Pete Mitchell

Places That Are Open -- Constantly Updated

Lonesome Onry and Mean: Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra Coming to Volcano

Nicholas Tremulis Orchestra with John Cale (third from left) As usually happens just after New Year's, bands and venues are scrambling to line up Houston gigs during South By Southwest. Under the Volcano (2349 Bissonnet) owner Pete Mitchell has scored an early coup, lining up Chicago powerhouse th ... More >>

Under the Volcano Calls Out the Rodeo

Under the Volcano has announced new bookings for March. Owner Pete Mitchell is launching what he hopes to turn into an annual month-long series to run during the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. "I haven't come up with a name for it yet - the Anti-Rodeo Series, the Real Country Series, so ... More >>

Tonight: Cordero At Under The Volcano

Brooklyn-based indie rock en-espanol-ers Cordero will be torching Under the Volcano this evening. Owner Pete Mitchell has been working to get Cordero to the club ever since he saw them two years ago at South By Southwest. Mitchell, who is married to an Argentine and speaks fluent Spanish, says, " ... More >>

Could Alternative Country Work at the Rodeo?

Brooklyn-based indie rock en-espanol-ers Cordero will be torching Under the Volcano this evening. Owner Pete Mitchell has been working to get Cordero to the club ever since he saw them two years ago at South By Southwest. Mitchell, who is married to an Argentine and speaks fluent Spanish, says, " ... More >>

Steak Night: Under the Volcano

Brooklyn-based indie rock en-espanol-ers Cordero will be torching Under the Volcano this evening. Owner Pete Mitchell has been working to get Cordero to the club ever since he saw them two years ago at South By Southwest. Mitchell, who is married to an Argentine and speaks fluent Spanish, says, " ... More >>

Banda meets ska meets the Smiths in the sound of Pistolera

Pistolas y Corazón

The Smoking Ban

Has it been good for Houston? A dozen local music figures sound off

Under the Volcano

Ducking Humberto at Under the Volcano

Paradise by the Dashboard Light/Houston Music

Racket again ventures downtown in search of musical serendipity

Stealing the Show

New Orleans musicians blew into Houston on Katrina's winds and everything was magic for a while

Paranoia Self Destroyer

A New Birth Brass Band set at the Volcano makes Racket long for a new and improved tinfoil hat

Best Jukebox

Under the Volcano

Last Call Comes to Midtown Favorite Leon's Lounge... For Now, Anyway

Photos by Craig Hlavaty​ Rocks Off got word late Friday afternoon that McGowen Street's long-standing bastion of cool, Leon's Lounge, would be closing over the weekend. Not for good, but at least for a few months while new ownership overhauls and renovates the establishment, long a barfly favorite ... More >>

Leon's Lounge Needs Some Soul. Brett "Dirty Honey" Koshkin Has The Platters.

​ Leon's Lounge, the venerable Midtown throwback dive, is currently closed for renovations as new owner Pete Mitchell (Under the Volcano) gives it a good scrubbing, but it should be back open before too much longer. Maybe as soon as next month. Earlier this week, Rocks Off heard some equally good ... More >>

Leon's Opening Again Soon

Photos by Katharine ShilcuttLeon's by the light of the moon.​Been missing Midtown's favorite dive bar? Don't fret; Leon's will be open once again soon. The bar has been closed since January, when Scarlett Yarbrough -- daughter of the eponymous Leon Yarbrough -- sold it to Pete Mitchell, who a ... More >>

Aussie Anne McCue Seeking Trumpet, Sax For Volcano Gig

myspace.com/annemccue​Aussie guitarslinger Anne McCue, now a resident of Nashville, has hung around the edges of the U.S. alt-country and blues-rock scenes for years now. However, her third American release, Broken Promise Land, may finally put the slinky blonde firmly on the map. Beginning with t ... More >>

Wednesday Night Is The Loveliest Night Of The Week

myspace.com/davinjamesDavin James​Don't look now, but Wednesday is one of the hotter musical nights these days, not that there isn't something for everyone almost every night if you've got your nose to the ground. Here's a brief report of what's catching Rocks Off's attention lately. 1. Puffa ... More >>

Leon's Lounge Reopens Saturday

Paul Knight​Rocks Off just got an email from Leon's owner Pete Mitchell, who also owns Under the Volcano, saying the historic Midtown bar will be back open at 7 p.m. tomorrow. Mitchell leased Leon's in January, and pretty much has been renovating it ever since. That should have given him plen ... More >>

Openings & Closings

Still one of my favorite photos. Welcome back, Leon's.​More great news for the Heights this week as it was announced that D'Amico's Italian Market has set its sights on White Oak Boulevard for its second location. The popular restaurant has been operating at 5510 Morningside in Rice Village si ... More >>

Valerie June Out, Krayolas In At Leon's, Volcano

Craig HlavatyValerie June at SXSW​Win some, lose some. Pete Mitchell, owner of Under the Volcano and the recently reopened Leon's Lounge, just called to bemoan the fact that rising star Valerie June had cancelled her July 26 solo date at Leon's. "She's doing a record with Dan Auerbach [Black ... More >>