Houston Music Blog

Next Tuesday, Rocks Off Movie Night at the Mink returns with the 1980 "classic" Urban Cowboy. Classic if you're from Houston, anyway.

The film kicks off our three-week series on movies filmed in and around Houston proper. Ben Stiller's directorial debut Reality Bites and Wes Anderson's hipster-baiting Rushmore follow in the coming weeks. We were going to show Robocop 2 tonight, but the Mink is having a hard time finding a replacement bulb for its projector, and most of the Rocks Off crew is going to be at Surfer Blood anyway. Also, Robocop 2 pretty much blows fajita chunks.

​The Wailers, The Supervillains: Sat., Jan. 9. House of Blues.

30 Seconds To Mars, Cage The Elephant: Thu., Dec. 3. Verizon Wireless Theater.

Adam Richman: Wed., Dec. 2. House of Blues.

Asleep At The Wheel: Sat., Dec. 26. Crighton Theater.

Bob Schneider: Thu., Dec. 31. Meridian.

Breaking Benjamin, Sick Puppies, Adelitas Way: Mon., Nov. 30. Verizon Wireless Theater.

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This past week, Internet search-engine giant Google introduced a new music-search tool that immediately opens a pop-up window for people searching for a song, where either the entire song or a snippet will play for them. It's still in the beginning stages, so not all songs are available.

We started off trying our current fave, Husker Du's Flip Your Wig track "Makes No Sense At All" and we heard 30 seconds of the song, almost instantaneously. For Rocks Off, this will undoubtedly be a very useful tool, especially when writing blogs or reviews. Plus, it can always handily settle bets, like Wikipedia does. We can't count how many times we hear "Wiki that shit, yo!" being yelled around our house during a pop-culture dispute.

Songs are either available in their entirety or in just the aforementioned snippet; it seems to depend on the service they are culled from. MySpace let us play all of Devo's "Whip It," while we only heard the first half-minute of Metallica's "Sad But True." Sound quality also varies, as does the date of the recording. When Googling The Association's "Windy" you will hear a newer recording by the band, with tinny '80s sonics.

As for Texas and Houston bands, we dialed up the Wild Moccasins' "Fruit Tea," and were quickly hearing a version as clear as the one on our Microscopic Metronomes disc. This one came from online store Lala.com and played for the entire duration. We chilled out to Lightnin' Hopkins "Mojo Hand" soon after, also in full. Ditto for Benjamin Wesley's "Have You Ever Died" and Mitch Jacobs' "Jukebox Fool."

​Because we worked somewhere that shares a property line with SXSW for many, many years, Rocks Off knows a little bit about how the carcinoma-like March music festival places its 1,500-something bands into its 75-something venues. Basically, they work on it all year long - we reckon the schedule for next March's Austin shindig is between 50 and 60 percent booked at this point. (Lord help us all.)

That said, we have no earthy idea how the Free Press Houston crew managed to schedule the some 250 local and regional artists - everyone save Saturday-night paid-show headliners Dead Prez and Japanther, basically - across the seven stages of the upcoming two-day Westheimer Block Party, now less than two weeks away. Jesus Christ. Especially considering how much reefer the FPH crew is rumored to puff. Save us a bong hit or two next time, guys.

Anyway, it's going to take Rocks Off from now until Block Party to figure out who we're going to see and how long we're going to allow ourselves to stay rooted to any one spot, from the Saturday dilemmas of 10th Grade Cutie vs. Caddywhompus and Buxton vs. Peekaboo Theory to seeing how many acts we haven't seen live yet - Football, etc., White Guilt, Fiskadoro, Ringo Deathstarr, Holy Fiction, the Misfires, More Cowbell and the Goods, say - we can squeeze into Sunday.

See the entire two-day schedule - plus a link if it's a little too hard to read - after the jump. We have our work cut out for us, and so do you.

Son Lam

Scenes like this appeal to you? Rocks Off might have a way for you to go out and get paid.

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Rocks Off figures if you're even reading this far, you probably go out from time to time. But can you write about it? We're looking for three or four people to write a rotating nightclub column online similar - but not identical - to the Nightfly we already run in print.

We are especially looking for people familiar with the techno/dance-club, Latin, Asian and ice-house/dive-bar milieus. If that's you or one of your friends, please email chris.gray@houstonpress.com or katharine.shilcutt@houstonpress.com and tell us why you'd make a good addition to the Rocks Off family.

And yes, we will pay you.

​Between The Buried And Me, Devin Townsend Band, Cynic, Scale The Summit: Mon., Jan. 11. Meridian.

