Subject:

Arts, Entertainment, and Media

  • Blogs

    April 23, 2012

    Coachella: Best Of Weekend 2, Day 3

    Sunday, our friends at LA Weekly and OC Weekly trekked out to the desert for one more day -- ed. By the third day of Coachella's second weekend -- the sixth and final day of this year's festival -- folks had more or less learned to ignore the dust and the heat. Here are our intrepid writers' favor ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 22, 2012

    Coachella: The Buzzcocks' Steve Diggle Beats The Heat

    You're hot, uncomfortable, overwhelmed by the 106-degree temperature and don't know what to do. The good news? Buzzcocks guitarist Steve Diggle empathizes with you. As a veteran of the punk-rock circuit and festival scene, Diggle knows a thing or two about surviving in the elements. Here are the fi ... More >>

  • Music

    April 19, 2012

    Playing for Keeps: Vinyl Essentials

    Here's our must-haves if you're kick-starting a record collection.

  • Music

    April 19, 2012

    Rapper's Delight

    North Houston's shrine to old-school hip-hop may be the only bar of its kind anywhere.

  • Music

    April 19, 2012

    Vinyl Gets Another Spin

    Showing it has more lives than a cockroach, vinyl has been reborn, resulting in some beautiful music. But sometimes production values in records and turntables are lacking.

  • Calendar

    April 19, 2012

    Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading Series: W.S. Merwin

    Showing it has more lives than a cockroach, vinyl has been reborn, resulting in some beautiful music. But sometimes production values in records and turntables are lacking.

  • Blogs

    April 18, 2012

    Supergroups: 10 Bands That Sprang From Other Bands

    From the remnants of other great bands are often birthed more great bands. Oftentimes these little side projects go under the radar unless you are a hardcore fan, or the new band itself gains a lot of airplay or word of mouth. Either way, some of the greatest rock bands of all time have been birthe ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 18, 2012

    The Dead Come Back Alive, On Big Screen, For One Night Only

    Grateful Dead concerts were always something of a time machine that took both casual fans and hardcore Deadheads back to another era. And for one night only, the machine goes back more than 20 years -- to July 18, 1989 to be exact -- for the Grateful Dead Second Annual Meet-Up At the Movies. A film ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 17, 2012

    Readers Poll: The Most Underrated Rock Albums Of The '90s

    For this week's readers poll, I asked our Facebook and Twitter chums their choices for the most underrated and unsung albums of the '90s. We all agree on things like Nevermind, Harvest Moon, Mezzanine, The Soft Bulletin, Odelay and OK Computer, but what about albums that fall through the cracks of ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 16, 2012

    Missed Opportunities: 10 Musicians Who Turned Down Big Hits

    Have you ever had one of those moments where you thought to yourself, "Why did I do that?" or "Why did I turn that down?" Those kinds of moments happen to all of us. It's part of life, unfortunately. This happens all the time in the movie world, but you never seem to hear about it in the music worl ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 16, 2012

    Rap Round Table: The Best Female Rapper Of All Time Is...

    Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Each week, Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. This Week's Panel: Zavey, hasHBrown, Scooby, Medicine Girl, Nicki Minaj, Renzo, Rob Gullatte, more. Not Invited: Hologram Tupac This Week's Promp ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 14, 2012

    Robin Gibb Of The Bee Gees Falls Into Coma

    Robin Gibb, one-third of fraternal British/Australian '70s disco-pop superstars the Bee Gees, fell into a coma Friday night in a private London hospital, according to wire services. Reuters reports that Gibb, 62, is surrounded by his family. He was hospitalized for pneumonia earlier this earlier t ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 13, 2012

    A Letter To Tyga: You Made Us Wait Too Long Thursday

    Tyga did finally go onstage... well after 1 a.m.Dear Tyga, Look, Michael -- may I call you Michael? Michael, I'll be honest: What happened Thursday night hurt. A lot. I don't know if you ever showed up -- I heard you went onstage a little after 1 a.m., and I want to believe that, but I believe ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 13, 2012

    Lionel Richie Vs. Chuck Norris: Who Would Win?

