Email Author William Michael Smith

2012 Stories by William Michael Smith

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  FEATURED STORY

  Gen. Petraeus: A Possible Glimpse at the Spymaster's iPod

  published Nov 15, 2012

  Nuge the Stooge knows what CIA director needed. Enough already about Gen. David Petraeus and his private harem ... err, his embedded biographer with the flashy wardrobe and bad vision. Petraeus is ... More >>

• More Medical Trouble for Urban Cowboy-era Star Fiddlin' Frenchie Burke

  published Oct 16, 2012

  Above: Frenchie Burke in a showbiz moment. Fiddlin' Frenchie Burke, one of the icons of Houston's "Urban Cowboy" craze of the late '70s, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain aneurysm yesterday in ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Chitlin' Circuit: Road to Rock & Roll Ran Straight Through Houston

  published Oct 05, 2012

  Above: Walter Barnes and the Royal Creolians, the first kings of the Chitlin' Circuit Most music critics, writers, historians, and aficianados in Houston don't think this city has ever gotten enough... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  La La Wilson: Setting Examples & The Red Cat Jazz Festival

  published Sep 25, 2012

  As anyone who's paid the slightest attention and scratched even barely below the surface knows, Houston and its environs contain a plethora of accomplished world-stage musicians. These men and women c... More >>

• Joe Nick Patoski Slam-Dunks Dallas Cowboys Tome

  published Sep 21, 2012

  If there is one reason Joe Nick Patoski's books -- biographies of Selena, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Willie Nelson -- are so good, it is his ability as a storyteller. Any decent reporter can sift news cli... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Many Faces of "God" on Display at Whimsical Art Car Museum Exhibition

  published Sep 18, 2012

  Leave it to the art car crowd to have a lot of irreverent fun with an open-call show titled God. While a few artists did what bordered on the obvious or banal (no, really, some woman took up valuable ... More >>

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  Corb Lund's Bad Case of Cabin Fever

  published Sep 17, 2012

  Above: Corb Lund gettin' down on the mountain. It only takes one listen to any Corb Lund album to know the guy is witty and whip-smart. The salty Albertan who studied jazz in Edmonton before joining... More >>

• Wayne the Train: "I Just Don't See a Tour Bus In My Future"

  published Sep 07, 2012

  One goes into an interview with Wayne "The Train" Hancock expecting to confront the ghost of Hank Williams, because the singer has made a good living the past 17 years channeling Hank and other clas... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Hamell on Trial: A One-Man Musical Tornado

  published Sep 06, 2012

  Ed Hamell, who performs as Hamell on Trial, is not your average acoustic-guitar solo act. The first time I saw him, at the old Fabulous Satellite opening for Syd Straw and the Skeletons, I didn't know... More >>

• Choice Evenings at Cafe 4212

  published September 6, 2012

  "Houston is going to be the next big musical explosion," says Horace Alexander Young, Texas Southern music professor and one of the featured... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The First Alt-Country Recordr Flatlanders Rediscover The Odessa Tapes

  published Sep 04, 2012

  A lot of stellar music came out of that flat land known as West Texas. Bob Wills, Roy Orbison, Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, Terry Allen, Guy Clark, and the Sparkles are just a few artists who found s... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Austin's New (C)KOKE-FM Can't Beat The Real Thing

  published Aug 31, 2012

  Lonesome, Onry and Mean had been hearing about the new KOKE-FM progressive country station in Austin for a few weeks. One friend in particular kept raving about the station, so today we finally saunte... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Unknown K. Phillips Records With Dream Team on American Girls

  published Aug 29, 2012

  Above: K. Phillips and the Concho Pearls doing NSFW "Rambler" Most people won't have heard of K. Phillips, but his new album American Girls is getting some serious critical raves. Checking the list ... More >>

• Mel Tillis: Coca-Cola Cowboy

  published August 30, 2012

  At 80, Mel Tillis, once one of country music's hottest commodities, isn't finished yet. "I'm just about to publish my first novel," he... More >>

• 7Horse's "Meth Lab Zoso Sticker" Hits Radio Brick Wall

  published Aug 23, 2012

  7Horse playing their AAA Top 40 single "Low Fuel Drug Run" A 20-year member of Los Angeles rock ensemble Dada, drummer Phil Leavitt is no newcomer to the music business. Leavitt and Dada bassist Jo... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Coolest and Uncoolest Songs About America's Coolest City (Us)

  published Aug 16, 2012

  Above is Dean Martin doing "Houston" on his television show. Epic fail, but nice outfit. As you may have read, Forbes magazine recently determined that, by their measurement criteria, Houston is n... More >>

• Rebecca Laird, Mojo Girl

  published August 16, 2012

  With blazing ringlets of curly red hair, girl-next-door good looks, a calm stage demeanor and hot guitar licks, Rebecca Laird, only 20, has... More >>

• L.A.'s Tremoloco Drops Smokin' Salsipuedes With Local Help

  published Aug 14, 2012

  Nothing gets Lonesome, Onry and Mean's blood pumping like opening the mail and finding a long overdue album from Los Angeles roots outfit Tremoloco. The band's previous release, 2008's Dulcinea, was i... More >>

• "I Ain't Dead Yet": Bands Honor Beloved Barbecue Man Adam Fisher

  published Aug 10, 2012

  Anyone who has ever been to a show at the Continental Club is likely familiar with barbecue guru Adam Fisher. Fisher and wife Lena have been serving simple, scrumptious brisket and sausage sandwiches ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  The Great Taj Mahal, Still Whistlin' the Blues

  published Aug 10, 2012

  It's been a long time so it's hard to remember exactly, but some time in the winter of 1970-71, Taj Mahal played the Houston Music Hall. Between 1968 and 1971, he had put out five albums and become ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Vladimir Putin: No Pussy Riot On His Watch

  published Jul 31, 2012

  Above: Video of the performance that got three Moscow punk rockers arrested If he were still alive, Frank Zappa would have a field day with this one. Just when we thought the Montgomery County she... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Local Activist Aaron Brown Arrested at Cruz/Palin Event in Woodlands, Doesn't Even Get to Show His Signs

  published Jul 28, 2012

  Local activist Aaron Brown, one of the organizers of protests against Westboro Baptist Church, was arrested by a Montgomery County sheriff's deputy Friday while walking to the Cynthia Woods Mitchell ... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Lou Ann Barton: Austin Blues Queen Is Working Her Butt Off

  published Jul 27, 2012

  It's 2 p.m. and Austin blues diva Lou Ann Barton is just downing her first cup of coffee of the day. Rocks Off admitted to her he was only on his second. "We were recording last night, so I'm a lit... More >>

• RIP Leo Aston: Local Guitarist, Leo Trio Leader Passes Away

  published Jul 26, 2012

  Local blues guitarist Leo Aston has passed away. According to posts on the Houston Blues Society and Houston Blues Museum Facebook sites, Aston finally succumbed to cancer in the early hours this morn... More >>

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  FEATURED STORY

  Rockabilly Filly Rosie Flores Slings a Working Girl's Guitar

  published Jul 26, 2012

  Rosie Flores, known these days affectionately by many as the Rockabilly Filly, has had several careers: Punk rocker, cowpunk alt-country badass, potential country star, rock and roller, and rockabil... More >>