Email Author William Michael Smith

2011 Stories by William Michael Smith

• The Mastersons Fly South To Familiar Territory

  published Mar 23, 2011

  Chris Masterson and wife Eleanor Whitmore may live in Brooklyn these days, but like many New Yorkers, they are avid snowbirds. So much so, their new album will be titled Bird Fly South. "We're like m... More >>

• Arlo Guthrie

  published March 24, 2011

  After 45-plus years on the road, Arlo Guthrie remains one of the most enduring American troubadours, an evergreen act and virtual folk-music... More >>

• Todd Snider

  published March 24, 2011

  Combining the essence of late comedian Bill Hicks, the back-alley X-ray vision of John Prine and the damaged-guru spirituality of Ray Wylie... More >>

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  RIP Pinetop Perkins: Blues Legend Dead At 97

  published Mar 21, 2011

  Ralph Mooney, former Waylon Jennings steel guitarist, also dies Legendary multi-Grammy-winning blues pianist Pinetop Perkins has died at his home in Austin, according to his Web site. Perkins, who w... More >>

• SXSW With LOM: Gourds Kill, Grandfather Child Wins, Candy Golde Shines

  published Mar 19, 2011

  Day Two found Lonesome Onry and Mean at the Vanguard Records day party, where the label was intent on showcasing several of its newest acts. While Viva Voce may not be the best band name ever, the Pix... More >>

• SXSW With LOM: French Rockers, Free Tequila And MXMW

  published Mar 18, 2011

  So we're checked in and we're on the way up to the room. Who's in the elevator with usr John Popper from Blues Traveler. In person, he looks like a cartoon character, something waxy and a bit spooky a... More >>

• Weary Boy

  published March 17, 2011

  Alt-country phenom Ryan Bingham's career has been meteoric. From ground-zero singing at livestock impresario Jim Bob Altizer's rodeo events for... More >>

• Candy Golde Set To Kick In Some Faces At SXSW Debut

  published Mar 10, 2011

  If there is a must-not-miss show for Lonesome Onry and Mean at Austin's annual springtime musical clusterfuck next week, it's Candy Golde at Club Deville, 11 p.m. Friday night. A scary-good Chicago l... More >>

• 2011 South By Southwest Supplement

  published March 10, 2011

  Buxton may be the hottest band to germinate along the Houston Ship Channel — Deer Park and La Porte, specifically... More >>

• Gourds, Bramhall Play Miller Outdoor Free Show July 22

  published Feb 28, 2011

  Austin roots band the Gourds just announced via their Facebook fan page that they will play Miller Outdoor Theatre July 22. The band last played at Miller July 9, 2009, opening for the Fabulous Thunde... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Soul City: Unsung Blues Legend Joe "Guitar" Hughes

  published Feb 28, 2011

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  Soul City: Talent Scouts Lola Anne Cullum And Lela Macy

  published Feb 24, 2011

  Black History Month is always a great time to recall some of Houston's greatest musical innovators and leaders. Rocks Off will highlight some of them during the remainder of February. At a local blue... More >>

• Last Night: Fred Eaglesmith At McGonigel's Mucky Duck

  published Feb 23, 2011

  Fred Eaglesmith McGonigel's Mucky Duck February 22, 2011 Rocks Off Sr. wanted to know, and he wanted to know now. "What kinda crowd is thisr Canadiansr" "Yeah, some, for sure." Aftermath understand... More >>

• Mojo Working

  published February 24, 2011

  The bullhorn-voiced San Diego shock-rocker Mojo Nixon is the Foghorn Leghorn of rock and roll, known for his over-the-top, frequently pornographic... More >>

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  Fred Eaglesmith Is Back, Existential As Ever

  published Feb 21, 2011

  "My life is about not being accepted. That really is where it started and where it ended." - Fred Eaglesmith in the documentary There Ain't No Easy Road rAlways at the forefront of indie music opti... More >>

• Soul City: The Amazing Jazz Crusaders

  published Feb 15, 2011

  Black History Month is always a great time to recall some of Houston's greatest musical innovators and leaders. Rocks Off will highlight some of them during the remainder of February. "Hey, let's get... More >>

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  Soul City: Boogie-Woogie Godfather Amos Milburn

  published Feb 08, 2011

  Black History Month is always a great time to recall some of Houston's greatest musical innovators and leaders. Rocks Off will highlight some of them during the remainder of February. Born in Third ... More >>

• Americana Pioneers Wagoneers Reuniting, Playing Houston

  published Feb 08, 2011

  Overnight, Lonesome Onry and Mean received word that the Wagoneers, one of Texas' earliest alt-country bands, are coming back from the dead. The hard-twanging roots band that was essentially a precurs... More >>

• Gourds Land Dylan Vet, Levon Helm's Studio For Next LP

  published Feb 07, 2011

  With their homespun, loosey-goosey style, The Gourds have often been compared to The Band and to Levon Helm over the course of the Austin roots band's 16-year career. Late Friday, the Gourds announced... More >>

• Wanted More Dead Than Alive

  published February 3, 2011

  "From Austin, Texas comes the true story of a man destined for obscurity" — Blaze Foley: The Duct Tape... More >>

• Carolyn Farb On Producing New Kinky Musical

  published Feb 01, 2011

  The musical Becoming Kinky: The World According To Kinky Friedman, which will star former Houstonian Jesse Dayton as the Texas author, humorist, novelist, musician and two-time gubernatorial candidate... More >>

• Jesse Dayton Lands Kinky Friedman Role In New Play

  published Jan 31, 2011

  Houston socialite Carolyn Farb co-producing dramatization of eccentric Texan's life Former Houstonian Jesse Dayton has been tapped to play the lead role of Kinky Friedman in Becoming Kinky: The World... More >>

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  Last Night: Vince Gill At Arena Theatre

  published Jan 28, 2011

  Vince Gill Arena Theatre January 27, 2011 Nashville superstar and Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill spent his Thursday hanging with former President George H.W. Bush, but that and four margarita... More >>

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  How Willie Nelson & Charley Pride Integrated East Texas

  published Jan 27, 2011

  Willie Nelson's Conroe buddy Larry Butler was not only a performer, he also ran a series of clubs in the area over the past 50 years, including Willie Nelson's Night Life on FM 1960 during Willie's IR... More >>

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  Charlie Louvin, Country Music Hall Of Famer, Dies At 83

  published Jan 26, 2011

  Country Music Hall of Fame member Charlie Louvin, who with his brother Ira ranked with Ralph and Carter Stanley as one of the greatest duos in bluegrass history, passed away overnight. Louvin, 83, had... More >>