De La Tierra: "De La Tierra"
Ask 12 different bangers about metal supergroups, and you’ll get 20 wildly divergent answers, most of them in the “yawn” end of the spectrum. What sets De La Tierra apart isn’t their Latin American origin or even their Spanish/Portuguese lyrics, but the fact that these guys come from such disparate, major bands—Argentine groovesters A.N.I.M.A.L. (singer/guitarist…
Le Strange Sideshow: A Revue of Freakish Delight
Photo by Rick Canfield What is this freakish delight that compels you to keep staring at Le Strange Sideshow? That’s what I was thinking as a mirage of grotesque, yet beautiful, shock-and-awe imagery was presented before my eyes in true horror-show fashion this past Friday night, at the Fitzgerald’s Bar off McCarty Street. [PHOTOS: Le Strange Sideshow: Thrills,…
5 Things You Have to Do This Week
Mon 1/13 – Tue 1/14 SOLI Chamber Ensemble: “Present” SOLI Chamber Ensemble performs Steven Mackey’s PRELUDE TO THE END (trailer) from Mark DeChiazza on Vimeo. SOLI Chamber Ensemble’s 20th anniversary season marches on with “Present.” A mix of old and new that celebrates SOLI’s “national recognition and presence in the contemporary music world,” the program…
The Style Dossier on How to NOT Get Sloppy Drunk
Don’t let these get the best of you. (Courtesy) Let’s be honest for a minute ladies and gents, if you signed up for the Cocktail Conference this month you probably planned on getting a little more than tipsy, am I right? We knew it. Now, we know that the main reason for this conference is…
10 Free Events Happening This Week, Jan. 13 – Jan. 20
1.) Anime at the Alamo Tuesday, January 14, 7:30 p.m. Alamo Drafthouse teams up with Funimation Anime for a free night of anime, a mystery selection of episodes. Location: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Westlakes 2.) Eclectic Electric Monday Monday, January 13, 5 – 7 p.m. Electric and bass guitars, keyboards, and digital drums are on hand…
Listen to Shakira’s New Single Feat. Rihanna
(photo montage by ryanseacrest.com) “Can’t Remember To Forget You,” the first single off Shakira’s still unnamed upcoming album, premiered today on Ryan Seacrest’s syndicated radio show. It is a ska-flavored dance hit and the first new music by the Colombian superstar since 2009’s She Wolf (she released the Spanish-language Sale el Sol in 2010). The…
Rob Thomas Coming to the Majestic Theatre on April 14
Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas (the singer and writer of Santana’s megahit “Smooth”) will perform at the Majestic Theatre (224 E. Houston) on Monday, April 14. Tickets ($49.50-$100) go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, January 17, and you can buy them here. It will be a special intimate performance by the man who earned four…
Los Lonely Boys Announce In-Store in SA Jan. 20, New Album Jan. 21
Los Lonely Boys: Jojo (left), Henry and Ringo. Revelation, the new album by San Angelo’s Los Lonely Boys, will be officially released on Tuesday, January 21 via the band’s LonelyTone Records in collaboration with Austin’s Playing in Traffic, but fans will have a chance to buy the album a day early when the band…
Bexar Co. Judge Nelson Wolff Campaign Kick-Off Draws Pack Of SA Leaders
In a shake up for incumbent Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, fellow Commissioners Court member Tommy Adkisson recently hopped in the Democratic primary race to unseat his old friend, surprising the long-time judge and setting off a battle among former allies. But it was clear during his official campaign kick-off Saturday morning, that he’s not going…
San Anto Cultural Arts Unveils Student-Designed Mural In Government Hill
Photo by Albert Salazar San Antonio’s newest piece of public art is difficult to miss. The vibrant, panoramic mural stretches along I-35 on the edge of the Government Hill Historic District northeast of downtown. It’s called “El Cielo Sobre La Loma” (“The Sky Over the Hill”), a collaborative effort between San Anto Cultural Arts, City Center Health…
Casting Call: Real SA Zombies Needed Fast
The man that used to be Michael Lane. A look like this should do the trick (photo by Bryan Rindfuss) Zombies of SA, unite! On Saturday, January 11 at 8:30 a.m., your presence is required next to the fountain at Wonderland of the Americas (the Bijou entrance, 4522 Fredericksburg). Producer Derek Lee Nixon (an SA…
Watch Carlton Zeus’ “Alpha Child” Video feat. Alyson Alonzo
(photo by Yvaldo Trapotino) A few days ago, local rapper Carlton Zeus—whom I hadn’t heard from since he fought with Toby Keith and had his set allegedly sabotaged at Beethoven Maennerchor—sent me a text message in the middle of the night. “Got something I’ve been putting my heart and soul into,” the text read. “If…
Eater Names Steve McHugh in 2014 Chefs to Watch List
Chef Steve McHugh (Courtesy/Cured) In told-ya-so news, national food news website, Eater.com, named Cured chef-owner Steve McHugh to its 2014 Chefs to Watch list. McHugh was the only San Antonio chef to receive a nod while the list included mentions of several Austin and Dallas chefs. The article comes just over a week of Cured…
Is Walmart’s New Brand the Zen of Minimalist Design or Militant Dystopia?