    So far the musical comeback of the year has been Lionel Richie, hands down. Last week the Alabama-born crooner's new album in three years, Tuskegee, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with sales of almost 200,000 copies. According to The Hollywood Reporter, if about 185,000 copies of Madonna's MD ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 11, 2012

    Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw Playing Reliant Stadium August 4

    Rocks Off is used to seeing these kinds of announcements only around the Rodeo or at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. But two of country music's top alpha males, Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw, will bring their "Brothers of the Sun" tour to Reliant Stadium Saturday, August 4, promoter AEG announced today ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 10, 2012

    Houston Scores Big-Time In Latest Edition Of Encyclopedia Of Country Music: Part 5

    While Houston played a huge part in the early history of country music, by the end of the 1950s a new breed of artist was coming on the scene. Western Swing, for all purposes, was a relic, and although honky-tonk was still a force in the charts and on radio, its share of the pie was waning. The arr ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 9, 2012

    Bonna-What?: How 7 U.S. Music Festivals Got Their Names

    This whole week, the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, featuring the Black Keys, Radiohead, Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, Pulp, At the Drive-In, the Shins, AVICII, David Guetta and maybe one or two others, will be all anyone who follows music these days will be talking about. Then early next week, it' ... More >>

  • Music

    April 5, 2012

    Devil in the Woodpile

    Hard-country hillbilly Marty Stuart is always pickin' on Nashville.

  • Blogs

    April 5, 2012

    Ask A Rapper: Killa Cal-Wayne's Dissertation On Gangster Rap

    The hip-hop world is a less than sensible place -- lots of times, you're even required to clarify when bad means bad and when bad means good -- so once a week we're going to get with a rapper and ask them to explain things. Something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. T ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 5, 2012

    Notice: Mariah Carey Still Has More No. 1 Singles Than Elvis

    Four years ago this week, Mariah Carey made music history by scoring the 18th No. 1 single of her career. Think about that for a second: If you're reading this, Mariah Carey has recorded more No. 1 singles than women you've had sex with (a lot more). What makes the feat even more incredible is that ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 4, 2012

    Circle Takes The Square: Casting The H-Town Version of Hip Hop Squares

    News broke last week that MTV2, MTV's sister network nominally dedicated to actual music, is reviving the classic Hollywood Squares format as Hip Hop Squares, an over-the-top tic-tac-toe game featuring urban personalities including actor/comedian Nick Cannon; record producer DJ Khaled; rappers Fat J ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 3, 2012

    Houston Scores Big-Time In Latest Edition Of Encyclopedia Of Country Music: Part 4

    Our fourth installment of Houston-area country-music pioneers honored with inclusion in the second edition of The Encyclopedia of Country Music details the last of an amazing group of local musicians from the '30s, '40s, and '50s who left their brand on the people's music. While the Appalachian and ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 3, 2012

    Forget Kraftwerk, 5 Acts We'd Like To See In Houston Museums

    Next week, German electronic-music pioneers Kraftwerk will perform eight of their albums in their entirety, from 1974's Autobahn through 2003's Tour de France, at New York City's Museum of Modern Art. The album that spawned the closest thing duo had to a "pop hit," the title track of 1977's Trans-Eu ... More >>

  • Blogs

    April 2, 2012

    15 Things Rocks Off Learned Watching The ACM Awards

    Sunday nights, I usually like to watch The Amazing Race after 60 Minutes. I don't usually watch much reality television at all, but something about the combination of total incompetence, vicious backstabbing and exotic locales as several, two-person teams race around the globe is completely intoxica ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 30, 2012

    Last Night: The-Dream At Fitzgerald's

    The-Dream, Jack Freeman, Lee-Lonn March 29, 2012 Fitzgerald's "When you're fucking the wrong bitch, bad things happen." The-Dream, clad in a black T-shirt, some cheap Ray-Ban frames with a Raiders snapback and those rather extravagant "You Aren't Really Up On This" Nike MAGs shoes said that Thursd ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 29, 2012

    10 Things We Learned At The Awready! Houston Hip Hop Conference

    The much-anticipated Awready! Houston Hip-Hop Music Conference was held Wednesday at the University of Houston, drawing in academics, screwheads, and media alike. The conference is a joint venture between the University of Houston Libraries and Rice University's H.E.R.E. Project (Houston Enriches Ri ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 29, 2012

