Blues artists -- like real, legitimate rhythm-and-blues players -- aren't in the headlines very often these days. But whenever they are, Rocks Off is both happy and proud to point out that unlike most other places, Houston still has quite a few of them, many of whom continue to do excellent work. T ... More >>
Forty-seven years ago this week (wow!), a '60s folk icon by the name of Bob Dylan made his third and final appearance at the Newport Folk Festival in Newport, R.I. It was a highly anticipated set -- Dylan was the de facto leader of the American folk-music revival at the time, and his folkie flock ex ... More >>
Oh, you hadn't heard? At some point between his extended hiatus from singing and the recording of his newly announced album, Shadow Days, ol' big-mouth Mayer seems to have stumbled on some old Willie Nelson CDs and raided the nearest Cavender's in a transformation Rocks Off can only assume as bein ... More >>
boost ventilatorBasically an entire goddamn Grand Slam Breakfast between two slices of bread.In the recent kerfluffle regarding Denny's new sandwich, the Fried Cheese Melt, we seem to have forgotten that it's far from the only reason to be afraid of the 24-hour restaurant chain. Allow us to r ... More >>
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.The other day President Obama* ... More >>
Photos by Chris GrayThe Stone River BoysSXSW moves at such a frenetic clip that when you're finally able to catch your breath and collect your thoughts, it's almost over. That moment finally arrived for Aftermath at rockabilly troublemaker and Sirius/XM Outlaw Country DJ Mojo Nixon's annual "Mojo ... More >>
It's a sad day in the swamps of South Louisiana as Bobby Charles, a founder of the musical genre known as swamp pop and one of the most under-rated songwriters of his time, has passed away at 71. Originally from rural Abbeville, Charles rose to fame on the very cusp of the birth of rock and roll wh ... More >>
Not too long ago, an old sound guy told Rocks Off that if people would turn it down just a little it would be louder than anything else, a suddenly startling quiet. Every time we get ahold of a new release from Woodlands studio/label Red Tree, we get a sample of that wonderful quiet sincerity. S ... More >>
Live Nation's weekly Wednesday "No Service Fee" ticket offer is pretty stiff this week: Buy one ticket for dozens of shows at House of Blues or Verizon Wireless Theater - such as Alice Cooper, O.A.R., Jewel, Goodie Mob, Bob Saget, Drive-By Truckers, Hanson, Peaches, Stryper, Zappa plays Zappa an ... More >>
So in addition to not being able to get T.I's "Whatever You Like" outta our skulls since last fall, here comes blonde pixie Anya Marina's sultry acoustic version of the hip-hop hit. Marina is based out of San Diego, Calif., and when she's not writing sweet lil' acoustipop with her backing band, sh ... More >>
You don't need a half-wit music critic to tell you it's been a remarkable year for America, one historians will be discussing and researching for centuries to come. War, financial collapse, politics, technology: All have been dinner-table topics for many Americans. Racial barriers in 2008 were demol ... More >>
A new boxed set excavates the '90s
The Decemberists bring their magic-realist, Picaresque new album to town
The Houston Kid hits his stride a quarter-century into his recording career
Saul Williams -- poetry's only rock star -- aims for the lizard brain
The hostility flung at Liz Phair's new record is senseless, sexist and abominably stupid
The left, turning right, was plain wrong to attack pop culture
Wind bags a few charming laughs, but mostly meanders
Clem Snide's Eef Barzelay talks about God, Zionism and rock and roll manners
Among musicians, everyone wants to become an author
A Letter Home to You (Self-released)
The Groobees
Bookstop
Smithsonian Folkways releases Broadside magazine's long-forgotten tracks
Port Vale -- Norma Zenteno and Raised By Wolves -- Trish Murphy
Project Row Houses will revive Houston's first home of black music
Ang Lee dares to cast a compassionate eye at the Confederacy in Ride with the Devil
New Releases Reviewed
Longtime thought-rocker Robyn Hitchcock cuts new record
After over a year of laying low, Juliana Hatfield is ready to reconnect
Sarah McLachlan had a brainchild, and it was a girl
Jewel is a one-name folkie with a multifaceted spirit
