The Lion King

Last Night: Elton John At Toyota Center

Elton John has become the best-case scenario of the future life of a troubled character in one of his songs. Albeit a song that he has been writing since he and collaborator Bernie Taupin decided to forge a songwriting partnership nearly 45 years ago. He's now a seasoned sage, deeper in voice, ric ... More >>

The Dan Marino Restaurants

The 13 restaurants that nearly made our 30 essential Texas restaurants list.

Top 10 Restaurants in River Oaks

The last time we tackled the Top 10 restaurants in River Oaks, Tony Mandola's was still open in what is now Brasserie 19's spot in the River Oaks Shopping Center. Needless to say, things have changed a bit in three years. And in spite of its ritzy exterior, River Oaks still has plenty of inexpensive ... More >>

Upcoming Taxidermy Auction Comes Just In Time For Christmas

Over off Hansen and Airport Boulevard just miles away Hobby Airport sits Worstell Auction Co., where Mark Thomas and his auction team is working hard to put together a big taxidermy auction set for this Saturday inside a large warehouse on the Worstell grounds. On Friday there will be an all-day p ... More >>

Flogging Nemo

Pixar's grand fish tale needs no enhancement.

7 Disney Characters Based On Pop Musicians

One of the interesting things about Walt Disney films is the way they borrow from or hold up a mirror to popular culture. Along with great storytelling and good songs, this is quite possibly why people like them in the first place. In fact, it's how some of us get introduced to great artists such a ... More >>

The 10 Most Rocking Songs In Children's Entertainment

Here's the thing about children's entertainment, it's designed to appeal not only to the lowest common denominator, but the toughest audience known to man. Don't believe me? Try playing your favorite song to a toddler, even something that is an acknowledged classic like the Pretenders' "I'll Stand ... More >>

Disney on Ice: Treasure Trove

Russian Radio: Top 5 Tasty Cold War Synth Jamz

Hey, remember the Russians? Before they had a gajillion oil dollars and all those supermodels, they wanted to kill us all. But it wasn't all creeping dread and mutually assured destruction. Until the Berlin Wall came down, the Cold War was a common subject in popular culture. Besides KGB trenchcoat ... More >>

Love is the Answer: Ten Classic Light Rock Tunes on Dan Seals' Birthday

Today would have been the 64th birthday of Dan Seals, one half of England Dan and John Ford Coley, the songwriting duo that had a big hit with "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" and a minor one with "Love is the Answer." He also had a string of chart hits in country music in the '80s and '90s. Unf ... More >>

Reviews For The Easily Distracted:
Beauty And The Beast 3D

Title: Beauty and the Beast 3D Hey, This Movie's 20 Years Old, What Gives? It's 3D, nimrod. That's, like...a whole new movie. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: Four-and-a-half Gaston chins out of five. Brief Plot Synopsis: A New York cosmetologist mistakenly thought to be a scie ... More >>

Forbidden Broadway

10 Popular Rappers' Disney Alter Egos

Watch The Throne.​Were you ever mildly attracted to Jafar in the Disney movie Aladdin? We were, probably because he reminded us so much of Prince. So, needless to say, Rocks Off is pretty stoked that Disney is bringing back some of our beloved iconic villains-like Jafar and Scar-to 3-D. We' ... More >>

Pop Rocks: How Does The Lion King Stand Up Among Recent Disney Releases?

Hail to the king...of the box office.​Box office analysts were a bit puzzled by the haul taken in by The Lion King 3D last weekend. The 1994 film was given the three-dimensional treatment and released to the tune of almost $30 million, beating both Contagion and fellow openers Drive ($11 milli ... More >>

Saturday Night: Josh Groban At Toyota Center

Photos by Jay Lee​Josh Groban Toyota Center May 14, 2011 Josh Groban is an unusual pop star. Unusual for 2011, anyway. One hundred years ago, many "pop stars" as we think of the term today drew their repertoires from light opera and Italian bel canto. The vocal techniques and subject matter ... More >>

Tupac Shakur: Who Should Play Him In Upcoming Movie?

​Think you've got what it takes to portray the embodiment of rap music? Let's be honest: You probably don't, but you can still throw your bandana in the ring and audition online for the starring role in an upcoming Tupac biopic. There's no guarantee that the role will take your rap career any ... More >>

Music from The Lion King

Toy Story, Now Starring Houston Rappers

​At the Serrano household - among the toddler sect, anyway - the Toy Story trilogy is generally regarded as man's greatest creative achievement, followed closely by Reese's Sonic Blasts and poop jokes. There was no way our two boys weren't being Woody and Buzz Lightyear for Halloween this year ... More >>

Four Loko = Elton John: A Day In Alcoholic Energy-Drink Hell

​Last week for the Hair Balls blog, Craig's Hlist drank three cans of Four Loko to research just what has had all the kids freaking the hell out and going to the hospital in droves. It was a hellish experience, and we passed straight out after drinking three cans out of the four we originally ... More >>

Music's Top 10 Biggest Post-Drug Comebacks

​The list of drug casualties in rock and roll is a long and sad one. All the suicides, car crashes and the stray gang-related murder are outweighed by the amount of people who just can't stop putting junk into their system, or at least moderate it to a point where they aren't lying cold on a h ... More >>

Houston Symphony POPS! Series: Broadway Rocks!

The Gay Men's Chorus belts out a few show tunes

Red Bull

Alain Resnais does his carrot-topped muse no favors in Wild Grass.

Waking Sleeping Beauty

What's a princess to do?

Golden Cities Hate All Over The Lion King

Each Wednesday, Rocks Off arbitrarily appoints one lucky local performer or group "Artist of the Week," bestowing upon them all the fame and grandeur such a lofty title implies. Know a band or artist that isn't awful? Email their particulars to sheaserrano@gmail.com. myspace.com/goldencitiesGolden ... More >>

Alice in Chains

Tim Burton's Wonderland is not nearly curiouser and curiouser enough.

Alice in Chains

Tim Burton's Wonderland is not nearly curiouser and curiouser enough.

Ghost Riders

In Houston, bicycling is known as a killer sport.

The Magic Flute

The New York Met screens the story of the Queen of the Night

Honk! A Musical Fable for Grown-ups

Web exclusive!

“Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Broadway”

The Houston Symphony performs classics from the Great White Way

Two Cool Cats

Broadway intersects with Westheimer