Coffee or Tea? Clean-energy protest crashes Tea Party SA birthday
Lung power and conviction on display under a watchful, hulking eye. Greg Harman gharman@sacurrent.com Dozens of area residents mobilized by MoveOn chapters in San Antonio and Cibolo and a developing Coffee Party gathered Sunday a couple blocks north of Sunset Station on the east edge of downtown to support the rapid development and deployment of…
Local music video: The Nancy Silva Project’s “Letting Go”
While you’re waiting to read our critic Imelda Vergara’s review of the Nancy Silva Project’s latest show (hitting newsstands Wednesday, February 24), check out this video for their song “Letting Go”: Video for Single “Letting Go” Nancy Silva Project (HoustonTX Scout Feb21) | MySpace Music Videos
Also seen: Jake’s Women at the Vex
Neil Simon’s Jake’s Women, currently running through Feb. 27 at the Vexler, shows a surprisingly novel side to Simon’s oeuvre: his self-indulgent side. Here, the master of one-liners and quipsâ??who first cut his teeth on Sid Caesar’s Show of Showsâ??jettisons his traditional strengths in fast-paced situational comedy, and instead composes a metaphysical piece about the…
Tree ordinance closes every loophole but cash on the barrel head
City Arborist Mark Bird casts tree ordinance foliage in finer detail as Sanchez (center) and Williams (far right) work crowd control. Greg Harman gharman@sacurrent.com An updated tree ordinance intended to close two major loopholes that have plagued San Antonio’s natural scene is making its final passes along the committee taffy-making circuit as it heads to…
Rate Hike: Chamber leaders say, â??Thank you, sir. May I have another?’
Public doesn’t assume the position as gracefully Greg Harman gharman@sacurrent.com If anything was learned during the hours of citizens’ comments at this morning’s vote to raise electric and gas rates for CPS Energy customers, it’s that the local chambers of commerce are still doggedly devoted to their hometown utility. Despite their unanimous support of CPS…
Two new Ernest Gonzales videos
From his latest album, Been Meaning to Tell You. Get it now from Exponential. Ernest Gonzales – “Self Awakening” from CYNE on Vimeo. Ernest Gonzales- Etchasketch Trees from Air on Vimeo.
The 60th Annual Berlinale Film Festival: Half-time report
Metropolis by Fritz Lang Trailer – For more funny videos, click here While the weather is cold in Berlin and the streets are a treacherous ice-skating rink, the 60th Berlinale is continuously afforded a red hot reception by an enthusiastic public. After all, there are 400 films to be seen, including the big productions competing…
What the kids are wearing these days
PHOTOS BY BRYAN RINDFUSS
Daytes, Megafauna, Observer, & Manic Mongrel
Critic’s Pick Release Date: 2010-02-17 First off: Megafauna’s vocalist-guitarist Dani Neff is better than the condescending “lookee here, a girl playin’ guitar good” BS musicians (not to mention butchers, bankers, and candlestickmakers) of the Venusian persuasion have to endure. A lot better. We probably shouldn’t have even brought it up, in fact. It isn’t often,…
Daytes, Megafauna, Observer, & Manic Mongrel
Critic’s Pick Release Date: 2010-02-17 First off: Megafauna’s vocalist-guitarist Dani Neff is better than the condescending “lookee here, a girl playin’ guitar good” BS musicians (not to mention butchers, bankers, and candlestickmakers) of the Venusian persuasion have to endure. A lot better. We probably shouldn’t have even brought it up, in fact. It isn’t often,…
Severe and sincere
Message trumps method in Blood
The Autograph Series presents David Liss and Andrew Porter
Release Date: 2010-02-17 Are we at ubiquity yet? Not with San Antonio’s own historical-fiction novelist David Liss (davidliss.com) and prize-winning short-story writer Andrew Porter (andrewporterwriter.com). (Fine, transplants, but they got here as fast as they could, etc.) The pair are anchoring Gemini Ink’s Autograph Series this week, with a free reading and book-signing Thursday night,…
Grapes of Wrath
Tool’s MJK stomps on wine snobs
Foreign exchange students
Release Date: 2010-02-17 The usual nightlife suspects can be found most any night of the week drinking and dancing in the St. Mary’s strip of bars, but I was intrigued by rumors of a pair of DJs spinning celestial jams every Tuesday night at the Russian Bar (aka the Web House). Parking at this end…
One Life Stand
One Life Stand Composer: Hot Chip Conductor: Hot Chip Label: Astralwerks Release Date: 2010-02-17 Rated: NONE Genre: Recording If listening to Nickelback is like dating the captain of the football team, listening to Hot Chip is If listening to Nickelback is like dating the captain of the football team, listening to Hot Chip is like…
