Built To Spill

Last Night: Built To Spill At Fitzgerald's

Built to Spill Fitzgerald's March 12, 2012 After an interview last week with Built to Spill front man Doug Martsch, we noted how humble the rocker was. Modest, even. Our observation was upheld Monday night, as Martsch and his bearded band walked onstage, setting up their own gear before their sold ... More >>

Lucero: Memphis Band Loves Horns, Texas "Knuckleheads"

It's always reassuring to know that some things never change - like Houston concert audiences' loutish reputation. "Houston is notorious for its knuckleheads," says Lucero lead guitarist Brian Venable, who doesn't seem to hold a grudge. If there were any doubt that the Memphis alt.country rockers ... More >>

Idaho Gem

Built to Spill's Doug Martsch is the most laid-back guy around, except when talking about basketball.

Mess With Texas Festival Returns To Mess With SXSW

Mess With Texas, Austin's antidote to the crowds of badge-holders clogging the streets and the mile-long lines coming out of showcases during South By Southwest, has returned for 2012 with a lengthy lineup for three days of music, March 15th, 16th, and 17th. This year the festival will be located at ... More >>

Friday Night: Tontons, Wild Moccasins, A Sea Es at Fitzgerald's

Check out pics from the Tontons' tour kickoff in our slideshow. Friday night's wonderful assortment of tasty sweet indie pop was just that -- delicious! Now, you're probably wondering if you can you have some cheese with that opening description. Why yes, you can, metaphorically, at least. Ima ... More >>

Distant Early Warning: Al Green, Balaclavas, Built To Spill, Gladys Knight, Los Campesinos!

​Al Green: Fri., April 27. Arena Theatre, 7326 SW Freeway, Houston. Balaclavas, Black Congress, Psychic Palms: Fri., Jan. 13. Mango's, 403 Westheimer Road, Houston. Ben Kweller: Thu., April 19. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak, Houston. Brandi Carlile: Wed., Feb. 8. House of Blues, 1204 Carolin ... More >>

Huh-Huh-Huh: 20 Bands Beavis and Butt-Head Turned Us Onto

​Next Monday, Beavis and Butt-Head returns to MTV with original episodes for the first time in 14 years. The final episode of the show's original run aired on November 28, 1997, and marked the closing of a chapter of our lives. Not only were they instrumental in forming our vocabulary - fartkn ... More >>

For Labor Day: 10 Songs About Childbirth

kidzcareonline.com​Cyril Connolly said "There is no more sombre enemy of good art than the pram in the hall." The famed English literary critic knew, like several here at Rocks Off, that having kids puts a hell of a dent in a parent's free time, and the constant demands of children can make at ... More >>

Some Can Whistle: A Playlist To Don't Worry, Be Happy

​It's often the little things that make our favorite songs our favorites - the curious, unforeseen additions of small touches like an understated bit of whistling. For those who like to categorize their playlists into themes, we present you with the Rocks Off approved Whistle Playlist. The S ... More >>

The Worst Local Crowds Of 2010

Jason Wolter​Editor's Pick: I am so sick of complaining about Houston crowds, ill-behaved as they are, but I will say to whoever decided it would be funny to take Bobby Bare Jr.'s glasses off the stage at Hayes Carll's Warehouse show Tuesday night and put them on: That was not cool. Neph Bas ... More >>

Saturday Night: Dr. Dog At Warehouse Live

Photos by Jim Bricker​Dr. Dog Warehouse Live November 13, 2010 Fans packed into Warehouse Live Saturday as Houston's temperatures dropped from balmy to brisk in what seemed like minutes. But the crowd had clearly braced themselves for such conditions, breaking out their seldom-used winter acc ... More >>

Last Night: Aaron Lewis At Verizon Wireless Theater

Photos by Matthew Keever​Aaron Lewis Verizon Wireless Theater November 1, 2010 As Aaron Lewis walked out onto the stage at Verizon Wireless Theater last night, he was met with a roar of applause - audience members stood from their seats, cheering and carrying on, while Lewis smiled, waved and ... More >>

Last Night: Built To Spill At House Of Blues

Photos by Jason Wolter​Built to Spill House of Blues October 21, 2010 While Thursday's chatty House of Blues crowd mingled and awaited Built to Spill's 10 p.m. set time, most hardly noticed that the band was already strolling the stage, casually setting up their own gear. Such nonchalance may ... More >>

There Is No Enemy

Built to Spill regains 90s form on new album.

Summer Swoon

Proudly independent, recent Grammy nominees Silversun Pickups aren't ready to hit the "Panic Switch."

Upcoming: AA Bondy, Built To Spill, Chris Knight, Ra Ra Riot, Etc.

