Kelly Clarkson

Why You Shouldn't Apply For That New EDM Reality Show

Dear Rocks Off: Have you heard about this EDM reality show that some TV producers are trying to put together? I heard about it online but when I told my friends I wanted to enter they told me it was a really bad idea. I bet they're just being haters, but before I fill out this application can you t ... More >>

10 Surprising Things About This Year's Grammy Nominations

This year music has been dominated by viral pop like "Call Me Maybe" and "Gangnam Style," songs that initially became "hits" from outside the music business' traditional delivery system, usually YouTube. Thursday, the Grammys recognized that by nominating "Maybe," by 17-year-old Justin Bieber proteg ... More >>

5 New Rules For Your Party Playlist

The keg is on ice, and the snacks are in the party bowls slowly going stale. The streamers are hung and the party hats are sitting on the kitchen table, perhaps ironically, perhaps not. The neighbors have been bribed with invitations or money, and the local police are on full alert. The drug dealers ... More >>

Turning 10, American Idol Struggles to Make New Stars -- But Mostly Misses

It's hard to imagine it now, just a shade less than a decade later, but at one time American Idol was able to crank out star after star in a succession of seasons. Most people couldn't name at least one of the last five winners of Fox's cash-cow pop show, even as ratings have remained healthy (if no ... More >>

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

Readers' Poll: Does Music In The Workplace Make You More Productive?

A recent blog on the Bloomberg Businessweek site detailed a UK study that was done dealing with music in the workplace and its effect on worker productivity. 77 percent of surveyed businesses said that it boosted morale and made output soar. The rest of the 33 percent probably own sweatshops. Now I ... More >>

2012 Summer Guide: It's a Scorcher

A summer concert season to melt your face off.

Skits: This Week In Music-Biz WTFery -- Katy Perry, B.o.B., Etc.

The music business fuckery continues. A game so destructive it only benefits the top dogs (and even so, temporarily), while the actual players continue to eat sand out of peanuts. Who's winning? Who's losing? Dig in for this week's music-bidness shenanigans.

Upcoming: Kelly Clarkson, Incubus, Jonathan Richman, Unknown Hinson, Etc.

B L A C K I E: Tue., May 1. Walter's, 1120 Naylor St., Houston. Beat Connection, White Arrows: Fri., June 22. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak, Houston. Eric Benét, Ledisi: Thu., July 5. Arena Theatre, 7326 SW Freeway, Houston. Guitar Shorty: Sat., June 2. The Big Easy Social & Pleasure Club, 5731 K ... More >>

Super Bowl XLVI: M.I.A.'s Bird Is The Word

On its best day, you can say the musical portion of the Super Bowl ranks somewhere below the fifth time you see the latest Go Daddy commercial and somewhere above that pre-game segment featuring an offensive lineman and his mother. I mean, who really looks forward to a halftime show, post Nipplegate ... More >>

The Hair Balls Super Bowl Live Blog: Remember To Piss

In some alternate universe, the streets of Houston are currently bathed in Miller Lite, Reliant Stadium and every bar in town is a watch party, with even the homeless folks are wearing soiled Texans jerseys. But alas, our Houston Texans only made it into the second round of the playoffs, and here we ... More >>

Football! Six Prop Bets and My Super Bowl XLVI Pick (Includes Video Analysis of Kelly Clarkson Anthem-Singing)

Finally, the Super Bowl is upon us, and when you head out to that neighborhood party this Sunday, you may need some fabricated incentive to have a rooting interest in the game. I get that. Sure, you can do it the ultra-lame way by buying a couple squares for five bucks and hoping that you randomly ... More >>

Five Prop Bets For Music Lovers This Super Sunday

Photo by Allison Wagoner​It's time to be honest with each other for a moment: some people out there don't care about the Super Bowl. They may not care about sports at all. In fact, they might hate sports completely. Listen close and you can hear them roll their eyes at yet another blog post a ... More >>

The X Factor: Judges' Deadlock! America Decides

Last night on The X Factor we got a taste of what it means when America's votes have a direct impact on determining which contestant goes home. After performances by Kelly Clarkson and Bruno Mars, and The Big Ensemble Number performed by The Remaining Contestants, we get right down to business. At t ... More >>

The 12 Best Remakes of Hip Hop and Pop Songs by Heavy Bands

​Rock bands covering music in a different genre can sometimes be a sensitive subject. You have people that love both genres separately but then there are fans who prefer their music to be a bit blended. Punk Goes... is a series of compilation albums that feature punk rock artists covering m ... More >>

Saturday: Kelly Clarkson At The Galleria

Allison Wagoner​Kelly Clarkson The Galleria June 25, 2011 Aftermath knew that Pride weekend in Houston was going to get a little weird for us, but we didn't think our Saturday afternoon pregame ritual would be standing amongst 100 tweens singing along to "Since U Been Gone," fighting off a ba ... More >>

Born This Way: The Ultimate Soundalike Playlist

​When Lady Gaga released her new single, "Born This Way," in February, it took less than a minute of the title track from her upcoming disc for fans and detractors alike to scream "Express Yourself!" in unison. Yes, it does sound like an amped-up version of the 1989 Madonna track. A lot. Thi ... 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 >>

Idol Beat: Some Girls

​I missed most of last night's introduction because I was still trying to get my head around how they're going to milk tonight's selection show for two freaking hours. American Idol is just another example of domestic ineffeciency: take what should be -- at best -- a thirty minute program and ... More >>

