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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2012 Stories by Chris Gray

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  FEATURED STORY

  2012's Most-Searched Musicians: Good Grief, People

  published Nov 27, 2012

  Tuesday morning, Microsoft's search decision engine bing.com released its list of 2012's most-searched names in a host of categories, from celebrity couples and Olympians to tech and sports stars. The... More >>

• The Axiom, Part 2: Venue Cast Long Shadow Over Houston

  published Nov 23, 2012

  Thursday Rocks Off talked to three people behind this weekend's Axiom reunion -- former owner J.R. Delgado, Rivethead magazine's Lisa Sullivan and ex-Axiom publicist/co-manager Julie Grob -- about the... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  $430 Beatles LP Box Leads 2012's Big-Ticket Holiday Music Buys

  published Nov 22, 2012

  It may be Thanksgiving today, but retailers know it better as the day before Black Friday. Music retailers know it even better as the day before Record Store Day Jr., a post-Thanksgiving vinyl bonanza... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  (Almost) Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Axiom

  published Nov 22, 2012

  This weekend, one of the most beloved and memorialized clubs in Houston history throws itself a hell of a 25th anniversary party. From 1987 through 1991, the Axiom took a run-down former drugstore/mot... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Houston's Finest Give Us Some Thanksgiving Blessings

  published Nov 21, 2012

  Rocks Off polled a mostly random selection of Houston artists, which consisted mostly of the senior member of Rocks Off's clumsy attempts to direct-message those of them who follow us on Twitter, to a... More >>

• Paul Van Dyk

  published November 22, 2012

  Although his fame isn't quite the same as his fellow European super-DJ Tiesto, Paul van Dyk has enough pull in these parts that packing fans into... More >>

• The Axiom Reunion

  published November 22, 2012

  This will be Houston's third major "scene" reunion this year, after the When We Ruled H-Town festivities this summer and The Island get-together... More >>

• Trae, Z-Ro

  published November 22, 2012

  The original Assholes by Nature, cousins Trae and Z-Ro remain two of Houston's most durable rap heavyweights. A gruff but oddly mellow rhymesmith,... More >>

• Bettye Lavette

  published November 22, 2012

  Michigan native and longtime Detroit resident Bettye Lavette has gone from a Motown-style R&B diva not far removed from Patti Labelle to the best... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Rocks Off 100: Paige Mann, House of Blues' Box-Office Diva

  published Nov 20, 2012

  Welcome to the Rocks Off 100, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community -- a lot more than just musicians, but of course they're i... More >>

• Eric Clapton Gives Toyota Center Some Slowhand March 16

  published Nov 19, 2012

  Eric Clapton, the gentleman's rock star (or something like that), will interrupt Toyota Center's springtime pop programming -- Maroon 5, Pink, Rihanna, Carrie Underwood -- for an evening of British In... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  10 Cool & Cheap Weekenders: November 16-18

  published Nov 16, 2012

  Rusko Warehouse Live, November 16 Rusko's show at Stereo Live back in May didn't go so well, so it's a little surprising to see the bad boy of dubstep back in Houston so soon. The 27-year-old British... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Paul McCartney: What Becomes a Legend Mostr

  published Nov 15, 2012

  Somewhere outside London, or perhaps Liverpool, must be a warehouse that stores all the raw materials used to create the collage that scrolled down the two giant vertical video screens flanking the Mi... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Ringo Starr: A Few Words In Favor of the Other Surviving Beatle

  published Nov 14, 2012

  Both the Rocks Off team in particular and (I guess) Houston in general have had Paul McCartney mania for days. You can feel the anticipation for tonight's show building like the bridge in "I Saw Her S... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Is One Halfway Decent Thanksgiving Pop Song Too Much to Ask Forr

  published Nov 14, 2012

  Not so long ago, Rocks Off was wondering why there has never been a decent pop song about Thanksgiving. Not despairing, just wondering. Apart from all the complete shite, you could fill an entire wing... More >>

• Paul McCartney's Wonderful, Bizarre McCartney II

  published November 15, 2012

  Classic Rock Corner Paul McCartney's set lists are largely built on his Beatles work, making his Minute Maid Park show an... More >>

• Paul Ramirez Band

  published November 15, 2012

  A weekly gig is about the best way for guitarists to hone their craft, and Houston's Paul Ramirez has done just that Wednesday nights at the... More >>

• Rusko

  published November 15, 2012

  Rusko's show at Stereo Live back in May didn't go so well, so it's a little surprising to see the bad boy of dubstep back in Houston so soon. The... More >>

• Cypress Hill

  published November 15, 2012

  The first Latino hip-hop group to gain stardom, Cypress Hill brought a whiff of Cheech & Chong comedy to their red-eyed rapping, but were hardly... More >>

• VIDEO: At Creeperfest, Free Beer Wins Every Time

  published Nov 12, 2012

  Video by Norma Vazquez Some time ago, I started noticing shows at something called "House of Creeps" way down off Old Spanish Trail, which couldn't help but pique my curiosity. It eventually moved t... More >>

• UPDATED: Iceland's Sigur Ros Make Third Houston Visit April 9

  published Nov 12, 2012

  UPDATE (12:30 p.m.): After further research, according to the Sigur Ros itinerary at popplagid.com, it appears they played Verizon Wireless Theater in February 2006 and March 2003. Sigur Ros, Iceland... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  10 Doug Sahm/Sir Douglas Quintet Albums You Need to Own

  published Nov 09, 2012

  Tonight at the Continental Club, Austin's Freddie Steady 5 will head up a tribute to the late Doug Sahm focusing on Sahm's 2000 album The Return of Wayne Douglas, which he recorded only a few months b... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Did Usher Deserve Special Voting Treatmentr

  published Nov 09, 2012

  The wire services and social media are abuzz this morning because the manager of Usher's Atlanta-area polling place is taking some heat for allowing the R&B superstar/Bieber mentor to skip the line on... More >>

• Last Night: Jackson Browne at Bayou Music Center

  published Nov 08, 2012

  Jackson Browne Bayou Music Center November 7, 2012 Jackson Browne must find himself in a curious position. At times the requests he got from an otherwise adoring and attentive crowd (minus those peop... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Rocks Off 100: Anna Garza, Girls Rock Camp Houston Guru

  published Nov 08, 2012

  Welcome to the Rocks Off 100, our portrait gallery of the most compelling profiles and personalities in the far-flung Houston music community -- a lot more than just musicians, but of course they're i... More >>