Springfield

Canned Acoustica Compiles Cornucopia of Local Clips

Canned Acoustica, the popular "unplugged"-style local concerts that over six installations have raised both money and food for a variety of charities, has put the final touches (for now) on its YouTube channel, offering local music fans an easy place to browse through intimate and sometimes unconven ... More >>

Fall Out Boy's Emo Adventures In the World of Prose

Folks, recently one of my longest-awaited moments in music came to fruition: Pete Wentz, Fall Out Boy bassist and songwriter, finally decided to release his full-length prose narrative Gray. He first mentioned it seven years ago, and now we finally have our hands on the book. With the recent reunio ... More >>

(UPDATED) Incubus' Brandon Boyd Played Dallas, Um, Houston Last Night

Look, I am sure it happens. You are in a touring rock band -- a major one at that -- and the days they run together. Hours pass by and the next thing you know it's two months later, and you have maybe changed your pants twice, plus you are somehow divorced. Last night during his band's opening set ... More >>

How The Simpsons Makes Foodies Look Like Smug, Elitist Schmucks

There must be a kitchen sink that we can get to do a cameo too, guys...​I didn't want to watch the latest episode of The Simpsons, the one in which Marge inexplicably becomes a food blogger. Yes, the foodie backlash has officially begun. I haven't wanted to watch an episode of The Simpsons in ... More >>

Texans Love Gay Marriage/Civil Unions, Kinda

If it's good enough for Springfield....​Texas, you are filled with homo-loving, or at least homo-live-and-let-live, people. You're supposed to hate the idea of gays period, much less giving them any sort of rights like straights have earned through their Leviticus-quoting ways. But a new poll ... More >>

Upcoming: Bob Seger, Duran Duran, The Low Anthem, Etc.

​Black Label Society, All That Remains, Hail The Villain: Wed., May 11. House of Blues. "St. Patrick's Day Party" with The Blaggards, Come See My Dead Person, Allen Oldies Band: Thu., March 17. Continental Club. Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band: Sat., April 30. Toyota Center. Bret Michae ... More >>

More Like "Hall Of Lame," Am I Right?

​Ladies and gentlemen, your 2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is ready to admit a new class: Alice Cooper, Tom Waits, Neil Diamond, Darlene Love and Dr. John have all been inducted for 2011, the foundation announced Wednesday. With the exception of Wai ... More >>

SXSW 2011 Still Untainted By Houston Artists

listenlisten: Not playing SXSW 2011... yet.​Rocks Off just got the latest list of names for next year's SXSW conference and festival in Austin, and just like the last time, the conference remains unsullied by any performers from Houston's filthy, rotten, disgusting, in-need-of-quarantine music ... More >>

Why Doesn't Houston Have a Burlesque Troupe?

Even Springfield is hipper than we are​While I was writing my review of Burlesque for Art Attack this week, I decided the least I could do for Houstonians who bothered to read about that movie's woeful lack of authenticity (among other things) would be to point them to where they could find th ... More >>

Game Time: Whaler Fan Fest -- Houston Oiler Fans May Know How I Feel

Hartford Whalers: They live on as a dessert​"Somewhere along the line, we will see you in another place in another time. God bless all of you fans. Remember one thing, you may have lost the NHL, but you have not lost the memories." -- Chuck Kaiton, the voice of the Hartford Whalers after the Whal ... More >>

Win Two Neil Young Tickets At 4 p.m. Today

Ed. Note: Please check out Rocks Off's Facebook page at 4 p.m. SHARP today to find out how to win the two Neil Young tickets we're giving away. Remember, you must "like" us to win (hint hint). But for now, enjoy "Classic Rock Bob" Ruggeiro's review of the latest addition to the sagging Shakey booksh ... More >>

Distant Early Warning: The Appleseed Cast, Cut Chemist, Norah Jones, Sondre Lerche, Torche, etc.

