Poison (Band)

Def Leppard's Rick Allen and 10 More Miraculous Rock Recoveries

Twenty-eight years ago this week (New Year's Eve), Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen became famous. Well, he was already famous, we guess, for being the drummer for one of the finest pop-metal bands of all time. But on December 31, 1984, Allen became even more famous for being pretty much the only pop- ... More >>

Cooking Notes: The 5 Most Unnecessary Musical Cookbooks

This past week, international superstars and hard rock musical auteurs Smash Mouth announced that they were bestowing down upon us a cookbook from the heavens, which would give us some All Star recipes. You may have your doubts, but these recipes will have you Walkin' on the Sun and saying "I'm a Be ... More >>

Looking Back On Queens Of The Stone Age's Songs For The Deaf

This past week one of the most beloved rock disc in the decade turned 10 years old. It was August 27, 2002 that the world met Queens Of The Stone Age's third LP, Songs For The Deaf, a blistering, swaggery, pummeling kick-in-the-nuts of a rock album. The band, lead by towering Ginger Elvis Joshua H ... More >>

Explaining Classic Rock Bands to Kids

This past Sunday, The New York Times ran a piece by Paul Greenberg where the author explained how important the Beatles were to music and pop culture to his five-year old son. The child didn't know that the band had albums, but only knew the Fab Four from iTunes playlists. "When the Beatles record ... More >>

Shovels & Rope's Cary Ann Hearst On the Dying Record Industry & C.C. DeVille

Tonight husband and wife country duo Shovels And Rope play McGonigel's Mucky Duck, a venue that as of late has become their main Houston stomping grounds when they aren't opening for their friend Hayes Carll in bigger venues. The pair -- Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent -- just released their lat ... More >>

Upcoming: Candlebox, Lower Dens, Jerry Jeff Walker, Murder By Death, M83, Etc.

Candlebox: Sat., June 23, 8 p.m., $20. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline, Houston. The Casualties, Nekromantix, Down By Law, Lower Class Brats: Mon., July 30, 6 p.m., $16/$17. Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel, Houston. Chino Y Nacho: Sun., May 20, 8 p.m., $29.50-$39.50. Arena Theatre, 7326 SW Freeway, ... More >>

Happy Birthday Paul Stanley: His Top 6 Non-Kiss Songs

Today the man who was born Stanley Harvey Eisen and later became the Starchild Paul Stanley turns 60 years old. You are always defined by your favorites KISS member. If it's Stanley, like with us, then you're an outgoing, charismatic person who lives for fun. If it's Peter Criss, then you're a quiet ... More >>

Here For A Good Time: George Strait Lives It Up On LP No. 39

Praise Be To Strait God​Today sees the release of George Strait's Here For a Good Time his 39th release counting compilations, live works and those Christmas discs. As one of Houston's most vocal champions of Strait (with a music blog, that is) Rocks Off deems the new album one of Strait's bes ... More >>

Eddie Trunk, Ultimate Metalhead, Writes Metalhead's Bible

​Eddie Trunk's Essential Hard Rock and Heavy Metal By Eddie Trunk Abrams Publishing, 240 pp. $19.95. If hard rock and heavy-metal journalism have their own Eddie Murrow, it's Eddie Trunk. Via his web site, as a co-host of VH1 Classic's That Metal Show, and his programs on both terrestrial and ... More >>

Upcoming: Motley Crue, Owl City, Primus, Skatenigs, Etc.

​Black Queen Speaks: Fri., May 27. Warehouse Live. Dredg, The Dear Hunter: Thu., May 26. Warehouse Live. Face To Face, Strung Out: Thu., June 2. Warehouse Live. Fair To Midland, Periphery, Scale The Summit, thelastplaceyoulook, Hindsight: CHANGED Mon., April 18. Warehouse Live. Jessica Le ... More >>

RIP Guitar Hero: 10 Songs The Game Gave New Life

​Thursday, Activision killed the musical video game Guitar Hero after six years of turning young ears into heshers, glammers, and classic-rock devotees. The debt that older bands like the Ramones, Poison, Black Sabbath and Rush owe to the game is immense. True, the kids (and drunk adults), wer ... More >>

Freddie Mercury's Musical Stepchildren, Darlings

​Today marks 19 years that the world has been without Queen front man Freddie Mercury, who was taken from us on November 24, 1991. He died of AIDS complications, a disease he kept hidden from the world until just a day or so before his death. He was the first major, epic rock star to be kill ... More >>

Aftermath: Ford Shilling Aside, Toby Keith Ain't As Bad As He Once Was

Photos courtesy of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo™​It would be an understatement to say Aftermath wasn't exactly looking forward to this show. Our previous experience with the esteemed Mr. Keith was limited to occasionally hearing his songs in bars and one night spent drinking at his restauran ... More >>

Dive Bars

A handcrafted tour of the best, most obscure places to lean on a stool in Houston.

52 Pick-Up

Your guide to the 2009 Houston Press Music Awards showcase

Smooth Sailing at Grooves

Disguised as a warehouse, this place is a choice upscale R&B lounge

Def Defying