Friday Night: George Strait & Reba At Austin's Erwin Center

Photos by Marc Brubaker​George Strait, Reba McEntire Frank Erwin Center, Austin January 14, 2010 Friday night, Aftermath drove to Austin to catch one of the lone Texas stops on this round of tandem touring by the King and Queen of Country, George Strait and Reba McEntire, with Lee Ann Womack ... More >>

Nine More Washed-Up Musicians On Reality Shows

Photo illustrations by John Seaborn Gray​Everybody's favorite lovelorn rock has-been Vince Neil has signed on to Skating With the Stars, an upcoming reality show sure to feature an exact recreation of the photo illustration above. Times, it seems, are tough all over, and Neil can't be the only ... More >>

Musicians Who Will Fetch The Least In TwitChange Auction

​TwitChange, a charity organization dedicated to helping Haiti led by the only Desperate Housewife who doesn't look at least partially mummified, Eva Longoria, is having an auction that will change the very nature of self-obsession as we know it. Several celebrities have gotten together and ag ... More >>

5 Songs That Will Make Us Beat You Up

​Today is the late Judy Garland's birthday, and the embattled drug-addicted star of The Wizard Of Oz (plus a whole trove of movies we have never seen), would have been 88 years old. She was one of the first well-documented victims of drug abuse, at least in hushed tones. She was famous for rou ... More >>

An Experiment In Terror: One Hour On Chatroulette

We're not sure what this was; we're just glad it wasn't yet another penis.​Since its launch in November of last year, popular video chat site Chatroulette has become a beacon of late-night entertainment for lonely people, drunken college kids, and internet pranksters the world over. It's also spot ... More >>

KOMODO'S PUB'S NUCLEAR RAINBOW

He Said She Said: The Sweet, Sweet Sounds of Revenge

"A man that studieth revenge keeps his own wounds green, which otherwise would heal and do well." - Sir Francis Bacon ihasahotdog.com​She Said has never been one for revenge, preferring to believe (at least), that people make their own beds. But if she was the vengeful type, she'd seek it out not ... More >>

Stirred and Shaken: Komodo Pub's Nuclear Rainbow

Photo by Troy Fields​It didn't take long to realize Komodo's Pub (2004 Baldwin, 713-655-1501) is no dive. The Internet (specifically, Yelp.com) might have you believe that, but careful on-site analysis of the bar reveals that the Internet is full of bullshit. A real dive doesn't have "nice flo ... More >>

Pop Rocks: American Idol -- What The Hell Is Wrong With You People?

​The ninth season of America's national karaoke showcase -- also known as American Idol -- premiered last Tuesday. The show that has contributed such legends as Jordin Sparks and Taylor Hicks to the world of music continues to chug along in spite of the absence of original judge Paula Abdul and th ... More >>

Rooney

Twelve Musical Fuck Yous Better Than Gov. Ah-nuld's Coded Message

​Photo illustration by John Seaborn Gray​We admit, we never thought he had it in him, but apparently the Governator is capable of human cleverness - just like all non-cybernetic organisms. That is, if we accept that the acrostic in this veto message here isn't just a coincidence (read the first ... More >>

This Week In Beyonce: Did Kelly Clarkson Bite "Halo"?

(Listen to "Halo" here) Texas' two biggest pop divas are currently embroiled in a feud only the media could love. It seems Kelly Clarkson's latest single from her album All I Ever Wanted, "Already Gone," sounds a lot like Beyonce's recent Top 5 smash, "Halo." Turns out there's a good reason for thi ... More >>

Cattle Decapitation

The proud vegans in this San Diego grindcore outfit welcome you to The Harvest Floor.

Idol Beat: The Final 13 Results

Ray Mickshaw/ Fox Nunez out: Don't let the door hit you where the Good Lord split you, Jorge (middle).A new wrinkle in the elimination curve! The return of a prodigal Idol winner! A performance from a self-important pop-rap blowhard! Two more contestants falling under the proverbial sword! Th ... More >>

Aftermath: Reba McEntire at RodeoHouston

Photos by Mark C. AustinReba McEntire is the closest modern country will ever get to the artistic heights of its pioneering female vocalists. Sure Tanya Tucker had her run but the booze, powders and Glen Campbell took their toll. Shania Twain was just a Nashville/Pat Benatar Frankenstein proje ... More >>

American Idol Returns Tonight... Yawn

Come back Kelly Clarkson, all is forgiven... If you've been lucky enough to spend the past several months in a media-deprivation tank - or maybe you just don't read the Houston Chronicle - then you no doubt know Fox's shrill-singing flagship series American Idol returns tonight at 7 p.m. (As ... More >>

Houstonian Kady Malloy = Early American Idol Front-runner

Ghostface Killah

Is Ghostface as dumb as he wants you to think he is?

(No) Beer at Concerts

Stay Dry, Stay Fly

Kelly Bails!

Odd Couples

Strange musical pairings

Idol Chatter

Opening day for America's fourth national sport is upon us

Déjà Dance

Newest DDR: Same game, fresh set list.

Hope Springs Eternal

A northern suburb tops our third installment of rating greater Houston's taste in music

Aly & AJ

Thursday, July 6, at the Verizon Wireless Theater, 520 Texas, 713-230-1600

Pink / Damone

I'm Not Dead / Out Here All Night

Never Go to a Party in Friendswood

Where does your town rank in the Houston-area good-taste stakes?

Pop Rocks

Ten albums that'll snap and fizz in your ear buds all winter long

Your Government at Work

Vienna Teng

Thursday, April 1