​2Cents, Season's After, Taking Dawn: Sat., July 31. Warehouse Live. AA Bondy, JBM: Sat., Aug. 14. Mango's. Andre Williams: Sat., Aug. 21. Continental Club. Anthony Hamilton, Kem, Jaheim & Raheem DeVaughn: Sat., Sept. 4. Toyota Center. A.R. Rahman: CHANGED Fri., Sept. 17. Toyota Center. ... More >>

Music Cities

Texas has its own brand of March Madness

Our Texas High School Rock Off Preview, Part 1: Useful Information and The Paperwaits

This Friday, House of Blues hosts the first (and perhaps only) Texas High School Rock Off, co-sponsored by Fuse, Sonicbids and Rocks Off our own damn selves. See here for information on tickets, which start at the allowance-friendly price of $8. The winner receives $500, a trophy and an opening slot ... More >>

(Don't) Book 'Em, Dano: 42 Artists Who Have Absolutely No Business Touring Together

​ When Rocks Off received word last week that indie duo The Big Pink was embarking on a 2010 tour with NYC's A Place to Bury Strangers, our initial thought was, "Cool," followed closely by, "Ew." For once, there's a promo poster we really have no desire to see. But then our next thought was, "Coul ... More >>

Tonight: Florida Indie Beach Boys Surfer Blood Sail Into Mango's

​Florida-based indie kids Surfer Blood pull into Mango's tonight, touring ahead of their upcoming Astro Coast LP. The band was recently anointed by Rolling Stone's online feature "Hype Monitor" as "bright and booming and hooky as FM radio in the late '70s." Rocks Off can hear traces of early "Blue ... More >>

Aftermath: Dinosaur Jr., Built to Spill and a Whole Lotta Gear at Warehouse Live

Photos by Jody Perry​ Fans in the crowd at Warehouse Live's Dinosaur Jr. show Friday night should have known what was in store for them when J Mascis' roadies began setting up his equipment. Six amps for a single guitar player. If you thought the show was loud, imaging standing three feet in front ... More >>

Fall In

John Mayer Is Full of Crap

​Something about John Mayer just gets under Rocks Off's skin. We'll admit there was a time he made us believe our body was a wonderland, and yes, we've even wanted to "run through the halls of our high school and scream at the top of our lungs." But no more. The quiet little guitar player we once ... More >>

Aftermath: The McKenzies, the Howlies and Springfield Riots at the Mink

Photos by Chris GrayThe McKenzies To Aftermath, the Mink's Backroom has always seemed more like a house than a music venue - especially inside, with the dark floors, corner bars and abundant, comfortable seating, it's like one of those cozy but spacious multi-resident dwellings where we all went to ... More >>

Single-Album Sets We'd Like to See, Part 1: Bob Dylan, George Strait, The Pogues and More

Initiated by indie-rockers like Sonic Youth, Slint and Built to Spill at mid-2000s festivals - UK/U.S. hopover All Tomorrow's Parties and its various tie-ins being the most prominent - playing a beloved LP front to back in concert is now the hottest thing going on the classic-rock circuit. Within th ... More >>

The Last Roundup: Wild Moccasins Almost Home, Michael Jackson's MC Friends and More

Kim DouglassThat's right, we're using it again...IndieHouston is keeping up with those crazy kids in Wild Moccasins, who will be home next weekend playing Mango's for Buxton's 7-inch release party. Hands Up Houston is giving early warning all over the place: Dinosaur Jr and Built to Spill at Warehou ... More >>

Dear Sy~3nc3

What Makes “Free Bird” So Damn Good?

Lelia Rodgers's Matagorda Island Discs

No Age: Nouns

Built to Spill, Meat Puppets

My Music Tastes Suck Now and I Couldn’t Care Less

Friday Night: Six Organs of Admittance at Walter’s

Local Motion

Independence Day

What's indie rock? Who cares? Here's ten great CDs that will blow you away, no matter your definition

Band of Horses

Saturday, June 24, at Walter's on Washington, 4215 Washington Avenue, 713-862-2513

Freestyle Fellowship

Sometimes awesome live bands also make magic in the studio

Guitar-Shredding on the High Seas

Built to Spill and the Decemberists offer alternate takes on alt-rock

Elf Rock

The Decemberists bring their magic-realist, Picaresque new album to town

dune*TX

goldenARM (Tasty Melon Records)

Walla Confusion

Death Cab for Cutie sees itself as just a guitar band. You might not agree.

Famous Potatoes

Idaho's Built to Spill survives the indie-to-major metamorphosis with its street cred intact

Rotation

"Fly" Boys