Correction: Per the commenters, Late Nite Pie originally opened in the early 2000s, not the late '90s.

Photos by Chris Gray

The flames at Late Nite Pie had been extinguished by 6:45 a.m.

​Midtown pizza restaurant Late Nite Pie burned some time after closing in the wee hours of Wednesday morning. ABC13.com reported that the popular post-show destination suffered "major damage" and that Houston Fire Department arson investigators were on the scene.

The fire was estimated to have started about 3:45 a.m., about 45 minutes after Late Night Pie's closing time. The restaurant had scheduled the "My Funny Valentine" standup comedy showcase for next Tuesday.

Late Nite Pie started in the late '90s early '00s at the corner of Elgin and Bagby, site of the current St. Dane's Tavern, and moved a few blocks north to 302 Tuam in 2008. It occasionally hosted shows, and its musician-friendly hours - it once stayed open until 4 a.m. - and cheap beer made it one of the relatively few places around downtown to go eat after last call.

More >>

Photo By Jason Wolter

Dick Dale destroying The Continental Club last June

​Active Child, Balam Acab, Superhumanoids: Sat., May 5. Fitzgerald's, 2706 White Oak

Bastard Sons Of Johnny Cash: Thu., March 8. Continental Club, 3700 Main

Battery (Metallica Tribute): Mon., April 16. Scout Bar Clear Lake, 18307 Egret Bay Blvd.

Black Market Syndicate, The American Heist, Dead To The World: Sat., April 21. Fitzgerald's

Coathangers, Eternal Summers: Tue., March 13. Fitzgerald's

Collie Buddz, New Kingston: Sat., April 21. Fitzgerald's

Crowbar, Prong: Fri., April 6. Scout Bar Clear Lake

Daniel Tosh: Fri., April 6. Verizon Wireless Theater, 520 Texas, Houston.

Dick Dale: Fri., April 13. Continental Club

More >>

​Known best for their 1985 album, Psychocandy, the Jesus And Mary Chain have been called one of the most influential British bands of the '80s. With the wall of crushing reverb, drenched in pop hookiness, their sound foretold bands like the beloved My Bloody Valentine, the cultish Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. and current darling Sleigh Bells.

On March 13, the band hits the House Of Blues during a Texas swing that will also take them to SXSW, Denton's 35 Denton Festival, and a date in New Orleans. The band's catalog was reissued just last year, bringing them back into the rock conversation.

More >>

Photo by Daniel Kramer

Madonna at Minute Maid Park, November 2008

​After her mostly praised Super Bowl XLVI halftime performance - aside from that whole M.I.A. middle-finger thing - Madonna will perform at Toyota Center on Wednesday, October 24, Live Nation announced this morning.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, February 27, at the usual outlets: livenation.com, toyotacentertix.com, "most" Houston-area Randall's stores and 1-866-4HOUTIX (446-8849).

The tour is designed to promote the singer's album MDNA, scheduled for release March 26 (and not an Ecstasy reference at all, we're sure).

More >>

​Don't fret, PJ and Vedderheads: if you didn't get in on tickets for Eddie Vedder's April 22 show at Jones Hall, he has added a second date, the next day on April 23. Tickets are going on sale this Saturday morning at 10 a.m. according to Live Nation.

Vedder's last solo album, Ukulele Songs, was just that, a collection of songs on ukulele. The album was a fun spin, and the last two songs, "Tonight You Belong To Me" and "Dream A Little Dream" were sweet little nuggets. "Tonight" also featured vocals by Cat Power. And yes, that was the song from The Jerk.

A look at recent Vedder solo setlists shows that he not only does his own Ukulele material, but also versions of some beloved PJ cuts too, like "Better Man" and "Porch".

More >>

Photo By Faith Silva

Adam Lambert at the Hobby Center in September 2010

​No shit, right? Can we all agree that American Idol alum and modern glam-popper Adam Lambert is the best choice to front Queen in 2012? Good. No more discussion. Just lay back, close your eyes, and think warm thoughts, and imagine the ghost of Freddie Mercury shaking his ass side stage.

Earlier today Lambert leaked the news to the U.K.'s Daily Star that he will be fronting the iconic rock band in the near future. We can't think of anyone better to keep surviving members of Queen on the road, and interim lead singer Paul Rogers was laughable in the Mercury slot. Sorry, but the Bad Company and Free frontman has zero of the sex appeal that Mercury had in his pinky finger, and his weave sucked. Still has a great voice though.

More >>

​Lonesome, Onry and Mean was sad to learn via Chuck Prophet's Facebook page this morning that Reg Presley, lead singer of Sixties proto-punkers the Troggs, has been diagnosed with lung cancer.

The Troggs are known primarily for their 1966 hit "Wild Thing." LOM was a sophomore in high school when the tune came blaring out of the speakers of the car radio and rocked our world. It seemed that within a week every rock station in the country was playing "Wild Thing" once an hour. It was literally everywhere.

More >>

UPDATE -- a note from the author: We spoke to Mr. Ames again this afternoon. He informed us that he thought the conversation would not be used in our article and that it was only for background information. He also stated that he does not recall some of the statements attributed to him. Neither Mr. Ames nor the author is implying that Ms. Chorney or her radio promoter engaged in any unethical practices regarding airplay. The comments regarding such practices were general statements only, not specific to Ms. Chorney. We regret any confusion. Mr. Ames informed us that he will be interviewing Ms. Chorney on his show on Monday, January 30, at 8:20 a.m. We recommend that concerned readers tune in to hear Ms. Chorney in her own words at this link.

Gordon "Big G" Ames

​The Linda Chorney Grammy thing just won't go away. It seems now Chorney is barraging radio stations with her latest album, hoping to gain a smidgen of credibility before going to the Grammys with zero album sales, which we presume is going to be an historic first.

Former Houstonian Gordon "Big G" Ames, the program director at KOOK-FM, "Real Deal Radio," received a copy of Chorney's CD earlier this week. He was not amused. In fact, he is so not amused his Thursday show is going to be themed "Making An Example."

"I've been around a long time and I know how things work," says Ames from his home outside Kerrville. "You and I both know that if you put a thousand dollars in a few hands you can get your album on someone's quote unquote chart. You know it, I know it. And that makes me mad. It's sad and pathetic what the Americana syndicate chooses to accept payment for."

More >>

​According to a report on Billboard.com, iHeartRadio, an online streaming service with a companion smart phone app owned by Clear Channel communications, Rice Radio (formerly KTRU) is one of 14 college radio station being added to the streaming platform in an effort to broaden the company's radio offerings.

iHeartRadio streams all Clear Channel stations and offers users the ability to mix and match stations and songs in a streaming format.

More >>

Photo By Marc Brubaker

Slayer's Kerry King making Austin bleed at Fun Fun Fun Fest last November

​This morning, the lineup for this summer's mega-metal fest, the Rock Star Energy Drink Mayhem Festival, was released. It includes re-activated act Slipknot, warhorses Slayer, Anthrax on the Jagermeister side stage, and a third act to be named on March 5. This roadshow hits Houston on July 11 at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

Also included on Mayhem roster on selected dates will be High On Fire, Asking Alexandria, The Devil Wears Prada, As I Lay Dying, and Whitechapel. This will easily be the metal show of the summer, barring any stirrings from Sabbath, who more than likely wouldn't hit Houston until the fall.

More >>