Category Archives: Music

At long last, the KLOL documentary

IYKYK. As announced exclusively in the Houston Chronicle, the long-awaited 101 KLOL Houston rock documentary, “Runaway Radio,” directed/produced by first-time filmmaker and Texas media blogger Mike McGuff, will be released this month with a special Houston screening in early March. … Continue reading

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“The Shows That Got Away”

What are your great musical regrets? If you’ve been going to live music concerts for any length of time, you know the pain. The pain and misery of knowing a performer or band is coming to town, thinking about going … Continue reading

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Saturday video break: The boys of the NYPD Choir still singing “Galway Bay”

I will have a note on his passing in the Sunday linkdump, but for obvious reasons the first thing I thought about upon hearing of Shane MacGowan’s passing was this: As a part-Irishman, I’m an absolute sucker for a sad … Continue reading

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The Chron covers The MOB

Obviously, I am going to make note of this. A spectacle on the Rice Stadium football field: A college student wearing a suit and fedora hands a giant check for $0 to a man in a rubber horse helmet. Scoffs, … Continue reading

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Thanksgiving video break: It’s about Alice

We don’t have many traditions here but we like the ones we have. I am as always thankful for my family and friends, my health, the fact that I still get enjoyment from things I’ve done for a long time … Continue reading

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The vinyl renaissance

I’m not surprised by this and definitely pleased by it, though I have a little secret to confess. After Dave Ritz came back to Houston from serving in the U.S. Army — working in a Saigon, Vietnam, radio station — … Continue reading

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Saturday video break: The year of Olivia

By “Olivia” I mean Olivia Rodrigo, though it was my Olivia who first introduced me to the latter’s music. They share something in common besides their given name, and that’s a love of Billy Joel. My Olivia came back to … Continue reading

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Saturday video break: A brief manifesto about Christmas music

Been awhile since I’ve done one of these. Maybe I’ll work a few in next year, we’ll see how it goes. I was inspired by the Slacktivist re-running his own Christmas music manifesto from a few years ago. I broadly … Continue reading

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Thanksgiving video break: A return to something resembling normalcy

Let’s spend a few minutes with an old friend: The day may come when I will get tired of that video, but that day is not today. I am as always thankful for my family and friends, my health, my … Continue reading

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KPFT station for sale

Not cheap, I’m sure. A mainstay of Montrose, public radio station KPFT, could be headed elsewhere in Houston, signaling to some a changing of the guard in one of Houston’s most eclectic enclaves. In an email to members, Pacifica Foundation, … Continue reading

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Thanksgiving video break: At least we still have old favorites

I think we can all agree that this is not the Thanksgiving we thought we were going to get when the year started. So let’s be thankful for the things we do have, like the comfort of the familiar. I … Continue reading

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How risky is music?

I’m very interested in the answer to this. In any other time, under any other circumstance, the question would seem minor and technical. But today it has taken on both a global significance and pressing deadline: What happens to your … Continue reading

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The KLOL documentary

Of interest to me, and other middle-aged guys like me. This past week Houston filmmaker and blogger Mike McGuff released a trailer for his upcoming film about the late, great radio station, Rock 101 KLOL-FM, and it’s getting Houstonians of … Continue reading

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Thanksgiving video break: I haven’t done one of these in awhile

So let’s redo one of my greater hits: Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

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Astrodome song

A little bit of nostalgia for you today. Like many of us, Bruce Robison has driven by the Astrodome and gotten emotional. He is of that age — born in 1966, one year after the Dome opened — that gives … Continue reading

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Saturday video break: Vote ‘Em Out

Listen to Willie Nelson, y’all. Link via the Current. The deadline to register to vote is this Tuesday, October 9. Early voting begins on Monday, October 22. You know what to do.

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Musicians for Beto

Just another dimension to a really interesting picture. Beto O’Rourke’s time as a musician is one of the more well-trodden parts of his bio. And it makes sense. As O’Rourke worked to introduce himself to 28 million Texans who had … Continue reading

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“Viva Texas! Viva Beto!”

