“Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the National Gallery of Art”
You don’t have to be an art fanatic to recognize the big names in the exhibit “Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Masterpieces from the National Gallery of Art” currently at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Cézanne, Degas, Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh — they’re all the best of the best. While almost…
“Tom Berg”
Where some people see a chair, Tom Berg sees art. Working in Wyoming during the late ‘70s, Berg was painting a lot of landscape pieces, but was forced to paint inside his studio during the winter. As he looked around, he found some old lawn chairs. After hanging them flat…
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Anyone who took English in high school will remember naughty Falstaff, Shakespeare’s funniest clown. He shows up in three of the Bard’s plays — a sort of overgrown frat-house fool. In The Merry Wives of Windsor, Falstaff is at his naughtiest. The silly Shakespearian comedy about love and bad behavior…
Billy Elliot
Much to the revulsion of his family, young Billy Elliot loves to dance ballet. Despite their objections, he covertly pursues his passion. The story of Billy Elliot, first imagined in a 2000 film, is well known now, thanks largely to the Elton John-scored musical version, which won the Tony Award…
Comment of the Day
So another national “Best Of” list mostly ignored Houston, leaving many frustrated. But not commenter tinyhands, who didn’t much care: When reviewers who have never even been to Houston award us with dubious “Best of” honors, everyone gets all excited and retweets it until even my non-tweeting gramma gets sick…
Lettuce Truck Also Had a Ton of Pot, If You Needed Any with Your Salad
HPDHey, that’s not lettuceIt was just another lettuce truck, haulin’ the mean green out there in the 13400 block of the East Freeway. Paulino Guerra, 35, was driving the 18-wheeler when a Houston cop pulled him over for what HPD says was a routine truck inspection. And, well, there was…
Pot Brownie at Freebird’s World Burrito
Although I’m not really in the mood for dessert after finishing (or attempting to finish) one of Freebird’s Monster Chicken Burritos, I picked up a Pot Brownie anyway on my most recent visit. I always thought these sizeable chocolate mounds, with their tie-dye label reading “Pot Brownies Make Me Happy,”…
Diddy’s Top Five WTF Videos
UPDATE: Tickets for the Diddy Dirty Money show are not going on sale Friday as originally reported. Sean Combs Sean “Puffy” Combs Puffy Puff Daddy P. Diddy Diddy is coming to Warehouse Live on May 12 on his “Diddy Dirty Money Tour,” behind his newest album, Last Train To Paris…
Be Somebody: Tryouts for The Real World This Saturday
Wow, we thought this had gone to the TV junkyard. But no, MTV’s seminal train-wrecky reality show is looking for new roommates, and you have the chance to join the morass party this Saturday, February 26, when Bunim/Murray Productions hold an open casting call for season 26 (!) of The…
How Cherries Can Improve Your Workout
Whether you’re looking to run the Houston Marathon next January or just get back to the gym before swimsuit season, new research suggests that incorporating a tiny, little, red fruit into your workout routine could prove highly beneficial. Aside from being associated with lowering uric acid related to gout, alleviating…
City Council Member Jolanda Jones Distributes (Possibly) Anti-Police Pamphlets at NAACP Meeting
Small white cards drifted around the Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church on February 8, where the NAACP town hall meeting was being held to address Chad Holley’s police beating.”Know Your Rights With The Police,” the cards declared. “NEVER speak with the police. You have a 5th amendment right to remain…
HISD Trustee Harvin Moore Wants the State to Man Up
Houston ISD trustee Harvin Moore has come out guns blazing against the probable hefty cut in state funding for education to local public school districts, saying that legislators aren’t honoring their constitutional duty to support education in Texas. In the first of what promises to be a series of op-ed…
Rap-A-Lot’s Prince Wants To Reunite Cash Money Family
If you thought Rap-a-Lot had a solid outing last year with Pimp C’s posthumous debut and Bun B’s perfect Source score for Trill OG, wait till you see what J. Prince has lined up for 2011. The Houston label’s Commander-in-Chief spoke to TheSource.com about his plans for the year. You…
Top 5 Galleria-Area Restaurants
Recently, we have had several friends come into town and stay near The Galleria. They often ask for area food recommendations, and though we generally recommend heading away from the tourist traps, there are some decent options around the area. Here are five of our favorites (and for your reference,…
Death Penalty: Your Newest App
Have your Angry Birds gone postal? You might need the newest app, from the Death Penalty Information Center. Today’s on-the-go death-penalty activist is now only a touch away from “our Fact Sheet on the Death Penalty, our Execution Database, and the most recent death penalty news from around the country,”…
We Want Your “Go Texan Day” Photos
Not that anyone needs a reason to break out some western wear in Houston, but this Friday is Go Texan Day, when the entire city of Houston is expected to acknowledge the opening of the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo by wearing cowboy gear. Of course, to be recognizable as…
HISD Accused of Spurning HCC in Favor of Lone Star College
State Senator Mario Gallegos has a new beef with the Houston school district — he says HISD is stiffing Houston Community College in favor of Lone Star College. Gallegos wrote to HISD superintendent Terry Grier saying the district’s “been extraordinarily indifferent in continuing a strong partnership” with HCC. He accuses…
Meow…Er…Meme of the Week: Business Cat
Business Cat is a precious lil’ love muffin I wanna squeeze and hold, but if I spent five minutes at his office loving on hims, I would go into allergic shock and look like I was in a tear-gassed bunker in World War I, so I can only stand by…
Health Department Roundup
Hot weather usually leads to an increase in bad behavior – murder, rioting, shirtlessness. It was also means food goes bad more quickly, bugs flourish and the health threats facing diners multiply. Things are already warming up, which means your average health inspector will soon switch to grizzled-detective mode, ripping…
The Band Foster Came To Rock, Not Eat Cookies
Today The Band Foster – that’s the name, all three words – begins its reign as Artist of the Week. The interview ran a tad longer than they typically do, so we’re going to flip ahead to that. Things you need to know going in: The Band Foster is a…
Pomplamoose: More Than Just Annoying Hyundai Shills (?)
Much of the nation was introduced to Pomplamoose by a series of annoying television ads urging Americans to celebrate the birth of Jesus by buying a compact car. As this week’s feature, “The Pomplamoose Revolution,” reveals, there may be more to the band than that. Jack Conte and Nataly Dawn’s…
Supper’s On at Natachee’s
I’ll be the first to admit when I’m wrong. (Life lesson: It’s so much easier that way, kiddos.) And I was wrong about Natachee’s Supper ‘n Punch when it first opened back in November. I wasn’t impressed with any of the food during my First Look at the restaurant, save…
David Garcia, Unsubtle Peeping-Tom Photographer (Allegedly)
Police have arrested a very unsubtle photographer of women undressing in a Memorial City Mall store. David Eduardo Garcia, 25, went into a private dressing room at the Hollister store there, KTRK reports, stuck a camera under the dividers of the stalls and clicked away, according to court documents. That’s…
Top 5 Off-The-Wall Musical Instruments In Regular Use
Last year at Free Press Summer Fest, we saw Stars haul out this little thingy that was basically a tiny keyboard with a mouthpiece you could blow into. It was the first time we’d ever seen a melodica played live. Since then, Rocks Off been kind of obsessed with weird,…
Hot Ticket: The SXSW Interactive Festival
We may be in love with art here at ArtAttack, but our crush on the internet is an open secret. For the last few years, our eyes have started roaming westward in late February, in anticipation of the SXSW Interactive Festival, March 11-15, which starts about a week before the…
Bombay Pizza Company: Perfect for an Oscar Party
With Academy Awards season upon us again, I have a recommendation for your Oscar party, sure to increase the number of folks in your social network, and that, my friends, is Bombay Pizza Company downtown. I’ve wanted to try the Indian-Italian fusion-y joint since its inception but just recently made…
On The Seal Again: Willie Nelson’s Fine Flippered Friend
Rocks Off came across this picture of Willie Nelson shaking hands with one of his pinniped fans on the singer’s Facebook page this morning, and immediately knew we had to share it. Little did we know that the Red Headed Stranger has long had an affinity for these adorable, extremely…
Alabama Tree Killing Lunatic Is Living in His Car (w/ Guilt Admission AUDIO)
The numbers tell us college football has never been more popular. Television ratings are healthy, rogue ticket prices for the national championship game were the highest for any major sporting event ever, and the smell of murder is in the air. No, this time around it’s not actual people being…
Another Day, Another National “Best of” List That Mostly Ignores Houston
According to The Daily Meal, Texas is still primarily home to barbecue and Tex-Mex. Oh, and, okay, maybe a little bit of seafood. The national food website released its list of The 101 Best Restaurants in America this morning, and, as expected, Texas — and Houston — was mostly ignored,…
Fat Tony Drops Foodtastic “U Ain’t Fat” Video
Right about now, it’s probably getting close to lunchtime at your place of employment, and Fat Tony’s new video for “Nigga U Ain’t Fat” will put you in the rightful eating mood by the time its three minutes are over. If you like steak, pie, Kit Kat bars, and pizza,…
Baby Sperm Whale Rescued, Could Be Killed (Updated)
Vacationers on the West End of Galveston Island found a baby sperm whale this morning, and a rescue crew was called in. But unless a deep fog lifts, the baby might have to be killed. The Houston Chronicle reports that Allison Wilkins, 11, of Dallas, and her dad spotted the…
Video Picks: The Rise of the Online Gay Comedian
Not so long ago, gay comedy sucked. Ellen DeGeneres, Will and Grace, and Rosie O’Donnell all seemed to be cut from the same Disney fabric. Even “edgy” gay performers like ANT and Margaret Cho came off more angry than funny. Gay comedy seemed to be cloaked in a “don’t ask,…
Bun B Leads Rap And Religion Debate At St. John’s UMC
Tuesday night, Bun B moderated a discussion panel at St. John’s United Methodist Church downtown. It was hard to find any information about the rapper on the Internet, besides the fact that he’s from Port Aransas or something. Bun and his panel started out intending to flush out whether or…
