banned-in-D.C. punk legends Bad Brains were at the House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay last night. The fact that these guys formed the same year the Ramones released Rocket to Russia, pioneered hardcore, and are still ripping it up should make you feel like you’ve accomplished precisely nothing. So, you know … enjoy the show!

By Jason Scavone

We really want to hang out with that bon vivant skeleton.

Mike Ness launches three straight days of gigs at the House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay behind Social Distortion’s first new album, Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes, since 2004′s Sex, Love and Rock ‘n’ Roll. For a band that formed in 1978, Social D has only put out seven albums. That’s the kind of schedule we could get behind. Only come off a road full of groupies and booze every five years? Sold. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone

Jesus, this man is terrifying.

Did you know Guitar Viking Zakk Wylde has a surprisingly reverent, sedate Christmas song? Guitar Viking Zakk Wylde has a surprisingly reverent, sedate Christmas song. Compare to his usual fare. You can go see Wylde’s Black Label Society, and possibly his sensitive side, along with Berzekus at the House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay. Click for more words and pictures »

By Jason Scavone