​Abacabb, Upon A Burning Body, Molotov Solution, Dr. Acula: Fri., Jan. 29. Meridian. Al Di Meola: Sat., Feb. 13. Dosey Doe Coffee Company. Alpha Rev, The Fox Derby, Tyagaraja, The Language Room: Fri., Jan. 8. Warehouse Live. The Appleseed Cast: Fri., Feb. 26. Rudyard's. The Bellamy Brothers: Fri. ... More >>

Game Time: Texans Battle Titans Tonight In The Most Important Athletic Event In Our's Nation's History

​Ladies and gentlemen, I've been to Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Iraq, and I can say without hyperbole that this is a million times worse than all of them put together." -- Kent Brockman, Channel 6, Springfield (The Simpsons)If you are wondering what "this" was in that quote, it was the Bart Simpso ... More >>

Aftermath: An Exuberant Pre-Halloween Show With The Factory Party, Ringo Deathstarr and Springfield Riots at the Mink

Photos by Adam P. NewtonThe Factory Party​In Aftermath's opinion, there are few things more enjoyable than spending an evening together with friends at the beloved haunt that is the Mink. We're able to toss back a drink or four, catch up on each other's lives, and hopefully hear some really great ... More >>

Free Press Houston Announces Westheimer Block Party Lineup

​Our friends and neighbors at Free Press Houston just posted the lineup for the next Westheimer Block Party, November 14 and 15 on lower Westheimer. Rumors it's soon to become the Washington Avenue Block Party in an attempt to coax some of those sweet, sweet yuppie ad dollars out of the Social, Pe ... More >>

Progress Report

Taking stock of the Houston music scene on the eve of the annual Houston Press Music Awards Showcase.

Capsule Stage Reviews: Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The Phantom of the Opera, Reckless, The Wiz

Capsule Stage Reviews: Reckless, Steel Magnolias, The Story of Burford, Category 5, The Wiz

Aftermath: The McKenzies, the Howlies and Springfield Riots at the Mink

Photos by Chris GrayThe McKenzies To Aftermath, the Mink's Backroom has always seemed more like a house than a music venue - especially inside, with the dark floors, corner bars and abundant, comfortable seating, it's like one of those cozy but spacious multi-resident dwellings where we all went to ... More >>

Capsule Stage Reviews: Reckless, The Story of Burford, Category 5, The Wiz

Local Motion: Top Sellers at Area Record Stores

Cactus Music 2110 Portsmouth, 713-526-9272 www.myspace.com/cactusmv1. Springfield Riots, Say When EP 2. Todd Snider, The Excitement Plan 3. Jubal Lee Young, Last Free Place in America 4. Sonic Youth, The Eternal 5. Steve Earle, Townes 6. Elvis Costel ... More >>

Classic Rock Corner: Neil Young's Sugar Mountain

Neil Young Sugar Mountain: Live at Canterbury House 1968 Forget Chinese Democracy. The real will-he-ever-release-it story of this decade (and the last...and the last...) is Neil Young's Archives Vol. 1, 1963-72. The (so far) massive 10-DVD set will include music, video, photos and interactive med ... More >>

Happy Birthday, Shakey

Shelby Lynne: Just a Little Lovin'

Cover Story: Barack Obama and Me

Barack Obama and Me

It was the year 2000 and I was a young hungry reporter in Chicago covering a young hungry state legislator

Petr Kalus Scores Two for the Aeros, Taking Down the Springfield Falcons

Over the Holiday: Houston Aeros, Hollow Men, Hit and Run

R.I.P. Porter Wagoner

The Simpsons Movie

Breathe easy, Simpsons fans

It's a Gas

Pump pains constrain some musicians and inspire others

Do Not Enter

Outside the gates of the Forbidden City

Songs of Sorrow

American Analog Set rocks lightly

Taking Stock

The family thought old receipts would mean big bucks. But money has proved elusive.

Shearer Delight

The voice of Flanders is the voice of reason, absatively posilutely

The South Will Re-enact Again!