Email Author Chris Gray

Awards

• 2012 - Best of the West/First Amendment Funding, Inc., published February 10, 2011

  "Getting Past the Bouncer"

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2011 Stories by Chris Gray

• Houston Rappers Freak Out Indiana KFC Diners

  published Oct 27, 2011

  Hopefully you've been keeping up with the exploits of Patron-loving Houston MC Marcus Manchild as he winds his way toward Warehouse Live with Method Man, Big K.R.I.T. and a bunch of others on the Smok... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  10 Christmas Songs That Are Really About Drugs

  published Oct 26, 2011

  Halloween is right around the corner, so you know what that means: Time to start making a list and checking it twice. Bourbon, gin, scotch, vodka, Xanax, painkillers... Walgreen's and CVS have alread... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Mosquitoes: A Tiny, Highly Annoying Musical History

  published Oct 25, 2011

  The Texans are in first place (for now), the Texas Rangers may become the Lone Star State's first-ever World Series champions tomorrow (ouch), and early voting for the November 8 mayoral/City Council ... More >>

• Concrete Blonde

  published October 27, 2011

  Besides the Pixies' Kim Deal, no woman sparked more crushes in the '80s/'90s U.S. college-rock scene than Concrete Blonde's Johnette Napolitano.... More >>

• Wild Flag

  published October 27, 2011

  As Mastodon calls down the thunder upstairs, one of the hottest new bands of 2011 fires back from down below with a lethal dose of punk rock girl... More >>

• Mia Borders

  published October 27, 2011

  Artists like Mia Borders are what makes festivals like iFest worth going to — walk up to the stage with no idea who this person is and walk... More >>

• Chicken Fried

  published October 27, 2011

  A band with a No. 1 hit song called "Chicken Fried" couldn't be anything but country, perhaps. But even after a string of chart-topping singles... More >>

• deadhorse Gallops Back To Life At Warehouse Live

  published Oct 24, 2011

  Videos by Fuglymaniacs A wish many Houston music fans barely even dared to think to themselves, let alone utter out loud, came to pass when deadhorse returned from oblivion to face a nearly sold-o... More >>

• Gene Kurtz, "Treat Her Right" Co-Writer, Passes Away

  published Oct 24, 2011

  Bassist Gene Kurtz, who co-wrote Roy Head's 1965 hit "Treat Her Right" and went on to play with a wide range of artists across rock, R&B, jazz and country, passed away Sunday night, according to a pos... More >>

• Funny HPMA Nomination Ballot Fails

  published Oct 21, 2011

  It does Rocks Off's heart good to see that our Music Award nominations have stirred up so much debate. As we mentioned Tuesday, according to our Web people, there were some 9,000 nominations submitted... More >>

• Yes, deadhorse Is Playing Warehouse Live Saturday

  published Oct 20, 2011

  Ahh, the Internet - better than a game of Telephone. About an hour ago, the quiet of Rocks Off's peaceful Thursday afternoon (not really) was shattered by a phone call from Houston thrash-metal legen... More >>

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  Houston "Doghouse" Blues Pianist Earl Gilliam Dead At 81

  published Oct 19, 2011

  Rocks Off contributor William Michael Smith just called in to regretfully inform us that Houston blues musician Earl Gilliam has passed away. Gilliam's friend and manager Sheri Goodman told Smith that... More >>

• HPMA Showcase: Win 2 Nights At South Shore Harbour

  published Oct 19, 2011

  Now that the 2011 Houston Press Music Awards ballot is up and running, Rocks Off would like to offer you a little more incentive to attend the HPMA showcase on Saturday, November 12. Head over to the ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Vintage Pics Of Destiny's Child, ZZ Top, Blue October & More

  published Oct 19, 2011

  The other day, one of the Rocks Off Crew was rummaging around in the Houston Press office and came across a bunch of publicity stills for various musicians. Allow us to explain what those are: They'r... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Houston Press Music Awards Ballot Now Online

  published Oct 19, 2011

  Rocks Off is glad to see our 2011 Houston Press Music Awards ballot has been making some waves on Facebook and the Twitter since we posted it Tuesday evening. Now it's time for you to weigh in. The b... More >>

• deadhorse

  published October 20, 2011

  There’s no telling how many lives were altered, and eardrums tainted, by the Houston black-metal squadron known as deadhorse. Even for... More >>

• BMC Block Party

  published October 20, 2011

  Another weekend, another outdoor music festival. This is getting to be pretty common around Houston, and we’re not complaining. In this... More >>

• The Prince of Skull Orchard

  published October 20, 2011

  Jon Langford probably gets tired of the term "renaissance man," but with four bands, art openings, books, charities, a radio show, an... More >>

• Last Night: Dolly Parton At Verizon Wireless Theater

  published Oct 12, 2011

  Dolly Parton Verizon Wireless Theater October 11, 2011 Dolly Parton seems like the kind of person so determined to make sure her audience has a good time, she's not above putting them to the thumbscr... More >>

• Supersuckers

  published October 13, 2011

  If you like your punk rock with a good shot of country, and a lot of people 'round these parts do, only Social Distortion can match the... More >>

• NRBQ

  published October 13, 2011

  NRBQ, or the New Rhythm & Blues Quartet, may be the quintessential "almost famous" band. Music critics and musicians swear by them, but they never... More >>

• Bayou Country

  published October 13, 2011

  For someone who more or less picked Houston at random when he was looking to get out of L.A. two years ago, honky-tonk singer-songwriter Mike... More >>

• Duff: A Failed Arson Attempt & Soundgarden Show In Seattle

  published Oct 11, 2011

  Former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan is now, among other things, a columnist for Rocks Off's sister music blog in Seattle, Reverb. This month Touchstone Books will publish Duff's memoir, It's So ... More >>

• Duff: Hitchhiking Toward Seattle And Hydroponic Pot

  published Oct 10, 2011

  Former Guns N' Roses bassist Duff McKagan is now, among other things, a columnist for Rocks Off's sister music blog in Seattle, Reverb. This month Touchstone Books will publish Duff's memoir, It's So ... More >>

• Ozzy Osbourne Headed To Conroe For Book Signing

  published Oct 06, 2011

  Conroe is a sleepy little East Texas town on the northern fringes of the greater Houston area. And now it's about to get a jumbo-size shot of wake-up juice from the Prince of Darkness himself. No shi... More >>