Billy Dean: Fri., April 16. Dosey Doe Coffee Company.

Bobby Bare: Sat., May 22. Dosey Doe Coffee Company.

"The Canvas Grand Opening" With Chase Hamblin, listenlisten, Sideshow Tramps, The Mighty Orq: Sat., Nov. 7, 7 p.m., Free. The Canvas.

Chuck Negron (ex-Three Dog Night): Sat., Nov. 28. Stafford Centre.

Cross Canadian Ragweed: Thu., Dec. 31. House of Blues.

Chris Gray

Blue October's homecoming at the sold-out Verizon Wireless Theater, July 2009

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Live Daily reported Friday that former Houston alt-rockers Blue October have canceled a club tour that was scheduled to start Thursday in Columbia, S.C., because front man Justin Furstenfeld has been hospitalized for "an extreme mental anxiety attack," according to a press release from the band's management.

Ironically, this month-long outing, the "Pick Up the Phone" tour featuring Atlanta rapper B.o.B. on board as opening act, was intended to raise money and awareness for suicide-prevention services and mental health issues. Furstenfeld has addressed his psychological struggles in several Blue October songs, such as 2006 hit single "Hate Me."

​A wake will be held from 2-3:30 p.m. Saturday at the Stag's Head Pub for Angela Mullan Jenkins, who passed away Thursday from breast cancer complications.

Jenkins came to Houston from Northern Ireland over 30 years ago and worked briefly for a division of Baker-Hughes before beginning her career with British Investments at the Richmond Arms. She is probably best known as the manager of the popular West Alabama pub and music venue The Ale House, which she ran for over a decade until it was razed in June 2001. She then moved over to open and manage the Stag's Head.

During her tenure at The Ale House, she began booking many of the edgiest acts in the city and state. She was an early supporter of the seminal Texas rock band True Believers, who often slept on her couches and floors before they found fame. Her impact on the music Houston scene in the '80s and '90 is incalculable.

farm1.static.flickr.com/

I.J. Gosey

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• We have a winner in our Live Nation "Club Passport" photo contest - we think - but are still awaiting a judge's ruling. Stay tuned.

• Live Nation has expanded its "No Service Fee" promotion once again, to include pretty much every show coming to House of Blues or Verizon Wireless Theater: Mat Kearney, Hanson, Peaches, Three 6 Mafia/Rakim, Stryper(!), Bob Saget, Raphael Saadiq, Cafe Tacuba, Anvil, O.A.R., Regina Spektor, 311 and our pals the Pogues, to name a few. Tickets range from $10-30; see www.livenation.com to purchase and for more information.

• Houston guitarist and onetime Peacock Records session player I.J. Gosey plays this week's installment of "Blues and Burgers" noon today at Discovery Green. Free.

Among this week's Distant Early Warnings comes Jay Reatard, who is set to hit Walter's "Possibly Still" On Washington December 8. The art-damaged garage-rocker recently pissed on (and pissed off) his backing band at Goner Fest 6 in Memphis. It's hard to tell exactly why the things happened in the video, but suffice to say these guys soon took their leave of the erratic Reatard.

When Reatard's circus hits town in December, he will have members of the Danish band Cola Freaks in tow as his backing band. We suggest ponchos.

More Early Warnings after the jump...

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: Slim Thug feat. Lil Ray, "Salute Me"

Note(s): Yes, this is a remake of the same-named song from Fabolous' Loso's Way. Yes, it lists Lil Ray as the featured artist but is actually Lil' Wayne rapping/singing. And yes, the unintentional juxtaposition of the video's "Look How Much Money I Have" premise with the "Look How Much Money We Clearly Did Not Have to Spend On This Video" vibe is humorous.

Wire To Wire

Shortly after the Trae Day shootings fiasco, we tagged along with Trae to Austin as part of an upcoming article we're still working on. Prior to leaving, we were hanging out at his house - we're not saying we're BFFs or anything, but that is something that BFFs do - and he was working on a remake of that Drake and Weezy song where they say "it's okay" about 100 times. Audio of his take (finally) hit the Web this weekend. It's dope. Listen to it. And like it, because we feel kinda like that might make us cooler somehow.

Daniel Kramer

The Jonas Brothers at RodeoHouston 2009

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Monday morning, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo announced the first four entertainers next March's musical entertainment at Reliant Stadium. Jonas Brothers, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, and Brooks & Dunn have all been tapped to perform at next year's rodeo. The Kix and Ronnie date will be the duo's last rodeo appearance, as B&D plan to part ways at the end of 2010.

