Phoenix (Arizona)

Chef Chat, Part 1: Ruben Ortega of Hugo's and Backstreet Cafe and The Story of How He Came to Houston

This is the first part of a three-part Chef Chat series. Come back to read parts two and three in this same space on Thursday and Friday. In the Houston food world, everyone knows Hugo Ortega. The chef who started out as a dishwasher before falling in love with his restauranteur wife eventually ope ... More >>

Depeche Mode, The Cure, Kings of Leon, Phoenix, Lionel Richie Head 2013 ACL Fest Lineup

Moments ago, Depeche Mode, The Cure, MUSE, Kings of Leon, Atoms For Peace (featuring Thom Yorke and Flea), Lionel Richie, Phoenix, Wilco, Vampire Weekend, The National, and Eric Church were announced as the headliners of the 2013 Austin City Limits Music Festival, which plans to expand to identical ... More >>

Top 10 Bars, Clubs & Ice Houses In Montrose

As our sister blog Eating...Our Words does, from time to time Rocks Off will be giving your our picks for the top taverns in various Houston-area neighborhoods. Of course, the lines can be porous, but here anything with a TABC license that cannot reasonably be considered either a restaurant, coffeeh ... More >>

Madman Across the Water

Sir Elton John piano-pounded Toyota Center March 28.

Rockets Crush Mavs: 44-Point Third Buries Dallas, Probably Ruins Playoff Chances

It's never a bad thing when, in one night, you can absolutely destroy a Dallas sports franchise on the floor and, for all practical purposes, ruin their chances of making the playoffs. Given that the Rockets haven't beaten the Mavericks in nine straight tries leading up to last night's win at Toyota ... More >>

Coachella 2013 Takes It Back to the '90s

Coachella, the Only Music Festival That Matters (or so we're told), announced its 2013 lineup late Thursday night, no holograms or Rolling Stones included. Instead, two beloved '90s UK acts whose popularity in the U.S. is spotty at best, Blur and the Stone Roses, headline the first night of the tw ... More >>

Jazz Fest Scores With Willie, John Mayer, Frank Ocean, Fleetwood Mac, Patti Smith, etc.

Well, I never thought that I would have John Mayer and Patti Smith together in the same headline with Willie Nelson and Frank Ocean, but that's why I kinda love New Orleans Jazz Fest 2013, whose lineup was released earlier this morning. Rewind: A Texican in New Orleans: Lessons Learned from Jazz F ... More >>

Merry Christmas, High Rollers: The Most Expensive Vintage Concert Tees On eBay

A few days ago I asked Rocks Off fans on Facebook what the most they had ever spent on a concert tee was. Most people topped out at $50 for touring legacy acts, while some shelled out a lot more for hoodies and limited-edition tees. Now the world of concert posters is a whole other animal unto its ... More >>

Web Extra: The Rebirth of Underground Rock

I remember the first big boom in underground rock, because I was definitely not part of it. Instead, I was one of those kids for whom Nirvana's Nevermind (and their January 1992 Saturday Night Live appearance, in my case) kicked open the door to a much cooler musical world than the one I had been li ... More >>

The 5 Best Shows In Houston This Week: Lindsey Buckingham, Etc.

Recently Rocks Off noticed our VVM sister paper in Phoenix has been running a list of their picks for the upcoming week's best shows first thing Monday morning. We thought, "Hey, our readers speak the same language(s) as theirs do, so why not try it ourselves?" As far as Fleetwood Mac goes, Lindsey ... More >>

Crossing The Line: Days of Rage

The U.S. Supreme Court and President Obama leave the undocumented and their allies no choice but to escalate civil disobedience.

Julio of Xuco Xicana Slings Drinks from an Airstream

This week, we paid our first visit to El XX, or Xuco Xicana. It was happy hour, so we did what we always do: sidle up to the bar, order a couple of cocktails and pick the brain of the person standing opposite us. On this occasion, we ordered one of the famous margaritas ($5) and a "TnT", El XX's "ha ... More >>

Top 10 Worst Sports Stadiums, In Honor Of ASU's "Tampon With Wings"

This week, Arizona State University unveiled artist renderings of an overhauled Sun Devil Stadium. The project, which will eliminate some 16,000 seats and install a canopy-type roof at the circa 1958 venue, was spearheaded by new ASU athletic director Steve Patterson. (If you remember, Patterson was ... More >>

Otenki Releases Music Video For "Ghosts"

