Randy Newman

Eight Houston Musicians Who Deserve More Love

Bassist, organist, composer, member of the infamous Homopolice, one of the Rocks Off 100, self-avowed electronic music geek, flanger aficianado, and suave Poison Girl drink slinger, Beau Beasley has been broadly immersed in the Houston music scene all his adult life. Not long ago over a cold one at ... More >>

Billy Joel: Still Kicking Ass (Second Leg)

Here are my Top 5 Billy Joel songs that take names, after Tuesday's post that ran down the songs that do that other thing that comes before taking names. Rewind: Billy Joel: Still Kicking Ass (FIrst Leg) 5. "All For Leyna," Glass Houses Kicks Ass Because: It Rocks

Last Night: Ben Folds Five at Bayou Music Center

Ben Folds Five Bayou Music Center September 25, 2012 In the recent rash of rock reunions this past year, it was perhaps the reuniting of Ben Folds, Robert Sledge and Darren Jessee that was the most warranted and most fully realized. After years as a solo act, piano man Folds and his Chapel Hill, ... More >>

The Bangles' Susanna Hoffs: "I Listen a Lot to the '60s Still"

In the '80s, Susanna Hoffs was at the top of her game as a member of all-girl band the Bangles, who had many hits including "Hero Takes a Fall," "Walking Down Your Street," "Walk Like an Egyptian," "Eternal Flame," and countless others. Though the band split in 1989, Hoffs reunited with the Bangle ... More >>

If This Is It

Poor Pilate's keyboard man David Lascoe doesn't hide his love of Huey Lewis.

Capsule Stage Reviews: Dinner with Friends, Late Nite Catechism, Oscar in the Box, Whatever Happened to the Villa Real?

Ben Folds Five Returns: An Essential Playlist

Photo By GroovehouseBen Folds solo in 2010 at the House Of Blues​The eight-year run of '90s indie act the Ben Folds Five was fruitful in many ways. We got the most catchy song about a Christmas abortion ever in 1997's "Brick", three excellent studio albums full of snarky, romantically-challeng ... More >>

Friday Night: Hayes Carll, Robert Ellis, and Shovels & Rope At House Of Blues

This Friday night set effectively set the tone for my New Year's weekend. It was raucous, relaxing, and poignant, shoving us into the new year with a bit of twang and grit - as if I didn't already carry enough in my DNA. With Hayes Carll closing, Robert Ellis in middle relief, and Charleston, Sout ... More >>

Animal House

Oh, don't be such a cynic. Matt Damon needs your love in We Bought a Zoo.

Richard Julian: Norah Jones Mate Makes Midtown Stopover

Juan Patino/Richard Julian on Facebook​Richard Julian, Norah Jones sideman and leader of Jones' side project The Little Willies, plays Midtown's Leon's Lounge this evening. Julian's 2010 Compass Records release Girls Need Attention made Lonesome, Onry and Mean's list of last year's best alb ... More >>

The Five Best Shows Bob Schneider Has Ever Seen

Jeff Swensen/Bob Schneider on Facebook​It's been said that if you have lived in Texas for at least a decade and haven't at least been in the vicinity of a Bob Schneider show, you are probably lying. Our introduction to the Austin-based Schneider was kind of heartbreaking, but that's another st ... More >>

Photographic Memory

Robert Ellis heads into the great wide open on his first New West LP.

Happy Birthday Brian Wilson: His Modern Indie-Rock Offspring

Brian Wilson in watery repose​Today, ace pop-music architect and Beach Boys talisman Brian Wilson turns 69. In his nearly 50-year (!) wake of music he has helped give rise to generations of shameless copycats and other reverent rockers who find inspiration in his musical style. Obviously, th ... More >>

Soul City: The Amazing Jazz Crusaders

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. "Hey, let's get back to that down-and-dirty old-school chicken-shack sound" mosaicrecords.com​While Houston ... More >>

Bon Jovi, Rock & Roll Hall Of Famers? It Could Happen...