This will be the Jonas Brothers' second Houston rodeo appearance and their third concert in town in the past year. No doubt their March 7 show will sell out, so either start getting in line like freakin' now, or start growing an extra kidney to hawk so you can line the pockets of a scalper for a pair of tickets for your little girls. Fellow 2009 rodeo alum and Joe Jonas ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift will be bypassing this year's Reliant Stadium event for a two-night stand at Reliant Arena at the end of May.

​"13th Annual Pimp-N-Prostitute Ball" With MINIKISS, The Crisis, DJ Looney, DJ Jager, DJ Velvet: Sat., Oct. 31. Warehouse Live.

Ali Zafar: Sat., Oct. 24. Arena Theatre.

Anvil: Sun., Jan. 24. House of Blues.

Brave Combo: Fri., Dec. 11. Dosey Doe Coffee Company.

Buxton, Surfer Blood, F.G. and the Gunz: Tue., Nov. 3. Mango's.

Dave Guetta: Fri., Nov. 20. Planeta Bar-Rio.

David Cook: Sat., Nov. 7. Warehouse Live.

Epica, Daath, Blackguard, Of Raven And Ruin: Wed., Feb. 24. Scout Bar Clear Lake.

​Our friends and neighbors at Free Press Houston just posted the lineup for the next Westheimer Block Party, November 14 and 15 on lower Westheimer. Rumors it's soon to become the Washington Avenue Block Party in an attempt to coax some of those sweet, sweet yuppie ad dollars out of the Social, Pearl Bar, Block 7 Wine Co., Blue Label, Pandora, etc. are - for now - greatly exaggerated, so all you "Montrose Forever!" types can chill.

Headlining are Brooklyn-based hip-hop rabble-rousers Dead Prez and Jersey garage-soul provacateurs Japanther, along with pretty much every local band you ever heard of. Several of Rocks Off's favorites are scheduled to play - give or take the inevitable addition/cancellation, of course - including:

TSU Jazz Ensembles (yay!)

The Gold Sounds

Chase Hamblin

Bright Men of Learning

Something Fierce

Female Demand

Alkari

​Front man and bassist Dickie Peterson of pioneering metallers Blue Cheer was found dead Monday morning in Germany. He was 61 years old and had reportedly been battling cancer for the past year.

Blue Cheer's lasting influence on modern heavy rock is insurmountable. With their devastating low ends and Peterson's grungy howl which even predated that of even Robert Plant, BC was a critical chain in the evolution of what would become heavy metal and stoner rock as we know it today. The band last performed in Texas during SXSW 2008 where they played with bands like High On Fire, the Supersuckers and the Meatmen. Those groups and countless others can look to BC as the catalyst for all things heavy past, present, and future.

​Texas music legend Rusty Wier has passed away according to a post from North Texas disc jockey Shayne Hollinger on the Galleywinter Texas music chat site.

One of the original Austin Cosmic Cowboys with the likes of Jerry Jeff Walker and Michael Martin Murphy, Wier has been a fixture on the Texas music scene for over 30 years. While Wier never had what could be considered a national hit, he was an evergreen act on the Texas circuit as well as in Europe. Wier was inducted into the Austin Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2002.

Wier had been diagnosed with cancer in Nov. 2007. Details are sketchy as yet, but it is known that he had been undergoing chemotherapy and had been able to be at home.

Rocks Off loves songs about Houston. Here's a pretty good new one by a rapper called Young Twinn.

While the video doesn't offer much we haven't seen before - please, one shot of the skyline as seen from the Interstate is enough - we do really like some of the words, especially the lines toward the end about Hurricane Ike. The beat is well above-average too.

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Live Nation's weekly Wednesday "No Service Fee" ticket offer is pretty stiff this week: Buy one ticket for dozens of shows at House of Blues or Verizon Wireless Theater - such as Alice Cooper, O.A.R., Jewel, Goodie Mob, Bob Saget, Drive-By Truckers, Hanson, Peaches, Stryper, Zappa plays Zappa and many more - and get another one free. Or buy two and get 'em both at half price. (And they tell us we sucked at math in school.) As always, today only; more information at www.livenation.com.

​"Cactus Music 2nd Anniversary Party" With The Flamin' Hellcats, DJ Joey McKeel: Fri., Oct. 30, 7 p.m. Cactus Music and Video.

Arthur Yoria, Colin Lake: Wed., Oct. 28. Warehouse Live.

Delbert McClinton: Sat., Dec. 26. Verizon Wireless Theater.

Dir En Grey: Mon., Nov. 2. Warehouse Live.