    RIP Earl Scruggs: 4 Other Icons For Odd Musical Instruments

    Rocks Off was saddened to hear this morning that bluegrass great Earl Scruggs passed away Wednesday in a Nashville hospital at age 88. It's safe to say that the North Carolina native, best known for his fruitful partnership with guitarist Lester Flatt, was the most famous banjo player in the world. ... More >>

  • Calendar

    March 29, 2012

    Hahn & Enigma Variations

    Rocks Off was saddened to hear this morning that bluegrass great Earl Scruggs passed away Wednesday in a Nashville hospital at age 88. It's safe to say that the North Carolina native, best known for his fruitful partnership with guitarist Lester Flatt, was the most famous banjo player in the world. ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 28, 2012

    This Grandpa Only Knows Five Bands On This Year's Warped Tour

    It's my job to have at least a passing knowledge of what most bands and artists sound like. In my one of seven capacities here at the paper, I am in charge of music listings, those things in the back of the paper that tell you what is happening every week. (While I am on the subject, I need let yo ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 28, 2012

    Readers Poll: The Best Third Albums Ever

    This week in 1980, Van Halen released their third album Women And Children First, which contained the hits "And the Cradle Will Rock...," "Everybody Wants Some!! and fan favorite "Romeo Delight." It's not the best VH album ever, but it was, in fact, their third album. Most VH super-freaks I know an ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 27, 2012

    A Very Special Message: The 10 Best Rock-Star Public Service Announcements

    Ever since the Ad Council introduced the "Rosie the Riveter" poster, public service announcements have either warned us of the dangers of such risky behaviors as having unsafe sex, as well as reasons you should vote, or even to spay and neuter your pets. As rock and roll became more popular, artists ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 27, 2012

    Houston Scores Big-Time In Latest Editon Of Encyclopedia Of Country Music: Part 3

    The further one digs into the second edition of The Encyclopedia of Country Music, the deeper one's appreciation of the contributions of Houston's country-music pioneers becomes. Yeah, just check out the black circles under the eyes and drunk-ass grins on Leon Payne's band above. That photo alone sp ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 27, 2012

    Sugarland Says It Will Play New BBVA Compass Stadium

    Updated with comments from BBVA Compass Stadium Director of Marketing, PR & Booking Gina Rotolo -- 12:24 p.m. Pop-country duo Sugarland will be playing the Houston Dynamo's new stadium, BBVA Compass Stadium, the band announced in a set of tour dates on its Web site. The show, scheduled for Aug. 26, ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 27, 2012

    Madonna's New MDNA Is Quality Dangerous Grandmother Monster

    Today Madonna's 12th studio album, MDNA, is in stores and on iTunes. It's her first since 2008's Hard Candy, and the album title is already bringing the ire of electronic artist deadmau5, who took exception with what he saw as her excessive use of drug references in tandem with her new sound. The ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 26, 2012

    Friday Night: That Big Metal Show At Bayou Music Center

    That Big Metal Show Bayou Music Center March 23, 2012 Early in his band's set on Friday night, Downfall 2012 front man Danny Gil told the crowd to expect something special. "Get ready for a metal show like you've never seen," he said. Gill wasn't exaggerating -- Downfall 2012 delivered a dense s ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 26, 2012

    Friday Night: Winter Jam 2012 At Toyota Center

    Winter Jam 2012 feat. Skillet, Sanctus Real, Peter Furler, Kari Jobe, Building 429, Dara Maclean and Group 1 Crew March 23, 2012 Toyota Center Hosted by NewSong and starring Skillet, Sanctus Real, Peter Furler (former lead singer of the Newsboys), Kari Jobe, Building 429, Dara Maclean, Group 1 Crew ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 26, 2012

    Aerosmith & Cheap Trick Rock Toyota Center July 30

    This morning Aerosmith, the band that wouldn't die (or refuses to go away), announced a Houston stop on this summer's "Global Warming" tour at Toyota Center Monday, July 30. Taking a break from the casino/state-fair circuit, Illinois power-pop heroes Cheap Trick open. Aerosmith is still be rumored ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 26, 2012

    ZZ Top & Their Gang Of Outlaws Hit The Woodlands June 23

    ZZ Top is returning to the Houston stage June 23 at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, for their "Gang Of Outlaws" tour, along with openers 3 Doors Down and Gretchen Wilson. Before you complain, Rocks Off would like to kindly remind that ZZ Top is the greatest group to come from Texas and the Ho ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 26, 2012

