Manchester

From The Sky Down: U2's "Bittersweet Song Of Disunity"

What was the last great U2 album? Now, before you go and get your snotty Henry Rollins quotes lined up, recall that there was a period in the mid- to late 1980s when the Dublin foursome were both the biggest and most critically acclaimed band on the planet before veering off into sonic experimentat ... More >>

Riot Riot Upstart: Songs For The UK Riots

photoshoplooter.tumblr.com/​A few days ago, in the midst of the worst of the rioting going on around London, which has now dominated the headlines for the better part of a week, someone on Twitter remarked "If Americans rioted every time the cops shot somebody we'd have no time for cocaine and ... More >>

Say Goodbye To Nine Houston Post Offices

Offices a-closin'​The U.S. Postal Service has announced it's thinking about shutting 3,700 locations across the country, many in small towns. But Houston would not be spared: A list of potential closings -- hilariously labeled the "Expanded Access Study List" -- shows nine sites in the city a ... More >>

Friday Night: Cage The Elephant & Manchester Orchestra At Verizon

Photos by Matthew KeeverCage the Elephant​Cage the Elephant, Manchester Orchestra Verizon Wireless Theater May 27, 2011 Cage the Elephant are nuts. Like their music or not, you're guaranteed to have a good time at any of their live performances. The band's energy level is unparalleled by alm ... More >>

25 Famous Bands' Less Famous Previous Names

​As promised, here are the answers to Rocks Off's "Original Band Name" quiz from Tuesday. John St. Lee, if you'd care to email us, we'll see what we can do about getting you a prize. Do you like Devo? 1. Chicago: At about 25 or 6 to 4, the Windy City jazz-rockers realized The Big Thing sucked ... More >>

Some Can Whistle: A Playlist To Don't Worry, Be Happy

​It's often the little things that make our favorite songs our favorites - the curious, unforeseen additions of small touches like an understated bit of whistling. For those who like to categorize their playlists into themes, we present you with the Rocks Off approved Whistle Playlist. The S ... More >>

Prince William: Who's Playing The Royal Wedding?

Now, if it were Prince Harry's wedding...​Sorry, ladies. Prince William is (almost!) officially off the market. When the future King of England officially announced his engagement to girlfriend Kate Middleton earlier today, Rocks Off instantly envisioned potential entertainers for the couple' ... More >>

Eclipse

Brooding folk for the Twilight crowd.

Face It, Fans: MLS Is A Minor League

What's that "M" stand for again?​I don't read Jerome Solomon of the Houston Chronicle often. I think of him as a kind of minor league Richard Justice. But I couldn't resist reading him the other day when he did one of my favorite things, piss off soccer fans. Last week, apparently, he made the mis ... More >>

Blogging Bonnaroo: Norah Jones, Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z

Photos by Mark C. Austin/See the slideshowStevie Wonder on Bonnaroo's main stage​Houston artist Tyagaraja recently won the Ford Fiesta Team Houston Battle of The Bands, the grand prize of which was a trip to perform at the Bonnaroo music festival in Tennessee. Meghan Hendley, keyboardist/vocal ... More >>

Blogging from Bonnaroo: Meghan Hendley of Tyagaraja Checks In

Wayne Coyne with Meghan Hendley/Click here for a slideshow​Houston artist Tyagaraja recently won the Ford Fiesta Team Houston Battle of The Bands, the grand prize of which was a trip to perform at the Bonnaroo music festival in Tennessee. Quite the opportunity for exposure, no? Meghan Hendley ... More >>

A Cooler Coke: Vimto

​Each Tuesday and Thursday for the next five weeks, we'll be taking a look at alternatives to cokes for the sticky Houston summer that lays ahead. If you're like me, you might wander up to the refrigerated drink case at Phoenicia and think that the red, yellow and white can of Vimto sitting o ... More >>

A Quiet Hell

Thanks to lax enforcement by TCEQ, plants along the Houston Ship Channel launch tons of toxic gases into our air, and face little penalty even when they exceed pollution limits over and over again.

