That’s right, folks. Your beloved Free Press Houston has hit a major milestone:  We’ve got TEN (10) years of publishing under our collective belts now. And we wouldn’t have gotten this far without the support and love that we get from our readers and our community. So, what better way to give a big ‘ol thanks to our hometown and celebrate this festive occasion than to throw a big ass party? We can’t think of one. So come hang out with us, listen to a fantastic lineup of music, partake in some local food and drink, and help us prepare ... Read More »

Back when Craig Kinsey wore an “I’m not moving to Austin” shirt at Summerfest it was, I guess, a mildly amusing poke at our good neighbors in our fair capital.  Then, oddly enough, I began to see the shirt on a few more bodies - decidedly lame.  Turns out, what I didn’t realize at the time was that Zen Hill Kinsey was, at least at one point, selling these shirts.  Yes, that’s right! For $15 plus S&H,  you could get your own “I’m not moving to Austin” shirt, in either black or white – small to 2XL for men and small to XL  for women.  E-mail them ... Read More »

By Alex Wukman Word came out yesterday that a spate of hometown heroes made it on the long list for a Grammy. According to a post on the ZenHill website Roky Moon and BOLT!, The Sideshow Tramps, The Tontons, The Champion Sisters and Robert Ellis are all up for consideration. All that can be said is: it’s about damn time! Good luck to everyone and, on a personal note, it would be a blast to see the Tramps do John the Revelator live on national TV. Read More »

There are live shows and then there are Sideshow Tramps shows. You simply cannot just sit back and take in a Tramps show, you have to live it and dive right in. Boasting some of the most prolific and admired musicians in Houston, the band bitch-slaps its crowd into a frenzy of dancing and whoopin’. This isn’t the polite and relaxed folk and Americana you will hear at a place like the Mucky Duck.* No, this is roots music with a furor and fire that resembles more a punk show mixed with a tent revival. Or to give you another ... Read More »

I’ve been playing all of my old Jeff Beck vinyl this week and getting psyched for his show at the Verizon Wireless Center on Saturday. This guy is a guitar player’s guitar player; like I read in another Free Press article, if you play guitar, go see this show. He’s played in the Yardbirds and had a fairly successful solo career. His latest album is a little too vanilla for my taste but his discography speaks for itself otherwise. Surf-guitar virtuoso Gary Hoey will be opening for Beck. The Edgar Winters Band and ZZ Top will be playing somewhere in ... Read More »

No Beer or Jameson fueled review this week folks. This week I’m keepin‘ it straight edge. But even if you weren’t abstaining, I hope you were able to make it out yesterday to the Block Party! I kicked around until 5pm and had to leave due to some other obligations but five hours was still quite the overdose of music. In those five hours I caught 20 acts and the stupid thing is, when I had to leave, I was bummed about having to miss Elaine Greer, The Papermoons, Oh Pioneers, Young Mammals, Rusted Shut and a whole host of ... Read More »