The Admirals Sink Houston As Aeros Fall Out of First Place
John RoyalThe Aeros celebrate Patrick O’Sullivan’s first period goalThe Houston Aeros led the Milwaukee Admirals by a score of 4-2 with 16 minutes left in the third period. And while they hadn’t been playing their best hockey, they did seem to be in control of the game. Then it was…
Chef Chat, Part I: Cesar Rodriguez of Samba Grille
Making it in the restaurant business is tough. Now, try pulling it off in downtown Houston’s theater district. It’s a difficult task, but one Executive Chef Cesar Rodriguez and the team at Samba Grille are up for. We caught up with him recently to find out how things are going…
Our Casting Suggestions for Scientology: The Movie
Recently, Oscar-winning screenwriter and director Paul Haggis participated in a lengthy New Yorker interview in which he condemned his former religion, Scientology, calling it a cult and detailing the organization’s indecent practices. Also this month, word resurfaced about There Will Be Blood director Paul Thomas Anderson’s previously-on-hold Scientology movie The…
Off the Wall: CRAVE-ing Coffee
Last week, Katharine Shilcutt ranked the top 10 coffee shops in town. Suggestions and opinions varied in the comments section, but one in particular caught my eye. Coffee Bean Junkie wrote, “I would also add Crave Cupcakes. I go there often just for the pour-over-style, rich-tasting coffee they serve. Haven’t…
Last Night: Fred Eaglesmith At McGonigel’s Mucky Duck
Fred Eaglesmith McGonigel’s Mucky Duck February 22, 2011 Rocks Off Sr. wanted to know, and he wanted to know now. “What kinda crowd is this? Canadians?” “Yeah, some, for sure.” Aftermath understands these things. Instinctively. It’s like drinking good whiskey. “But look at this bunch. There are people who drove…
Comment of the Day: Tilman Fertitta’s Ace Up the Sleeve
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula…
The Houston Rodeo: Ten Classic Pictures
Rodeo excitement is here, as our version of the State Fair ramps up with the trail riders nearing the city and Go Texan Day Friday. The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo people were nice enough to let us rifle through their archive of pictures, and we’ve presented ten of them…
Music for Rothko: A Cowboy’s Perspective
This weekend, the Houston Chamber Choir and Da Camera present Music for Rothko, a concert of contemporary music featuring composer Morton Feldman’s stunning Rothko Chapel for soprano, alto, choir, celesta, and percussion. In honor of this weekend’s rodeo, Texas-born-and-raised cowboy and ’40s film star Clint “Wagon Wheel” Maynard and his…
Tim Qualls Makes EP Melancholy On His Own
One of the artists Rocks Off has most enjoyed getting to follow in the last couple of years is Tim Qualls. On the surface, his music is the same self-deprecating white guy acousti-pop that John Mayer and Jason Mraz are doing, but as we hear more and more of his…
Michael Brown: A Twist in the Hand Doctor’s Dildo Case
There’s a new twist in what we like to call The Suitcase Full of Dildos Suit between lobbyist Stephen Payne and wife-beating former hand surgeon Michael Brown: the MGM Grand Hotel has filed as an intervenor in an attempt to collect a $120,000-plus judgment it won against Payne in 2010…
Sampler Plate: This Week in Food Blogs
Each week, we put together a sampler plate of the most interesting links from both local and national food blogs. Know a blog we should be paying particular attention to? Leave the address in the comments section below. Examiner: I wasn’t the only one to be surprised by how good…
App of the Week: Wi-Fi Finder
App: Wi-Fi Finder from JiWire Platforms: iPhone Web site: JiWire.com/iphone Cost: Free Working from home can be isolating. Sitting in a tiny office surrounded by nothing but your computer and your cats (shut up) can get a little depressing day after day, which is why I often take my laptop and hit the road…
Galveston’s Flagship Hotel, Slowly Coming Down
The musty old Flagship Hotel, the famous building on a Galveston pier, is a lot more airy than it used to be. Crews are in the process of taking down the edifice in order to build Tilman Fertitta’s Kemah Boardwalk-like “Pleasure Pier” in its place. You just can’t implode something…
Comment of the Day
Ask, and you shall receive. Joanna O’Leary was wondering about good places in Houston to dine solo, and reader Gilgameshstockings had a few suggestions: Rioja, Dolce Vita, Poscol, Vieng Thai, Sushi King, Kanomwan, Tan Tan, Doneraki, Jamaica House, One’s a Meal, Zake, Aladdin, Niko’s, Cova, Jeannine’s Bistro, Kaneyama, Hobbit Most…
Bank Robbers Now Look Like Your Dad
Ah, a Tuesday afternoon in a Spirit of Texas Bank branch down on Bay Area Boulevard. Someone’s dad is calmly waiting on line, wearing the usual dad outfit of a sport shirt, “I’m retired” stubble and — wait a second, what’s that he’s holding in his hand? Your Dad’s robbing…
First Look at Convey
Conveyor belt sushi is not a new concept to most of America, yet here — in downtown Houston — it’s somewhat of a novelty. In an odd twist, a couple of Outer Loop restaurants were the first to bring the conveyor belt premise to the Houston area (Sushi Choo Choo…
Takeout Fish and Chicken Tacos at Taco Milagro
Two years ago I went to Taco Milagro, and I wasn’t a fan. I thought it was overpriced and underwhelming. Also, it took forever to get the food, which I guess is a moot point since I didn’t like it much anyway. From that point forward, I relied on Chuy’s…
Top 5 Mother-In-Law Songs Besides “Mother In Law”
Q: What is the ideal weight for a mother-in-law? A: About 2.3 pounds, including the urn. Rocks Off has more or less been content with bachelorhood our entire life, so we have no idea what having a mother-in-law is like. We’re fairly certain we’re not going to be finding out…
Bike & Pedestrian Activists Amp Up to Protest Budget Cuts
BikeHouston.org and other groups are calling for people to take to the barricades, or at least the public-comments rostrum, when an important transportation group meets to allot funds for the coming years Friday. Activists say “alternative modes” of transit such as bike paths and pedestrian projects are getting cut to…
Labrada Lean Body Hi-Protein Milk Shake
I can’t believe I’m not making fun of this product. Even though I’ve enjoyed my share of processed beverages, I still usually turn my nose at complicated sports drinks, as I believe good ol’ H2O to be the most healthful beverage when you’re working out for an hour or less…
August: Osage County, Complete With Flying Razor Blades
Describing what it feels like to play Violet Weston in August: Osage County, actress Jennifer Harmon says, “There’s moments she feels like a flying razor blade to me.” As the matriarch of an Oklahoma family with more than their share of secrets, Violet has let her difficult childhood years influence…
Guru Prakashanand Saraswati, 82, Accused of 20 Counts of Molesting Young Girls
Respected guru Prakashanand Saraswati is going to trial today in a San Marcos courtroom after being slapped with 20 counts of sexual indecency with a child. The 82-year-old guru, also known as Shree Swamiji, is the founder and spiritual leader of Barsana Dham, a palatial marble ashram outside of Austin…
Winter Wallace Doodles Up Support For Autism Research
Winter Wallace, local singer-songwriter and front woman of the Winter Wallace Band, has the voice of a celestial being and, evidently, the heart of one too. Wallace recently started a project called “Autism & Art,” where she will be collaborating with artists across various media to raise money for autism…
Fiery Crash at Edloe on Northbound 59
Traffic is beginning to clear after a fiery wreck on northbound U.S. 59 at Edloe. Here’s a look at what once was a serviceable car. Channel 39’s Twitter feed reports “Major accident/car fire at 59 @ Newcastle. Two people transported, one burned pretty badly. Two NB lanes of freeway are…
Eye Candy and Up-Cycled Design at “Concrete Utopias”
The bad news: When we headed down to the University of Houston on Friday to check out its symposium “Concrete Utopias: 1960s Architecture and Urbanism,” we first had the time wrong, then got stuck in traffic and missed the keynote we wanted to see. The good news? There was lots…
Top 5 Food Court Finds
While malls themselves are annoying, there is something charming and nostalgic about a tasty (and absurdly unhealthy) food court treat. We all have our favorites, that one snack that we must sample while simultaneously picking out ties for Dad on Father’s Day. Here is our list of the top 5…
Top 10 Oscar-Nominated Music Biopics
It’s Oscar season again, and this Sunday night the film industry honors the best of the past year in cinema. This year’s Best Picture nominees are Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception, The Kids Are All Right, The King’s Speech, 127 Hours, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, True Grit and…
Metro Bids Adieu to the Intermodal “Kiss & Ride” Terminal
In yet another ritual cleansing of the Frank Wilson Era, Metro CEO George Greanias tells the Houston Chronicle that the agency is writing off $168 million in useless expenses racked up by the previous administration. Some of that comes from the Buy America debacle, other funds are due to plans…
Lou Gehrig at 13 Years Old: His Grammar School Autograph for Sale in Texas
A Texas memorabilia dealer is offering for sale a schoolbook from 1917 signed by one “Henry Gehrig” to a fellow Manhattan grammar school student. Who the hell cares about Hank Gehrig? Well, he eventually dropped the first name, went by his middle name “Lou” and became a New York Yankee…
Just Another Day at City Hall
KPRC’s intrepid Mary Benton posted the above picture to her Twitter feed, which everyone should follow. “Strange scene at Houston city hall. What happens when anti-police protestors & #RodeoHouston peeps show up on the same day Looks like Houston to us…
Deliciously Macabre Desserts at the Gothic Beauty Pageant
It became apparent as soon as I took my place in the line outside the venue that – in jeans, a green sweater, and ankle boots – I was not properly outfitted for the occasion. In line ahead of me: a woman costumed in top hat and braids a la…
Yung Quis’ 16 Oz. Pops “Black And Yellow”
Rocks Off has been anticipating several mixtapes/albums that have been released or are about to be released this year: hasHBrown’s Relationsh*t, Kirko Bangz’s Procrastination Kills 3, Just Brittany’s More Than Just a Pretty Face, whatever Tawn P is working on, and so on. Also on that list is Yung Quis’…
In Defense of Bread
Food critic Jeffrey Steingarten proposed that the world could be divided into two types of people: those who can enjoyably live on bread alone, and those who need all the other food groups for gastronomic pleasure. I am of the former group, but with one condition: The bread must have…
Weasley Brothers Coming to Houston: Ummm, Yay?