No Turkeys Allowed

Our annual holiday shopping guide to recent local releases

Ain't No Party (Around Here) Like Houston's The Factory Party

www.myspace.com/thefactorypartymusic​ It always amazes Rocks Off how we'll start liking one band - Bunnymen-loving London post-punks White Lies, in this case - and then a little while later, stumble across a local band who could be their twin. If only, you know, they weren't from halfway around th ... More >>

9/9/09: Songs With a Certain Number in the Title

​As Hair Balls pointed out, we've only got three more of these weird number/same number/same number days left this century after today. Such chronological repetition appeals to the hidden obsessive-compulsive in all of us, so join us as we wash our hands nine times, lock the door nine times, and l ... More >>

Smiths Reunion Rumored at Morrissey's Jones Hall Show

Strangeways, here they come: Rocks Off has learned that former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr has requested passes for his ex-bandmate Morrissey's sold-out April 11 show at Jones Hall, leading to speculation that the two will perform onstage together for the first time since the influential Manch ... More >>

Tonight: Morrissey Listening Party at Jet Lounge

Morrissey's back in record stores tomorrow with Years of Refusal, his first album since 2006's Ringleader of the Tormentors and possibly his hardest-rocking album to date. (Its release on primo Americana label Lost Highway only adds to the weirdness factor.) The thick-ass bass and snarling guit ... More >>

Morrissey Will Take Miami and the Points

"Every Day Is Like Sunday" If you haven't read "Songs from the Heart of a Marketing Plan," Jon Pareles' essay outlining how, basically, the only way for artists to sell their music these days is by licensing it to sell something else, in the New York Times, go ahead and check it out. Ballz detects ... More >>

Morrissey Will Take Miami and the Points

"Every Day Is Like Sunday" If you haven't read "Songs from the Heart of a Marketing Plan," Jon Pareles' essay outlining how, basically, the only way for artists to sell their music these days is by licensing it to sell something else, in the New York Times, go ahead and check it out. Ballz detects ... More >>

Morrissey Will Take Miami and the Points

"Every Day Is Like Sunday" If you haven't read "Songs from the Heart of a Marketing Plan," Jon Pareles' essay outlining how, basically, the only way for artists to sell their music these days is by licensing it to sell something else, in yesterday's New York Times, go ahead and check it out. Rocks ... More >>

Andy Rourke

Free Ting Tings Tickets Right Here

Soul Day at ACL: I Feel Good!

Tonight: Back Door Slam at Warehouse Live

Overnight Express: Simply Red Does Bobby "Blue" Bland

SXSW: Carbon/Silicon, Ting Tings, Santogold, MGMT, The Cribs, White Rabbits, Supersuckers and Robyn

Music Deaths

The Greil Marcus Rock Death Meter returns

Bottomless Pit, Hammer of the Gods

Hammer of the Gods

Control

Joy Division portrait proves the exception to the rock biopic drool

Joy Division's Expanded Reissues

Unknown Pleasures, Closer, Still, Control Original Motion Picture Sound Track

The Bards of Baytown

Scattered Pages' urban art-country music is as pretty as its hometown is ugly

Bring On the Backlash!

Flinging poo at the haters with the Arctic Monkeys

He's the DJ, He's the DJ...

Nine Black Alps

Tuesday, March 21, Walter's on Washington, 4215 Washington Avenue, 713-864-2727

The Hype of March

Who will be the band of 2006, and why you shouldn’t care

Hooked Up

The Doves, with Longwave

This Meridian show has been canceled because of the threat of Hurricane Rita

Morrissey

Live at Earl's Court

Make Mine a Guinness

The author discovers his genetic Irishness

House Music Scratches for a New Vibe in Houston

The Fall, with Low Flying Owls

Sunday, May 2

Magnums at Opus

Are you beautiful? Then head to downtown's newest club

The Very Best of the Stone Roses ; Outpost Transmission

Silvertone; Instinct

Psychic Gothline

Find out what the late Ian Curtis thinks about Interpol. No, really.

No Monkey Business

Rotation

Trancey Groove

Noise Doctors

Disco Knights

Bouncers is a pleasantly diverting night on the town, without hangover or savor