5 Things You Have to Do This Week
1. Mothra Based on the serialized novel The Luminous Fairies and Mothra, Ishiro Honda’s sci-fi classic Mothra introduces an altogether different breed of daikaiju into the radiation-riddled universe of rubber monsters. One of the most powerful psychics in the Toho universe and an occasional ally to Godzilla, Mothra—a genetically engineered lepidopteran reportedly inspired by the…
Join Jack in the Box in Keeping SA Senior Citizens Cool
(Courtesy) Craving a Jumbo Jack? Help out local seniors when you stop by local Jack in the Box stores this Saturday to satiate a craving for those tacos with cheese slices in them. The restaurants will hold a fan drive to support senior San Antonians who live without air conditioners. All SA locations, along with…
The Top 5 TV Happenings at Comic Con 2013
San Diego is currently under siege from comic, television, movie and all things entertainment related fans. The 2014 Comic Con has featured some tasty television treats to help satiate the huddled masses until their favorite shows return. Here are some of the best bits to come out of Comic Con so far. 1. The Walking…
F-word master Dennis Farina, dead at 69
Dennis Farina, a TV (Law and Order) and film actor best remembered for his roles in Get Shorty and Midnight Run, died July 22 in Scottsdale, Ariz., the victim of a blood clot in his lungs. Though better known as a mobster on screen, the actor born in Chicago was a police officer in his…
Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman, and San Antonio’s Black Youth
Chris Ward, left, and Devon Slaughter, right. Yesterday, after the Justice for Trayvon rally on the East Side, another gathering occurred at the Carver Library on East Commerce Street. Although it was much smaller, it seemed no less important than the 200-person-plus rally, mainly because this forum was exclusively for youths to voice their opinion…
Videos: CSS and MNDR live at the White Rabbit
Brazil’s CSS rocked the White Rabbit on Saturday night, launching their set with “Art Bitch.” They followed up with “Move”: And continued with Planta’s first single, “Hangover.” Feathers was also part of the bill, but I missed it, sorry. Here’s MNDR, though. Photo by Jaime Monzon
5 Good Reasons to Go to The Ten Eleven
Related: First-Ever Grasshopperpalooza Swarms The Ten Eleven James Woodard’s Fantastical Grasshopperpalooza Band Descriptions Burger Records Showcase at the Ten Eleven Getting to Know The Ten Eleven Photo by M.R. Brown 1. Beer The Ten Eleven is a craft beer haven masked as a dive bar. Featuring local, national, import and rare brews, The Ten Eleven…
Alamo Hackfest Takes Over Geekdom on Saturday
The 501st Legion reads the Current at Geekdom. Photo (hacked from Geekdom’s Facebook page) courtesy of Dale Bracey. Alamo Hackfest Takes Over Geekdom on Saturday Calling all Coke-bottle glasses wearing, argyle sweater-clad Star Wars die-hards! Join your fellow San Antonian programmers and hackers from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, July 20 for an day…
Django Lives! Franco Nero and SA Locals Spearhead New Film
Franco Nero spilled the beans first, telling The Hollywood Reporter of plans to revive his iconic character Django for a still developing feature film titled Django Lives!. The story didn’t mention the considerable involvement of San Antonio’s Kevin Cacy in bringing this celluloid fantasy to light. We just spoke with Cacy, a co-producer, who confirmed the involvement…
The Strokes’ Albert Hammond Jr. shows his ‘guitar moves’
In Guitar Moves, a segment presented by Noisey, producer-guitarist Matt Sweeney sits down with some well-known guitarists to discuss guitars, music, and their style of playing. In past segments, he has talked to The Stooges’ James Williamson, Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme, and the Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, among others. In the ninth episode,…
Kimura Sneak Peek: Ramen Bar Set to Open Its Doors July 29
Chef Michael Sohocki’s much buzzed about ramen bar, Kimura, will open its doors July 29. Located inside the space occupied by the late Cakery Bakery, Kimura will seat about 30-35, eight or nine of which can squeeze into the ramen bar across the way from the door. Dave Rizo, 25, who’s worked with Sohocki since…
Local music review: Phonolux’s ‘Feathered Fortress’
The new Phonolux: Miguel Romero, Dave Novak, Armando Mora (new bassist, who didn’t play on the EP) and Buddy Calvo. Former member Art Guillermo did take part of the EP sessions. (photo by Darren Abate) Phonolux Feathered Fortress (self-released) Serving as a stopgap between last year’s excellent Nashville Fires and an in-the-works full-length slated for…
