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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2013 Stories by Chris Gray

• Don't Call Blackberry Smoke Outlaws, But They'll Get Out of Hand

  published Mar 22, 2013

  If you haven't smelled Blackberry Smoke in a while, they might have been at sea. The Atlanta Southern rock/outlaw country (whatever) band has been on so many cruises it's a little surprising the quin... More >>

• Oh, God: John Mayer Playing Woodlands Pavilion July 12

  published Mar 22, 2013

  Lock up your "Daughters": John Mayer, the soft-rock singer-songwriter and self-styled bluesman, has reportedly split with squeeze Katy Perry, and now -- surely not by coincidence -- he'll be on tour t... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  RIP Marfreless: Requiem For Houston's Favorite Make-Out Bar

  published Mar 21, 2013

  Rising property taxes in its expensive River Oaks surroundings have forced Marfreless, the most famous Houston bar without a sign, to close at the end of the month. The bar's owners announced the news... More >>

• The Rocks Off 100: Football, etc., Giving Emo Back Its Good Name

  published Mar 21, 2013

  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 >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Behind "Pancho and Lefty": "That Son of a Bitch Is a Smash"

  published Mar 20, 2013

  "Pancho and Lefty" long ago became more than just a song and something closer to a pop-culture touchstone, particularly in Texas and the Southwest. According to Urbanspoon, you can even dine at Pancho... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Last Night: Alicia Keys at Toyota Center

  published Mar 19, 2013

  Alicia Keys Toyota Center March 18, 2013 In concert, Alicia Keys projects such focus and command over her domain, the stage, it can be intimidating to witness up close. One would hate to be a backup ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Friday Night: Blake Shelton at Reliant Stadium

  published Mar 18, 2013

  Blake Shelton Reliant Stadium March 15, 2013 I want to like Blake Shelton. I really do. But damned if he doesn't make it nearly impossible. Shelton might make a decent country singer if he didn't lo... More >>

• A Paean to the Pogues, for St. Patrick's Day

  published Mar 15, 2013

  What does it mean to be Irishr Red hairr The gift of gabr A drinking problemr The itch to fightr Of course not. All you need to be Irish is a deep and abiding affection for the Pogues. When I was p... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Best Concerts in Houston This Weekend: Blake Shelton, Tegan & Sara, etc.

  published Mar 15, 2013

  Blake Shelton Reliant Stadium, March 15 After more than a decade of climbing country music's ranks to become one of its most successful and charismatic male vocalists, Blake Shelton found himself tak... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Last Night: Solange at Fitzgerald's

  published Mar 13, 2013

  Solange Fitzgerald's March 12, 2013 Solange has a famous sister. You've probably heard of her; both women grew up around here. And now let that be the last time we mention the elder Knowles sibling,... More >>

• Wonders Never Cease

  published March 14, 2013

  Only in Houston About six months ago, Rocks Off wrote an article expressing our surprise and disappointment at the paucity of... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Last Night: Jason Aldean at Reliant Stadium

  published Mar 12, 2013

  Jason Aldean Reliant Stadium March 11, 2013 Somewhere along the way Jason Aldean rubbed me the wrong way, and whenever I did have a stray thought about him, the words "massive tool" weren't far behin... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Rocks Off 100: Blaggards, Houston's St. Paddy's Day House Band

  published Mar 12, 2013

  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 >>

• Last Night: Ryan Bingham at House of Blues

  published Mar 11, 2013

  Ryan Bingham House of Blues March 10, 2013 It's tempting to label Ryan Bingham a "throwback," because nothing he does is especially modern. The former rodeo cowboy's brand of classic rock, country-bl... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Looks Like We Can Pour One Out for Pearl Bar

  published Mar 07, 2013

  This may be the end of the line for Pearl Bar. The once-crowded jewel of the Washington Avenue bar scene has apparently been locked out by its landlord for nonpayment of rent. The above notice was po... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Last Night: Dierks Bentley at Reliant Stadium

  published Mar 07, 2013

  Dierks Bentley Reliant Stadium March 6, 2013 I never, ever do something like this, for reasons I hope should be obvious to our readers, but after watching Dierks Bentley (and the crowd) Wednesday nig... More >>

• Last Night: Lady Antebellum at Reliant Stadium

  published Mar 06, 2013

  Lady Antebellum Reliant Stadium March 6, 2013 No doubt other critics do all sorts of mental gymnastics to rationalize listening to Lady Antebellum. This one decided the relentlessly sunny Nashville t... More >>

• Raw Power

  published March 7, 2013

  Only in Houston Last week Free Press Summer Fest announced most of the artists who will play its fifth edition, scheduled for... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Rocks Off Would Like for You to Join Us; Music Freelancers Wanted

  published Mar 05, 2013

  We have some excellent music writers here at the Houston Press and Rocks Off. But we'd like a few more. It's a big city out there, and a vast music scene. So Rocks Off is looking to add a few more st... More >>

• Saturday Night: Brantley Gilbert at Reliant Stadium

  published Mar 04, 2013

  Brantley Gilbert Reliant Stadium March 2, 2013 The specter of Honey Boo Boo hovered over Brantley Gilbert Saturday at RodeoHouston. If one single human being apart from the not-so-pint-sized TLC real... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Friday Night: Mary J. Blige at Reliant Stadium

  published Mar 04, 2013

  Mary J. Blige Reliant Stadium March 1, 2013 Watching Mary J. Blige's bravura Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo performance Friday night brought to mind the old, old Hollywood saying about Ginger Rogers ... More >>

• RodeoHouston Hops on "Harlem Shake" Bandwagon

  published Mar 04, 2013

  The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo doesn't stay so successful by not keeping up with the times. So before each of this year's evening concerts, you can watch a bunch of people who work at the rodeo ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Houston Makes Great Strides in Selling Its Own Music Scene

  published Mar 01, 2013

  A few months ago, Rocks Off wrote an article expressing our surprise and disappointment at the paucity of musical content on the City of Houston's tourism site, visithoustontexas.com, the Texas-friend... More >>

• Nosaprise Opens His Book of the Dead Vol. 1

  published Feb 28, 2013

  You have to hand it to Nosaprise. although you can't help worrying a little, too. This month the Houston rapper/musician's grownup job as an arts teacher presented an opportunity for him to attend a l... More >>

• FPSF Adds Dozens More Acts, Many Locals

  published Feb 28, 2013

  After the 2013 Free Press Summer Festival headliners leaked Wednesday night, this morning the festival sent out an email with a few dozen more names, including many local performers. Rewind: Free Pr... More >>