A deal is a deal, and you may not care how that box of macaroni and cheese looks in your shopping cart so long as it’s 48 cents. But for fun, let’s take a look at the stark, so-called neo-generic packaging of Price First. (No, Best Buy is not branching out; Price First is Walmart’s…
Shot of the Week: Pudding Shots
Small and mighty. (Courtesy) Talk about two birds, one stone: Your cravings for sweets and alcohol will be satiated in a way that would make Bill Cosby proud. Resolution, schmesolution. These pudding shots come together in just over two hours and have no more than five ingredients. The recipe comes via food.com. 1 (3 1/2…
Bonehead Quote of the Week: Judge Edith Jones On Texas’ Abortion Law
At a hearing earlier this week, a panel of federal judges on the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments for and against Texas’ latest (and most restrictive) abortion law to date. An attorney with the Center for Reproductive Rights pointed to the law’s severe impact in the Rio Grande Valley, an impoverished area where…
Gutting Our History: Public library slashes Texana and genealogy resources
San Antonio Public Library Update 5:50pm Friday, Jan 10: We heard back from Caitlin Cowart, Community and Public Relations Manager for San Antonio Public Library, who said that plans to cut the Texana and Genealogy staff and hours have been shelved for now. (We heard this change was at the request of at least one…
Texas Makes Failing Grade For Reproductive Health Rights
As a state, we really, really suck when it comes to reproductive rights and here’s yet another round of proof: A newly released national report slaps Texas with an “F-” for its approach to reproductive health policy. Screen Grab From Population Institute 2013 Reproductive Rights Report Card The Washington, D.C.-based Population Institute’s Report Card On…
Will Southwest Airlines Dump SeaWorld? [Update]
Photo by Ethan Dussault On Wednesday, animal advocates assembled at the corporate headquarters of Southwest Airlines at Dallas Love Field Airport. In protest of the alliance between Southwest Airlines and SeaWorld, they delivered a box of more than 27,000 signed petitions to a Southwest Air representative. Marilee McInnis, their senior manager of culture and communications,…
10 Things You Have to Do This Weekend
Thu 1/9 Michael Wayne: “Scotch on Glass” In his artist’s statement, painter Michael Wayne writes, “I gained an interest in art as a child due to my dyslexia. The schools I attended focused on individual expression, which inspired me to reach within myself and create a world that defines and captures my feelings on canvas.”…
San Antonio Gets ‘Promise Zone’ Designation From White House
President Obama picked San Antonio and four other cities in the country to receive ‘Promise Zone’ designation— a label that grants low-income communities a boost in areas like educational opportunity, job creation, access to affordable housing and improvements to public safety— and U.S. Congressman Joaquin Castro and District 2 council member Ivy Taylor plan to rep…
Nightrocker:Live Closing Its Doors on February 1
Nightrocker:Live, the popular rock club located on 605 San Pedro, will be closing its doors on February 1 with a concert/birthday party celebration by World Bizarre, the band that gave owner Roland Fuentes his “Nightrocker” nickname in the early ’90s. The club had opened its doors in 2009. “[Nightrocker:Live] will not renew [its] lease at…
5 SA Bands to Watch in 2014
IN LOVE: The Grasshopper Lies Heavy & God Townes Split 7″ With all the delightful music being made in San Antonio, these five particular acts really stand out as people to pay special attention to over the next year. Maybe it’s because they did something great in 2013, maybe it’s because they’ve got a badass…
Chefs for Chefs Brunch Will Raise Funds for Former Casbeers Owners