Comicpalooza has announced a new bunch of guests for its Memorial Day Weekend event, and the biggest news is that they include some Harry Potter stars!! Well, co-stars. Actually, let’s just say they’re characters. But they do show up in every film!! The Weasley Brothers are coming to town!! It’s…
Movin’ Out: Songs That Will Scare Off Bad Roommates
Often times in our young adult lives, we come across a roommate who initially seems like a good match. They’re capable of paying their rent on time and seem nice enough, so the possibility of your living arrangements blossoming into a sitcom looks fair. Then in a month’s time, the…
War of the Worlds Is a Zany, Sci-Fi Musical Romp
The Setup: The Martians have landed–on the Frenetic Theater stage! The Execution: This is an ambitious, at times sparse, true re-imagining of the 1978 concept album Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. FrentiCore’s production is nothing short of zany. Best described as a dance-centric rock opera…
Is All Hospital Food Bad?
That’s the question posed by a Tumblr page called merely “Hospital Food,” where patients are invited to submit photos of their hospital meals from across the world. Anecdotes of poor hospital meals here in Houston are endless, despite the presence of the world’s largest medical center, oh, right down Main…
We Are Your Astros: The 25 Rejected Slogans
For Sale! Cheap!The Astros’ slogan for this year is “We Are Your Astros.” Seeing this slogan is enough to make one think that Drayton McLane’s wasting way too much money on advertising agencies. My second thought was that the guys at the Astros County blog had a much better slogan,…
JFK in Houston in His Last Hours: New Film
The Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas has released new silent home-movie footage of JFK’s Houston visit to a LULAC chapter in the Rice Hotel the night before he was murdered. Roy Botello, a LULAC official, shot the film. It shows Kennedy with his professional smile on, greeting visitors in a…
Are Rappers Releasing Too Much Music?
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. Something you always wanted to…
Gerry Todd Greenwood: Drunk at Meeting with Probation Officer
Who knows why 34-year-old Gerry Todd Greenwood allegedly deemed it a good idea to get plastered last Friday morning? Maybe it was the spring air we’ve been enjoying. Maybe Thursday night never ended for the Jasper man. Or perhaps he just woke up that morning and fell victim to the…
Ingredient of the Week: Thai Eggplant
What is it? As you can see, they look like babies of the large, purple eggplants we’re used to seeing in the grocery store. They’re denser and firmer in texture than their larger, Western counterparts. The difference in texture and flavor led me to believe that these tiny eggplants were…
Upcoming: Das Racist, Echo & The Bunnymen, Surfer Blood, Etc.
Arcade Fire, Explosions In The Sky: Wed., May 4. Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. Bob Schneider: Thu., April 7. McGonigel’s Mucky Duck. Cory Morrow: Sat., April 23. The Firehouse Saloon. Das Racist, Fat Tony, Muhammadali, Simple Success, DJ iPod Ammo: Tue, March 22, Fitzgerald’s. David Choi: Wed., March 30. House of…
New On DVD: Due Date, Fish Tank, Get Low
(Capsule reviews by Karina Longworth, Ella Taylor and Chuck Wilson.) Due Date In Due Date, a skinny, scowly, and dryly self-referential Robert Downey Jr. meets a chubby, beardy, quasi-autistic Zach Galifianakis boarding a flight. Downey Jr. plays Peter, a Bluetoothed architect with a very pregnant wife waiting at home for…
On the Menu: An Eastern Cup of Drop
The egg drop soup that is served at many Chinese restaurants usually runs third in popularity amongst customers. I’m not the biggest fan of hot and sour soup, so my decision usually boils down to wonton or the drop. For health reasons, I usually go with the wonton. I love…
Comment of the Day: Hasselhoff Was a Jerk in Lake Jackson
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula…
Like the Obamas Wanted to Go to Your Stupid Royal Wedding Anyway
Despite having cast off the shackles of the British monarchy over 230 years ago, our great nation has yet to free itself of the embarrassingly colonial obsession with all matters concerning the Royal Family. A cursory scan of Google News yesterday showed the only story with more articles than Prince…
Why President Obama Isn’t Too Heartbroken About Not Getting That Royal Wedding Invite
Despite having cast off the shackles of the British monarchy over 230 years ago, our great nation has yet to free itself of the embarrassingly colonial obsession with all matter concerning the Royal Family. A cursory scan of Google News yesterday showed the only story with more articles than Prince…
A Birthday Trifecta For Lovers Of Oddball Music
Today is George Washington’s birthday, so there’s that. However, February 22 is also the birthday of some truly bizarre figures in American history, and those figures have been the inspiration to a great many musicians. For instance, if he were still alive, Dwight Frye would be 112 years old…
Houston Rodeo: Now There’s an App for That
Last week members of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s marketing and public relations team held a press conference to present some of the rodeo’s new-for-2011 offerings, chief among them a feature-rich smartphone app meant to improve all aspects of the rodeo experience, from parking to buying tickets for concerts…
Where Are We Drinking?
As we mentioned yesterday, it’s National Margarita Day! We’re celebrating with a margarita of our own — but can you figure out where it’s from? Leave your best guess in the comments section below…
Houston: Worst Speed-Trap City in America?
