Anita Baker

Idol Chatter

Idol Chatter

Critic's Choice

Executive Sax

Saxy Stuff

Executive Sax

Leela James: Let's Do It Again

Executive Sax

The Essence of Gordon Chambers

From journalist to songwriter to singer

Borrowed Stories

Ruthie Foster on love and politics

Dream Girl

Tasheba Bryan on an open mic

The Naked Truth

Plus: Osteen's Off, Extra Innings at Rogers, All That Jazz

Local Album of the Week: Leela James' Let's Do It Again

Leela James Let's Do It Again www.leelajames.com To understand what an arresting, puzzling record Leela James' Let's Do It Again really is, look no further than the L.A. native and adopted Houstonian's cover of Foreigner's mid-'80s soft-rock/gospel-lite singalong "I Want to Know What Love Is." ... More >>

Idol Beat: Hold On, I'm Coming (That's What She Said)

"Look at your man. Now look at me. Now look at American Idol."​This is the 12th week of the season of American Idol. We're down to the top 10 contestants. We're more than halfway home. In other words, this is when I'm ready for it to be over. This week's mentor and guest star is Usher, who's ... More >>

American Idol: Hold On, I'm Coming (That's What She Said)

"Look at your man. Now look at me. Now look at American Idol."​This is the 12th week of the season of American Idol. We're down to the top 10 contestants. We're more than halfway home. In other words, this is when I'm ready for it to be over. This week's mentor and guest star is Usher, who's ... More >>

Remember hasHBrown's Sounds from the Backseat?

Houston's history is dotted with albums that, fairly or not, have been swept aside. We'll examine them here. Have an album that you think nobody knows about but should? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. ​hasHBrown Sounds from the Backseat (Council Music Group, 2009) In prepping to write our forth ... More >>

Soul City: The Amazing Jazz Crusaders

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 back to that down-and-dirty old-school chicken-shack sound" mosaicrecords.com​While Houston ... More >>

Dangerous Men

Atmospheric rockers Pale leave L.A. for Houston - and a record deal.

1986: Best Musical Year Ever?

​For almost two weeks now, Rocks Off has been obsessed with the year exactly 25 flips of the calendar backward from this one. It started when Steve Earle did one of his "Time Machine" shows, where the singer-songwriter who plays House of Blues Wednesday spotlights a dozen or so of his favorite ... More >>