Every Man for Himself and God Against All
Every Man for Himself and God Against All Composer: The Grasshopper Lies Heavy Conductor: The Grasshopper Lies Heavy Label: Self released Release Date: 2010-02-17 Rated: NONE Genre: Recording This bleak, 30-minute instrumental opus from the Grasshopper Lies Heavy is like a stoned-drone Peter and the Wolf with the part of God’s wrath played by snarling,…
Heligoland
Heligoland Composer: Massive Attack Conductor: Massive Attack Label: Virgin Release Date: 2010-02-17 Rated: NONE Genre: Recording Massive Attack’s fifth album, Heligoland, comes seven years after the release of 100th Window. And it’s been almost a dozen years since Mezzanine, a defining album of the U.K. trip-hop scene they helped spearhead. Grant Marshall and Robert del…
Prior to the Fire
Prior to the Fire Composer: Priestess Conductor: Priestess Label: Tee Pee Release Date: 2010-02-17 Rated: NONE Genre: Recording Subtlety is a term not often applied to heavy music, but it is central to Montreal’s Priestess. While Prior to the Fire has plenty of power and aggression, they are always applied with a deft touch, used…
Serj Tankian’s Elect the Dead Symphony
Critic’s Pick Serj Tankian’s Elect the Dead Symphony Director: Mitchell Hawkes Screenwriter: Mitchell Hawkes Release Date: 2010-02-17 Rated: NONE Genre: Film Before the orchestra begins playing “Feed Us,” Serj Tankian, looking a little like a Satanic televangelist in his tailored white suit, wants to tell you about a very special gal. “She’s over 10,000 years…
Here’s to Yum Bistro
Release Date: 2010-02-17 Here’s to Yum would have totally escaped my attention if not for the enthusiastic recommendation of an acquaintance in the publishing business. “You’ve got to try it,” she gushed, mentioning that the two owners, Rene and Charles, professional training at places as serious at L’Etoile. They also had more than grilled cheese,…
Toby Keith
Release Date: 2010-02-17 At one point, former oil-worker Toby Keith was about to throw in the towel. His personal deadline of landing a record deal by age 30 didn’t pan out, and he was getting awful tired of playing for tips in front of Houndogs Hot Dogs in Nashville. If it weren’t for a certain…
Federico Garcia Lorca’s Blood Wedding, translated by Langston Hughes
Release Date: 2010-02-17 Federico García Lorca’s Blood Wedding reads like a mysterious telenovela plotline — complete with adultery, scandal, and murder. Lorca’s rural tragedy focuses on the upcoming wedding of characters known simply as “the Bride” and “the Groom.” The only character with a proper name is “Leonardo,” the Bride’s unhappily married ex-boyfriend, who keeps…
Family Connections Tour with Allison DuBois
Release Date: 2010-02-17 If you’re a fan of the CBS series Medium, you won’t want to miss this interactive event. Best-selling author and nationally renowned medium Allison DuBois is kicking off her international 2010 Family Connections Tour right here in SA. The tour is designed to help families cope with the loss of loved ones…
Asian Festival
Release Date: 2010-02-17 In the U.S., the Chinese New Year unfortunately takes a back seat to Valentine’s Day each year. Lucky for us, the Institute of Texan Cultures has given us a rain check. This Saturday, the Asian Festival will take over the institute’s grounds in a day-long celebration of the cultures of China, Japan,…
Music on the Move: Asia
Release Date: 2010-02-17 Local chamber ensemble Musical Offerings will lead a virtual tour of Asia by performing compositions that correspond to the San Antonio Museum of Art’s Japanese, Chinese, and Korean Art Collections. Marty Regan, assistant professor of music at Texas A&M University, will speak about “Composing for Japanese Instruments,” before performing his original works…
Hearts of darkness
I’ve been in a relationship for 21 years, so I’m kind of beyond making a fuss over Valentine’s Day. Which is why last February 14 you could have found me hanging out at a super-romantic Super Target Starbucks instead of perusing a prix-fixe menu in some candle-lit restaurant. As I waited for my latte, I noticed…
Gone too long
It’s 1982 in Houston, Texas. Kurt and Eric Brecht stand in their parents’ house alongside two of their friends (Spike Cassidy and Dennis Johnson, for those of you keeping score at home). They’ve assembled in the interest of forming a new band, much to the chagrin of the Brecht brothers’ father, who regularly barges into…
¡ Ask a Mexican!
