Soul Music

Friday Night: Smokey Robinson at Jones Hall

Smokey Robinson Jones Hall February 1, 2013 "You short circuit all my nerves/ Promising electric things/ You touch me, and suddenly there's rainbow rings/ Quiet storm" -- Smokey Robinson, "Quiet Storm" Legends do it better. Only Smokey Robinson -- singer, septuagenarian, shaper of the equally lege ... More >>

Marvin Gay, Sr., and the 10 Worst Rock-Star Parents of All Time

Twenty-eight years ago this week, Marvin Gay, Sr., received a six-year suspended sentence and five years of probation for the voluntary manslaughter of his son, the R&B legend Marvin Gaye. Gay pled guilty after shooting his namesake dead in the L.A. home given to him and his wife by Gaye, who was 44 ... More >>

R. Kelly

5 Cool & Cheap Weekenders: Umbrella Man, Robert Cray, Etc.

A short one this week, for the long holiday weekend. But worthwhile. Outside-the-Loop gig of the weekend: The Mighty Orq at Main Street Crossing in Tomball tonight at 8 p.m.. Ask Orq about the band's European tour last month. Soulful Space City spokesman Nick Gaitan celebrates the release of his ... More >>

Rest Of The Best: Houston's Top 8 Jukeboxes

Along with pickled pig's feet and a steady supply of Slim Jims, a good jukebox is a prime element for any great bar. But, like dinosaurs, jukeboxes are a vanishing breed. Unlike digital jukes, iPods or DJs, jukeboxes require love, care and maintenance, as well as -- among the truly great ones -- som ... More >>

The American Bandstand (Extended) Hot 100

Somehow it's hard to believe that Dick Clark was only 82 years old when he died after suffering a "massive heart attack" Wednesday morning in Santa Monica, Calif. (Since I managed to survive one myself, I've noticed that anytime someone dies of a heart attack, it's always "massive."). Despite his yo ... More >>

Lucero: Memphis Band Loves Horns, Texas "Knuckleheads"

It's always reassuring to know that some things never change - like Houston concert audiences' loutish reputation. "Houston is notorious for its knuckleheads," says Lucero lead guitarist Brian Venable, who doesn't seem to hold a grudge. If there were any doubt that the Memphis alt.country rockers ... More >>

Obama's Best Campaign Strategy: Keep Singing The Blues

After President Obama crooning Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" at a Harlem fundraiser became an unlikely iTunes sensation, even topping the ringtone chart, history is now repeating itself with his version of "Sweet Home Chicago" caught on an episode of PBS' In Performance at the White House Tuesd ... More >>

Oklahoma Dust Storm

Jimmy Webb, songwriting legend, is still on the line.

Killin' Them Softly: Celebrating 75 Years Of Roberta Flack

To strike someone with the "underrated greatness" term always carries a bit of weight behind it. You know, the quick snap question of "do they deserve it" comes to mind. Sorry, in the class of underrated greatness, diva subsection, lives Roberta Flack who at the platinum age of 75 still takes risks ... More >>

"Dude, You're Getting Adele." Better Late Than Never...

The best joke in the music business right now is, according to Cactus Music's Quinn Bishop, something frequently heard recently at his cash register: "Dude, you're getting Adele." Even I bought 21 yesterday, the swiping of a credit card that completed a cycle that began several months ago. One nigh ... More >>

Rap Round Table: If You Could Only Listen To One Musician For All Of Time, Who Would It Be?

Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Each week Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. This Week's Panel: Killa Kyleon, Zavey, kyle Hubbard, Brad Gilmore, Mac, Doughbeezy, A.D.D., Medicine Girl, more. Not Invited: The guy at our sons' ... More >>

Ian Moore: When Good Record Deals Go Bad

The Ian Moore Band today (L-R): Ian Moore, Chris White, Bukka Allen, Michael Villegas​Ian Moore had both the good fortune and misfortune to be a young, good-looking Austin guitar hero who came to prominence shortly after Stevie Ray Vaughan's death created an opening for the position. Joe Ely d ... More >>

Five '60s Soul Stars Jay-Z & Kanye West Should Hit Next

thelocal478.comWelcome back to Billboard, Otis.​Say what you will about Watch the Throne - and people, including several members of Team Rocks Off, have said a lot - but it's all anyone in music seems to be talking about these days. Which makes sense; it's not every day that two megastars (the ... More >>

