Billie Holiday

Jailhouse Rock: When Artists Face Hard Time

Nothing earns an musician instant street cred quite like a night or two in the pokey. It's basically a rite of passage -- a guarantee that if you sign up for the public eye, you will, indeed, screw it up at least once in order to delight us with your antics. From the likes of good ol' boys like Mer ... More >>

In Plain Sight

McClain Gallery presents a cavalcade of Houston painting.

Lawndale's Stellar Studio Show

Three resident artists put on a strong group show.

The Tontons: "We Are Really Into ELO"

One of the best things about living in Houston is the music. The city is very diverse and unique, as are its bands. Not to mention some of the greatest artists have come from here from various genres: Scarface, ZZ Top, Clay Walker, and plenty more. Right at the cusp of the indie scene is none other ... More >>

One Kiss: The Music of Sigmund Romberg

Dee Dee Bridgewater

Revisiting Alicia Keys' 'Songs In A Minor'

There's a reason why we lauded Alicia Keys when her debut album Songs In A Minor dropped a little more than a decade ago. The young piano prodigy had the look of a new age starlet, Billie Holiday with a fedora and braids and on her 31st birthday, revisiting her classic debut album is a necessity. K ... More >>

Classic Christmas: Ella Fitzgerald's Ella Wishes You a Swinging Christmas

Over the holidays, we're looking back at some classic Christmas albums taking some track by track and just digging on others. ​There is an admission that I have to make having written all these Classic Christmas posts this year. When I think of Christmas, I don't think of carols or choirs or ... More >>

Capsule Stage Reviews: Damaged Divas of the Decades, Oliver Twist, Once on this Island, Skin Deep, Speed-the-Plow, There Is a Happiness That Morning Is

Capsule Stage Reviews: Damaged Divas of the Decades, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Oliver Twist, There Is a Happiness That Morning Is, Zombie Prom

Capsule Stage Reviews: Damaged Divas of the Decades, Debbie Does Dallas, the Musical, Galveston! the Musical!, Guys and Dolls

Capsule Stage Reviews: Anna in the Tropics, Damaged Divas of the Decades, Ether Dome, Farragut North, Republic Day, Woof

Capsule Stage Reviews: Damaged Divas of the Decades, Farragut North, Goodbye Charlie, Kissless the Musical, Once Upon a Mattress, A Triumph of Love

Capsule Stage Reviws: Damaged Divas of the Decades, Once Upon a Mattress, Sylvia

Diva-licious

Music Box Theater brings big-city, high-style cabaret to Houston.

Diana Ross

No Fools

Mingling Cat Power and the Cure, Warpaint brings glee to even their darkest songs.

"Summertime" From Beyond The Grave

​Today marks the 44th anniversary of Janis Joplin's first gig with Big Brother and the Holding Company. One of rock's most staggering vocalists, Joplin became another star who left us too soon on October 4, 1970, when she overdosed on heroin while recording Pearl. George Gershwin's "Summertime" wa ... More >>

Listology: Nick Gaitan of the Octanes and The Umbrella Man's Favorite Female Vocalists

This is a big week for all-everything Houston bassist Nick Gaitan. Not only have his Monday-night Continental Club gigs with atomic-powered rockabilly trio the Octanes been steadily been picking up steam, his other band The Umbrella Man - which just happens to play Tuesday nights at the very same p ... More >>

Happy Hour Scene - Boheme

​If you blink, you might miss Boheme. The coffee shop-by-day, cocktails-by-night hideaway is tucked away on Fairview between Morgan and Taft. On Thursday nights, Boheme gives you the perfect excuse to drink - Spacetaker's Cultured Cocktails Happy Hour. Each week from 5 to 10 p.m., a portion of ... More >>

Are "Folsom Prison Blues" and Jane's Addiction's "Summertime Rolls" Appropriate Lullabys for Children?

​ Despite our collective knowledge of many arcane forms of music here at Rocks Off, we have noticed that we are remarkably deficient when it comes to lullabies. This deficiency which has been compounded by our complete and utter refusal to succumb to the twisted evil that is most children's music ... More >>

Bayou City Buzz

Houston's SXSW class — and we mean class — of 2009

An American Idol From Jasper

We've had our Aggie American Idol. Now we have one from Jasper.Michael Sarver, according to those who watch American Idol, has gotten himself into the finals, or the semi-finals, or whatever it is that's a step beyond the comic-relief idiot tryouts.As the Beaumont Enterprise reports, Sarver is ready ... More >>

Selecting The Proper Valentine's Day Soundtrack

A Fine Romance

Tontons Start ChipIn Account to Replace Stolen Gear

Martin Ez A few weeks back, we all remember hearing about how Tontons guitarist (guitar god, really) Adam Martinez had his gear stolen out of the back of his car in Montrose. The quartet was in the middle of recording its first full-length, and this equipment was integral to Martinez's signature ... More >>

Music to Shuffle Off This Mortal Coil

Riff Tiffs, Tontons, Fat Tony, Lisa's Sons

Mp3: The Tontons, “Sea and Stars”

Mail Call

Special Clay Aiken Edition

A Whole Other Magic

Dianne Reeves's good luck story

Chico Hamilton

Juniflip, Believe, 6th Ave. Romp, Heritage

For the Sake of the Song

Corinne Bailey Rae makes music -- and history

Yvonne Washington

Tuesday, February 14, McGonigel's Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk, 713-528-5999.

Proud Marie

A fiery poet shares her Home Grown flow

Jill Scott

Beautifully Human: Words and Sounds Vol. 2 (Hidden Beach)

Ruthie Foster

Stages (Blue Corn Music)

Everything Old Is New Again

What do punks the Dropkick Murphys have in common with soulful Norah Jones? More than you think.

Macy Gray

Various Artists

Ken Burns Jazz: The Story of America's Music (Columbia Legacy)

Plain Is Beautiful

JacQuisine isn't exciting, creative or hip. But it is good.

Play It Again, Sham

A band reunion becomes gentle satire in Still Crazy

Night & Day

March 26-April 1, 1998

Tough Customer

Press Picks

A Day to Remember

Stages digs into the joy, and the pain, of Billie Holiday's life

Rotation

Everything Fest, Part Two

Sound Check

Press Picks

Rotation