Frank Zappa

The Best Concerts In Houston This Week: John Egan, P!nk, etc.

John Egan The Big Easy Social & Pleasure Club, Februrary 18 John Egan is back at the Big Easy after his trip to the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, where he advanced to the semifinal round of 28 -- meaning that by that reckoning, Egan is one of the Top 30 solo bluesmen in the world. "Perh ... More >>

The Rocks Off 100: Cliff Dotterer of Black Dog Records

Who? Cliff Dotterer is the co-owner and operating manager of Black Dog Records, which just moved to its new Bellaire location last week. The shop's inventory of records and collectibles includes a who's who of rock legends and current artists, as well as rarities, imports, T-shirts, record player ne ... More >>

Vladimir Putin: No Pussy Riot On His Watch

Above: Video of the performance that got three Moscow punk rockers arrested If he were still alive, Frank Zappa would have a field day with this one. Just when we thought the Montgomery County sheriff's department was setting the standard for dodgy tactics and thought control with Friday's suspici ... More >>

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.

Dweezil Zappa: Jimi Hendrix "Rings True To Every Generation"

As far as the estates of deceased classic-rock artists go, few can hold a lighter to the efforts of Jimi Hendrix's in terms of keeping the artist and their music alive. In recent years, Experience Hendrix, LLC -- run by Jimi's half-sister Janie -- has churned out a number of products to satiate bot ... More >>

The Best LP Side Ones Ever

Spurred on by the realization that both David Bowie's commercial breakthrough Let's Dance and Queen's News of the World had solid, sturdy side ones on their vinyl releases, I then began the hunt for other great vinyl slabs with amazing side ones. Of course, the idea is that this could only include ... More >>

Sweet Feet: Dave Lombardo And Double Bass-Drum Domination

Slayer's Dave Lombardo is destroying a couple of bass drums just out of frame.​Forty-seven years ago today, drummer Dave Lombardo was born in Havana, Cuba. Never heard of Dave? That's okay. If you've listened to any heavy metal in the past 25 years, you've definitely heard his influence. Roun ... More >>

Iron Men: Five Rock 'n' Roll Cancer Survivors

Sad news emerged today that heavy metal godfather Tony Iommi has been diagnosed with the early stages of lymphoma. It was a big shock for Black Sabbath fans, as the group's original lineup have a new album and a world tour planned for 2012. Though already counted among rock and roll's ultimate sur ... More >>

The Top 10 Hard Rock and Metal Guitarists of the '80s

Yes, yes, shred until you bleed!​Well, it's the day after Christmas and many of you probably have some holiday blues. Maybe you had a rough Christmas. Maybe your family is making you crazy. Maybe you didn't get that brand new navel ring you wanted or perhaps you filled up on so much food and e ... More >>

Vive La France: 14 French Lessons From English Pop Songs

Shutterstock/faqs.org​Happy Bastille Day, everybody. Today France celebrates the day in 1789 when an angry mob stormed the eponymous (our new favorite word) prison in central Paris, freed all seven prisoners - they were really after the guns and ammunition, Clash-style - and touched off the Fr ... More >>

Dear Penis: 20 Songs About The Tube Snake Boogie

prince.orgGuess who turns 53 today?​Good Lord, what would we do if not for Weinergate? It's hot as hell outside, the Astros are terrible and Rick Perry might run for president next year. But as long as there are congressmen tweeting pictures of their junk to women they barely know, Rocks Off h ... More >>

The Four Best Books with Corresponding Soundtracks

​It goes without saying when you're talking to a music journalist, but music can be the greatest inspiration for a writer. Even if you're not writing about the music itself, it can still be an indispensible catalyst for the written word. More and more in modern literature, the afterwards featu ... More >>

Last Night: Man Man At Fitzgerald's

Photos by Jim Bricker​Man Man Fitzgerald's May 3, 2011 Two things seemed instantaneously odd as Philadelphia's Man Man took the Fitzgerald's stage Tuesday night. First, the usually packed venue wasn't sold out; in fact, the upstairs balcony wasn't even open. Considering Man Man's steady buzz ... More >>

Saturday Night: Psychedelic Furs At Warehouse Live

Photos by Groovehouse​Psychedelic Furs Warehouse Live April 23, 2010 The Psychedelic Furs are very much a throwback band, but not in the way you might be thinking. Thanks largely to John Hughes, the Butler brothers' UK crew will forever be remembered as one of the premier musical avatars of t ... More >>