Today is a big day for Houston six-piece Otenki, who are releasing their new music video for "Ghosts" off their sophomore album Kinetic via YouTube. Rocks Off got the chance to chat with guitarist/band manager Enoma Asowata over the weekend to get the scoop on the new video, the support from 94.5 Th ... More >>

Beware: Magazine Scammers in Houston

They're baaaack....​A roving band of scamming douchebags calling themselves Nxcess Sales have parked themselves in Houston; these bottom-feeders have been making their way across the country, telling people they're selling magazines to raise funds for, among other things, local children's hosp ... More >>

Brew Blog: Travel Edition (Four Peaks Oatmeal Stout)

Photo by Nicholas L. HallFour Peaks in front, Bar Bianco rising majestically in the background.​I've been in Phoenix on business this week, spending my days jammed into a conference center, struggling to hold onto consciousness. I've been lucky, though, to have some family in the vicinity this ... More >>

Introducing The Spacey Bobby Earth

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 that isn't awful? Email their particulars to sheaserrano@gmail.com. ​Several months ago, whil ... More >>

Yay? Houston One Of Few Cities To Get The Sarah Palin Movie

Comin' atcha, Houston!!!!​You've been holding your breath for weeks now, wondering if Houston would be blessed enough to be one of the cities picked for the limited initial release of The Undefeated, the documentary that proves beyond all doubt that Sarah Palin is the heart and soul of America ... More >>

Upcoming Events

Get yer free mini burgers!​Fans of Little Bitty Burger Barn's burgers will be happy to hear about the email we received from owner Ricardo Luna about today's special at the restaurant: We are excited to announce that on Friday, 5/20, from 6PM-8PM, we will be giving away free 1/4 Basic Burger ... More >>

Saturday Night: Space City Beat Battle At Warehouse Live

Photos by Jae Tovar/The Hive SocietyBlack Keys (left) and Space City Beat Battle organizer T. Piper​Space City Beat Battle Warehouse Live Green Room February 26, 2011 7:36 p.m.: Earlier this morning, our sons played their very first t-ball game. T-ball teams for 3-year-olds are six kids deep, ... More >>

Houston: Least-Generous City (When it Comes to Free Stuff on Craigslist)

These kids are obviously not from Houston​Houston is many things, but one thing it apparently isn't is one of those hippie, commune-type places where people dig the vibe of being generous with things they no longer want. In short, we are not Portland or Seattle. Or Detroit, for that matter. ... More >>

The Devil in DMX

Can the celebrated rapper get out of trouble long enough to top the charts again?

Sarah Palin's New Show: Houston Blessed Enough To Get Sneak Preview

Saah Palin having some "flippin' fun"​If you've been moping around saying you have nothing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, relax. You now officially have a reason to offer gratitude. There are a whole bunch of cities in the United States, right? (Yes, right.) Well, there are only eight ... More >>

HPD Takes To Cyberspace To Fight Gang Crime. Next Thing You Know, They'll Be On MySpace

Courtesy stophoustongangs.org"Kids" "throwing up" "gang" "signs"​A slew of top cop brass from the city, state and federal levels assembled today to announce the latest weapon in the fight against gangs in Houston. A Web site. In 2010. Late as it is, the site could be useful. As the press releas ... More >>

Seized

Inside the brutal world of America's kidnapping capital

ILLEGAL from Terry Greene Sterling

Read a penetrating chapter from former Phoenix New Times investigative reporter Terry Greene Sterling's book: ILLEGAL: Life and Death in Arizona's Immigration War Zone.

Get Out!

Arizona and America join Joe Arpaio in rushing to inquire: Are your papers in order?

Arizona's Immigration Law Delayed; A Battle Report From the State

​A federal judge has delayed implementation of the most controversial parts of Arizona's new immigration-enforcement law, but that is only a first step in the state's frontline battle over border policy.Our sister paper Phoenix New Times is at the heart of the conflict, and has been devoting speci ... More >>

The Week In TV: Charlie Sheen's Career Not Hurt By Punching Women

Back, for some reason​The dog days are here, people keep dying, and there's plenty of static on the dial. This was the week in TV Land:• When I was very young, my heart and soul were ruled by Thundercats. I even at one point made the regrettable decision to wear a watch featuring Lion-O to schoo ... More >>

Solange Knowles Admits She's A "Blipster"

​ As a white thirtysomething male who digs Merle Haggard, Al Green and Skynyrd, Rocks Off is well aware our hipster cred is pretty much in the toilet. Even the bands we do like that were once considered at least kinda "cool" - Wilco, Spoon, Phoenix - now share air time with Jack Johnson and the Da ... More >>

Houston Restaurants Get National Attention

Pear and taleggio pizza at Dolce Vita​For all the blustery proclamations issued from native Houstonians when our culinary scene is spotlighted by outside media -- "We know we're great; we don't need reassurance from Yankees!" -- it still feels nice to be recognized on a national level when we' ... More >>

An Opportunity to Stand Up

Sheriff Joe Arpaio's reign of terror becomes Arizona policy, thanks to state Senator Russell Pearce and Governor Jan Brewer.

