Photo by Deneka Peniston

Coupled with dynamic rhythms that somehow flow together like streams of water, their ripped-from-the-headlines lyrics of liberation struggle had the audience literally -- at least in the case of one wild fan in a Mexican wrestling mask -- hanging from the rafters.

-- Nick Turse, Village Voice

Miles Solay is the front man for a New York City band called Outernational, who open for Puerto Rican band sensation Calle 13 tonight at House of Blues. Outernational's album, Todos Somos Ilegales (We Are All Illegals) is extremely dope and refreshing; listen for yourself.

The high-energy quintet is now touring the border, and from Brooklyn to Phoenix to Los Angeles, has been drawing rave reviews about their performances across the board.

But let's get something clear.

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Rocks Off was only 13 years old in October 1992 when singer Sinéad O'Connor sang an a cappella version of Bob Marley's "War" on Saturday Night Live and, on cue, tore an image of Pope John Paul II into pieces while singing the word "evil."

"Fight the real enemy," she exclaimed at the end of one of live TV's most shocking moments. The gesture was labeled as sacrilegious, and what got lost was O'Conner's intent to bring attention to the overwhelming number of sexual-abuse claims inside the Catholic church and all over the world. And that's probably because her gesture was so over the top and bold that the message got vaporized in the firebolts of controversy.

That was our first real introduction to music's sometimes contentious crossing with religion.

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Photos via Bun B on Twitter

Bun B and Trae tha Truth (center) at a local rally for Trayvon Martin

When Rocks Off researched our hoodie history, we found its roots and its perceptions to be as complex and racially charged as the death of Trayvon Martin. The hoodie, of course, has become the visual rallying cry for Martin's supporters on Twitter and Facebook profile pages nationwide.

While the hoodie may forever be redefined in the U.S. after the events in Sanford, Fla., last month, negative belief systems about hoodies and hip-hop are no doubt prevalent beyond our borders.

In a May 12, 2005 article in British newspaper The Guardian about a shopping center in the United Kingdom that chose to ban hoodies, Angela McRobbie, a professor of communications at Goldsmiths College, was quoted as saying:

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A flyer from the first anti-noise ordinance meeting in December

There is no more contentious issue within the local music community right now than the City of Houston's stricter new noise ordinance, which many venue owners, sound engineers and even everyday music fans view as unreasonable and even draconian.

Since the ordinance passed Houston City Council nearly unanimously in October, with only one dissenting vote, the Houston Police Department has not been shy about enforcing it, handing out a number of citations and even arresting one Montrose bar owner last month.

Now hundreds of people interested in the issue are using social media to fight the ordinance by joining the Facebook group with the somewhat cumbersome title "Houston Coalition of Venues, Sound Men, Bands, and DJ's" (sic). More than 1,300 people have joined the group since it started in late January.

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Cornbreadd - make that Maurice Duhon Jr. - is, to use a term of the trade, good copy.

He's articulate, opinionated and effervescent, a tireless self-promoter with a genuine concern for and interest in the welfare of others - first his fans as the rapping front man of Houston Press Music Award winners Tha Fucking Transmissions, then readers on his Wordpress blog PoliticalAbyss, now his possible potential constituents as an independent candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives against longtime District 18 Democratic incumbent Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.

This evening at 6 p.m., Duhon will give a lecture on Harriet Beecher Stowe's 19th-century novel Uncle Tom's Cabin as part of a campaign fundraiser. As you might expect, the lecture's original title - "WHO and WHAT is an Uncle Tom? A Retrospective Conversation" - raised a few eyebrows, and the event was rescheduled to Check Other Outfitters, 2507 Bagby near McGowen, from the Eldorado Ballroom when the nonprofit sponsors dropped out.

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Photo by Marco Torres

Boondocks owner Shawn Bermudez was arrested and booked at the central jail Saturday night when Houston Police Department officers responded to another noise complaint at the popular Montrose nightspot.

Tuesday afternoon, Houston Police Department Public Information Officer Jodi Silva confirmed to Rocks Off that Bermudez had been arrested and was processed at the downtown jail for a Class C misdemeanor.

According to frequent Rocks Off photographer and contributor Marco Torres, who was at Boondocks Saturday to hear legendary New York City turntablist DJ Spinna, who had been brought down by Red Bull for the event, Boondocks' managers and DJs had been warned during an HPD stop at the club February 17 on a previous noise violation complaint that "next time someone would be arrested."

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Rosettaartist1

Dear President Barack H. Obama,

I want you to know that I am very impressed by your recent musical endeavors. While it's clear that you could use some practice and professional vocal coaching, it's equally clear that you possess more than enough raw talent to excel as a musician.

I know right now, with the country still in need and an election looming, your plate is too full to pursue a career in music in any significant way, but in between matters of state, we hope you'll find a spare minute or two to lay down some tracks.

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After President Obama crooning Al Green's "Let's Stay Together" at a Harlem fundraiser became an unlikely iTunes sensation, even topping the ringtone chart, history is now repeating itself with his version of "Sweet Home Chicago" caught on an episode of PBS' In Performance at the White House Tuesday night.

Besides Syria, the clip was at the top of the news this morning. And really, what other president has a better reason to sing the blues? He's been nothing but attacked since taking the Oath of Office three years ago. The best part was UK paper The Daily Telegraph mistakenly posting the song as "Sweet Home Alabama" on its YouTube channel.

Bet that took some explaining.

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UPDATE (Feb. 24, 5:04 p.m.): The fundraiser has been moved to Check Other Outfitters, 2507 Bagby.

pleasedontstare.com

Rapper and 2009 Houston Press cover subject Cornbreadd, aka Maurice Duhon Jr., has just announced his candidacy for Congress. Duhon is running as an independent for Texas' 18th District, trying to unseat longtime incumbent Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.

"Although I am fervently proud of both our district and our city, I believe we can do better," Duhon says on his campaign's Web site. "The current instability of our financial markets, a rising rate of poverty, and a massive national debt are just a few of the reasons why we must do better.

"I plan to introduce and participate in an evolved and updated political conversation with the residents and business owners of the 18th district and her surrounding areas," he adds.

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Wilco, "Pot Kettle Black"

Despite his appearance on SNL's "What's Up With That?" skit this weekend, Bill O'Reilly has managed to squander what little credibility he has among liberals, moderates and (we're guessing) anyone under age 60 by calling Willie Nelson a "creep."

The conservative Fox News host was a guest on one of the network's other shows, Fox & Friends, last Thursday, and for some reason saw fit to go after the Red Headed Stranger, Nelson's weed-puffing buddy Snoop Dogg, and the late Whitney Houston for never recording an anti-drug PSA.

Rocks Off cannot remember any judge ever ordering any of the three to record such an announcement. Considering all three of them have or had been busted for weed, it certainly could have come up as part of the sentencing process.

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