Delbert McClinton

Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Members of local rockers American Fangs battle a self-proclaimed vampire on tour.

Delbert McClinton: "Honestly, I've Never Figured Houston Out"

At 72, Delbert McClinton has been about everywhere and done about everything you can do: hung out with the Beatles; worked as a sideman for Bruce Channel where he played harmonica on a national hit, "Hey, Baby;" wrote a No. 1 hit for Emmylou Harris, "Two More Bottles of Wine"; dropped four albums th ... More >>

Delbert McClinton Keeps Satisfying His Jones

It's noon, and 72-year-old Delbert McClinton sounds like he's just woken up and maybe had the first cigarette of the day. But he's a pro and is ready to talk about his career, his forthcoming New West Records album with old running buddy Glen Clark, Blind, Crippled & Crazy, and his experiences in Ho ... More >>

Wanda Jackson

Freedom Over Texas

Paul Thorn Wonders What The Hell Is Going On?

Paul Thorn is in Nettleton, Miss., standing in his front yard watching his 8-year old daughter bounce on the trampoline while he takes yet another interview call. Asked if another time would be better, he demurs. "No, no, no, this is great," drawls Thorn. "I understand and my family understands th ... More >>

George Strait's Top 20 Songs Of All Time: Nos. 15-11

​Today's installment of our 20 favorite George Strait songs, which we began Wednesday, comes with word that Billboard is projecting his brand-new Here For a Good Time to debut on top of next week's Billboard 200. It will take some work, but he could just knock off Lil Wayne's Tha Carter IV. Wi ... More >>

Sgt. Pepper & Three Other Bum Albums By Rock Icons

​It was 40 (four) years ago today - in the UK, and tomorrow in the U.S. - that Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play, history stopped, the Summer of Love began, and critics freaked the fuck out. When the Beatles released their LSD-soaked counterpunch to the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds in June 1967, K ... More >>

The Five Most Texan Types Of Music

​Happy San Jacinto Day, fellow Texans and people who wish they were; i.e. everyone else. If you don't know why today is special, shame on you. But since us Texans are a friendly sort, allow Rocks Off to fill you in. On April 21, 1836, Texian forces under Gen. Sam Houston (aka "Big Drunk") lau ... More >>

Vince Gill Heads Huge Weekend Of Music In Conroe

​This one has sorta snuck up on us, but this weekend Conroe is bulging with top quality Americana and country music. The centerpiece of the weekend is Saturday's writers-in-the-round at the Crighton Theater, which features Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill, big-time songwriter Tony Ara ... More >>

Mavis Staples Will Take You There - Conroe - Friday Night

​Apparently there are still plenty of tickets for Mavis Staples in Conroe Friday night. Part of the Sounds of Texas Music Series at the Crighton Theater, the show also includes gospel-rocker Mike Farris. Staples, a recent Best Contemporary Blues Grammy nominee for her Live: Hope At The Hideout, is ... More >>

Inquiring Minds: Pocket Full of Soul Director and Harmonica Apologist Marc Lempert

As you can also see in this week's print edition of the Press - yes, we still make those - Rocks Off recently had a chance to chat via email with Marc Lempert, director of the harmonica documentary Pocket Full of Soul that screens Saturday night at Verizon before a demonstration of the instrument's ... More >>

Delbert McClinton

Somewhere Trouble Don't Go

The best Texas albums of 2009...or what we could squeeze in.

Blow Out

Yes, the harmonica is a real instrument, insists Pocket Full of Soul director Marc Lempert.

Send Lawyers, Guns & Money: Nine Non-Boring Songs About the Work Attorneys Do

Rocks Off's local watering hole is frequented by a lawyer named Eugene Lawley, whom we always refer to as our Walker Percy. Lawley has more than a small literary bent - we hardly ever mention a book he hasn't read - and has a fine ear for song lyrics. His sister wrote themes for television and movi ... More >>

Distant Early Warning: Cactus Music Second Anniversary, Delbert McClinton, the Marley Brothers, Mindy Smith, Queen Latifah, the Slackers, Vallejo, etc.

