Jonathan Tyler

Lights, Camera, Headaches

The quickest way to ruin a music festival? Get actors to show up.

UPDATED: Is ACL Festival Ignoring Houston? Does It Even Matter?

UPDATED (Thursday, 2:50 p.m.) to reflect the Houston-area roots of a few ACL performers this year, as pointed out by reader comments. We stand by our original point, though. As most of our readers no doubt know by now, the Austin City Limits Music Festival announced its 2013 lineup at the stroke of ... More >>

Mississippi-Bred the Weeks Hope That You Know Bo

When the Beatles were signing acts to their Apple Records label, it proved to be both advantageous and not so much for Badfinger. For while that band got great exposure, they were also tagged as the "Baby Beatles" for their somewhat similar looks and musical styles. It's a situation that members of ... More >>

Upcoming: Riff Raff, Father John Misty, Wavves, Surfer Blood, the Killers, Etc.

10 Years: With thelastplaceyoulook, Lost Element, A Midnight in Chicago., Sat., March 16, 8 p.m., $21/$25. Scout Bar, 18307 Egret Bay Blvd., Houston. Adrenaline Mob: With Nothing More., Fri., March 22, 8 p.m., $16/$20. Scout Bar, 18307 Egret Bay Blvd., Houston. Allah-Las: Mon., April 1, 8 p.m., $8 ... More >>

6 Cool & Cheap Weekenders: Dinosaur Jr., Some Stones, Big K.R.I.T., Optimo Radio, etc.

Dinosaur Jr. Friday, Fitzgerald's Dinosaur Jr. may be one of the most underrated indie-rock acts of the past 25 years. They weren't as sexy as Pearl Jam or as populist as Nirvana, but the music dripping from the instruments of the criminally-unsung J Mascis, bassist Lou Barlow and drummer Murph has ... More >>

Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights Ready to Reload

While this is going to be their first appearance at Ziegfest, the Dallas-based Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights have brought their brand of southern-fried soul and debauchery to Houston several times before. One particular Houston night sticks in Tyler's mind. "We were playing at the Warehou ... More >>

Ziegenbock Music Festival

Upcoming: Bonnie Raitt, P.O.S., REO Speedwagon, Richard Cheese, Wiz Khalifa, Etc.

2 Chainz: Wed., Sept. 26, 8 p.m., $25-$150. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline, Houston. Above & Beyond: Sat., Sept. 22, 8 p.m., $20-$50. Stereo Live, 6400 Richmond, Houston. Alien Ant Farm: Fri., Oct. 12, 8 p.m., $14/$18. Scout Bar Clear Lake, 18307 Egret Bay Blvd., Houston. Allen Stone, Sister Sparr ... More >>

Loose Fit

Self-avowed rock throwback Jonathan Tyler prefers living off the grid.

Distant Early Warning: Social Distortion, Gary Clark Jr., Melvins, Girls, Maná, De La Soul

Photo By Jim BrickerBobby Womack onstage with Gorillaz in October 2010 at Toyota Center​2 Chainz, Paul Wall, Propain: Thu., March 1. Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel, Houston. Anvil, Rotting Corpse, Metavenge, Fallacy: Thu., Feb. 9. Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel, Houston. Asleep At The Whee ... More >>

The Bourgeois Gospels Preach To The Congregation

Each Wednesday (or thereabouts), 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. ​General ... More >>

Upcoming: The Blow, Incubus, Kyuss Lives, Opeth, Etc.

​The Blow: Fri., July 8. Fitzgerald's. Bury Your Dead, Evergreen Terrace: Sun., July 10. Warehouse Live. CJ Ramone: Sun., July 17. Warehouse Live. The Dear Hunter, Wild Orchid Children: Mon., Aug. 22. Warehouse Live. Dwight Yoakam: Fri., July 8. Arena Theatre. Filter, Saliva: Wed., Aug. ... More >>

The Five Most Texan Types Of Music

​Happy San Jacinto Day, fellow Texans and people who wish they were; i.e. everyone else. If you don't know why today is special, shame on you. But since us Texans are a friendly sort, allow Rocks Off to fill you in. On April 21, 1836, Texian forces under Gen. Sam Houston (aka "Big Drunk") lau ... More >>

Upcoming: Bob Seger, Duran Duran, The Low Anthem, Etc.

