Jason Aldean

Red, White, and Rehab: Country Music's 10 Douchiest Moments

It might be hard to believe, but the same musicians responsible for singing lyrics about big green tractors and diggin' up bones are also responsible for a lot of my Internet entertainment. You see, when famous people do douchey things, it makes me giggle. When those acts are committed by people t ... More >>

Country Divas Ashley Monroe and Kacey Musgraves Have a Need for Weed

This week -- today, in fact -- the Golden, Texas native Kacey Musgraves finally releases her eagerly-awaited debut album, Same Trailer, Different Park. Indeed, it's fitting that she's from a town named Golden, as the new album is but the most recent example of some serious Solid Country Gold that's ... More >>

Saturday Night: Luke Bryan at Reliant Stadium

Luke Bryan Reliant Stadium March 16, 2013 Sorry, Kenny Chesney, but we're through. I've found myself another cowboy, and this one's a little dirtier and a little more ass-shaky. In other words, he's a man after my own heart. Luke Bryan closed out the rodeo portion of RodeoHouston Saturday night, r ... More >>

Last Night: Jason Aldean at Reliant Stadium

Jason Aldean Reliant Stadium March 11, 2013 Somewhere along the way Jason Aldean rubbed me the wrong way, and whenever I did have a stray thought about him, the words "massive tool" weren't far behind. I spent most of his RodeoHouston concert Monday night at (a packed) Reliant Stadium trying to fig ... More >>

Rocks Off's Rodeo Concert Guide: Jason Aldean

The Rocks Off Rodeo Concert Guide is our annual helpful(?) primer for those of you unsure about your HLSR music choices for the big event at Reliant Stadium. Date: March 11 Name: Jason Aldean AKA: "That guy in a hat. No, not him. No, the other one."

Saturday Night: Brantley Gilbert at Reliant Stadium

Brantley Gilbert Reliant Stadium March 2, 2013 The specter of Honey Boo Boo hovered over Brantley Gilbert Saturday at RodeoHouston. If one single human being apart from the not-so-pint-sized TLC reality star who embodies the word "redneckognize," it's the man responsible for the song "Kick It In th ... More >>

Rodeo Houston Fun

Go Texan with this guide.

A Full Dance Card

The 2013 RodeoHouston lineup reflects Houston, not Texas.

Woodlands Pavilion Moves Up to World's No. 2 Amphitheatre, Says Pollstar

Houston's edgy restaurants and diverse museums may have drawn the attention of The New York Times, but both alternative and classic rockers, plus brawny country stars, scattered boy bands and Latin lovers, drew enough people through the turnstiles of the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion that concert- ... More >>

Houston Needs a Real Country Station, Not More Bull

Somewhere in college those of us arts and humanities types who were passionate about music, but knew we were not talented enough to perform it professionally, eventually wandered into the journalism school or the student radio station. Everyone else must have wound up in a marketing classroom. Rewi ... More >>

Fair Play

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo wii do whatever it takes to keep its revolving stage from going dark.

Rodeo Touches Every Corner of Pop Universe, Almost Misses Texas

I live too far away from the coasts to care about Coachella all that much, and have done far too much time in both the ACL and SXSW trenches to get too excited about anything that happens in far west Houston anymore. So instead, I have started looking forward to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo's ... More >>

Rockin' the Rodeo: Pitbull, Bruno Mars, The Band Perry, Mary J. Blige Lead 2013 Names

Pop stars of both the R&B and Latin persuasions, Bruno Mars and Pitbull, join new country favorites Brantley Gilbert, The Band Perry and the Zac Brown Band in the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo's 2013 entertainer lineup, the rodeo announced this morning. Rodeo veterans Alan Jackson, Tim McGraw, Dier ... More >>

Staind's Aaron Lewis on Country Music: "It's Where I Am, Creatively"

"Years ago, if you had told me I was going to record a country record, I would have laughed at you," says vocalist Aaron Lewis. But record a country album, he did. And it's been a hit so far. Though he may be a relatively new face to country, Lewis has plenty of experience in the music industry as ... More >>

Toby Keith, Demi Lovato, Luke Bryan Kick Off RodeoHouston 2013

Moments ago, the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo announced its first four non-George Strait entertainers for the 2013 season: Toby Keith (February 25), teen stars Demi Lovato and Austin Mahone (March 3), Jason Aldean (March 11) and Luke Bryan (March 16). As usual, the rodeo is offering two pocket-si ... More >>

Third Day's Mac Powell Makes Hard Country Turn

While they were on tour behind 1987's The Joshua Tree, U2 -- either homesick and looking for fun, bored or legitimately curious to see if the people who showed up that early would recognize them -- booked themselves as their own opening act on the Los Angeles, Indianapolis and Hampton, Va. stops und ... More >>

Eric Church: Meet the New Boss

Country's reigning bad boy is now a star thanks to "Springsteen."