Keep Austin X-treme: The X Games Are Coming to Texas
If hipsters were into sports, they would be all over the X Games. From skateboards to motorbikes, powdery snow to hard-packed dirt, the games are all about the extremely bold and boldly bizarre. In May 2014, the radical brother of the Olympics is riding into Texas and setting up camp, bringing the rev of engines…
National Daiquiri Day is Friday July 19
Looking for a reason to celebrate? I know I am! Tomorrow, July 19, is National Daiquiri Day! The rum-based cocktail often associated with Ernest Hemingway, who popularized the drink was in fact invented in 1898 by American mining engineer Jennings Cox. Invented in the small mining town of Daiquiri, the original daiquiri called for white…
As Perry Signs Anti-Abortion Bill Into Law, Legal Challenge Brews
This morning, as expected, Gov. Rick Perry signed an extremely restrictive anti-abortion bill into law amid a mounting lawsuit against the legislation. Gov. Rick Perry signs one of the country’s most abortion-restrictive bills into law. It’s expected only five abortions would remain when the law goes into effect. Photo courtesy of the Office of Gov.…
10 Things You Have to Do This Weekend
1. “All School Exhibition” Among the biggest and widest-ranging annual group shows in SA, the Southwest School of Art’s “All School Exhibition” takes over the Navarro campus galleries with a juried showcase encompassing recent works created by students and studio artists attending SSA workshops, classes, and programs. Offering a rounded picture of the school’s collective…
San Antonio College Considering Gnome as New Mascot
A change in mascot appears to be in San Antonio College’s imminent future, though according to Public Relations Officer Julie Cooper, though “it’s not a done deal.” The Ranger had become a figure of much controversy in recent years as, historically, Mexican-Americans were treated quite poorly by the Texas Rangers. SAC has been looking to…
Tacoland Expansion Put On Hold By HDRC
David Adelman and Lee Joffe discussing earplugs after the HRDC meeting (photo by E.L.) Will the new Tacoland (“One word,” says new tenant Chris Erck) plan ever get off the ground? For the last year, the re-opening of the legendary music venue has been deemed “imminent” until someone voiced his objection about one aspect of…
10 Music Icons of the ’80s Whose Biographies We’d Die to Read
I’ve got my head on the curb and I can’t produce a word… but I’ll Pretend: The Chrissie Hynde Story Until these biographies are written, we’d recommend these music biographies for summer reading. He Said ‘Shut Up!’: Aimee Mann Hates Everything Until these biographies are written, we’d recommend these music biographies for summer reading. Shoot…
Will Juice For Beards and Vice Versa
If your beard longer and fluffier than Sean’s? (Courtesy) This is Sean, Urth Juice Bar’s corporate Beard. Look closely, because that bountiful testosterone-bush upon his face is giving you a chance at free juice or a smoothie. Just like your beard, Urth’s juices and smoothies are all-natural, locally grown and fresh as Vanilla Ice. Focused…
Top 5 Frozen Treats in Town
Related: A Day in the Life: SA Pops Let’s not kid ourselves. Soon, the rain will make its way out of town and we’ll go back to triple digit temperatures and triple digit humidity. But we can manage, like we always have, with cool treats. A small chango at Las Nieves (don’t forget about the…
Greg Abbott: Rick Perry 2.0
Last week, standing before a crowd at the HOLT Caterpillar plant in none other than San Antonio, Gov. Rick Perry announced he would step aside to “pass the mantle” of leadership, officially marking the end of his painfully long reign as governor. As if to give us one last reminder of his brand of politics,…
Jay-Z: 'Magna Carta… Holy Grail'
With Magna Carta… Holy Grail, Jay-Z laid down another instant classic, 16 tracks of wit and undeniable hooks, over a seamless mix of chopped and screwed-meets-old school boom-bap production. From the sickly-sweet opening with Justin Timberlake, to Frank Ocean waxing on the legacy of slavery and Jay’s Queen coming back for a follow-up to “03…
Free Will Astrology
ARIES (March 21-April 19): The 19th-century Italian composer Gioachino Rossini was a prolific creator who produced 39 operas. Renowned for his lyrical melodies, he was sometimes referred to as the “Italian Mozart.” So confident was he in his abilities that he bragged he could set a laundry list to music. I trust you will have…
Thundercat: 'Apocalypse'
