Steve Vai

Picks

Social Distortion

Ask your local rocker to stop (over-)using his wah-wah pedal

Thriving -- or Simply Surviving?

After all these years, Alex Van Halen insists his band isn't "D.O.A."

This Year's Model

After all these years, Alex Van Halen insists his band isn't "D.O.A."

Kontroversy

Korn ignores critics of its heavy metal attitude

Rotation

Korn ignores critics of its heavy metal attitude

Arc Angels

Korn ignores critics of its heavy metal attitude

Fall of Troy

Monday, April 24, at Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel, 713-225-5483

The Retribution Gospel Choir

Wednesday, September 14, at the Proletariat, 903 Richmond, 713-523-1199.

Playbill

Wednesday, September 14, at the Proletariat, 903 Richmond, 713-523-1199.

Classics Rock

Which Greek god is your favorite musician?

Yngwie Malmsteen

Friday, March 5

Strapping Young Lad

Friday, January 17

Six Strings Under

Unlike many of his rock guitar god peers, Joe Satriani has yet to flee to audiences overseas

White Boy Blues

Houston native Vince Converse takes homegrown blues sound to heart

Hide Your Home Videos

Photo by Josh HertzHosts and curators Nick Prueher and Joe Pickett introduce another video clip at a recent Found Footage Festival in New YorkYour most embarrassing home videos are probably long forgotten, and buried in a basement closet somewhere. Make sure they stay that way. Nick Prueher and Joe ... More >>

Guitar Zero, or One Old Dog Attempts to Learn a New Trick

[Ed. Note: What happens when Rocks Off finds out one of our writers recently began taking guitar lessons? This.] ​Some men hit their 40s and lose their minds a little. They trade in their minivan for a Corvette, or their wife for a similarly newer model. I have a history of getting these kinds of ... More >>

Answers To Rocks Off's Musical Nickname Quiz

​Rocks Off hopes you enjoyed our musical nickname quiz earlier today. We have had a few nicknames ourselves over the years - our dad called us "Boog" after former Baltimore Orioles first baseman Boog Powell, and we were known for years around the Austin Chronicle offices as "Weezer," which we ... More >>

The Ladies' Man

Meat Loaf says he's outdone Bat Out of Hell

FAIL: Carlos Santana, Anniversary Songs, Skynyrd Covers

​That's Enough, Carlos Santana: Carlos Santana has to be one of the most overrated rock artists of all time. Never once has his noodly, choogly brand of boring stoner-rock managed to ignite even the tiniest spark of interest for Fails. Yeah, the guy's got some serious guitar chops. But as any ... More >>

Top 10 Musician WTF Hobbies

Zazzle.com​Musicians are weird. Well, the good ones, at least. It's a little-known, beloved factoid. While artists' news, drama, and private lives are sometimes aired to the point of over-saturation, it becomes more interesting when we learn relatively kept insight into their rockers' offstage ... More >>

Joel Gregoire: One-Man Metal Extravaganza

​If there is anything that Rocks Off loves about the modern music era it's that the ability of individual people to put out their own elaborate albums has never been easier. Meet Joel Gregoire, an instrumental metal maestro by trade and former member of Stride. He's releasing his new album Der ... More >>

Top 5 Musician Novelists

Ted Barron/New West RecordsSteve Earle: What's up, Doc?​Despite what our paychecks and sometimes even our diplomas say, the perception persists that music journalists are not "real" journalists. Similarly, no matter how literate their lyrics, some folks think musicians could not possibly put p ... More >>

Buckethead

Ted Barron/New West RecordsSteve Earle: What's up, Doc?​Despite what our paychecks and sometimes even our diplomas say, the perception persists that music journalists are not "real" journalists. Similarly, no matter how literate their lyrics, some folks think musicians could not possibly put p ... More >>

5 Bands Your Musician Friends Love...But You Don't

austinpost.comYep. Robert Plant "copped everything" from this guy.​In a 2005 interview with Esquire, Johnny Depp discusses the unwavering authenticity of Hunter S. Thompson, and likens his late friend to another great, often-troubled mind, saying: "...like Roky Erickson and the 13th Floor Elev ... More >>

The Top 10 Hard Rock and Metal Guitarists of the '80s

Yes, yes, shred until you bleed!​Well, it's the day after Christmas and many of you probably have some holiday blues. Maybe you had a rough Christmas. Maybe your family is making you crazy. Maybe you didn't get that brand new navel ring you wanted or perhaps you filled up on so much food and e ... More >>