Friday Afternoon Video: Johnny Rivers-A-Go-Go

If you know Johnny Rivers solely as Secret Agent Man then you are neglecting some of his best work, which includes a bevy of Motown-esque hits recorded during the later half of the 1960s. There was a time in our teens when Houstonist would listen solely to oldies radio. At one point we discovered that almost all of our favorite angst-y simple-heartbreak songs (Poor Side of Town, Mountain of Love, Tracks of My Tears, Summer Rain, Memphis) as well as several hand-clappy dance numbers (Maybelline, Midnight Special, Seventh Sun, but not the ridiculous Rockin' Pneumonia) were written or covered by Johnny Rivers. So we were excited to learn that Rivers will be playing the Houston-area August 9. Tickets are on sale now. Unfortunately, he's playing at the Stafford Center. Splashtown over Spring must have already been booked. Still,... [read full story]