Lee Alexander Recording Zappa-Inspired Children's Album

Austin Miller​Lee Alexander remains one of Houston's most celebrated musicians. He is currently the best male vocalist in the city, but the list of accolades he has acquired over the years goes far beyond mere singing talent. After years composing and performing adult-oriented music, Alexander ... More >>

Voodoo Lady: Christine O'Donnell's Halloween Playlist

​Christine O'Donnell's "I Am Not a Witch" ad gave us truckloads of comedy during a rather boring election season. Thanks to that unintentionally hilarious ad and the upcoming election, Christine has been on our minds lately. To better understand what drives the Teabag candidate, we stole her ... More >>

Top 10 Last Words By Famous Musicians

​Musicians tend to be a mouthy lot. It takes a certain kind of soul to want and express your own inner world to the outer world at large. So when the time comes for them to shuffle off this mortal coil, they often have some very interesting exit lines... 10. Ludwig Van Beethoven, "Friends a ... More >>

Church for Thugs

50 Cent decides to be a little more selfish on upcoming LP Black Magic.

The Walking Dead

Texas City's Come See My Dead Person is very much alive.

Pamela Des Barres, More Than The World's Most Famous Groupie

​Pamela Des Barres is the world's most famous groupie. In 1987 she published her first book, I'm With The Band, a collection of journal entries and stories detailing her life growing up in Los Angeles at the height of the 1960s music revolution, her years as a groupie and her relationships with ev ... More >>

Piss Up a Rope: Songs R. Kelly Probably Won't Sing In Concert Friday, but Should

​Get out your towels: R. Kelly is coming to town. The singer would be best known as "that guy who sang that song in the Michael Jordan/Bugs Bunny movie" if not for the allegations in 2002 that he engaged in sex with an underage girl. Kelly was found not guilty of child porn charges last year, but ... More >>

All Good Again

Important things to know about Atlanta mystery men Goodie Mob.

This Week In Deliciousness

The proper presentation for mat kimchee should mirror as closely as possible the appearance of an exploded chicken.Welcome back once again to the weekly round-up at Eating Our Words, where we've found a way to put gravy on pretty much everything (you just have to tell people it's "some kinda sauce") ... More >>

Is Nickelback Really Worth Hating So Much?

Jeromeoh2301Somewhere over the past five years, Nickelback was deemed the unofficial "worst band in the world," usurping Creed as the rock snob's go-to reference for "awful." How did this happen? To date, the British Columbian quartet has sold close to 20 million albums, sell out arenas ... More >>

Teen Bands

From Doo Doo Butter to The Dimes, kids leave cover songs and garages behind

Saint Matthew's Churches, Inc.

Christians send in money for prayer requests which may just go up in smoke

Primus

Primus appears Friday, November 3, at Verizon Wireless Theater, 520 Texas. Call 713-230-1600 for more info.

Hank III

Straight to Hell

Capsule Reviews

A picture of our opinions on local exhibits

Freestyle Fellowship

Sometimes awesome live bands also make magic in the studio

The O.G. of Love

Johnny "Guitar" Watson gets his due with a terrific two disc set

Playbill

Take the Skinheads Bowling All Over Again

Camper Van Beethoven hates this part of Texas. Just kidding, maybe...

N.E.R.D.

Fly or Die (Virgin)

Relying on Reliant

IFest makes the jump from downtown to South Main

George Duke

Friday, October 17

Reggae Rugrats

Morgan Heritage keeps roots reggae rolling into a new century

The Boneshakers

Wednesday, August 28

Keller Williams

Thursday, February 28

Welcome to His Nightmare

Michael Bruce gave voice to Alice Cooper - until the singer killed the band

Mysteriously Musical

Kinky Friedman is still up to no good

Six Strings Under

Unlike many of his rock guitar god peers, Joe Satriani has yet to flee to audiences overseas

Hi Del-Fi

New sounds from famed label

Chucking It All

Bryn Tustin was an electrician from New Jersey who became a punk-music DJ in Houston, opened a record store and remade himself into Chuck Roast.

Night & Day

November 12 - 18, 1998

The Wizard of Weird

After two decades of oddity, Beans Barton still has a lock on the inexplicable

Rotation

Letters

The Pop Moment

Astral Dejection The Shonen Knife/Breeders/Nirvana tour blows through Houston's hall of shame