Lightnin' Hopkins

Lightnin' Hopkins Finally Wins a Grammy

It took the Texas Historical Society long enough to appropriately recognize Houston bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins, but not as long as the Grammys. As part of the run-up to Sunday night's 55th annual Grammy Awards, its governing body the Recording Academy announced that Hopkins, who died in 1982, will ... More >>

The Rest of the Best: Houston's Top 5 Restaurant Playlists

The only times I notice the music in a restaurant is when it's really bad (Christmas music playing year round at Sichuan Cuisine), really out of place (Nine Inch Nails blaring out of the speakers at now-closed Tony Vallone joint Ciao Bello or Cannibal Corpse washing over the line of patrons at Amy's ... More >>

Third Ward Treasure Jewel Brown: "I've Seen 'Em All"

Along with Lightnin' Hopkins's cousin Milton Hopkins, Houston jazz diva Jewel Brown heads north to Chicago this weekend, where she and Hopkins will entertain folks with their new album, Milton Hopkins and Jewel Brown. The festival is paying tribute to Lightnin' Hopkins since this would have been hi ... More >>

Rockin' Bluesman Joe Louis Walker Ignites Hellfire

While many young'uns spent their years 'twixt 12 and 20 just listening to music and attending concerts, Joe Louis Walker was a bit more proactive. At age 16, he became the house guitarist for the legendary San Francisco rock club The Matrix, he played with or opened shows for everyone from Jimi Hend ... More >>

iFest 2012 Heavy On Latin Rock, Funk, South Americans

The Houston International Festival officially announced its 2012 lineup this morning. The music is heavy on Latin-flavored rock, reggae and funk, with Texas well-represented as always and an exceedingly rare Houston appearance by Seun Kuti, son of Afrobeat giant Fela, and his group Egypt 80. Among ... More >>

Big Night

A well-timed NEA grant finally brings several local blues greats to the Jones Hall stage.

Soul City: Talent Scouts Lola Anne Cullum And Lela Macy

Black History Month is always a great time to recall some of Houston's greatest musical innovators and leaders. Rocks Off will highlight some of them during the remainder of February. Jody PerryTexas Johnny Brown, one of the few Houston musicians who remembers "Mrs. Cullum"​At a local blues j ... More >>

Houston's Best Gifts To The Music World

Ed. Note: Rocks Off is still in a holiday frame of mind... actually we meant to post this before Christmas, but they're just as true now. No refunds, no exchanges. ​Here is Craig's Hlist point of view: Houston has given so much to the world, from ZZ Top, Jandek, Beyonce Knowles, and everythin ... More >>

Lightnin' Hopkins Finally Gets What's Coming To Him

This week Rocks Off is counting down our choices for the Top 5 local music stories of 2010. Matthew KeeverR. Eric Davis, Texas Johnny Brown and Milton Hopkins at the Lightnin' Hopkins Historical Marker dedication ceremony, November 13​WHAT HAPPENED? Coming in at No. 5 on our year-end list is ... More >>

Po Lightnin': Lightnin' Hopkins: His Life and Blues

​Lightnin' Hopkins: His Life and Blues By Alan Govenar Chicago Review Press, 368 pp., $28.95. With the dedication of a state historical marker in the Third Ward where he lived and played, Lightnin' Hopkins' name and music has gotten a bit of a boost lately. Long overdue, many would say, and ... More >>

Sam's Place

Lightnin' Hopkins finally gets his own historical marker.

Lightnin' Hopkins Dedication Draws Overflow Crowd

Photos by Matthew KeeverL-R: R. Eric Davis, Texas Johnny Brown, Milton Hopkins. For more photos from Saturday, see our slideshow here.​Lightnin' Hopkins is official. Saturday morning, a crowd that overflowed the tent erected due to the inclement weather (though it never actually rained) showe ... More >>

Lightnin' Hopkins' Six Best Songs, By Mr. Blues In Hi-Fi

​Tomorrow, Rocks Off - and, we hope, a lot of our readers - will drag our raggedy asses out of bed and over to Project Row Houses in Third Ward at 10 a.m. to witness something incredible: The dedication of a Texas State Historical Marker to the greatest bluesman to ever hang his hat in Houston ... More >>

Lightnin' Hopkins Historical Marker Dedication

Lightnin' Hopkins Marker Cast, Ready For Dedication

​Good news on the Lightnin' Hopkins historical marker front: It officially exists. R. Eric Davis, who raised the necessary funds and successfully petitioned the Texas Historical Commission to approve the marker, has received the monument to the legendary bluesman who spent the majority of his ... More >>

It Might Get Loud At Alamo Drafthouse Tonight

Hollywood Shuffle comes to you a day early this week because Alamo Drafthouse is hosting a screening tonight, and we'd never forgive ourselves if we didn't let you know about it. What film is it, you ask? Oh, just a little "rockumentary" from 2008 called It Might Get Loud, in which Jimmy Fucking ... More >>

Lightnin' Hopkins Historical Marker Text Approved

Andrew Hanson, 1959​The Texas Historical Commission has approved the text that Eric Davis submitted for the historical marker honoring late Houston blues legend Lightnin' Hopkins, and will now send the text to a foundry so the marker can be cast. The commission approved Davis' proposal for the mar ... More >>