A new compilation of online complaints seems to show that Houston, believe it or not, is either a) the worst American city for speed traps, or b) home to the drivers who complain most about speed traps. CNBC looked at all the reader-submitted listings at speedtrap.org and declared Houston the…
Comment of the Day
Today Eating Our Words Nation got riled up about a post by Joanna O’Leary about sugar cookies from Randall’s. Some readers scorned us, but RobertO backed us up: I don’t see where this blog suggests that it’s here to review only the “new and exciting” or target the elitist foodie…
Robert Raymond Jones Goes All Smokey and the Bandit in East Texas
Robert Raymond Jones of Houston, you know how to cause a stir. You get into a hit-and-run accident early Sunday morning, and apparently you take the “run” part of that very, very seriously. Soon cops from several jurisdictions are trailing you. It is because of you, sir, that a journalist…
Top 10 Musical U.S. Presidents
“The future of our nation depends on providing our children with a complete education that includes music.” – Gerald Ford Today is President’s Day, and if you’ll think back to high-school U.S. History, you’ll remember that potential Commanders In Chief must be at least 35 years of age, natural-born American…
Houston’s Top 11 Margaritas for National Margarita Day
Tomorrow is National Margarita Day. (Yes, much like International Hot & Spicy Food Day, it’s a thing.) And although it’ll be cloudy most of the day tomorrow, the sun should come out right around happy hour time, and with temperatures in the high 60s that means one thing: patio weather…
Sandra Organ Company Delivers Vibrant Black History Program
Earthen Vessels, the Sandra Organ Dance Company is currently showcasing Luck of the Draw, the 13th annual Black History Month Dance Concert, an evening of contemporary dance by choreographer Sandra Organ Solis. Of the nine dances featured, Delight Songs was the winner — the choreography was concise, and the performance lighthearted. Trios,…
Glenn Beck Bringing the Circus, Pain to Town March 25
On the night of March 25, Houston now has three choices. Do you go see Devo, the pioneering punk and New Wave group at Warehouse Live, or legendary folk offspring Arlo Guthrie at the House Of Blues, or spend an evening with powerhouse conservative talker Glenn Beck? Decisions, decisions. Do…
2011 NBA Slam Dunk Contest Video Recap
Travel day today back from Phoenix, so I’m submitting the ultimate Cliffs Notes version of dominant performances during the NBA All Star weekend. (I’ll be back at full blog strength tomorrow.) Here goes: – Justin Bieber was named most valuable player of the celebrity game on the strength of a…
Party of One
In a few weeks, I’m going to Spain by my lonesome. I’ve traveled solo before in Northern Ireland and India, but it’s been a few years since I’ve spent a substantial amount of time touring, reading, and eating alone. In light of my upcoming trip, I’ve started thinking about dining…
Slideshow: Underworld’s 12th Annual Gothic Beauty Pageant at Numbers
The crowd at Underworld’s 12th annual Gothic Beauty Pageant on Saturday was a sea of powder-white faces, black lace, and combat boots. Creatures of the night descended on Numbers outfitted in their eerie best in hopes of being crowned Houston’s new king or queen of Goth (or at least black…
Fred Eaglesmith Is Back, Existential As Ever
“My life is about not being accepted. That really is where it started and where it ended.” – Fred Eaglesmith in the documentary There Ain’t No Easy Road Always at the forefront of indie music options and operations, Fred Eaglesmith has been doing his own thing so long he’s got…
Musical Theater Dinosaurs Make Up TUTS’ 2011-2012 Season
Today, Theatre Under the Stars announced its 2011-2012 season, and what a time warp. The selections are five musical theater warhorses plus one new movie-to-stage adaptation. TUTS big and boring new season features: Guys & Dolls, Annie, White Christmas, La Cage Aux Folles and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas,…
Unidentified Male, Bayou Body Count No. 21
A strange set of circumstances left an unidentified male dead from a shooting on the northeast side early Sunday morning. Houston police say the victim, whose name was not released, was traveling southbound in the northboud lanes of Homestead about 3:30 a.m. when, perhaps not surprisingly, he got into an…
Pho at Cafe Basil in the Tunnels
One of the biggest problems with tunnel eating is the shocking lack of variety – it’s dominated by pizza, burgers, sandwiches, plate lunches. That’s why we tunnel diners can tend to be a bit more forgiving whenever someone offers a novel food. It might not be the best-in-class version of…
Saturday Night: Los Amigos Invisibles & Trombone Shorty At House Of Blues
Los Amigos Invisibles, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue House of Blues February 19, 2011 When Aftermath first learned that Los Amigos Invisibles and Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews would be playing the same concert, we were a little confused. We had no idea what would result from a mesh of Latino…
Beef Bourguignon Crepes
For my birthday my college boyfriend took me to adorable French restaurant Beau Monde in Philadelphia, where I had the best crepes I’ve ever tasted. Ever since then I have been dreaming about that savory, buckwheat crepe filled with the most wonderful beef bourguignon. Then recently, while I was watching…
Breastfeeding: Aggie Professor Joan Wolf Questions the Battle Against the Bottle
Ever since First Lady Michelle Obama talked about removing barriers for breastfeeding mothers last week, we’ve been thinking more than usual about boobs. Maybe that’s why we were interested to read about a Texas A&M researcher’s new book, Is Breast Best?, which questions the methods of studies suggesting that boob-food…
The Week In TV: The Brits Keep Coming
• The recent run of American remakes of British shows isn’t stopping any time soon: in the wake of SyFy’s Being Human, Showtime’s Shameless, and MTV’s Skins, NBC is moving forward with a remake of Prime Suspect. The original Prime Suspect starred Helen Mirren as Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tennison,…
The 2011 Best Bites and Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo
The 2011 Rodeo season has officially kicked off — at least as far as food and wine lovers are concerned — with the announcement of this year’s top winners of the annual International Wine Competition. Last night at the Best Bites and Rodeo Uncorked! Roundup, the winners were announced in…
Omar Ventura, 29, Bayou Body Count No. 20
An off-duty cop leaving a bar shot to death a man involved in a scuffle and wounded another, Houston police say. Jose Coronado, who has been with HPD for almost five years, was leaving Sherlock’s Pub in the 1900 block of West Gray about 2:20 a.m. Saturday, police say; he…
The Most Iconic Body Parts of the 1990s
The other night while eating stale Christmas candy and watching a rerun of Friends on my bed, I realized that for the better part of the ’90s I was obsessed with Jennifer Aniston’s nipples on the long-running hit NBC comedy. They sustained me, maybe even gave me reason to live…
Allegedly Sad Justin Bieber Allegedly Feels Your Pain
It’s been about a week since Justin Bieber’s infamous Rolling Stone interview was unveiled to the public, showing the teen idol to be a very clueless 16-year-old with extremely vague, simplistic ideas about an array of social issues such as war, health care, teen sex, rape and abortion. What stuck…
Norma Jean Clark: Investigators Say Bloodied Shirt Solves Murder
Norma Jean Clark’s bloodied shirt may have implicated her in her husband’s murder.Investigators say they’ve solved a cold-case murder that’s been frozen solid for the last 23 years, and a bloody shirt was the key piece of evidence. In 1987, when Edmund High Clark was found shot dead in his…
What a Crock: Hash Brown Casserole
I love hash browns, but they never turn out quite the way I like them. When I stumbled upon this crock pot hash brown recipe, I just had to give it a whirl. All slow cooker recipes are easy, but would this one create that perfect crispy crust I so…
Design Fans Rewarded at 4411 Montrose Openings
Friday night at 4411 Montose, three galleries held opening receptions for their new shows. Tom Berg’s paintings at Wade Wilson Art displayed maturity and confidence in his subjects–objects like chairs, straw brooms and wooden clothes hangers are rendered most successfully as sober still-lifes, while a painting of a car on…
David Hasselhoff Was in Lake Jackson. And Lake Jackson Apparently Survived
Due to what sounds like the most original, thought-provoking, incisive reality TV show of all time — D-list celebs trading places with normal people who have the same name (pause to let the genius of it sink in) — David Hasselhoff apparently spent some time recently in Lake Jackson. Lake…
Wine(s) of the Week: Duel Napa Valley Chardonnay
I had a couple bottles of Chardonnay sent to me from different wineries, and noticed they were both within a year’s vintage of one another, in the same price range, and both from the Napa Valley. So, why not do a Wine of the Week, “Food Fight” style? It was…
If Executed, What Are Your Last Words And Last Meal?
Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday, Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. This Week’s Panel: Bun B, Yung Redd, D-Risha, hasHBrown, Kyle Hubbard, Z-Ro, Kiotti Not Invited: Warden Samuel Norton (Shawshank Redemption, suckas) This Week’s Prompt: Let’s say…
Cougars and Owls: Hey, What Do You Know? At Least Some Houston Teams Can Win Baseball Games
John RoyalHouston’s Caleb Ramsey knocks a first-inning two-run triple on Friday nightThe expectations for the Houston Cougars baseball team are almost nonexistent. Hustle. Stay competitive. Aim toward being better next season. The expectations for the Rice Owls are high. Win Conference USA yet again. Get to Omaha and win the…
Foggy Freaking Weekend in Galveston
You might have read that cruise ships were having trouble getting into and out of Galveston over the weekend. You probably didn’t care much, unless you were one of the passengers. We can just add that we spent the weekend in Galveston, and it was Freaking Foggy. Almost all weekend…
Waddieonne Griffin, 16, Bayou Body Count No. 19
A 16-year-old boy says he accidentally shot and killed his girlfriend, Houston police say, and he faces negligent homicide charges. The victim, Waddieonne Griffin, 16, was standing with the boy — unidentified because he is a minor — outside his residence in the 4900 block of Alvin shortly before 1…
Saturday Night: Robyn At Warehouse Live
Robyn Warehouse Live February 19, 2011 Say konichiwa to Robyn in our slideshow. While most of Houston was knockin’ back their first few happy-hour beers Saturday night, Robyn was likely in the Warehouse Live green room, lacing up her 10″ platform construction boots, pulling on body-hugging leggings, and primping her…
Giant Frosted Cookies at Randall’s
You know those delightful artisanal sugar cookies vended by the likes of Paulie’s and other fine bakeries? The ones that come in a variety of whimsical shapes and are covered in a very thin layer pastel-covered frosting? Randall’s frosted sugar cookies are nothing like them. But they are still pretty…
Friday Night: The Pretty Reckless At House Of Blues
The Pretty Reckless House of Blues Bronze Peacock Room February 18, 2011 Satisfy your craving for more Momsen by checking out our slideshow. The strangest thing about seeing The Pretty Reckless Friday night wasn’t the fact that the show ended by 10 p.m., contained just 11 songs, or even that…
Balcones Rumble
A few weeks ago, I found myself downtown at Spec’s in search of a birthday present for my dad. He’s fond of drinking Early Times whiskey (“It’s good enough for Walker Percy”), so I thought this might be a good opportunity to get him something a bit nicer for his…
Comment of the Day: My Boobs Shall Not Be Denied
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula…
Billy Elliot‘s Boy Actors on Taking Turns and Flying
The 13-year-old speaks five languages, comes from Switzerland and wants to shoot a gun for the first time when he comes to Texas. The 14-year-old comes from New South Wales, and is looking forward to Houston because it’s warmer (“like Australia”) and because he wants to check out NASA. Together…
President’s Day List: Five Biographies You Need to Read
President’s Day is a time to reflect on the people who’ve lived in the White House, and how best to learn more about them. Presidential biographies have always been a huge industry, with a staggering amount of trees felled for books both incredibly dense and analytical and books with whatever…
Houston Filmmakers Aiding Rolling Stone Cover Hopeful
Last year, Rocks Off was wowed by the talents of Charles Goubeaud of Metal Hands Media in his work for the music video for The Ride Home’s “Girls.” The video was an incredible piece of work, and featured scenes in the Kirby House of Pies for those of you who…
Owls De-Claw the Tigers, Get First-Ever Win Over Memphis
John RoyalConnor Frizzelle drives the baseline in the first halfThe Memphis Tigers were the number one team in Conference USA Saturday afternoon. In a conference guaranteed only one team in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, the Tigers were primed to be that team. They just forgot one thing. They had…
Where Are We Eating?