Friday Night: Kelly Clarkson & The Fray at The Woodlands

Kelly Clarkson, The Fray Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion September 7, 2012 Check out more pics of Kelly Clarkson and The Fray in our slideshow. Friday was a night of literally hot fun at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavillion. The heat didn't stop anyone, least of all the artists, from having fun, . ... More >>

Kelly Clarkson

CMA Nominations Don't Forget Texans Miranda Lambert, Eli Young Band

Nothing says country music like Times Square. Or is that the other way around? Regardless, the 2012 nominees for the Country Music Association were announced by stars (and nominees) Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean earlier this morning. It helps that Times Square is the home of Good Morning America's st ... More >>

Upcoming: Baroness, Deerhoof, Steve Aoki, Taking Back Sunday, Weird Party, Etc.

Accept: Thu., Oct. 11, 8 p.m., $21-$26. Scout Bar Clear Lake, 18307 Egret Bay Blvd., Houston. All Time Low, The Summer Set, The Downtown Fiction, Hit The Lights: Tue., Nov. 6, 6 p.m., $22/$25. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline, Houston. American Aquarium: Tue., Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m., $20/$22. McGonigel's ... More >>

The 10 Funniest & Weirdest Country Song Titles

Country music has come a long way as far as popularity goes over the years, from the likes of such bygone greats as Ernest Tubb and Eddy Arnold to current favorites Sugarland and Dierks Bentley. But it has always had some rather... interesting-sounding song titles to grace listeners' ears. Shall we ... More >>

Pollstar: Woodlands Pavilion Now World's No. 3 Amphitheater

The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, site of Sunday night's aromatic 311 show, has long been one of the country's busiest concert venues, usually ranking at or near the top in annual attendance. Now it's officially one of the busiest in the world. In concert trade publication Pollstar's new survey ... More >>

Upcoming: Roky Erickson, Gucci Mane, Marc Anthony, Toby Keith, Daniel Johnston, Etc.

40 oz. to Freedom (Sublime Tribute): Fri., July 27, 8 p.m., $7/$10. Scout Bar Clear Lake, 18307 Egret Bay Blvd., Houston. Aesthetic Perfection: Sat., June 16, 9 p.m., $15. Numbers, 300 Westheimer, Houston. Alpha Rev: Sat., May 19, 8 p.m., $12/$15. Jet Lounge, 1515 Pease St., Houston. America: Thu ... 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 >>

Bonna-What?: How 7 U.S. Music Festivals Got Their Names

This whole week, the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival, featuring the Black Keys, Radiohead, Dr. Dre & Snoop Dogg, Pulp, At the Drive-In, the Shins, AVICII, David Guetta and maybe one or two others, will be all anyone who follows music these days will be talking about. Then early next week, it' ... More >>

15 Things Rocks Off Learned Watching The ACM Awards

Sunday nights, I usually like to watch The Amazing Race after 60 Minutes. I don't usually watch much reality television at all, but something about the combination of total incompetence, vicious backstabbing and exotic locales as several, two-person teams race around the globe is completely intoxica ... More >>

Last Night: Alan Jackson At Reliant Stadium

Alan Jackson RodeoHouston, Reliant Stadium March 18, 2012 Be sure to check out our slideshow of Alan Jackson and the final day of RodeoHouston. By the time Alan Jackson's 2012 RodeoHouston season-closing show was over, his missing moustache already had its own Twitter account. No, it was not I who ... More >>

Rocks Off's Ultra-Hip Rodeo Concert Guide: Jason Aldean

Date: March 15 Name: Jason Aldean AKA: "Jason Aldine" Genre: Generi-country

Last Night: Blake Shelton At Reliant Stadium

Blake Shelton RodeoHouston, Reliant Stadium March 7, 2012 See more pictures from Wednesday's rodeo in our . Blake Shelton could very well be the Vince Vaughn of modern country music. Or is that Brad Paisley? No, I think Brad Paisley is the Paul Rudd and that would make someone like Jason Aldean th ... More >>

Rounding It Up

The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo brings a stellar 2012 lineup.