Devin The Dude Vs. Texas Board Of Education; Summerfest Prices Go Up Tonight; Rare Lightnin' Hopkins Portraits For Sale; ZZ Top To Play Chile Benefit

The Awl writes about Devin the Dude, making fun of the dumbifying of Texas' public-school curriculum. Today is your last chance to get Summerfest passes for the low, low price of $22.50. They go up at midnight. Prince Paul, who only produced De La Soul's 3 Feet High and Rising, has signed on to DJ ... More >>

Inquiring Minds: Gov't Mule's Warren Haynes On Billy Gibbons, Lightnin' Hopkins, Ray LaMontagne And More

Shore Fire Media​ In this week's print edition of the Press, Warren Haynes talks about juggling his membership in the Alpha and Omega of jam bands, the Allman Brothers Band and The Dead, with the musclebound blues-rock engine he started in 1994, Gov't Mule. The Mule pulls into House of Blues Satur ... More >>

Lightnin' Strikes

The late legendary Houston bluseman finally gets an official historical marker.

Which Other Local Musical Landmarks Deserve Historical Markers?

Chris Gray SugarHill Studios​Monday's announcement that the Texas Historical Commission has approved Eric Davis' proposal for an official state historical marker honoring Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins is wonderful news, but it's also only the tip of the iceberg. Plenty of other spots around town, ... More >>

It's Really Happening: Lightnin' Hopkins Historical Marker on the Way

​ Yes, you read that headline correctly. Today the Texas Historical Commission announced that Eric Davis' petition to honor Houston blues icon Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins with an official state historical marker has been approved. Along with 243 others. Took them long enough. "I am completely thrilled ... More >>

It's Really Happening: Lightnin' Hopkims Historical Marker On The Way

​ Yes, you read that headline correctly. Today the Texas Historical Commission announced that Eric Davis' petition to honor Houston blues icon Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins with an official state historical marker has been approved. Along with 243 others. Took them long enough. "I am completely thrille ... More >>

More Good News In the Lightnin' Hopkins Historical Marker Campaign

​ Eric Davis, whose application to erect a state historical marker for iconic Texas bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins was approved by the Harris County Historical Commission in November, said today his campaign to raise money to pay for the marker reached its goal of $1,800 dollars last month. "I'm just ... More >>

More Good News In The Lightnin' Hopkins Historical Marker Campaign

​ Eric Davis, whose application to erect a state historical marker for iconic Texas bluesman Lightnin' Hopkins was approved by the Harris County Historical Commission in November, said today his campaign to raise money to pay for the marker reached its goal of $1,800 dollars last month. "I'm just ... More >>

Rocks Off Has Some Issues This Morning, But Not as Many as This Guy

​Rocks Off came into the office this morning to discover we had been beset by a bad case of the gremlins. One of our photographers' Web site was down, there was another mix-up with the Willie Nelson photos from Saturday night (which has since been fixed) and... well, it's just a Monday. However, w ... More >>

Lightnin' Hopkins may finally get his marker

Highlights from the Blog at HOUSTONPRESS.COM

Is Lightnin' Hopkins Finally About to Get His Own Official Historical Marker?

​Both Rocks Off and our predecessor in the music editor's chair have written about what a travesty it is that there is no official marker honoring perhaps the most famous and influential musician to ever call Houston home, country-blues icon Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins. Along the way, we've both menti ... More >>

Is Lightnin' Hopkins Finally About to Get His Own Official Historical Marker?

​Both Rocks Off and our predecessor in the music editor's chair have written about what a travesty it is that there is no official marker honoring perhaps the most famous and influential musician to ever call Houston home, country-blues icon Sam "Lightnin'" Hopkins. Along the way, we've both ment ... More >>

A Musical Guide to Post-Secession Texas: Houston and "Brazoria"

The final installment of our Five States of Texas project brings it all back home, to the new state of Brazoria, encompassing all of Southeast Texas from the Brazos Valley to Sabine Pass. ​Patron Saint: Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. A master of rock and roll, country, Cajun/Creole, blues and jazz, n ... More >>

The Collector: Mack McCormick's Huge Archive of Culture and Lore

A great American folklorist has spent a life squirreling away bits and pieces of Texas culture. Now time is running out on him and his inventory.

Tonight: Michael Hardie and Milton Hopkins at Red Cat Jazz Cafe

House of Lightnin'

Rememberin' Lightnin'

Day of the Dead at the Graves of Southeast Texas Music Legends

The Scene Is Dead. Long Live the Scene!

Ideas toward a Houston-style musical Day of the Dead

Lomax on Lomax

"Discovery Green" Is Classy?

The Houston Slide

The Medicine Show rocks the ephemeral city with eternal music

Snit's Dog and Pony Show

Friday, April 7, at the Big Easy Social and Pleasure Club, 5731 Kirby, 713-523-9999

Snooks Eaglin

New Orleans Street Singer

The O.G. of Love

Johnny "Guitar" Watson gets his due with a terrific two disc set

Musical Chairs

It's never the same show with the Good Luck Band

Treasure Hunter

Chris Strachwitz's 40-year journey through ethnic music deserves an arhoolie of its own

The Man With the Blue Guitar

Chris Smither uses the blues as a launching pad for a sound that could make you cry

Pretty Ugly

Brooklyn's Barkmarket tries to hack off every oppressively prettified, mass-market notion of music