Warsaw

Review: The Spies of Warsaw, by Alan Furst

The Color of Freedom

Blue examines what it means to be truly on your own

The Wild, Wild East

A pistol-packing Pole takes on the new European reality

Living the Unexamined Life, Happily

ZZ Top is still bad, but now they're planet-wide. And they ain't thinking too hard about it

Rotation

ZZ Top is still bad, but now they're planet-wide. And they ain't thinking too hard about it

News of the Weird

ZZ Top is still bad, but now they're planet-wide. And they ain't thinking too hard about it

High-School Heroes and Zeros Roam the Halls of Nanette Burstein's "documentary" American Teen

Young-Adult Fiction

Bayou Dreams

The Chronicle dares to dream -- again

“International Discoveries”

FotoFest goes extra global

The Ten

And on the seventh day, God created sketch comedy

Remember Them

And on the seventh day, God created sketch comedy

“Scream the Truth at the World — Emanuel Ringelblum and the Hidden Archive of the Warsaw Ghetto”

Warsaw Jews preserved the truth

On Second Thought

HISD isn't laughing now about a breakfast program

Wax Fantastic

Electro-phenom DJ Keoki spins by Numbers

Adjust the Contrast

Director can't juggle the contradictory tones of his ultraviolent action flick 15 Minutes

WorldFest: Wild, Mild and Wicked

Moviegoers may find both their Sixth Happiness and Seventh Heaven in these 40 featured indie films

Rotation

Moviegoers may find both their Sixth Happiness and Seventh Heaven in these 40 featured indie films

DNA May Track Down Holocaust Survivors In Houston And Elsewhere

Kaye Marvins PhotograpyThea Singer (left) and her sister Vera BlumDNA technology has helped to identify 9/11 victims, find missing persons and determine paternity. But can it really reunite victims of the Holocaust?Thea Singer has decided it's worth a try.Singer has done just about everything else t ... More >>

Remembering 1969, Part 1: Altamont, Rosemary's Baby, Santana at Woodstock and More

1968 might have been - at least politically - one of the most turbulent years of the '60s. Students rioted left - specifically, the Left Bank in Paris - and right against the war in Vietnam, while back home racial tensions escalated, especially after the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The po ... More >>

Engine Room Reopening Next Month As The Warsaw; Numbers Shows To Increase

Anthony MarianiThe Engine Room in 2000​The live-music landscape downtown is changing... again. Mike Kelly, currently the general manager of Wired Live (which we're still getting used to not calling the Meridian), stopped by the Press offices earlier today and told Rocks Off he will be leaving Wire ... More >>

Good Morning To You Too, Meridian Wired Live ???

Chris Gray​ Seems there's trouble afoot over on Chartres. Who would have guessed? That number on the flyer has been "temporarily disconnected," too. However, Mike Kelley, a former partner in Chartres Entertainment who currently promotes the majority of Wired Live's shows through his Onstage ... More >>

Run Lola Run

Looking to get in shape and get hammered? Do both at Brian O'Neill's.

Distant Early Warning: Billy Idol, Black Crowes, Carrie Underwood, Dax Riggs, Erykah Badu, Goatwhore, The Spits, Etc.

​Stardeath & White Dwarfs, The Besnard Lakes: Wed., May 19. Walter's on Washington. Billy Idol: Wed., Aug. 25. House of Blues. Black Crowes: Sun., Sept. 26. Verizon Wireless Theater. Candlebox, Another Day, Rowe: Sat., May 15. Scout Bar Clear Lake. Carrie Underwood, Billy Currington, Sons Of ... More >>

Girl's Got Rhythm

Hell's Belles guitarist Adrian Conner isn't put off by "Givin' the Dog a Bone."

Upcoming: 50 Cent, Aventura, Hole, Jonas Bros., Liza Minnelli, Octopus Project, Etc.

​50 Cent: Sat., June 12. Arena Theatre. Agent Orange: Wed., June 30. Rocbar. Asleep At The Wheel: Fri., May 28. Cypress Saloon. As I Lay Dying, Underoath, Between The Buried And Me, Blessthefall, Cancer Bats: Tue., July 27. Verizon Wireless Theater. Aventura: Thu., July 1. Toyota Center. Barringt ... More >>

Former Meridian/Wired Live Not Closed, GM Says

Cannibal Corpse: Now at Numbers May 12.​Things have been quiet on the former Meridian/Wired Live front since the flurry of events surrounding the lockout of former Wired Live owner Anosh Ahmed a few weeks back. Perhaps, as they say in most Westerns, a little too quiet. Despite a few tweets and re- ... More >>

Upcoming: Babyface, Disturbed, Loverboy, Nile OK Go, Pentagram, Etc.