This downtown dining spot is always a good choice for those seeking solace from louder places or those just in search of a creative, delicious meal. That’s probably more than you’ll need to guess where we’re eating this week, though, so I’ll leave it at that. As for you, leave…
President’s Day Quiz: Ten Not-So-Memorable Quotes
“Ask not,” ‘fear itself,” “tear down this wall” — we all know these famous Presidential quotes. But on this President’s Day, it’s time to examine some of the more obscure quotes from chief executives throughout the years. Fortunately, several modern presidents chose to tape their Oval Office conversations, so there’s…
Arcade Fire Headed To Houston May 4 For Pavilion Date
Arcade Fire is finally heading to Houston on May 4 for a date up at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, in the Woodlands. Last Sunday the band played upsetters at the Grammys winning the award for Album Of The Year for their album The Suburbs which was based on frontman Win…
Last Night: Grace Potter & The Nocturnals At House Of Blues
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights House of Blues February 17, 2011 For more totally tasteful pictures from Thursday, see our slideshow here. Ooh la la. Aftermath is going to be real up front here. We did not know a whole lot about Grace Potter…
Ten Meaningfully Awesome NBA Dunk Contest Dunks (with VIDEO!)
As All Star Games go, in terms of meaning, effort, enthusiasm, pomp and circumstance, the NBA All Star weekend is in the meaty part of the curve. Football’s Pro Bowl becomes a bigger and bigger joke every year (highlighted by fanboy journalist Jay Glazer of Fox actually calling a play…
Comment of the Day
Katharine Shilcutt had a wonderful meal at the just-opened Philippe, and commenter blackjackdavid shared his own experience: I had Fred as my waiter there a week or so ago and agree that he is most excellent. Let’s hear it for Fred! Nice wine list and attractively priced as you mention…
Absurd “Propositions” at McClain Gallery
Christian Eckart is an artist who walks the line between painting and sculpture, creating three-dimensional wall-mounted works that read like paintings. He’s got some interesting pieces on view in his solo show “The Absurd Vehicle & Other Propositions” at McClain Gallery. In some, sheets of aluminum appear to have been…
Parker Announces New HPD Oversight Reforms That Will Be Very, Very Different from Countless Past HPD Oversight Reforms
HPD: This time they’ll get it right. Right?There’s nothing like a bunch of grown men getting caught on tape stomping the hell out of a defenseless teenager to get the ol’ government gears grindin’. Responding to the political shitstorm stirred up by the Chad Holley video, Mayor Annise Parker this…
This Week in Deliciousness
Welcome back to the weekly roundup here at Eating Our Words, where we’re down to only the one or two mystery pieces filled with truly nasty gunk in our traditional assortment of Valentine’s Day chocolates. We started the week off with a look at the new dessert menu at Perry’s,…
MCM: More Local Music News Than Downtown Street Repairs
Rocks Off mines away all week at this mysterious mountain of Internet just to find all the precious local music news we can. This week’s honorary soundtrack comes courtesy of HasHBrown, who dropped his Relationsh*t EP on Valentine’s Day. MCM is sad to say goodbye to Weird Party and, belatedly,…
Christopher Harding Allegedly Punches and Chokes His Disabled Mom, Rips Out Her Dentures
A good set of fake chompers will set you back about a grand, so if you have your eye on a fly pair, be prepared to pay. It’s all part of the code of conduct every denture-wearer should adhere to before adhering a set. For instance, don’t get them by…
Another Weekend of Traffic Hell on North Loop
Sure, last weekend was a lot of fun on the north side of town with the Loop closed in both directions. If you were hoping for a reprise, you’ll be sadly disappointed — only eastbound lanes will be closed this weekend. Still, it should make for some great sittin’-in-traffic fun!…
Bartender Chat: Bryan Jackson of Moon Tower Inn
We’re chatting with Bryan Jackson as he hands out plastic cups full of craft beer and takes orders for gourmet sausages from within his dimly lit, crimson-hued shack at Moon Tower Inn. “I’ve known Brandon Young [one of the owners] for a while, probably seven years,” he says. “We grew…
Art Guys Issue “Final” Statement Regarding Morgan Spurlock/SUITS Controversy
Today, The Art Guys (Jack Massing and Michael Galbreth) issued what they say is “our final statement” regarding their recent accusation against filmmaker Morgan Spurlock–that the Super Size Me! director plagiarized the Art Guys’ late-1990s SUITS project in his most recent film The Greatest Movie Ever Sold. Spurlock called the…
Arnold Viramontes, HISD’s Splashy New Hire, Violated Nepotism Rules
The Houston school district announced today it is hiring the Dallas ISD’s chief of staff, Arnold Viramontes, to oversee its technology operations. Our sister blog Unfair Park has a post up analyzing why this is big news for DISD — Viramontes has been the superintendent’s right-hand man — and it…
Weird Party Break Up, Leave Free Album Behind
UPDATE: Link is fixed. Download away. One of 2010’s local breakout bands, Weird Party, broke up just after their New Year’s Eve performance at Fitzgerald’s, unbeknownst to most people. It was either seen as a rumor or a joke around town, according to a source. But Wednesday, Rocks Off we…
Openings & Closings
Continuing last week’s busy schedule, there’s a flotilla of new restaurants on the horizon in Houston. Although it’s Lower Westheimer that’s been getting a lot of buzz lately (with another new restaurant, Mexico’s Deli, recently announced), downtown’s getting an influx of new restaurants as well, starting with Market Square. As…
Christopher Purser: Indicted for Huge Fake-Insurance Scheme
A Houston man is one of six people indicted for selling bogus insurance policies, including one to a tour boat that sunk and killed 20 people in a New York lake in 2005. Christopher Purser, 49, was one of the people who sold an insurance policy to the operators of…
Morris Edwin Burnett: Reckless, Boozy Jerk Threatens Mom, Son He Almost Ran Over with Bronco
Nueces County SOMorris Burnett: The goatee is the new mulletAll along the Texas coast, the weather has been glorious, and Wednesday morning in Corpus, a 63-year-old mom and her 40-year-old son decided to take advantage by taking their dog for a walk on an isolated road near the beach. According…
Top Five Worst Rapper-Athlete Collaborations
Ever since Shaq flung the doors wide for athletes to satisfy their microphone dreams, many have tried to follow in his steps. The athlete-rapper experiment usually works, as long as the athlete leaves all the rapping to the rapper. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case with these five songs. In honor…
Crowd, Critics Weigh In on Anna Nicole Smith Opera
The critics have responded to London’s Royal Opera House production of Anna Nicole, the much anticipated new opera by composer Mark-Anthony Turnage and librettist Richard Thomas (Jerry Springer: The Opera), and the results are mixed as expected. Audience reaction, on the other hand, was overwhelmingly positive, with the New York…
Proposed Beer Legislation Seeks To Loosen the Reins on Texas Brewers
Hey, I love Texas as much as the next girl, but when it comes to laws the Lone Star State has a reputation for being a bit outdated. And when it comes to alcohol laws, we’re downright hard-core. The regulations are particularly restrictive when it comes to beer. If you…
Gregory Longoria Jr.: Allegedly One Sick, Sadistic Mother-Effer
If the allegations contained in court papers are true, then Gregory Longoria Jr. is a very sick dude. Documents show he’s been accused of sexually abusing his estranged wife by — and this is only part of what he’s alleged to have done — using hairspray and a cigarette lighter…
Radiohead’s King Of Limbs Unfocused, Fleeting
This morning, Rocks Off unwrapped Radiohead’s newest release, The King of Limbs, an album whose existence was just announced this past Monday. In the old-school music industry, a record would be announced and you would suffer through months of interviews, video premieres, and reading reviews in Rolling Stone or SPIN…
Dale Earnhardt Died Ten Years Ago Today: Five Highlights from “The Dale Trail” in His Hometown
Ten years ago today the NASCAR world was rocked to its core by the death of Dale Earnhardt. He drove cars, we’re told, and did it very fast. If you see a vanity license plate from a Southern state with a “3” on it, the driver is an Earnhardt fan…
On the Menu: The Big O at Lyndon’s
Onion rings–loved by many, hated by few. At festivals, as appetizers, on burgers, battered in beer, with ketchup–you name it, the onion ring has done and seen it all. I fall into that group that just loves every version. I don’t discriminate. I’ll happily devour them, as long as it’s…
Modernism’s Gateway Drug
It might seem a paradox that some of the boldest, most ambitious architects often turn their attention to designing furniture and other small objects. Why did the likes of Mies van der Rohe, Eero Saarinen, Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Eamses, create furniture for the buildings they designed, or even…
Last Night: Boz Scaggs At Stafford Centre
Boz Scaggs Stafford Centre February 17, 2011 While mellow modern jazz players have hijacked and ruined the word “smooth” as a synonym for blandness, Thursday night Boz Scaggs helped reclaim the adjective as a positive attribute in a powerful show laden with most of his best-known numbers. “Cool” would definitely…
Aeros Hockey and the Sounds of Silence
John RoyalWhat if they played a hockey game and nobody came?What if they played a hockey game and there were no fans? What if the players came out with no energy, got off to a slow start and never got started? What if what was just last week the hottest…
First Look at Philippe
Everything had been going swimmingly at Philippe (1800 Post Oak, 713-439-1000) on Wednesday night when, after the last of our entree dishes had been cleared away, I sensed a subtle shift in the service. Something was amiss. Up until that point, the service and the food had both been exceptional…
Idol Beat: I Am The Smartest Man Alive
Sure, I admit it: I felt like an idiot calling my shot yesterday and putting all my money on Ashley Sullivan, only to watch her melt down during the final Hollywood round. What a fool I was, I thought, there’s no way the judges will pass her after that utter…
Reimagining the Classical
Is Western Classical music dead? If yes, when did it die? Was there a funeral? Writer Joseph Horowitz describes in his book Classical Music in America: A History of Its Rise and Fall a “culture of performance” that began in the early part of the 20th century, possibly as the…
Unidentified Male, 28, Bayou Body Count No. 18