Dear Mexican: People talk about the costs of illegal immigration on our society. What about the savings? Has there been any research into how much more a meal at a restaurant would cost without Mexicans cooking and washing dishes? What percentage increase would we see with supermarket produce if migrant illegal laborers were paid a…
A closer Look
Look Mexico’s Matt Agrella says the band loves San Antonio. They just love Austin a little bit more. The five-piece left-field pop-rock act relocated last month from Tallahassee, Florida, to that Podunk 90 minutes north of here, but Agrella swears they considered San Antonio, too. Though we still can’t claim Look Mexico for our own,…
Live & Local
It’s a cop-out, but I’m blaming the public-school system for this one. Despite three freaking years of junior-high Spanish class (not to mention 11 hours in college) the only español I readily understood at this Valentine’s Eve concert was when the lady introducing accordionist Flaco Jiménez and bajo-sexto player Max Baca said the two had…
The Sound & The Fury
If you’ve never heard Bett Butler sing, write this down: On Wednesday, February 17, the New World Quintet (Butler, Cecil R. Carter, Joël Dilley, Lloyd Herrman, and Jonathan Raveneau) will put on one of the best blues/jazz shows of the year at Casbeers (1150 S. Alamo, 8 p.m., $10, (210) 271-7791). The concert is named…
Hookah me up
The Sultan Café, on the city’s northwest side near Babcock and Huebner, is one of several local hookah joints to open in the past few years. Frequent throughout the Near and Middle East, hookah cafés have gradually moved westward across the Atlantic, despite increasing bans on smoking in the United States and Canada. The Sultan is…
Deat Uncle Mat
Dear Uncle Mat, I’m a 17-year-old kid (female) in high school. I’m pretty open-minded and I think I have a good head on my shoulders. Although I have an idea about what I want to do with the rest of my life, it’s still very unclear. I’m in a design class and I’m really good…
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): I personally don’t believe we’re living in the worst of times, although I know many people who do. While there are indeed reasons to despair, our current state of affairs is actually in many ways quite glorious. And our struggles are puny compared to those of the generation that lived through…
From prodigy to preeminence
Last summer, I led a group of adolescent participants in Artpace’s summer art camp through Vincent Valdez’s Chavez Ravine installation at the San Antonio Museum of Art. The teenagers readily responded to the work; they grasped the tragic narrative of a longstanding Mexican-American neighborhood destroyed, its residents displaced, to make way for Dodger Stadium. The…
Lost at sea
Twice. I would see the San Antonio Shakespeare Company’s production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead twice. In fact, I plan to. The local troupe has manifested the existential antics of Hamlet’s most underdeveloped characters with such relevant, mesmerizing vulnerability and glee, if I could, I would buy it as one buys a DVD. Except…
ARTifacts
A series of 13 art billboards designed by the late Felix González-Torres (1957-1996) were put up earlier this month and will rotate through monthly — changing images and roadside locales in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and El Paso through December 31, 2010. Cuban-born, Puerto Rico-raised, and an NYC art star from ’88 on, Gonzáles-Torres was…
Xbox nabs a first-person shooter, police arrest Thomas Ford
SAPD LIVE A John Marshall High student who was arrested for talking about his plans for a school shooting while playing Modern Warfare 2 online, is no longer enrolled at the Northside Independent School District campus, says Principal Anthony Jarrett. According to the San Antonio Police he has been charged with making a false alarm…
The remains of the daily
On October 8, 2008, at 9 a.m., the eight remaining employees of Rumbo de San Antonio received an ominous company email announcing a “mandatory” meeting at 10 a.m. A Spanish-language daily newspaper chain first published in San Antonio in July 2004, Rumbo at its apex had more than 100 employees in SA alone before the…
Final jeopardy
I can still remember the look on the face of our Croatian client in one of the first immigration cases I was involved in. He had been living in the United States as a legal resident since he moved here as a young man in the late 1960s to escape the Communist regime ruling his country. A…
This ain’t our first time at the rodeo
Dear Reader, have you, like us, been dreading it just a little bit? Are you, say, loath to watch helpless calves get roped, heedless peeps thrown from crazed bulls or broncs, and/or grown men a-wrasslin’ steers? We are, too, a little. AND YET. There are still reasons to acquire some young-uns (either your own, or…
What not to wear
Faced with the task of cracking the rodeo dress code, I called on John G. Bloodsworth, owner of the Publicity Ranch and former marketing director of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. A few pearls of wisdom Mr. Bloodsworth shared with the Current: “Don’t show up in a straw cowboy hat. It’s winter, so…
First federal nuclear loan guarantee goes to â?¦ someone else
Greg Harman gharman@sacurrent.com President Obama announced this morning that the federal government will guarantee $8 billion in loans for two new nuclear reactors of an untested design in Georgia. With the federal blessing, the pair could become the first new reactors built in the country in nearly 30 years.* At a Maryland headquarters of the…
