Irving Berlin

Pro-Gay Marriage Willie Nelson Returns With A New Album April 16

As Willie Nelson inches towards 80 years of age on April 29, his schedule doesn't seem to winding down one bit. He tours at an astounding clip, and it seems like he was in the Houston-area at least four times in the past year. In fact, we reviewed his latest Arena Theatre gig here on Rocks Off earli ... More >>

Last Night: Willie Nelson at Arena Theatre

Willie Nelson Arena Theatre March 10, 2013 For some artists, even superlatives aren't enough. Willie Nelson turns 80 next month. He's been making music -- and making a living off it -- longer than my parents have been alive. And while there are other country artists of similar vintage and pedigree ... More >>

Christmas Past: Top 10 Christmas Movie Soundtracks

While we celebrate the holidays, Rocks Off is resurrecting a few of our best Christmas-themed blogs from the past few years. (Wait... resurrecting is Easter. Never mind.) This blog originally appeared December 14, 2010. No doubt you have all been chin-deep in Christmas movies since you undid your b ... More >>

Houston 101: The Assassination of O.P. Dewalt, Black Leader and Lincoln Theatre Manager

On this date in 1931, Olen P. Dewalt was gunned down in the Lincoln Theatre, the city's first black-run movie palace. Dewalt, a leader in the Independence Heights community and a charter member of the local chapter of the NAACP, was the theater's manager and had his real estate office upstairs. Som ... More >>

Lionel Richie Vs. Chuck Norris: Who Would Win?

So far the musical comeback of the year has been Lionel Richie, hands down. Last week the Alabama-born crooner's new album in three years, Tuskegee, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with sales of almost 200,000 copies. According to The Hollywood Reporter, if about 185,000 copies of Madonna's MD ... More >>

One Year After Woman Gets Masters In The Beatles, We Hunt Down Most Bizarre College Music Courses

A year ago today, Mary-Lu Zahalan-Kennedy of Ontario became the first person in the world to earn a master's degree in The Beatles. I'm not quite sure what she's doing now, but I do know she could probably kick anyone's ass in Beatles trivia. This little anniversary of her graduation got me think ... More >>

Hail, Santa: The Top 10 Metal Christmas Carol Covers

​Rocks Off likes to believe that Christmas is such a merry holiday, even some of Satan's most stalwart servants can't help but get into the act. Of course, it could be that heavy metal musicians record Christmas music for the same reason as Mariah Carey: Because there's a crapload of money to ... More >>

Classic Christmas: Elvis' Christmas Album

Over the holidays, we're looking back at some classic Christmas albums taking some track by track and just digging on others. ​In 1957 at the near peak of his early success, Elvis Presley did what many artists did: He made a Christmas record. The result was what would become one of the best s ... More >>

Classic Christmas: Bing Crosby's White Christmas

Over the holidays, we're looking back at some classic Christmas albums taking some track by track and just digging on others. ​Bing Crobsy was the first crossover pop star. He made movies, music, appeared in both radio and television programs and did all of it successfully and, more important ... More >>

Capsule Stage Reviews: Anna Bella Eema, A Christmas Carol, Cinderella, Fruitcakes, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, The Nutcracker

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

Remember SYDTHEMAN's Singin' Rappin' & Cussin'?

Houston's history is dotted with albums that, fairly or not, have been swept aside. We'll examine them here. Have an album that you think nobody knows about but should? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. ​SYDTHEMAN Singin' Rappin' & Cussin' (2011, Self-released) Reigning Artist of the Week SYDTHE ... More >>

Capsule Stage Reviews: The Last 5 Years, Paradise Hotel, Stairway to Paradise: The Young George Gershwin

Top 10 Christmas Movie Soundtracks

​No doubt you have all been chin-deep in Christmas movies since you undid your belt on Thanksgiving evening. Rocks Off made sure to steal a copy of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation from our folks' house before the calendar even hit December. Unlike other blogs, we don't hate all Christm ... More >>

Young Frankenstein

See the madness (and genius) of Mel Brooks

Herb Keyser: Geniuses of American Musical Theatre: The Composers and Lyricists

Get the inside dish on Broadway’s masters

Last Easter

Four friends, one diagnosis of cancer - it's not what you think

Capsule Stage Reviews: Legally Blonde the Musical, The Man Who Saved New Orleans, The Odd Couple, Puttin' on the Ritz

Holiday Inn

You only think you know this film

The Top 10 Reissues of 2008

[Note: This is the first in a series of articles that constitute Village Voice Media's year-end music package. The others - pop, indie-rock, dance mixes, Latin, country, alt-country/Americana, metal, rap/hip-hop and special graphics breaking down the year in charts and 2008's worst lyrics - will be ... More >>

The Season Brings a Mixed Bag of Christmas Shows

All Wrapped Up

Re-Scattering Willie Nelson's Stardust, 30 Years Later

Stage Capsule Reviews

Our critics weigh in on local theater

Stage Capsule Reviews

Our critics weigh in on local theater

Stage Capsule Reviews

Our critics weigh in on local theater

Stage Capsule Reviews

Our critics weigh in on local theater

The Hanukkah Songs

Wherein we find the coining of our new favorite word: Jewpergroup

The Easy Road

In Honky Tonk Angels, three gals get what they wish for -- but the audience doesn't

Unforgettable

Four singing actors make magic in Nat King Cole & Me

Cindy Scott

Major to Minor (Self-released)

Xmas Marks the Spot

A guide to new holiday discs, from surprise presents to Tannen-bombs

A Lavender Christmas

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Houston sings out for Santa Claus and the baby Jesus

The Dark Side of the Moon

Main Street Theater scrubs the world of showbiz till it's clean and boring

Annie, Get Your Makeover

Broadway gets politically correct

In Good Hands

Woody Witt takes over Cezanne, and all of Houston sighs in relief

Swing in Time

OrchestraX salutes the 1920s and the music of Gershwin and Ellington

New Old 97's

Easy on Friday Night

Rotation

Night & Day

April 9 - 15, 1998

Press Picks

Static

Press Picks

Simply Direct

Gillian Welch heeds roots music's high, lonesome call

Noise, or Art?

DJ Scott Sommers celebrates two decades of (sometimes) inspired clatter

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Low Comedy, High Fun

Stages takes a gamble with the Marx Brothers, and rolls a winner

Press Picks