​Black Label Society, All That Remains, Hail The Villain: Wed., May 11. House of Blues. "St. Patrick's Day Party" with The Blaggards, Come See My Dead Person, Allen Oldies Band: Thu., March 17. Continental Club. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band: Sat., April 30. Toyota Center. Bret Michae ... More >>

Last Night: Grace Potter & The Nocturnals At House Of Blues

Photos by Groovehouse​Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights House of Blues February 17, 2011 For more totally tasteful pictures from Thursday, see our slideshow here. Ooh la la. Aftermath is going to be real up front here. We did not know a whole lot about Grac ... More >>

MCM: More Local Music News Than Ice On The Roads

Rocks Off readers, if the cold weather has bogged down your day, we've got just the trick - a slew of local music news hot off the presses. Our soundtrack this week is the folky Sarah Neidermeyer and the Devil, the new album from Horse. It's available now, so give it a listen and maybe even put it ... More >>

Vanilla Ice And 11 Other Artists Dallas Can Keep

​Tomorrow night at 2016 Mainstage, Houston gets to relive its (our?) dark white-rap past when Dallas native Vanilla Ice hits the stage at the venue formerly known Sammy's On Main. Yes, that Vanilla Ice, from our haughty neighbors to the north who can do no wrong in the eyes of Texas Monthly. ... More >>

Candy Flip

Gram Rabbit's psych-disco twang

Saturday Night: Matt & Kim At The HPMA Showcase

Jim Bricker​Matt & Kim Bud Light Outdoor Stage August 7, 2010 As the sun went down and the moon came up on the crowd at the Houston Press Music Awards Showcase main stage, a palpable sense of relief settled over everyone. The long, hot day was over and the throngs were preparing for Brooklyn' ... More >>

Riding The Musical Wave At Saturday's HPMAs

The American Heist at Walter's on WashingtonJim Bricker​Saturday didn't start out very promising: Almost as soon as Rocks Off arrived at the intersection of Washington and Silver, where the Bud Light main stage was set up, the sky darkened, then drizzled, then began pouring rain. The downpour ... More >>

HPMA Audience Members Sound Off On What They Saw

Matthew Keever​Aftermath is pretty familiar with local music fans these days, so on Saturday at the HPMAs, we tried to talk only to people we had never seen at shows before to get a feel for who was enjoying what and what the showcase should try to do next year (besides not set the stages 20-s ... More >>

Rocks Off Invites You To The HPMA Showcase

Monica Fuentes​Rocks Off and the Houston Press are having a little party on Washington Avenue tomorrow afternoon called the Houston Press Music Awards showcase. We may have mentioned it before. If you'd like to come, we'd love to have you. Click here to vote in this year's awards and showcase ... More >>

Saturday's HPMA Showcase, Hour By Hour And Genre By Genre

Monica Fuentes​One of the main ideas behind the Houston Press Music Awards Showcase - besides everyone having a good time, of course - is exposing local artists to thousands of potential new fans in one fell swoop. But those potential new fans have to be willing to take the bait, and with almo ... More >>

Matt & Kim Talk Lady Gaga, Erykah Badu, Naked Videos And New Music

Right On! PR​This weekend the Houston Press welcomes New York indie duo Matt & Kim to town to headline this year's edition of the Houston Press Music Awards, along with Trae tha Truth and Jonathan Tyler & The Northern Lights. Rocks Off will be giving away a bunch of HPMA wristbands today and t ... More >>

Toy Story

How Transformers led to underground MC Mic Skills's rap career.

Book Learning

Houston's Literary Greats sail onto the college-radio charts with Ocean, Meet the Valley.