Special Arizona Buycott Edition

Krayolas Attack Arizona Immigration Law On "I'm Your Dirty Mexican"

myspace.com/thekrayolas​ San Antonio Tex-Mex garage-rockers the Krayolas, who sharpened their political claws on the Little Steven-endorsed "Corrido (Twelve Heads In a Bag)," have set their sights on Arizona's controversial anti-immigration law on the band's new single "1070 (I'm Your Dirty Mexica ... More >>

Arizona's Immigrant Law Sparks A Protest At Minute Maid

Photos by Liana LopezProtesting at an Astros game, but somehow not about beer prices​ About 60 demonstrators were outside Minute Maid Park last night protesting the Arizona Diamondbacks in response to the state's newly passed SB 1070 anti-immigrant law.As baseball fans made their way into the sta ... More >>

Amongst Us: A Series On Immigration By Village Voice Media

​Our sister paper Phoenix New Times is at Ground Zero in the burgeoning debate over immigration and Arizona's efforts to control it.Village Voice Media, the chain that owns the Houston Press and publications in other such immigration hotspots as LA, Miami and New York, is beginning an extensive lo ... More >>

Protests Against Arizona's Law At The Astros Game: One Way To Spend Cinco De Mayo

A team spokesman walks a tightrope in responding to the planned protests​Haven't found the perfect way to celebrate Cinco De Mayo yet? Some organizations have what they think is the perfect way to kick it off.Several Latino groups, including LULAC and Houston's Youth Coalition, will be protesting ... More >>

Twitter You've Heard Of (Grrr), But What's a Drobot?

​Rocks Off's sister music blogs have been kicking ass on music analysis lately. At The Sound of The City, critic Christopher R. Weingarten talks about how Twitter and search-engine optimization (SEO) are ruining music journalism. And if you think Austin City Limits was a mess last year, check out ... More >>

Benefit This Week For The Charity Established In Memory Of Two Rice Students

​Stone and Holt Weeks, two Rice students who died in a car accident last year, were well-liked brothers passionate about community service.Their death received a ton of media attention. Mostly because their father is well-known Washington journalist Linton Weeks, but partly because of how they led ... More >>

He Said She Said: Fire In The Earhole!, Part 2

​To be honest, She Said can't really remember the last time she stepped foot inside Mai's. It was definitely several years ago, before she left Houston and then came back again, and it was probably with this guy, probably after a show. She Said probably had some Thai curry and hot tea, but she can ... More >>

Find your Irish side at this year's festivities

Houston Ranks Second in All-Important Commando Cilantro Index

Photo by babyparentingguideDamn, guys, what's up with Houston only being the 39th manliest city in the land? We're only one spot above Seattle, and we all know what kind of dudes hang out there. Not very manly dudes, that's who. In all seriousness, this is easily one of the lamest surveys ever. ... More >>

Tuesday Morning Quarterbacking: Hooters and Houston Texans

I'm in a Hooters in downtown Phoenix, Arizona and the Houston Texans are losing to the Oakland Raiders. And I'm the only one in the place watching the game. The requisite Redskins fans are scattered about, watching the Redskins on a majority of the TVs - really, is there any place besides Dall ... More >>

Tuesday Morning Quarterbacking: Hooters and Houston Texans

I'm in a Hooters in downtown Phoenix, Arizona and the Houston Texans are losing to the Oakland Raiders. And I'm the only one in the place watching the game. The requisite Redskins fans are scattered about, watching the Redskins on a majority of the TVs - really, is there any place besides Dall ... More >>

What Mainstream Publishers Don't Want You to Know About Door-to-Door Magazine Sales

That kid at your door with a magazine order form will tell you a story -- part sad, part hopeful. The truth will be infinitely worse than you can imagine.

Simply the Best: Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen

Blame Canada

A new pub on Westheimer that's lots of firkin fun for the whole firkin family!

Smiles to Go

Felicity Huffman is desperately engaging in an off-kilter road movie