Crowded House has been broken up for a long time.  Booo! I think that Toad the Wet Sprocket and Jars of Clay sound like them...so I listen to those bands as well. I highly recommend checking them out. I am not really into any new stuff lately, 'cause it mostly sucks. I like bands that started in the 80's and 90's, and I also like some classic rock like Fleetwood Mac and Simon and Garfunkel.

Oh itunes, how I love thee! Itunes is awesome. I can skip over all the cruddy songs and just buy the good ones. And, it's legal, so it gives you that good ol' warm and fuzzy feeling inside.

One place that I really enjoyed visiting when I lived in Houston was Etta's Lounge. It is a really seedy place near UofH that plays awesome music. It does not look like much from the outside. In fact, I was scared the first time I went there. I always went with a group though, so it wasn't dangerous. Inside, there is a nasty bar that serves beer, Schlitz , St. Ides, OE and the like...ghetto drinks. They have Sprite or Coke too (probably the safest choice!). They give you cups so you can share too! When you go in, they give you a door ticket and every once in a while they yell "Watch your tickets, watch your tickets!." They give out awesome prizes like, oh, I dunno, MORE booze, or Spam, or whatever. It is so funny! When I went there, there were lots of older African American men and women and then there were kids from UofH and Rice. There is a really small dancefloor and the old people would get down! What a great place to hear the blues and just hang with friends being goofy! I want to go back!