England

Here, Eat This: A Beginner's Guide to British Cuisine

With acclaimed British restaurant Feast closing in August, now's the time to acquaint yourself with its excellent English menu before it's too late. Luckily, chef Richard Knight will be opening another restaurant in the Heights within a year, and there are plenty of other British restaurants in Hous ... More >>

The Cavern and the Top 10 Iconic Rock Clubs In History

Last week back in 1957, the most famous rock club in England opened in Liverpool. There was absolutely no rock and roll on the bill that night. The Cavern Club was originally opened to mimic the cellar jazz bars that owner Alan Synter visited in Paris. There was a strict jazz-only policy in place ... More >>

The 5 Most Important Years In Goth Music: 1983

All this week, Rocks Off will be looking at the biggest years for goth music and exactly what they meant for the genre. Just as Bauhaus was breaking up, a place in England opened up whose gothic importance cannot be overstated. Beginning in 1982, the Batcave intended to bring about a revival of the ... More >>

Morrissey Postpones Remainder of U.S. Tour, Including Beaumont

Morrissey's ailing mother has forced the singer to postpone his entire North American tour, according to promoter C3 Presents. The former Smiths front man and popular if mopey solo artist has already flown back to England to be with his mum. Earlier this week, several dates in the Midwest were post ... More >>

Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls

Blondie: The Best New Wave Band of All Time

¿Como se dice "Whoops?": 5 Musicians' Romney-esque Blunders In Foreign Lands

Mitt Romney had a troublesome time during his recent trip abroad, pissing off politicians and citizens in England, Palestine, and Poland (although to be fair, that last one was simply a guy who worked for Romney, not Romney himself). Besides providing a potential future Ted Nugent album name -- "Ki ... More >>

8 Musical Activities That Should Be Olympic Sports

After years of preparation, unprecedented security, and a Mitt Romney gaffe or two, the opening ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London get underway about 3 p.m. Houston time. At the same time, multitudes will gather in nearby Hyde Park for a free concert with Duran Duran, Snow Patrol, ... More >>

6 Non-Yank Bands Who Wrote American Anthems

Some of the most definitive "all-American" rock anthems were written by bands who not originally from the United States. Think about it... what are some rock and roll staples that remind you of our beloved country, which gave us the freedom to rock? "The Boys Are Back In Town" "We Are The Champions ... More >>

Drops In the Bucket List: 5 Venues To See a Show In Before You Die

I'm not much of a traveler. Outside of a few trips to Vegas, I've never been on a real grownup-type vacation. Every year it's a struggle to think of something to do with my vacation days, one that eventually leads to a few four-day weeks and a couple of midweek shows. Now that I'm getting older, I' ... More >>

This Week in Deliciousness

Welcome back to the weekly roundup, where yours truly is currently racing against an incoming hellstorm-raingasm, and hoping to get this thing completed before the bottom falls out. Will I succeed? The only way to know is to read on. We started the week off right with sushi, sushi, sushi, sushi. Do ... More >>

Pizza Hut Stuffed Crust Pizza: UK Edition

Well, damn, I should have waited to blog about five British food traditions to embrace, because clearly a front-runner has emerged. Eh, perhaps not. For some inscrutable reason, Pizza Hut has chosen to offer its new Pizza Hut hot dog-stuffed crust pizza exclusively in the UK. Aren't British people ... More >>

Band of Skulls

Travelin' Band: What Do The Features Listen To On The Road?

So The Twilight Saga has exactly two things that keep the films from being absolute torture. The first is Ashley Greene in all her pixie-hotness, and the second is that there really are some excellent bands that end up on the soundtracks. Case in point, the Features were featured recently in Break ... More >>

The 2nd Annual Main Street Block Party Announces Lineup

The Main Street Block Party is returning on January 28 to the The Continental Club, The Big Top, and The Mink's front and backrooms, armed with another great lineup, this time featuring Austin's What Made Milwaukee Famous and Dallas' hardcore cataclysm, Power Trip. The day-long festival was highly ... More >>

The Lion in Winter

Six Examples of Really Bad Mixtape Cover Art

​When Das Racist came to Fitzgerald's this past October, we got to chat with the subject of this Frida Kahlo knockoff painting: Lakutis. While standing on the upstairs balcony before they went on stage, the group's hypeman's hypeman told us that MishkaNYC was putting out his very first mixtape ... More >>

Rocks Off Lists Our Favorite Downloads of 2011

It's getting to be that time of year, when the temperature drops and the lists start rolling in. Read any blog, magazine or newspaper and you're bound to run across at least a handfull of year-end lists, particularly when it comes to music. We all like to talk about the stuff we like. It's just what ... More >>

