As our sister blog Eating...Our Words does, from time to time Rocks Off will be giving your our picks for the top taverns in various Houston-area neighborhoods. Of course, the lines can be porous, but here anything with a TABC license that cannot reasonably be considered either a restaurant, coffeehouse or live-music venue is fair game.
10. OUTLAW DAVE'S WORLDWIDE HEADQUARTERS Veteran rock jocks like Outlaw Dave should know a thing or two about how to open a killer bar, and luckily the radio god doesn't let us down. Outlaw Dave's WWHQ on Wash Ave is an awesome place to rock out with your...beer out, so you get over your fear of bros and go sometime. Not only is the bar home to Kiki's Sordid Sideshow -- a titillating circus-themed burlesque troupe -- but it's also where you'll find Dave himself and assorted guests broadcasting his KPRC 950 AM radio show 5-8 p.m. weekdays (plus 7-9 p.m. Saturdays), since it's equipped with a studio. Beer, grub, rock, and Outlaw Dave. It's like your '90s wet-dream is coming to fruition, right?
6502 Washington, 713-862-3283, outlawnation.us
9. ACADIA Acadia is basically everything a rock bar should be: It's smoky, loud, and smells like beer. The stage has seen everything from alt-cover bands to scary metal dudes, so there's a good chance they've got your musical tastes covered. Not to mention the drinks are cheap, the crowd is rowdy and the rock chicks are hot, which totally makes up for it being something of a drive. That part is only a technicality weighed against all the good stuff.
3939 F.M. 1960 W., 281-893-2860, acadiabarandgrill.com
8. RUDYARD'S BRITISH PUB Considering how many times Rudz has made a bar list already, everyone knows we love it. But those other lists may not have pointed out just how hard Rudz rocks. And by and large, that is due to the efforts of one man: Mike Sims. Earlier this week we told you that Sims and his lady love Teresa Kolo will be moving to Seattle soon, and this Sunday's no-cover sendoff party is not to be missed: Venomous Maximus, Bowel, Born Liars, Poor Dumb Bastards and Dead Roses. We can only hope Stacy Hartoon, who will be taking over for Sims, keeps up the grand rawk tradition of the cozy upstairs room with the great sound. But we have faith.
2010 Waugh, 713-521-0521, rudyardspub.com
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