Karina Nistal

Houston International Festival

Lucinda Williams, Spearhead, Kronos Quartet Headed To iFest

​The Houston International Festival, better known as iFest, announced its 2011 lineup late Thursday night. Here are some of the highlights: FRIDAY, APRIL 29 World Stage: Kronos Quartet feat. Homayun Sakhi; Houston Youth Symphony String Quartet; Houston Grand Opera SATURDAY, APRIL 30 World ... More >>

Remember Simple Success' Smash and Dash EP?

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. Photos by Sarah Levit​Simple Success opens up for Mac Miller tonight at Warehouse Live. They p ... More >>

Old Familiar Friend

Brendan Benson relaxes after The Raconteurs.

Nistylin' & Profilin'

Before departing for L.A., Karina Nistal releases her long-awaited second album.

Groundhall Now Open, Not Changing Name Anymore (We Think)

Groundhall on FacebookThe patio at Groundhall, the former... well, the former lot of things.​Over the last couple of months, it's been kind of fun - and kind of frustrating - to try to keep up with what's been going on over at the old Engine Room at 1515 Pease, up to and including what the dam ... More >>

Benefits, Outdoor Shows Fill Up Fall Concert Season Quick

​"Winter changed into spring, spring changed into summer, summer changed back into winter, and winter gave spring and summer a miss and went straight on into autumn" - Monty Python and the Holy Grail That's what it's starting to feel like at Rocks Off HQ, especially on the local front. The su ... More >>

Feeling Darragh, D.R.U.M., Karina, Skarnales On The Showcase's Western Edge

Photos by Marco TorresHenry Darragh Quintet, a smooth oasis on a hot day.​How was your Saturday? We spent ours hopping from bar to bar, soaking in rays (inadvertently), and downing copious amounts of liquid refreshment. Oh yeah, and we managed to see eight bands in four hours. Dive in for our ... More >>

2010 Music Awards Nominees, Part 1

​Rocks Off is sorry this took so long, but between sifting through dozens of categories with dozens of nominations apiece, and shuffling back and forth to the doctor's office thanks to an unfortunate spill last night, we've been working as fast as we possibly can. Even so, we decided to split ... More >>

Steel Lounge Underground

Mix music with art, add alcohol, stir, shake and serve

iFest Aftermath: Not Bad For a Non-Music Festival

Breaking iFest news: Nigeria's King Sunny Ade & his African Beats have been forced to cancel their entire U.S. tour, including a scheduled appearance Saturday at iFest. According to a press release from the group's PR firm, Rock Paper Scissors, the U.S. Embassy has refused to grant visas to two ... More >>

Houston International Festival

Bayou Beat: HOB's "Blues Schoolhouse" Band Seeks Musicians, Discovery Green Announces Spring Lineup, etc.

[Ed. Note: We are not trying to encroach on Ms. Magnolia City Mixtape's territory, but once in a while the news piles up too fast to wait an entire week.] It's our party and we'll pimp if we want to: Perhaps you may have heard about this "Washington Shore" soiree Rocks Off is throwing at 8 p.m. t ... More >>

Upcoming Events

Do you like burgers and beats? Of course you do. You're a red-blooded Houstonian. It just so happens that Stanton's City Bites (1420 Edwards) is hosting a Beats and Eats party on Saturday afternoon from noon to 7 p.m. Live music by BBC, Karina Nistal, Mr. Castillo and more will keep the party going ... More >>

Ask a Rapper: Karina Nistal Loves Common, Mike Jones Not So Much

The hip-hop world is a less than sensible place - lots of times, you're even required to clarify when bad means bad and when bad means good - so once a week we're going to get with a rapper and ask them to explain things. Have something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email it to introducinglisto ... More >>

HPMA Aftermath: Dominique, Karina Nistal, Chango Man, the Mighty Orq and Sideshow Tramps

Henry Rizoh​It's hard for Aftermath to believe it's been a year since the last Music Awards showcase. Thanks to the "old-person-friendly" in-stores at Cactus Music, we've been able to keep up with the scene better than usual in the past year, and can truthfully say that in the 19 years we've ... More >>

ReFried Rice: In the Hot Seat with Nick Gaitan

​We're here with Nick Gaitan from Umbrella Man. He's up first in the Hot Seat.Who are you going to see today?Ryan Scroggins. Want to watch Sean Reefer, but we're playing at the same time. And by buddy Jack, we're up against each other for Best Bassist. BUH BUH BUM! (Says in doomy singing voice).I ... More >>

52 Pick-Up

Your guide to the 2009 Houston Press Music Awards showcase

Artist Of The Week: Ilyria Guerrera

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 who isn't awful? Email their particulars to introducingliston@gmail.com. Artist Ilyria Guerrera is ... More >>

Over the Weekend: Houston Artopia at Winter Street Studios

Photo by Daniel Kramer As you should know if you've been following the Houston Press recently (and why wouldn't you?) we held a little get-together called Artopia at Winter Street Studios in the Heights to honor and showcase local artists and performers. Sandwiched in between the railroad tracks ... More >>

Houston Press Artopia

The art/food/fashion mega-event might be the new kid in town, but it’s making one hell of a debut

Houston Goes International with the Latin Grammys

Westheimer Block Party Map and Stage Schedule

New North Heights Hipster Hang: Big Star Bar

Bad Motor Scooter

Houston (and Rocks Off) Makes Spin Magazine

New Video and Album Update from Karina Nistal

The 2008 Houston Press Music Awards Ceremony

UGK for Life

Stageside Blogging: Karina Nistal Gets Ambitious, Our Hosts Win an Award and Kam Guest-Blogs

2008 Houston Press Music Awards Showcase

A preview of the 60 bands and five DJs that are taking over downtown this weekend

Yesterday Afternoon: Westheimer Block Party at Numbers, Mango's and Avant Garden

Weekend Music: No Money, No Problem

Houston Music Festivals

The last three weeks of this month promise to be hard on your wallet, eardrums and liver

SXSW Day 1: Tricks of the Trade

Weekend Music: Help Save the Houston Music Scene

This Just In: Houston Bringing It to SXSW

’Twas the Night Before Hip-Hop

Make like a sugar plum vision and dance

Karina Nistal and Rebel Crew Rap for the Troops

Circle in the sand

Westheimer Block Party

Local music hits the street of Westheimer

Houston Press Music Awards Winners

Devin the Dude, Katie Stuckey and The Dimes clean up

Exile on Main Street

Racket and the new guy take the annual Houston Press Music Awards Showcase plunge

Announcing the 2007 Houston Press Music Awards Winners

Houston Press Music Awards Showcase

We will, we will rock you!

2007 Houston Press Music Awards Showcase

Lost in Rotation

Rounding Up Recordings by HPMA Nominees

Best New Act 2007

Southern G.R.A.B.

Hip-hop ladies' night

In Style with Nistal

Rebel Crew's Karina Nistal

Hey, Ladies!

Killer Cuts

It's a slice 'n' dice disco at the Texas Turntable Massacre, Part II

Femmes Fatales

The fun is freaky -- and free -- with the Ladies of the Night