Songwriter, vocalist and renowned bassist Stephen Bruner (better known as Thundercat) is someone who refuses to settle down into one artistic mode. On Apocalypse, his sophomore effort, Bruner once again teams up with Flying Lotus to create a set of songs as thought-provoking as they are earthy and emotional. An album of what could best…
'The Way, Way Back,' A Bland Coming-Of-Age Flick
Why does Toni Collette end up with so many weird wardrobe choices? OK, we get it, she’s an unconventional actress, but enough with the head scarves already. More tragic than the clothes she wears, however, is the under-written doormat of a character Nat Faxon and Jim Rash (the Oscar-winning writing partners of The Descendants) have…
Reviews of Music Autobiographies from a Punk and a Turtle
Shell Shocked: My Life With the Turtles, Flo & Eddie, and Frank Zappa, etc. by Howard Kaylan with Jeff Tamarkin | Backbeat Books | 304 pp The performance rights organization BMI has named the Turtles’ “Happy Together” one of the top 50 songs of the 20th century. (It ranked No. 44 on BMI’s Top 100…
A Day in the Life: SA Pops
While the most obvious physical distinction between SA Pops and a typical raspa stand is air conditioning, the shop has a unique and notable vibe that’s at once homey, eclectic and generally says Southwest-funk-meets-ice-cream-parlor. Piñatas in the shape of iconic frosty desserts hang from the ceiling and patio roof, twirling above indoor and outdoor seating.…
First-Ever Grasshopperpalooza Swarms the Ten Eleven
I’d put it this way: Imagine a climber on some snow-smothered mountain, trudging ever upward, hearing the rumble from the angered peak above, then glancing up to see the inevitability of his own doom: cascading countless tons of hard-packed ice, broken boulders and shattered trees. He closes his eyes, knowing there is no escape, nods…
The March Divide: 'Music for Television'
We’ve learned a few things from February’s Music for Film LP and Music for Television EP, the first two releases by Jared Putnam’s The March Divide (with help from his friends Mike Hernández and Jeremy Brooks). First of all, Putnam can chew up and spit out genres, easily moving from indie-rock to folk to quasi-punk…
James Woodard's Fantastical Grasshopperpalooza Band Descriptions
Here’s Grasshopperpalooza organizer (and occasional Current contributor) James Woodard’s take on the fest’s bands. You can hear for yourselves on a mixtape, also courtesy of Woodard. Boyfrndz Austin’s prog-pop darlings (with San Antonio roots). Killer, dense and intense songwriting that stays heady while delivering the catchy goods. New album is just out, featuring production and…
Why Texas Still Needs the Voting Rights Act
The ability to vote—to have this process be simple, accessible, free of intimidation—is the cornerstone of a functioning democracy. The power of the vote is far-reaching, stretching miles beyond the ballot box. Now, thanks to a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, the right to vote could be limited for black, Latino, and poor voters…
Houston’s Karbach Brewing Co. Brewmaster on Recent SA Expansion
St. Arnold’s isn’t the only craft beer coming out of Houston these days. Karbach Brewing Co., which opened its doors off H-Town’s Karbach Street in September 2011, has made its way to San Antonio. After a week-long marketing blitz, which included tap takeovers and pint nights, craft brew aficionados can look for the brand at…
The Liberation of CSS
When CSS (“Cansei de Ser Sexy,” Portuguese for “tired of being sexy,” supposedly something Beyoncé once told the press) set out to record Planta, their fourth album, the electro-pop band was at a crossroads. “Yes, it was a challenge [to record it] and there were pressures, but mainly internal pressures,” guitarist/bassist and keyboardist Luiza Sá…
Ryan Gosling’s ‘Only God Forgives’ is a Vapid, Bloody Mess
Languid to the point of stupor, Ryan Gosling perpetually stares far off into the distance throughout this hyper-gory art-house noir pageant, as if he’s attempting to peer beyond the infinite; perhaps he’s trying to gaze into some other, better film. Only God Forgives is a somnambulistic walking tour through a surrealistic Bangkok hellscape dripping in…
Culinary Calendar: Nine ways to get your grub/drink on this week
Thursday, July 18: Whole Foods Market at the Quarry hosts a summer wine basics tasting and pairing class. Pick up summer varietals and chow down on dishes prepared by the meat and seafood departments. $5, 5:30-7:30pm., 255 E Basse, Ste. 130, (210) 826-4676, wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/quarry. Friday, July 19: Stop by for Friday Night Fights, a tasting…
What’s Next for the Anti-Abortion Bill?