A man was found stabbed to death in an Ella Boulevard apartment this morning, and reports indicate a) the woman he was living with said she had done it, and b) she then left the body in the apartment for days. Police were called to an apartment in the 2100…
Miguel Cabrera’s DUI Handbook
One of the businesses I speak for on my radio show is longtime Texas DWI defense attorney Gary Trichter. Among the talking points that I continually hammer home for listeners is the fact that Gary Trichter co-authored the textbook for DWI defense in the state of Texas. So yes, there…
Shiftwork Bites: Paneer Makhani
A few weeks ago over at Shiftwork Bites, I wrote about making molé for International Hot and Spicy Foods Day. I had asked various friends and acquaintances for piquant suggestions, and then promptly ignored all of them and made something else, instead. In a gesture of goodwill, and because they…
Last Night: Broken Social Scene At Warehouse Live
Broken Social Scene, Zeus Warehouse Live February 17, 2011 Broken Social Scene’s music is both simple and catchy and speckled with intricacies. It manages to be indie enough for even the hippest of hipsters to enjoy – at least we assume so; we haven’t checked Pitchfork – and melodic enough…
Idol Beat: The Big Cut-Down
Oh, I admit, I felt like an idiot calling my shot yesterday and putting all my money on Ashley Sullivan, only to watch her melt down during the final Hollywood round. What a fool I was, I thought, there’s no way the judges will pass her after that utter mental…
Chef Chat, Part 3: Candace Nelson of Sprinkles Cupcakes
This week we had a chat with Candace Nelson of “Sprinkles” Cupcake emporium, located in Highland Village (see first two installments here and here). I brought some sample cupcakes home, invited over some friends and popped open some dry champagne. We all ate until we were in blissful sugar comas…
Last Night: Tapes ‘n Tapes At Fitzgerald’s
Tapes ‘n Tapes Fitzgerald’s February 17, 2011 Thursday night, music fans of Houston faced a tough decision: We had to decide between shows by two stellar bands that infiltrated our fare city on the very same night. While we headed to Fitzgerald’s to see Minneapolis indie-rockers Tapes ‘n Tapes, Canadian…
Comment of the Day: Justin Bieber, Political Sage
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula…
Community: Too Far to Turn Back?
The A.V. Club’s Todd VanDerWerff recently expounded on the differences between Community and Glee, astutely observing that the main difference between the two is that Glee’s “base reality stays consistent, but it often makes details unrealistic” to suit plot needs, whereas Community “will freely change its base reality almost completely…
(Update) Father of Piano Quintet The 5 Browns Charged With Sexual Abuse of Daughters
Update: Keith Brown pleaded guilty yesterday to one count of first-degree felony sodomy and two counts of second-degree felony sexual abuse says a report from the Salt Lake Tribune. According to Brown’s lawyer, he first confessed to a religious leader from his Mormon church before going to the authorities. We…
30 Seconds With Gen, Genitorturers’ No. 1 AC/DC Fan
Rocks Off has been a big fan of the Genitorturers ever since we saw a bumper sticker that read, “My honor student got sodomized at the Genitorturers show!” We sat down with Gen, the lead singer of the long-running industrial band to see what we could learn about her in…
Odd Pair: Fried Chicken, Buttermilk Waffles, and Pinot Blanc
Yes, I admit that this is more of an “odd trio” than “odd pair,” but technically speaking, chicken and waffles is a singular dish and therefore qualifies in my opinion. The easy pairing would be a dry bubbly Mimosa, which would work well with the fried chicken and waffles, but…
February 12-18: The Week in Photos
Each week, we take a dip into the Houston Press Flickr pool and see what our talented photographers have been up to. Spring is in the air, and our Flickr pool is filling up with photos of blooms and outdoor delights. If you’ve got Houston-related photos, be they landscapes, events…
Norma Jean Clark: Sheriff’s Deputies Arrest Her for Murdering Her Husband 23 Years Ago
Franklin County SONorma Jean Clark, accused of murdering her husband in 1987Back in April 1987, when Edmund High Clark was found dead in his bedroom from a shot to the head and one in the back, his wife Norma Jean said she’d been sleeping in another room and was awakened…
Upcoming Events
As mentioned earlier this week, StarChefs.com has recognized Houston’s “Rising Star Chefs” for the first time ever and is holding a gala on March 17 to honor the chefs it’s feted with awards. The ceremony and dinner will take place at the Four Seasons (1300 Lamar, 713-276-4700) from 7 to…
Charlie Sheen Has a Facebook Page!
Everyone has a Facebook page these days. It is surprising to find out someone doesn’t have one, in fact, except for celebrities. They have a unique set of circumstances. Often, they will have a fan page, but having an actual personal page just for themselves and their friends can be…
Houston Just Shy of 2.1 Million; Parker Will Still Push for Two More Council Seats
Houston, if you only had more unprotected sex, you might be guaranteed two more city council members. The city charter requires that two more single member districts be created when the city’s population hits 2.1 million. The figures are in, and the 2010 Census pegs us at…2,099,451. Short by 549…
Comment of the Day
Today Katharine Shilcutt asked the editor of Food & Wine magazine why there wasn’t one Houston chef on the magazine’s list for The People’s Best New Chef 2011. Which got commenter CL91 pondering the ways our city regularly gets passed over: I had this exact same thought reading Saveur’s “100”…
Terry Grier Girds His Loins And Wants You to Do the Same
Declaring “we can’t afford to press the pause button on our children’s education,” Houston ISD Superintendent Terry Grier vowed to continue doing the things he believes have to be done, even if the Texas economy is in the crapper. In a State of the Schools luncheon speech that started about…
Home Cooking with Amy Sedaris
It’s late in the afternoon and it’s almost Friday. You deserve a break. Take one while watching Jerri Blank humorist Amy Sedaris shove hot dogs onto a rake. Sedaris is known for her acting roles in television shows like Strangers with Candy as much as she’s known for being author…
We Announce the Winner in Our Crazy-Roommate-Stories Contest (First Place)
Earlier this month, we asked readers to submit their craziest roommate stories for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, along with official promotional items for the film The Roommate, which is currently in theaters. This week we announced the third and second-place winners. Today we bring you…
U.S. Attorney Charges Ten with Sex-Trafficking at Local Bars
U.S Attorney José Angel Moreno announced today an indictment against ten defendants allegedly involved in a human trafficking ring at a local nightclub and restaurant. The defendants, who include the owners and several employees of La Costeñita and El Club Restaurante, allegedly helped keep captive at least nine Mexican women…
Yoko Ono: Five Reasons She Still Matters
Friday, Yoko Ono Lennon, widow of John Lennon, turns 78 years old. She’s still as vibrant and prolific as ever, staying in the spotlight, not only as the keeper of Lennon’s flame but also as an influential artist and public figure. Here is where Beatles fans will scoff and say…
Sonogram Bill: God & Dan Patrick Get It Passed
Saying it was “God’s time” to get the bill passed, State Senator Dan Patrick succeeded today in getting approval for Texas women to be forced to view a sonogram, and to hear whether the fetus has arms or legs, two hours before getting an abortion. During the debate a baby…
Art for the Cash Poor: Collecting on the Cheap
The new tongue-in-cheek DIY book by Amy Sedaris (sister of David), Simple Things: Crafts for Poor People, inspired this blog–only we (naturally) crammed her ideas, which include assembling cutesy candles, ugly earrings and “crap caddies” from household materials into a decidedly more profitable vein, because really, who has time to…
Bike Houston Tries to Rev Itself Up
Just like Uncle Sam, BikeHouston wants you. The nonprofit bicycle advocacy group’s membership numbers have dwindled so low that they’re offering one-year memberships for $5, and are kicking off the discount program tonight from 6-9 p.m. with a happy hour at Firkin & Phoenix, 1915 Westheimer Rd. A percentage of…
James Beard Foundation Recognizes Houston Chefs; Food & Wine Does Too, In Its Own Way
It’s been a week of ups and downs for Houston chefs on the national radar. StarChefs.com made a long overdue trip to Houston to recognize a hefty handful of “Rising Stars” chefs, and Eater — which has mostly ignored Texas save for Austin — released a very slick “Heat Map”…
Engineer Blasts Poor Sound Quality At Local Shows
Times are tough, and the current economic state of our nation – never mind the million different ways to illegally download for free – has not been kind to the music industry. Ace Enders told Alternative Press that he would probably no longer tour due to monetary limitations (though, after…
DPS Says It’s ID’d “Persons of Interest” in Governor’s Mansion Arson
The seemingly unbreakable case of the 2008 arson at the Governor’s Mansion may be a step closer to being solved. Or maybe not. DPS has just announced they have “a person of interest” in the case and are offering a $50,000 reward for him. Also, they’re blaming GOP-hating anarchists. The…
Brew Blog: Flying Dog Brewery’s Raging Bitch Belgian Style IPA
I was first introduced to Flying Dog Brewery’s Raging Bitch Belgian Style IPA at Petrol Station. The bartender had been talking up a bunch of double IPAs, but changed gears slightly when I mentioned that I’m not the biggest hop-hound in the world. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate a…
Tommy Joe Kelley: Slasher Nabbed, and, Um, Tired Austinites Breathe Sigh of Relief
Travis County SOTommy Joe Kelley, the slasherTommy Joe Kelley’s reign of terror appears to be at an end. The 56-year-old drifter was quietly nabbed by Austin cops last month on a trespassing charge and booked into Travis County Jail under what police say is one of his 44 aliases. Earlier…
Census: Texas Is a Whole Lot More Hispanic
The AP has gotten a preview of the census data to be released later today about Texas, and it shows what most everyone knows: The state has gotten more Hispanic. Data shows 38 percent of the 25.1 million people residing in Texas are Hispanic, 45 percent are Anglo and 11.5…
Five Intriguing Foods I’m Too Scared To Try
I try to be a fearless eater. But though I’m generally not intimidated by strange sauces and mysterious meats, there are some foods and drinks that I want to try (sort of) but won’t, for a variety of (wussy) reasons. Here are five: 5. Prune Juice. I really like the…
Remember O.N.E.’s Last O.N.E. Standing?