Last Night: Steve Earle At House Of Blues

Photos by Jason Wolter​Steve Earle & the Dukes and Duchesses House of Blues July 6, 2011 During her sublime set at Verizon a couple of weeks ago, Emmylou Harris mentioned how she thought Barack Obama was pretty okay, and how she hoped his election meant our society had evolved beyond the even ... More >>

The Temptations

Fitz & the Tantrums

The Seven Most Memorable Rap Beatdowns

Wreckx-n-Effect went New Jack Swing on A Tribe Called Quest's Q-Tip in 1993.​When pop stars and Hollywood types need to settle a score, they take it to the courtroom. Hip-hop, however, operates by a different code: If you act up, you will get smacked up. Rocks Off was reminded of this when a m ... More >>

FAIL: Motown Scam Artists, Musicians Unions, Iron Fences

Photo illustrations by John Seaborn Gray​Unions Are Basically Legalized Mafia: Sarah Chang, a gorgeous and talented young violinist, tried to perform a recital in Detroit this week. Unfortunately for her, the classical music unions happen to be on strike in Detroit. Chang was probably not even ... More >>

Ted Poe, Obsessed With Vagina

When you're named Al Green, of course you're going to talk about the ladies​For hardcore political junkies -- and we do mean hardcore -- capitolwords.org can be downright addicting. Although the actual meaningfulness of the site might be up for debate, its wonkish fun factor is not: the site track ... More >>

Otis Redding, Jayhawks Help Us Overcome The Mailbox Cringe

​Sometimes we cringe when we go to the mailbox, but the past few days have brought Lonesome, Onry and Mean an eclectic trove of cool stuff. New Mystery Girl is Austinite Chrissy Flatt's new project with longtime collaborators Eric Hisaw and Ron Flynt. Twist City is a no-frills roots-rock disc - li ... More >>

The Domino Effect

Britain's The Big Pink fuses soul, drum machines and shoegaze on A Brief History of Love.

Eyeballin: James Brown Cape-Walks Away With The T.A.M.I. Show

Often written about, mythologized, and showing up in clips on rock docs and YouTube, the 1964 concert movie The T.A.M.I. Show has amazingly never been released in uncut format until now. And though it was shot in black and white, the exuberance and energy of the concert overcomes any pigmentation pr ... More >>

Kick 'em While They're Down: The Worst Songs Ever Recorded For Charity

Please take this thing away from me. Please.​ When Rocks Off received an email touting Sting's new MySpace charity video for the Prince of Wales' Rainforest Project, we almost chipped a fingernail hurriedly clicking on the link, which promised oodles of celebrities such as Olivia Newton-John, Rich ... More >>

The Aggrolites

Buffalo Soldiers Freedom Festival — Concert and Motorcycle Rally

Web exclusive!

Digitalia: Sir Shambling's Deep Soul Heaven

Do you find yourself listening to the radio and suddenly envying the deaf? Do you long for the days when people had no idea what AutoTune was and sang in a way that didn't remind you of R2D2? Do you miss R&B and soul music that actually sounds like R&B and soul music? If so, an older fellow ... More >>

Wax Museum: MP3s from Mark Putney, Clarence Green and Wild Honey

Jennifer "Miss Pop Rocks" Mathieu's Matagorda Island Discs

Friday Night: Shelby Lynne at Warehouse Live

Shelby Lynne: Just a Little Lovin'

Hootenanny

Download: Pimp C, 1973-2007

Tower of Power

Tower of Power performs Friday, May 25, at the Meridian, 1503 Chartres, 713-225-1717.

Red Hog Saloon

When the jukebox is an art form

porterdavis

Q&A with Daniel Barrett

Musical Food Groups

If singers were cheese, what kind of cheese would they be?

Through Thicke and Tim

Robin Thicke and Justin Timberlake face off -- again

Frank Black

Fast Man Raider Man

Stairway to Heaven

Gauging 2005's rock deaths with the Greil Marcus Death Meter

Pop-Up Pop Stars

With the help of city government, Matthew Knowles hopes to find the next Destiny's Child. You got a problem with that?

Best Place to Take Out-of-Towners

Etta's Lounge on Sunday night

Darius Rucker

Back to Then (Hidden Beach)

Big Country

Buddy and Julie Miller --

Rotation

Guy III

Hi Del-Fi

New sounds from famed label

Rotation

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Press Picks

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