And Lo, From The Heavens Emerged Grievous Angels

Each Wednesday, Rocks Off arbitrarily appoints one lucky local performer or group "Artist of the Week," bestowing upon them all the fame and grandeur such a lofty title implies. Know a band or artist that isn't awful? Email their particulars to sheaserrano@gmail.com. ​These angels who are gri ... More >>

We Tell You Who Will Win Grammys So You Don't Have To Watch Them

SPOILER ALERT​The best thing about the annual Grammy nominations and awards shows is the clamor of anger that rises up when the mere mention of the event even comes up. Immediately people begin calling it a travesty, trotting out all the people who have been snubbed -- Jethro Tull beats Metall ... More >>

Mary Sarah Sings With the Oak Ridge Boys

Mary Sarah is Houston's fastest rising star. At 16 she's already a veteran of the road with big name gigs under her belt like performing the national anthem for the Astros and the Texans, and a recording project that we're not allowed to tell you about yet but can assure you is something that every ... More >>

2012 RodeoHouston Lineup Features ZZ Top, Train, Kid Rock, John Legend, Enrique Iglesias

The Houston Livestock And Rodeo continues it's march it's non-country waters with today's musical announcement, with Houston's own ZZ Top (March 8), Train (March 16), Kid Rock (February 29), John Legend (March 2), and Enrique Iglesias (March 6) topping the pop and rock segment of this year's bill. ... More >>

Grammys Wrap Nominations, Performances Into Live Show Tonight

In this week's edition of "no one cares so do whatever you want," the Grammy's will be announcing nominations tonight for their annual awards presented in February. Normally, a simple press conference would suffice, but NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) thinks it would be a goo ... More >>

Kelly Clarkson Christening Galleria Microsoft Store Next Month

Behind These Hazel Eyes: A big Microsoft check.​Rebecca Black turned out to be a hoax, but the Galleria might still be getting a visit from a pop star soon. According to Chronicle technology columnist and blogger Dwight Silverman's blog this afternoon, the former American Idol winner will per ... More >>

Idol Beat: Paul McDonald Got Voted Off, E-I-E-I-O

Idol's beard levels have now dropped by 50 percent.​I realized last night I've been writing about this damn show for nigh on three months now without making the obligatory comment about the size of Jennifer Lopez's ass. So here it is: During the introductions to this week's elimination show, I ... More >>

Pop Rocks: By the Dumb's Early Light

Apu chose an alternate path to citizenship​There's a scene in The American President -- Aaron Sorkin's pre-West Wing exercise in wishful liberalism -- when President Shepherd (Michael Douglas) describes America as "advanced citizenship." It's a nice thought, especially in the fantastical conte ... More >>

Last Night: Jason Aldean At RodeoHouston

Photos courtesy of Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo​Jason Aldean Reliant Stadium March 20, 2011 You can tell everything you need to know about Jason Aldean by looking at his steel guitarist's forearms Sunday. First, he had a steel guitarist. Of the handful of Rodeo acts Aftermath saw this year ... More >>

KISS, Kid Rock, Janet Jackson Head 2011 Rodeo Lineup

​KISS, Janet Jackson and Kid Rock head the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo's 2011 concert schedule, which the rodeo announced earlier Monday morning. Among the other 13 entertainers rounding out this year's lineup are recent rodeo stalwarts Alan Jackson, Keith Urban, Tim McGraw and Lady Antebe ... More >>

Houston Gets Over-The-Air Country-Music Channel

​Believe it or not, some of us get by just fine without cable or satellite TV. When Rocks Off goes home at night - the odd evenings we stay home, that is - not only do we enjoy the finest network television has to offer, but the cornucopia of choices across the digital-TV spectrum: B- and C-mo ... More >>

The Expat

Steve Steele finds a harder-edged sound on his debut album.

Rocks Off's Rodeo Concert Guide: Actual Texans The Eli Young Band

Date: March 19Name: Eli Young BandAKA: "Who?"Genre: Up and countryBest Known Song(s): "When It Rains," "Always the Love Songs"Key Demographic: UNT grads, people who think "fire" and "guitar"

Anatomy of a Diss

Breaking Curfew, Houston rapper MC Kane explains the protocol for putting people down.

RodeoHouston 2010 Entertainer Lineup Includes Mary J. Blige, Black Eyed Peas, Justin Bieber and Some Country Folks You Can Probably Guess

​Monday morning, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announced the remainder of its Reliant Stadium entertainment calendar for this year's rodeo, which begins March 2. Debuting on Reliant's revolving stage this year are Jason Aldean (March 6) and Texans the Eli Young Band (March 19). Returning fr ... More >>

Lonesome Onry and Mean: That Sucking Sound You Hear? It's KILT's Upcoming "Ten Man Jam"

What a something-for-everyone mish-mash local radio station KILT's annual "Ten Man Jam," its tenth, is this year. For one thing, the two performers that Lonesome, Onry and Mean would most like to see are women: Miranda Lambert and young Nashville phenom Michelle Branch. KILT might want to consider ... More >>

Jason Aldean

Got Live If You Want It

Our Spring/Summer concert preview, part deux

Redneck Renaissance

Gretchen Wilson’s return to town makes us wonder, What’s really behind all these songs about Wal-Mart, cheap beer and NASCAR?