Email Author Craig Hlavaty

Awards

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

  "Getting Past the Bouncer"

• 2009 - Lone Star Awards

  "Metallica at Toyota"

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2012 Stories by Craig Hlavaty

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  FEATURED STORY

  RIP Ravi Shankar, Sitar Pioneer and Beatles Buddy

  published Dec 11, 2012

  One of the greatest musicians of all time has died. Ravi Shankar, sitar legend and easily one of India's most revered cultural ambassadors, passed away Tuesday afternoon at age 92 in San Diego. Acco... More >>

• Sunrise & Ammunition

  published December 13, 2012

  Sunrise & Ammunition's new album Tesseract is one of the most amplified local albums of 2012. The trio, a self-described "mutation in the... More >>

• The Sword

  published December 13, 2012

  Austin heavyweights The Sword released new album Apocryphon this past fall, further establishing their rep as one of the most influential... More >>

• Marina & the Diamonds, Icona Pop

  published December 13, 2012

  Somewhere between Katy Perry and Lana Del Rey on the 2012 girl-pop scale, the Welsh-bred Marina & the Diamonds make big-budget icy synth-pop that... More >>

• Brian Setzer Orchestra

  published December 13, 2012

  For the past few holiday seasons, Stray Cats front man Brian Setzer has been on the road playing hepped-up Christmas standards with his rockabilly... More >>

• Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Set To Induct Rush, Heart, Donna Summer, And Public Enemy

  published Dec 11, 2012

  Today the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland announced their 2013 class of inductees. Public Enemy, Donna Summer, Heart, Albert King, Randy Newman, and longtime jilted proggers Rush have all made... More >>

• Upcoming: The Residents, Every Time I Die, The English Beat, Sleepy LaBeef, Mondo Generator, Etc.

  published Dec 11, 2012

  Allstar Weekend: With Cute Is What We Aim For, Tiffany Alvord, Beneath The Sun., Wed., Jan. 30, 6:30 p.m., $18.00-$68.00. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline, Houston. Augustana: With Lauren Shera., Tue., ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Curses That We Yelled at Our TV Screen Last Night During the Texans-Patriots Game

  published Dec 11, 2012

  11-2. 11 and 2. Not a bad record to have at all. It looks strong. It's better that 2-11, that's for sure. There is no reason to jump off of a cliff, get your Texans throat tattoo scrubbed off with... More >>

• Kendrick Lamar Adds Second December 29 Houston Show, at House of Blues This Time

  published Dec 10, 2012

  Few artists in 2012 can play two concerts in one night, and sell out the first one. Based on strong street cred and the critically adored album good kid, m.A.A.d city rapper Kendrick Lamar has done it... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The RunPee App Frees Your Bladder From Cinematic Tyranny

  published Dec 10, 2012

  There are few things in life as aggravating as your bladder hollering for a draining while you are inside a movie that you just spent $15 to see. You can just feel the entertainment dollars flowing ou... More >>

• Surprise! Rick Ross' Maybach Tour Stop In Houston Canceled

  published Dec 08, 2012

  According to an email we have just received from Live Nation in Houston, the Maybach Tour set for next week on December 13 at Reliant Arena, has been canceled. In fact, Ross has canceled the rest of... More >>

• FEATURED STORY

  UPDATED: Walton And Johnson Now MIA From Houston Radio, Point To "Left-Wing Political Attack"

  published Dec 07, 2012

  Longtime morning radio duo Walton And Johnson are no longer airing on 93.7 The Arrow. The Houston-based, nationally syndicated talk show's page on the Arrow site has also been scrubbed. Houston medi... More >>

• Yes, You Too Can Adopt a Manatee This Christmas Season

  published Dec 07, 2012

  This year the biggest Christmas gifts are once again set to be tablets, smart phones, booze, Fleshlights, engagement rings and anything else that will be obsolete by next summer. Sure, you could she... More >>

• Hayes Carll Playing Cactus Music Next Thursday, Reissuing 2002's Flowers and Liquor

  published Dec 07, 2012

  While we wait for his follow-up to 2011's damned fabulous KMAG YOYO, Cactus Music has announced that Hayes Carll will be playing in-store on Thursday, December 13 at 5:30 p.m. That's next Thursday, ... More >>

• Star Trek Into Darkness Has Two Teaser Trailers (One Is Japanese!)

  published Dec 06, 2012

  I'm not alone in thinking that Star Trek Into Darkness is one of the worst titles for a film. Why not just Star Trek: Darkness, or Star Trek: Knock Knock Who's Therer Darkness! Darkness Whor Darkness ... More >>

• Crappy Ringtone Tumblr Makes Indie-Someone's Music More Crappy

  published Dec 06, 2012

  For the past two months, New York City-based composer/songwriter David Nyman has been turning back the clock and making MIDI versions of popular and current indie-rock and hip-hop jams. His Tumblr p... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  3-D Up Yer Ass: The Most Anticipated Movies Of 2013

  published Dec 06, 2012

  Your ass is gonna be so sore next summer. In a good way. Hollywood has tons of movies lined up for us over the next 12 months, including highly-anticipated superhero reboots, stirring dramas for old... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Best & Weirdest PR Email Subject Lines of 2012

  published Dec 05, 2012

  Rocks Off gets at least 6,000 emails a week. Aight, it's more like 30 a day, I guess, more if it's SXSW season or the holidays, or if my co-workers get into a rousing conversation about chicks in ou... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Twitter Tips For New Tweeter Pope Benedict XVI

  published Dec 05, 2012

  This week Pope Benedict XVI and his staff of baby popes created a Twitter account for himself and Vatican officials to reach out to curious followers and the billion or so Catholics all over the world... More >>

• Skeleton Dick

  published December 6, 2012

  Houston's clown princes of punk return this weekend with a new album, Moist N' Frothy. The record has been in the works for more or less... More >>

• Come See My Dead Person

  published December 6, 2012

  The gypsy-punks in Come See My Dead Person have come out of hibernation to release an eponymous new 13-track set of songs. The manic pickin', the... More >>

• Lamb of God

  published December 6, 2012

  This year self-respecting metal fans everywhere found themselves alternately transfixed and heartbroken by Lamb of God lead singer Randy Blythe's... More >>

• Hall & Oates

  published December 6, 2012

  One of the most hook-laden and successful duos of the '80s comes to Nutty Jerry's for a night of man-eatin', rich-girl-baitin', private-eyin' pop... More >>

• Upcoming: Fleetwood Mac, Alt-J, Lucinda Williams, Eels, Lindsey Stirling, Etc.

  published Dec 04, 2012

  Alt-J: Sun., March 10, 8 p.m., $15/$17. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak, Houston. thelastplaceyoulook: With Another Run, Recovery Room., Fri., Dec. 21, 8 p.m., $5. Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel, Houst... More >>

• Dave Grohl Releases Trailer for Nerd-Boner Doc Sound City

  published Dec 04, 2012

  While the Foo Fighters have been on hiatus, lead singer Dave Grohl has been putting the finishing touches on his cinematic love letter to Sound City Studios in Los Angeles. Today the full trailer fo... More >>