“Ancestors of the Lake”
It’s sometimes difficult to tell the difference between contemporary art and art made by primitive people. The surrealists in particular were so inspired by primitive art that they collected it and incorporated it into their work. “Ancestors of the Lake: Art of Lake Sentani and Humboldt Bay, New Guinea” is…
Three’s the Charm
The fabulously French Eugène Labiche was good at what he did — writing glittering vaudeville-style farces about the bumbling bourgeois. His most famous work is An Italian Straw Hat, but the folks at Company Onstage are taking on one of the writer’s lesser done comedies, The Threesome, adapted by Neil…
Mamma Mia!
Get your platform boots out of the closet — Mamma Mia! is back in town for one all-too-brief week. The charming bit of musical fluff is a love story set on a beautiful Greek island where the young Sophie Sheridan lives with her single mom. Sophie’s about to get married,…
Marley’s Ghost: Bob Lives In More Than Just Dorm Rooms
Thirty years ago today, Bob Marley passed away from cancer at the young age of 36. According to one joke, it took three days to bury him because his coffin kept jammin’. Bada bum. That’s not even our favorite. Earlier this year, Dan Turner, press secretary to Mississippi Governor and…
The Fiesta Bowl Gets Slapped on the Wrist
For illegal chicanery including, but not limited to, allowing its former CEO John Junker to reimburse political campaign contributions from the bowl revenues and permitting Junker to run up extravagant, frivolous, non-bowl-related expenses on the bowl’s dime, the Fiesta Bowl will pay a $1 million fine to maintain its status…
Comment of the Day
Today Minh Truong bravely listed her top 5 foods better prepared by someone else, and strangely, there was some dissent in the comments section. Said Crystal: Huh? I disagree with all of the above (except maybe #4, since restaurants can get higher quality meat than I can). These are all…
UH Holding Out for More Tier One Funds, Blocking Legislative Deal
The University of Houston is the last holdout in a vote to set the funding distribution method out of a voter-backed endowment devoted to ramping up the number of nationally ranked universities in Texas. The University of Texas and Texas A&M University are the state’s two flagship Tier I universities…
Wine Time: Rainbow Lodge
Looking for an inexpensive happy hour alternative tonight? The Rainbow Lodge is holding its monthly “Sip and Stroll” wine event on the patio from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., featuring four wines from the Santa Lucia Highlands of Monterrey, California and Chef Mark Schmidt’s ever-popular wild game meatballs. A total of…
Movie Tickets:We Want Your Worst Hangover Story; Here’s Ours
At 41, I’ve had many, many hangovers in my time. One doesn’t get booted from two colleges and serve close to a decade as the music editor of an alternative weekly without having at least some knowledge of the day after the night before. Still, one I perpetrated on myself…
Former KHOU Defender Eileen Faxas Now in Mamma Mia
Who can forget Eileen Faxas, former KHOU consumer reporter (a.k.a. “Defender”) and part-time anchor? In her reports, Faxas introduced the groundbreaking method of using wacky sound effects (second item) and Benny Hill-type sped-up motion (second item) to illustrate how she was Protecting Houstonians (third item). In 2002 she threw it…
Five Disturbing Films That Were Banned
There are some things you can’t unsee. I’ve been trying for around a year to unsee the almost (but not quite) laughable horror that was the Human Centipede trailer. Somehow, it followed me around and would present itself right at the moment I thought it was erased from my memory…
National Eat What You Want Day!
There seems to be a “day” for everything, from International Talk Like a Pirate Day to Weights and Measures Day and everything in between. Today is Eat What You Want Day. Yes, I’m telling you now, after you already had that guiltfree spinach salad with lemon wedges on the side…
Song Lyrics (Or Close) In 10 Funny Church Signs
Earlier this month, a church in suburban St. Louis put a surprising (perhaps) endorsement of Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” on its outdoor marquee. Our sister music blog up there, A To Z, suggested five possible other signs the Maplewood United Church of Christ could spin out of Gaga’s latest…
Dynamo Taunt Dallas with Metroplex Billboard
The Dynamo are using a Dallas-area billboard to taunt soccer fans up there about the greatness that is them, at least compared to the Dallas MLS club. Placed between the city and the FC Dallas stadium in Frisco, it’s intended to remind fans who has the trophies in this rivalry…
Peter Max Talks About Celebrity Clients Bill Clinton and Steven Tyler
Peter Max has, in his New York studio, hosted four American presidents, members of The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, and countless other musicians. No big deal. Years ago, pop artist Max – who commercially made a dent in the art world with his cosmic ’60s painting style — also…
On Beards and Becco: Coming Down from New York City
I first visited New York City 17 years ago, for one day. I saw Times Square, the United Nations building, stayed in a ratty hotel, ate at a TGI Friday’s and had my pocket cut, my wallet and camera stolen from out of it. Until this past week, it was…
Rain? Really? Your Best Pics Of It Can Win Hangover 2 Preview Passes
There is a rumor that — if we can trust scientists that such a phenomenon actually can occur — liquid will fall from the very heavens, tonight or tomorrow. We appreciate that your skeptical — How can liquid come down from a cloud? — because it’s not something that has…
Cover Story: Pet Psychic Sonya Fitzpatrick (Including Exclusive Video)
Sonya Fitzpatrick, as documented in this week’s cover story, knows what your dog, cat, bird or frog is thinking. If you happen to have a bear or tiger as a pet, the famous animal communicator could let you know what those beasts are feeling, too. Before the world’s most celebrated…
Health Department Roundup: Mobile Edition
The first-ever Haute Wheels Houston food truck festival is Saturday and Sunday at the HCC Southwest campus. (If we were in PR, we would’ve written that the festival is “rolling into H-town!!”) There will be beer and wine for sale, so you won’t have to hide the fact that you’re…
Constantine Maroulis & His “Dude Musical” Rock of Ages
Rock of Ages has been a continued success — beyond being nominated for five Tonys — because it was able to overcome one of the toughest things that faces any musical, according to one of its stars. “Musical theater is not something that most dudes just flock to. Well, we…
Mikey Goes To Hollywood: Stinson Visits Country-Starved L.A.
It’s no secret that California has long since squandered away a stunning country-music heritage, but for those of us in Los Angeles who give a damn, Mike Stinson represented an almost mystic renewal of the Freddie Hart/Wynn Stewart transplanted-genius equation that damn near redefined the entire genre decades ago. An…
Your Chance to Play for Jerry Glanville: Tryouts This Weekend
The “House of Pain” era was, for many Houston Oiler fans, a bit of an embarrassment. While most gladly embraced the flamboyant Jerry Glanville and his dirty play (at least until he kept losing), others cringed at his antics. Leaving tickets for Elvis each game? Okay, we guess. Awarding one…
A Long Time Coming: Reviewing Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen
For the amount of [well-deserved] press that Sylvia’s Enchilada Kitchen gets on our blog, you’d think that the longtime Houston restaurant would have been reviewed in print ages ago. At least, that’s what I thought. Even though I’ve been reading the Houston Press since I was in my early teens,…
The Battles Begin: Week 1 Sing-offs on The Voice
As much as I enjoyed the first two episodes of The Voice on NBC, I find this new “sing-off” battle format confusing. I understand the concept of elimination, and I guess I even understand having the battles pitted between teammates to keep the numbers of each team even, but I…
The Aftershow Promises An Aphrodisiac For The Ears
Each Wednesday, Rocks Off arbitrarily appoints one lucky local performer or group “Artist of the Week,” bestowing upon them all the fame and grandeur such a lofty title implies. Know a band or artist that isn’t awful? Email their particulars to sheaserrano@gmail.com. This is entirely new and very self-referential, but:…
Alex Ford, Convicted of Drunkenly Driving a Maserati into a Cop, Asks for No Jail Time
Last year we told you about Alex Taylor Ford, now 23, the Houstonian who drove a Maserati into a College Station police car, hitting an officer who suffered severe leg injuries as a result. She blew a 0.164 after the incident; a jury convicted her of intoxication manslaughter DWI-related intoxication…
A First Dinner at (New) Mai’s
By the time I heard about Mai’s , it no longer existed. As a relative newcomer to Houston, I asked a colleague to recommend a good Vietnamese restaurant. “Mai’s is terrific,” she said. “I mean, was terrific. [Pause]. It burned down.” (Leave it to a drama student to infuse food…
Volunteer Group Pushes for Washington Avenue to Become Officially Artsy
It started with a street sign. Last spring, the First Ward Civic Council, a group of residents and supporters of the Washington Avenue corridor arts district, insisted that the city display street sign toppers that proclaimed the area a haven of the arts. The city obliged and since then you…
Chef Chat, Part 1: Juan Carlos Gonzalez of Bistro Alex in City Centre
Executive Chef Juan Carlos Gonzalez of Bistro Alex is a cool kind of guy. The first time I met him, during the launch of Bistro Bar, he came down from the kitchen decked out in full chef’s regalia – complete with a signature chef’s toque hat that added at least…
Black Wedding: The Best Of Burly, Beastly Beard Metal
Tonight Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society hits House of Blues for what seems to be their annual Houston gig. Craig’s Hlist can’t remember a year in recent history where they weren’t in town at least once or even twice in a calendar span. The band released their newest album, The…
Space Tourists Can’t Sue: And Take a Look at Their Insurance Policy
With NASA getting out of the shuttle business, the next big thing is expected to be space tourism. It can be a dangerous thing, but luckily there is the Texas Legislature to make sure, as they always do, that no one can sue a company for pretty much any reason…
Video: Watch These Poodles Pick Out Purses
Whoever coined the phrase “a dog’s life” (meaning a miserable existence) never met Muffy and Sofie. Indeed, if that person had known the pair of poodles, we would probably take “a dog’s life” to mean an existence full of hair (er, fur?) treatments, manicures, fashion and obsessive social networking. In…
Aeros Bombard Milwaukee, Move on to Next Playoff Round
John RoyalRobbie Earl and Casey Wellman celebrate Wellman’s game-winning goal.There were less than two minutes in the game. The scored was tied 2-2. The Admirals were bunched around the Aeros’ net, trying to punch in shot attempt after shot attempt. Houston goalie Matt Hackett flailed about the ice, stopping shots,…
Passport Spain Quiz: Answer Some Questions and Win Tickets to a Tasting with a Rockstar Winemaker
Always wanted to meet and taste with rockstar and heartthrob winemaker Alvaro Palacios (right), one of the “50 most influential people in the wine world” according to Decanter? Well, this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. Houston Cooking School of Central Market’s “Passport to Spain” is offering two tickets…
Los Lonely Boys Mature, Get Goofy On New Rockpango
Rocks Off suspects the last thing Los Lonely Boys guitarist and singer Henry Garza wanted to do on the day after arriving back in San Angelo from a European tour with Los Lobos was a phone interview. “We flew into Austin last night, then had a four-hour drive,” he says…
Gallery 1724 Celebrates The Working Artist With For The Man: The 9 To 5 Show
The phrase “working artist” makes complex assumptions about a seemingly simple idea. A working artist is active, productive, organized, and able to sell her work to pay the bills. The term connotes status, distinguishing the artist from the dilettante, or any those shiftless creative types crowding the bars and cafes…
Top 5 Foods Better Prepared by Someone Else
I think most would agree that food tends to taste better when prepared by someone else, the obvious reasons being no mess to clean up and no dishes to do. But there’s also a sense of nostalgia and comfort that comes with a dish made by someone who loves you…
Comment of the Day: What the Death of Marfreless Would Unleash
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…
Last Night: Kylie Minogue At Verizon Wireless Theater
Kylie Minogue Verizon Wireless Theater May 10, 2011 Check out mighty Aphrodite Kylie Minogue in our slideshow. Kylie Minogue is a wholly heavenly creature among comparably haggard savages in the female pop world. The strangest thing about Minogue’s show Tuesday at Verizon Wireless Theater wasn’t the intricate Greek-myth production design,…
Wear This: 10 Wardrobe Staples for Women
You’ll notice some of my suggestions for women’s wardrobe basics are the same as the ones from my list of 10 wardrobe essentials for men–that’s how basic the classics are. Cut and fit are what keep these pieces from becoming androgynous. My advice for men goes for women, too: Pay…
The Heights-Montrose-Museum District Council Seat: A Checklist for Potential Candidates
The proposed new map of city council districts includes one carved out of the Heights, Montrose and the Museum District, uniting the richest, hippest, proud to be Inner Looper bunch of white people possible. If you’re planning to run for the seat, here are some things you need to know:…
Gothic Council Debates Sookie Stackhouse, Yeti Porn
Gothtopia was born as a Rocks Off staple when your humble narrator took it upon himself to seek out the ultimate vampire anthem after attending a book signing/Q&A by Charlaine Harris, author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels. Since then we have spent every season of True Blood exploring the fantastic…
Five Disastrous Modern-Day Presidential Decisions Not Involving Iraq or Vietnam
Making tough decisions is what being a president is all about. But sometimes those decisions backfire. Sometimes the backfire hurts only the president who made the decision; sometimes it hurts a whole lot of other people. Here are five most disastrous decisions made by modern presidents — not involving a…
Sampler Plate: This Week in Food Blogs, the James Beard Awards Edition
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. 29-95: Yes, it’s true: There was a tie this year at the…
HGO Merges Improvisation and Opera in Cross Cultural Chamber Piece
It is an endeavor both exhilarating and confounding in its scope. When the Houston Grand Opera presents its world premiere of Your Name Means the Sea, it will be putting together U.S. opera performers whose every note and word tend to be scripted with “mugam” musicians from Azerbaijan whose music…
Five Reasons the Drought Is Worse Than a Hurricane (i.e., Rick Perry Doesn’t Make Us Pray About Hurricanes) (Yet)
Hurricane season opens June 1 — unlike deer season, you don’t get to hunt so much as be hunted by nature’s version of Bambi on steroids — and the collective hand-wringing from local news, nervous nellies and weather nerds will soon commence. But, for the moment, Texas remains trapped in…
Comment of the Day
Today Jason Bargas reminisced about the time he drank some Miller High Lifes and decided to open a food truck, then asked readers about their ideas for food truck names. Commenter T. J. Cookwell seemed to have a list at the ready, judging from this quick reply: Nacho O’Queso’s (Tex-Mex)…
Chester Pitts and Raheem Brock “Crank Call” Roger Goodell (w/ VIDEO)
We knew that one side effect of the NFL lockout would be players having a bunch of free time on their hands. For some players that’s a good thing, as it gives them a chance to spend more time with their family or help out their charitable endeavors. For some…
The Best Girl Pop Evar From 1987-89
In just mere hours, Kylie Minogue will hit the stage at Verizon Wireless Theater, and Rocks Off will be there bearing the beautiful pop brunt of Miss Minogue. The Australian pop superstar is touring behind last year’s Aphrodite album. Recently her set lists have been running almost 25 songs long,…
Showdown at LA Crawfish
Last week, I blogged about catering a crawfish boil. But where do you go when you want to participate in a crawfish eat-off? Where do you go when you want to eat a ton of good crawfish, with enough dining space so you don’t have to worry about getting elbowed…
City Council Fireworks over Proposed Arts Venue Lease Deal
Unlike the movies, sparks don’t always fly at city council meetings. It’s not all Mr Smith Goes to Washington all the time. In fact, most of the time, proceedings there beat C-Span 2 in the insomnia-curing department. Yesterday was one of the dramatic exceptions to that rule. It happened when…
Gay Presbyterian Ministers — Houston Church Reacts: “Breathe Deeply (Multiple Times)”
The Presbyterian Church (USA) is expected to approve rule changes that would allow gays to be ordained ministers, a move members had contentiously rejected just two years ago. What’s the reaction locally? The minister of one Houston church has sent out a letter urging calm. Mike Cole, general presbyter of…
Today’s DVDs: No Strings Attached, Black Death and The Illusionist
No Strings Attached No Strings Attached stars Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher, Greta Gerwig, Cary Elwes, and Kevin Kline. Here’s what our critic Karina Longworth said about the movie: Director Ivan Reitman’s No Strings Attached is extremely narrow in focus: It’s “just” about two people in lust struggling to put away…
Who Are The Greatest Rap Duos of All Time?
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…
Garden Fresh: Tomato Race, Over
There it is–The Tomato. That’s what I got from three months of planting, watering and fertilizing. I had high hopes as flowers appeared on the vine, then tiny balls emerged and grew into large green tomatoes. The squirrels ran past, back and forth, ignoring the bounty of fruit as it…
Councilman James Rodriguez: Seriously Steamed About Proposed Arts Venue Lease Deal
Fiscal Affairs Committee Meetings of Houston City Council are among the last places you go expecting to see a first-rate tirade, complete with a door-slamming storming-out, but that was just what Hair Balls found there yesterday. It happened when city Development Director Andy Icken (of Heights Wal-Mart email leak infamy)…
Down Goes the Downtown Y!!!
Brittanie SheyGoing down.Driving past the downtown YMCA last night about 7 p.m., the sun was filtering through what had become an empty, windowless hulk. Today there’s even less of it. The trucks have moved in and started the takedown of the building, which looks charming and is quirky enough inside…
Frank the Pretzel at the Eatsie Boys
At first glance, it’s a little difficult to tell what “Frank the Pretzel” is. But just think of it broken down into parentheticals: A [chicken] frank on a pretzel [bun]. Simple and delicious. And you can only get it at Eatsie Boys. Sure, you can get a Slow Dough pretzel…
Allrecords Relocates To Greenway Plaza Area
It’s not a chain like Soundwaves, it doesn’t host several in-stores a week like Cactus Music, it doesn’t share a side street with a block of bars and music venues like Sig’s Lagoon, and it’s not a destination for vinyl and underground-music junkies like Black Dog, Sound Exchange and Vinal…
The Maxim Hot 100: 10 Women That Should Have Made The List
Last week Maxim magazine unveiled their annual “Maxim Hot 100” list of the women that they think are the most 100 desirable women on the planet, or at least the ones that fit an age bracket, are most apt to get at least half-nude for a camera lens, or have…
Very, Very Determined Mountain Lion Denied Chance to Eat President Obama in El Paso
We know not the name of the mountain lion who was chased through the downtown streets of El Paso this morning, continuing to escape pursuers even with two tranquilizer darts in him. We only know the cat must have really wanted to see President Obama, in town for the day,…
Summer Fest Releases Stage Schedule, Set Times
If Rocks Off learned anything at iFest these past two weekends, it’s that we should have started our own bottled-water franchise. And that when you go to a music festival, it’s a good idea to know who is playing and when. Running around willy-nilly is all well and good unless…
Frank Ulysses “Frenchfry” Tiller: Texas Man Arrested for 1999 Murder of 83-Year-Old Man in Six-Dollar Robbery
Two months ago, Illinois police used a fingerprint to arrest a man for the 1988 rape of a 12-year-old girl in Orange County, Texas. In another OC-related cold case, police in Orange County last week arrested Frank Ulysses “Frenchfry” Tiller in connection with the beating death of an Indianapolis man…
Brew Blog: Beer, Burgers and Gary U.S. Bonds at the Texas Beer Festival
Last week’s post about the Texas Beer Festival garnered some interesting responses. Most seemed excited about an event born out of the desire to showcase Texas beers. A few notable exceptions were voiced. Well, now the first annual Texas Beer Festival has come and gone, and I, for one, can’t…
Death By Design: HFAC Presents Staged Reading Of Newly Commissioned Play
New Yorker Rob Urbinati is a gifted playwright, an experienced director and handles new play development for Queens Theatre in the Park in New York City. So what is he doing here in Houston? Struck by his talent after producing his play West Moon Street to acclaim two years ago,…
River Oaks Shopping Center Loses Another Icon: Allrecords Moves Out
Another piece of the River Oaks Shopping Center has moved out: Allrecords, which for the past 30 years had been there offering a fine, eclectic selection of rock, jazz and Broadway, has moved out. Owner Fred Allred tells Hair Balls the neighboring Luke’s Locker wanted to expand, and Weingarten Realty…
Tuesday May 10 Deals of the Day
Tex-Mex is on the menu for today’s Houston Press VOICE Deal of the Day. This coupon is good at Azteca’s Bar and Grill on Richmond. For the VOICE deal and more, read on: VOICE deal of the day at Houstonpress.com: 52 percent off at Azteca’s Bar and Grill: ($12 for…
Out Today: Tyler, The Creator’s Goblin, The Cars Restarted…
We now live in a world where Adele is a chart-topping artist, placing at number one slot the past few weeks, rubbing shoulders with the Foo Fighters, Katy Perry, Mumford & Sons, and Britney Spears. If Adele’s 21 isn’t on the top of everyone’s best-of 2011 lists, there is no…
FotoFest Spotlights Unsung Masters in “Faces of History – Latin America”
There are, sardonically speaking, a lot more historically renowned Latin American photographers than the Bravos. Beginning this summer, FotoFest, along with New York’s Arts Brookfield, are hosting an exhibit that will spotlight shutterbugs like Romualdo García, Agustín Víctor Casasola and Juan José de Jesús Yas. These photographers, should, in some…
Who’s Cashing In On Osama’s Death? The Gatlins, That’s Who
Last week Rocks Off put together a list of ten singers, most of whom are not especially shy about offering their political opinions, we thought could be the first ones to ride Osama bin Laden’s death to the top of the charts. We have a winner. Sort of. This morning…
Aggies & “Anal Play”: A Nation’s Shame
The startling screencap to your left, taken from a KHOU report, shows the degradation and decadence that is overpowering the hallowed campus of Texas A&M. In deep shadow, perverts watch a TV that, if you look (really) closely, is displaying the title “Anal Play.” Gig `em in the butt! Notice…
Taco Cabana’s Brisket Tacos
I have a soft spot for Taco Cabana — I just love the soft tacos there. So when I heard that Taco Cabana is offering its hickory-smoked brisket tacos for a limited time, I felt a flurry of mixed emotion and speculation. Would they have the overpowering, somewhat offensive flavor…
Meme Of The Week: The Situation Room
Just hours after the world heard that Osama Bin Laden was killed by United States Navy SEALs in Pakistan, the White House released a harrowing official picture of the brain-trust behind the attack in the Situation Room watching the events unfold live before the general public knew what was happening…
Newest City Council Redistricting Map Is Out
Aaaaand here’s the latest, and maybe the more-or-less final, version of the new City Council redistricting map. (You can click here for a version you can zoom in and out of.) Mayor Annise Parker introduced the map today, saying it had widespread support from various interest groups. “One of the…
Mortal Kombat: Legacy: Masks, Hooker Wear, and Paper Fans
Last week, we chose to withhold full judgment until Mortal Kombat: Legacy’s two-part episode focused on Kitana and Mileena reached its full conclusion. We are now ready to deliver that judgment. Someone deserves Johnny Cage’s nut punch for these last two episodes. First of all, we spend almost a minute…
Treaty Oak Platinum Rum: The Gateway Spirit?
Before I turned it into banana-infused deliciousness, I tried Treaty Oak Platinum Rum for the first time recently. I now have a grand master plan to surreptitiously replace all the vodka in the world with this rum. The world will thank me for it. With all its talk of “double…
Knife Fight Between Man and Cat Requires Airlift to Hospital
As with so many things, The Onion has been proven prophetic again. The famous headline, turned into the shirt design seen at the right, seems to have come true in the Montgomery County town of Cleveland, where a man had to be airlifted to a hospital with injuries given to…
Remember John Dew’s Summertime Johnny v 1.9?
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. John Dew Summertime Johnny Version 1.9 (Self-released, 2011) John Dew is a rapper. He is part of The Council,…
Comment(s) of the Day: We Are Tasteless, and Targeted (by the Wrong People)
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…
Upcoming: B.B. King, Santana, Mana, Queensryche, Etc.
American Fangs, Born Again Virgins: Sun., June 26. Scout Bar Clear Lake. Ali Shaheed Muhammad: Sat., June 18. FWD Houston. B.B. King: Fri., Oct. 7. House of Blues. Buxton: Wed., June 8. Under The Volcano. Santana, Michael Franti: Sat., Sept. 10. Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion. The Civil Wars: Thu., June…
Portion Control: Easy Visual Tricks
The unfortunate truth is that you can spend hours on the treadmill and still not lose a pound if you do not carefully watch your calorie intake. There are a ton of gadgets on the market to help make portion control easier, from simple measuring cups and spoons to high-tech…
Making It Up As They Go Along: Pasadena’s Red Door Theatre Company
In his farewell episode of The Office, Dunder Mifflin boss Michael Scott wondered aloud (as he was wont to do) if the credits for his improv classes would transfer to a new city. But it seemed like he was making things up out of thin air every day at his…
10 Great Instances Of Rappers Honoring Other Rappers
People often forget that hip-hoppers are humans, too. They breathe, sleep, eat, and salivate at the sight of buttermilk donuts just like us. And, every now and then, they’ll geek over other rappers, just like us. It would have been so much easier to compile a list of rappers dissing…
What Would You Name Your Food Truck?
Seven Memorial Days ago, my best friend Todd and I placed third in Under the Volcano’s annual gumbo cook off. Despite feeling robbed by the second-place team, whose “gumbo” tasted like a bland can of Progresso, our feelings were bolstered by a woman who asked us to cater her upcoming…
Humane Society President Speaks On Texas’s “Puppy-Mill” Bill
Humane SocietyWayne Pacelle likes the proposed bill, naturally.In advance of Humane Society of the United States President Wayne Pacelle’s May 15 Houston book-signing stop, we thought we’d ask about Texas’s so-called “Puppy Mill bill.” Introduced by State Representative Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston), House Bill 1451 would regulate living standards and inspection…
Wear This: 10 Wardrobe Staples for Men
I love a well-dressed man, and it only takes a few key pieces to create a sharp wardrobe. Once you invest in the basics, you should be able to walk into your closet and mix-and-match an outfit in minutes. Update your look by adding color and pattern: If you love…
Pop Rocks: Five Fictional Inanimate Objects More Deserving of a Reality Show Than Bristol Palin
It’s tough to get a reality show. As you know, TV networks are always looking out for our best interests. And to this point they’ve been diligent about only distributing these precious program slots to those individuals and groups most likely to make society a better place. I’m talking about…
Pop Rocks: Before Giving Bristol Palin A Reality Show, Please Consider These Equally Fascinating Inanimate Objects
It’s tough to get a reality show. As you know, TV networks are always looking out for our best interests. And to this point they’ve been diligent about only distributing these precious program slots to those individuals and groups most likely to make society a better place. I’m talking about…
Lions And Tigers And Bearfighters, Oh My!
It’s a well-known fact that most band names are essentially gobbledygook, but here at Rocks Off we’re trying hard to find meaning in the oddest monikers. If Rocks Off had a nickel for every time we were compared to Judy Garland in The Wizard of Oz we would definitely be…
12 Odd Bikini Pictures: A Haiku Tribute
The temperatures have finally started getting hot and muggy — not that we were looking forward to that or anything — so swimsuit season is almost here. We went looking for bikini pictures, and on Flickr’s Creative Commons page found many from something called The Bikini Open. A dozen of…
Where Are We Drinking?
A long, hot afternoon of weekend shopping required a quiet and civilized break for cocktails at this happening Upper Kirby spot. Does the Widow’s Kiss below look familiar to you? Think you know where we’re drinking this week? Leave your best guess in the comments section below…
100 Creatives: Davie Graves
What He Does: Davie Graves draws people with animal heads. He does a lot of other things as well, like some incredible rock and roll posters for local acts, but, yeah, people with animal heads make up a lot of his work. His style is somewhere between Andy Warhol and…
Lufkin Couple Heads to Jail After Pregnant Woman Smokes Cig
According to a police report summarized in the Lufkin Daily News, 33-year-old Roosevelt Lee Williams III called police out to discuss a Mother’s Day altercation with 26-year-old mama-to-be Dominique Bryan that had just ended. He told police that the argument had come about because Bryan had been smoking cigarettes while…
iFest’s Second Weekend Brings It All Back Home
See lots more iFest pictures from Saturday and Sunday (and some food) in our slideshows. Yes, it was hot at iFest this weekend. Houston hot. Sunday afternoon, partway through Lucinda Williams’ surprisingly nostalgic set, both the temperature and humidity were in the low 90s and Rocks Off felt like we…
Comment of the Day
Today Nicholas Hall pitted the dumplings at Doozo against the ones at Baoz, and although he had a hard time picking a favorite, he ended declaring Doozo the victor. Commenter csoakley agreed: Doozo dumplings are the best. The secret ingredient; small crystals of crack cocaine. I haven’t worked in the…
Leslie Newman, Last Concert Cafe Fixture, Passes Away
Word has reached Rocks Off that veteran Houston singer-songwriter Leslie Newman has succumbed to leukemia. According to sources at Last Concert Café, Newman died around 8 a.m. Monday morning. Apparently Newman’s condition worsened considerably three days ago and he had been unable to eat since. Newman held down a regular…
The Chris Bosh 2010-2011 Experience (in Quotes — PLAYOFF Addendum)
“Was I effective today? It’s common sense. I think it’s evident. I just have to get it where I’m effective. I have to get it where big guys get it. Then, I feel I can start helping out this team more. I’m effective down in the low-post area. That’s where…
Unidentified Man, 66, Bayou Body Count No. 62
HPD homicide investigators are looking into the death of a 66-year-old man who was found dead in an assisted-living center amid signs of a struggle. The man, whose identity has not been released pending notification of his family, was found in his room in the 600 block of East Tidwell…
5 Best Beach Picnic Foods
One of my favorite things about living in Houston is proximity to the beach. There is nothing better than relaxing in the sun, digging your toes into warm sand, and spending the day with friends. I’ve got some friends coming in from Minnesota this weekend, and they are itching for…
“Henry Horenstein: Show” at John Cleary Gallery Puts One On
Fans of burlesque, striptease, drag and general alternative performance won’t want to miss John Cleary Gallery’s sexy exhibition of Henry Horenstein’s moody photography. Simply titled “Show,” the exhibit definitely puts one on. Horenstein, who at one time documented American country music’s slide into the pop realm, has always been interested…
Children Tackle Hair Metal, Awkwardly, In Monster Ballads
In our usual mail haul this morning, Rocks Off received an invitation to a porn store’s grand re-opening (natch), a copy of the brand-new Fucked Up album, David Comes To Life, and the anxiously awaited Kidz Bop Sings Monster Ballads that we have been anxiously awaiting since its creation was…
Thor Morris, 20: Came from Asgard Crossed Half the Country to Hack Houston ATMs
As much of America learned this past weekend, Thor the God of Thunder (?) (Hammers? We weren’t paying that much attention) came to Earth from Asgard to not have sex with Natalie Portman. What we learned today: Thor, the God of Computer Hacking, came to Houston from North Carolina to…
Wine of the Week: Righting the Wrong of Rosé
Remember the “pink” and “blush” wines from the 1970s, like the one pictured right? They were mass-produced and mass-marketed blends of white and red grapes with high alcohol content (and often with added sugar) intended for the swinging cocktail set of the era. And while we all had a grand…
Saturday Night: Rusko At Warehouse Live
Rusko, Doorly Warehouse Live May 7, 2011 See more young local dubsteppers from Saturday in our slideshow. As any cranky old scenester will tell you, there comes a time when you feel that your favorite underground and underappreciated art form has been co-opted and corrupted. Usually, this perversion of purity…
No More City Hall-Hosted Fun: Jones Hall, the Wortham, Miller Theatre, and the George R. Brown, All for Lease. Cheap.
The City of Houston wants out of the fun business. Over the weekend, a plan was announced to sell off its Convention and Entertainment Facilities department, which oversees operations at taxpayer-built venues such as the Wortham Center, Jones Hall, the George R. Brown Convention Center, and Miller Outdoor Theatre. The…
Small Fort Bend Paper Hit With $1 Million Libel Verdict on Story About Son of Sheriff’s Deputy
The Fort Bend Star, a small but often feisty publication that covers county events and politics, has been slammed with a million-dollar libel verdict for a story it ran about a sheriff’s deputy and his sons. A jury awarded Wade Brady, the son of Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office chief…
Saturday Night: Dengue Fever At Fitzgerald’s
Dengue Fever Fitzgerald’s May 7, 2011 Someone asked Aftermath Saturday afternoon to describe what kind of music Dengue Fever plays. “Well, it’s like ’60 psychedelic pop with Cambodian lyrics, and also some California surf guitar and Ethiopian jazz and and girl-group thrown in. Wait – that makes it sound awful…
Vegan Curry at Cafe TH
Cafe TH continues to evolve under the careful and creative eye of owner Minh Nguyen, the former University of Houston student who purchased the old Thiem Hung bakery from its previous owners several years ago. He added more standard Vietnamese items to the menu than just banh mi, and is…
City Proposes to Lease Prime Arts Venues; Local Man Likens It to Desperate Crack Deal
For those of you who might have been doing other things over the weekend, a trial balloon was launched in Saturday’s Metro section of the Houston Chronicle. Specifically, the idea is being bandied about for the City of Houston to sell off its Convention and Entertainment Facilities department, which oversees…
Game Of Thrones: “Cripples, Bastards, and Broken Things”
For those who’ve read the books, there’s been some understandable speculation as to how they’re planning to cram the entire narrative into 10 measly hour-long episodes. I mean sure, it’s HBO, so an hour’s worth of programming is literally an hour’s worth, but George R.R. Martin’s tale of intrigue and…
Hotel Galvez: Your Room, 100 Years Ago
Images courtesy Hotel GalvezLuxury, 1911-style. We assume this picture comes from a 100-year-old tweet.As the Hotel Galvez winds up for its big 100th anniversary next month — details announced today include a big fireworks display over the Gulf — let’s take a look at the typical room in 1911. We…
Off-the-Menu at El Real: The El Real Burger
Let me start by saying that I haven’t eaten a Frito tortilla chip in about 15 years, so when I went out to eat and review the off-the-menu El Real Burger, I was a little skeptical. How delicious could it be, if it featured something I stopped eating in college?…
Tupac’s “Dear Mama”: Best Rap Song About Moms Ever?
Some rappers happen to be thoughtful, intelligent people. Every Monday that isn’t a national holiday, Rocks Off will have some of them here discussing issues relevant to their culture. This Week’s Panel: Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Delo, Mac, hasHBrown, Roosh Williams, Fat Tony, KAB, Renzo, Kyle Hubbard and more. Not…
The Killing: “Vengeance”
I’m starting to get the impression it rains a lot in Seattle. We’re officially past the halfway point of the season, and nobody seems to be in any great hurry to resolve poor Rosie Larsen’s murder. The threat of (probably) misplaced aggression against teacher Bennet Ahmed melted away like so…
Jonathan Hernandez, 24, Bayou Body Count No. 61
A Gulfton-area shooting left one man dead Thursday night, Houston police say. Jonathan Hernandez, 24, was shot multiple times in the 6000 block of Rampart about 9:20 p.m. May 5 and was pronounced dead at Memorial Hermann Hospital. Police responded to a shooting call and found Hernandez’s body on the…
Saturday Night: Suckafree Concert Series at The Mink
Suckafree Concert Series The Mink May 7, 2011 Suckafree is Houston’s newest underground rap concert series, joining hasHBrown, John Dew and David Wright’s One Mic, the Purple Bastard et. al.’s Turnin’ Headz, H-Kane’s Frontline Tour, and one or so others. The bimonthly event that was started by Hollywood FLOSS -…
Takeout Pizza from Dolce Vita
Kevin Shalin’s collection of EOW bloggers’ favorite three pizza places got me hankering for some pizza and alerted me to the fact that I should look beyond Star Pizza for good pies. The onset of the craving occurred when I was on my own one night. I didn’t feel like…
Alley Theatre’s New Season Includes Red, The Seagull, and The Toxic Avenger
The Alley Theatre’s 2011-12 season will include classics, both old and newer – The Seagull by Anton Chekhov, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens and The Santaland Diaries by David Sedaris – a musical called The Toxic Avenger and two world premieres. The announcement made today by Artistic Director Gregory…
Victor Ramirez, 43, Bayou Body Count No. 60
A northwest side man shot his three neighbors in an argument and killed one of them on May 2, Houston police said. He was charged with murder over the weekend and is on the run. Victor Ramirez, 43, was shot and killed in front of his home in the 7500…
Wes Bentley: There Be Dragons
He didn’t know it at the time, but the downward spiral 21-year-old actor Wes Bentley took after his flush of success in the 1999 Oscar-winning film American Beauty would later help him build his character for the just-released There Be Dragons. Unable to handle the pressure of sudden fame and…
Saturday Night: TSOL At Walter’s On Washington
TSOL Walter’s on Washington May 7, 2011 In the dramatic, razor-sharpened lens of TSOL songs, suburbia is far from a sleepy wonderland bedecked with slick malls and coiffeured lawns. Those tracts of same-samey homes are chock-full of demons such as singer Grisham himself, who wandered the bland wasteland of the…
Tunnel Explorer Clash of the Titans: Doozo vs. Baoz
Last week, I talked about my move to the other side of downtown, and the resulting vistas of Tunnel dining opened up to me. Commenter Fatty FatBastard, ever helpful, suggested Doozo Dumplings and Noodles as the go-to spot near my new digs. Kylejack countered with a Baoz proposal, and a…
Downtown Shootout: YouTubed, Twittered, Pearl Jammed
Saturday’s wild downtown shootout was captured by a (understandably freaked-out) punkrockguy281, who drove right into the middle of it. To the tune of Pearl Jam’s “Daughter,” and between the sounds of loud shots ringing out, you can hear him and his passenger reacting. “This is so fucking crazy!” one dude…
“This Is Displacement: Native Artists” at DiverseWorks Scores
As an educational exhibit about the cultural displacement felt among Native Americans, the current group show at DiverseWorks suits the purposes of curator Carolyn Lee Anderson and co-curator Emily Johnson. Both artists are tribal descendants and share an internal longing for their ancestral cultures. As an art exhibit, however, the…
Admirals Sink Aeros to Take Series to Game Seven
John RoyalThe Aeros celebrate as they take the lead.The Houston Aeros were five minutes away. Five minutes away from pulling off the 4-3 win over the Milwaukee Admirals and advancing to the next round of the Calder Cup playoffs. Five minutes away from winning a game that, midway through the…
Five Stellar (Plain) Mac and Cheeses
Macaroni and Cheese, Mac ‘n’ Cheese, M&C: The many monikers of this comfort food reflect its diverse forms. These days, macaroni and cheese is dressed up with everything from chili to asparagus to lobster. Although I love some of these “mixed” versions, sometimes all I want is noodles, cheese and…
Friday Night: Wilco At Verizon Wireless Theater
Wilco Verizon Wireless Theater May 6, 2011 Jeff Tweedy’s kind of an asshole. But it’s okay, because we’re familiar with the type:The guy who grew up a snotty punk-rock kid in the ’80s, went on to form a band that just happened to become one of the most critically lauded…
What a Crock: Spiced Apple Iced Tea
This time of year in Houston is perfect for picnics or relaxing on the patio. Enjoying a nice beverage such as this one only adds to the experience. The rundown Do remember in the ’80s, when the big rage was setting your massive jug of tea in sun? It was…
“They, Who Sound” at Avant Garden Moved to Monday Nights; Binarium Sound Finds New Home in The Heights
Starting tonight, the weekly “They, Who Sound” creative music series at Avant Garden, 411 Westheimer, shifts its Sunday residency to Monday nights. The May 1 gig that featured east coast sound sculptors Bonnie Jones and Suzanne Thorpe marked the last time “They, Who Sound” — which features a gaggle of…
Saturday Night: Clan Of Xymox At Numbers
Clan of Xymox, Provision Numbers May 7, 2011 Rocks Off would like to thank Erica O’Brien for saving our tushies and providing these pics when ye old camera when kaput. Is it really possible that we’ve been hanging around Numbers for almost a decade and somehow never seen Provision live?…
Comment of the Day: A Hillbilly Responds
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…
Jesse Brown, 20, Bayou Body Count No. 59: Wild Downtown Shoot-Out
A man who tried to smuggle guns on a Greyhound bus and then engaged in a wild downtown shootout with police apparently killed himself after being injured, Houston police say. The exchange of shots and SWAT team reaction to the man barricading himself in a parking garage led to the…
Be a VIP at Haute Wheels
If you haven’t already, click on over to our Deal of the Day page, where $60 VIP tickets for the upcoming Haute Wheels food truck festival for Sunday only are on sale for only $30. This is the second week we’ve offered a 50 percent discount on the tickets, and…
30 Seconds With Zoe Keating
Rocks Off sat down with the amazing one-woman orchestra they call Zoe Keating to find out what we could learn about the avant-garde cellist in 30 seconds. Rocks Off: What is the worst song in the world? Zoe Keating: One person’s pleasure is another person’s poison, so let’s just say…
NANO Fiction Reading Series Embraces The Micro
Tuesday marks the final installment of NANO Fiction’s live reading series until the fall. Now in its fourth season, the NANO Fiction Reading Series brings to life the bi-annual publication of the same name. Tuesday’s reading will highlight poet Lauren Berry. Berry has recently made waves with her latest manuscript,…
Skype Testimony From Iraq Helps Convict Conroe Murderer
A man was convicted of murder in Conroe based partly on testimony delivered via Skype from an Army base in Iraq. A Conroe police officer who had been involved in the investigation into the December 2008 murder is serving now in the Texas National Guard in Iraq; after some initial…
Theater LaB’s [title of show] Shows Off Ensemble’s Energy And Authenticity
The set-up: The plot is simplicity itself: How two artists sat down to create in three weeks a musical that makes it in several stages to Broadway, bringing the audience with it to cheer it on. Jeff Bowen wrote the music and lyrics, and he is portrayed by the ebullient…
Where Are We Eating?
A piernita of quail peeks out from a sizzling comal at this popular restaurant. With so many great Tex-Mex places doing equally great quail dishes these days, think you can guess which restaurant we’re featuring this week? Leave your best guess in the comments section below…
Five Questions With Child Porn Prosecutors: Dealing With Stomach-Turning Evidence
Prosecuting those who produce or enjoy child pornography is a vitally important yet seemingly horrible job — to do it, you must face looking at the evidence. In some cases it’s “easy” — some child-porn consumers are like baseball-card collectors and aim to get every video or photo in, say,…
Comment of the Day
Today Katharine Shilcutt reported on which restaurants have opened and which have closed around town. The most surprising closure for us was King Biscuit, which commenter Anse wrote in to eulogize: Gonna miss the Biscuit. The food was nothing special but the scene was the antithesis of trendy. Almost all…
This Week in Deliciousness
Welcome back to the weekly roundup here at Eating Our Words, where this week we’ve had a difficult time convincing people that a) Goat Cheese & Dill Kettle Chips existed, and b) they were really, really good. Discontinued, alas. I guess your average potato chip consumer isn’t quite ready to…
More Local Music News Than Fighting Navy SEALs
It’s not every week that Arcade Fire returns to the suburbs whose ennui inspired a Grammy-winning album, but it is every week that we bring a brimming local music roundup for all of our Rocks Off readers. Without further ado, we present the latest installment of Magnolia City Mixtape. Hot…
Michelle Pickens Beat the Crap Out of Her Ex-Boyfriend, Jury Finds
A Fort Bend County jury has convicted Michelle Pickens, 26, of whomping her former boyfriend, the district attorney’s office announced today. Prosecutor Amber Givens said last September, Stafford police received a 911 call from a woman who said her son had been attacked at his residence by his ex-girlfriend and…
NBA Playoffs Schedule Maker, a Mother’s Day FAIL
It’s not easy for a sport’s postseason that lasts practically as long as the entire college football regular season to be compelling from beginning to end, but so far this NBA postseason is doing as good a job of just that as it’s ever done. Bolstered by as much star…
David Barton & Jon Stewart: Good Lord, Rick Perry Made This Guy a Textbook Expert?
The Daily Show – Exclusive – David Barton Extended Interview Pt. 1Tags: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on FacebookDavid Barton, the rightwing activist who’s devoted to “proving” that American history is one big, long panoply of Christian faith, was on the Daily Show this week…
Nicklas Gagliardi: Head Butts Meth Pipe After Drug Bust
Nicklas Gagliardi was already facing one felony charge Wednesday night. The 27-year-old College Station man had to use his head to come up with another one — literally. Gagliardi was pulled over after a College Station cop saw him make a wide right turn. The cop reported that Gagliardi pulled…
Pirates of the Caribbean Quiz: Answer Some Questions and Win Movie Tickets
Avast, ye mateys! The new Pirates of the Caribbean joint, On Stranger Tides, hits theaters May 20. Want a chance to see it on May 16 without having to dip into your own treasure chest? Here’s your chance. After the jump, take our little quiz. Send your answers to HPcontest@houstonpress.com,…
How to Stay On Track, Even at the Office
The office is a known enemy to any diet. It can single-handedly bring down even the best intentions with birthday cakes, vending machine trips and stress-induced over-snacking. However, if you go into this battle prepared everyday, what was once a struggle will soon be second nature. 1. Eat a good…
Thursday Night Bingo At The Czech Fraternal Lodge
If you want to play bingo at the hugely popular and somehow still obscure regular Thursday Bingo Night at the Czech Fraternal Lodge SPJST #88, it pays to get there early, way early or send someone ahead to claim a table. By 5:30 p.m. yesterday, Missy Grohl had set up…
Houston: Better than Los Angeles, Berlin and Tokyo (and All but Ten Cities in the World)
Hey now, it’s another one of those sprawling studies ranking the best cities in the world. This time around, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and the Partnership for New York City have ranked the world’s urban agglomerations according to their importance and power in world finance, innovation and tourism. Envelope, please…And the top city…
Bobby Keys: iFest Nabs Rolling Stones Sax Maniac
Born in Lubbock and raised just east in Slaton, Joe Ely’s home town, saxophonist Bobby Keys left Lubbock in 1960 looking for kicks. At 14, he was playing with Bob Dylan influence, Bobby Vee, before moving on to a gig with seminal rocker Buddy Knox. Fifty-one years later, Keys will…
Gabrielle Giffords: What She Looks Like Now
Very few people have laid eyes on Gabrielle Giffords since the congresswoman was shot in January. She did appear, in a blurry fashion, in a long-distance shot as she boarded a jet at Ellington Field to go to her husband’s shuttle liftoff. And she went to Grotto Sunday night for…
Street Style: Inspiration From Across The Pond
To the casual observer, fashion might seem a frivolous thing. But the reality is that fashion tells a story. What we call a period costume today was once en vogue, and what looks esoteric on the runway will eventually be translated by a mass-market retailer and, more likely than not,…
Odd Pair: Jewish Food and Spanish Godello
White fish salad? It’s not just for breakfast anymore. One of my happiest discoveries since moving to Texas nearly three years ago has been Kenny and Ziggy’s Delicatessen on Post Oak, where you’ll often find me noshing on all the classics of the Jew food canon — white fish, lox,…
Last Night: Jimmy Buffett At Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Jimmy Buffett & the Coral Reefer Band Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion May 5, 2011 See more changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes in our slideshow. Blowing through the jasmine of our mind, Aftermath once got it in our head somehow that Jimmy Buffett wrote “Margaritaville” not about some low-rent Gulf-shores…
Bin Laden SEAL Team Included Dog: Five Other Famous Fightin’ Pooches
The SEAL team that took out Osama Bin Laden included, it’s been revealed, a dog. Few details have emerged, but it’s likely the animal was used to sniff out explosives or hidden rooms. He joins the ranks of military dogs that have earned fame, or at least he (or she?)…
ABBA S.O.S.: Mamma Mia! Pops Over to Houston
Veteran actor Paul DeBoy has been on the road for the last seven months in Mamma Mia!, the musical that a good portion of the musical-theater-loving public has already seen in at least a dozen languages around the world. Obviously, there’s strong belief in the global theater community that the…
Chef Chat, Part 3: Jerry Jan of RA Sushi in City Centre
This week, we caught up with Chef Jerry Jan of RA Sushi in City Centre. Check out our conversation here and here. Today, we do a little sushi sampling. But first, I started off with a tasty cocktail. The Baby Tsunami Punch is a delicious combination of Southern Comfort, Amaretto,…
Traffic Hell Redux: West Loop Madness This Weekend
More fun from TxDOT this weekend, as the Southwest Freeway and the West Loop in Bellaire experience major closures. You won’t be able to get on the Southwest Freeway in either direction if you’re going north on the West Loop, but you’ll have plenty of time to ponder options because…
GT Garza Tastier Than Free Fajitas On @ItzGarza
Thursday evening, perennially (and unjustifiably) overlooked rapper GT Garza held a release party for his latest tape, @ItzGarza. Sponsored by Jose Cuervo’s Platino line, the event was held at SF2 South, a store that has suddenly become a juggernaut within the Houston hip-hop community. We went, hung out for a…
Reviews For The Easily Distracted: Thor
Title: Thor God Of Thunder? And rock and roll. Wait, that was a different guy. Rating Using Random Objects Relevant To The Film: Three-and-a-half Nick Furys out of five. Tagline: “Two worlds. One hero.” Better Tagline: “And one six-pack of sweet Nordic abs.” Brief Plot Synopsis: Spoiled scion of privilege…
Tequila Talk with Stewart Skloss of Pura Vida Tequila – Part 2
Wednesday, we spoke with Stewart Skloss of Pura Vida Tequila and learned a little about how his brand got started and what makes Pura Vida stand out from the big names in tequila. Today, we talk food and “The Gibbons.”…
“Satisfaction”: The Mother Of All Rock & Roll Riffs?
Today is the 46th anniversary of Keith Richards rolling over in his sleep in a Florida hotel, humming the main riff of “Satisfaction” into a bedside tape recorder and going back to slumber, or nodding off. The Rolling Stones would record the song months later and make it their calling…
Tort Reform: Rick Perry’s Latest “Emergency”
The AP is reporting that Governor Rick Perry has declared yet another rightwing hobbyhorse to be emergency legislation: a tort reform bill. Republicans reflexively shout “tort reform!” at the drop of a hat, even though Texas — via the big corporate dollars that fund campaigns — long ago wiped out…
April 30 to May 6: The Week in Art Photos
It’s time again to check out the Houston Press Flickr Pool and see what kinds of art shots our talented photographers have added. We love street art, unique perspectives and beautiful photos of Houston’s creative community. If you think you’ve got a good eye, drop your pictures in the pool…
Upcoming Events
Bought your tickets yet for the upcoming Haute Wheels food truck festival? No? Good. Because you’ll have an opportunity to purchase heavily discounted VIP tickets for the event, which takes place on May 14 and 15 at the campus of HCC Southwest. The Houston Press is sponsoring the VIP tent,…
The Ensemble Theatre’s Hi-Hat Hattie: Highly Entertaining
The set-up: “I sincerely hope I shall always be a credit to my race and to the motion picture industry,” said Hattie McDaniel as part of her acceptance speech in 1940 when she won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her iconic portrait of Mammy in Gone With…
Last Night: Jon Spencer Blues Explosion At Warehouse Live
Jon Spencer Blues Explosion Warehouse Live Studio May 5, 2011 A few months back, when the White Stripes finally officially broke up, Aftermath made the inference that had it not been for the duo that most of the new rock music hitting the charts, namely the rootsy and blues stuff,…
Aeros Torpedo Admirals in OT, Tie Series at 2-2
John RoyalCarson McMillan reacts to his game-winning shot.There’s nothing more exciting in professional sports than playoff hockey. And there’s nothing more exciting than playoff hockey that goes into overtime. Such was the case at Toyota Center last night when the Houston Aeros and Milwaukee Admirals found themselves tied at 2-2…
McKenzie’s BBQ Delivers Great Taste at a Great Price
Monday morning found me in Conroe helping out a friend, which meant that I was outside of my comfort zone of Inner Loop luncheries. My web search sorcery pointed me to McKenzie’s Barbeque. The McKenzie family birthed the restaurant in Huntsville in 1992, with the Frazier Road location opening in…
Houston Grand Opera Makes Official Announcement Regarding Its Paris-Bound Mariachi Production
The rumors are indeed true. As was previously reported, Houston Grand Opera (HGO) will travel to Paris, France’s Théâtre du Châtelet to present To Cross the Face of the Moon/Cruzar la Cara de la Luna. The announcement was made official last late night in a prepared statement by HGO. The…
Mr. Boomtown Coats Bun B, E-40 With “Candy Paint”
(phone rings) “What’s up, this is Boom… Sure, I can do Boston… It’s gonna cost ya.” (click) The acclaimed music-video director and filmmaker Nahala Johnson, better known as Mr. Boomtown, sits inside of a Midtown bar one night last week, drink in one hand and cell phone in the other…
Community: Modern Warfare 2
Fantastic. That’s the tl;dr version of this little review, for anyone who just wants a one-word bottom line. As I and others have noted many times before, Community shines when it mixes the sublimely playful with the emotionally intimate. Go too far one way, you get a gimmicky theme episode…
NFL Lockout’s Next Victim — The Texans Charity Golf Classic
If there is one immutable law about the Houston sports fans, it’s that we love our football. Football intrigues us unconditionally. Like pizza and sex, even bad football will get consumed (or consummated, as it were). See: Sellouts, Consecutive, Reliant. So even coming off a 6-10 season, when the Texans…
Comment of the Day: Our Houstonian-ness Is Questioned
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…
Idol Beat: My Faith In A Just Universe Is Restored
60 million votes. That’s how many it took to ensure karmic balance in the universe and send Jacob Lusk to the American Idol equivalent of hell… which is probably an alternate dimension where Simon Cowell never existed. Last night was so chock-full of entertainment it’s a wonder they managed to…
Idol Beat: Jacob Gets His Just Desserts
60 million votes. That’s how many it took to ensure karmic balance in the universe and send Jacob Lusk to the American Idol equivalent of hell… which is probably an alternate dimension where Simon Cowell never existed. Last night was so chock-full of entertainment it’s a wonder they managed to…
Five Fail-Safe Food Add-Ons
While dining at Catalan a few weeks ago, I was heartened to see the following note on their menu: “Add seared Foie gras (to anything, and we do mean anything) $9.” Foie gras is what I like to call a Fail-Safe Food Add-On because its presence virtually always improves the…
Bryan Schutmaat Mines The Rockies
Sitting at a Big Star Bar picnic table and talking over beers with Bryan Schutmaat, Art Attack realizes that time is just absolutely flying past us. Here we are a mere 30 minutes into the interview, and we feel like we could chat with Bryan indefinitely about anything and everything,…
Last Night: Brett Dennen & Dawes At Fitzgerald’s
Brett Dennen, Dawes Fitzgerald’s May 5, 2011 While many celebrated Cinco de Mayo last night with margaritas and sombreros, Aftermath was at Fitzgerald’s watching a folk-rock band and a pale, red-haired dude wearing a Golden State Warriors T-shirt. Nevertheless, we’re used to marching to the beat of a different drummer,…
Double-Thick Campfire Bars
The impending summer makes me think of camp, which makes me think of plaintive letters home, moody counselors, and delicious s’mores. Since right now I am sans grill and have a shitty gas stove, I cannot roast marshmallows over on open flame and therefore am unable to make traditional s’mores…
App of the Week: Ranking Nine Popular Weather Apps
My name is Jeff, and I’m a weather nerd. When I was very young, my father, an avid outdoorsman, would flip on the old-school weather channel on early cable television that consisted of nothing more than the current Houston/Galveston radar and the NOAA weather radio station playing in the background…
Last Night: Third Course Dominic Walsh Dance Theater
It’s not always easy to relate to ballet. After all, how many times have you been turned into a swan and driven to suicide because of your undying love for a guy you hardly know? Ballet is built on the suspension of emotional disbelief, but Dominic Walsh Dance Theater gives…
April 30 — May 6: 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. As the weather warms up, we want to see your pics. Park life, swimming pools, barbecues, whatever. Just drop them in our photo group right here. As always,…
Provision Breaks Free With Paradigm Shift
Provision remains a die-hard dependable band of darkwave electronica masters in the Houston scene. Now on their fourth studio album and already into plans for their fifth, they return after a four year studio hiatus with their newest release, Paradigm Shift, and a gig opening for longtime spiritual mentors Clan…
Vintage Mother’s Day Cards, Tweaked
This Sunday is Mother’s Day, a holiday created to honor those chicks who brought us into the world, and who have managed to put up with our monkeyshines since the umbilical cord was cut. Everyone celebrates the holiday differently. Most go out to eat with their favorite older ladies, or…
100 Creatives: Robert Hodge
What he does: As a multimedia artist, Robert Hodge uses various materials for his creations. Scraps of old newspapers and deteriorating posters find a new life in his collages. Much of his art deals with African American History and the preservation of storytelling. He also owns 3 Muse Gallery, a…
Openings & Closings: April 2011
After a quiet few weeks, a rash of openings, delays and unexpected closings tore through the city this past week, starting with the news that Austin’s “sexy Tex-Mex” import Vivo is not coming to San Felipe after all. Despite already having its shingle hung on the newly remodeled strip center…
Kickass Names for MetroRail’s Newest Train Stops
Metro is throwing a competition to name 20 new stations along the upcoming East End, North and Southeast lines. Quoting their press release, or at least the one they released yesterday, Metro wants “to make sure these stations accurately reflect the character, culture and history of the vibrant communities they…
Comment of the Day
It appears EOW blogger Glenn Livet has an admirer. He wrote about happy hour at the 43rd, which has a spectacular view, even if the drinks were a bit lacking. And commenter KP loved it: Mr. Glenn Livet, I think I love you. What a story you tell; a picture…
Gabrielle Giffords: Out on the Town for a Dinner Date
Big scoop for CultureMap: Gabrielle Giffords left TIRR Sunday night for a dinner date at Grotto with her husband Mark Kelly. They were at the Grotto on the West Loop, not River Oaks. Tilman and Paige Fertitta were with them. CultureMap was sadly short on any details beyond that: Nothing…
Houston Astros’ Sobering Salary Story: Grading Ten Players
I recently saw some sort of metric that indicated that the top five percent richest Americans combined had amassed more wealth than the other 95 percent combined. Don’t quote me on that, but it was one of those “look how woefully disproportionate (and yet totally believable)” that statistic is. Baseball…
Food Fight: Battle Beignets
A few years ago, when I spent a month getting around Houston entirely by public transit, I found myself checking out from Central Market one warm spring evening at 10 p.m. It had just rained, and the air was fresh and cool, and I didn’t feel like waiting a half-hour…
Alvaro Guzman: Lakewood Church Volunteer Fondled Autistic Kid, Cops Say
A volunteer at Lakewood Church, Joel Osteen’s mega-temple to Christianity Lite, is being sought by police on charges he fondled an eight-year-old autistic boy. Alvaro Daniel Guzman, 25, allegedly committed the acts in February 2010, KHOU and other outlets are reporting. Court documents not yet available online allege that Guzman…
Last Year’s Top Baby Names, and More of Houston’s Oddest Ones
The Social Security Administration has released its official list of the top ten baby names for 2010. While people might be naming their boys like Biblical prophets, they seem to be naming their girls after spicy Italian or Latina movie stars. Without further ado, the top boys’ names are, in…
Dengue Fever: Nothing Lost In Translation
Cambodian pop-rock seems like an odd choice musical genre to try to earn a living, but Los Angeles-area sextet Dengue Fever is closing in on ten years. All signs are that the band is set for a much longer run: They’ve just released Cannibal Courtship, their fourth album and successor…
Brew Blog: Ranger Creek La Bestia Aimable
When I was in sixth grade, my family adopted a dog. Well, “adopted” might be a bit of a stretch. “Abducted” might be more appropriate. He’d been wandering around the neighborhood for a while, pretty clearly a dump-and-run, and I decided he should be our dog. I lured him into…
Robert Pattinson Loves Houston, and Is Eloquent About Why
Movie Trailers – Movies BlogRobert Pattinson, who we’re told stars in movies about vampires, thinks Houston is the besting-est city in America!!! Why? Here, verbatim, is why: “I love Houston. It’s just, I don’t know, I had a really good time there.” Well said, sir…
Five World Leaders In Search Of A Dance Instructor
Sure, Barack Obama’s speech announcing the death of Osama bin Laden was heavy with seriousness and sobreity. But don’t think Obama didn’t break out into his own version of Chris Turk’s I just won an argument/In your face/There’s a sale on lotion dance when he got the news of Osama…
Piranhas in Lake Woodlands!! Shoppers Beware!!!
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water….a piranha has been found in Lake Woodlands. The good news: It’s only “a cousin” to the piranha. The better news: This is “a vegetarian” type of piranha. Still, sophisticated scientific research has proven just what can happen:…
Serving Detention at Bernie’s Burger Bus
The parking lot at Inversion has become my newest food mecca for lightning-fast weekday lunches. The cozy coffee shop is close to the office, you can get a great cortado inside (as well as goodies from local bakers Michael’s Cookie Jar, Sinfull Bakery and Fluff Bake Bar), and nearly every…
It’s Roky Erickson! In Bobblehead Form!
The fine folks at punk toy firm Aggronautix, famous for their G.G. Allin and Keith Morris “throbbleheads,” have now outdone themselves with the release this week of their Roky Erickson figure. He’s depicted in his early ’80s, “Evil One” form, with full beard and thousand-yard stare. Rocks Off has long…
Voters to Representatives: Get Out of My Uterus and Do Your Job
On the day after the Texas Senate passed a bill requiring women to undergo mandatory transvaginal sonograms before getting an abortion, and on the same day the Lege passed a resolution celebrating Chicken Fried Steak Day (not kidding), the resounding call from voters all across the political spectrum has become…
The Best Prom Movie Moments Of All Time
It’s prom season again, and for parents and teens alike that means spending almost a thousand dollars on a dress you will wear once and more than likely throw on the floor of a beach house in a fit of hormone-driven passion. That’s not even adding in the hair and…
Happy Hour Scene: Getting High at 43rd
The Place: The 43rd 43rd floor, Wedge Tower 1415 Louisiana 713-739-5560 www.the43rd.com The Deals: $2.50 domestics, $3 select imports, $4 wells, $4 house wine The Hours: 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays (these are the only hours the bar is open – lunch is served from 11 a.m. to…
What Happened: 20 Lyrical Shots Of Tequila
“Tequila. Straight. There’s a real polite drink. You keep drinking until you finally take one more and it just won’t go down” – actor Lee Marvin (R.I.P.) How out of it is Rocks Off after Wednesday night’s sublime Arcade Fire show? Even though we’ve known about it for weeks, it…
Houston School Bus Ads: The Possibilities
The Houston school district cleverly rolled out its decision to place ads on school buses by having the first ad be from the College Board touting the value of a higher education. “Our students need to see what the research shows about the difference a college degree will make in…
Discount Dining: Yelapa Playa
Happy Cinco de Mayo! As the day has approached, I have been craving Mexican food. And last week I indulged those cravings with Mexican food three days in a row, including at Yelapa Playa Mexican Restaurant. Houston Entree was offering a limited number of $20 vouchers for $10 to Yelapa…
Tatsuya Nakatani: Japanese Master of the Cymbal and Gong Wows at a Private Residence
A woman, worried that the dozens of cymbals and gongs will be too much aural stimulation, moves from the front to the back of the performance space. Moments later, Tatsuya Nakatani creates slices of resonance by bowing five small bowls that sway back and forth on top of a floor…
Chane: Rapper’s Late Father Was Partner, Mentor, “Maestro”
This is our weekly Artist of the Week spotlight, and a continuation of an interview with rapper Chane that was started yesterday in the weekly Ask A Rapper column. Rocks Off: Were you ever of the brain that people might see the video as exploitative? For the record, we didn’t…
Houston “Best Bachelor” City: But Aren’t We Also Fattest, Sweatiest, Dumbest, Etc. Etc.?
Hair Balls was stoked by Houston’s ass-kicking turnout in recent national listings, including Fast Company’s “city of the year,” and Rent.com’s ranking of us as the best city for bachelors. The highly scientific Rent.com survey found that “with the city’s affordability and enticing first date hotspots, the dating pool is…
Chef Chat, Part 2: Jerry Jan of RA Sushi in City Centre
Yesterday, we caught up with RA Sushi’s Jerry Jan about all things sushi. Today, we focus on his kitchen and life at RA Sushi (CityCentre). EOW: How long has this RA Sushi (at CityCentre) been open? JJ: This one opened in July 2009. EOW: Can you tell me a little…
TSOL: This American Demon Could “Taste The Blood”
Jack Grisham, singer of beach boys gone berserk TSOL, is a tour de force of American punk history still operating in full-bore form. His new memoir, An American Demon, which surveys his cataclysmic youth and early career, is not for the timid and meek. Like a meld of Oscar Wilde’s…
HISD’s Computer System Needs Overhaul, Big Bucks
Houston ISD’s computer systems need an overhaul, unity and a service desk that deals with really urgent matters instead of spending a lot of its time replacing lost passwords for district personnel. IT employees also need to think a lot more about the needs of students. That’s just a few…
Bloody Marys and Blues at Danton’s Sunday Brunch
I tend to like gospel brunches in theory. It’s the execution that is often uneven. At the House of Blues, the show itself is usually fabulous, but the food is overpriced and weary. While at Stubbs in Austin, on the other hand, the food is much better — and there’s…
Funny, Gruesome, Beautiful Monster at the Door
The setup: Gregory Boyd certainly has an eye for young talent. A few years ago he invited then nearly unknown playwright Rajiv Joseph to become an Alley Company Artist, and in 2009 the company staged a world premiere of his Gruesome Playground Injuries. Now Boyd has dibs on another Joseph…
Stevie Nicks, Forever The Gypsy
Tuesday, Stevie Nicks released her first solo album in a decade, In Your Dreams. After looking at promos for the album, Rocks Off is convinced that as often as she’s denied “rumours” of witchcraft, the singer may actually be a witch. She has to be – she doesn’t look like…
Who Knew Closing One Block of Smith Street Could Be Such a Pain in the Ass?
For a week or so — and for the next three months — drivers have been dealing with the closure of Smith Street between Franklin and Congress while TxDOT does some bridge repair. One block: No big deal, right? It turns out that block of Smith Street is apparently the…
Crawfish and Jambalaya Stuffed Chicken…from Buc-ee’s
My girlfriends and I have started a ritual of semi-weekly get-togethers over beer, wine and a home-cooked meal. On the menu last week was a Crawfish and Jambalaya Stuffed Chicken a friend picked up at an interstate gas station on the way back from San Antonio. Normally the suggestion of…
Idol Beat: Not So Fast, Five
Dear American Idol: I don’t like you – I think that’s been pretty well established at this point – and I know you don’t like me, otherwise you wouldn’t still be dragging along for 90 minutes on Wednesday even though there are only five contestants left, and singing two songs…
Idol Beat: Five For Fighting
Dear American Idol: I don’t like you – I think that’s been pretty well established at this point – and I know you don’t like me, otherwise you wouldn’t still be dragging along for 90 minutes on Wednesday even though there are only five contestants left, and singing two songs…
La Plaza’s Huevos Rancheros
Have you really ever eaten bad huevos rancheros? I haven’t. It typically comes down either a “very good” or “damn fine” ranking. La Plaza Mexican Restaurant’s take on this Tex-Mex classic falls into the latter category. For around $5, you get the picture above–two eggs over-easy, topped with that heavenly…
The Voice Week 2: Another Texan in the Mix
Last week’s premier of The Voice on NBC had me a little worried that Christina Aguilera and Adam Levine were going for a knock-off version of American Idol’s Paula Abdul/Simon Cowell relationship. This week, we were subjected to a lot less snark from the two of them and the episode…
Comment of the Day: Other Crushing False Quotes
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…
Last Night: Arcade Fire At Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Arcade Fire, Explosions In the Sky Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion May 4, 2011 Check out pics of Arcade Fire’s intimate concert in our slideshow. It was a sort of homecoming for titanic indie-rockers Arcade Fire Wednesday night in the Woodlands, as the band returned to Houston after five momentous years…
Celebrity Siblings Who Got the Shaft
This weekend, comedian and Dave Chapelle pal Charlie Murphy will be performing at the Improv. If you’ve seen Charlie on Chapelle’s Show, you know of his brilliant re-tellings of “True Hollywood Stories.” The slow rhythm of his comedy is the antithesis to his brother Eddie’s hectic-paced banter. Yes, Charlie and…
Pop Rocks: The Case For Internet Piracy
What follows is a more or less accurate transcript of a conversation I had yesterday: Me: Looks like that charity album for Japan raised $5 million. Not bad. They: Which one, Songs for Japan? I downloaded that last week. Me: You…downloaded a charity album? They: No! I mean, not all…
Pop Rocks: Download This – Why Piracy Is Necessary
What follows is a more or less accurate transcript of a conversation I had yesterday: Me: Looks like that charity album for Japan raised $5 million. Not bad. They: Which one, Songs for Japan? I downloaded that last week. Me: You…downloaded a charity album? They: No! I mean, not all…
Lions of Tsavo Hate Your Puny Humanity
For a while, Rocks Off worked at our day job with our drummer, and we would play a game involving the band we were writing about that day. We’d come running over to his desk in our socks and scream out the name of the band, and he would guess…
Street Art: An Interactive Map of Houston’s Best
Local documentarian Alex “Pr!mo” Luster is the subject of this week’s cover story. We covered his outstanding new film Stick ‘Em Up!, his bicultural upbringing, a near-death experience on the mean streets of Southwest Houston, and his early career as a 14-year-old TV news pro in detail here. We also…
100 Creatives: Mary Magsamen
What she does: “Can we be simultaneously happy and sad with our lives? Can we feel love and hate for our family and possessions?” This is what Mary Magsamen, Houston video artist and curator, explores through her art. Magsamen both curates for the Aurora Picture Show and collaborates with her…
How-to Guide for Boiling Crawfish
It’s time to get your boil on now that you’ve got the gear. You will receive lots of advice from friends, neighbors, your in-laws and anyone else who thinks that they know what they’re doing. Boiling crawfish is just like any other form of Louisiana cooking. It’s equal parts recipe,…
The Five Stages of Cinco de Mayo Drunkenness: A Chart
Today is Cinco de Mayo, which means a lot of people who normally don’t drink margaritas or tequila will be partaking of those things. And there’s usually hell to pay. Especially if you’re a white dude or dudess with a group of friends around a bar table. Having membership in…
Cheaper to Keep Her
The topic of divorce settlements has been tackled before (most famously by Eddie Murphy in Raw), but playwright Je’Caryous Johnson raises the stakes in his Cheaper to Keep Her. When the judge slams the gavel in the case of Mays vs. Mays, Raymond (Brian McKnight) has been taken for everything…
“Musicians Who Make Art”
“Musicians Who Make Art” is the latest artistic endeavor from Melissa Noble, guest curator for the show opening at the Art Car Museum. Noble has been an active fixture in Houston’s art scene for more than 30 years. An exhibit at the Museum of Texas Art and Music in Gruene,…
Tower of Power
This coming August, Tower of Power will celebrate 43 years as a band. Currently standing at ten members, the Bay Area-based group includes four of the founders: Emilio Castillo, Rocco Prestia, Stephen Kupka and David Garibaldi. Tower of Power is known for its tight horn section. Actually, “tight” doesn’t quite…
Doc Severinsen and the San Miguel Five
Best known as the musical director of the Tonight Show band, Doc Severinsen has been playing the trumpet for some 77 years (the 84-year-old started when he was just seven). That’s a long time for any musician to be performing, but for a trumpet player, 77 years is three lifetimes…
TSOL
Like fellow Southern California punk stalwarts Agent Orange and Social Distortion, TSOL remain resilient and restless, bulldozing through ever-changing pop trends with consistency and coherence. Unlike those contenders, the burly men behind the miscreant melodies of “Code Blue” and “Die For Me” remain an intact brotherhood, minus the death of…
Juan Villareal
Spend your Cinco de Mayo laughing with local comedian Juan Villareal. He’s usually on the road touring with folks like Carlos Mencia, but he’s coming home for a three-night stand at Comedy Showcase. Villareal calls himself “a down-to-earth fucker,” and fans find the tag appropriate. While other comedians do political…
Third Course: Spring Mixed Rep
If the dance season must draw to a close, it might as well end with some greatest hits. With Third Course: Spring Mixed Rep, the Dominic Walsh Dance Theater performs new and old favorites, highlighting Walsh’s penchant for eclectic sources of inspiration. Time Out of Line, a new work, incorporates…
Rubber
There have been a series of murders and animal mutilations. The suspect’s name is Robert, he stands about two feet tall and he’s a tire. Rubber, directed by Quentin Dupieux, is a film about a tire, left for junk in the dessert, that comes to life. While rolling along, he…
Capsule Art Reviews: “Elaine Bradford: The Sidereal” “Heinrich Kühn: The Perfect Photograph” “Measured: Lawndale Artist Studio Program Exhibition” “Perspectives 174: Re: Generation” “Regine Schumann: Chameleon” “The Whole World Was Watching: Civil R
“Elaine Bradford: The Sidereal” There are stores known for doing “artsy” window displays, but artists still come up with the best stuff. The Dallas Art Fair recently organized a series of window installations by artists in the windows of Dallas’s downtown Neiman Marcus, and the Blaffer Art Museum is taking…
Echo & the Bunnymen
Posters festooned around Warehouse Live for the past couple of months have advertised Echo & the Bunnymen’s Friday show as “A Master Class in Rock and Roll” — a typically grandiose pronouncement from the mind of seldom-bashful front man Ian McCulloch, perhaps, but not that far off the mark either…
TSOL
Like fellow Southern California punk stalwarts Agent Orange and Social Distortion, TSOL remains resilient and restless, bulldozing through ever-changing pop trends with consistency and coherence. Unlike those contenders, the burly men behind the miscreant melodies of “Code Blue” and “Die for Me” remain an intact brotherhood, minus the death of…
Rusko
Christopher Mercer, better known as dubstep purveyor Rusko, isn’t really interested in drawing connections between electronic beats and the spaced-out sounds of Jamaican dub — he wants to party. His take on the rapidly expanding genre is closer to the intersection of trunk-rattling bass music and pop, a concoction mixed…
Dengue Fever
Formed in 2001, Dengue Fever has been one of the most enduring, hype-sustaining acts in the L.A. area since its inception, largely because there’s not another band in the universe that does what they do. Theirs is a timeless, genreless, polyglot sound forged of surf guitar, space rock, Afro rhythms…
Clan of Xymox
Whether Ronny Moorings and his band of goth pioneers are sporting the Clan label or not, there’s no doubt that Xymox remains one of the most influential and exciting acts in the world of spooky electronica, going strong for 30 years now. The band’s 1989 LP Twist of Shadows remains…
Kylie Minogue
American audiences were first given a taste of Aussie pop pinup Kylie Minogue with 1987’s hit cover of Little Eva’s Goffin/King-penned “The Loco-Motion,” and since then she has managed to stay relevant both here and abroad while aging like a fine wine, acting and recording more music. Eliciting the same…
Capsule Stage Reviews: Come Back, Little Sheba, Four Places, A Murder Is Announced, Our New Age of Information
Come Back, Little Sheba Never has a bottle of whiskey perked up a play so much. Until Doc (Mack Hays) careens into the kitchen, screaming, taunting and threatening his wife Lola (Tess Wells) with an axe, the everyday sadness of life — which playwright William Inge was a master at…
Black Label Society
We really can’t imagine anyone not wanting to spend one night on a blessed metal hellride with Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society. The former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist, who left after Ozz’s 2007 album Black Rain, has been running the BLS tribe since 1998’s debut album, Sonic Brew. Mixing Southern rock…
Jamey Johnson
Here are some things you’ll find on Jamey Johnson’s latest album, 2010’s The Guitar Song: Three songs (“Lonely at the Top,” “Poor Man Blues,” “Can’t Cash My Checks”) explicitly addressing class differences, the last one featuring a verse about harvesting marijuana even more redolent of Weeds than the one on…
Can a Gabacho be More Mexican than a Mexican?
Dear Mexican, Please settle a dispute. I’m an Anglo living and working in Mexico for years, in Culiacán, Sinaloa (I married one of the famous Sinaloa beauties). My Spanish is passable and I live and function in Spanish. Where I live, there are virtually no other North Americans, other than…
Dirty Shirts
In the surly and shoegazey musical climate of the ’90s, New York’s Jon Spencer Blues Explosion stuck out like a sore thumb. Sure, they were as loud as Soundgarden or My Bloody Valentine. Louder, maybe, because Spencer, guitarist Judah Bauer and drummer Russell Simins all came up through the East…
Shisha and Chardonnay
Check out the kitchen and dining room at Skewers in our slideshow. I spent a leisurely evening last week at Skewers sitting on the breezy patio with some crisp Lebanese wine and my friend Jessica, who is shortly moving to Turkey. In retrospect, for our last meal together, perhaps I…
Blessed
Bob Dylan dissed Lucinda Williams. Or so says her sister. Williams admits she doesn’t remember herself, but says the sight of her signing autographs after a recent Indianapolis gig caused her sister to flash back to when the siblings were 12 and nine and Lucinda insisted her younger sister accompany…
Sloppy Seconds
Something Borrowed is based on a 2005 work of chick literature by Emily Giffin. It was directed with extraordinary impersonality by Luke Greenfield (Rob Schneider’s The Animal), and produced by Hilary Swank in collaboration, apparently, with the restaurant Shake Shack — one of the lifestyle brands prominently featured in this…
Sublime Strauss
The physical production of Houston Grand Opera’s Ariadne auf Naxos is ravishing. But just wait until you hear the sublime music and the singing. At the turn of the 20th century, German composer Richard Strauss, who had become an international sensation with lavish orchestral works (Don Juan, Thus Spoke Zarathustra,…
Up From the Underground
When he finally dragged himself out of bed late the next morning, the magic of the previous evening would seem like a dream to Alex “Pr!mo” Luster. It would only feel real when he picked up his smartphone — the device told him he had too many messages and e-mails…
Set Your Sails
Let’s be clear about this: The Nightfly is not certain what a stripper smells like. We have an idea of what a stripper might smell like — probably fruity, and maybe a little like despair — but that’s about it. Three Sheets Bar & Grill (1900 S. Kirkwood) is a…
Sex Dolls & Texans
TEXAS, WHATEVER Sex Dolls & Texans The men who love pseudo-women By Craig Malisow While intending to Google “existentialism and Sartre,” Hair Balls accidentally typed “sex dolls Texas,” and wound up at The Doll Forum: A Meeting Place for Love Doll Owners & Admirers. Just as we were about to…
Trade Off
Trade Off Online readers comment on “Efficiencies,” by Margaret Downing, April 14: Teach job skills: Unfortunately, the public school system has mostly turned away from teaching real-life job skills and instead is intent on preparing every student for college. The fact is, not every student is going to college, or…
