The Wainwright family isn’t lacking in talent. Singer/songwriter Loudon Wainwright III’s father was an editor and columnist for Life magazine, while two of his children, Rufus and Martha, are singer/songwriters themselves. (Loudon wrote a few songs about his kids, including the ironic breastfeeding song "Rufus Is a Tit Man".) Loudon Wainwright III is best known for his 70’s novelty hit “Dead Skunk,” but, novelty songs aside, his artistic abilities were more in-line with Bob Dylan......

Did we tell you how excited we were when we first learned that Cactus Music was re-opening last year? If not, we should have. Houston never had a record store that new Texas like Cactus. Their collection of local and regional music is superb, and they’ve even dedicated a whole room to their vinyl collection this time around (and almost 20 years after that format was considered “dead,” it, The Record Ranch, is making a......

We forewarned you a couple of weeks ago. We gave you another heads up a few days ago. With less than 24 hours left, you had better made up your mind about whether or not you’re going to the The Free Press' Westheimer Block Party. The last one was pretty much a rousing success with a blown out generator being the only exception. This year, though, the Free Press has upped the ante by bringing......

Did we miss something? Let us know. Here’s the full week line-up. Local bands are noted by an asterisk (*): Wednesday • Billy Martin – experimental/jazz | 7:30 p.m. at Heinen Theatre (HCC Central campus) • Unseen/A Wilhelm Scream/The Krum Bums/Blackstar – punk/rock | 8 p.m.at Warehouse Live Thursday • A Show for Mike "Horace" Bly (feat: *The Octanes/*Opie Hendrix/*Les Means, more) – rockabilly/alt.country | 9 p.m.at Continental Club • Fu Manchu/Burning Brides/Max Cady......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Houstonist. The 2009 Toyota Corolla, which encourages you to "Live the Dream for Less Coin." Gallery Furniture, where you can win $25,000 in furniture in their video contest. Joe Jackson's Rain, available now on Amazon.com. Busted Tees, which introduces three new designs a week. If you're interested in advertising on Houstonist or any other site in our network, check out our online......

We’ve got a busy week on the concert front. Our favorite duo from New York arrives at The Meridian tomorrow night. They Might Be Giants have been making quirky alt/pop songs for grown-ups over 20 years now, and a few albums for the kids that us grown-ups enjoy, too. Wilco’s Friday night show at Verizon Wireless Theater is sold out, but if you’re willing to pay a little, you can still get your hands......

Up and coming singer/songwriter Alice Smith [pictured] is scheduled to perform on the Ellen DeGeneres show this week. Monday -ABC, 11:05pm: Jimmy Kimmel Live, Maroon 5 Tuesday -CBS, 10:35p: Late Show with David Letterman, Lenny Kravitz -NBC, 10:35pm: Tonight Show with Jay Leno, John Fogerty Wednesday -CBS, 12:05am: Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Collective Soul -NBC, 2:05am: Last Call with Carson Daly, A Fine Frenzy -CBS, 10:35p: Late Show with David Letterman, Ayo -NBC,......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Houstonist. The 2009 Toyota Corolla, which encourages you to "Live the Dream for Less Coin." Gallery Furniture, where you can win $25,000 in furniture in their video contest. Obama for America, remember the Texas primary on Tuesday. Joe Jackson's Rain, available now on Amazon.com. Busted Tees, which introduces three new designs a week. If you're interested in advertising on Houstonist or any......

Snoop Dogg is performing at Warehouse Live tomorrow night, and we thought we would celebrate by posting the music video of his new song, "Sensual Seduction." Snoop has always been a funny dude, hamming it up in MTV's now defunct Televizzle, the 2004 flick Starsky and Hutch, and the new E! reality series, Father Hood. "Sensual Seduction" manages to be both a tongue-in-cheek romp and a highly stylized pop song that is steadily climbing the......

Oh, indie rock. Does such a genre even really mean anything anymore? What was once "independent" is now major label material; a few major label material acts are now "independent." The grass is blue, the sky is green, up is down, down is up; nothing makes sense in this day and age. Leave it to Built to Spill to defy space and time by continuing to rock the same songs they've been playing since 1993......

