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Recent Articles By Bob Ruggiero

  • Valient Thorr, Riverboat Gamblers
    Valient Thorr and Riverboat Gamblers perform Monday, August 6, at Red Room inside Meridian, 1503 Chartres, 713-225-1717. ASG and Totimoshi are also on the bill.
  • Grady
    Grady performs Saturday, July 28, at the Continental Club, 3700 Main, 713-529-9899. Studio Magick Black is also on the bill.
  • Elvis on Speed, Amplified Heat
    Elvis on Speed and Amplified Heat perform Friday, July 13, at Rudyard's, 2010 Waugh, 713-521-0521.
  • Houston Roller Derby
    Skating queens hit the rink -- and each other
  • Dave Mason
    Dave Mason performs Friday, June 15, at the Meridian, 1503 Chartres, 713-225-1717.

National Features

  • SF Weekly
    The Candidate

    Our columnist knows Ralph Nader's running mate all too well.

    By Matt Smith
  • The Pitch
    How Not To Be a Rap Star

    First of all, lay off the Ecstasy.

    By Nadia Pflaum
  • Village Voice
    Project Runaway

    What becomes a gossip columnist most?

    By Michael Musto

Garage rock, whether the vintage or contemporary strain, is mostly a boys' club, a testosterone-fueled rave-up of vocal wails and crazy guitar runs. But the ladies dig the sound as well — and can play it. You might not want to bring singer Rachel Nagy and guitarist Mary Ramirez of Motown's Detroit Cobras home to mom, but new '60s covers album Tied & True sounds like they're more than ready for a good time. Instead of rehashing Nuggets yet again, the Cobras dig deep into stuff oldies radio would never touch: sterling R&B by writers like Jerry Ragovoy and Little Willie John. Although Nagy's distinctive voice is hit-and-miss with their original material, here she impressively runs the gamut between slinky and raucous. Anaheim's Willowz have only one lady in the lineup — bassist/vocalist Jessica Reynoza — but their fuzzy psychedelia is fresh and accessible. Though it's not where their strengths lie, Willowz veers into slower, more bluesy epic balladry on new album Chautauqua, with vocalist/guitarist Richie James Follin's high-ranged voice recalling a combination of Skip James and Jack White. An interesting double bill of grime and sunshine.

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