​Andrew Karnavas: Fri., July 16. McGonigel's Mucky Duck. Babyface: Fri., Aug. 13. Arena Theatre. Bob Log III: Sun., July 11. Rudyard's. Cornbreadd, Fat Tony, B L A C K I E: Fri., May 28. Dean's Credit Clothing. Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold, Stone Sour, HaleStorm, Hellyeah: Sun., Sept. 12. Cynthia ... More >>

Flaming Lips Still On For Summerfest... For Now

Neuski via flickr.com​ The Grand Ole Opry, which was supposed to celebrate its 85th birthday party May 25, is currently underwater, like most of Nashville (above). Nashville Public Radio is reporting that the Cumberland River crested at a whopping 52 feet. When does hurricane season start aga ... More >>

Upcoming: Blue October, Fleshtones, Islands, Jackyl, Raekwon, Etc.

​Aerial Second, Floorbound, Lotus Effect, This Year's Tiger: LOUNGE STAGE., Sat., June 5. Fitzgerald's. Amplified Heat, Cornhole Dukes, World's Most Dangerous: Fri., June 11. Rudyard's. Anjelah Nicole Johnson: Fri., Oct. 22. House of Blues. Aziz Ansari: CHANGED Sat., Oct. 16. House of Blues. Blue ... More >>

Upcoming: Roberto Carlos, Dead Meadow, Huey Lewis & The News, Ratt, Etc.

​Roberto Carlos: CHANGED Wed., Sept. 22, 8 p.m., $59.50-$99.50. Verizon Wireless Theater. Adler's Appetite: Sun., June 13. BFE Rock Club. Ambrosia: Fri., Aug. 6. Dosey Doe Coffee Company. American Fangs, Meriweather, Legacy Fails, A Dream Asleep: Fri., June 18. Fitzgerald's. Anal Cunt, Chocolate ... More >>

Upcoming: The Eagles, Aerosmith, BoDeans, Otep, Slim Thug, Etc.

​30footFALL, Latch Key Kids: Sat., June 26. Continental Club. Aerosmith, Sammy Hagar and the Wabos: Thu., Aug. 5. Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. The Ataris, Gasoline Heart, Don't Panic: Sat., Sept. 4. Scout Bar Clear Lake. The BoDeans, Ray Johnston: Thu., June 17. The Warsaw. The Burden, B L A ... More >>

Friday Night: Warsaw's Grand Opening Less Than Grand

Photos by Kendra BerglundAutomatic Thrill did their best to rock a sparse crowd Friday night.​Grand Opening with CoRE, etc. The Warsaw June 25, 2010 The Warsaw's grand opening on Friday night reminded Aftermath a lot of a trip to Super Happy Fun Land. On the one hand, some great bands took th ... More >>

Top 10 Last Words By Famous Musicians

​Musicians tend to be a mouthy lot. It takes a certain kind of soul to want and express your own inner world to the outer world at large. So when the time comes for them to shuffle off this mortal coil, they often have some very interesting exit lines... 10. Ludwig Van Beethoven, "Friends a ... More >>

Vans Warped Tour

​Musicians tend to be a mouthy lot. It takes a certain kind of soul to want and express your own inner world to the outer world at large. So when the time comes for them to shuffle off this mortal coil, they often have some very interesting exit lines... 10. Ludwig Van Beethoven, "Friends a ... More >>

Last Night: Nekromantix, The Howlers And The Mutilators At The Warsaw

Photos by Matthew KeeverNekromantix​Nekromantix, The Howlers, The Mutilators The Warsaw July 13, 2010 ​Last time Aftermath visited the Warsaw for its (not so) grand opening, the turnout was terrible. This time around, we were pleasantly surprised to see that some Houstonians actually sh ... More >>

Paula Butturini: Keeping the Feast

Home is where the heart - and pasta - is

Upcoming: Allen Toussaint, Dead Confederate, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Vibrators, Etc.