"ArrowFest 2009" With The Doobie Brothers, Foreigner, Eddie Money, Foghat, WAR, Starship, Blue Oyster Cult: Sun., Nov. 1. Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.

Doug Martsch (DJ Set): Fri., Oct. 23. The Mink.

www.drivebytruckers.com

Hey, any excuse to run a Drive-By Truckers photo is OK with us...

​Sometimes Rocks Off gets distracted and forgets stuff, but better late than never. Live Nation is offering a "Club Passport" good for admission to any show at House of Blues until the end of the year - provided the show is not sold out - for the low, low price of 50 bucks. (Reminds us of Bo Diddley in Trading Places: "In Philadelphia, it's worth 50 bucks.") That's Black Crowes, Drive-By Truckers, Pogues, Tragically Hip, Peaches, Queen Latifah and maybe one or two more. Live Nation is also offering single-show tickets for as low as $10; see www.livenation.com for more information on both offers.

Even better, the LN folks were kind enough to give Rocks Off two of these here passports to give away, so here's how that's going to work: If you've ever met an artist backstage, say, or in front of their tour bus - or hell, in the "20 Items or Less" lane at Randall's - we know you had 21 items and assume you had a camera, so we'd like to see the pictures. Send them to chris.gray@houstonpress.com, and we'll give the passports to the best photo. You have one week unless, you know, we decided to extend the deadline. But just go ahead and send them now.

​B.J. Thomas: Sun., Feb. 14. Dosey Doe Coffee Company.

Bobby Long: Sun., Oct. 11. The Hideaway On Dunvale.

Davy Knowles & Back Door Slam: Sat., Dec. 5. Warehouse Live.

A Dream Asleep, Skeleton Dick: Sun., Oct. 11. Rocbar.

D.R.I., Sinister Minister: Fri., Feb. 19. Meridian.

"A Fat Tony XMAS" With Fat Tony, Supreeme, Lisa's Sons, B L A C K I E: Sat., Dec. 26. Mango's.

[Ed note: Until Indie Rock Band is released - we can't wait either - come play Beatles Rock Band with us in the Rocks Off Loft upstairs at Thursday's Best of Houston party.]

Photo illustrations by John Seaborn Gray

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Harmonix Music Systems / MTV Games, March 15, 2011 - There have been a lot of rumors swirling about these past few months, and we want to take this opportunity at SXSW 11 to affirm that this time they are true: Indie Rock Band is real, and it's on its way!

We could ignore the pleas of desperate hipsters no longer. Jaded after hours of jamming along to Stone Temple Pilots and Boston, you asked for something better, and we are now answering.

After the success of last year's Eagles/Chicago-centric Lite Rock Band, we have accepted that niche Rock Band titles are not just viable, but actually clamored for. At long last, you will be able to step into the overpriced but cheap-looking shoes of all your favorite indie-rock darlings, including the New Pornographers (above), Broken Social Scene, Okkervil River and many, many more. 

​Alejandro Escovedo: Sat., Dec. 12. ListeningRoom @ NiaMoves.

Amazing Baby: Fri., Nov. 13. Rudyard's.

Badfish (Sublime Tribute): Fri., Jan. 29. House of Blues.

Chlorine, Given, Dine Alone, Make Your Escape: Fri., Oct. 2. Fitzgerald's.

Colbie Caillat, Howie Day, Trevor Hall: Sat., Oct. 24. Meridian.

"Comedians of Chelsea Lately" With Sarah Colonna, Loni Love, Heather McDonald, John Caparulo,And Chuy: Sat., Nov. 7. House of Blues.

The Creepshow: Fri., Oct. 16. Meridian.

Demetri Martin: Sat., Oct. 24. Jones Hall.

​In a late and welcome addition to the Big Top Lounge's calendar, tomorrow night finds the New Orleans Hustlers Brass Band making their Main Street debut. Fans of the Rebirth, Dirty Dozen or Hot 8 brass bands will dig these guys, most of whom settled here after Katrina but have played out more in New Orleans than in their new hometown.

Now they are looking to blast Houston with funky, ass-shaking Crescent City second-line parades, stage shows, jazz funerals, weddings and parties, starting tomorrow night at the Big Top. Check out their sounds in the video- a Big Easy rendering of Quincy Jones's Sanford and Son theme - or their version of "The Second Line" and their original "The Life of a Musician" down in our Mp3 section.

​Rocks Off is proud to announce that we will be bringing our Beatles: Rock Band gear to Lucky's Pub next week on Thursday for The Houston Press' "Best Of Houston 2009 Birthday Bash" for all of you guys to settle any scores you may have still left open from last week's release party at Coffee Groundz. The fun and games start at 7 p.m. and run until closing time at 2 a.m.