​"Cactus Music 2nd Anniversary Party" With The Flamin' Hellcats, DJ Joey McKeel: Fri., Oct. 30, 7 p.m. Cactus Music and Video. Arthur Yoria, Colin Lake: Wed., Oct. 28. Warehouse Live. Delbert McClinton: Sat., Dec. 26. Verizon Wireless Theater. Dir En Grey: Mon., Nov. 2. Warehouse Live. "ArrowFest ... More >>

Five Direct Beatles Connections to Texas

Four postcards included in the limited edition of The Beatles: Rock Band​ Looks like Beatlemania 2.0 is in full swing. Rocks Off may have mentioned how excited we are to play The Beatles: Rock Band at Coffee Groundz tonight, with prizes, drink specials and much laughter as we try to gnash our way ... More >>

Lonesome Onry and Mean: Delbert McClinton Should Go Honky-Tonkin' More Often

​LOM has been listening to Delbert McClinton's new album Acquired Taste (New West), which hits stores next Tuesday, quite a bit lately. We've always been a fan of Delbert's and consider him to be one of the leading proponents of what we consider Texas music. Much like Doug Sahm, the Fort Wort ... More >>

A Musical Guide to Post-Secession Texas: "Palo Duro"

View Five States of Texas in a larger map As any proud Texan can tell you, the Lone Star State is entitled constitutionally to split into five states if it so wishes. The scenario has rarely been more in the news than it has relatively recently, when Gov. Rick Perry played to the wingnut gallery in ... More >>

Sahm Does Sahm

Aftermath: Bonnie Raitt at Verizon Wireless Theater

Photos by Craig Hlavaty For someone with such a deep California/New England pedigree - daughter of Broadway/Hollywood actor John Raitt, schooled at Radcliffe and the Northeast coffeehouse '60s folk scene, now living in Northern California - Bonnie Raitt sure gets Texas music. She could almost be the ... More >>

Lonesome Onry and Mean: R.I.P. Stephen Bruton

Photos courtesy New West Records Stephen Bruton, one of Austin's great pickers, songwriters, and good citizens, died Saturday of throat cancer, which he had battled for years, according to a press release by his label, New West Records. The 60-year-old Bruton came out of the school of influential Fo ... More >>

Seth Walker: Leap of Faith

On The Scene At The Houston Tea Party

In the end, it exceeded the expectations of even its once-seemingly wildly overenthusiastic organizers. Approximately 3,500 pissed-off demonstrators packed Jones Plaza for a warm-up blues-rock concert and harangues about high taxes, debt, bail-outs, and socialism.     You'd have t ... More >>

Lost Tuneage: Jerry Lynn Williams

Who Dat? www.myspace.com/jerrylynnwilliamsI'd forgotten about Fort Worth rocker and soul man Jerry Lynn Williams until the other day when I was reading Eric Clapton's autobiography. Warner Bros. had returned Clapton's tapes from sessions in Montserrat and, to keep his Warner's deal, Clapton ... More >>

Doug Sahm Tribute Album Due March 24

Vanguard Records (Billy Bob Thornton & the Boxmasters, Kim Richey, the Watson Twins) announced today it will release Keep Your Soul: A Tribute to Doug Sahm, a 14-song disc honoring the late musican known as Sir Doug, March 24. Artists include Delbert McClinton, Los Lobos, Alejandro Escovedo, Da ... More >>

Tonight: Gary Nicholson at Dosey Doe

Weekend Music: Jucifer Doubles Your Pleasure

Mike Therieau

Living from a Suitcase

Tommy Castro

Saturday, March 18, the Continental Club, 3700 Main, 713-529-9666

Teresa James and the Rhythm Tramps

Saturday, September 24, at Dan Electro's Guitar Bar, 1031 East 24th Street, 713-862-8707.

Greg Trooper

Saturday, April 30, at McGonigel's Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk, 713-528-5999.

This Week's Houston International Festival Highlights

Saturday and Sunday, April 23 and 24, downtown in an area bounded by Dallas, Rusk and Louisiana streets and Sam Houston Park. For information, call 713-654-8808.

The Sick Old Man of the Festival Circuit

An open letter to the organizers and music bookers of the Houston International Festival

Los Super 7

Heard It on the X

Playbill

Playbill

The Main Event

January 29 - February 1

Kenny G.'s Revenge

Smooth-jazz fans blast Racket

Tab Benoit

Friday, May 10

Mike Barfield

Friday, March 22

Age-Old Axiom

The Axiom can't seem to shake its past

Roy Head

Head On! (Music Club)

Racket

At Tim Murrah's Metropol, it's about music, not style

Scene But Not Heard

Houston's student shortage forces the indie scene to go the blue-collar route

Static

Rotation

Live Shots

A Uniquely Pervis Perspective