    Justin Bieber's "Boyfriend" And The Death Of The Word "Swag"

    Sunday night, when Justin Bieber's new song "Boyfriend" dropped, the social-media landscape at large began comparing it to the work of Justin Timberlake, the music industry's somewhat dormant leading man. I was sad, because I like the Timberlake. Justin Bieber, I bought Justin Timberlake records, ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 22, 2012

    Top 5 Old Musicians Actually Using Twitter

    Like youth itself, Twitter is wasted on the young. But not everyone over 35 has completely tuned it out -- after a recent upgrade to a smartphone, even I'm using it now after years of Twitterphobia. (Hit me up at @ThePhantomTX.) Since I've been on, I've learned that most musicians have handed off t ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 20, 2012

    Law and Order: Top 10 Best (Or Worst) Musicians' Arrests

    Nobody is above the law - not even musicians even though some of them may think they are. However, some of their outrageous behavior has become legendary. Others have spawned rumors, killed their careers and/or made them the butt of many jokes. In fact, this makes me wonder why there is not a cele ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 20, 2012

    Houston Scores Big Time In Latest Editon Of Encyclopedia Of Country Music: Part 2

    Our second installment of Houston connections in the recently published second edition of The Encyclopedia of Country Music is a truly monumental list of writers, performers and performances that show that while Houston may not have been the musical business center that Nashville became, the Bayou C ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 16, 2012

    SXSW: Lil Wayne's YMCMB Showcase At Austin Music Hall

    ​"I believe in three things: I believe in God; I believe that I ain't shit without you, and I believe that I ain't shit without you!" - Lil Wayne to his fans After being shut out of the T.I./B.O.B show at La Zona Rosa by order of the fire marshal, I headed over to see Lil Wayne at the Austin Mu ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 16, 2012

    Rumor: Eminem To Perform At Tonight's Shady Records SXSW Party

    Most of the world's biggest rappers - Jay-Z, Kanye West, Snoop Dogg, T.I., 50 Cent - have performed in Austin within the past week, are about to perform, or are at least in the city partaking in the SXSW festivities. Rocks Off was leaving Stubb's late Thursday night and heard Snoop Dogg performing ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 15, 2012

    Pulling A Cee-Lo: 11 More Contemporary Artists Who Need Their Own Vegas Residency

    ​Cee-Lo Green raised eyebrows a couple of weeks ago when he announced that he was settling down -- in Las Vegas. The Grammy-winning "Fuck You" singer says that his new semi-permanent show, "Loberace," will launch Aug. 29 at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino on the Vegas Strip and run at least throu ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 15, 2012

    Fool's Gold Makers Dirty And Nasty Discuss... Fool's Gold

    The hip-hop world is a less than sensible place - lots of times, you're even required to clarify when bad means bad and when bad means good - so once a week we're going to get with a rapper and ask them to explain things. Something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. Thi ... More >>

  • Calendar

    March 15, 2012

    Baroque on the Border

    The hip-hop world is a less than sensible place - lots of times, you're even required to clarify when bad means bad and when bad means good - so once a week we're going to get with a rapper and ask them to explain things. Something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. Thi ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 12, 2012

    Alert: SXSW Coverage Ahead -- 50 Cent And Much More

    "What I want from each and every one of you is a hard-target search of every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in that area." -- Tommy Lee Jones, The Fugitive You don't have to spend much time at South By Southwest to know that all of the above building ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 12, 2012

    Last Night: Go Tejano Day At Reliant Stadium

    Go Tejano Day feat. Duelo, La Original Banda El Limon, Mariachi Invitational Finalists RodeoHouston, Reliant Stadium March 11, 2012 The rain didn't dampen the mariachi spirit last night. Check out our slideshow from Go Tejano Day. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Tejano is dead. But tha ... More >>

  • Blogs

    March 9, 2012

    Top 10 Possible Future RodeoHouston Performers

    The hardest thing about making a list of possible future RodeoHouston performers is making sure to color inside the lines, which means the things that I want probably wouldn't work. Sure, the Black Keys on opening night and the Rolling Stones doing an-all country set to close out the season would be ... More >>

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