It’s been too long since the last time I posted a video. It all came from a love of the law and a shared dislike of Ted Cruz. It was a few bigwig local prosecutors, a capital defense attorney, a … Continue reading

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Friday random ten: Dark in here

Yeah, this should have run last week. Sorry about that. 1. Dark As A Dungeon – The Chieftains 2. The Dark End Of The Street – The Commitments 3. Dark Eyes – Hot Club of Cowtown 4. Dark Horse – … Continue reading

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Friday random ten – Dancing as fast as I can

We should be dancing. Just, you know, not where anyone can see us. 1. Dancin’ Shoes – Rachael Davis 2. Dancing Barefoot – U2 3. Dancing In Isolation – Terri Nunn 4. Dancing In The Dark – Bruce Springsteen/Big Daddy … Continue reading

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Friday random ten – Dance party

Everyone on the dance floor! 1. Dance – ESG 2. Dance Away – Roxy Music 3. Dance Hall Days – Wang Chung 4. Dance In The Dark – Lady Gaga 5. Dance Like Nobody’s Watching – Laura Marano 6. Dance … Continue reading

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Saturday video break: Spanish Eyes

Elvis! U2! Sorry I’ve been remiss in posting these. Life, ya know? I’ll try to be better going forward.

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Friday random ten: Crazy talk

Let’s go crazy! 1. Crazy – Gnarls Barkley/Seal/Patsy Cline/Peter Wolf 2. Crazy ‘Cause I Love You – The Hot Club of Cowtown 3. Crazy For You – Madonna 4. Crazy Game – Indigo Girls 5. Crazy Life – Toad the … Continue reading

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Friday random nine – Come, come now, part 3

Finishing this topic up, with some gerund usage at the end. A nice gerund, not an obscene gerund. 1. Come To My Party – Black Joe Lewis 2. Come To Poppa – Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band 3. … Continue reading

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Friday random ten – Come, come now, part 2

Keep it coming. 1. Come Go With Me – Georgetown Chimes 2. Come In, Sit Down – Jiggernaut 3. Come On (Part III) – Stevie Ray Vaughan 4. Come On Eileen – Dexy’s Midnight Runners 5. Come On With Me … Continue reading

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Friday random ten – Come, come now, part 1

Another multi-part list! And we’re still in January! Woo hoo! 1. Come & Get It – Selena Gomez 2. Come A Day – Nils Lofgren 3. Come A Little Bit Closer – Jay & The Americans 4. Come And I … Continue reading

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Saturday video break: Soon

Remember the Squirrel Nut Zippers? Here they are with a song called “Soon”: I really liked SNZ, as I have always been a fan of that style of music. I wish they’d stayed together longer and made more records, but … Continue reading

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Friday random ten: Can’t even, part 2

Because “can’t” is a key part of anyone’s vocabulary. 1. Can’t Stop Dancin’ – Becky G 2. Can’t Stop Killing You – Kirsty MacColl 3. Can’t Stop My Heart From Loving You – Aaron Neville 4. Can’t Stop Rockin’ – … Continue reading

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Saturday video break: Something So Right

Here’s Paul Simon performing one of his solo hits: Simon was a top-notch songwriter for over 20 years, and if you look at the trajectory of most artists, that’s a long time. Here’s Annie Lennox, in a recording someone took … Continue reading

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Friday random ten: Can’t even, part 1

I just can’t, you know? 1. Can’t Buy Me Love – The Beatles 2. Can’t Even Get The Blues – Reba McEntire 3. Can’t Find My Keys – Mojo Nixon 4. Can’t Get There From Here – R.E.M. 5. Can’t … Continue reading

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Friday random ten: California dreaming

I had no idea I had this many California songs. 1. California – The Aislers Set 2. California – Delta Spirit 3. California – Joni Mitchell 4. California (There Is No End To Love) – U2 5. California Christmas – … Continue reading

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Saturday video break: Somebody Loves Me

I feel like we could use a little sax music, so here are Al Cohn and Zoot Sims: I’m pretty sure it’s the law that you have to be a musician to be nicknamed “Zoot”. Where there’s jazz there’s western … Continue reading

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Friday random ten: Bring it

It has been brought. 1. Bring Back That Leroy Brown – Queen 2. Bring ‘Em Home – Bruce Springsteen 3. Bring It Back Again – Stray Cats 4. Bring It On Down To My House – Willie Nelson & Asleep … Continue reading

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Friday random ten: Break it up

You can shake it, but please don’t break it. 1. Break It To Me Gently – Brenda Lee 2. Break My Heart – La Sera 3. Break Your Heart – Natalie Merchant 4. Breakin’ Me – Jonny Lang 5. Breaking … Continue reading

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