Ani DiFranco

Remembering Phil Ochs, the "Singing Journalist"

Phil Ochs was never Bob Dylan. Oh, he wanted to be Dylan, but ol' Zimmy booted that bastard right out of his limo. "You're not a folksinger, you're a journalist." If only Phil had accepted himself as "the singing journalist." After failing to find the commercial success he so desired, Ochs turned ... More >>

Friday Night: Andrew Bird at House of Blues

Andrew Bird House of Blues October 12, 2012 Once in a while, I think it's healthy for critics to step outside of their comfort zone and challenge themselves by tackling an assignment that is foreign to them, to test their powers of observation and analysis in a neutral environment. It's easy to rev ... More >>

The 5 Best Shows In Houston This Week: T.S.O.L., Girl In a Coma, Etc.

The true sounds of liberty since 1978, whether those sounds are Black Flag-ish hardcore or Danzig-like mook-rock, the decidedly gothic T.S.O.L. sprang from the surfer's paradise of Huntington Beach, Calif., and palled around with the Damned and Dead Kennedys before helping their younger SoCal siblin ... More >>

#1 Crushes: Our Favorite '90s Rock Vixens

Tonight House of Blues welcomes Garbage back to Houston after a seven-year hiatus. The group, lead by fearsome Scottish redhead Shirley Manson, has been sorely missed from the music scene. They are currently touring behind their upcoming album Not Your Kind of People, which hits stores May 14. Rock ... More >>

2011 Rewind: Concert Tickets From An Alternate Universe

This originally ran on June 8, but seeing that the year is coming to an end, we are looking back at some of our favorite blogs we gave to you these past 12 months. One of the best dreams we ever had was of covering a Clash show for Rocks Off. Yeah, dreaming about work isn't something to brag about ... More >>

35 Bands You Should Never, Ever Search On Google Images

dedica.laOnce unprintable in "family" newspapers, today the Butthole Surfers barely even rate on our list. You'll see why.​Here at Rocks Off, we take our blog ideas where we can get them - even from mistakes. Allow us to explain. About a month ago, we went to Rihanna at Toyota Center, and aft ... More >>

The Abortion Debate Part 2: Five Pro-Choice Songs

radicalrags.com​Yesterday Rocks Off allowed five musicians to voice their opposition to legalized abortion in this country through song. Today, we allow rebuttal from the pro-choice camp in order to give everyone their say. As a note, a conversation between writer an editor brought up Ben Fol ... More >>

Summer Fest Critic's Guide: Who We're Seeing At Tinsley

Jermaine Rogers​In three very short years, Free Press Summer Fest has gone from an experiment most people thought would fail to destination music festival most people wouldn't dare miss even if it is going to be 105 degrees outside. Rocks Off has seen quite a bit of online chatter from people ... More >>

Twilight Singers

Summer Fest Releases Stage Schedule, Set Times

Jermaine Rogers​If Rocks Off learned anything at iFest these past two weekends, it's that we should have started our own bottled-water franchise. And that when you go to a music festival, it's a good idea to know who is playing and when. Running around willy-nilly is all well and good unless i ... More >>

Margaret Cho: Cho Dependent Tour

She's singing - and still sassy

Discount iFest Tickets Through KPFT; GaGa On Sale Next Friday; Husk Blows Away; Free Ani D Tickets & Poster Show

Courtesy of iFest.org​The 40th anniversary of iFest is coming up next weekend, and this year music from the Caribbean will be spotlighted, with headliner and President of Funkadelia George Clinton (right; no relation to that other President). KPFT is also turning 40 this year, and for a limited ti ... More >>

Listology: Nava of The Last Place You Look's Favorite Vocalists

This weekend Thee Armada gets a proper send-off at the band's supposed final show ever at Warehouse Live Saturday night. Armada singer Josh Caddy is moving on to another band, and his bandmates are calling it a day. Some of Houston's best alt-rock bands are opening, including The Last Place You Loo ... More >>

Distant Early Warning: Angie Stone, Ani DiFranco, Beach House, Chrisette Michele, Dax Riggs, Johnny Winter, Yanni, etc.

​American Sharks, Passengers, Big Black Spiders, Young Brothers, The Mahas: Fri., Jan. 22, 8 p.m. Walter's on Washington. Angie Stone, Joe: Fri., March 26. Arena Theatre. Ani DiFranco: Thu., April 8. Warehouse Live. Beach House: Fri., April 23. Walter's on Washington. Blaspherian, HOD, Gravehill ... More >>

Twelve Musical Fuck Yous Better Than Gov. Ah-nuld's Coded Message

​Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray​We admit, we never thought he had it in him, but apparently the Governator is capable of human cleverness - just like all non-cybernetic organisms. That is, if we accept that the acrostic in this veto message here isn't just a coincidence (read the first ... More >>

The Power of Movement

Every top dance company in town comes together for a whirlwind concert

Samantha Ronson

Rodney Crowell, Forever the Houston Kid

Gasoline Dreams

Mail Call: What's in the Crate?

FrenetiCore Fringe Festival

A heaping sampler of local theater, dance, film and music

Alas, alak, Alaska!

Eerie lullabies to settle your case of the Mondays

Tristan Prettyman

Friday, June 30, at Walter's on Washington, 4215 Washington Avenue, 713-862-2513

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

Can't Touch the MMMBop

A new boxed set excavates the '90s

Various Artists

Bonnaroo 2004

Playbill

Playbill

Party Animals

Politically oriented matchmaking sites are surging toward the election

Ruthie Foster

Stages (Blue Corn Music)

Playbill

Bitch and Animal

Wednesday, April 7

Adieu, Monsieur Mojo

...And other SXSW adventures

Die Like an Eagle

Michael Franti and friends fight the hawks with hits

Time Trial

After nine months in a body cast and years of neglect in his home country, aging rocker Ed Hamell still aims to conquer America

Class Is Out

Once homeless, Tyler Perry now sells out the house

War on War Songs

Iraq and roll don't go together well when rockers protest

Lucy Kaplansky

Thursday, February 6

Back To Basics

Steven Van Zandt is dedicated to garage rock

Deep Thoughts

Lost and Delirious makes Jack Handey sound like Kant

Annie Lin

Math Pope (Ariadne Records)

Madonna

Music (Maverick/Warner Bros.)

Out In Sight

Gender bias and the FBI's eyes can't keep Janis Ian down

Paperless Record Deals

Local Music News

Righteous Babe

Ani DiFranco, poetess, goddess, funky folker, comes to town

Rotation

Rotation

Off the Wagon

Petty Woman

Wedding smothers the romantic comedy -- by embracing it hard

Rotation

Her Wayor No Way

Ani DiFranco's loner's resolve is beginning to pay off