(Photo by Aly Tadros) Culinaria’s January 19 Chefs for Chefs benefit at Biga on the Banks (203 S St Marys) will lend a helping hand to Steve Silbas. Silbas and wife, Barbara Wolfe, who passed away suddenly in December, were the former owners of Casbeers and Casbeers at the Church of South Alamo. In 2013,…
Rakia 101: Making Cocktails With Dor?ol’s Kinsman
To better understand the Serbian moonshine that is rakia (read Ron Bechtol’s story on the new Dor?ol Distilling Company in this week’s issue) I stopped by the boutique craft distillery on South Flores to learn more. Bartender Nick Kenna, who’s in charge of the bar at Dor?ol, mixed a number of drinks ranging from easy…
U.S. Senate Votes to Temporarily Extend Unemployment Benefits
Via Creative Commons Images. In a surprising move, the U.S. Senate voted 60-37 on Tuesday morning to extend long-term unemployment benefits for three months. After a GOP-led effort cut the critical lifeline for 1.3 million Americans in late December, Democrats— supported by President Obama— fought to restore the compensation insurance. As the Associated Press reports, the unemployment…
Flavor File: Monty’s latest pop-up, new brunch options and a Granary guest chef
The folks at The Monterey (1127 S St. Mary’s, (210) 745-2581) are readying a new fideo pop-up this weekend. E’Chingon, led by guest chef Mara Serna, will kick off Sunday, January 12 at 6 p.m. Serna’s experience includes Rick Bayless’ Frontera Grill, Houston’s The Pass & Provisions, Goro & Gun and currently Osteria Coppa; Serna…
Los Frogs Bar and Grill Hops Along with Mexican Standards
No, you’re not in a swamp, but you will find plenty of amphibians at this eatery. Once the late Web House Café and Bar, Los Frogs Mexican Bar & Grill has made strides in giving the location new life with a fresh paint job and a lime green mascot. Though there’s no explicit relation to…
Will Wild Party Stay in SA?
You know the feeling: Industry bigwigs start sniffing around a local band and it instantly becomes the toast of the town. But what happened to Wild Party last May was unprecedented; the band came out of nowhere, cracked iTunes’ top 100 chart with Phantom Pop (a self-recorded album only available for two weeks) and created…
‘On Such a Full Sea’: Chang-Rae Lee tackles sci-fi dystopia
Dystopian literature often presents a future society that is heavily repressed and controlled, but disguised as one that is idyllic and free. The genre reminds us that what at first seems like a logical—even ideal—solution to our problems only masks an insidious chaos that could erupt at any time. Pulitzer-nominated author Change-rae Lee’s new work,…
Dorcol Distilling Company Adds Serbian Moonshine
Neither Boyan Kalusevic nor Chris Mobley hopped out of bed one morning thinking, “What South Texas needs is a good Balkan brandy!” But that’s their current story, and they’re sticking to it. Kalusevic, 32, and Mobley, 32, are the business partners behind Dorcol, “an urban boutique craft distillery” newly opened next to the train tracks…
Federal Unemployment Benefits Dry Up For Jobless in SA
[Update: U.S. Senate Votes to Temporarily Extend Unemployment Benefits] While most of us popped Champagne corks and rung in the New Year with carefree celebration, more than a million jobless Americans braced themselves for a year without much needed federal financial assistance. As part of a cost-saving compromise in the 2014 budget meant to appease…
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): You can blame it on the coming full moon. You can blame it on the gorgeous storm or the epic dream or the haunting song or the suffering you’re struggling to vanquish. All I ask is that you don’t blame it on the alcohol. OK? If you’re going to do wild…
Meryl Streep Sinks Her Oscar-worthy Fangs into ‘August: Osage County’
Hopefully dinnerware is cheap in Oklahoma, as an awful lot of it is broken by the angst-ridden characters in this labored screen adaptation of Tracy Letts’ 2008 Pulitzer- and Tony-winning play. The immensely talented cast also chews through any and all scenery, stopping just short of gobbling up the musty floral wallpaper that coats the…
