The Dixie Chicks

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Musicians Don't Have W. to Kick Around Anymore... So Now What?

Now that Lil' Bush has shuffled off the Presidential coil - or will in a couple of hours, anyway - and heads off into some Dallas burg to write his memoirs and reflect on his two wild and strange terms as Commander in Chief, it seems that the writers of so many protest songs can call off their guns ... More >>

Tonight: Toby Keith at Reliant Stadium

Just think, if not for September 11, Toby Keith would probably still be as bland as dry toast and just as exciting. The horrific events of that day, and our nation's rapid retaliation, suddenly sprung the Oklahoma-born Keith into action - he soon began a whole new career as a political fire ... More >>

Texas Music 1998: The Year That Wasn't

Just think, if not for September 11, Toby Keith would probably still be as bland as dry toast and just as exciting. The horrific events of that day, and our nation's rapid retaliation, suddenly sprung the Oklahoma-born Keith into action - he soon began a whole new career as a political fire ... More >>

The Refugees

Just think, if not for September 11, Toby Keith would probably still be as bland as dry toast and just as exciting. The horrific events of that day, and our nation's rapid retaliation, suddenly sprung the Oklahoma-born Keith into action - he soon began a whole new career as a political fire ... More >>

Bruce Robison: The New World

Just think, if not for September 11, Toby Keith would probably still be as bland as dry toast and just as exciting. The horrific events of that day, and our nation's rapid retaliation, suddenly sprung the Oklahoma-born Keith into action - he soon began a whole new career as a political fire ... More >>

Christmas Songwriters Showcase

Just think, if not for September 11, Toby Keith would probably still be as bland as dry toast and just as exciting. The horrific events of that day, and our nation's rapid retaliation, suddenly sprung the Oklahoma-born Keith into action - he soon began a whole new career as a political fire ... More >>

2007 Music Year in Review

Just think, if not for September 11, Toby Keith would probably still be as bland as dry toast and just as exciting. The horrific events of that day, and our nation's rapid retaliation, suddenly sprung the Oklahoma-born Keith into action - he soon began a whole new career as a political fire ... More >>

Tony Bennett

Just think, if not for September 11, Toby Keith would probably still be as bland as dry toast and just as exciting. The horrific events of that day, and our nation's rapid retaliation, suddenly sprung the Oklahoma-born Keith into action - he soon began a whole new career as a political fire ... More >>

Houston Music Map

Queen Norah reigns, Josh Groban pains, and lots of Natalie Maines

Bob Schneider

One genre isn’t big enough for him

Odd Couples

Strange musical pairings

Chick Flick

Strange musical pairings

Song Title Scrabble

Mixed-up monikers

Jim Lauderdale

Jim Lauderdale performs Tuesday, November 28, at McGonigel's Mucky Duck, 2425 Norfolk, 713-528-5999.

Radical Chick

You can't tell Natalie Maines to Shut Up & Sing

Sierra Swan

Thursday, August 31, at Warehouse Live, 813 St. Emanuel, 713-225-5483

Cowboy Up

We just can't quit this countrified Karaoke

Yee-Haw

He's married to a Dixie Chick and signed to a major label... Charlie Robison is charmed

This Week's Day-by-Day Picks

He's married to a Dixie Chick and signed to a major label... Charlie Robison is charmed

Letters

He's married to a Dixie Chick and signed to a major label... Charlie Robison is charmed

Hissin' Dixie.

Country stars battle it out on the eve of war

Change of Beat

Just like the rest of Houston, the local music scene saw plenty of ups and downs

Sevendust

Monday, February 25

Ruffled Feathers

The Dixie Chicks and other musicians are fighting for their rights -- and a bigger check

Jesse Dayton

Hey Nashvegas! (Stag)

Racket

In his first 24 years of life, Brad Turcotte has already become a music-business veteran

Playbill

The Groobees

Hear Them Tweet

The Dixie Chicks get spunky

Wide Open Shot

The Groobees piggyback on the success of a song

Rotation

New Releases Reviewed

The Strait Dope

Gettin' jiggy with George Strait at his country music festival

Oh, Great: Nashville Songwriters Name Redneck Doofus Toby Keith Artist of the Decade

We beg to differ, jerkwad...​Sadly, it's official: Toby Keith, that big redneck doofus who is always threatening to put his boots up somebody's ass or feuding with the Dixie Chicks, has been declared by Nashville Songwriters Association International the top songwriter/artist OF THE DECADE. Man, ... More >>

Love and Theft

The decade with no name left behind plenty of memorable music.