If you prefer 90’s music over today’s, there are a few shows this week that’ll be right up your alley. Tomorrow night, Matchbook Twenty and Alanis Morisette play a sold out show at Toyota Center (MuteMath opens). For rap fans, check out Too $hort at the Meridian Friday night and Snoop Dogg returns with new material at Warehouse Live Saturday night. Finally, Marilyn Manson gives you an alternative to Sunday night church this weekend.......

These days, Citizen Cope's Clarence Greenwood [pictured] reps Brooklyn to the fullest, but his sound resides in a different part of the country. The singer/songwriter blends southern rock, blues, and soul with everyman lyrics for an aesthetic that seems more wide open spaces than concrete jungle. Over the span of his three solo album career, Greenwood has collaborated with the likes of Santana, and MeShell DeNdegeocello (on his breakout hit, "Sideways,") and his tunes have......

The Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige takes the stage at the latest installment of Vh1 Storytellers, airing tonight at 7pm on Vh1. Monday -Vh1, 7pm: Vh1 Storytellers, Mary J. Blige -NBC, 11:35pm: Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Super Furry Animals Tuesday -ABC, 7am: Good Morning America, Janet Jackson -CBS, 10:35pm: Late Show with David Letterman, Chingy with Ludacris -NBC, 10:35pm: Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Lupe Fiasco -ABC, 11:05pm: Jimmy Kimmel Live,......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Houstonist. The 2009 Toyota Corolla, which encourages you to "Live the Dream for Less Coin." Gallery Furniture, where you can win $25,000 in furniture in their video contest. Joe Jackson's Rain, available now on Amazon.com. Busted Tees, which introduces three new designs a week. If you're interested in advertising on Houstonist or any other site in our network, check out our online......

Tonight, catch Grammy award-winning R&B vocalist, singer/songwriter Jill Scott at Verizon Wireless. Frequent visitor Bob Schneider makes his trip from Austin a little bit shorter tomorrow by playing at the Cypress Saloon in northwest Houston. Local faves Orange Is In is opening, which makes for a great double-bill. Another local act, The Mighty Orq, will be presenting a lot of new material at his CD release show at the Meridian Friday night (you’ll probably......

Nothing says "rodeo" quite like a manufactured Disney pop star, and the Houston Live Stock and Rodeo's organizers know that. That's why they booked Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus for the March 9th slot in the program. The fact that having Hannah Montana on the bill is a sure-fire recipe for making parents' wallets hemorrhage probably played a role, too. For those of you who have offspring who are clamoring to see the show, but are unwilling......

Many artists make a living on the road, but few have been able to do it as successfully, and consistently, as Garrett Dutton. The Philadelphia native and his band, better known as G. Love & Special Sauce, have been churning out albums and have been known for their fantastic live shows for a decade and a half now. Their unique blend of rock, hip-hop, and blues, among other ingredients, has made them a crowd favorite.......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Houstonist. The 2009 Toyota Corolla, which encourages you to "Live the Dream for Less Coin." Gallery Furniture, where you can win $25,000 in furniture in their video contest. Joe Jackson's Rain, available now on Amazon.com. Busted Tees, which introduces three new designs a week. If you're interested in advertising on Houstonist or any other site in our network, check out our online......

Did we miss something? Let us know. Here’s the full week line-up. Local bands are noted by an asterisk (*): Wednesday • The Leo Trio/*The Haymakers/The Mighty Orq – rock | 9 p.m. at Rudyard's • Dead Meadow/*Sharks and Sailors/Southern Bellugosi – indie | 9 p.m.at The Mink Thursday • Bob Schneider/Mothers Anthem/Jake Andrews – pop/rock | 8 p.m.at Warehouse Live • Jimmy LaFave – folk/Americana | 7 p.m. at Mucky Duck • *Backbeat......

Sultry Brazilian songstress Bebel Gilberto [pictured] sings about love a lot, so it seems fitting that she is scheduled to perform on the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson show on Valentine's night. Monday CBS, 10:05pm: The Late Show with David Letterman, OK Go ABC, 11:05pm: Jimmy Kimmel Live, Sia Tuesday CBS, 12:05am: Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Natasha Bedingfield ABC, 9am: Regis and Kelly, Maroon 5 NBC, 12pm: Ellen DeGeneres, Keyshia Cole CBS,......

