The Isley Brothers

Jailhouse Rock: When Artists Face Hard Time

Nothing earns an musician instant street cred quite like a night or two in the pokey. It's basically a rite of passage -- a guarantee that if you sign up for the public eye, you will, indeed, screw it up at least once in order to delight us with your antics. From the likes of good ol' boys like Mer ... More >>

Defending Tarantino

What critics who attack the director's borrowings miss.

10 Songs That Will Pack Your Wedding Reception's Dance Floor

10 Totally Played Out Wedding Songs That Will Still Pack the Dance Floor at Your Reception

Years ago, a wedding planner told me the basis of a successful wedding is remembering that primarily the ceremony is for the bride, the food is for the groom, the photos are for the family and the music is for the friends. While not 100 percent accurate, it does form the basis of a pretty successful ... More >>

Young Mammals

SXSW: The Niceguys & ADD Have A Ball, And Throw Some Too

It's easy to tell the Niceguys really like each other. The three MCs and one DJ seemed to be Houston's more buzzed-about bands coming into the festival. Besides their spot on the SXSW Next Stage at the Austin Convention Center Wednesday afternoon, they were one of three Houston SXSW acts (with Grand ... More >>

Upcoming: Peelander-Z, Collective Soul, Merle Haggard, Ting Tings, Isley Bros., Etc.

Calle 13: Thu., May 10. House of Blues, 1204 Caroline, Houston. Carrie Rodriguez: Thu., March 29. Dosey Doe Coffee Company, 25911 I-45 N., Spring. Charlie Wilson: Fri., May 25. Arena Theatre, 7326 SW Freeway, Houston. Collective Soul: Fri., June 1. House of Blues Dirty Ghosts: Fri., April 27. Wa ... More >>

Before We Cared: 10 Bit Players Who Became Superstars

On this day in 1965, British songstress Petula Clark reached number one on the charts with "Downtown," a pop classic with an unforgettable hook that has become a mainstay of oldies radio, film soundtracks and TV advertisements in the years since. The song even served as a plot point in an episode o ... More >>

Beanz N Kornbread Cook Up Good Weather Muzik

Marco Torres​When Rocks Off ran into the production duo Beanz N Kornbread at SXSW back in March, we were advised to stay tuned for a big project set to drop sometime this summer. Well the summer is here, and that project is the impressive Good Weather Muzik. We caught up with the team to inqui ... More >>

1986: Best Musical Year Ever?

​For almost two weeks now, Rocks Off has been obsessed with the year exactly 25 flips of the calendar backward from this one. It started when Steve Earle did one of his "Time Machine" shows, where the singer-songwriter who plays House of Blues Wednesday spotlights a dozen or so of his favorite ... More >>

Remember Mr. Wired Up (Oh Boy)'s Inside My Mind?

Houston's history is dotted with albums that, fairly or not, have been swept aside. We'll examine them here. Have an album that you think nobody knows about but should? Email sheaserrano@gmail.com. ​Mr. Wired Up (Oh Boy) Inside My Mind (Self-released, 2011) Despite having gained some tractio ... More >>

Last Night: Devin The Dude At Warehouse Live

Photos by Rizoh​Devin the Dude Warehouse Live April 20, 2011 Rare is the artist that transcends his purpose as entertainment to become an essential ingredient in a fan's lifestyle. That list is a very short one, and Devin the Dude is on it. For weekend cleaning music, you go to RJD2. For coit ... More >>

Jimi Hendrix, Before He Was Experienced

​Becoming Jimi Hendrix By Steven Roby and Brad Schreiber Da Capo Press, 274 pp., $17.95. While the bulk of most Jimi Hendrix bios detail the post-Are You Experienced? album and Monterey Pop performance era, this is the first to concentrate solely on his pre-fame years. As a result, the autho ... More >>

Sammus: The Femme Rapper/Producer's Top Five Remix Tracks

The hip-hop world is a less than sensible place - lots of times, you're even required to clarify when bad means bad and when bad means good - so once a week we're going to get with a rapper and ask them to explain things. Have something you always wanted to ask a rapper? Email it to sheaserrano@gmai ... More >>

The Dude Abides

Houston hip-hop's No. 1 pot advocate checks into Suite 420, but there's more than weed smoking going on.

Aftermath: Green Day at Toyota Center

Mark C. Austin​ During "Minority," the motorized 2000 Celtic-thrash mash-up that closed Green Day's main set Saturday night, Toyota Center's video screen became a collage of flyers from the group's early days, before the platinum albums, roadies, Grammys and extra live musicians (there were four S ... More >>

Sole of Houston: Airport Drive, The Finale (Including Unwanted Puke)

And here is the final installment of David Beebe and John Lomax's 20-plus mile hike from Intercontinental Airport to Spanish Flowers restaurant. Part one is here and part two is here.David Beebe's accounts of the same hike are here and here.Airline's furthest reaches are lined by sprawling and run-d ... More >>

Closet Case

R. Kelly's Motley Crew Returns

Hot Sounds, Summer in the City

A few local discs to sizzle with

Catfish Reef: Somethin' Serious

Prom 2K6

What do seniors really do on prom night? The Houston Press investigates

Feel This Man

If you think R. Kelly is anything less than the greatest recording artist alive, you're wrong!

Comeback Clips

A music-video renaissance is afoot -- but it's strictly on the download

New Year's Eve Guide 2005

Where to tuck it in -- or let it all hang out

No More Drama

R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet" sputters to a disappointing close

Americana Pie

Grab a slice of 2004's best roots music while it's still hot

Americana Pie

Grab a slice of 2004's best roots music while it's still hot

Bacharach Meets Isley

Here I Am (DreamWorks)

The Music The

If you want poetry, read a book

Barfin' Green

Hangover planning for St. Patrick's Day

Houston Music Festival

November 9

Color-Coded Rodeo

The livestock show's heritage nights are called "outreach" by some and "de facto segregation" by others

Sumpin' Filthy

Local punker/chef Filthy McNasty is the Ginuwine article

Turn The Beat Around

Long before DJ Screw, Darryl Scott was Houston's mixmaster, spinning records that eventually spun him into the ground. A reformed Scott has a new rap these days - the word of God.

Besides "Let's Stay Together"

Ten other reasons to listen to Al Green

Superflies

R&B royalty roll out for Budweiser Superfest

Who R. You?

The enigma that is R. Kelly keeps audiences enthralled, guessing

New Year's Eve Blastoff

Funk Flashback

Funk Historians

Critic's Choice, The Road to Storyville

Phish Bait

Debonair Whigs