They Were Kinky Before Kinky Was Kinky: Musicians Who Have Held Public Office

From Ted Nugent to Bruce Springsteen to those adorable Dixie Chicks, "Masters of War" to "George Bush doesn't care about black people," musicians have never been shy about voicing their political opinions. But when it comes to putting their money where their mouths are and filing the necessary pape ... More >>

"We're Ashamed The President Is From Texas" And Other Acts Of Career Suicide

Seven years ago this week, the Dixie Chicks had the No. 1 country single in the U.S. with Bruce Robison's lump-raising "Travelin' Soldier." Meanwhile, in Washington, D.C., the Bush Administration was putting the finishing touches on its Iraqi invasion strategy, which prompted Chicks lead singer Nat ... More >>

Norah Jones, Miranda Lambert Top Lilith Houston Lineup

​ If you missed Norah Jones Wednesday or Miranda Lambert a couple weeks back, don't worry - they'll both be back when the revived Lilith Fair hits the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion August 16. Also scheduled for Houston are Dixie Chicks Emily Robison and Martie Maguire's new band, Court Yard Houn ... More >>

"Rap Song Or Murder Ballad" Revealed

​ Rocks Off is really enjoying these little quizzes we've concocted, because it gives us a chance to revisit some of our favorite rap tunes and bask in the comforting knowledge that, whatever their time, place and circumstance of origin, songs about killing are pretty much all the same. We only wi ... More >>

Top 8 Post-2000 Soldier Songs

​Like many of you, Rocks Off has friends and family members who have served (or are serving) in our armed forces. Memorial Day is when we honor the sacrifice so many of them have made - and are still making - fighting America's wars. Songs about the hardships suffered by soldiers and their familie ... More >>

Vanilla Ice And 11 Other Artists Dallas Can Keep

​Tomorrow night at 2016 Mainstage, Houston gets to relive its (our?) dark white-rap past when Dallas native Vanilla Ice hits the stage at the venue formerly known Sammy's On Main. Yes, that Vanilla Ice, from our haughty neighbors to the north who can do no wrong in the eyes of Texas Monthly. ... More >>

Taylor Swift's Ten Best Disses On Speak Now

​Taylor Swift has just released her third, and angriest, album, Speak Now. It's an alternately aggressive and poppy turn for the country girl, who is quickly shedding any previous genre trappings and very much becoming one of the pop industry's biggest stars. She combines female conviction wit ... More >>

Out Today: Beasties Bite Back, Stevie Nicks Gets Witchier

​What's the best way to celebrate the elimination of Osama Bin Laden? Listening to the Foo Fighters' latest album Wasting Light for the fourth week straight, of course. Send help, or at least the announcement of a late-summer or early fall tour date. Come on, man, just one hit. This week's n ... More >>

Racy Cowgirl Postcards: An NSFW Tour Of An Odd Subculture

​As the Dixie Chicks sang in "Little ol' Cowgirl": She's a little ol' cowgirl from out Texas way Countin' the nights 'til the fiddler plays Workin' all week just doin' her thing She likes punchin' doggies but she loves to swing The cowgirl has been a source of fascination since the cowgirl w ... More >>

Pop Rocks on Sting: "Rock Stars...Is There Anything They Don't Know?"

You rotten flexible bastard.​ Sting. He's the artist we love to hate: Sting, everyone's favorite somnambulant acoustic pop star, has developed a somewhat checkered experience in Central Asia. In 2009, Gulnara Karimova--herself a fledgling pop singer under the name GooGooSha and daughter of ... More >>

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap: Music Fans Love Their A-Holes

You rotten flexible bastard.​Sting. He's the artist we love to hate. From The Atlantic: Sting, everyone's favorite somnambulant acoustic pop star, has developed a somewhat checkered experience in Central Asia. In 2009, Gulnara Karimova - herself a fledgling pop singer under the name GooGooSha ... More >>

Top Five Most Overpaid Musicians In The World

​Last month Forbes released their list of the 25 highest-earning musicians of 2010, and the list contains several talents Rocks Off is happy to see keeping the lights on. No. 1 on the list, U2, is still a favorite of ours after all these years, and it's always good to see Tom Petty, Jay-Z, and ... More >>

Top 10 Texas Movie Soundtracks

​This weekend, as the rest of the world catches Harry Potter mania for (perhaps) the final time, Houston gets a serious dose of Urban Cowboy nostalgia. Theater Under the Stars' production of the Tony-nominated 2003 musical - which The New York Times called "a conclusive demonstration that it's ... More >>

Graphic: 50 Years Of Dance Crazes

Dances listed in "Land of 1,000 Dances": Pony | Bony Maronie | Mashed Potato | Alligator | Watusi | The Jerk Tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., the Houston Press will host a great big production number in our parking lot at 1621 Milam St. downtown for National Dance Day. After a few practice runs (we a ... More >>

Drew Kennedy, Walt Wilkins, Jason Eady, Josh Grider, Susan Gibson, The Trishas

Dances listed in "Land of 1,000 Dances": Pony | Bony Maronie | Mashed Potato | Alligator | Watusi | The Jerk Tomorrow morning at 10 a.m., the Houston Press will host a great big production number in our parking lot at 1621 Milam St. downtown for National Dance Day. After a few practice runs (we a ... More >>