​500 Megatons Of Boogie, The Jonx, Recreator: Sat., Aug. 14. Rudyard's. Allen Toussaint, Nicholas Payton, Joe Krown: Thu., Nov. 4. Miller Outdoor Theatre. Behemoth, Black Anvil, Withered: Tue., Nov. 23. Warehouse Live. Better Than Ezra: Wed., Dec. 29. House of Blues. Big Head Todd & The M ... More >>

Free Press Summer Fest Team Taking Over Fitzgerald's

4:38 p.m.: UPDATED with more information from Afra. Matthew KeeverThe crowd dances to Brave Combo at Fitzgerald's 33rd anniversary this past Saturday.​Free Press Houston editor/publisher Omar Afra and Pegstar.net owner Jagi Katial, the principal figures behind Free Press Summer Fest, announce ... More >>

Upcoming: D.R.I., Neon Indian, LCD Soundsystem, Texas Tornados, Etc.

​The American Heist, Hell City Kings, Blackmarket Syndicate, All At Sea: Sat., Sept. 4. Walter's on Washington. Atlanta Rhythm Section: Sun., Nov. 14. Dosey Doe Coffee Company. Best Coast: Sat., Nov. 6. Fitzgerald's. Blitzen Trapper: Tue., Oct. 12. House of Blues. Bring Me The Horizon, Au ... More >>

Groundhall Now Open, Not Changing Name Anymore (We Think)

Groundhall on FacebookThe patio at Groundhall, the former... well, the former lot of things.​Over the last couple of months, it's been kind of fun - and kind of frustrating - to try to keep up with what's been going on over at the old Engine Room at 1515 Pease, up to and including what the dam ... More >>

Last Night: Atari Teenage Riot At Groundhall

Photos by Matthew Keever​Atari Teenage Riot, Black Congress, Weird Party, Balaclavas Groundhall September 29, 2010 Atari Teenage Riot's set began with the entirety of Groundhall encompassed in darkness. As bass beat in everyone's chests, strobe lights lit up the otherwise pitch-black venue. F ... More >>

Five Video Games More Tasteless Than Call Of Juarez: The Cartel

UbisoftCall of Juarez​Even though the Mexican Drug War continues unabated a few hundred miles down the Southwest Freeway, this news that there is a South of the Border-themed Grand Theft Auto video game in the works somehow seems predictable. According to manufacturer Ubisoft, first-person sh ... More >>

The Wacky Adventures Of Frederic Chopin's Heart

Louis-Auguste Bisson​Today is Fredric Chopin's 201st birthday, although some sources claim he was actually born on February 22. Chopin's incredible nocturnes, pale complexion, consumption, and melancholy outlook have more than once prompted Rocks Off to christen him the Original Goth. He rema ... More >>

iceage

Louis-Auguste Bisson​Today is Fredric Chopin's 201st birthday, although some sources claim he was actually born on February 22. Chopin's incredible nocturnes, pale complexion, consumption, and melancholy outlook have more than once prompted Rocks Off to christen him the Original Goth. He rema ... More >>

Friday Night: iceage & Balaclavas At The Mink

Photos by Allison Wagoner​iceage, Balaclavas The Backroom at the Mink July 15, 2011 A lot of folks have a dirty habit of going full-throttle on a new band with only one album and a few singles, lumping praise on them before they can really live up to it. Aftermath has done it in the past (Die ... More >>

Underground Live Latest Venue To Try Old Engine Room Digs

Underground Live on Facebook​For weeks now, Rocks Off has been trying to get in touch with the ever-name-changing venue next door to ECHO/Jet Lounge. Seeing that two shows were scheduled over the weekend, we decided to swing by with our camera and see what sort of information we could acquire. ... More >>

Pop Rocks: We Must Avenge Patrick Swayze

​Assholes: Surf thriller "Point Break" will get a modern update by Alcon and Warner Bros., much to fans' chagrin. According to Deadline.com, the new version will be set in the world of extreme sports. Kurt Wimmer ("Salt," the upcoming "Total Recall" remake) has written the script for the ne ... More >>

Charlie Benante Keeps The Beat Steady For Anthrax

Photos by Andy BuchananAnthrax 2011 (L-R): Scott Ian, Frank Bello, Joey Belladonna, Charlie Benante, Rob Caggiano​After a tumultuous few years both musically and memberwise, New York thrash metal pioneers Anthrax will be able to close out 2011 on a pretty high note. In addition to releasing th ... More >>

Wine of the Week: 2000 Valpolicella by Giuseppe Quintarelli

Photo by Jeremy Parzen.Giuseppe Quintarelli, one of the greatest winemakers of our lifetime, passed away on Sunday in the Valpolicella, Italy. He was 84.​From the tiny village of Negrar in the picturesque Valpolicella (Veneto, Italy) to the upper reaches of the One-Percenter wine collectors in ... More >>