So, one year has gone by since I first started work on Houston Calling. During that time, I have met a lot of great people, received email from a lot of great people, seen countless concerts, and interviewed quite a few musicians?some local, some not.

This year, I hope to continue in the same vein. If you have suggestions, want me to review your CD, or want to be interviewed for a future edition, please let me know.

There are some good shows coming to town in the near future, and some good albums being released as well. I recently found out that duneTX are in the studio working on some new music, which should be good to hear. One of my favorite new acts of last year, meoWcifer, completed some work in a NYC studio late last year so I hope to expect a release from them this year. Fondue Monks released a live CD late last year, playing multiple release parties across the city and celebrating their 10 years together?those guys are unstoppable. Perhaps a new full-length could be on the way in 2004?

Another favorite came out of nowhere?or it seemed that way at the time. Tody and the Falcon are a great local act that put on an incredible live show. When I first saw them open for The Damnwells at Walter’s, I thought they were from out-of-town. Thank God they aren?t. I have gotten to see them play several times in the past few months and it is always a good show. Side note: Tody Castillo played bass on singer-songwriter Arthur Yoria‘s newest album. Songs off Yoria’s “I’ll Be Here Awake” will be featured in the independent film, “There Can?t Be Nothing.”
Check out the trailer. Yoria’s song, “I’ll Pretend” became the number one song (all-genres, worldwide) on Garageband.com on January 26th. Yoria plans to play shows outside of Houston in support of his album–here’s wishing him continued success. His recent in-store performance at Cactus Music and Video was a good one, complete with a handful of news songs. My personal favorite of the new bunch was “Little Blue.”

I hope to see some good stuff from Luxurata and also from newcomers Sound Theory (ex-Beautiful Losers). I think these bands have great potential and I’ll have my ears open.

Of course, local rock acts mytwilightpilot, Pale and The John Sparrow will undoubtedly keep hope alive in Houston this year. These bands are some of the best in the city and I have no doubt can catch on nationwide given the right push.

My top local album of 2003 pick, Drop Trio, just went into the studio last weekend to record their new album. This is great–it’s a completely improvised album, clocking in at just under 2 hours (although the final version will undoubtedly get the edit down to around an hour). The band recorded it on leap day, and the album will be called Leap.

I will be headed to South By Southwest in Austin this month, and plan to catch some Houston acts and some national acts as well. My friends in Caviar are playing a show at Emo’s with Local H (whose new album Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles hits stores April 6th), and UK-stars-by-way-of-Chicago, The Webb Brothers. Seeing all three of these bands together will be quite an event.

I also hope to catch David Garza, The Cooper Temple Clause, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and Chomsky (from Fort Worth).

For those wondering, Houston survived the Super Bowl but the rodeo’s in town again. I believe John Mayer played last night.

John Mayer. At a rodeo.

And you thought Janet Jackson?s breast at the Super Bowl was out-of-place.

Until next time?

Now playing in my iPOD: The Cooper Temple Clause — Kick Up the Fire & Let the Flames Break Loose