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. O.N.E. Last O.N.E. Standing (Self-released, 2010) O.N.E. is a bit of a paradox. When placed back to back with…
The Cutters Slice Off Mink Show Before Japanese Tour
The Cutters have a lot on their plates this month. Rocks Off had the pleasure of spending last Thursday night with four-fifths of the group while they practiced for their tonight’s show at the Mink, an upcoming weeklong tour in Japan, and CD release, all to be completed by the…
Justin Michael Lee: Texas Revokes His Pediatric-Anesthesiology License Over Child-Porn Ring
Justin Michael Lee’s license revokedThe Texas Medical Board has revoked the license of a pediatric anesthesiologist who pleaded guilty to involvement in an online child porn file-sharing site. Justin Michael Lee, who had been practicing most recently in Phoenix, pleaded guilty to “transporting child pornography” in 2010, after federal and international investigators shut down…
Happy Hour Scene: Oishii
The Place: Oishii Japanese Sushi Bar 3764 Richmond 713-621-8628 http://www.oishiihouston.com/ The Hours: 3 to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 3 to 6 p.m. Saturdays The Deals: $1.25 domestics, $1.75 Japanese imports, $3 large hot sake, $4 house wine, 2 for $4 appetizers The Scene:Will Smith almost tainted my first unattached…
Alley Theatre to Receive Texas Medal of Arts
At a ceremony on March 1 at Austin’s Long Center for the Performing Arts, Governor Rick Perry will present Texas Medal of Arts Awards to 12 outstanding individuals, businesses and organizations in recognition of creative excellence in the arts. This year, Houston is represented by two recipients: The Alley Theatre…
Harris County DA’s Office, or Amway Sales Contest HQ?
A no-doubt-disgruntled source has sent an internal memo from the DA’s office to Mark Bennett, who writes the popular Defending People blog. The memo is to newbie prosecutors and offers a variety of games to encourage them to go to trial in cases. Examples: The first prosecutor to try ten…
Breakfast in the Park at Niko Niko’s Market Square
In an ideal world, the breakfast pitas that Niko Niko’s (301 Milam, 713-224-4976) serves would become as omnipresent as breakfast tacos — Mexican and Greek breakfast wraps taking over Houston one pita and one tortilla at a time. Until that happens, though, I encourage you to do your part in…
ZZ Top To Receive Texas Medal Of Arts
While they take their sweet time getting around to record that long-anticipated, Rick Rubin-produced next album – which, at this point, could well come out a solid decade after their last, 2003’s Mescalero – ZZ Top has been announced as one of the recipients of the 2011 Texas Medal of…
James Dickey Offers Up an Apology As SMU Smacks Down the Coogs
John RoyalThe Cougar Dolls were about the only things worth cheering at Hofheinz Pavilion last nightJames Dickey was not a happy man last night. He prowled the Houston Cougars sidelines like a caged animal, scowling, barking commands, pleading to his players. Shouting out at them to play defense, telling them…
Idol Beat: Still In Hollywood
While I was avoiding er, preparing this entry, I found myself watching a bunch of punk rock videos as sort of a palate cleanser. It got me wondering if Idol could ever do a punk/alt-rock show. Would the show attract a new demographic if they trotted out the elder statesmen…
Chef Chat, Part 2: Candace Nelson of Sprinkles Cupcakes
Candace Nelson is known as the creator of the boutique-cupcake craze. She began her company, Sprinkles, several years ago in Beverly Hills and now has locations across the country, including our own Houston store in Highland Village. We caught up with Nelson to talk about the fickle nature of food…
Gallery Scene: Opening This Week
4411 Montrose will be buzzing Friday with building-wide openings, and the MFAH preps for a throng of visitors to its big-famous-artist show this Sunday. Bjorn Basen: “Tainted Tales” This is Norwegian artist Bjorn Basen’s first U.S. solo exhibition. His paintings explore themes of luxury and virtue. The show includes two…
Last Night: Dante Higgins Mixtape Release At Midtown Lounge
Dante Higgins, Doughbeezy, The Monster, Delo, O.N.E., Overdose, Leo Solomon Midtown Lounge February 16, 2011 10:11 p.m.: Walking in, Doughbeezy and The Monster are out front saying things into a video camera. Those two run together apparently, which is pretty much a perfect pairing. You’ve got the diminutive motor-mouth little…
The Gumbo at Gilhooley’s
Forget about chili — I can’t think of a more hotly debated dish (in this part of the world, at least) than gumbo. Restaurant gumbo is totally different from homemade gumbo, and homemade gumbo is totally different all along the Gulf Coast stretch of I-10. Some like okra in their…
Comment of the Day: She’s No Barbara Jordan
We have some great commenters here on Hair Balls, and it’s time we paid some damn attention to them. So we’ll be highlighting a Comment of the Day each morning, from the previous day’s work. Maybe two comments, even. This will all be determined by a highly rigorous scientific formula…
Don’t Stop Beliebering
The subtitle to the interview (coming in the March 3 issue of Rolling Stone) reads, “How Justin Bieber became the biggest teen idol in the world,” so I have to assume at some point RS reporter Vanessa Grigoriadis gets to the subject of his rise to fame (and if he’s…
When Celebrities Assert
The subtitle to the interview (coming in the March 3 issue of Rolling Stone) reads, “How Justin Bieber became the biggest teen idol in the world,” so I have to assume at some point RS reporter Vanessa Griogriadis gets to the subject of his rise to fame (and if he’s…
Top 5: Starbucks Locations
Katharine Shilcutt just counted down her top 10 coffee houses in town. While those places are great, we all hit Starbucks now and again, too. On average, I visit once a week. I’m certainly not the biggest fan, but I do find their java exceeds the horse piss that most…
Five Vices That Need Celebrity Endorsements
Ed. Note: Rocks Off does not advocate trying any of the products mentioned in this article (even if they exist) or, really, following any of Jef With One F’s advice about anything at all. When Marilyn Manson put out Mansinthe, that was cute. Then David Lynch put out his own…
John Wiley Price: Why Can’t Harris County Commissioners Court Meetings Be Like This?