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Houstonist. The 2009 Toyota Corolla, which encourages you to "Live the Dream for Less Coin." Joe Jackson's Rain, available now on Amazon.com. Gallery Furniture, where you can win $25,000 in furniture in their video contest. Busted Tees, selling a special shirt to honor the New England Patriots. If you're interested in advertising on Houstonist or any other site in our network, check......

Houstonist has a special place in our hearts for The Last Concert Cafe on Nance - it was the fabled "knock or you won't get in" mystery Mexican Restaurant of our mispent youth. The location of many nights of live music, cold beer and hot food. Now, we're asking Houston to help the fine folks there raise money in loving memory of their granddaughter Aubrie Kristine Acosta who succumbed to SIDS on January 12th at......

Houstonist is really looking forward to the Over The Rhine show tonight at the Mucky Duck. In an intimate setting like the Duck, their sopisticated art-pop sound will probably cause shivers down your spine. Did we miss something? Let us know. Here’s the full week line-up. Local bands are noted by an asterisk (*): Wednesday • Over The Rhine – folk/art-pop | 7 p.m. at Mucky Duck • *Whiskey Boat – Americana | 10......

Many people love The Bravery, and why not? Their blend of rock, pop, electronic and retro style new wave keeps you on your feet. But don't count Brandon Flowers of The Killers as a fan. When The Bravery released their debut album a few years ago, Brandon claimed that the New York City based band was capitalizing on The Killers sound. Hmm ... I think there are some 80's bands that may say the same......

Bluegrass music is an acquired taste. But mix some Grateful Dead and Phish styling to it, you have something that’s a little bit more digestible: Jamgrass. That’s the best description of the band Yonder Mountain String Band. The band was formed ten years ago in Colorado, out of the ashes of founders Dave Johnston and Jeff Austin’s band Bluegrassholes (which is a great name, by the way – mass appeal all over it). Since then,......

It's Superbowl Sunday next week, and you know what that means... a ridiculously over-blown Halftime Show/pyrotechnic extravaganza!!! Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are set to perform this year. Monday -CBS, 10:35pm: The Late Show with David Letterman, the Whigs -ABC, 11:05pm: Jimmy Kimmel Live, Wyclef Jean Tuesday -CBS, 12:05am: The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, Deana Carter Thursday -CBS, 10:35pm: The Late Show with David Letterman, Colbie Caillat Friday -NBC, 7am: Today Show, Sheryl......

This week marks the debut of the new location for Super Happy Fun Land. They have moved to 3801 Polk Street, and you can join their "Grand Opening Polka Party" (get it?) Friday night. Monday night, the Van Halen returns to Houston at the Toyota Center. We're hoping that Diamond Dave and boys don't have the same tuning mishap that they had at the beginning of their tour. Did we miss something? Let us......

Unfortunately, our pick of the week has already aired. Kimya Dawson and Adam Green of the Moldy Peaches performed our favorite song from the Juno soundtrack, "Anyone Else But You," on The View this morning. We're hoping it'll pop up on The View's website or on Youtube soon. Monday -CBS, 10:35pm: The Late Show with David Letterman, Ringo Starr -NBC, 11:35pm: Late Night with Conan O’Brien, The Subways -ABC, 11:05pm: Jimmy Kimmel Live, Velvet......

Tomorrow night, you should check out local favorites The Mathletes last show of the year (already?). They headline the line-up at The Proletariat. Another local favorite, Orange Is In, hits Rudyard’s Saturday night. Tuesday night sees the arrival of the Foo Fighters at the Toyota Center. If that venue is a little too big for you, check out actor/singer/songwriter Jeff Daniels at the Mucky Duck the same night. Did we miss something? Let us......

Upscale Barbecue. Sounds like an oxymoron, right? BBQ, the real sport that precedes major sporting events, the Five Elements (Brisket, Link, Beans, Tater Salad, Sauce), the food group that evolved out of the simple necessity of cattle drives: surely it can't be froofy without ceasing to be bbq. Monica Pope, proprietor and mastermind behind the beloved t'afia, decided to see if she could make the two words fit together in a converted icehouse in the......