Oliver Twist

Pop Rocks: New Clear Days

Explains a lot.​I was discussing career choices (don't ask) with an acquaintance of mine, and in the course of talking about how we got where we were, I mentioned that I'd never really planned for life beyond college when I was in my teens. The decision wasn't a "non-decision" or anything lik ... More >>

The Carpettes: Unsung UK Punks Back For The First Time

​Punk bands like The Clash have been lauded by critics and fans spanning across the globe, while other superb acts like The Carpettes have remained stuck between the cracks of history. This is almost tragic, since their blend of fine-etched, unblemished pop-tinged punk was just as riveting as ... More >>

Moody Blues Have Little To "Lament" In Nearly 50-Year Career

​Since their 1964 origin, England's the Moody Blues have combined lush, orchestral pop with more rock-edged material to score hits like "Go Now," "Tuesday Afternoon," "Ride My See-Saw," "Question," "The Story in Your Eyes" and, of course, "Nights in White Satin." And save a three-year hiatus i ... More >>

English Desserts for the Royal Wedding

Flickr user: Allerina & Glen MacLartyBanoffee Pie​Well, ladies, the jig is up. It's official; none of us will be the future queen of England. As the world waits with bated breath to see what Kate Middleton will wear, whether anyone will make a faux pas, and how much better Prince Harry will lo ... More >>

A Murder Is Announced

Guitarist Brian Robertson Loves Thin Lizzy, Texas Women

​As one half of Thin Lizzy's legendary "twin guitar" classic lineup in the mid- to late '70s, Scottish guitarist Brian "Robbo" Robertson started to make an impact on classic-rock history while still a teenager. That's him shredding on the legendary break in Lizzy's most popular (and, alas, al ... More >>

The Most Anticipated Albums Of 2011

​NATIONAL White Lies, Ritual: They killed at festivals in 2008 and 2009, but do London's Interpol-styled lads have longevity? Dr. Dre, Detox: It's been on hold or gestating since at least Clinton was in office. Will it continue to be hip-hop's Chinese Democracy? R.E.M., Collapse Into No ... More >>

Talk of the Nation

How therapy saved the monarchy in The King's Speech.

Blues Christmas

New Nose, Same You

Tamara Drewe and the comedy of going plastic in a rustic world.

DJ Shadow: "What Lasts, And What Survives, Is Good Taste"

​DJ Shadow is one of the most recognizable names in experimental hip-hop. Occasionally controversial, and ever-influential, Josh Davis also has a reputation for being a bit of a shut-in when it comes to the media, so Rocks Off jumped at the chance to grab a few minutes with the sampling sorcer ... More >>

Chef Chat, Part 1: Mark Schmidt of the Rainbow Lodge

​This weekend I sat down with insightful veteran chef Mark Schmidt of the historic Rainbow Lodge. We talked about seasonal cooking, his childhood summers spent in England, and his experience as a guest chef at the James Beard House. Eating Our Words: Can you start by telling us about your bac ... More >>

Top Five Non-Alcoholic Beers

Lukas VermeerThere's non-alcoholic beer in here somewhere. ​The city's beer nerds are all excited for Houston Beer Week. But for some random reason, this brew celebration has just made me crave my favorite non-alcoholic "beers." Here are my Top Five: 5. Birch Beer. Earlier this year I blogged ... More >>

The 5 Most Underrated Vegetables

Photo by norwichnutsChayote-jicama slaw in tortillas.​With fall headed our way, one of my favorite things to do in cooler temperatures is to roast vegetables. Breakfast, lunch or dinner; it doesn't matter. Heating up my old oven long enough to roast sweet potatoes or brussels sprouts isn't suc ... More >>

Bingo! The Documentary

Go for the win, baby, go for the win

Orange's Orange Kapiriña

Capsule Stage Reviews: Arcadia, Funny Money, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Richard Alston Dance Company

Dance like you want to

InPrint: Bill Bryson

The author of I’m a Stranger Here Myself pays a visit to Houston

Hobson’s Choice

Web exclusive!

The History of the USA

Web exclusive!

Feast Is Bloody Brilliant

“End Game: British Contemporary Art from the Chaney Family Foundation”

From skeletons to steel wire, the YBAs use anything and everything to make avant-garde art

Paydirt : "The Thames Mudlarks"

A delightful show at CTRL features seven London artists

“The Thames Mudlarks: A Group Show of London Artists”

A show inspired by London mud wrestlers/artists

Fish Gone Wild

The Beat Goes On

Mix and Madge

Curry for the Laddies

London Sizzler serves up Indian food made the British way