Savage Love: Gayed, blacked, transgendered
Is there a term that is preferred to “transgendered”? I recently wrote an article that described a MTF person I know as transgendered. The article was positive about transgendered persons I have known (she is one of many). Upon seeing a draft prior to publication, this person flipped out so hard that I felt compelled…
Digital Media’s FOMO is Ruining Journalism
Introducing a new, semi-regular column on media matters. In the last issue of the Current, the staff here suggested resolutions for various San Antonians to consider as they head into the new year. I have another one: In 2014, we will stop falling for hoaxes. When I say ‘we,’ I don’t necessarily mean ‘you,’ readers,…
SA Sound: Saakred worries, Colleens pack promise
SAAKRED GOES BALLISTIC On December 20, Saakred (Melissa Ruizesparza Rodriguez) released her amazing FLI HY EP at Collective. The following day, she thanked her fans with a message on her Facebook page: “Last night was really beautiful. Thank you all to the ones that continue to come to my shows and tell me not to…
Day In The Life: Paleo-friendly Naked Coconut Eats
Hope you enjoyed the last few days of year-end, post-holiday gluttony, folks. For the enterprising and the optimistic, New Year’s resolutions have officially kicked in. Instead of a tricky new diet or an ambitious workout routine, the able bodies behind Naked Coconut Eats might instead suggest embracing a new lifestyle. Naked Coconut Eats, founded in…
SAMA Presents Eldzier Cortor’s Stunning Prints of African-American Life
Chicago artist Eldzier Cortor is renowned for his images of serene, regal African-American women with elongated features influenced by African sculpture. Typically, they wear a vibrant headband inspired by the Gullah women of the Sea Islands. One of the first African-American artists to make black women his main focus, Cortor, born in 1916, is the…
Spike Jonze’s ‘Her’ Packs Sci-Fi Horror into RomCom Ideals
Related: The Cinesnob Picks His Top 10 Films of 2013 It’s a familiar story of self-discovery and romance. Joaquin Phoenix’s lonely Theodore can’t come to terms with his divorce—he keeps putting off signing the papers—and he’s just not interested in dating again. Then he meets Samantha. Their relationship is strictly platonic at first, but she’s smart, funny, considerate, attuned to his…
6 Ways to Get Your Drink/Grub On This Week
Wednesday, January 8 A new year means new beer to sample during the Hangar Tavern’s monthly beer tasting. The lineup includes brews from Mississippi Brewing Company, Lagunitas Brewing Company, FullSail Brewing Company, Abita, Ranger Creek, Founders and Harpoon Brewing. The event includes raffles for beer-themed prizes such as a home-brewing kit. $5 (attendees receive a…
22 Unforgettable Moments from Southtown Gallery Unit B
Artist Chuck Ramirez chillin’ at the Unit B CAM Pool Party as part of the Show-Off’s exhibition that featured work by artists that run artist-run spaces, July 2006. Artist-run gallery Unit B, a Chicago transplant that quickly became a fixture in Southtown, announced late last year that it would “close its door indefinitely to ponder…
Texas State Rep to Sriracha Makers: Consider Moving to Texas
Courting chili sauce… The office of Texas District 114 State Representative Jason Villalba sent out a press release this afternoon with news that the Dallas-area rep has suggested the company behind sriracha relocate its operations to Texas. The release contained several reasons why the longtime sriracha lover thinks Texas would make a great home for…
Petition Calls For Southwest Airlines To Cut Ties With SeaWorld
Photo via change.org If you saw Blackfish, you most likely had one of two reactions. Either you felt an inconsolable sadness for all the majestic sea pandas held in captive in SeaWorld’s parks, or you wished that the Jaws-ripoff Orca, about a killer whale exacting its revenge, was real, and that Shamu and friends would rise up…