Stay classy, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame...​This morning the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame announced this year's ballot of nominees, with the winners to be announced in December and inducted next March in New York. Fifteen names are on this year's ballot, ranging from hip-hoppers, proto-metal icons, ... More >>

Girls And Richard Julian Both Need Attention

Headstrong Pictures/ myspace.com/richardjulianNorah Jones and Richard Julian in the Little Willies​Talking a streak at the edge of the bed She looked like fresh piece of cake Unable to get with the things that she said I pretended I wasn't awake Unless you have an ear to the New York folk un ... More >>

Five Recent Movies That Needed A John Hughes Soundtrack

​Even though John Hughes had not made a decent movie since 1991's Dutch (missile twisters FTW) when he died one year ago today, the world still mourned the loss of one of the best filmmakers to ever take on the human experience. Hughes may have only dealt with dysfunctional Midwesterners, but ... More >>

Play Ball! Songs That Distract Us From The Astros' Impending Disappointment

​This week's He Said She Said is brought to you by the Houston Astros and the letter "D," which stands for disappointment. No other thing in He Said's life, other than a woman, has brought more sadness and dysfunction. But at least the Astros have never broken off an engagement with us or punched ... More >>

Unmasked and Anonymous

Houston's Without a Face wins over crowds with songs about MySpace, lactose intolerance and stalking local TV anchors.

No, We Haven't Forgotten About That Other Guy Playing House of Blues Thursday

​Amidst all the rum, sodomy, and lashing going on this week about the Pogues hitting House of Blues Thursday, it's easy to forget that they have a pretty stellar opener warming up the crowd. Hmm, kinda reminds us of another Irish band that brought a really kick-ass young band with them a few weeks ... More >>

Ghosts of Washington Avenue

Noise goes whistling through the scenester artery's music venue graveyard.

Hurricane Ike's Wake

Forgotten and overlooked, Galveston and the Texas Gulf Coast struggle on in the storm's aftermath

Five Spot: Axl Rose is Not Impressed by Dr Pepper's Fun and Games

Welcome back to Five Spot. Every week, we'll examine a recent bit of music news and list five reasons why it's either brilliant or dumb-assed. Send tips to introducingliston@gmail.com.   Back in March, Dr Pepper (easily one of our favorite doctors, right behind J., Scholls and Dre) set forth a ... More >>

Fourth and Inches: Leatherheads

George Clooney's ode to screwball comedies of yore is sooooo close. But yet.

Kickin' the Tires

Pixar's latest is no lemon, but it does have that used-Cars smell

Paranoia Self Destroyer

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

Shut Up and Drive

The Drive-By Truckers ain't just whistling Dixie in their van

Divide and Convolute

The Fiery Furnaces' Blueberry Boat has indie rockers confused: Are the brother and sister hacks, geniuses or somehow both?

Playbill

Terry Allen

Juarez (Sugar Hill Records)

Letters

Gary Jules

Friday, November 22

World Class?

Houston can't join the ranks of other cities until it has an anthem of its own

Tall Poppy

Bob Schneider goes nationwide without the - gasp! - approval of Austin's hipsters

In the Company of Moles

De Niro is an ex-CIA man who grills his daughter's fiancé in the cinematic sitcom Meet the Parents

Mousetrap

Stuart Little's thick sugar coating is fine for kids. All others, beware.

Rotation

Rotation

Ladies Luck

Five Barenaked Canadians conquer a fickle America with patience

Baby, It's Him

Burt Bacharach isn't making a comeback -- he never left

Rotation

I Lava L.A.!

Volcano destroys the City of Angels with hot magma and cool affection

Sound Check

Splendid Isolation

For Warren Zevon, it's all about how he looks in the hat

Simply Direct

Gillian Welch heeds roots music's high, lonesome call

Rotation

Rotation