John Wiley Price is a legendary Dallas pol, a county commissioner who lives to stir up the shit. His latest escapade has become a YouTube hit, as he dismisses critics at a commissioners court meeting by noting that they were “all white.” And, apparently, one of them was fat. Here’s…
First Look at The Moghul’s Restaurant and Bar
My visit to The Moghul’s Restaurant and Bar (11681 Westheimer, 281-589-2300) last night can be summed up in one solitary word: Befuddling. I had been eagerly looking forward to driving out to try the new Indian-Pakistani restaurant primarily because I’d heard that it also incorporated Chinese and Afghani dishes into…
UFOs in East Texas: The Compelling Video That Will Make You Believe
UFOs, as all perceptive scientists know, do most of the F-ing in the rural portions of the world. Something about supple farmer ass just begs for an anal probe, we guess. We don’t judge. Here in Texas, the western part of the state gets its fair share of UFO claims,…
Music from The Lion King
Put down the iPods and turn off the TV. Today the Houston Symphony is offering a terrific way to introduce kids to live symphonic music with Music from The Lion King. The selections are all from stories about being brave. The program includes Sergei Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf, a…
The Boys Next Door
The Boys Next Door by Tom Griffin tackles the issue of mental retardation. “This play is a blend of light, sweet, sentimental humor with sad and painful moments,” says the show’s director, Ed Muth. In the play, roommates Arnold, Barry, Lucien and Norman, all mentally handicapped, confront personal issues that…
Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story
In 2004, at age 16, Cyntoia Brown murdered a man. Tried as an adult and found guilty, she’s currently serving a life sentence in a Nashville prison. Me Facing Life: Cyntoia’s Story is a documentary following her life behind bars, from a teenager to a young woman. Director Daniel Birman…
Chris Barton: Shark vs. Train
Who would win if Superman took on Spider-Man? Or Wonder Woman decided to whip Catwoman’s ass? Well, what if a shark decided to duke it out with a train? Children’s author Chris Barton imagines the crazy scenario in his new book Shark vs. Train. Thankfully, there’s no actual fighting between…
Tour of the Preview Exhibition
The Houston Center for Photography’s annual auction is one of the highlights of the season for art lovers. It’s easy to see why since the works up for sale include photos by some of the world’s leading talents, contemporary and historical. During today’s Tour of the Preview Exhibition, Anne Tucker,…
Keiko Matsui
Several years ago a young, delicate Keiko Matsui performed at Rockerfeller’s in Houston. Tiny and waifish-looking, Matsui sat at the piano and attacked it like a madwoman. That night she performed some of what was then the best in New Age jazz. That would have been impressive enough, but when…
Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child
Tamra Davis’s documentary Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child is based on her never-before-seen 1985 interview with the charismatic Basquiat. Radiant Child captures Basquiat’s spectacular but short-lived career. Starting as a graffiti artist in New York City the 1970s, Basquiat first put his work on canvas in 1981, reaching superstar status…
An Adult Evening with Shel Silverstein
Nothing can be taken at face value in An Adult Evening of Shel Silverstein. The collection of ten short plays quickly moves from comic to dramatic and then back again, with unexpected twists and turns in the plot lines. In Smile, Gibby is kidnapped by Bender and his thugs. Why?…
Jo Koy
Recently back from filming a Comedy Central special and rounding off a cross-country tour, Jo Koy arrives at Houston on the brink of comedic stardom. His energetic charisma and dead-on cultural observations have endeared him to fans and led to sold-out shows internationally. He attributes much of his dynamic, feel-good…
Battleship Potemkin
When Max Reinhardt, then the world’s most famous theater director, saw the German premiere of Sergei Eisenstein’s monumental 1925 film Battleship Potemkin, he supposedly cried, “I’ve just seen the end of theater!” You’ll think so too, since Eisenstein’s magnificent piece of political propaganda was a major accomplishment for film, which…
Billy Elliot
Can’t wait for Billy Elliot The Musical to come to town? See Billy Elliot the movie for a short-term fix. Like the musical, the movie depicts the life of 11-year-old Billy, who is introduced to the world of boxing by his older brother. Unfortunately, Billy wants to be a ballet…
Gabriel Iglesias
While his signature line “I’m not fat…I’m fluffy!” has been taken up by the amply-fleshed all over, comedian Gabriel Iglesias also comments on the pertinent social issues of the day, like alcohol abuse. “You know you’re really drunk when you’re doing circles in the parking lot and can’t find the…
Ella: The Musical
Go backstage with one of the greatest singers of the 20th century in Ella: The Musical. The show has a simple setup — Fitzgerald is preparing for a concert and offers up spoken tidbits (real and mythical) about her life. But it’s the music, not surprisingly, that takes center stage…
Brilliant “Color”
Establishing the Latin American Art Department was one of the late Peter Marzio’s greatest achievements during his nearly three decade tenure as director of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Sure, Marzio accomplished innumerable things for the museum, not least among them bringing in the Caroline Wiess Law bequest of…
Capsule Art Reviews: “flickerlounge: Short Films by John Herschend, Ben Peters and Lily Sparks,” “A Matter of Wit,” “Plenitude,” “Pteridomania,” “Timothy Greenfield-Sanders: Injured Soldiers and Marines,” “Tony Smith: Drawings”
“flickerlounge: Short Films by John Herschend, Ben Peters and Lily Sparks” Art of Painting 3, by Lily Sparks, is a four-minute 30-second video styled as a Bob Ross-eque painting show – which makes hostess/instructor Sparks’s blunt and profane commentary on art all that more entertaining. Part of this edition of…
Silk Degrees of Separation
Gaining national fame in the ’70s with the monster album Silk Degrees and a lengthy string of hit singles — “Lowdown,” “Lido Shuffle,” Urban Cowboy’s “Look What You’ve Done to Me,” “Jojo” — Plano-raised Boz Scaggs has been recording and touring as he pleases in more recent times, including a…
Safety in Numbers
It seems that whenever the subject of so-called “musical collectives” comes up, the notion of novelty is not far behind. It’s just too easy to throw a bunch of people onstage, call it a collective and go about your business without ever paying much attention to whether or not you…
At Home at Julio
For a slideshow of trompo y más behind the scenes at Tacos del Julio, check out this week’s slideshow. The tacos de trompo at Tacos del Julio come scattered on a plate heavy with meat, the sanguine slices of trompo resting on small, thick corn tortillas that are screamingly hot…
Raw Fun
Joseph is not an iPod, nor is he a jukebox. Joseph is a DJ, and a distinction needs to be made between the three: One is, you know, a person. Joseph asked that we omit his last name. More readily known as GO DJ Xplicit, he has been spinning for…
Casualties of War
In the end, the hard work and Saturday classes, the pizza parties and pep rallies, the incredible amount of time spent on drill and kill, all the sacrifices and the hoopla just weren’t enough. Discounting years of their own press releases touting the number of schools that are “recognized” and…
Capsule Stage Reviews: The Last 5 Years, Paradise Hotel, Stairway to Paradise: The Young George Gershwin
The Last 5 Years Directed by Jimmy Phillips with pace and deftness, and presented by Mildred’s Umbrella Theater, this is an ambitious two-character musical that combines some original staging with a narrative device that threatens to sink the ship. It is a love story where boy meets girl, and then, as…
Cognitive Dissonance
To age brutishly is Liam Neeson’s apparent career goal — with Taken, Clash of the Titans, The A-Team and now Unknown, the actor continues to follow the Nicolas Cage path from respected thespian to big-budget ass-kicker. In this tepid thriller from Jaume Collet-Serra (Orphan), Neeson is Dr. Martin Harris, who,…
Come and Bake It
Correction “Come and Bake It” by Robb Walsh [February 10] originally repeated disparaging remarks about home bakeries that were incorrectly attributed to Lauren Kitchens of Fancy Cakes by Lauren in Dallas. Kitchens says she has always been a supporter of home bakeries. The Houston Press regrets the error. _____________________ See…
Saying “Hola”?
Dear Mexican, I’m a white, rural, ninth-generation Texan who left the farm and is now a lawyer for a large corporation in one of the largest cities in the state. Maybe a quarter of the clients they assign me speak Spanish, so the company’s paying for me to learn Spanish…
Principal Problem
Shawn of the Dead Online readers respond to “Dead Center,” by Craig Malisow, February 3: Remembering Tara: Tara Sganga was a dear friend of mine who I will miss terribly — to know what a sweet, loving person she is and how Shawn Roberts sucked that out of her is…
Third Ward Heat
CRIME, POLITICAL ANIMALS Hot Night in the Third Ward Mayor, others grilled on HPD beating By Mandy Oaklander Around 7 p.m. on a Tuesday night last week, the Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church was packed tighter than a month’s worth of Sunday mornings. Hundreds swarmed to attend the standing-room-only NAACP…
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
Pushing up the mercury with a feverish series of provocative cries, blues-textured moans and high-octane howls, Grace Potter and her roots-rocking Nocturnals get positively overheated “even though it’s the middle of winter” on “Hot Summer Night,” from the Vermont quintet’s eponymous, breakthrough 2010 album. Expect a similarly steamy performance despite…
The Pretty Reckless
On first listen, The Pretty Reckless sounds like a hard-bitten bar band fronted by a woman who has to be old enough to have roomed with Courtney Love in Seattle in the ’90s. Turns out Reckless leader Taylor Momsen was born in 1993, a whole year before Hole’s breakthrough album…
Los Amigos Invisibles
Conceived on the Caracas club scene in the early ’90s, Venezuela’s Los Amigos Invisibles essentially launched a Latin-fueled global dance party that’s never waned. In fact, the sextet’s latest, Commercial, which won a Latin Grammy for Best Alternative Album, lives up to its name by arguably being LAI’s most accessible…
Robyn
More than a decade after recording “Show Me Love,” the sugary Max Martin-penned hit that put an 18-year-old Robyn on the pop-culture map in 1997, the Swedish pop singer — given name Robin Carlsson — needed a change. She was tired of “releasing an album that took me about one…
Carrie Rodriguez
After years of touring with Lucinda Williams and Alejandro Escovedo, then a fruitful partnership with songwriter emeritus Chip Taylor (“Wild Thing,” “Angel of the Morning”), Carrie Rodriguez was ready for some “me” time. The fiddler and guitarist moved back to her native Austin after a decade in New York, and…
Lucero
Lucero set its course for the next decade on the Memphis-based band’s 2000 debut, The Attic Tapes. For most die-hard fans, the deal was sealed on the album’s second-to-last track, “My Best Girl,” as lead singer Ben Nichols chose an acoustic guitar over a woman. Ever since, Lucero has made…