Despite hours of testimony, days after days of relentless protesting by pro-choice advocates who came out by the thousands and overwhelming scientific consensus from major medical organizations, a draconian bill that would likely shut down all but five clinics in Texas passed through the state Legislature last week. The omnibus legislation bans abortion at 20…
Savage Love: Boy Trouble
I am a young gay man who has been so freaked out by the idea of catching an STI that I haven’t gotten with anyone for two years. But last night, I hooked up with a cute 21-year-old FTM trans boy, and maybe because it was a person with lady parts, I let caution go,…
Industry News: Whataburger ketchup online, Lobster Fest, Urth goes Green
If you’re craving Green Vegetarian Cuisine’s protein bowls and quinoa wraps, you now have another place to get them. Urth Juice Bar at The Yard in Olmos Park (5300 McCullough) sells a variety of dishes from Green. For a healthy fix on Saturdays (when Green is closed), go to Urth and pick one up, along…
What is White Privilege?
Editor’s note: With the dismantling of significant parts of the Voting Rights Act (See “Why Texas Still Needs the Voting Rights Act” ), and the even more recent not guilty verdict in the Zimmerman trial, race issues are once again at the forefront of Americans’ consciousness, instead of simmering just beneath the surface. Last month,…
Down the Hatch: TBA’s Juan Collins
It must be said. The accordion player was dead. Those who knew him stood in line to pay their respects and celebrate a master. Those who had only heard of him after he was gone, the morbidly curious, those who seemed to stalk the dead, also showed up under that great neon sign, that beacon…
Sink or Swim for 210 Ceviche
It’s difficult not to think of The Lonely Island’s first massive hit when entering 210 Ceviche, the latest restaurant endeavor by the same folks who brought you El Taco Tote. (The restaurant and bar are literally an extension of Taco Tote. The doors to either establishment are a scant 15 feet apart. Perhaps owners Arnie…
Tig Notaro’s ‘Live’ Worth Revisiting
Last summer, Tig Notaro performed one of the ballsiest acts the comedy world has ever encountered. Her set at Largo in L.A. became so legendary so fast that Louis C.K. persuaded her to release it via his website. The performance, meant to work out some material for a related This American Life episode, indeed ended…
Laurent’s Closes, Pho Kim Long Moves In
Heads up, Olmos Park residents! After quietly closing it’s doors sometime after Father’s Day, Laurent’s Modern Cuisine is being replaced with a Vietnamese noodle shop. Those looking to still enjoy excellent food prepared by Laurent Rea, former owner and executive chef at LMC, can find him at the Fig Tree Restaurant, 515 Villita St. We’ll…
Salsa Challenge Hits Market Square July 20
Nothing cries “summertime hors d’oeuvre” like corn tortilla chips paired with a fresh salsa. From the more traditional salsas roja and verde to the more experimental mango and chipotle concoctions, we San Antonians know our salsas–and we know them well. This Saturday, July 20, our salsa knowledge will be put to the taste test as…
This Bytes: Gin & Jam Cocktail Recipe
Let’s be honest, where would our lives be without Snoop D-O-double-G? How would we know that gin and juice is such a great combination, and that we need to keep our mind on our money and our money on our minds? These are unforgettable lessons (Thank you Snoop Dogg) but we’re about to blow that…
Steel Pulse’s ‘Put Your Hoodies On,’ another song for Trayvon Martin
Grammy-winning reggae band Steel Pulse released “Put Your Hoodies On” during the George Zimmerman trial, and it is no offering the song for free download. CHORUS I Put your hoodies on This one’s for Trayvon Put your hoodies on This one’s for Trayvon VERSE I This is a plea to all Oh yes to all…