Bare Bones

Lo-fi crushers Woven Bones would remake Pink Floyd's The Wall if they could.

Next Month's Music Award Showcase Schedule

​Here we go, y'all. Rocks Off is proud to present this year's HPMA showcase lineup, featuring almost 50 2010 nominees, a few distinguished HPMA alumni and special guests Matt & Kim and Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights. We guess this means this thing is really happening. The showcase start ... More >>

More HPMA Nominee MP3s? Why The Hell Not?

Monica Fuentes​Tick-tock, Clarice HPMA nominees. As many of you hopefully found out yesterday, Matt & Kim and Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights will be our special guests at this year's Houston Press Music Awards showcase all along Washington Avenue Saturday, August 7. Tickets go on sale ne ... More >>

Matt & Kim, Jonathan Tyler Sign On To Music Awards Showcase

myspace.com/mattandkim​Today Rocks Off is pleased to announce that we have two special guests for this year's Houston Press Music Awards showcase, all day Saturday, August 7, inside and outside along Washington Avenue. After the locals do their thing, we have indie duo Matt & Kim and Texas boo ... More >>

The Rev. Billy Gibbons Scats About Old Buff Stadium And The Astros... We Think

Kevin Scanlon​It's a gray day in Houston today (no pun intended), and just this past weekend, only a promotional hoodie a friend fortuitously found at our Village Voice Media party - we have no idea who or what a "Mojofilter" is; we're just glad they didn't make keychains this year - kept us from ... More >>

2009 Concert Rewind, July: Beyonce, Coldplay, Aerosmith/ZZ Top, Judas Priest, Rod Stewart... and the Trae Day Gunplay

Craig Hlavaty​ Wooden Birds, Other Lives, Walter's on Washington, July 2: "This is Andrew Kenny's latest project away from American Analog Set. That band is currently on hold while Kenny and the rest of the group go off to pollinate elsewhere. The Birds don't fall far from the AmAnSet tree at all, ... More >>

Distant Early Warning: Jay Reatard - If You Haven't Seen the "Piss" Video, Look No Further - Cafe Tacuba, Dax Riggs, etc.

Among this week's Distant Early Warnings comes Jay Reatard, who is set to hit Walter's "Possibly Still" On Washington December 8. The art-damaged garage-rocker recently pissed on (and pissed off) his backing band at Goner Fest 6 in Memphis. It's hard to tell exactly why the things happened in the v ... More >>

Live From ACL: Buckets of Rain, and a Bright Spot or Two

Photos by Chris GrayThis photo was NOT taken Saturday. Trust us.​ The streak is over. In eight years, Austin City Limits has seen plenty of days of unbearable heat, but hardly any rain. The most significant time was during Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers' headlining 2006 set, but even that was m ... More >>

Random Notes from ACL: The Grass Is Always Greener...

Chris GrayIt's a little more crowded than this at Zilker now, but it was fun while it lasted.​ The grass is especially sweet at this year's ACL festival. The new turf at Zilker Park is nice too.Now we are in the media tent, surrounded by friends and family: Rocks Off's Austin Chronicle mentor (and ... More >>

Distant Early Warning: Archie Bell, Cannibal Corpse, Maxwell, Scott H. Biram, Titus Andronicus, etc.

​The 69 Eyes, Dommin, The Becoming: Sun., Oct. 11. Meridian. All Time Low, Hey Monday, We The Kings, Friday Night Boys: Wed., Oct. 28. House of Blues. "Oldies Fest" With The Allen Oldies Band, Roy Head, Archie Bell, Barbara Lynn: Sat., Sept. 5. Continental Club. Billy Squier: Sun., Oct. 4. Wareho ... More >>

Aftermath: Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights at Warehouse Live

Photos by Kim Douglass​ Grace, class and maturity are not words typically used to describe rock stars. But somehow, they all define the music of Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights - a band of true musicians in an era of entertainers. Yes, there is a difference. At Sunday night's intimate perfo ... More >>

Tres Hombres

Discovering why ZZ Top is "critic-proof"

Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights