Attention Readers: Music Award Nominees Should Be From, You Know, Houston
When our Rocks Off blog got back from lunch today, a colleague had put a completed Houston Press Music Awards nomination ballot in his mailbox with an attached Post-It note that said “Best Ballot Ever.” Rocks Off read it over, and it was both hilarious and heartbreaking. The young gentleman…
Health Department Roundup: Giant Candle Edition
The violations in the Health Department’s online reports aren’t always clear (what exactly does “Unapproved use of ‘V’ threads on food contact surface” mean?), and they’ll sometimes test your gag reflex (“Raw partially cooked food served or offered for sale”). But that’s part of their charm. Here are this week’s…
Attention Readers: Music Award Nominees Should Be From, You Know, Houston
When Rocks Off got back from lunch today, a colleague had put a completed Houston Press Music Awards nomination ballot in his mailbox with an attached Post-It note that said “Best Ballot Ever.” Rocks Off read it over, and it was both hilarious and heartbreaking. The young gentleman from Midtown…
Chronicle’s Political Writer Takes A Job With The Sheriff
Alan Bernstein, the longtime political reporter for the Houston Chronicle, is quitting the paper to join the staff of Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia.Bernstein ends his 29 years at the Chron Friday and starts with Garcia at the end of the month.”I got an unsolicited job offer and I investigated…
Scott H. Biram Is “Still Drunk, Still Crazy, Still Blue”
Attention Houston musicians: you too can have your MP3s posted – if we think they’re decent enough – by sending them here. Bloodshot Records Austin gutbucket blues maven Scott H. Biram has long been a favorite of Rocks Off, both personally and musically. The dude’s songs go down like a…
The Institute For Justice Triumphs Over the Feared, But Well-Appointed, Interior-Designer Cabal
The epic, no-holds-barred, deathmatch among the people who decide if that throw rug in your living room is declasse or not has ended.Two groups went in; one group came out. And it was The People!! The amateurs-with-attitude who dared to take on the ogreish cabal of professional interior designers.As we…
Homemade Hamburguesa Tortas
In this week’s Cafe review, I visit Tortas El Angel and other torta shops around town looking for the perfect hamburger torta. The problem with all the ones I tried was the hamburger patty — it was too thin. In the end, I made the best hamburger torta at home…
Craigslist To Give Up “Erotic Services” Ads
Craigslist — which we recently described in a feature as being at a crossroads — seems to have decided which road to take.Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan announced the company will be dropping its “Erotic Services” ads.The ads have played a role in a series of recent murders and other…
Tonight: Arjun and Guardians at Jennyoga
“Arjun’s unique style of music mixes reggae with eastern vocals. From 1996 to 1997, he performed kirtan at the yoga center Jivamukti, a place where notable influences Krishna Das and Bhagavan Das regularly attended. This inspired Arjun to travel to India in 1998. He spent his time chanting at temples…
That Pavilion No One Uses At Galveston’s Seawolf Park To Be Replaced
Pretty much no one ever goes to visit the modernistic white pavilion at Galveston’s Seawolf Park.Now they never will.The building, which is mostly a kind of visual landmark seen by people cruising on the ferry, was heavily damaged by Ike. Since it was a bit of a white elephant, the…
Las Delicias Mexicanas
Las Delicias, a new wholesale/retail store on Airline Boulevard just up from Teotihuacan, is selling traditional Mexican candies. There’s the variety made by cooking fresh fruits and vegetables (pumpkin, for example) in sugar syrup, and also ate, a fresh-fruit puree in bar form, hard candies, chocolate-covered peanut marzipan, and the…
Tonight: Elvis Perkins in Dearland at Walter’s on Washington
All too often, the “folk singer/songwriter” label is a warning shot, promising pseudo protest music, self-indulgent hippie strumming, mid-tempo banality, coffee shops in Boulder, sometimes all four at once. Elvis Perkins is not that kind of singer/songwriter. For Perkins, the label is merely a descriptor for the fact that he…
For Wayne Dolcefino’s Probation: Five Trespassing Movies
KTRK’s investigative reporter Wayne Dolcefino has done a fair amount of good, exposing mismanagement of taxpayer dollars and safety issues concerning the fire department and public schools.Then again, he also devotes significant energy to rooting out handicapped-parking cheats and wading chest-deep into floodwaters during tropical storms, all in that inimitable…
Local Self-Described Rap Supergroup Admires… Nickelback?
Photo by Paul Knight Young Problemz, a self-described “supergroup” of local rap talent, joined Mike Jones Monday evening at the Arena Theatre, and the group’s “Boi” was one of the high points, if not the high point of the night. The five Houston-bred performers – Chyco, Just-O, JM, J Yung…
The Rockets, Joining The Pantheon Of Those Who Gave Up Surprising Momentum
Hey, how’d those Rockets do last night?!Oh.In case you missed it, Our Rockets (and by “Our,” we mean “team we started cheering for a week ago”), got shellacked by the Lakers 118-78. Everyone had expected the injury-riddled Houston team to lose like that — in Sunday’s game, which they had…
Artist of the Week: OSIRUS
There comes a time in every man’s life when he has to ask himself one serious question: Am I a fan of polished alt-rock? Prior to a few weeks ago, we would’ve answered that with a succinct, if not curt, “no, bitch.” The grittier stuff, we like. The experimental stuff…
Wayne Dolcefino — The Mugshot
The legendary Wayne Dolcefino has pled no contest to trespassing charges in connection with an Austin County incident.He got onto the farm/ranch property of a Houston architect who was part of an expose on Harris County contracts. We’re somehow thinking shaky hand-held cameras and hidden devices were involved.He’ll do some…
Lonesome Onry and Mean: A Twofer from the Ol’ Possum
Since we’ve been debating the good, bad and ugly of honky-tonk in these (Web) pages lately, this marks a good point to announce the new American Beat/Sony reissue of two George Jones classics, 1972’s A Picture of Me (Without You) and the next year’s Nothing Ever Hurt Me (Half As Bad…
Texas Traveler: Eating in the Alamo City
Chef Scott Cohen was trying out some new sandwiches for the summer menu when I stopped by San Antonio’s hottest new restaurant, Brasserie Pavil on Loop 1604 at Huebner. When I first walked in the door and took in the high ceilings and dark wood, I was immediately reminded of…
Texas Traveler: Eating in the Alamo City
Chef Scott Cohen was trying out some new sandwiches for the summer menu when I stopped by San Antonio’s hottest new restaurant, Brasserie Pavil on Loop 1604 at Huebner. When I first walked in the door and took in the high ceilings and dark wood, I was immediately reminded of…
Departing From IAH: A Journey Back To World War II
Clyde Gilmore flew 21 combat missions as a radio gunner in World War II. During one, his plane lost two engines over the target and crash-landed in Brussels. The army sent a B-24 to pick him up. For Gilmore and other members of his 95th Bomb Group, time between…
Idol Beat: The Top Three
Disclaimer: Thanks to technical difficulties brought about by the crap DVR capture feature of our limp-ass new cable box/provider, I missed the first 15-20 minutes of Tuesday’s episode of American Idol. Please feel free to attempt to conjecture about whatever you think I would have said – had I been…
Texas Monthly Hates Houston Sports Columnists, Others
A month ago Texas Monthly editor Jake Silverstein promised subscribers an upcoming Gary Cartwright “screed” against modern-day sportswriting, and it’s here.And it bored, mostly. Precis: No one writes as good as we did back in the old days.At least Cartwright calls people out by name: Cedric Golden and Kirk Bohls…
Tonight: Volbeat at Warehouse Live
Every time us Yanks think we’ve got the market cornered on strangeness, along come those darn Europeans to show us how much we still have to learn. It’s most entertaining when they do it by re-interpreting classic American concepts such as gangsters, country music and punk rock as interpreted by…
Cooked Oyster Season: Big Easy Erster and Artichoke Soup
The weather has turned warm and I have stopped eating raw oysters. But the oyster season isn’t over yet. I bought a gallon of shucked oysters from Croatian oysterman Misho Ivic down in San Leon and I am cooking up a storm with them. Go buy yourself a couple of…
More (Somewhat Meandering, But Nevertheless Entertaining) Tales Of BARC Incompetence
We’re pretty sure the dude who coined that phrase about a hard task being akin to “nailing jelly to a wall” wasn’t referring to getting news out of BARC, but he could’ve been.For one thing, Health and Human Services did not tell the media when BARC hired its new chief,…
Aftermath: Fake Problems and Born Anchor at Walter’s on Washington
Photos by Craig Hlavaty On a Monday night, all you can really look forward to is a decent evening of lackluster television and maybe some leftover barbecue from the weekend’s flame-kissed debauchery. But last night at Walter’s was the exact anecdote for a “case of da Mondays” in so many…
All the Katy Perry You’re Going to Get, Because She Just Canceled Her Show
Update: Tonight’s Katy Perry show at House of Blues has been CANCELED due to Perry’s illness, says promoter Live Nation. Perry is expected to announce a make-up date soon, and all tickets for tonight’s show, which was itself postponed from March, will be honored. She’ll be here eventually, we guess,…
Houston Has A Good Recycling Idea? Unpossible!
Strange as it may seem, Houston — The City That Recycling Forgot — has implemented a nifty new program that helps the environment.Two weeks ago it opened a Houston Building Materials Reuse Center that helps contractors pick up environmental brownie points and save money, and lets non-profit groups get a…
Fresh Pinto Beans J’Arrivee!
Pinto beans have a very short season, which is why you hardly ever see them fresh. But fresh pinto beans, when boiled with a little cilantro, salt, butter and onion, are absolutely delicious. The center is creamy, with the consistency of a chocolate truffle. Dried pintos can be gritty. Ray’s…
Cover Over That Huge Landfill With A Small Crust Of Grass
What do you do when a company wins the right to put up a 170-foot tall landfill near you?You make lemonade out of lemons, or out of indestructible, non-recyclable plastic containers of lemonade.Via Swamplot comes this video by Lysle Oliveros, a student at the Rice School of Architecture. The video,…
Sarah Palin Takes On The Crackhos of Houston
You better darn-tootin’ not hijack an official Web site from Sarah Palin’s State of Alaska. Houston DJ and nightlife ne’er-do-well Shoe Latif recently found that out the hard way when she got a cease-and-desist letter from the flinty-eyed legal eagles in Palin’s Attorney General’s office. And no, Palin didn’t enclose…
The Statement Of The Woman Who Brought Down Judge Kent
The Chronicle has helpfully posted the full text of the statement that Cathy McBroom, the woman who had the guts to stand up to feel-copping federal judge Sam Kent, gave at his sentencing hearing. The five pages are well worth reading.McBroom describes a drunken Kent groping her just 10 feet…
Distant Early Warning: Asher Roth, Dax Riggs, Franz Ferdinand, Peter Frampton and More
Ace Enders, Person L, The Gay Blades, The Dangerous Summer: Wed., July 15. The Java Jazz. Asher Roth, Kid Cudi: Fri., July 31. House of Blues. “The Battle Of Sam: Battle Of The Bands”: Sat., June 6. The Showgrounds @ Sam Houston Race Park. Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp:…
Reeling Aeros Face Elimination Tomorrow Night
Thursday night, Houston Aeros goalie Anton Khudobin stood on top of the world. He had just shut out the Milwaukee Admirals to put the Aeros up 3-1 in their best-of-seven series. It was his birthday, and he was standing at center ice as over 3,100 people sang Happy Birthday to…
Houston (Kinda) Hitting The Big Screen Again
Chances have improved that we’ll be seeing Open Road, a movie that takes place at least partly in Houston. The film picked up a distributor yesterday.And why shouldn’t it? The cast includes noted motherlover Justin Timberlake, Jeff Bridges, Mary Steenbergen, Harry Dean Stanton and Lyle Lovett. Wim Wenders is the…
Flannel File: Swervedriver’s Raise and Mezcal Head
In my last Flannel File entry, I talked about March’s big reissue of Pearl Jam’s Ten. This time, I want to look at a “little” reissue set from January: Swervedriver’s Raise and Mezcal Head. Like Jawbox or Sloan, Swervedriver had a pretty low profile among suburban youth of the early…
HISD’s Former Board President Moves On In Portland
Cathy Mincberg, the longtime political semi-honcho who once was HISD’s board president and left the district as its chief business officer, is now leaving her latest gig.She had been chief operations officer of the Portland school system, but now she is becoming the V-P and chief academic officer for, ummm,…
Lonesome Onry and Mean: R.I.P. Stephen Bruton
Photos courtesy New West Records Stephen Bruton, one of Austin’s great pickers, songwriters, and good citizens, died Saturday of throat cancer, which he had battled for years, according to a press release by his label, New West Records. The 60-year-old Bruton came out of the school of influential Fort Worth…
Why I’d Sleep With The PC Guy Over That Mac Guy Asshole
I think Apple’s “Get a Mac” ad campaign is backfiring. At least for me.The series of television commercials, which stars a laid back hipster (Justin Long) as the Mac Guy and a pudgy, nerdy schlub (John Hodgman) as the PC Guy, is actually making me hate Macs. Why? Well, frankly…
Pico’s Bakery: Sand Crabs?
The cinnamon-covered pastries at Pico’s Bakery were called congrejos, which is Spanish for crabs. They did look like crusteceans with their claws aimed forward. They were so darn cute I bought one and took a big bite hoping for the best. It must have been a sand crab because it…
Cure For Swine Flu Is Here!!!
Well, maybe the cure for swine flu is here.Note to self: The BBQ fund-raisers at Stafford’s Calvary Church are probably not worth the drive. On the other hand, someone definitely should tell the Centers for Disease Control about this…
Is The Woodlands Getting a Minor-League Baseball Team?
Well, not that Rocks Off knows of – although, really, what are you people waiting for up there? – but according to our colleagues at 29-95.com, Bob Dylan, John Mellencamp and Willie Nelson will throw a few high and outside at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion August 2, with tickets…
Where Are We Eating?
Two weeks of too easy has led to a (hopefully) harder entry for this week’s Where Are We Eating? The rules are the same: guess the restaurant featured in the photo below and leave your answer in the comments section. Good luck!…
Proud Of Your Tattoos — Even During A Bank Robbery
Here’s today’s tip for Houston bank robbers: If the FBI’s press release about you is able to note a detail like “he even had a skull tattooed on the back of his head,” you’re probably not taking that extra step to disguise your identity.Now, if you hang out in a…
Flipping Out: We’ve Got a Flip Camera and Aren’t Afraid to Use It
Rocks Off’s latest toy is one of those nifty Flip mini-camcorders you can check out here, and coming soon to a concert near you, Houston. We gave it a test run at Ghostland Observatory Saturday evening at Sam Houston Race Park… “Sad Sad City” Photo and video by Craig Hlavaty…
La Marque Elects First Black Female Mayor In Galveston County
Galveston County’s been around for a while — you could argue modern Texas began there, with the unfortunate meetings between Spanish explorers and natives — but it has never, in any of its towns, had a black female mayor.That changed over the weekend, when League City La Marque voters elected…
Where Does Sunday’s Rockets Victory Rank? It’ll Have To Top These To Make The Top Five
Where does yesterday’s deceptively close 99-87 shellacking of the Lakers rank in the annals of great Rockets victories? It’s too soon to tell. If they build on that win by taking this series and then slip into their fifth NBA finals, minus not just Yao but also his geriatric Congolese…
Federal Judge Sam Kent Gets Less Than Three Years In Prison
You’re a federal judge with a lifetime job, pretty much as untouchable as God. You decide to use your powerful position to procure cheap feels on secretaries working for you (and dreading it, no doubt).Somehow, someone has the sack to come forward, and you plead guilty, with all the usual…
Surprise, Surprise: Motley Crue Can’t Remember Most of Dr. Feelgood
Sometimes when Rocks Off has had a little too much to drink, he has a little trouble remembering specific details of the night before, like how he got back upstairs. If pen and paper are handy, he’ll occasionally scratch out a paragraph or two of semi-coherent, semi-legible prose, but he’s certainly…
The Miniature Horse Show: Because You Need To Know
Photos by Paul KnightThe Greater Houston Miniature Horse Club was out in Katy this weekend hosting a horse show, and Hair Balls paid a visit to find out what the animal is all about.Miniature horses look eerily similar to real horses — exactly almost — but smaller. The mini-horse club…
Snackshot: Muffaletta Burger
This week’s Snackshot comes to us courtesy of Erika Ray and Hubcap Grill: From the photographer’s description: “Now, Michael is from New Orleans and knows his muffalettas. He knows the difference between a great muffaletta burger, a mediocre muffaletta burger and a that’s-for-people-who-don’t-know-any-better muffaletta burger. This one was described as…
Sunday’s Walk for the Breast Cancer Network of Strength
Betty Trobaugh was there in a wheelchair. She enlisted the help of her three daughters to push her through the three-mile course. The first half of the non-competitive walk which started at Sam Houston Park and went down Allen Parkway wasn’t bad — all downhill. Coming back after the turn…
Aftermath: Buzzfest at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Fans of all ages – teens who came for Anberlin and Framing Hanley, Baby Boomers who came to jam out to the Toadies, diehard Korn fans – started packing in the pavilion as early as noon. The well-organized festival made it possible for fans to watch a brief, but satisfying,…
You’re In Harris County Jail? You Ain’t Getting Your Health Records
Matthew Collazo, an inmate at the Harris County jail, has a series of bumps under his skin that are troubling him. He wants to see an outside doctor to make sure he is healthy, and needs his medical records from the jail. He asked for them in writing, but officials…
Despite Sweep, All’s Not Well With Astros
Congratulations are in store for the Houston Astros who, this weekend, got their first three-game sweep of the season by beating up the moribund San Diego Padres. Of course, the Astros didn’t have to face Padres ace Jake Peavy in this series, and they struggled in all three games.But despite…
Turning the Screw: Bun B, Trae & Lil Keke, Rihanna, Snoop, Eminem vs. Nick Cannon, Jay-Z, T.I., E-40, South Park Mexican and More
Welcome back to Turning the Screw, Rocks Off’s weekly rap post. It probably won’t rhyme, at least most of the time. E-mail tips to introducingliston@gmail.com. Thanks, homies. Single of the Week: “Grey Cassette,” Trae feat Bun B and Lil Keke Wire To Wire Ummm, we’re not going to link to…
And Your 2009 Art Car Winners Are………
The 2009 Art Car parade featured terrific weather (C’mon, everyone likes it hot), a big crowd and lots of fun. In other words, it was your typical Art Car parade. Here’s some video of it.And here is the (long) list of winners……..Mayor’s Cup — Grand Trophy & $1,500California Fantasy Van…
Lost Tuneage: Uriah Heep
www.uriah-heep.com Who ‘Dat? The English-bred Uriah Heep sprung from the axis of Mick Box (guitar) and David Byron (vocals). The pair had worked together in both the Stalkers and Spice before hooking up with manager/molder Gerry Bron. A big Vanilla Fudge fan, Box wanted the band to have a prominent…
Aggies Get Themselves A Child Prodigy
Child prodigies are a delicate bunch, as evidenced by this girl, and a nine-year-old Houston boy is in that group.He’s Adam Atanas and he recently finished a semester of physics classes at Texas A&M. “It’s very easy to see them as little circus monkeys and they’re not,” says Dr. David…
Lonesome Onry and Mean: Forever Changes Never Does
Love’s Forever Changes is a crucial element of the soundtrack of my coming of age. With its acoustic guitar base, smart orchestral arrangements (strings and mariachi horns), art-rock feel and poppy lyrics, it stands apart from the most of the music of the psychedelic era. The album is best known…
Texas Traveler: Livingston Trade Days
Photos by Brittanie SheyGood eats: armadillo eggs and homemade banana pudding If the span of time between the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo in spring and the State Fair of Texas in fall is just too long for you, you can satisfy your lust for the unnecessary consumption of crap…
Morning Metal: Marilyn Manson’s “Arma… Geddon”
Welcome to the first installment of “Morning Metal,” where Rocks Off attempts to wake your lazy asses up with a fistful of metal. We don’t intend to actually shove any ferrous materials into your anus, but look, it’s better than an alarm clock. You can bet cold hard cash that…
No Yao, No T-Mac, No Problem: Hayes Sets Tone As Rockets Tie Series
The opening to the Rockets’ player introductions sounded as unlikely and frightening as the task of defeating the vaunted Lakers without Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady. Somehow, “a 6-foot-6 center out of Kentucky” didn’t deliver the same punch and energy as the booming “7-foot-6 center from China” usually does at…
Rubber Chickens and Ping Pong Balls: The Best of the Art Car Parade
Yesterday’s 22nd annual Art Car Parade was crowded and sweltering, but at least there were giant roaches on wheels. Check out our video from the parade to see our choices for Best Animal Art Cars, Best Musical Arts Cars and Best WTF? Cars. Which art car was your favorite this…
Game 3: Early Missed Opportunities Haunt Rockets
The box score to Game 3 shows the second period as the only frame in which the Rockets weren’t outscored on Friday night at Toyota Center. But in reality, it proved pivotal in Houston’s 108-94 loss, which allowed Los Angeles to take a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series. The…
How to Cook a Cow Head
Looking for a fun project this weekend? I recommend you go to your nearest Fiesta Supermarket, buy yourself a cow head and make some delicious barbacoa. You’ll need a large barbecue unit–like a barrel smoker, a big aluminum roasting pan, and a whole lot of patience. The complete recipe for…
Added Art Car Parade Bonus (Of A Sort): Dave Ward’s Socks
If you’re going to Saturday’s Art Car Parade, here’s one tricked-out vehicle you’ll probably see: an assisted living center bus festooned with over 2,000 socks.Titled “Sock it to Me,” the entry is the work of some dedicated seniors from the Hampton at Tanglewood center, including a 103-year-old sock-artisan named Gertrude,…
Spec’s Wine & Cheese Festival Goes Cheese-Only, For Some Reason
Spec’s downtown on Smith is always busy on a Friday afternoon with patrons arming themselves with enough adult drinks to make it through the weekend.Today was extra special. Booths were lined up out front and employees had on special Spec’s Cheese and Wine Festival T-shirts.Except Spec’s had a real party…
Spec’s Wine & Cheese Festival Goes Cheese-Only, For Some Reason
Spec’s downtown on Smith is always busy on a Friday afternoon with patrons arming themselves with enough adult drinks to make it through the weekend.Today was extra special. Booths were lined up out front and employees had on special Spec’s Cheese and Wine Festival T-shirts.Except Spec’s had a real party…
This Week In Deliciousness
Welcome back to the weekly Eating Our Words round-up! This week started out with more Cinco de Mayo fare and the triumphant return of Robb Walsh with his Top 5 Cinco de Mayo Mariachi Requests which, intentionally or not, pretty accurately take you through the five stages of getting truly…
Before We Go: Odds and Ends on Mechanical Boy, George Strait, Future Blondes and More
“SWING LOW AND CARRY ME HOME” By Mechanical Boy from Michael Fodera on Vimeo. It’s about time for Rocks Off to head off to the bunkhouse for some much-needed R&R, but first here’s a few final tidbits that have recently come to our attention. Mechanical Boy just released its first…
Spanking, Drugs & Sex: That’s Life In Tomball
A Tomball woman who spent three nights in jail for spanking her teenage daughter has had all charges against her dropped, KHOU reports.Karen McAdams told police she spanked her 15-year-old daughter after finding condoms and drug paraphenalia in her closet. Tomball police chief Rob Hauck had said publicly that his…
Free Tickets for Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and G.G. Allin… Sort Of
It’s a veritable tribute band meltdown at the House of Blues this weekend, and we have a handful of free tickets up here at Rocks Off HQ to get you into three sure-to-be drunken shows starting this evening. Come pick ’em up at the front desk at 1621 MIlam, Suite…
Last Call For Art: Shows Closing This Weekend
The drama Orphans, by Lyle Kessler, has its final performance this weekend. The stage is set when two young men, getting by pulling petty crimes, kidnap a drunken businessman. Things don’t go as planned, however, when the three, all of them orphans, form a pseudo-family. 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday…
From Sea to Shining Seafood Platter
Chances are that if you eat seafood in Houston on a regular basis then Jim Gossen provides at least some of it. Gossen is the founder and CEO of Louisiana Foods, one of Houston’s largest seafood distributors. The history of Louisiana Foods reads like the recent history of the seafood…
If You Get A Seat-Belt Ticket Soon, Don’t Blame Elvis
Nothing says seat belt safety like five oversized inflated balloons in the shape of a cowboy, duck, bull, Godzilla monster and Elvis look-alike. At least that’s what the Texas law enforcement community is hoping, as they unveiled the 24-foot-tall “safety ambassadors” this morning at Discovery Green as part of the…
Get Your Art Car Weekend On
It’s the Art Car Weekend and there are lots of events to check out. Oh, and lots of folks to check them out with — 250,000 people are expected to attend the various events over the next three days. There’s a sneak peek at the new art cars, along with…
Houstonians (And Others) Angle Their Way Up The Organ-Donation Queue
The ever-worsening kidney shortage has inspired some bold concepts of late, such as organ trading and even selling. Now comes some good old-fashioned sharing — or, maybe, exactly the opposite. LifeSharers, a budding network of more than 12,600 people across the country, including 70 or so in Houston, was founded on…
Aeros Get A Birthday Gift, Look To Close Out Milwaukee
Anton Khudobin stood at mid-ice, blushing, a huge smile on his face. He was the number-one star of the game for the Houston Aeros. But that’s not why he was blushing. He was blushing because, in unison, 3,189 fans inside of Toyota Center were singing “Happy Birthday” to the now…
Aftermath: Mark Germino at Heritage Place, Conroe
Photos by Michael Pittman After an extended hiatus from gigs with a band, it didn’t take veteran Nashville songwriter Mark Germino long to knock the rust off. A larger than usual crowd packed Conroe’s open-air Heritage Place THursday night to hear Germino, and he didn’t disappoint from the opening strains…
Five Spot: Hangin’ With the Geto Boys (Almost)
If we had to rank the three most disappointing things not to happen in our lives, it would be these. We have never: 1. Dunked a basketball on a regulation goal. We play basketball, in some form or fashion, at least five times a week. Frankly, we love it. Yet…
Game 3 Preview: Rockets Need More From Wafer, On And Off Court
Von Wafer was a hero in the first round, scoring 21 points in 27 minutes in Game 2 and sparking the Rockets with an emotional return in the series-clinching Game 6 just two days after suffering a bulging disc in his lower back. He was supposed to be a hero…
Heckler’s Delight: Robin Thicke
Who’d have imagined that Alan Thicke – he of Growing Pains fame – would sire a son who would grow up to be a multiplatinum R&B star? Not us, but we’re sure glad he did. Robin Thicke’s sultry vocal stylings are modern urban radio staples, with “Lost Without You” and…
Regrettable Star Trek Moments (Original Cast Only)
In case you’ve spent the last six months in the Vault of Tomorrow with a crate of Romulan ale, there’s a new Star Trek movie coming out. And after 20-odd years of dealing with the Enterprise-D and dry Next Generation-style shenanigans, it’s nice to see the old crew, even if…
Lonesome Onry and Mean: How I Inspired the Song “Texas Ganja Man”
According to some songwriters, given the right circumstances, songs just pop out. Ironically, Baltimore, Maryland honky-tonker Arty Hill (right) recently wrote a song inspired by a line in a comment LOM dropped onto Craig Hlavaty’s blog about the relative merits of Bob Marley. I commented that “I lived all over…
Pitching A Tent For Mother’s Day: And Never You Mind About Those Snakes
One hour’s drive north of Houston, Lake Conroe awaits this weekend — or more precisely, the Kampgrounds of America there offering a special deal for Mother’s Day weekend. Pay for Friday night and you get your Saturday night stay for free.The obvious question — why would a mother want to…
Voluptuous Bikini Cake at El Bolillo
El Bolillo Bakery on Airline has got a lot of things going for it. There are crunchy bolillos in two sizes. Fresh corn tortillas made out of stoneground nixtamal are sold out of a steamer case and they are exceptional. The telera bread is great for tortas–I also use it…
Mama Tried: A Mother’s Day Playlist
Where would we be without our mothers? Ummm… nowhere. So even though mothers come in all forms, from the highest quality (such as the kind the Gray boys are blessed with) to the absentee variety to the just plain crazy, you’ve got to at least remember that they’re the reason…
Houston, We Have A….Ah, Forget About It. How Jim Lovell’s Kid Learned About His Dad’s Adventures
Houstonians have always had a special place in their heart for Apollo 13, the Tom Hanks movie that chronicles the only moon mission that didn’t make it.(And for the mission itself, of course, which unfortunately enough gave us the “Houston, we have a problem” cliche that leads to lots and…
The Steam Table Special at Country Kitchen
Passing by Country Kitchen on 11th Street in Timbergrove Manor, you could be forgiven for thinking that it’s closed and long-abandoned. The paint is peeling off the 1960s-era sign out front; the lawn plays host to an assortment of wildflowers and weeds; a horde of corrugated metal warehouses makes the…
Interpreting What Bob Dylan Has To Say About Houston
Bob Dylan’s new album, Together Through Life, is out, featuring a song called “If You Ever Go to Houston.”We haven’t gotten it (don’t know whether we’ll add “yet” to that sentence; we’ve been drifting away from Dylan fanhood for a while now). And the lyrics don’t seem to be on…
This Week In Beyonce: Obsessed No. 1 No More, Parisian Holiday, Glamour Cover, Dutch Tantrum and More
Well, what’s Beyonce been up to this week? For starters, Wolverine blew B’s semi-erotic thriller Obsessed out of the No. 1 box-office spot, notching $87 million last weekend. Obsessed was also edged by Matthew McConaughey’s equally panned romcom Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, which took in $15.3 mil to Obsessed’s $12.2…
Lonesome Onry and Mean: Poodie and the Hickoids
We’ve received quite a few rememberances of Poodie Locke, Willie Nelson’s stage manager who passed away Wednesday in Austin of a heart attack. But none of the rememberances quite have the zing of Saustex Media label honcho Jeff Smith’s. Smith, singer of the Hickoids and former owner of Austin’s Hole…
Brazoswood High’s Troy Neel Pleads Guilty To Being Deadbeat Dad
Last year we told about Troy Neel, the pride of Brazoswood High, who went on to become not only an Oakland A but, later in life, Texas’ biggest deadbeat-dad fugitive. (Wonder which accomplishment leads his resume.)Neel was arrested in December at LAX as he arrived from his private South Pacific…
The Power Of Christ Compels You…To Pray At City Hall
Hair Balls was at the National Day of Prayer ceremony at City Hall, asking a few questions. Hair Balls: Why do we need a National Day of Prayer? Hank, a Prayer Station volunteer: That’s like asking why do people need to eat? We have a need for physical food and…
Aftermath: Flight of the Conchords at Jones Hall
The thing about musical comedians is that if the humor is there but the tuneage is not, you can pretty much cash your chips in and give up and steal some of Louis CK’s jokes and start selling out basketball arenas. New Zealand’s Flight of the Conchords almost has too…
UH Having Trouble Filling Its Fancy New Dorm
Calhoun Lofts, UH’s swanky new facility intended for graduate and professional students, has almost everything: a 24-hour fitness center, private terraces and programming that includes yoga and cooking classes. As of late as last week, though, one thing was missing from the expensive venture: students to live in the building.A…
No More Obstacle Course For Metro Riders
Earlier we told you about the obstacle course Metro had managed to create at its bus stop near 290 and Antoine.Today we tell you how the Houston Press gets results!! For you!!As promised, the bus stop in question was been moved from between the cement bench and street sign (where…
Tonight: Geno Delafose and French Rockin’ Boogie at Discovery Green
Discovery Green’s spring concert series, which begins tonight, should be as warm as the weather with Creole wildman Geno Delafose. Known for his “French rockin’ boogie” – both his style and the name of his backing band – Delafose’s latest album, Le Cowboy Creole, was nominated for a 2009 Best…
Texas, Unfortunately, Leads The Country In Hungry Kids
More than anywhere else the country, children in Texas don’t know where they’ll get their next meal.That’s according to a recent study by Feeding America, the nation’s food-bank network, which analyzed stats on “household food insecurity” published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to the report, the rate of…
$7 at Chin Tao Chinese Restaurant
Where: Chin Tao Chinese Restaurant, 1122 Travis St., 713-652-2822 What $7 gets you: Just about anything on the menu. I wasn’t sure if I could afford this spot in the heart of downtown, until my doubts were put to rest by the handwritten signs in the window saying “Low Price”…
Idol Beat: The Top Four Results
No More Pencils: Slash (right) took American Idol’s Final 4 to school Wednesday night. “Who will graduate from the school of rock? And who will just get schooled?” Ryan Seacrest asked, rhetorically, at the beginning of Wednesday night’s episode of American Idol. We wondered, then. I smelled an upset, myself…
Trigger-Happy Homeowner Will Face Charges, DA’s Office Decides
We wondered yesterday how a northwest Houston homeowner could shoot three men, killing one, and not even get arrested and make so much as a brief trip to jail.Happens all the time, or at least it’s not uncommon, we were told.But if that is indeed the case, then this latest…
Blue Notes: Return to Forever’s Return to Forever Returns
Ah, jazz fusion, what a conundrum of musical styles. Too heavily instrumental and dexterous for rock fans, too spacey and electric guitar-based for jazzbos, it has a small but dedicated following all weaned on Miles Davis’ Bitches Brew. During its ’70s heyday, the Chick Corea-led Return to Forever was perhaps…
He Knows The Score When It Comes To The Astros
On the night that Craig Biggio got his 3,000th hit, it can be argued that the most important person inside of Minute Maid Park was not Craig Biggio, or the Colorado Rockies pitcher on the mound. Instead, the most important person was the official scorer. Because it’s the official scorer…
Artist of the Week: Keelan
As part of our Nightfly tour of duty, this past weekend we headed out Vintage Lounge, a surprising venue that turned out to be more impressive than we anticipated. One of the noteworthy highlights of the night, aside from getting into a somewhat heated discussion with this guy who looked…
More Help (The Hard Way) For Retrofitting School Buses In Brazoria County
Solutia Inc. is a “small business” in the overall scheme of things in the petrochemical universe, but the organic chemical production plant outside of Alvin managed to outdo the big boys on Wednesday when it racked up the biggest pollution fine of the week in our great state.For its achievement,…
TxDOT Tries Kinky Phone Sex To Get You To Protect Your Car Title
A winsome brunette in a fetish outfit, featuring latex gloves and a mask, answers the phone.A heavy-breathing man on the other end is getting excited. “Relax,” she purrs. “Take it from the beginning.”Later she teases, “You like to surf the internet, don’t you?” Then things build to a climax.”Now go…
Lemon Sorbetto with Noodles
Last summer’s obsession was Greek Gods chocolate fig flavor ice cream. So far, our favorite weird ice cream flavor this year is Golnazar lemon sorbetto with crunchy noodles. The rice noodles give the refreshing lemon sorbet an unexpected, but interesting texture. Golnazar is a California ice cream company run by…
Five Ways To Fake Your Way Through A Rockets Conversation
It’s been a long time since the Rockets were of any interest to most of Houston, but now that they’ve actually advanced past the first round of the playoffs, the bandwagon is getting full.A Houstonian will now be expected to be able to talk confidently about the team in order…
“Casual Encounters”
See who has become more-than-friends with Give Up in “Casual Encounters.” “The artists involved are people I’ve come to know and respect both artistically and personally,” says the curator/Houston wheat-paste artist, who garnered our award for Best Graffiti Artist in 2008. The show features local and international artists who share…
Aspen Santa Fe Ballet
Even reluctant boyfriends will spring for Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, a company that takes classical dance and makes it relevant to the iPod generation. Globally renowned for high-energy interpretations of complex standards, the Southwestern company — its studios and schools are based in Aspen and Santa Fe — brings an…
Found Footage Festival
Seeing the Found Footage Festival might make you a little more careful with the videos and DVDs you throw away. FFF is made up completely of footage found in dumpsters and at garage sales and second-hand stores. Odd bits of industrial safety films, discarded home movies and snatches of student…
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Hedwig and the Angry Inch is a quirky musical that enjoys a cult following, along with some pretty fabulous press. The New York Times called the rock musical about gender bending “breathtakingly original.” The tunes move from country western to glam rock as they tell the story of Hedwig, who…
“Amy Blakemore: Photographs from 1988 to 2008”
Photographer Amy Blakemore considers her camera a tool for collecting bits and pieces of stories. “Instead of picking up stuff,” she’s said, “I leave with a flat, squared-off record of things and people in space.” The exhibit, “Amy Blakemore: Photographs 1988 — 2008” looks at the last 20 years of…
Deirdre Shaw
Writer Deirdre Shaw’s Love or Something Like It: A Novel has been called “piercingly insightful,” “graceful” and “razor-sharp.” That’s heady praise for a first novel, especially for a first novel that’s mostly concerned with the too-familiar story of a thirtysomething woman finding her way through an emotional minefield filled with…
Houston Indie Book Festival
The Houston Indie Book Festival is your once-a-year, one-stop-shop for all things local, literary and underground. The event brings together independent publishers, organizations, journals, bookstores and, of course, writers and readers. Organizer Sean Bishop says the hardest part about organizing the event was “trying to decide what qualifies as ‘indie.’”…
Children’s Museum of Houston: Kinetic Sculpture
Kids can create a moving, swirling, spinning mobile during today’s Kinetic Sculptures play activity at the Children’s Museum of Houston. Using normal household items such as shoes, cardboard boxes, lids and plastic bottles, along with ribbon, streamers and colorful paper, they’ll construct a moving sculpture. 2:30 to 7:45 p.m. 1500…
Tchaikovsky Birthday Celebration
Maestro Hans Graf and pianist James Dick join the Russian Cultural Center “Our Texas” for a Tchaikovsky Birthday Celebration. Before everyone sings “Happy Birthday” to the man who personally introduced the world to Russian music, a documentary about the composer will be screened and Dick will perform highlights from Tchaikovsky’s…
World Affairs Council of Houston: Who Are We to the World?
The World Affairs Council of Houston hosts former Bush adviser and Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy Karen Hughes for the lecture Who Are We to the World? She’ll discuss the challenges that lie ahead for America as the new administration works toward redefining our position as the only…
Chipp Kidd
Calling all graphic design fans — Chipp Kidd, an “incredibly charming, dapper and funny” guy according to Russell Etchen, manager of Houston’s Domy Books, is coming to town to talk, show slides and be his general “no bullshit” self. Kidd, who has designed books on everything from Batman to Charles…
DCI 2009: The Countdown
A field of 72 drum corps performances were narrowed down to just six for the film DCI 2009: The Countdown and you can see for yourself which is the best of all. Drum corps veteran broadcasters Steve Rondinaro and Dennis DeLucia host the live broadcast program, which features remixed and…
“No Zoning: Artists Engage Houston”
Admit it, Houston looks like UPS just dropped it off. A tangle of residential, industrial and commercial properties (all next door to each other), the city’s lack of zoning laws has made for an anything-goes feel to most neighborhoods. “No Zoning: Artists Engage Houston,” the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston’s latest…
Kid’s Play: The Musical
Kid’s Play: The Musical makes its premiere today with a performance by Hope Stone Inc.’s Kid’s Play Ensemble accompanied by the boys band YouthSound. Hope Stone founder Jane Weiner led the adult creative team that produced the children’s theater production. Taking bits from such classics as Annie, The Sound of…
SWAMP: Who Does She Think She Is?
It’s career vs. personal choice, mom vs. artist in Who Does She Think She Is?, director Pamela Tanner Boll’s in-depth look at how women nurture themselves and stay true to others at the same time. Co-executive producer of the 2004 Academy Award-winner Born into Brothels, Boll showcases five contemporary female…
No Sex Please, We’re British
At the opening of the comedy No Sex Please, We’re British, a young wife has just sent off for some mail-order Scandinavian glassware (brides do that sort of thing, you know). She gets her order, but there’s a little problem. Instead of glassware, she’s been sent Scandinavian pornography. Keeping the…
The Best of the 2008 Ottawa International Animation Festival
It’s Mecca for local animation fans — the Best of the 2008 Ottawa International Animation Festival. Seventy-five minutes of the best, brightest and most thought-provoking films from around the world that were screened at the Ottawa festival make their way around the country with a weekend stop here in Houston…
“The Harmony of Mexico/Matizando Mexico”
See what happens when American ideas meet Mexican techniques, and vice versa, in “The Harmony of Mexico/Matizando México,” an exhibit of works by a group known as the Classical Impressionists of El Paso. Artists include Lynne Welch, Nina C. Walker, Neil Gunn and Carmen “Kany” Rodriguez. There’s an opening-night reception…
Houston Ballet: Classically Contemporary
Fresh from a winning tour of Spain, the Houston Ballet presents new interpretations of classical dance in Classically Contemporary. Included in the mix are George Balanchine’s famous duet Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux and Stanton Welch’s Mediæval Bæbes. 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Miller Outdoor Theatre, 100 Concert Drive. For…
A Lucky Child: A Memoir of Surviving Auschwitz as a Young Boy
In the early 1940s, Thomas Buergenthal was imprisoned in Auschwitz. He was seven years old. Fast-forward to the present, and he’s a member of the International Court of Justice at The Hague and an expert on human rights. At his talk today, “A Lucky Child: A Memoir of Surviving Auschwitz…
22nd Annual Houston Art Car Parade and Weekend
A bead-encrusted dragon, a mobile porta-potty (driven from Waco!) and the “Swamp Mutha,” a Cadillac covered in bronzed ducks and skulls were just a few of the concoctions that rolled down the street in last year’s Art Car Parade, presented by the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. We can’t…
Opera to Go: Romeo and Juliet
Hormone-filled high-schoolers will identify with the tragic duo at the center of Opera to Go’s performance of Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet. Far from the stuffy, boring “fat-lady-sings” yawn-a-thons that kids usually associate with opera, this is a high-energy performance, sung in English with all the dull parts cut out. Just…
Bloodsoaked
The third best thing we love about death metal and grind, besides how it scares the elderly and is used by the military to antagonize prisoners of war, are the awesome fonts that they use. They all seem to look like brain matter on a wall shaped into letters. This…
The SPCA: Kinky Friedman
Depending on your point of view, Kinky Friedman is either the funniest or most unfunny guy in Texas. But one thing there’s no doubt about is that Friedman is an animal lover. At his appearance at today’s 2009 Animal Talk Luncheon for the Houston SPCA, he’ll have an arsenal full…
“The Nature of Diamonds”
“A crystalline form of carbon.” That’s all a diamond is, really. But in its latest show, “The Nature of Diamonds,” the Houston Museum of Natural Science will offer visitors both substance and style. Learn about the world’s hardest material and the processes that form it (most diamonds are more than…
“Retablos: Art for the Masses”
There’s a double meaning to the title “Retablos: Art for the Masses.” The art exhibit, based on guest curator Bob Briddick’s private collection, includes images that are both religious and easily accessible to everyone. But don’t worry, you don’t have to be among the faithful to enjoy the show. Besides…
La Cenerentola LIVE
The Metropolitan Opera continues its series of live broadcasts with La Cenerentola. Elina Garanca, fresh from an outstanding performance in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, sings the lead character in this operatic version of Cinderella. 11:30 a.m. Houston Marq*E Stadium 22 Plux IMAX, 7620 Katy Freeway. For information, call 713-263-7843 or…
Return to Radartown
Mark Germino was part of the vaunted Nashville Class of ’84, termed “The Great Credibility Scare” when major labels suddenly signed unknowns Steve Earle, Lyle Lovett, Nanci Griffith, Vince Gill and Germino to record deals. It’s been almost seven years since Germino has played a full-band electric gig, but that…
Car Trouble
Car Trouble Online readers comment on “Wild Rides,” by Paul Knight, April 23: Design flaw: First of all, I’m glad that Toyota actually had a representative talk to the Press. Too few companies do that anymore. Knight’s article addresses the floor mat story over and over again — it even includes…
Welcome to the War
Carolyn Farb stood smiling and chatting next to a mangled corpse on a gurney.The surreal scene took place at the opening of “Javier de Villota: DeHumanization Echo” at the Station Museum of Contemporary Art. Among the works in the show are three other corpses on gurneys and the artist’s nonrepresentational…
Warp Factor 10
It’s difficult for this long-time Trekkie to review J.J. Abrams’s relaunching of the U.S.S. Enterprise. It’s difficult to dispassionately dole out compliments and complaints per the job description. Because, yes, the professional critic understands: This is Paramount Pictures’ latest effort to jump-start a profitable but long-stalled franchise, to do for…
Capsule Art Reviews: “Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul,” “Helen Lessick: Other Arrangements,” “Henrique Oliveira: Tapumes,” “Literally Figurative,” “Perspectives 165: Contents Under Pressure”
“Afghanistan: Hidden Treasures from the National Museum, Kabul” Although the Taliban managed to blow up the Bamyan Buddhas, they didn’t get their hands on everything. This exhibition showcases artifacts from the country’s incredibly rich cultural heritage. It includes delicate gold ornaments from the 2,000-year-old “Bactrian Hoard.” Discovered by a Soviet…
Manena’s Magic
The sense of being transported to a small pastry shop in Buenos Aires is unexpected and welcome as you stand in front of the mesmerizing pastry case at Manena’s Pastry Shop and Deli. Delicate horns filled with rich dulce de leche and dusted with confectioner’s sugar; airy, palm-sized cream puffs…
Sucker Punch
The face of Mike Tyson stares out from the screen like a sentry — intent, sober, watchful. The camera sits close, the framing is tight and as we lock eyes with the former heavyweight champ who could shatter an opponent’s confidence with little more than a glance, he seems to…
Vinoteca Poscol
Marco Wiles just opened Vinoteca Poscol (1609 Westheimer, 713-529-2797) in the space where Montrose Cafe used to be. “Every week, I get offers to open a restaurant,” he tells Dish. “When this place became available, since it had already been a restaurant, all we had to do was to clean it…
Slim Thug: Boss of all Bosses
The chief criticism of Slim Thug’s 2005 debut LP, Already Platinum, was that with a majority of the tracks’ production credits going to the Neptunes, he had wandered too far away from his fan base. Objectively, the album was solid — “I Ain’t Heard of That” remains ones of his…
Surprise!