We will be setting up shop upstairs at Lucky's in our special Rocks Off loft, where dirty deeds will be done dirt cheap, or at least a reasonable market price. There will be plenty of alcohol throughout Lucky's to sate your thirst and to aid in better game play. We noticed that all of you guys got progressively better at the game as you guzzled down the Beatles-themed drinks that the coffeehouse was slinging, which you see evidence of in the video below.

​311, State Radio: Sun., Dec. 6. Verizon Wireless Theater.

AFI: Sat., Nov. 21. Verizon Wireless Theater.

An Albatross, Dark Meat: Sat., Nov. 7. Mango's.

Armin Van Buuren: Fri., Oct. 16. Planeta Bar-Rio.

Art Brut: Sun., Oct. 25. Walter's on Washington.

Breathe Carolina, Cash Cash, Kill Paradise, Fight Fair: Fri., Nov. 27. Meridian.

Dashboard Confessional, New Found Glory, Meg & Dia, Never Shout Never: Tue., Nov. 24. Warehouse Live.

Digital Leather: Thu., Oct. 29. The Mink.

This is what happens when MTV pulls all its VMA footage from YouTube... their lawyers were up early this morning.

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By now you've seen or at least heard about Kanye West's latest bit of spotlight-grabbing at Sunday night's MTV awards - Rocks Off doubts morning-drive DJs are talking about little else (Serena Williams, cough) - when Mr. "Love Lockdown" interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech to let everyone know he thought Beyonce should have won. Which she did, a little later for Video of the Year, and graciously gave up her speech time so Swift could finish hers.

By now such publicity stunts are old hat for Kanye, and honestly, this shit got old after the 1998 Grammys of "Soy Bomb" and Ol' Dirty Bastard rushing the stage with the immortal interjection "Wu-Tang is for the children!"

Rocks Off would just like to get your opinion on a couple of things: How big an ass is The Kanye now? And how classy is Beyonce?

Photos by Craig Hlavaty

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It's like Christmas morning here at Rocks Off today. We just got our copy of The Beatles: Rock Band and, like a car wreck or the Williams Tower waterwall, can't stop staring at it. (Must... look... away...) It looks like developer Harmonix spared no expense - and, at $250 for the limited edition, neither will you - but even before hooking the damn thing up, Rocks Off can kind of understand what all the hype is about. As an old bassist ourselves, we're especially looking forward to strapping on the digitized replica of Paul McCartney's signature Hofner.

And, best of all, we're sharing it with you. Come ride the "Yellow Submarine" (and drink a couple of Yellow Submarines) with Rocks Off this evening at Coffee Groundz, 2503 Bagby. "Helter Skelter" zero hour is about 6:30 p.m. See you there, and see more pictures after the jump.

If you missed Channel 39's Inside the Scene documentary about this year's Houston Press Music Awards, you can now watch it online here. Rocks Off, who absent-mindedly forgot to set his DVR (mostly because we don't have one), hears he came off as remarkably well-spoken and erudite, so thanks to the 39 production crew for the nifty editing job.

This evening, House of Blues and KPFT's Lone Star Jukebox are partnering up for the first in a series of "Troubador Tuesdays," happy-hour events (5-8 p.m.) with free appetizers, liberal drink specials and live music. Picking and singing tonight is "Can't Let Go" author and adopted Austinite Randy Weeks, whose 2009 CD Going My Way ("Little Bit of Sleep," "The One Who Wore My Ring") has gone a long way inside Rocks Off's CD player this year. No cover, and Rocks Off would also like to extend our condolences to Lone Star Jukebox host Rick Hayesquierdo, whose mother passed away recently.

​12 Stones, Wake The Light, Saturate, Dine Alone: Wed., Sept. 30. Scout Bar Clear Lake.

Aaron Neville Quintet's Christmas Show: Fri., Dec. 4. House of Blues.

The Accused, Krum Bums, Owl Witch, H.R.A.: Sun., Oct. 11. Walter's on Washington.

AC/DC: Sun., Nov. 8. Toyota Center.

Baroness, Iron Age, Dark Castle: Tue., Dec. 8. Warehouse Live.

Billy Joe Shaver: Fri., Dec. 18. The Firehouse Saloon & Eatery.

Birds Of Avalon, Hell City Kings, Fired For Walking: Fri., Sept. 25. Rudyard's.

Bob Saget: Fri., Nov. 20. House of Blues.