Email Author William Michael Smith

2011 Stories by William Michael Smith

• Sturm Und Twang: Germany's The BossHoss Storms Volcano

  published Jul 14, 2011

  Near the end of The BossHoss' show Wednesday night, Aftermath asked an Irish woman standing next to him in the crowd what she thought of seven-piece German alt-country ensemble. "That man in dungaree... More >>

• Half a Paycheck

  published July 14, 2011

  Dave Alvin is talking via cell from Maryland, and he actually sounds glad to be doing the interview, genuinely wondering what we are going to talk... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Rockabilly Musician Chadd Thomas Found Dead In South Austin (UPDATED)

  published Jul 12, 2011

  The Austin Police Department released more information in Thomas' investigation Thursday afternoon. Update (5:18 p.m.): The Austin American-Statesman and KVUE are both reporting that the Travis Count... More >>

• Centro-matic Paints A Tighter Picture On Candidate Waltz

  published Jul 08, 2011

  Will Johnson, enigmatic front man of Denton rock outfit Centro-matic, is chuckling over reviews for the band's latest album, Candidate Waltz (Undertow/Thirty Tigers). "For the most part they've been ... More >>

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  Singer's Health Scare Prods Horseshoe Reunion

  published Jun 29, 2011

  With a band reunion facing him in a little less than three weeks, Greg Wood is just happy to be here. "Man, I had that heart attack when I was 35 and I never figured I'd ever see 47, but here I sit,"... More >>

• Sheet Rocker

  published June 23, 2011

  Chatter first heard of Nashville songwriter Rod Picott (pronounced py-cott) when Slaid Cleaves issued his 2001 breakout disc Broke Down.... More >>

• Valerie June Out, Krayolas In At Leon's, Volcano

  published Jun 21, 2011

  Win some, lose some. Pete Mitchell, owner of Under the Volcano and the recently reopened Leon's Lounge, just called to bemoan the fact that rising star Valerie June had cancelled her July 26 solo date... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Juneteenth: A Gulf Coast Good Time In A Hipster-Free Zone

  published Jun 20, 2011

  Sunday's Juneteenth extravaganza at Miller Outdoor Theatre proved to be another chapter in why, here at Rocks Off, we love our town. In spite of Hades-like mid-afternoon temperatures, brisk breezes co... More >>

• Joe King Carrasco's Life Is One Long Party Weekend

  published Jun 16, 2011

  The best one-word descriptor for Joe King Carrascor After a 20-minute phoner with the Sultan of Tex-Mex music, Rocks Off is going with ebullient. Something in Carrasco's upbeat, positive ramblings s... More >>

• Krayolas Score Surprise Hit With Bob Dylan Cover

  published Jun 14, 2011

  If you follow these pages you may have noticed that Rocks Off recently tabbed Tipsy Topsy Turvy by veteran San Antonio rockers The Krayolas as our choice for best Texas album of the year so far. Yes, ... More >>

• The Storyteller

  published June 16, 2011

  Ramblin' Jack Elliott, who rolls into the Houston exurbs for two shows this week, is truly a dying breed, one of the last mastodons looking down... More >>

• The Napkin Files: Deep Thoughts From Shallow Waters

  published Jun 13, 2011

  Lonesome Onry and Mean spends quite a bit of night time in bars and music venues writing random thoughts on bar napkins. Lots and lots of bar napkins. Usually LOM is laboring under the delusion that h... More >>

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  Dick Dale Destroys Continental Club

  published Jun 09, 2011

  In spite of a lifetime of healthy living that includes vegetarianism, martial arts, and an aversion to drugs and alcohol, Dick Dale, King of the Surf Guitar, realizes that he has a date with Grim Reap... More >>

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  Dick Dale Still Riding The Wild Surf At 74

  published Jun 07, 2011

  Wednesday's show moved from 2016 Mainstage to Continental Club At 74, California surf guitar god Dick Dale has just about seen it all. He was in on the ground floor of the development of the Fender p... More >>

• Saturday Night: Accordion Kings & Queens At Miller Outdoor Theatre

  published Jun 06, 2011

  Accordion Kings & Queens Festival Miller Outdoor Theatre June 4, 2011 Timing can be everything. And it only took about ten seconds standing in the wings 20 feet from Clifton Chenier's former guitaris... More >>

• Jason Isbell, Americana Heir Apparent, Won't Run From Country

  published May 31, 2011

  It seemed a bit odd to be talking to Jason Isbell on Memorial Day. Lonesome, Onry and Mean had just watched a YouTube clip of Isbell doing "Dress Blues," his tribute to a high-school friend who died ... More >>

• Bear Hug

  published June 2, 2011

  Guitarist and bandleader of the Honey­bears, Zach Ernst is Black Joe Lewis's main musical partner in crime. Originally from... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  My Head Hurts, My Feet Stink: Five Songs For A Hangover

  published May 26, 2011

  Every now and then after a night out, Lonesome, Onry and Mean's head feels like it's been in a fight with some guy who owns a nail gun. While we may no longer be on a regular first-name basis with mor... More >>

• Here to Stay

  published May 26, 2011

  While his drummer and bassist vamp solos halfway through his band's first set, guitarist John McVey walks to his amp, takes a long swig of Lone... More >>

• Jesse Dayton & Friends Silence Old Quarter Cafe

  published May 23, 2011

  Aftermath is so busy in the city, we don't get down to Wrecks Bell's Old Quarter Acoustic Cafe in Galveston enough. But we caught a free ride down Saturday and rectified that situation. And what a uni... More >>

• Blues Community Going To The Doghouse For Earl Gilliam

  published May 20, 2011

  The Houston blues community will come together Sunday to pay homage to one of the godfathers of blues piano, Earl Gilliam. Gilliam, whose youth was spent in the company of giants like Albert Collins, ... More >>

• A Cold Shot At Brittmoore Ice House

  published May 19, 2011

  It's not always about the music out there in Lonesome, Onry and Mean's world. For instance, two nights ago we drove to west Houston near the I-10/Beltway 8 intersection to hear local bluesman John ... More >>

• Raging Moderate

  published May 19, 2011

  Let's be quite clear: Cracker/Camper van Beethoven front man David Lowery doesn't play the rock-star game. "The night before the news... More >>

• Skarnales, Escovedo, Gaines Make Rockin' Nightlife Tour

  published May 16, 2011

  Friday was one of those nights when Rocks Off wished we operated one of those "show you the nightlife" tour buses filled with people from Omaha, Chicago, Des Moines, and Berlin. When's the last time H... More >>

• Los Lonely Boys Mature, Get Goofy On New Rockpango

  published May 11, 2011

  Rocks Off suspects the last thing Los Lonely Boys guitarist and singer Henry Garza wanted to do on the day after arriving back in San Angelo from a European tour with Los Lobos was a phone interview. ... More >>