Surprise ingredient: The Santa Monica Pizza (12 inch, $16.99) at Pink’s Pizza (710 W. Gray, 713-521-7465) is as yummy as it sounds. On a thin-crust base covered in marinara are ample amounts of mozzarella and sun-dried tomatoes, gorgonzola, prosciutto, eggplant and marinated artichoke, brushed with garlic-infused olive oil. There’s one…
Clorox in the Rio Grande
p> Dear Mexican, Is it true that most Mexicans are carriers of the swine flu due to the fact they eat a lot of chicharrones, or is it the fact that your women are so pig-like? I knew that Mexicans have muy shitty diets, but now we have to worry…
THE ROBERT ELLIS
I stopped by Mango’s (403 Westheimer, 713-522-8903) a few nights ago for some live music and a midweek tipple. The place has a comfortable hipster-meets-hippie feel and, lucky for me, a chalkboard full of original cocktails to complement the beer list and vegetarian food menu. I ordered a Robert Ellis,…
Tennessee Pushers
Consider Old Crow Medicine Show’s big source of inspiration (prewar blues and string-band music) and business model (a leap from busker to recording artist that brought the responsibility of making a new album every couple years), and you can imagine where there might eventually be a rub. Record-store bins of…
Shake a “Legg”
It seems natural to assume that having a foul-smelling appendage would be the pits, but if the popularity of the GS Boyz’ quirky, dance-along smash single “Stanky Legg” on downtown’s rap-centric Main Street drag is any indication, gamey gams are the quintessence of the hip-hop nightlife scene. It’s a peculiar…
Dear Sy~3nc3
First things first. Peekaboo Theory is not TV on the Radio. Granted, some people might notice a similarity or two between the Houston and Brooklyn bands. Both play an intense, electronically augmented brand of guitar rock that draws from a vast range of musical styles from dub to hardcore punk…
Lucero
It’s difficult not to be charmed by Lucero. If the works by and about this Tennessee quartet have been painting a true-to-life portrait, the amicable bunch is likely to both drink and play until the bar closes, then squeeze in a bit more time for each afterwards. While shades of…
Ghostland Observatory
The story of Ghostland Observatory is of one man who knows his way around a synthesizer and another who is a natural showman. Sequencer-obsessed beat wizard Thomas Turner demonstrates an innate skill for balancing simple but transfixing synth parts that are undeniably animalistic in their ability to make you dance…
Robin Thicke, Jennifer Hudson
That Robin Thicke could become a top name in R&B is proof anything’s possible in the magical world of pop music. A clean-cut white boy with a pop-culture family tree (he’s the son of Growing Pains paterfamilias Alan), Thicke nonetheless has a serious jones for syrupy ’70s soul music. He may not…
Searching for Signal
The four (very) young men who comprise Searching for Signal think of themselves as a melodic post-rock group. There is definitely a slightly dreamy aspect to their songs, complete with moody atmospherics akin to fellow Texans Explosions in the Sky. However, the only problem with their assertion is that they…
Craig Newmark speaks at victim’s memorial in wake of Craigslist killings.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated. In October 2007, Katherine Olson was looking for work. Since graduating summa cum laude from St. Olaf College with a dual degree in theater and Hispanic studies, she’d mostly cobbled together part-time jobs—waitressing, teaching Spanish, coaching high school speech. Olson was looking at…
Fake Problems
It’s somehow appropriate that Fake Problems hails from Naples, Florida. A city known both as a winter home for rich retirees and the epicenter of Florida’s mortgage crisis, Naples is incredibly boring for anyone making less than six figures — and less than six decades old — despite its stunning…
Capsule Stage Reviews: Brief Encounter, Orphans, Rock ‘N’ Roll
Brief Encounter Remember when an affair with a married man resulted in utter heartache and devastating guilt for all parties? Houston Grand Opera remembers, and so do the old pros, composer André Previn (he of MGM fame under the legendary Freed unit, and, later, as maestro of the Houston Symphony)…
Slaid Cleaves: Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away
Slaid Cleaves has always had an interesting musical niche. Folkies and the Texas music crowd alike swoon over the laconic Yankee-turned-Texan whose music always seems like it was made for rainy days and stormy nights. Everything You Love Will Be Taken Away is only Cleaves’s third (he’s never been a…
Bring Back the Babes and Bitches
Texas, Hurricane Ike Bring Back the Babes Galveston goes retro for a beauty pageant From 1920 to 1932, Galveston hosted an annual “pageant of pulchritude” on the beach in front of the Seawall. At its Roaring ’20s peak, the bathing-suit contest that was officially known as the Galveston Island Beach…
Dustin Welch: Whisky Priest
Odds are most people familiar with Dustin Welch’s background — his dad is acclaimed writer/performer Kevin Welch — probably thought Welch’s debut album would aim for the center of the singer-songwriter market. No way. Backed by his regular band of young Austin hardcases, Welch’s Whisky Priest has all the muscle…
